Search
Mountain Biking News
Mountain Biking News - April 2009
Display Mode:
Feed
Thursday, 30 April 2009The second rounds of both the Red Ass NSW/ACT Four Cross and Dual Slalom State Series were held near Windsor at Ebenezer by hosting club WSMTB.
The new Dual Slalom round saw record rider numbers after its relaunch last year as part of the series. A new face on the Dual Slalom racing scene, Mark Beeksma (NSW), took out the A-Grade Men's first place. Ben Leslie (NSW) and Seaton Humphreys ( NSW) finished second and third respectively. In Elite Women, Vanessa Thompson (NSW), albeit the only one racing in her class proved to be a tough opponent for the men she raced alongside on both days. Dual Slalom proved a great way to get into the gravity racing scene and four cross riders saw it as a great way to improve their skills for Sunday.
Sunday's A-Grade heats were dominated again by series leader Ryan Hunt (NSW). Seaton Humphreys placed second while Thomas Markus (NSW) placed third. U19 and U17 male categories were the largest fields with Blake Nielsen (NSW) in U19s and Joe Vejvoda (ACT) in U17s keeping their series leads by winning this round. Rising talent was evident in the U15s and Junior Women's categories. Aidan Vahtrik (NSW) repeated his win again in U15s and retained the series lead followed by Brendan Milliken (ACT) in second and newcomer Michael McLean placed third. Junior woman rider, Emma Vejvoda (ACT), showed a solid performance.
The third rounds of Dual Slalom and Four Cross will be held on the weekend of 13th and 14th June at Stromlo Forest Park in Canberra.
Again the event will be catered with hearty Mexican food by major sponsor, Red Ass, and organised by Rocky Trail Entertainment in cooperation with the hosting club, CORC.
For full results, images and registration go to www.rockytrailentertainment.com.
Thursday, 30 April 2009Cycling enthusiasts from across Ireland and beyond are expected to participate in the inaugural 'An Post Tour de Burren,' which takes place in the Burren Region of County Clare on 20 June 2009. The event is organised by Clare Sports Partnership, and supported by An Post and the Irish Sports Council.
Highlighting the importance of the event John Sweeney, coordinator of Clare Sports Pa rtnership said, "The investment by An Post and the Irish Sports Council is a great opportunity for County Clare and the West of Ireland to be showcased as a natural region for cycling. A wonderful collaboration has been formed with all our local partners including the Burren Cycling Club in order to ensure that this event will be a huge success. It is also a great opportunity for all age groups and abilities to get out cycling and set themselves an achievable challenge for this summer."
"Leading up to the event there will be a series of training initiatives organised in order to encourage the beginner and improver to prepare for the Tour," added Mr. Sweeney.
Mr. Sweeney continued, "Our Meet and Train Groups, which are supported by the Burren and Dolmen Cycling Clubs, will bring you from 0-60km in eight weeks. Sessions start in Ennis on Sunday the 26 April at 9.30 am and Wednesday 29 April in Ballyvaughan at 6.30pm. A small charge of €25 will apply for insurance and other costs. All participants will need is a bicycle and a safety helmet."
Welcoming the event Pat Daly, Tourism Manager with Shannon Development said, "Congratulations to An Post, the Irish Sports Council and Clare Sports Partnership, for initiating this wonderful event which appeals to cyclists of all levels. This event complements our job of developing cycling hubs in County Clare and the Shannon Region, and we wish the organizers every success."
Speaking at the national launch of the series, Donal Connell, Chief Executive of An Post said, "The An Post Cycle Series offers whole communities around Ireland an opportunity to be part of the fun of a really inclusive day out, to experience close up the beauty of their locality and to rediscover the simple pleasure of getting back on their bikes. The Series promises to be a great way for family to spend a day of fun together, while the more serious rider can enjoy a more challenging route."
As part of the An Post Cycle Series four tours similar to Clare's Tour De Burren will take place in Sligo, Meath, Waterford and Cork between May and September this year. Aimed at recruiting as many people as possible to cycling each tour is being organised by the Local Sports Partnership in co-operation with their local partners within the county. There are routes to suit everyone from cycling enthusiasts to the serious rider with distances between 50k and 150k to choose from. Some Tours also offer a family cycle of 10k. 2009 will undoubtedly be a great year for cycling.
The 'Tour de Burren' will involve three routes: the 10km Aillwee Cave Family Loop starting at 12.30pm; the 60km Corkscrew Hill Challenge starting at 11.00 am; and the 160km Burnin Burren! starting at 9.30am. The focus on each event is fun and participation.
About the routes:
Aillwee Cave Family Loop
The 10 km Aillwee Cave Family Loop is all about fun, enjoyment and participation. The cycle will start from the Sea Front in Ballyvaughan at 12:30 and head out on a loop to Aillwee Cave. There will be a charge of 2 Euro for this cycle. This is to cover Insurance costs and all participants will have to register either by Post or on the day. Participants are only covered by insurance if they have registered and paid the 2 Euro Insurance fee.
Corkscrew Hill Challenge
The 60 Km Corkscrew Hill Challenge will start from the Sea Front in Ballyvaughan at 11am. The cyclists then go up Corkscrew hill and meet with the 160 Km cyclists at the Lisdoonvarna Food Stop where cyclists will have time to swap stories of the experience. There 60Km cycle then continues to Doolin, on to Ballinalacken, and home via Fanore and Black Head to Ballyvaughan. Registration is mandatory for insurance reasons and will be by Post or online. Charge for this event is 30 Euros.
Burnin' Burren
The 160 km spin Burnin Burren spin starts at the Sea Front in Ballyvaughan at 9.30am sharp and takes cyclists out of Ballyvaughan on the Galway road, veering left at Bellharbour, up Ballaghtdine, up Corker Hill, and on through Carron Village. Taking a right turn at Sheisamor Cross, back towards Ballyvaughan, at the cross a left turn and on towards the Corkscrew Hill - a grade 2 King of the Mountains climb on the 2005 F.B.D Ras.
Next comes Lisdoonvarna, where there is a food stop in the new Pavilion Theatre. Cyclists then head for Kilfenora, on to Corofin, Ennistymon, Lahinch, Liscannor, up by Cliffs of Moher, another grade 2 King of the Mountains Hill. There is a welcome descent into Doolin, - food stop at Doolin Community Centre - then on to Ballinalacken, and home via Fanore and Black Head to Ballyvaughan. Registration is mandatory for Insurance reasons and will be by Post or On Line. Charge for this event is 30 Euros.
Source: www.prlog.org
Wednesday, 29 April 2009SAN JUAN CAPISTRANO, Calif. - Interbike OutDoor Demo East, traditionally a trade-only event, will now be open to the public on Saturday Oct. 10 and Sunday Oct. 11, 2009 at Roger Williams Park in Providence, R.I. The first two days of OutDoor Demo East, Thursday Oct. 8 and Friday Oct. 9, will be open to members of the cycling industry only.
"Last year's inaugural OutDoor Demo East gat hered dealers and manufacturers for product demos, business deals and networking. However, we recognize these groups are just two of the three pieces of the entire cycling community mix," said Andy Tompkins, Interbike show director. "Opening the last two days of OutDoor Demo East for consumer participation is a great way to incorporate that final piece."
In addition to two new consumer days for product demos, OutDoor Demo East is contracted with GSD Event Productions LLC, a New England-based promotional firm, to produce the Providence Cyclo-Cross Festival, a USA Cycling-sanctioned professional and amateur cyclo-cross race event.
"Years ago we recognized Roger Williams Park to be, perhaps, the finest cyclo-cross venue in America. Securing this date, this venue, the support of this fabulous city and this partnership with Interbike, gives us a unique opportunity to create a really spectacular event," said Richard Fries, marketing-communications director for GSD Event Productions. "Get your cowbells ready; this will be fantastic."
The OutDoor Demo East event is still intended to be an important trade event focused on the needs of Northeast and Mid-Atlantic retailers and/or additional staff unable to attend the Interbike International Expo, held in Las Vegas. To that end, the National Bicycle Dealer Association (NBDA) will again bring its popular retail education Super Seminars to the event.
"A wide variety of seminars are being planned, with topics including sales, marketing, management strategies and industry trends," said Fred Clements, NBDA Executive Director. "Each year the NBDA strives to bring compelling content focused on retailer-specific needs aimed at improving the bottom-line of all bicycle retailers. We look forward to doing so again for East Coast dealers attending OutDoor Demo East."
OutDoor Demo East 2009 will run Thursday, October 8 to Sunday, October 11, 2009, from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. at Roger Williams Park in Providence, R.I.
Interbike OutDoor Demo East is based on the Interbike OutDoor Demo held in conjunction with the Interbike International Bicycle Expo in Las Vegas and will include product testing, NBDA seminars, manufacturer technical clinics and networking events.
For questions about exhibiting at OutDoor Demo East, please e-mail Interbike sales manager, Andria Klinger at andria.klinger@nielsen.com.
Source: www.interbike.com
Tuesday, 28 April 2009Mountain bikers are buzzing about a $600,000 federal funding appropriation to expand Paradise Royale, a purpose-built mountain bike trail in California's King Range National Conservation Area (NCA). The funds derive from the 2009 omnibus appropriations bill (H.R.1105), which became law on March 30, 2009, (P.L. 111-8). The appropriation follows years of work by IMBA California Policy Advisor Tom W ard, who lobbied representatives in both the House and Senate.
Joey Klein, a senior trail designer for IMBA, has worked closely with Gary Pritchard-Peterson, manager of the King Range NCA, on the trail. Pritchard-Peterson came up with the original idea of utilizing two defunct logging roads and potential sections of single-track to create a 14-mile loop, connecting two ominous ridges that overlook the spectacular Lost Coast. "IMBA and Joey changed the way we think about trails," said Pritchard-Peterson during a grand opening, held last fall.
IMBA's work in the King Range exemplifies the conservation values the organization has long championed. The mountain bike media has also hailed Paradise Royale for providing a top-notch riding experience, including a feature story in the March issue of Bike magazine that suggests Paradise Royale, "might be America's best new trail."
"This was an idea that once only existed on paper. It was the dream of a handful of people," said Klein of the project. "More and more people joined in that dream and together we are turning it into a reality -- a reality that everyone can enjoy for years to come."
Source: www.outdoorindustry.org
Sunday, 26 April 2009Boulder, CO, USA - Each July, millions of cycling fans head to France to experience the world's greatest bike race. Unless they've planned carefully, they'll arrive to find full hotels, blocked routes, overpriced food, chaotic roads, and endless frustration as they try to get close to the race they've come to see.
Available in the UK this April, Graham Watson's Tour de France Travel Gu ide provides cycling fans with a complete insider's guide to the Tour. As the Tour's leading photographer, Graham Watson has been in the right place at the right time during every Tour de France since 1977. No one knows how to get around the Tour like Graham. Now, cycling fans can experience all the excitement of the Tour while negotiating its many daily obstacles with the confidence of a local. Learn where to eat, where to sleep, how to get around, how to see and photograph the race, and how to enjoy the greatest show on two wheels.
The book will be available in the U.K. at good bookshops or direct from www.cordee.co.uk in late April. Review copies are available for the media.
Graham shares his 31 years of Tour de France experience in this beautifully illustrated guidebook. Featuring over 200 of Graham's award-winning photographs along with full-colour maps, travel tips, checklists, and travel resources, this book presents a fresh and unique strategy for getting around the Tour's many daily obstacles to find a front-row seat for all the action.
Presented in sturdy, flexible binding with flaps for marking pages, Graham's guide also includes a clever menu decoder for quick reference when the waiter is tapping his pad, tips on how to meet the riders, a glossary of French cycling terms, historical perspective on each region of France visited by the Tour, and a special chapter on how to photograph the Tour like a pro. For the Tour's legion of fans, Graham Watson's Tour de France Travel Guide contains everything they need to watch, follow, and enjoy the Tour de France in style.
Graham Watson's Tour de France Travel Guide: The Complete Insider's Guide to the Tour!
Text and photographs by Graham Watson
200mm x 143mm, 304 pp., CTB959, £17.99, 978-1-934030-38-7
Flexibound paperback with flaps. Full-colour photos, maps, charts, and tables throughout.
* Since 1903 the Tour de France has visited over 500 towns and villages. Watson has followed every stage of 31 Tours de France, a pedigree few can match.
* A completely modern guide, annotated with Web sites and the latest contact information for hotels, restaurants, trains, car rental, bike rental, camping, tourist information, and more.
* Lavish 4-colour interior, handy size, and flexible binding with flaps make this travel guide inviting, durable, and easy to use.
For the latest news, tips, trivias and special offers, sign up to the ABC of Mountain Biking newsletter.
advertisementadvertising info
advertisementadvertising info
Latest Mountain Biking News
For a complete list of all discount coupons with our merchants, subscribe to our Discount RSS Feed: 
-
WANTED: Dead or Alive
by RGHamp
-
Cool Contest
by Bikeaholic
-
Newbie with Jamis
by ryanell
-
Newbie
by roby_casut
-
Mental Health Help
by Bikeaholic
More in our Mountain Biking Forum
MySpace
Squidoo
Facebook
Scribd
Twitter
© 2003-2008 ABC of Mountain Biking, part of MaxLifestyle International Inc. All rights reserved.
