CyclingCentralVa

New Stickers are in and ready to be bought and shipped!

2011-08-26T21:04:00.002-04:00

Buy Your Pack of Stickers Here!
All Proceeds Keep CCVA online!

Is Blair Witch Trail Open?

2011-06-01T15:09:00.004-04:00

Blair Witch Trail, Open or Closed?

Poor Farm park is in the process of loosing some trails due to the addition of some new soccer fields, so people are tempted more than ever to search for every last trail to hit within the Poor Farm Park territory which is raising the question, "Is the Blair Witch Trail Open to the public?"

The long and short answer is no! All the property that is on the other side of the creek on the lower parts of Poor Farm is private property and should be avoided. There used to be trespassing signs up, but someone has torn them down as of recently.

POSSIBLE LOGGING NEAR POWHITE PARK

2011-03-15T08:45:00.004-04:00

Hey All-

I good friend to CCVA an avid outdoors person today notice what might be a real issue to the state Powhite Park.

The long and short of it is that there may be the possibility of logging to property adjacent to Powhite Park. This may have a devastating effect on park itself and we'd like to ask local residents to please take the time to email the City of Richmond to voice concern.

Here is the link to Kathy Graziano's office. Please email or call if you have any concerns. Obviously, the bigger the response, hopefully the more attention it'll get==> kathygraziano.com

Here is a link to the whole thread with better explanations of what it happening in the park.
CCVA Thread

Past Weekend Update: 3/12-13

2011-03-14T08:01:00.003-04:00

On the Richmond front, JRPS Trail Mgr and Richmond-MORE completed the boardwalk area on Buttermilk Proper giving some sweet new lines for all to enjoy! They've also made a few changes to the trail at the Reedy Creek climb to River Side Dr.

The E.V.M.A. Crew finished up Loop E @ Freedom Park this weekend! Trail totals are now about 20 miles there alone!

Few Updates from the weekend.

2011-03-06T13:10:00.005-05:00

Richmond-MORE and JRPS have been doing some work on Buttermilk including fixing and adding to the boardwalk section.

Here's a photo!

Also, a few trail changes have happened @ both ends of Buttermilk Proper (22nd St & Ready Creek)

FHP has a tree down just after you get back on the trail at the top of Reedy Creek.

Pocahontas States Park: All it took was a few warm days and the ticks are out. So if you ride PSP, make sure to check yourself or wear repellant.

Freedom Park: James City County has informed us that construction clearing for the Interpretive Center began yesterday. There will be parking challenges from now until the end of construction. During construction parking will be permitted along the roadway inside the park. Please do not impede traffic and use good judgment, especially when it’s wet. Additionally, parking will be allowed at the schools on Jolly Pond Road.

Spotsylvania recently approved a 92 mile proposal for more trails in Spotsylvania co., projected completion time is 2036; but hey, it's a start...
*Note: A section of the multiuse trail and the connector trail on Trail A at Freedom Park will be closed indefinately due to construction debris.

Thanks for all the hard works folk!

Ra-MORE Trail Work on Belle Isle

2011-01-17T15:19:00.000-05:00

Where: Belle Isle Trail Work
When: Sat: 1/22/11 Saturday @ 9am

Parking: Tredegar street parking lot (Underneath the train tracks)
Bring: Gloves, Work boots(if you have them!), water, & a snack.

Work: Continued work on the new trail on Belle Isle. This is the trail that takes you from the service road near the hydro plant back around to the lost garden. The trail is looking great but it’s not quite finished yet. That could be different if we get a few extra pairs of hands out there on Saturday.

Wayne Goodman - Jan. Progress...

2011-01-15T14:14:00.000-05:00

I just wanted to bring to the front that a dear friend of the cycling community is making good progress!

A quote from his site, CantHoldAGoodmanDown.com (which I encourage folks to use to follow his progress!

January 11, 2011
Wayne continues to progress quickly in rehab. Since moving to the VA he's been receiving therapy for several hours a day. He's now transferring from bed to chair, walking some, and able to use his hands for most things. It's been amazing to watch Wayne working at his recovery.

There are many miles of this hard road ahead, but Wayne's spirits remain high.

Pibby's Bicycle Repair in a new location in Jan. '11!

2010-12-14T07:57:00.004-05:00

Pibby's Bicycle Repair is moving to a new location in January 2011! The last day in the Marshall Street location is this Saturday, December 18. Beginning on Tuesday, there will be a week-long Moving Sale: All in-stock merchandise is 20% off! This includes Linus Bikes, Atlas Bikes, helmets from Bern & Lazer, locks from Kryptonite, tires, tubes, parts and accessories. Everything that is for sale, is on-sale!

As for the new location: the shop is moving to 209 West Broad Street and also will change it's name to Pibby's Bicycle & Skate. Not only will we be carrying a broader range of bicycles, but skateboards and roller skates too! The shop will reopen during First Friday on January 7th, 2011. Check it out!

CCVA Thread Here...

“A Day In The Park For Wayne” on Saturday, December 4 at 2:00 p.m.

2010-11-29T07:39:00.001-05:00

MOUNTAIN BIKERS: A Wayne Goodman Benefit– “A Day In The Park For Wayne” on Saturday, December 4 at 2:00 p.m. at the main shelter (shelter #2) in Forest Hill Park.The plan is to spend “A Day in the Park for Wayne”.

We will be taking donations and selling “G-Man” t-shirts where all proceeds will go towards helping Wayne with his finances. We will have coffee, hot cider, brownies, cookies and anything anyone else would like to donate.

Wayne is has a long recovery ahead of him @ the VCU Medical Center’s spinal cord rehabilitation unit after suffering from a mountain bike accident earlier this fall.

For the last 5+ years, Wayne has donated literally thousands of hours of his time as well as money, blood, sweat and tears, to help create/maintain our downtown trails and now he is in need of our help.

Please STOP in and say, "Thanks," by helping out a friend in need.

We are also planning to post a donation link on Wayne’s website at http://cantholdagoodmandown.com/ in order that donations can be accepted from individuals or groups wishing to help out but don’t have the availability to attend fund raising activities.

Additional events are now being discussed and further information will be provided as the details are confirmed.Wayne remains very positive in his recovery and his rehab team reports very encouraging progress. The road is going be long and Wayne knows this will be the toughest race of his life. As a team, all of us can pull together to help someone who has enabled us to enjoy a park that is unique not only in Virginia but on a national level.

Thank you! (remember - come on out and start early but be sure to either park at "Wayne's Shelter" or drop by and drop off a small donation)

“A Day In The Park For Wayne” on Saturday, December 4 at 2:00 p.m. Forum Thread

Wayne Goodman - December 4th Fundraiser!

2010-11-25T18:11:00.001-05:00

Hey All,
I wanted to post this up to share with everyone the "Wayne Goodman - December 4th Fundraiser"

Update on Wayne Goodman - December 4th Fundraiser
Wayne continues to do well in his recovery and as usual, continues to maintain a very positive attitude towards his recovery. A group of Wayne's friends have created a website with information about his accident and updates to his recovery. They will be having the first of many fundraisers to help Wayne with his medical expenses. Please see the press release below for the first event.

Press Release: Friday November 5, 2010

Benefit for Wayne Goodman – “A Day In The Park For Wayne”

Wayne Goodman, local trail builder and friend to the James River Park, was recently injured riding his mountain bike on his beloved JRP trails. He is recovering at the VCU Medical Center’s spinal cord rehabilitation unit. Wayne, who has donated literally thousands of hours of his time as well as money, blood, sweat and tears, is now in need of our help.

A small committee of his friends has formed to plan events and other means to help Wayne in his time of need. We are announcing the first event which will occur on Saturday, December 4 at 1:30 p.m. at the main shelter (shelter #2) in Forest Hill Park (note: this is the shelter area where Wayne’s fateful accident occurred). To get there, you should enter the park by heading north on 42nd Street, then turn right into the park at New Kent Avenue.

The plan is to spend “A Day in the Park for Wayne”. We will be taking donations and selling “G-Man” t-shirts where all proceeds will go towards helping Wayne with his finances. The location will be the main shelter at the back of the park. We will have coffee, hot cider, brownies, cookies and anything anyone else would like to donate.

We are also planning to post a donation link on Wayne’s website at http://cantholdagoodmandown.com/ in order that donations can be accepted from individuals or groups wishing to help out but don’t have the availability to attend fund raising activities.

Additional events are now being discussed and further information will be provided as the details are confirmed.

Wayne remains very positive in his recovery and his rehab team reports very encouraging progress. The road is going be long and Wayne knows this will be the toughest race of his life.

As a team, all of us can pull together to help someone who has enabled us to enjoy a park that is unique not only in Virginia but on a national level.

Thank you!

2011 Giant Anthem X 1,2, & 3 29er RECALL

2010-11-18T07:48:00.003-05:00

Name of Product: 2011 Model Year Anthem Giant Bicycles

Importer: Giant Bicycle Inc., of Newbury Park, Calif.
Manufacturer: Giant Manufacturing Co. Ltd., of Taiwan

Description: This recall involves 2011 model year Giant Anthem X 29er 1, 2 and 3 model bicycles. The sizes sold in small, medium and large.
Hazard: The frame can crack at the junction of the seat post and top tube, posing a fall hazard to riders.
Number of Effected Units: About 370
Incidents/Injuries: None reported.
Remedy: Consumers should immediately stop riding the recalled bicycles and contact any authorized Giant Bicycle dealer for a free inspection and repair.

Sold by: Authorized Giant Bicycle dealers nationwide during August 2010 for between $2,200 and $3,500.

For additional information: Contact Giant Bicycle at 1- (866) 458-2555 between 9 a.m. and 4 p.m. PT Monday through Friday or visit the firm’s website at www.giant-bicycles.com

JRPS & Richmond-MORE Trail Building Class, Sat., Oct. 23rd, 2010

2010-10-20T09:02:00.001-04:00

Greetings Fellow Mountain Bikers and Trail Enthusiasts,

The James River Park System and RA-MORE will be conducting a trail building and maintenance class on Saturday, October 23rd starting at 9:00am. The morning session of the class will be held at the Stone House in Forest Hill Park. Following a short break for lunch, the class will then continue to a section of the North Bank Trail which is slated for a re-route. The afternoon session will end around 4:00pm.

Topics covered in this class will include the following:

* Sustainable trail design
* Basic Construction
* Turns, drainage, and bridges
* Trail re-routes
* Trail reclamation
* Rock Work
* Mechanized trail building vs. manual trail building
* Effective use of signage
* Political environment

The class will be taught by Nathan Burrell and Mike Burton of the James River Park System.

Nathan, the James River Park System trails manager, brings a wealth of knowledge to urban trail building and has lectured at the state and national level on sustainable trail building in an urban environment.

Mike, a principal in Long Cane Trails LLC, is a professional trail builder who just relocated to the Richmond area and is now on the staff of the James River Park System. Mike has extensive experience in urban trail building and mechanized trail building in particular. Go to Mike's website at http://www.longcanet.../portfolio.html to see examples of his work.

This class is a unique opportunity to gain insight into the rationale behind the methodologies and techniques we use to design and maintain the trails in the James River Park System. Participation in this class will greatly enhance your appreciation and evaluation of the local trail system.

Class participation will be limited to 25 participants. The class is free and open to the public. Food and beverage will be provided by RA-MORE.

For registration information, contact Clark Jones at C.Jones0679@comcast.net.

Where: The Stone House in Forest Hill Park. Located across the street from Crossroads Coffee Shop.

When: Saturday, October 23rd, 9:00am to 4:00pm

Length: 1 Day

Cost: Free, Class limited to 25 participants

Bring: Water, work gloves, sturdy shoes, and an open mind

Shots Fired on Belle Island

2010-09-14T14:10:00.002-04:00

Apparently quite a few folks witnessed police activity on Belle Island on Monday night, Sept. 13th.

Reports from fellow cyclists are saying that people were being told to leave the island and while people on the island were being told to get off.

The same cyclists are also saying that the shooter took aim at a fellow cyclist.

If you have any comments, questions, or info. to add, please head to this thread on CyclingCentralVa.org.
Belle Islnad Shots Fired Thread.

Pizza Crawl, the sequel

2010-07-28T22:39:00.002-04:00

Pizza Crawl Part 2.

Bikes and Pizza with the CBC and Pamparius dudes. If you attended last time, you know the deal. If you're new, here goes.

Bring cash. We will be hitting up the best pizza sluts in the area. We order several pies, you slip us bills for a slice or two.

Bring lights. It will probably be dark out by some point so we want you to be safe. Helmets are worth bonus points.

We'll have shirts this time. Lets party.

Talk about it here on the CyclingCentralVa.org Pizza Crawl Thread

CyclingCentralVa promotes all things Cycling in Richmond, Virginia and beyond!

18 Hours Scout's Honor Race, August 21-22, 2010

2010-07-28T08:05:00.003-04:00

Richmond's mountain bike racing is back and better than ever! You guessed it, 18hrs Scout's Honor Race held on August 21 & 22, 2010.

Registration is open and as we get closer to the race, entry fees gain in cost, so sign up early, sign up now!

Too hot to camp? Lodging is available too (for a nominal additional fee).

18Hr Discussion Thread on CyclingCentralVa.org.

9 Hrs of Camp Hilbert

2010-07-27T08:48:00.004-04:00

Mountain bike racing is definitely alive and well in Richmond, Va, & here's proof! A completely new race that was just introduced a few months back, 9 Hrs Of Camp Hilbert thread.

Wanting to be on a team?

We have several people looking to form/complete their relay team. If you're looking for a team please email me, markjunkermann@hotmail.com so I can put you in contact with others in need. We need are looking for beginner, sport and expert riders. We'll match you up with the level team you're looking for.... some are in it just for fun and others are looking to fight for every position.

Event is Aug 7, 2010
Location is Camp Hilbert (10 minutes west of Short Pump)
Course is a 6 mile loop

More information about Mountain Biking in Richmond, Virginia, or neighboring states can be found on CyclingCentralVa.org!
Mountain Bike Trail Information
Mountain Bike, Road, Training Rides, Events, & More...

Bike Backpacking Trip (how to, planning, equipment, etc)

2010-07-09T08:41:00.002-04:00

I've know quite a few folks who have thought about Bike Backpacking Trips for quite a while now, so finally someone started a thread to bring this idea to the forefront.

Interested? Done it? Have ideas? Questions? Head to the thread link below!

CCVA Thread...

CaryTown Bike Company does Pizza Crawl PART II

2010-07-04T06:19:00.000-04:00

Hey all,

Not better way to spend a night than with fellow cyclists, riding, & eating pizza. Oh yeah, & throw in some beer along the way.

When: July 31
Where: Richmond (proper)
Meetup: Carytown Bike Company
Time: 7pm

Link to thread...

Extra, Extra: Xterra Changes Start time to "Beat the Heat."

2010-06-18T08:52:00.000-04:00

New Start Times:XTERRA Sport Race – 7:30 a.m.XTERRA East Championship Race – 8:00 a.m.

Also moved up:- Transition set-up, body marking, and late packet pick-up will start at 6am.- XTERRA Sport Awards starts at 11am, Championship Awards at 12:30pm- Bike Cut-off time for XTERRA East Champs is now 12 noon.

Full Info. Info Thread...

Massive DNS server issue

2010-05-12T17:49:00.001-04:00

Hey Folks,
I'm really sorry, but the host of CCVA.org is having some massive server issues and despite my best efforts, I'm unable to secure the site for any length of time.

I'm working on it the best I can and hope to have it up ASAP!

Thank you,
Admin

Mountain Bikers have your voice heard.

2010-04-15T20:59:00.002-04:00

The George Washington National Park and Sherando are looking for your input as it pertains to the trails you ride at/& near Sherando Park.

Please vote in the poll to illustrate mt. bike use at Sherando......
You can vote more than one choice. ...

I'll give the results of this poll to the Forest Service at the plan meeting on Monday, April 19, 2010 (6:30 p.m. to 9:30 p.m.) at Rockbridge County High School, 143 Greenhouse Road, Lexington, VA 24450.

Somehow, mt bike use was missed at Kelly Mountain (aka Sherando), we'll need to get it added back to the doc that's linked below.

Other areas are well represented thanks to the hard work by mt bikers.

Capability and Availability Results begin on page 14 of this document GWNF: Forest Plan pdf

Thanks!

Vote Here on your favorite Sherando Trail.

Fire in Pocahontas State Park 3/20/10

2010-03-20T10:11:00.003-04:00

NEWS FLASH:

Pocahontas State Park had a fire overnight that burned near Lakeview. They cut a few fire breaks around the trails and smoke is in the air all the way down to the dam. The fire is out but it is smoking still.

Follow Forums Thread: **Warning Forest Fire in PSP***
Comment on CCVA FaceBook:

Anyone with more information, please feel free to comment.

Camp Hilbert Mountain Bike Series: Race 1 Postponed

2010-03-01T23:54:00.003-05:00

RunRideRace has decided to postpone Camp Hilbert Race 1 and move it to April 11th due to trail conditions.

RunRideRace will also be looking to have a trailcare day prior to the race, more details to come...

Speaking of trailcare, V.O.R.S. is now incorporating PayDirt into their race points. It works by you volunteering time to trailcare & as you accumulate hours, those hours turn into points added to you V.O.R.S. standings!!

It might be the difference between 1st and last place!

Friends of Pocahontas & CapAle House form Fundraiser!

2010-02-19T12:36:00.001-05:00

Hello Pocahantas State Park Loves,

I'd like to share with you an exciting opportunity that we've been able to take advantage of in partnership with Capital Ale House.

During the month of March, anytime you attend CapAle House on a Thursday, CAH will donate 25% of food sales to FoPSP.

You must present a copy of the listed Pdf flyer for this to work, so please download and print it out!

So to recap:

Every Capital Ale House, every Thursday, all March.
This is a delicious way to help raise funds for FoPSP in order to support Pocahontas State Park. Hopefully, donations raised will offset the costs that will be incurred by our weekend volunteer events in April.

So please print this attachment, make copies, and share with your friends and family (please do not distribute at the door at CAH locations).
Let's get the word out! And while you're there, please "raise a glass" to the folks at Capital Ale House for their generosity with this program.

Forums Thread:
Flyer PDF:

Road Tire / Rim combinations explained

2010-02-17T21:06:00.003-05:00

Rims and tires come in all sizes, including varying height and width. While sizes can be easily explained, often the question arises over the confusion between Tubular and Clincher rim / tire combinations.

Here is some general information about the characteristics of both Tubular and clincher variations.

TUBULAR TIRES:
Pros:
Tubular tires are a tube and tire all-in-one, held to the rim using glue.
Tubular tires are used by majority of competitive cyclists for various reasons listed below:
~ lowest rolling resistance
~ lighter than a clincher set up
(Both tubular rims and tires when compared to their clincher counterparts offer a significant weight savings)
~ Use higher tire PSI
~ Safety & stability: While not the best idea, tubular systems are fairly easy to ride on when a flat occurs

Cons:
~ Changing a flat means needing a new tire and time for glue to cure
~ More expensive to maintain due to inability to simply replace or patch a tube when a flat occurs.

CLINCHER TIRES:
Pros:
~ Ease of use for every day riding: Patching or repairing flats can be done road side
~ Tubes and tires are separate, so they can be replaced independent from each other
~ Many tire and tube choices available, all shops should have some tire in stock to fit your clincher rim
Cons:
~ Combination use of inner tube, rim liner, & tire causes heavier weight
~ Clincher rims have more metal used to hold the tire to the rim, adding more weight
~ Materials used in clincher tires can cause higher rolling resistance

2 New Road Alternatives: (TuFo and Tubeless)
TUFO TUBULAR TIRES FOR CLINCHER RIMS:
Fairy new technology, as the name suggests it's allowing for tubular tires to be mounted on clincher rims.
Pros:
~ low rolling resistance, rim liner or glue, offering swift tire changes and less weight
~ the easiest and fastest installation from all types of tires, no tools required
~ immediate use after installation
~ riding quality is close to tubular tires

Cons:
~ Cost
~ Very specialized, so not readily available

Tubeless:
Similar to a car tire, you only need to mount the tire and inflate it without a need for glue or tubes.
Pros:
~ Light weight
~ Ability to run a large range of tire pressures without the worry of flatting
~ More available then TUFO

Cons:
~ Can be hard to inflate on road repair
~ Up to 30% more expensive over standard tires
~ Sometimes needs an additional sealant

Snow Snow Snow...

2010-02-14T10:49:00.003-05:00

For weeks on end Central Va has been under siege from constant accumulations of snow which has brought almost all cycling to a halt!

Head to the forums and tell us how have you been getting by without the ability to hit you favorite trail or road route?

Mountain Bike Stolen in Fan

2010-01-17T16:43:00.001-05:00

My friend recently had her bike stolen from her locked basement in the fan area.
It was a brand new, gold, specialized hardrock 29er, 24 speed, disc brakes, 15 inch frame, black water bottle holder.

If you think you might have seen it, please send me a message with the details (who, where, what, when, etc.). Not sure if it will do any good, but at least the police could add those details to the report.

Muchas gracias!
Have Info, goto Forums Thread...

Happy Holiday's!

2009-12-31T16:33:00.002-05:00

Happy Holiday's from everyone at CyclingCentralVirgina !

Be safe and see you in 2010!

Trail News Update:

2009-12-17T10:15:00.003-05:00

DownTown:
The "Stairway to Heaven" project on the North Bank Trail is now complete!

After fighting off the rains each weekend over the past 2 months, Richmond-MORE was able to put the final touches on the project last weekend.

If you haven't been able to ride this section yet, Nathan Burrell informed us that approximately 450' of rock armoring and crib-wall was installed along the climb corridor to fix the erosion issues of that have crept up over the years from a combination of steep terrain, heavy use, and very sandy soil conditions.

Update on Forest Hill Park Project

This project is being billed as an extensive revamp of the FHP trail system. It will involve removal of a lot of current trail as well as the building of new trail.

This is a City Project and is now fully funded with all involved parties now signed off after a recent comprehensive walk through meeting with Nathan Burrell.

During the revamp, all of the FHP trails will be closed for a time span of approximately 4 months; starting in mid-Jan to late-April.

As always, you help will be needed to make this project happen and finish on time!

Info. will come as it becomes available.

On Other News:
Poor Farm Park has been all the talk lately with the laying of blue markers in the "Flats" that show where Henrico Co. plans to install new ball fields by the Spring 2010.

Some of CCVA members recently attended a Public Meeting about Poor Farm's recent developments. It's being reported that only the land East of the "gravel road" and between the school will be developed at this time and will be cleared to make way for 4 new rectangle fields and some additional parking.

A playground has already been installed in this area. A very promising development to this story is that there will be enough wooded land left around the fields to install a perimeter trail which can link up to the existing trails and Henrico is interested in listening to an idea of installing a "Pump Track" near this area too!

SouthSide:
Pocahontas State Park is under major budget cuts, so night rides at PSP will not being happening until at least early Spring 2010 when the staffing increases. This is yet one more reason to support PSP by purchasing park passes!!!

Friends of PSP announced that currently there are no new plans to expand the mountain bike trails at PSP; but there is some trailcare being done at this time and is being led my Richard Garyantes.

Richard has been planing some reroutes of the Red and Double Red trails that will help increase flow while provide opportunity to added some more technical trail features.

Check the forums for the latest news, schedules, and details for all of the above trailcare.

Hanover Parks Meeting, Action Needed to save Poor Farm trails

2009-12-12T09:10:00.003-05:00

On Dec. 14, at 7pm, Hanover Parks is conducting a master plan update meeting at the new Mechanicsville Library, 7461 Sherwood Crossing Place.

This meeting is advertised as Hanover County Resident's opportunity to give their opinions on the plan. So calling all Hanover Resident MTBS.....this is our opportunity to ask them to revisit the idea of tearing down the flats......

If any non-residents have any good ideas on how best to express our views I am happy to listen to any good advice.....
Talk about this on @ the Hanover Parks Poor Farm Meeting thread.

What: Hanover Parks Meeting
When: Monday, Dec. 14th
Time: 7pm
Where: Mechanicsville Library, 7461 Sherwood Crossing Place

3rd Annual Pony Pasture Polar Plunge

2009-12-08T08:54:00.003-05:00

Back by request ... the 3rd Annual Pony Pasture Polar Plunge is on!

Date: New Years Day (Jan 1st for the fools that are too drunk to remember )
Time: High-Noon ..... SHARP!!!
Meeting place: Boat Ramp in parking lot of Pony Pasture

For latest Info and to get on the Evite, goto the 3rd Annual Pony Pasture Polar Plunge forums thread.

Richmond-MORE Trail Care: Dec. 5th

2009-12-04T11:23:00.001-05:00

Greetings Fellow Trail Builders,

Sometimes it seems we just don't get any breaks. We've got work to do and Mother Nature is not cooperating. I don't why she's been angry lately but it's getting old. Maybe we'll get some breaks soon.

This weekend we're going to finish the Maymont Ramp project. There's just a little more to do. Most of the work will involve reclamation but there's some rock armoring that remains to be completed. We need to add about five more feet of rock to the top of the trail. There's a little gully developing at the top and that area needs to be addressed.

We're hoping the weather will cooperate this weekend but it doesn't look good. We're keeping our fingers crossed. We look forward to seeing you there.

Look forward to exciting news coming soon.
_______________________________________________________
In case of rain or unforeseen events, please check for cancellations on our website. Any cancellation notice will be posted by 8:00am on Saturday in our News section. Our website is at: www.richmond-more.org.

Here are the details:
Where: Meet at the corner of Hampton St. and Kansas Ave. behind Maymont, just above the ramp
When: Saturday, December 5th - 9:00am to 4:00PM
Bring: Water, work gloves, and sturdy shoes, and a small snack

Tacky Light Tour 2009

2009-12-04T11:17:00.004-05:00

RABA's Tacky Light Tour =
When: Dec. 9th @ 6:30.
Where: Meet behind the Westhampton Theatre (5706 Grove Ave, Richmond, VA 23226) at Grove and Libbie Avenues.
What: A 25ml trip that snakes in and around Richmond to view some of Richmond's best Christmas light displays.

Ride will be followed up with a social @ Palani Drive Restaurant.

Dressing for Cold Weather

2009-11-19T21:02:00.002-05:00

A new discussion on the forums is about dressing appropriately for cool & cold weather riding.

Here's one tip that was shared with me a few years back by Mike Dart, AKA: Dartman.

When dressing in layers, A good rule-of-thumb I to really limit the need to strip them back off during your outing. The main idea is to wear only enough so that you are borderline cool/cold when standing idle outdoors. Almost uncomfortable. This way once you start moving and generating heat, you'll warm up and any extra heat will be allowed to escape the same way the cool air got to you in the beginning.

So whether you need or want to share advice, head over to the Dressing for Cold Weather thread !

Carvin'sCoveDay Walnut Creek/O-Hill Trip, Nov. 7

2009-11-06T22:00:00.003-05:00

When: Nov. 7th
Meet-up Time: 9am
Meet-up place: Wawa on Rt 250 (W. Broad) & 288.
Leaving Wawa 9:15ish.

New Trip: Walnut Creek & O-Hill

Carvin's Cove day trip, Saturday Nov 7th.

When: Nov. 7th
Meet-up Time: 7am
Meet-up place: Wawa on Rt 250 (W. Broad) & 288.
Leaving Wawa 7:15ish.

Carvin's Cove Map

Carvins Cover is just outside Roanoke and seems to be about 180mls from Ric, taking 64 & 81.

Carvin'sCove Forums Thread

State Park Hunting Closure List '09

2009-11-06T18:17:00.004-05:00

For your safety, please remember that during Hunting days, no other users will be allowed into the park(s).

Douthat State Park
Nov. 9-12
Nov. 16-19.

Pocahontas State Park
December 7th - 8th
December 17th - 19th

York River State Park
Nov. 9th & 10th ( this coming Mon.& Tues)
Dec. 7th & 8th (also a Monday & Tuesday)

Rosaryville State Park, Md Day Trip, Oct. 31

2009-10-01T17:30:00.000-04:00

Rosaryville State Park Day Trip.

Rosaryville State park is in Upper Marlboro, Md, about 30 mins drive up Rt301 once inside Maryland.

The trail is approx 11 mls in length with tons of flow and speed.

Park Fees: $5.00 per car (out of state), $4.00 (Md residents)

Where: Rosaryville State Park
When: Sat, Oct. 31
Time: Leaving @ 7am, so please arrive early if you plan to eat first
Time to meet at trail: 9 am
Meet: at Cracker Barrel in Ashland off Rt54.

Forums Thread:

SRAM 10SPD Chain Recall Sept.9, 09

2009-09-09T16:17:00.001-04:00

Sram recalls bicycle chains with connectors that can crack
September 8, 2009 | 3:30 pm
About 24,000 Sram 10-Speed bicycle chains with PowerLock connector links are being recalled by Sram, a Chicago bicycle parts maker, because the connectors are brittle and can crack, allowing the chain to separate from the bicycle and causing the rider to fall.

Four incidents have been reported, including one in the United States, the Consumer Product Safety Commission said. No injuries have been reported, the agency said.

The recall involves Sram PowerLock connector links, which are sold individually, on 10-speed bicycle chains and as original equipment on some bicycles. The recalled PowerLock connector links are identified by a date code of M or N located on the side of the PowerLock connector link. Ten-speed SRAM chains that were equipped with recalled PowerLock connector links include the following chain model numbers: PC-1030, PC-1050, PC-1070, PC-1090 and PC-1090R.

The recalled chains also were installed on some Guru, Surly, Salsa, BMC, Serotta, Seven and Ridley brand bicycles. The individual PowerLock connectors and bike chains with these connectors were sold from January through August 2009. Bicycles with affected chains were sold from April 2009 through August 2009.

The items were manufactured in Portugal and sold at specialty bicycle stores nationwide. PowerLock connector links were sold separately for about $5 or as part of 10-speed chains for between $35 and $85.

The commission said consumers should immediately stop using the recalled PowerLock connectors, chains and bicycles with these connectors and contact their Sram retailer for replacement.

For additional information, contact Sram at (800) 346-2928 or visit the firm’s website.

Thread Here.

CCVA / Friends of Pocahontas State Park

2009-08-29T23:20:00.007-04:00

CCVA along with Friends of Pocahontas are coordinating a Ride, BBQ, and Swap Meet for the Fall 2009.

What: SRB (swap, ride & bbq)
Where: Pocahontas State Park@ Shelter 2
When: Nov 15th
Time: Ride: 10:00am, BBQ & SWAP: 1pm ish...
Why: Because it's time to meet, greet, ride, swap parts, and enjoy life!

Bring yourself, your bike, bike parts, and some sort of Potluck dish or drink to share with everyone.

Talk about it in this thread: Cycling Swap Meet, Ride, and Potluck BBQ.

Disclaimer: The ride portion of this day is being coordinated in terms of meeting and start times.
People taking part in the ride do so on their own accord and assume all responsibilities that come with mountain biking & within their ability.

Please come prepared: Helmet, working bike, water, etc.

The Stampede on Horseshoe Mountain, mountain bike race and beer/music festival: August 22

2009-08-18T21:48:00.002-04:00

Another event up at Devils Backbone Brewery on August 22 will start with a new Mountain Bike Race starting at 9am. For those that attended the Devils Backbone Challenge will recognize some of the course BUT there are new additions and new course up on Horseshoe Mountain!

Full Details and Registration at www.HorseshoeMountainTrails.com

But that is just the start of the day! At HIGH NOON, the Brew Ridge Trail Music Festival will kick off with Devils Backbone, Starr Hill, Blue Mountain and South St Breweries serving some of the finest brews around! Bands will be filling the air from NOON til 8pm!

Talk about the event here!

18 Hours Scout's Honor Race, August 15-16th, 2009

2009-07-18T08:00:00.005-04:00

For 2009, the "18 Hours Scout's Honor" race is being put on by Richmond's ASR so that race owner Ed Jones can have a chance to race it finally. Billed as the "Friendliest 18 Hour Event Around" with an emphasized the importance of the rider experience, "...every rider is of equal importance!".

When:August 15-16, 2009
Where: Camp Brady Sanders

Helpful Links:
~ 18 Hrs Scout's Honor Thread.
~ 18 Hrs Scout's Honor (Find a Team Post)
~ Register Here.
~ Richmond-ASR

Virginia's Summer Heat & Humidity

2009-07-13T17:13:00.002-04:00

We've had it good all spring and so far this summer, but Va's humidity is finally starting to creep in which can make riding a bike a whole lot more difficult!

70* can feel like 80, 80* like 90* & so on, but it's more than feeling hot, it's loosing your ability to keep cool through sweating. When it gets humid out, sweat no longer evaporates efficiently which leaves you feeling hot and threatens you with the possibly overheating.

A few tips for exercising in the heat & humidity.
~ Try to exercise before 10am and after 6pm during the summer.
~ Hydrate approximately an hour before the activity, every 15 minutes during the exercise. ,
~ Where light fabrics that dry fast & not cotton.
** Hydration can take day or two, so the best way to stay hydrated is to drink 8 -10 16oz glasses of water per day.
** Avoid over consuming caffeine, sugar and alcoholic drinks can increase fluid loss.

Watch for signs of heat exhaustion - dizziness, weakness, nausea, cramping and vomiting - stop the activity, find some shade and drink water immediately. If symptoms continue, seek medical assistance at once.

For more detailed information, SEE Hydration.

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Trek Demo Days

2009-06-16T21:05:00.004-04:00

Trek will be having 3 demo days this upcoming weekend.

Starting on Friday (19th) and going through Sunday (21st) around Virginia.

Link to Trek Demo Day: Trek Demo Days Page.

Friday:
What: Blacksburg Demo - East Coasters
When: Fri. Jun 19th, 2009 @ 2:00 pm—6:00 pm
Where: Pandapas Pond, Pandapas Pond Rec Area, Blacksburg, VA 24060

Saturday:
What: Shenadoah Bicycle Company Demo
When: Sat. Jun 20th, 2009 @ 10:00 am—3:00 pm
Where: Massanutten Western Slope Resort, Happy Valley Road, Keezletown, VA 22832

Sunday:
What: Bike Beat will be holding a Trek Demo day. at
Where: New Quarter Park, Williamsburg, VA
When: Sun. Jun 21st, 2009 @ 9:00 am—2:00 pm

Come join me and the gang from Bike Beat for a day of fun in the sun. I will have the latest bikes from Trek and Gary Fisher for you to try out and take a spin on.

Directions: New Quarter Park
Talk about it here: CCVA Thread
Or call Bike Beat for more info: 757-229-0096

EVMA Spring Fling Bike Festival is May 30th, 2009

2009-05-28T18:25:00.001-04:00

The EVMA Spring Fling Bike Festival is May 30th, 2009 from 9:00 am to
4:00 pm. at New Quarter Park in Williamsburg, Virginia.

A swap meet - bring items to sell or swap.
A Raffle and silent auction to benefit the Meredith Nicolls Health Fund.

Tire changing contest, sponsored by All About Bikes, Chesapeake, VA
Bunny hop contest, sponsored by Conte's of Williamsburg, VA
Jumping contest, sponsored by Conte's of Newport News, VA
Scavenger hunt for kids, sponsored by East Coast Bicycles, Norfolk, VA

The Schedule of Events is as follows:
9:00 am to 12:00 am – Group rides for all level of riders for men and women.
12:00 am to 1:00 pm – Lunch. EVMA will be providing lunch. Donations accepted.
1:00 pm to 4:00 pm – Special Events

9:00 am to 4:00 pm – Trek Women Specific Design Demo rides.
9:00 am to 4:00 pm – Fuji Bikes comfort bicycle demo rides.

Note to bicycle shops: If you would like to be a part of this event,
you can set up a tent with product to sell or demo. We are also
looking for shops to sponsor fun events (we have a list!). If you are
interested in participating, see flyer for contact details.

Directions to New Quarter Park
Talk about it here.

Forest Hill Park Lake Maintenance.

2009-05-26T17:06:00.003-04:00

What: Forest Hill Park Lake Dredging.
Where: Forest Hill Park, Richmond, Va
When: Spring/Summer 2009

The City of Richmond has worked with the Contractor to develop plans to minimize the mess that may occur from the project of restoring the Forest Hill Park Lake back to it's formal self.

The $1.7 million restoration project over the next six months began in early May and is expected to take approximately 6 months.

Tthe City is sensitive to limiting the impact on our neighborhood streets and the park itself during the project.

Dredging and restoration work at the park will begin on weekdays around 7:00 a.m. and will end approximately 5:00 p.m.
Saturday work will not occur unless the project falls behind schedule and no work is scheduled for Sunday's.

Spring and summer programs are still scheduled to occur in the park!
Park Events:
~ Every Saturday, Farmers Market will re-open near Shelter #2 on Saturday, May 2.
~ Music in the Park will again continue on selected summer Sunday evenings.

What's Off-limits?
Easy, just look for the orange fencing roping off the area around the lake.

** This does have an affect on how the trails are accessed and is you are wanting to use trail know that a reroute plan is in effect.
Please don't tear down the fences! This has happened twice already and the city has already approached the local mountain bike club to help spread the word to keep out of this area.

Ric-MORE Booth Volunteers Needed.

2009-05-08T13:59:00.002-04:00

Richmond MORE will be represented at the RiverRoc event on the 15th and 16th.

We're asking members/volunteers to come out for one hour and work the booth.

Hours:
6:00PM to 9:30PM Friday
9:00AM to 4:00PM Saturday.

It'll be a lot of fun & the booth will have an interactive bike blender.

This event is to raise money and to get the public aware of the advocacy work we do.
Funds go directly to the club for bridges materials and to buy tools.

You can contact Greg Rollins, VP RA-MORE via PM on the CCVA. Just follow the link Below, contact information is in first post.

Talk about it here...

2009 Cap2Cap bike ride

2009-04-08T16:37:00.002-04:00

Register by April 15th and save $10!

To make your Cap2Cap experience one you will never forget, we're rolling out some new features this year:

More distance options of 100, 50, and 25 miles leaving from a NEW STARTING LOCATION at Rocketts Landing in Richmond and Chickahominy Riverfront Park in Williamsburg.

Also offering a special 15 mile family course, completely on the Virginia Capital Trail, available from Chickahominy Riverfront Park in Williamsburg.

A mass start for each distance, complete with lead vehicles and police escorts the first couple of miles.

A delicious lunch at the finish lines with refreshments throughout the route (no more mid-ride lunch, save it for the PARTY after the ride.)

A post-ride celebration at Rocketts Landing in Richmond.

Visit for start times, fees, mail in registration, and other ride details.

Not only will you be treated to beautiful scenery and gently rolling terrain, we hope to pamper you with delicious and well-stocked rest stops, a big lunch waiting at the end of the ride and the friendliest volunteers around.

And most importantly, by participating, you will be helping the Virginia Capital Trail Foundation pursue their mission to make the Virginia Capital Trail a world class destination all Virginians will be proud of. Whether you are an avid cyclist or you've not been on a bike since your Huffy spider bike with the banana seat and footlong sissy bar, join us for an unforgettable experience.

The Virginia Capital Trail is an ambitious project connecting over 50 miles, five jurisdictions and two Virginia capitals. Currently, eight miles are complete and heavily in use in James City County, with seven more nearing completion in Charles City County. The project is scheduled for completion by 2013. The Virginia Capital Trail Foundation is the principal advocate, raising funds for enhancements such as interpretive and way-finding signage, bike/pedestrian accommodations, and trailhead amenities including benches, bike racks, and shade structures. The Foundation also actively promotes the trail through numerous initiatives to draw visitors and their tourism dollars from outside the region and Virginia's borders. We also partner with V-DOT on construction and alignment issues, working to make the Virginia Capital Trail the best it can be.

Help us achieve our goals, to the vast benefit of future trail users, by making a tax-deductible contribution when you register. You'll receive our e-newsletter with updates, issues, and ways to get involved in trail efforts!

Online registration open now! Check: www.virginiacapitaltrail.org/html/events.html

Talk about it here: Cap2Cap Ride

Bicycle Gearing

2009-04-07T16:47:00.003-04:00

People often talking about how hard or easy it is to pedal their bike, but really don't understand how all the gearing works.

While the cyclists most interested in gearing tend to be single speed or fixed gear riders, everyone should know that not all cranksets and rear cassettes (the pieces of your bike that actually create all the gear inches / ratios) are created equal.

Let's defined a few terms that you will need to know.
1) Chain ring: The ring(s) that are attached to the cranks. Bikes will have from 1(single), 2 (double), or 3 (triple) chain rings.
2) Cassette, Freewheel, Cog: All terms used to describe the gearing rings used on the rear wheel. Each is similar, but different.
~ A cog is single ring, that usually attaches to the rear wheel and does not have a ratcheting mechanism. Without ratcheting, your pedals will constantly turn even if you try to coast, and use of this system is called riding "Fixed gear."
~ A Freewheel is a cog mounted on a ratcheting mechanism, which allows you to coast when you stop pedaling.
~ A cassette is a cluster of cogs mounted to a freewheel, offering you the ability to switch between gears. (cassettes can range from 2 -10 gears)

There are two terms used in gearing, Gear Ratio and Gear Inches.
Ratios take into account the direct relationship between your chainrings & the rear cogs; while Gear inched is similar, it also takes into account the size of the wheels/tires that you are using too.

It may sound complicated, but it really isn't.

With so many wheels sizes being used these days, Gear Inches is the most accurate way to make sure you are gearing all your bike alike.

For the sake of time and ease, we'll just cover a Single Speed / fixed gear ratio and inches.

~ Gear Ratio = Chainring size / rear cog size.
~ Gear Inches = (Chainring size / Rear cog) * wheelsize in inches

Here are a few examples:
A 43 tooth chainring and a 20 tooth cog being used on a bike with 29" wheels would look like this:
~ Gear Ratio = 43/20 = 2:51 ratio.
~ Gear Inches = (43/20)*29 = 49.4 gear inches.

So what's the difference?
Let's say you feel comfortable pedaling your current bike that is using a 32t chainring, 16t cog, and 26" wheels; but now you bought a new bike and want to have the same gearing.
If you do the math on your current bike:

~ Gear Ratio = 32/16 = 2:1 ratio.
~ Gear Inches = (32/16)*26 = 52 gear inches.

But what if your new bike has 29" wheels?
If you use the 2:1 "Gear Ratio", You'll find that it's not the same pedal stroke. In fact it'll be much, much harder.

Using a 29" wheel and 32t/16t = 58 gear inches!
So now all you need to do is change a few values until you locate a Gear Inches for the new bike that is similar to your old bike.
In this case, using a 32t chainring, 18t cog, & a 29" gives you a gear ratio of 51.5 gear inches, which is very close to your old bike.
For fun, you can do a few options +/- to fine tune your choice.
( 32/17 )*29 = 54.6")
( 32/18 )*29 = 51.5")
( 32/19 )*29 = 48.8")

JROC Gear Swap April 18th, 2009

2009-04-06T23:14:00.001-04:00

Richmond-MORE & Westview on the James create MOU.

2009-04-01T09:19:00.005-04:00

RA MORE / Westview Cooperation

A verbal MOU agreement has been reached between the property owners/land managers of Westview On the James and Richmond-MORE for trail development on their land.

Notable facts:
~ Ed Jones, AKA "Cycle'sEd" fantastic trail building at Camp Brady was the reason Westview approached the club about such a co-op.

~ Greg Rollins and Steve Hodson are the duo working on behalf of Richmond-MORE to develop this plan with Westview, as well as design and develop the trails on the land.

~This project has been in the works for approximately 1.5 yrs and still has much more work to come.

~ Opportunities for Richmond-MORE members as well as the general public to get involved will be coming up in the future.

In the up coming month the club will be taking a property survey of the property, so Stay Tuned!

Last minute info and chat about this topic: Ra-MORE/Westview Trail MOU.

Devils Backbone Challenge Postponed!

2009-03-27T12:10:00.002-04:00

DUE TO WEATHER CONDITIONS AT THIS TIME,
The Devil's Backbone Challenge has been postponed until May 23rd.

Day & Time of Original Event:
March 26 - 1.30pm

Postponed Until"
Day: May 23, 2009
TIME: TBA

4200 Acre Easement Vote in Frederisksburg, April 15th, 2009.

2009-03-18T10:38:00.002-04:00

A couple of years ago the city of Fredericksburg placed over 4200 acres of land that skirts both sides of the Rappahannockand the Rappidan rivers and other tributaries into a conservation easement. The land goes upstream from town about 30 miles. It is not a continuous stretch of land but it's close.

The land is currently governed only by local and state laws. The easement agreement calls for the creation of a Watershed Property Management Plan that will fill in the gaps that aren't addressed by the current laws (who can build a trail, what the trail can be used for, where access points will be allowed, etc). The committee that is drafting the Management plan is accepting public comment on the plan until April 15th.

What's needed is to have Mountain bikers to please take a few minutes to submit a comment regarding your desire to have mountain biking listed as an allowable use on the land. Be aware that your comments are public and that it's important to convey an image of respect for nature and cooperation with all other users.

For the full posting, information download, contacting Steve Craig (Pres. FATMUG), and to talk about this subject, Please follow this link: 4200+ acre easement Thread.

SNOW delays Camp Hilbert Race 1 until 4/4.

2009-03-05T15:52:00.001-05:00

Due to the snow we are moving these events to April 4th. If you are pre-registered you will automatically be entered in the new date. If you're unable to attend the new date please contact me at markjunkermann@hotmail.com.

If you are not entered... now's you opportunity! Visit www.runriderace.com for more information on these and other Richmond area events.

Calling all women.... check out the women's only 8k running event.... www.runlikeagirl8k.com. Join over 500 women joining forces to raise money for the HERA Women's Cancer Foundation.

I hate to see it not go down but that was a very responsible decision. Thanks Mark.

Follow this topic, HERE.

Snow & the trails.

2009-03-03T17:17:00.002-05:00

With all the snow and cold the temps earlier this week and the high chance of very warm weather in days to come; CCVA would like to remind all mountain bikers that the trails will not only be wet, but chances are the first few inches of the trail bed will be very soggy and using the trails during this time can cause severe or permanent damage to them.

Please avoid riding during this time and if you do ride, Please keep the trail narrow by staying in the center of the trail and going through mud and not around it.

Also, some parks or even just some trails within the same park fair weather issues like this better than others, so consider riding those trails or fire roads that fair better during these times.

Any questions or comments, go to thread Snow Today, Warm enough to ride tomorrow.:

Giant Intro's 29" bikes into 2010 Lineup

2009-02-28T01:05:00.003-05:00

Looks like Giant will be entering the 2010 lineup with at least 1 bike.
A hardtail.

Here are a few "released" sketches provided by Giant on FaceBook.

You can talk about it here.

Salsa CroMOTO SUL Stem RECALL

2009-02-26T13:10:00.001-05:00

SAFETY RECALL

Salsa Cycles CroMoto S.U.L. Bicycle Stems

CroMoto S.U.L. Quill and CroMoto S.U.L. Threadless Stems are affected. These stems were also used on the following complete Salsa bicycles: Ala Carte, El Mariachi, Casseroll Triple, Casseroll Single, and La Cruz

Complete bikes sold after: November 5, 2007
Aftermarket stems sold after: March 31, 2008

Offical Recell Notice Here.

Belle Island Closed at least 3 -4 weeks. (Update to North Bridge and SouthBridge Closings.)

2009-02-26T13:03:00.003-05:00

Hello All,
(Actual article at bottom of post)

As many have already read or been told, Three weeks back the City of Richmond shutdown the Southside Bridge due to structural issues. (IE weld & planks)
Because of the serious work and this is expected to take up to 3 months to complete.

Meanwhile, the only other access point is the Lee Bridge "pedestrian foot bridge" that links the North side of the river bank to Belle Island. Just this past weekend (2/22) a 3' chunk of cement came loose and feel from the above Lee Bridge and came to rest on the pedestrian bridge below it.

Since this time, the City of Richmond has been forced to shutdown this access point to Belle Island, leaving NO Official Access to Belle Island.

The city initially hoped to have the pedestrian bridge reopened after 3 days, but this is now a MINIMUM of 3-4 weeks.

So if anyone is trying to complete a loop of the downtown trails, you will have to ride up to the roadside (both North & South side of river are close at each trail head) and cross the top of the Lee Bridge.

Look for signs pointing you to the trails, be safe and have fun!

Click here for the latest discussions on CCVA":

Thank you,
Jay deBellonia
CCVA Admin
Co-Founder Richmond-MORE

Here is a quote from a recent article:
[ Belle Isle will not reopen for public use for several weeks because of pending plans to protect the main pedestrian bridge from falling debris from the Robert E. Lee Bridge and to repair another bridge used for emergency access, Richmond officials said today.

"It looks like it's going to be several weeks," said John R. Pope Jr., director of the Department of Parks and Recreation. "The best thing people can do right now, the average park user, is stay off the island."

Richmond public works officials said they hope to approve a design today for scaffolding that will be erected along roughly 100 feet of the pedestrian bridge from the north bank of the James River to the island. The scaffolding is necessary to protect pedestrians from being struck by debris, such as a three-foot length of concrete that fell from the Lee Bridge on Saturday afternoon and forced city officials to close access to Belle Isle.

At the same time, city officials said they are pushing for expedited approval of bids to repair the emergency access bridge to the island from the river's south bank. The bridge was closed last month after faulty welds were discovered beneath it. City officials said today they expect repairs to take several months to that bridge.

Dexter White, director of the Department of Public Works, said the Lee Bridge is safe for vehicle traffic and already was scheduled for detailed inspection in April. He said the inspection would focus on the structural integrity of the bridge, completed in 1988.

The city also is working with the Virginia Department of Transportation, which designed and built the Lee Bridge, to determine why repairs made to the structure five years ago failed last weekend. Those repairs were made after city and state officials determined that the two spans of the bridge were rubbing together,.

City officials said the two spans are touching again, but they don't know the cause or the solution.

"VDOT is working closely with us on this one," said acting City Engineer M.S. Khara. ]

http://cyclingcentralva.org/forums/index.php?showtopic=14146

Belle Isle - NORTH FOOT BRIDGE

2009-02-22T23:31:00.002-05:00

The suspended pedestrian bridge to Belle Isle from the north bank of the James River in Richmond was closed today after a large piece of concrete fell from the Robert E. Lee Bridge above.

No one was injured. The concrete chunk fell and shattered onto the pedestrian bridge around 5 p.m., said Christy Everson, spokeswoman for the city's parks and recreation department.

Ralph White (JRPS Mrg) estimated that the concrete chunk was about 3' in length and said that it fell closer to the Belle Isle side of the bridge.

City officials say the footbridge may not reopen until Tuesday 2/24.

The plan is to install a 50-foot-long scaffolding and wood tunnel to provide a layer of safety for to park users.

There seems to be no reporting or mention about the safety or condition of the Lee Bridge itself and we'll post more as information comes about.

Mark your Calendar, Richmond Xterra is BACK!

2009-02-20T23:38:00.000-05:00

Join us at Brown's Isle in Richmond, Virginia for the XTERRA Atlantic Championship.
Weekend Schedule.
6/14/09 XTERRA Richmond Xduro Trail Run - 21km
The 21km Xduro and 10km trail run is classic XTERRA, with an urban flair. This course has stair climbs, railroad track crossings, rock jumps and a scenic run along the James River. A true test of trail running endurance.

6/14/09 XTERRA Richmond Scramble - 10km
The 21km Xduro and 10km trail run is classic XTERRA, with an urban flair. This course has stair climbs, railroad track crossings, rock jumps and a scenic run along the James River. A true test of trail running endurance.

6/14/09 XTERRA Atlantic Cup & XTERRA Sport.
Distances: 1000m swim / 29k mountain bike / 11k trail run

The XTERRA Atlantic Championship is one of five XTERRA America Tour Championship Races leading to the XTERRA USA Championship in Ogden, UT.

Pros race for $10,000 pro purse
Age groupers battle for slots to the World Championship
Top amateur finishers earn points toward their standings in the XTERRA America Tour Series
Brown's Island in the heart of downtown Richmond is headquarters for all the action. While the XTERRA race course begins and ends on the island, the race itself spans the James River Park and nearby city.

Entry Type
XTERRA Atlantic Championship - Individual $95.00
XTERRA Atlantic Championship Team $140.00
XTERRA Atlantic Sport - Individual $65.00
XTERRA Atlantic Sport - Team $95.00

Camp Hilbert Mountain Bike Series:

2009-02-20T23:19:00.006-05:00

Start your 2009 racing season off with RunRideRace

Camp Hilbert Mountain Bike Start

The Camp Hilbert Series which kicks off the season March 8, 2009! This series has races for runners and mountain bikers. For those on Fat Tires we will have races divisions for beginners to enduro. To kick off each day day of activities the gun will start Froze Toes 4 mile trail run at 8am.

In addition, RunRideRace is taking over the Spring and Fall Cup (Twisted Tire Events) which take place on the trails of Poor Farm in Ashland, VA.

Camp Hilbert Mountain Bike Race Series 2009
Race 1: Sunday March 8, 2009
Entry Fee $25-$35
Free Kids race (on dirt roads @ 11:30am)
Race day registration 8:00 am
Start Time: 9:30 and 12:00
Register

Race 2: Saturday May 9, 2009
Entry Fee $30-$35
Free Kids race (on dirt roads @ 11:30am)
Race day registration 8:00 am
Start Time: 9:30 and 12:00
Register

Race 3: Sunday June 28, 2009
Entry Fee $30-$35
Free Kids race (on dirt roads @ 11:30am)
Race day registration 8:00 am
Start Time: 9:30 and 12:00
Register

Latest Info @ www.runriderace.com

Other RunRaceRide Events coming up...
Twisted Tire/Spring Cup in Ashland, VA on Sunday, April 19, 2009.
Online Registration Closes Friday, April 17, 2009 at 12:30 AM ET

Devils Backbone Challenge

2009-02-20T23:03:00.004-05:00

Talk about it here.

March 28, 2009, 10 am @ Wintergreen, Va
Rolling Start

XC scoring for the Virginia Off Road Series

The Start/Finish at the new Devils Backbone Brewery right outside Wintergreen, Va. Rolling start up Brent’s Gap will get you warmed up for the incredible trails ahead. The course will have double and singletrack trails leading you through creeks and up to incredible ridgeline views. Dive back down to more double and singletrack trails. Your course will be determined by your riding skills level. All will head down Brent’s Gap to finish back at the Devils Backbone Brewery!

Course Description: A 10am rolling road start from the Brewery up to the top of Brents Gap. Short downhill to trailhead on right. Doubletrack will start you into the woods. From there you will have a mix of single/doubletrack through creek crossings, climbs to great ridgeviews, and descents to keep your brakes screaming. (approx.6-7miles)

Once you complete that section, Beginners will take the road back to the Brewery for a ripping fast finish. The Expert/Sport/SingleSpeeds will continue back into the trails and venture through 3 to 4 more miles. Then back to the road where the Sport Cat will head back to the Finish. The Experts/SingleSpeeds will then do another lap of the above and then race back down from Brents Gap to the Brewery!

Brents Gap: approx. 1.8 miles from Start/Finish Line with approx. 600 ft elevation gain.

CATEGORIES:
Men/Women Expert - 2 laps
Men/Women Sport - 1 lap
Men/Women Beginner - .75 laps
SingleSpeed 2 laps
High School Sport - 1 lap
High School Beginner - .75 laps

$35 online reg / $40 day of Event
Registration is here: Devils Backbone Challenge.
Talk about it here.

And afterwards the Brewery will be having events and other festivities to help enjoy the rest of your day after racing hard on the Devils Backbone Challenge!

Powhite Trail Work Saturday, 2/07/09

2009-02-03T20:39:00.003-05:00

First, a big THANK YOU to all the volunteers who showed up last Saturday for our first effort in Powhite Park.

We accomplished quite a bit more than we thought possible for one day, with a good deal of new trail being cut and old trail reclaimed. Our goals for this weekend will be to buff out the new section that was built last weekend, while installing a berm or 2, and also to cut new trail to continue the new line near the back fence. Additionally, we will be working on adding more technical(rocky) lines to the new trail. The weather should be beautiful both Saturday and Sunday, with highs for trail work on Saturday around 60. Hope to see everyone out on the trail.

Where
Although we will be working near the "back gate" of the park, Nathan has asked that we park in the parking lot just off Jahnke Rd across the street from the hospital and walk or ride our bikes in to the work site. The reason for this is that the dead end near the back gate will have equipment and a City vehicle or 2 parked there, and we would like to be considerate of the residents and not block the street any more than necessary. For those who have never been to Powhite Park, just follow the trail coming from the parking lot down the hill, cross the creek on the 60' decked bridge and bear left. Continue on this trail which borders the swamp(keeping the swamp on your LEFT) until you come to another, smaller bridge. Cross this bridge and you should see the work site up on the hill in front of you. If you have any questions, feel free to call Nathan Burrell at 357-8897.

What to bring:
Wear sturdy shoes or work boots and bring work gloves. Dress in layers because you'll probably warm up rather quickly once you start working. It is also recommended to bring some water and some kind of snack. It's better to have it and not need it, than need it and not have it.

Cancellations:
In case of inclement weather, any cancellations of Trail Care will be made by 7:00am Saturday morning.
Notification will be made on the Cycling Central VA forums (www.cyclingcentralva.org/forums), the Richmond-MORE website, or via email.
Currently the weather forecast for Saturday is supposed to be partly cloudy with a high of 41, and rain is not expected.

Follow Thread Here...

Powhite Trail Care Begins

2009-01-21T10:28:00.002-05:00

Powhite Park will finally be undergoing a long overdue facelift starting Saturday, January 31, 2009.

This effort will be lead by Kevin Clark (Powhite Trail Liaison for Richmond-MORE) and under the direction of Nathan Burrel (Richmond City Trail Mgr).

It's been a long, long time coming, but that time is finally here. Powhite Park, the proverbial "Diamond in the Rough" of the Southside, has been in need of some serious TLC for some while.

On our LOOOONG laundry list, there are several short-term goals we have for the park over the next year, and also a few goals further on down the road. Among the short-term goals are items like....

1. Establish a new "outer loop" beginner level trail around the perimeter of the park, with appropriate(but not overcrowded) signage, while rerouting the trail as necessary to pull the trail off private property, closing unsustainable fall line trails and making the best possible use of the terrain available.

2. Establish a ped specific trail that runs the length of the "Swamp Trail" at the bottom of the park, paralleling the existing multi-use trail down there presently.

3. Repair/upgrade existing bridges in the park and create info kiosks at entrances to the park.

4. Create a newer, more visible & attractive trailhead at the parking lot entrance.

Several long-term goals as well, such as....

1. Create advanced and expert level loops inside the big outer "beginner loop", retaining Powhite's tight & technical character, including an overhaul of "The Buzz", to make it just that much sweeter.

2. Create new trails and update/reclaim old trails, all to IMBA standards.

3. Prepare Powhite for increased user traffic in anticipation of, you guessed it, the long-fabled "POWHITE CONNECTOR TRAIL" that will connect Powhite to the JRPS, hopefully without ever having to cross a strip of pavement. This project is in the very early stages, but officially in the works and is favored by the City of Richmond. Adding to that, there are other potential greenway projects that will incorporate Powhite as a "weigh station" of sorts on the way to points South in the City, then the County.

A few notes-

"Change is inevitable, except from a vending machine." Powhite has remained relatively unchanged in the past, but now faces a new set of circumstances. Yes, the park and some of the trails will change, but it will still retain the "old" style as much as possible.Fun, tight, twisty, and with obstacles abounding. A note to the logpile crew- most of the old, rotted logpiles will be coming out, but fear not. We've heard your distant cries in the night, and there will be logpiles o'plenty coming with the upgrades to the park. After all, it just wouldn't be Powhite without the logpiles, now would it?

Trailwork will start on Saturday, January 31st. More details TBA, and soon at that. Please come out to help!

Thanks for reading & stay tuned!

For the latest information, goto Powhite Trail Care Thread.

ClifBar Voluntary Recall

2009-01-20T20:23:00.004-05:00

ClifBar is having a voluntary recall on the products listed below because of the possibility of peanut butter being tainted.
Here is a list of the questionable bars:
LIF BAR Chocolate Chip Peanut Crunch
BEST BY/SELL BY:
21JUN09 to 01OCT09 and
03NOV09 to 28NOV09
CLIF BAR Crunchy Peanut Butter
BEST BY/SELL BY:
21JUN09 to 01OCT09 and
03NOV09 to 28NOV09
CLIF BAR Peanut Toffee Buzz
BEST BY/SELL BY:
13SEP09
CLIF Builder’s Peanut Butter
SELL BY:
19JUL09 to 30SEP09 and
05NOV09 to 18NOV09
CLIF Kid Organic ZBaR Peanut Butter
BEST BY:
07JUL09 to 05SEP09 and
12NOV09
LUNA Nutz Over Chocolate
BEST BY:
29JUL09 to 03OCT09 and
11NOV09 to 14NOV09
LUNA Peanut Butter Cookie
BEST BY:
02OCT09 to 03OCT09 and
11NOV09 to 14NOV09
MOJO Honey Roasted Peanut
BEST BY:
30APR09 to 21JUN09
MOJO Mixed Nuts
BEST BY:
30APR09 to 21JUN09
MOJO Mountain Mix
BEST BY:
30APR09 to 21JUN09
MOJO Peanut Butter Pretzel
BEST BY:
30APR09 to 21JUN09
MOJO Dipped Chocolate Peanut
BEST BY:
30APR09 to 21JUN09
MOJO Dipped Peanut Butter and Jelly
BEST BY:
30APR09 to 21JUN09
MOJO Dipped Fruit and Nut
BEST BY:
30APR09 to 21JUN09
CLIF® BAR Chocolate Chip Peanut Crunch / Brisures de Chocolat aux Arachides Croquants
EXPIRY DATE/DATE D’EXPIRATION:
2009SE07
CLIF BAR Crunchy Peanut Butter / Beurre d’ Arachide Croquant
EXPIRY DATE/DATE D’EXPIRATION:
2009SE06 to 2009SE11 and
2009NO13
CLIF® BAR Peanut Toffee Buzz® / Toffee et Arachides
EXPIRY DATE/DATE D’EXPIRATION:
2009SE12
CLIF Builder’s Peanut Butter / Beurre d’Arachide
EXPIRY DATE/DATE D’EXPIRATION:
2009JU20 and
2009AU20

No other CLIF or LUNA products or flavors are included in this recall.

January RABA Meeting

2009-01-06T19:45:00.001-05:00

Join us for the January RABA Meeting

Wednesday, January 14, 2009
Cycling New Zealand and Oregon

Dinner: 6:00 PM;
Meeting : 7:15 PM
Location:
El Toro Loco
1808 Staples Mill Rd,
Richmond, VA 23230
(across from the Crazy Greek)

Come early to make sure you have a good seat! For the third year in a row, Andrew Mann will be giving a travelogue of his cycling adventures. This time it’ll be of his rides in New Zealand and Oregon. Don’t miss it!

Comment on the thread here.

New Years Day Events & Rides

2008-12-26T10:00:00.003-05:00

Wow folks,
There are a lot of ways to spend your New Years Day burning off your New Years Eve calories and alcohol!

A few things from the boards:

~ Miles 4 Meredith Ride
CCVA Thread Link. Info:
Date: January 1, 2009
Time: Starts 11:30, Ride Time 12:00
Location: MTB - Freedom Park; Road Bike - Mt. Trashmore Overflow Parking Lot

~ 2nd Annual Polar Plunge!
Thread Link.
Time: 12pm
Where: Pony Pasture

~ Metro's 2 Parks, Plunge, & Beer Ride.

EVMA Dec Meeting Summary.

2008-12-18T09:23:00.003-05:00

TRAIL NEWS

Wahrani Nature Trail: Thanks to Kodey Stambro, who installed the directional signs as his Eagle Scout project.
EVMA will also being supervising another Eagle Scout project which will be replacing 4 bridge not replaced during work done to the trail last year. Any help would be greatly appreciated. More info to come.

New Quarter: Clair & Becky Walizer have flagged off 2 new sections which will add up to a mile to the existing trail. We will be cutting in the new sections in January – details on work dates will follow.

Freedom Park: Team Rukus has installed the 20th trail feature on the new section of trail. The newest feature is called the MONSTER BRIDGE. Word is spreading about this great trail system and riders are coming from as far as Northern VA to check out the latest additions.

** Please remember to ride this trail with caution, especially if it is your first time. Take a moment to look at any features that you are not familiar with. Jumps and drops have been added, some having "drop off" back sides as high as 2'.
Let’s ride fun but safe as well. Thanks to all the great people who helped make this trail fantastic.

York River: We are hoping to extend the trail from Laurel Glen to Riverview. This could be approximately 4-5 miles total on the Laurel Glen side of the trail system. It will probably not be a loop section but the 2 trails will be accessible by the fire road. More details to come.

Proposed Scout Trail: Kirk and Penny presented a proposal to the Tidewater BSA Council for a bike trail at Pipsico Scout Reservation. More info to come.

Link to more in the Post and Conversation on the forums.

Richmond-MORE's Dec. 08 Meeting Summary

2008-12-18T09:03:00.004-05:00

This is a summary for the last meeting for Richmond-MORE in 2008.
Discussions included the development of a strategic plan for 2009, had a local park update.

Some stats for 2008 was 3000' of new and improved trail created with over 3000 man hours invested. In that trail care, the huge project of bridges and stone work in Buttermilk Heights in which the stone work alone consumed over 1000 man hours!

Listening and reacting to the input of riders, the park also noted the installation of 25 TTF's (technical trail features) while the need to remove only 5 TTF's.

Richmond-MORE also the need to fulfill board openings for Treasurer and Secretary, and for someone to be our lead person for Park Patrol at JRPS. A person was also nomination for Ride Coordinator, but I don't have the name to report.

A huge thanks to everyone who helped Richmond-MORE work through 2008. Being involved takes a lot of time and commitment!
Thank you from CCVA.

Link to post and conversation on the forums.

Commuting in the rain basics.

2008-12-01T09:32:00.002-05:00

Taking to the rain.

I'll be honest, it's hard for to get motivated for a commute by bike ride when the weather gets too rainy, cold, or hot.

A small secret though, once you do it, it’s not that bad at all. A few thing that you need to consider for rainy days and/or winter riding on your commute.

Two best tips for rainy and cold weather riding:
~ Dress in layers so that you can peel off a layer at a time if you get too hot.
~ If you are dressed and already hot before even leaving out your door, you are overdressed!
Have on enough clothes that you can "slightly" feel is cold as you walk into it since your body will heat up during the ride and create a barrier of heat to keep you warm. This slightly lighter way of dressing allows just enough heat to escape to keep you from overheating on your commute.

Preparing your person:
Eye protection
Eye protection will protect your eyes from the cold, rain, and can also help to produce better overall lighting situations on your ride. Many glasses these day come with multiple lens for all types of lighting situations and a standard 3 lens kit should come with the following: Brown/Black lens (bright sun), Amber/Yellow lens (low light/fog), & clear lens(night time).

Outerwear
Look for a good riding jacket &/or pants. One that has vents and is wind & water resistant or even wind/water proof. These
items can range in pricing from $50 - 300. a piece and while you do get what you pay for, most products in the $70-150 price range really do a great job and will last you a long time.
Remember that cycling pants and jackets are tailored especially for cycling by giving longer sleeve & back panel to keep you covered when you are in the bar reach position.
Another nice feature is a jacket by which the sleeves will unzip leaving you with a cycling vest.

Footwear
Most cycling related shoes have vents built in and in the winter and rain this can be pretty unpleasant, but a few tips to keeping your feet warm is to look for items like: wool socks, toe shoe covers, or even full shoe boot covers.
(Prices rage from $5 - 40)

Gloves / Hats / Masks
Like jackets and pants, try to find gloves that will help to keep you warm by being wind/water resistant or proof.
Keeping in mind that the more bulky the glove, the harder it is to use the controls on your bike.
Skull caps and helmet covers help keep you warm by keeping the cold air off of your head.

Preparing your bike.
Lights
Lights are a must and are usually required by law. Most localities require a front and rear light and just like on a car the front is white and the rear is red.
There are two types of ways to view lighting on your bike, to been seen by, and to see by.
While there are many types of lights on the market, LED's are now the most widely used because of their small size, high visibility, and long last run times.
Lights will range from $10- 100. This is not a place to go super cheap and in my experience the best lights to buy are usually between $20-30 price range. They tend to last a longer, be waterproof, are very bright, and have better over all construction.

Fenders / Racks
Using fenders & racks on your bike adds another layer of protection to you as it helps to keep the water & debris on the road off of your person.

Be (extra) alert
Riding in the rain or the winter sets you up for new hazards to encounter.
Items like leaves, wet road stripes, steel plates and grates, and icy surfaces are all very slippery. So take the ride a little slower and be a little more "alert" than normal as just like in a car your reaction times will be slower that under normal conditions.

Bike / gear clean up
Try to dry off your bike with at least a quick wipe down with a dry cloth, paying close attention to the chain and brake surfaces.
Keep your chain well lubed, usually with a "winter/wet" weather chain lube.
And wash your helmet, gloves, etc on a fairly regular basis as you will still sweet even on the coldest of rides.

Time to get back to basics!

2008-11-13T09:22:00.003-05:00

It's been way to long since the group rides have been on a regular basis and the only way we'll keep the momentum of this sport growing, teach awareness, trail etiquette, etc, is to lead by example!

So let's get the ball rolling again. Fun paced rides with thought of food, beer, coffee, and good times and friends to follow.

We'll rotate parks and range from Local to parks within an hours(ish) drive.
To not regress into the recent months of $4.00 a gal fuel, carpooling will always be a good option too.

Ideas for this Sunday 11/16: Poor Farm Park, meeting @ 11am w/lunch to follow at El Azteca (sp).

Follow this topic.

Another way people are taking to bikes.

2008-11-10T09:37:00.003-05:00

We all know that folks are commuting to work on bikes more and more these days; and for years people have been using bikes to deliver everything from mail to pizza.

But here is a completely new concept. Taking your job on the road.

Pibby's Bicycle Repair Benefit Raffle for Richmond-MORE!

2008-10-23T22:18:00.000-04:00

Pibby's Bicycle Repair is hosting a raffle to benefit the Richmond Chapter of MORE. The prize is a Wilderness Trail Bikes LazerDisc XC 26"
wheelset, complete with Shimano SM-RT75 160mm disc brake rotors, Michelin XC dry2 tires, and Salsa Flip-Offs stainless steel skewers.
Total package valued at $750!

One ticket costs $5, or strengthen your chances with three tickets for $10. There will be no limit on the number of tickets you can buy because ALL of the proceeds will go into trail work and advocacy in the Richmond area.

The drawing for the wheels will be held at the RA-MORE information table on November 9th during Richmond Multisports' Twisted Tire Fall Cup mountain bike race at Poor Farm Park. You do not need to be present at the drawing to win the wheels. Please contact Chip at Pibby's Bicycle Repair, pibbys@mac.com, for tickets and information.

Pibby's Bicycle Repair
731 W. Marshall St.
Richmond, Virginia 23220

804 622-4778 phone
pibbys at mac dot com
www.pibbys.com

Tuesday - Saturday
10 am - 6 pm

Metro Perspective...

2008-10-09T22:05:00.002-04:00

People often ask "why" when someone mentions using a singlespeed (SS) or a fixie (singlespeed bike w/out the ability to coast) and usually it's dismissed by others around as a "crazy thought," a "fad," or "someone just trying to be different."

I usually will argue that it's about the simplicity of simply riding, but here Metro took it deeper. A clear next level incite to why so many of us long to ride without gears, suspension or all of the above.

This came out of this post.

But that’s the first step of addiction. It’s a gateway bike part, you start with free wheelin’ and that leads to wanting to try new things like gears, then before you know it you’ve blown all your money on derailleurs, cassettes, big rings, little rings and shifty bits. If that wasn’t bad enough you will finally find yourself off the deep end one day living in a trailer park but happy that all you have left in life (and all that you need) is your full suspension bike. That’s the way the mind of a junkie works. If you get “lucky” you might find yourself a high roller or drug dealer (rather than a blue collar tweaker) that can afford to live the good life and indulge in fancy things like Carbon and Titanium. Then my friend you might be fooled into thinking you are on top of the word with your high end full-suspension all carbon fiber 19 pound, 27 geared, all Ti bolts and aluminum rotors high zoot mountain bike that practically rides it’s self. But you my friend are wrong.

I was just talking to someone a few weeks ago that was riding a very nice looking very expensive bike. I ask him how he liked the bike and he said “the bike rides it’s self I just sit on top and pedal, I don’t even have to think about line choice as the suspension lets me roll over anything. I think 5” of travel is perfect for the local (JRPS, Poor Farm, PSP) trails.

Being polite I told him “good to hear, she’s a beauty, have a nice ride today.” But in my mind I was thinking, I can go to the gym and sit atop a stationary bike and “just pedal w/o thinking.” As a matter of fact that’s the only way that I can stand to ride a bike indoors! I come to the trails for the experience. I like to interact and be in control (or at least feel in control of the situation). I like to know how hard I can lean into a corner before my tire breaks loose or what the easy and hard lines are through a tricky section. I like to know that there is a rock drop/jump up ahead that I can’t quite make yet but one day I will practice it enough to do it with style and make someone else who can’t do it say WOW the way I say it when I see someone do it now.

I like riding my bike to be like a relationship with a girlfriend/boyfriend. There should be a lot of hands on stuff and a lot of action. Some uncertainty is necessary and the payout is always a good feeling.

Others apparently view riding their bike as some view their marriage. They just sit back and put in just enough effort to keep the thing rolling not really knowing exactly how to get through a certain rough time other than to just hold on and trust that instinct and love (suspension) will pull them through unharmed. It’s a very passive game of pleasure.

Think about the crazy stuff you did when you were dating verses the stuff you do (or did) while married. That’s kind of how I view biking. At the end of the day though ride what ever gets you off!

Ah, the Spirit of Cycling...

2008-10-04T08:42:00.002-04:00

The spirit of cycling can be a very unique experience for each of us, but somehow I think it touches all of us on a level few can describe.

Bikes are each their own works of art in terms of form and function and VillageIdiots RatRod is a prime example of unique flava' meets function = art.

> Olde Fashioned Group Ride, Poca Sunday at 1200 Noon

2008-10-03T22:11:00.002-04:00

So what da ya say?!

What: A fun social ride of the Lakeview trails
Where: Pocahontas State Park
When:High Noon
Meet Place: Heritage Center parking

Anyone, Everyone, come one, come all as it looks to be a perfect riding day...

Followed up by a BBQ near the swimming pool area.
Just look for all the cars with bike racks.

Charcoal will be supplied, just bring your choice cut, side, or drinks to share.
Plates, napkins, etc are always welcome too.

For more information, here is the link to the forums thread: Ride & BBQ Link

Rainy Days...

2008-09-28T21:15:00.002-04:00

With all the rain we've had lately, I thought I'd throw up the post about leaving the trails to dry for at 24hrs after a good rain.

And if you just have to head out for a ride, Pocahontas State Park (while they close the MTBike trails) offers about 30 miles of fire road that you can take your energy out on and still get in a lot of nature!

BoyScouts of Brady Sanders Camp need your help!

2008-09-16T09:32:00.002-04:00

Hi all,

I'm looking to recrute several riders that would be interested in sharing some of their time and expertice with some Boy Scoots out on the trails on Sept 20th. These are kids that are looking for advanced riding skills, but there are some basic riding needs as well.

Here's the official request below - if interested please contact me via pm or email ASAP. I can't attend as I'm out of town but still would like to help. How's about some of you, Thanks!!
email is cycle ed @ earthlink . net.
Follow this topic on the forums...

One of our troop goals is to create some higher adventure activities for the older scouts whenever possible - and for this trip the boys were interested in seeing if they could get some guidance on advanced trail riding skills. We haven't determined yet what exactly that means, so any suggestions you have would be welcome....

Most have basic to intermediate mountain biking skills - so I believe they would be happy to have any instruction or tips that someone could provide to help them with more advanced skills and a guided ride or on-course type instruction would be ideal if something could be arranged.

Again any suggestions are welcome and we appreciate any involvement your group could provide. (Although our initial thought is the higher adventure focus - if there are individuals willing and available to do more basic instruction for the younger boys, they would be very welcome as well.)

We don't have final counts yet - but I can give some guesses;

For the advanced/venture type stuff - approx 5 - 8 (and maybe a few leaders)
For the younger ones, if that's an option - approx 12 - 20 - which can we easily break into smaller groups as needed.

For timeframes - we are completely flexible to work around whatever schedules you/your folks can provide (weather may also come into play, but of course we probably won't have line of sight to that until last minute).....And FYI - we are happy to provide meals if that helps with scheduling/planning, just let us know....

Thanks
Greg M

Cycling Trivia

2008-09-16T00:37:00.004-04:00

So I'm thinking of starting up a section on the blog called "Cycling Trivia" and the intent is to more or less share some incite to cycling as I learn more facts about the business side, laws, tips, tricks, etc.

So, now for some Cycling Triva:
Today I'm writing to give some information about the Giant Bicycle Company.

Why Giant you ask? This one is simple. There's not a day that goes by that I don't get from a customer, "Who is Giant?, I've never heard of them before."

And while I profess to not know about all brands, Giant is such a major brand that I thought to share some of my knowledge about Giant with eveyone.

First, Giant Bike Company is and always has been a Taiwanese based company and to them they are similar to what Cannondale is to the US.

In fact, they started out about 35 years ago (read 1972)and the company actually took about 5 years to get up and running. Unlike many other companies, Giant wanted to be different, they wanted to be in control of their company in every aspect.

So King Liu, founder of Giant bikes wasn't going to settle on anything less than making their own tubing and welding their own frames. Than the major hurtle was finding a way to get someone to place orders, in walks Schwinn bicycles.

After a few years, Schwinn was 75% of Giants main business before Schwinn decided to head to China for cheaper manufactured bikes leaving Giant holding the bag of a lot of frames/bikes and all while loosing a 3/4's of their business.

Determined not to fail, Giant simply renamed the frames/bikes and marketed them under the name Giant. Going door-to-door in the US, they found shops willing to sell Giants to compete with Schwinn and it's been retail for Giant since!

That said, Giant actually makes many of the major brands frames/bikes and it's this simple economic advantage which is why a similarly spec'd bike offered from Giant can and usually is 5-15+% cheaper than their competitors.

In fact Giant actually even makes all their own Hydroformed tubes and carbon fiber bikes while many others use still a 3rd party.

What brands can be linked to Giant?
Source for below quote: Allanti

Giant, a Taiwanese company started in 1972, manufacturers their own bikes - including the carbon bikes, which is unique in the industry (i.e., most other brands utilize other manufacturers such as Advanced or Martec).

In addition to making their own bikes, Giant also makes, or has made, bikes for many other prominent brands, including Trek, Specialized, Schwinn, and Bianchi. Giant's claim to fame is that they have the most sophisticated and efficient manufacturing facilities in the bicycle industry.

A bit of trivia is that Giant owns 30% of Hodaka, a key Taiwanese supplier for many brands such as Bianchi.

Anyhow, I just thought I'd share some trivia and

Twisted Tire Race postponed until Nov. 9th.

2008-09-04T20:02:00.004-04:00

Due to potential severe weather conditions for the Richmond area Friday & Saturday, the trails at Poor Farm may be too wet to race on, potentially causing unnecessary damage and injury to riders and the trails.

So Richmond-MultiSports is postponing the Twisted Tire until Nov. 9th, 08.

Any comments or feedback can come to me directly by phone.

Laurie Mehler
Richmond Multisports Race Director
cellular 804.389.0588

Link: RainOptions Thread.
Link: Twisted Tire Roll Call Thread

She Rocks The Trails Event, Sept 21, 08

2008-08-28T09:38:00.007-04:00

Click here to talk about the event & get latest info.
About the Race

RunRideRace and Team Luna Chix have joined forces to host an all-women's event with a portion of the proceeds going to The Breast Cancer Fund. The event will take place on the beautiful trails of Camp Hilbert in Goochland Virginia.

This is the first year that RunRideRace and Team Luna Chix have teamed up to offer this event. Join us and help raise awareness and to eliminate the environmental causes of Breast Cancer. A portion of each entry will be donated to The Breast Cancer Fund. Please invite your family, friends, neighbors and co-workers to participate.

Register
Donate
Contact us with questions, comments, suggestions. Click here.

Details:
What & When:
September 21,2008
8am Go Girl 4-Mile Run
8:15am Go Girl 3 mile walk
9:45am SheRocks Trails Mountain Bike Ride. This is a non-competitive & beginner friendly 3-Mile event.
10:30am SheRocks Trails Mountain Bike Races. Beginner to advanced divisions (6, 12 and 18 miles).
1:30pm Lunch & Awards

Where:
Camp Hilbert 2240 Maidens Road Richmond, VA 23102
About 10 minutes West of Short Pump, Richmond VA.

Entry Fees:
$20 Walk OR Ride
$25 Go Girl 4-Miler
$30 Mountain Bike Race
$50 Run and Bike Race
Swag:

1st 100 to sign up receive a SheRocks Trails/GoGirl T-Shirt

V'ORDERVES 2008 - The Virginia Off-Road Series Finale Meets RMS Twisted Tire Nov 9th.

2008-08-24T19:03:00.006-04:00

Virginia Off Road Series Grand Finale 2008
Nov 9th, 2008
Camp Hilbert
Maidens Va
9am til...

Come on out and enjoy the Virginia Off Road Series Grand Finale! To kick things off will be the Twisted Tire Race put on by RMS followed by a cookout and finally the VORS Award Ceremony.

It has been a great season and hope everyone had a great time!

Latest Info. & Forums Thread.
Register

Questions?? email us at VORS@cycleva.com

Hope to see you there!!

Jared & Woody
Virginia Off Road Series,

Jim Popp Ride For Cancer Research

2008-08-21T07:33:00.005-04:00

Jim Popp Ride For Cancer Research
When: Sat Aug 23, 2008
Where: Richmond, Va
Donation: Just $25 per rider
Registration Form

Riding for a cause. Join the gang on Saturday August 23rd for a 60 mile ride from Richmond to Yorktown.

The Jim Popp Ride For Cancer Research.

'Ride for Jim' is an epic fundraising bicycle ride that will last from June-September 2008.

The goal of raising $50,000 will take everyone's help, so we encourage you to donate or support us any way you can!

They will even load you full of carbs at the 'Finale Rally' block party in Westover Hills the night before the ride (Friday Aug 22nd).

So Bring your family - there will be lots of fun and entertainment.

www.rideforjim.org - for details!
RideForJim Ride Log

Nathan Burrell article in Urban Views Weekly.

2008-08-07T09:56:00.002-04:00

Nathan Burrell
Trails Manager for Department of Parks, Recreation & Community Facilities

A volunteer survey administered last year suggested that a half million patrons visited James River Park. This year, employees and volunteers are certain that number has grown. Although nature has a daily hand in making the James River Park System such a dazzling beauty, each member of its small staff and every volunteer is integral to its well-being.
Continue Reading on Urban Views Weekly Here...

Upcoming Events:

2008-07-31T19:42:00.007-04:00

MORE's Annual Douthat Trip Don't wait, they normally sell out in less than a week!
Trip Dates: Sept 12-14th

EVMA's The Mountain Bike Marathon is August 17. Meet at Freedom Park @ 9 am. The plan is a lap there, ride to YRSP, a lap there, ride to NQP, a lap there, then ride back to Freedom Park. Laps may be abbreviated or extended depending on demand. Kirk and Penny will provide SAG support (i.e. we will have water, food, tools etc. - our excuse to drive between the parks).

Thread Here.

EVMA's Douthat Camping Trip.
Sept, 19-21.
More Details to come, check HERE for updates.

Aug. 17-18, CEd's 5th Annual"18hr Scouts Honor" Race!
Come one, come all as this race is a terrific endurance race that takes place in our metro area!
BikeReg 18hr Sign-up
Read more or comment here in the 18hr Thread.

And as a bonus a Local Bike Shop is helping to promote the race by offering discounts to racers on supplies needed for race day! Link.

August Cycling Challenge!

2008-07-30T21:33:00.000-04:00

So you think (or maybe you know) that you're just that good!

Well, put your foot to the pedal and prove it!

By this time of the year most people are feeling super fast as they've dialed in their bikes, timing, and had plenty of chances to hit their favorite trails.

The idea of this August's Cycling Challenge is to show up for your local rides sporting pedal opposite from what you are currently sporting.
This means all those using Clipless & ToeClips need to go Platform/Flat style and all those using Platform/Flat style need to go Clipless & ToeClips.

I will guarantee taking this challenge will show you just how much skill pedals can give or take away from a person.
And to top it off, it'll make all your rides more challenging and I know how we mountain bikers are always in search of the next tough challenge!

So take the August Cycling Challenge and just out of your comfort zone!

Follow the Thread topic here.

"Tunes for Trails" raised $2000.00!

2008-07-29T20:15:00.002-04:00

I have to say that while I am now a silent face of Richmond-MORE, I am very excited to see so many people so willing to help out the club that I co-founded only a few short years ago. Countless amounts of energy goes into running a club like Richmond-MORE and it's an awesome feeling to watch the club take on a life of it's own as new people join up and use their drive and talents to help push the club to further heights!

While so many constantly deserve a "Thank you" for the efforts they put forth to improve the Richmond mountain biking scene, this time the "Thank you" goes out to Terrell Bowers & the Green Giants for putting on the "Tunes for Trails" benefit concert at Cap Ale, and Clark Jones for really working with Terrell to make this event happen and get the word out.

This concert raised $2000.00 for Richmond-MORE, with a total of 245 people showing up for the event.

If anyone wants to learn how to get more involved in Richmond-MORE or their local club, feel free to contact me and I'll be happy to make the connections happen.

You can contact me on the forums, I'm f5000sl.

TUNES for TRAILS Benefit Concert

2008-07-17T09:15:00.001-04:00

When: Jul 25, 2008 (9pm to 2am)
Where: Capital Ale (Downtown Richmond on 7th & Main St)
Why: 100% of the $5.00 cover goes to support the downtown James River Park System trails. RA-MORE is the beneficiary of the event.

Green Giant will be performing live, in their own style of Hard-Driving, Soulful Rock. (originals and familiar covers)

Come one, come all and help support the JRPS and all those clubs & associations that are working hard to create the wonderful trails that brings a smile to all of our faces!

PS> Donations to support the Ra-MORE & JRPS can be made at any time.

Challenge de RedBull

2008-07-16T21:46:00.000-04:00

Redbull chugging contest from the PSP Mtn Bike Festival in May.
Comic relief provided by Timotheus.

The Tour

2008-07-12T00:17:00.001-04:00

No matter how you cut it, July is all about Le Tour de France.

Love it or leave it, the scandals that rock the cycling world continue to ooze from every pour of the Tour. It's hard to believe that so many are caught, or so many are even doping when you can bank on the Tour testing you.

But a larger question is, do other events even bother to test, or just hide their heads in the sand when it comes to doping. I mean, how can the Tour seem to catch so many when other races seem to never catch a sole?

Well, either way the Tour is once again shaping up to be a Tour to remember with fewer American's that in the last few previous and with two American Teams which are all seemly doing well after the first 7 stages.

One thing for sure, this race will come right down to the wire and you should expect the Tour this year to be wider open than ever in terms of strategy and organization.

While people claim and accuse Lance Armstrong and his previous teams of cheating and just not getting caught, people fail to admit that while Lance was racing, the Tour was a whole different race. Every day seem very calculated and exact, and while all the teams have freewill, it seems that maybe,(and IMO) just maybe Lance one by simply outsmarting everyone.

The evidence of his game is clear in the lacking of game that has unfolded over the last two years since he retired. Even though his former mates are still racing, no one seems to be able to pull off the wait & attack games like Lance.

Even still, this like all is promising to be another great tour and with about 14 stages to go, it's still anyone's game.

Saturday Morning's 29er ride. (James River Park)

2008-06-29T19:07:00.001-04:00

L->R: Scott (HeadLummox), John (Unsafe@AnySpeed), Kevin (KPayton), Joel (UbberGoober), Jay (F5000sl), Joel (DirtSurfer)

Hydration

2008-06-11T22:31:00.000-04:00

Let me start with a very important point, proper hydration should be an everyday goal, not just something you think about prior to/during times of exercise. Especially since there is no real way to hydrate on/during the day of any event.

Know you're limits, which means being honest when you are feeling poorly and taking immediate action to remedy heat related exhaustion.

Dehydration does not suddenly happen, you body gives you many clues along the way which includes during normal daily routines.

Symptoms of dehydration (partial list of main issues from lesser to more severe):
~ Thirst, dry mouth, bad breath, dry skin
~ Infrequent and Medium to dark colored urination
~ Confusion, dizziness and headaches
~ Muscle aches and cramping
~ Rapid Heartbeat and/or breathing

Bottled Water and Your Activity Level:
A person's body weight, and their activity level, determine the amount of water needed to maintain proper hydration. A good rule to follow is to drink at least eight, eight-ounce servings of water a day, adding more for each hour of activity.

Hydration becomes even more complex and important in the heat.
As Temperatures Rise, So Does Your Body's Need for Water When summer comes, remember to keep your body properly hydrated when the 'heat wave' comes.

Heat exacerbates hydration issues, so if:
~ If you find yourself getting tired, do yourself a favor, PLEASE STOP & REST!

~ Cycling is an activity that takes lots of concentration, if you are tired or unfocused, this is when accidents and injuries normally happen.

Summer hydration tips....
* Bring a supply of bottled water with you when traveling.
* Drink extra bottled water in extreme heat to keep body temperature low.
* Drink before you feel thirsty.

Daily water requirements (8-ounce servings) with one hour of activity: Your weight
In Pounds: Light / Activity Moderate /Activity Strenuous
115: 9 servings / 9 1/2 servings / 10 servings
125: 9 / 10 / 11
150: 9 / 10 / 11 1/2
175: 9 1/2 / 10 1/2 / 12 1/2
200: 9 1/2 / 11 / 13 1/4

Thread on CyclingCentralVa.org: Hydration Discussion

Hydration Calulator

Bike Fitment.

2008-06-10T21:28:00.000-04:00

This article is also a thread on the forums, you can also visit the forums using the link below to ask questions or see questions asked. Proper Bike Fit (Forums Thread)

Looking for a first bike or new bike or even moving from Brand "X" to Brand "Y", IMO one key fitment procedure is to isolate the TT (top tube) length.

Fitment of the TT is important no matter what style of bike you ride, from road to mountain, from 26" to 29" bikes.

** A lot of conventional thinking was to worry about seat tube height, but that was because in the days of yester most companies used 100% horizontal TT (Top Tubes) which gave less stand over clearance, so by choosing a shorter seat tubed bike, the TT was also mounted lower giving more stand-over clearance.

About TT length:
There are two types of TT lengths, ETT (Effective TopTube) and Standard TT length.
Of the two, the ETT is the most important measurement.

Because of slopping TT's measuring the tube length itself can be decieving when compared to a taking a measurement from a straightline.

How it works:
Measuing up a TT is simply measuring the distance from the center of the ST, to the center of the HT.
That number is your TT size.

But, with many new bikes that have sloping TT's, you need a more accurate measurement to tell you the whole story.

ETT length takes the measure from the center of the ST (seat tube), to the center of the HT (head tube), but is does so using a perfectly level horizontal line. Accurately measuring the straightest distance between the two tubes.

When considering TT lenght, accounting for proper stem length is also important.
This is usually a 100mm stem for most mountian bikes.

Stem length can and will effect how you bike handles. Too long or too short of a stem will slow up or speed up steering as well as add or detract from your weight being centered over certain areas of the bike.

This effects turning, climbing, jumping, descending, and braking.

Example: Your current frame has a 23.5" / 596.9mm / 59.69 CM ETT, and is fitted with a 100mm stem.

If you are using a stem shorter than 100mm, IE a 90mm, consider purchasing a frame with an ETT 10mm less than what you are currently riding. 23.5" / 596.9mm / 59.69 CM ETT - 10mm =23.1" / 586.9mm / 58.69cm

If you are using a stem longer than 100mm, IE a 120mm, consider purchasing a frame with an ETT 10mm more than what you are currently riding. 23.5" / 596.9mm / 59.69 CM ETT + 10mm =23.9" / 606.9mm / 60.69cm

Under normal riding, a stem that is +/- 10mm from the 100mm standard is fine, but if you start moving towards +/- 20mm, you should consider finding a frame or brand closer to your proper size.

Something missed, misinformation, or if you want to add something, feel free to help correct the problem.

Ride Preparation

2008-06-09T15:47:00.000-04:00

Ride preparation is one of the single most important and easy things you can do to help ensure a fun ride.

Ride preparation includes everything from performing maintenance on your bike to making sure you have enough water, food, gear, maps, etc to make it back from your ride safely. Try to plan your ride in advance, so everything goes smoothly on the day of the ride. Points of interest: gear, ride buddies, carpooling, meet/ride times, maps, weather, etc.

A great start is with the Pre/Post Ride Checklist.

Plan ahead and get organized. Research where you are going and prepare accordingly.
~ Print maps of the route you are taking albeit road or trail
~ Make sure to bring your all your cycling essentials and store them all in one place, like a large gym bag. I keep my shoes, helmet, CamelBak, gloves, and mutlti-tools all in one large bag so I can just grab and go.
~ Plan for the extreme points of the weather that is possible as some long rides can have unforeseen events that might leave you in the elements longer than intended. So when possible, carry an extra layer of clothes, extra food & water, etc.

Eat and drink for a before a ride or event. There is nothing worst than getting 5 or 10 miles down a trail and bonking. Eating properly sometimes needs to be done even days in advance (though this is usually for racing purposes).

While riding with people of like abilities can be relaxing, when you ride with people who are of different skill level than yourself you are pushed to excel and this is key to growing your skills.

More experienced riders have knowhow and will teach you by watching them or instruction which in turn you can share with others later. This can be tremendously helpful to those less experienced and you will gain confidence as you share the skills you have learned.

Have patience: Do not try to ride above and beyond your skill level, you will always see someone better, and only saddle time will get you there. Sometimes walking a new trail first can give you more of an idea of what to expect then just riding it.

Group Riding and trail Etiquette

2008-06-09T15:21:00.000-04:00

Everyone has different tendencies and ways to ride, so in group and trail riding situations it's important to know a few common riding tips to help keep everyone safe and having a good time.

These suggestions can be adapted for both road and mountain biking.

1. First and maybe foremost, Have fun!
2. Be patient. Remember that we all had to start somewhere.
3. Be encouraging to other riders, respect others skills, abilities and learning curves.
4. When you fall on an obstacle, make every effort to clear the area for the next rider and allow them the opportunity to try it as well.
5. Give loud verbal Warnings to otehr riders, such as "rider up!" as you head around a blind turn, or "obstacle", "Stopping" to alert riding behind you of an upcoming event.
6. Group rides are just that, "group rides." So make sure you come back with everyone you started with. It's common to regroup at road & trail intersections.
7. Always move off to the trails side and avoid stopping in the middle of the trail, near obstacles or the bottom of hills if you can help it, this way others can continue by.
8. Approaching others. Slow down and say "Hello" as you approach other riders & trail users. If you need to pass, ask then let the person(s) know "Passing on the left." It's common to announce how many more riders are in your group that still need to pass. Allow faster and smaller groups to "play through" so that they can move at their pace.
9. Ask riders with mechanical issues if they need a hand. It's kind, curious, and you may need a hand one day also.
10. Respect the trail design. Please only ride on open trails and keep from using/making short cuts.
11. Keep a reasonable distance between you and the rider in front of you. This allows them room to make mistakes while allowing you time to react. This is especially true when riding over obstacles, descents, or difficult climbs.
13. It's not rude to ask to go ahead or ask to be passed. A group will find it's natural speed and you will feel more comfortable knowing your not holding someone up or slowing yourself down.
14. Designate a sweeper to ride last if there are beginners or riders of varying skill level on the ride.

Cycling Essentials, Safety, & Gear:

2008-06-09T14:49:00.000-04:00

Helmet: No matter what your cycling discipline is, please wear a helmet. In most parks it's a rule. Riding without helmets jeopardize can trail access for everyone. If you see somebody without a helmet, be a friend and remind him or her to get one.

Gloves: Gloves can really help remove some of the stress placed on you palms and protect your hands in the event of a crash.

Shorts, Shirts, & Shoes: There are so many choices it is hard to decide, this is really a personal preference. The important part is to make sure that you feel comfortable in whatever you choose, and make sure you are dressed for the conditions outside!

Hydration & Snacks: Very important! Be sure to have water bottles or hydration packs. Exercise equals sweating and sweating leads to dehydration. So always carry some water during hot days and/or long rides. It also never hurts to carry a little something like a candy bar, cookies, or energy bars to help put if you bonk on a trail.

Basic Tool Kit: At minimum you should have some basic tools to fix your bicycle.
While many "standard/automotive" tools can be used to repair your bike, they are many special tools that are sized to work with bike related applications.
Many bike shops carry "multi-tools" which are tools designed to carry with you on your bike while on a ride, these tools are temping to use as your main tool for home use also, but I have to stress that these tools are not designed to be used as everyday tools, so definitely consider purchasing a separate home tool kit.

Home Tool Kit:

~ First, buy yourself a small toolbox that you set to the side just for your bike tool collection. This will keep all your tools organized and keep your "cycling" specialty tools separate from your standard tools.

~ Pumps, there is are two different style tube stems, schrader and presta. So when buying a pump, look for one that will work on both valves.
** Little adapters can be purchased to make presta valves look like a schrader valve.
** Also note that a floor pump is for "home" use, while what are call "mini" pumps are used to carry along on your bike.

~ Tire Levers, buy 2-3 levers so that 1 can act as a pry-bar and the others to remove the tire.
** Consider levers labelled "Steel Core" as they will last longer and the only levers strong enough for very tight rim/tire combinations.
~ Hex/Allen Wrenches (Usually a grouping of 2, 4, 5, 6, 8, & 10 mm are a good start)
~ Quality Phillips & Flat head screwdrivers. (Make sure the tips remain in good condition)

~ MORE to come...

Tools to Carry on a ride or commuter:

Safety tips: Try to always ride with a buddy, but if you can not, it is a good idea to bring a cell phone, or at the very least let somebody know where you are and when you'll be back!

Pre/Post Ride Bike checklist:

2008-06-08T14:04:00.000-04:00

Before a ride & after a ride there are always a few things you should check over on your bike.

At a minimum you checklist should include checking:
~ Tire pressure
~ chain tension
~ quick releases (tightened)
~ lube chain
~ proper function of your shifters and brakes.

An expanded checklist might include:
~ Look for wearing and cracks in your cables & brake lines
~ Wheels straight?
~ Inspect the joints and welds of your frame for cracks and chipped paint
~ Tears in your tires (in pattern and sidewalls)
~ Overall tire wear
~ Inspect brake pads
~ Chain length
~ Inspect cassette and chainring teeth for excessive wear.
~ Nuts and bolts tight on: Cranks, pedals, handlebar, stem, headset, seatpost clamp.

Personally, I like to clean my bike after each ride, this usually means using "Honda Polish" (mc polish, similar to furniture polish for bikes) or good old mild soap & water. This really helps you look over your bike well. When drying off, look for paint chips, stress cracks, and cracks in the welds of your frame.

Supporting Cycling Central Va.org

2008-01-03T18:43:00.003-05:00

CyclingCentralVa.org is afforded solely out of pocket and by
donations, so your help is always appreciated to keep this site up and running.

Questions, Comments, Feel free to send an email.
Thanks for Supporting CyclingCentralVa.org

Tool To Carry With You On A Ride.

2008-01-01T07:19:00.000-05:00

Basic Carry Along Tools : At minimum you should have some basic tools to fix those trail/roadside bike issues. Find what are called a Multi-tools which are "cycling specific" tools so they only give you the common tools needed to fix most minor emergency issues.
Theses tools usually contain:
~ 2, 4, 5, 6, & 8 mm Allen (Hex) wrenches
~ Both a flat & phillips drivers

Then more complex multi-tools may also carry:
~ Levers
~ Chain breaker (Tool used to remove/set pinned sections of a chain)
~ 10 & 12mm open wrenches
~ sharp blade(s)

The tools will range is price from $10-50. >

Fixing flats: Consider carrying a spare tube as well as a patch kit, Tire Levers (minimum 2 & steel cored are the best), & air pump. All of these tools can be carried in convenient little under the seat bag.