Velomuse Youth Bike Rodeo
Alley Kitty Scavenger Hunt and Youth Mountain Bike Ride in Frick Park, this Saturday!
Velomuse Event Series 2010
Click for larger image
Thanks to the following businesses for support:
Venture Outdoors
Pennsylvania High School MTB!!
Inspired from the NorCal League, and the upcoming National Interscholastic Cycling Association a perfect partnership between NorCal, USA Cycling and IMBA – The Pennsylvania Scholastic Cycling League is opening its doors to High School students for 2010, starting with the Central Conference series. Word.
It’s been no less than 10 years that I’ve considered cycling a conduit for my spiritual well-being. Finding words to describe this experience is difficult, and so I’ve taken to just bringing people with me. I’ve been slow to accept that there are obstacles in this pursuit, and have finally come to terms that a handful of categories that simply needs to be declared in order to convey this experience. It should be noted that no “enlightenment” can be achieved without all of the facets of cycling being pursued, in alternating sequence, simultaneously, or completely focused on one abstract. In all measures, these attempts should be pursued with one’s whole being or not at all. Not only will one achieve results aligned with their own personal goals, but more copious results within the pursuit itself. This is my pursuit:
The First Abstract will be found as Off-Road; a pure cycling tradition. It offers deconstructed oneness with the bicycle, within a natural environment, a test between the human and the earth. It begs one to observe evolution through time of all beings, by studying trail conditions, foliage transitions, weather patterns, and distances achieved in short time spans, otherwise inaccessible. These variances also provide distinct challenges on a daily basis, utilizing strength, creativity, and logic to pick a line. This type of riding provides a strong connection with bicycle, transmitting a great deal of the terrain experience into one’s body as gravity can be both utilized and defied.
The Second Abstract is a powerful compliment to the First: Urban Cycling pushes the observations inward, studying biology, rhythm, and development of plans to conquer a geographic destination. In the example of a particular mountain peak that one may see in the distance day to day – pushing onward with sheer determination towards the summit is a labor of love. Reaching the top fills one with such great pride and hope, that all pursuits are conceivable.
The Third Abstract is the required perpetual art-form needed to develop thorough respect the sport of cycling: Kinetic Mechanics. In addition to basic maintenance that one needs to complete any given ride, there are ways to “tune” the instrument to hum in any key one desires. Learning each part of a bike’s construction develops the bond one can have with their bike, as well as respecting that of other riders. Making mistakes brings the greatest learning opportunity, so one must take their time.
The Fourth Abstract is professing one’s love, otherwise known as Advocacy. Working with skeptics isn’t easy, especially when they seem to be in every facet of the community: clubs, retail, politics, family – but these traditional hangups have to find a home elsewhere. Humility is the foundation of the shared goal. Compiled facts about health, economic, and environmental benefits combined with a personal story can be quite disarming. This quality takes true leadership, benevolence, and tolerance.
The Fifth Abstract requires great personal sacrifice to develop Performance by strength, pain-tolerance, and constant self-review. Through in-depth planning, balance can be moderated towards athletic prowess. Much like Kinetic Mechanics, the construction of one’s body and its fuel becomes a study. Further into this abstract is Coaching, providing organization and leadership for others in the community, using psychology, academics and experience to invigorate the whole community, cyclists and non-cyclists alike.
The Sixth Abstract is Expression, that which identifies our spirit to ourselves and to others. Through art and music, practices that have no tangible function, we find ourselves communicating and resolving issues that would otherwise be incommunicable. This practice has the greatest potential to develop the cyclist persona in the event of a catastrophe that restricts one from riding.
The Seventh Abstract is Utility. Necessity is the mother of invention, right? A bicycle can do anything, take one anywhere, if one is aware of the previous 6 abstracts. Improvise and re-engineer the bike, one’s path and life. Become empowered by failed attempts as much as the success.
The Eighth Abstract is Get Outside, including, but not limited to one’s home, neighborhood, city, state and country. Whenever possible. Reviewing progress against that of others can offer profound insight into issue resolution and development ideas. Share ideas, and listen deeply.
Finally, it is essential that all of these are pursued simultaneously, or at least with elements of the others at one point in time, in order to achieve as close to complete understanding of the pursuit itself.
Ladies’ Frick Park Sessions
**Edit: THESE SESSIONS ARE POST-PONED UNTIL FURTHER NOTICE.**
This week is #3: This is my favorite of the series: moving mounts and dismounts, advanced cornering and leveraging shifting.
* The running mount – this is great for cyclocross practice, intermediate mountain biking, and urban adventures. Plus, its a neat and very graceful trick to show your friends.
* The running dismount – good for leveraging speed before an obstacle, make sure you are comfortable clipping in and out with cleats, or bring running shoes and platform pedals.
* Advanced cornering gives the rider ability to shift before coming to an obstacle and throughout turns with low visibility, giving more confidence and safety at various speeds.
A low-pressure environment for women to try new obstacles and riding styles, while having fun. This will be a rider development series, with each week focusing on different skills, trails and techniques. Sessions led by professional USA Cycling coach and Trek of Pgh store manager, Eryn Hughes. Please bring your helmet, bike in good working order, and a smile. Please tell your friends!
Here’s the rest of the schedule:
June 4, 2009 (Kick off ride) – Meet & greet, braking/cornering skills workshop, slow race, 0 obstacles trails, coffee & tea @ Tazza D’Oro
June 11, 2009 – Meet & greet, climbing and descending skills (obstacles optional), riverview, tranquil trail, social climb, finish with coffee & tea at Tazza D’Oro
June 18, 2009 – Meet & greet, moving mounts and dismounts, advanced cornering and leveraging shifting, roller coaster trail, iron gate, finish with coffee & tea at Tazza D’Oro
June 25, 2009 – Meet & greet, singletrack handling skills (obstacles optional), bradema, iron gate trails, finish with coffee & tea at Tazza D’Oro
July 2, 2009 – Meet & greet, basic trailside flat and drivetrain repair, no obstacles loop, finish with coffee & tea at Tazza D’Oro
July 9, 2009 – Meet & greet, pacing & conserving energy, fueling your body, strength-building, longer/faster loop, finish with coffee & tea at Tazza D’Oro
July 16, 2009 – Meet & greet, look at sustainable trail design features, community relationships, trail etiquette, iron gate, Bannon trail, finish with coffee & tea at Tazza D’Oro
July 23, 2009 – Meet & greet, race preparations, mental strength, fast & fun ride , finish with coffee & tea at Tazza D’Oro
July 30, 2009 – Meet & greet, everything fun, recap ride, finish with coffee & tea at Tazza D’Oro
The advocacy scene is mostly moderated by two all-inclusive multi-user clubs focusing on trails: PTAG, and Bike Pittsburgh, which incidentally comprise mostly cyclists are the change-makers. Just like in California, the mountain bikers perform a majority of the volunteer trail maintenance. Unlike California, Pittsburgh has a Steward (representative from PTAG) for each park, which communicates the trail maintenance news and needs – which I think lends itself to a stronger relationship with other trail users. The MTB clubs, like PORC and Allegheny Cycling Association are social networks or racing organizations, that basically advertise rides, races, and community as their primary function. At the cusp of every development is a lot of community support, including numerous established local bike shops, the bicycle-oriented OTB bicycle cafe (which it is good to note, drinking beer seems more a part of the riding/sports culture here), and a 20-year old mountain biking magazine interwoven within the fabric of the community: Dirt Rag.
The ladies’ cycling scene is about the same scale as the one in the Bay Area, but not necessarily as cohesive and automatic as what I am used to. Its smaller (to scale) and appears to be spread thinly across various regions. What I have personally experienced so far, doesn’t seem to offer the same sense of community for women within the sport here, as with men. It brings me back to the age-old question, “Why do women get into athletic pursuits?” and I think the women that get into it for attention (positive and negative) rather than personal gain, may not stick with it. I’m hoping that cycling can provide the right recipe of positive reinforcement and goal-setting. I have the opinion that community development starts with the kids, and the sport is built around their development. To that end, a new Trips for Kids chapter has started in Pittsburgh, a little something familiar to me from the Bay Area. What follows is the question, “What will keep them in the sport?” and what I am going to do about it.
The trails and the roads are similarly treacherous in a fun way – more potholes, slippery roots and “greasy” mud pockets than anything I’ve ridden in California. Indeed, its more of an upper body workout, and there is less room to let go of the brakes, feel the wind through the helmet vents, or even exhale, for that matter. Personally, I am looking forward to the challenge, willing to work for improvements, and eager to see some race courses out here.
‘Today bikes are completely different from the first mountain bikes. Most of the bikes now have suspension added. “In its short lifetime, mountain biking has seen more technological quantum leaps than any other branch of cycling. From carbon fiber and titanium frames, to hydraulic disc brakes and internal gearbox transmissions, the quest for lighter, faster brakes has fueled huge innovation. “‘
Click here for the whole piece.
Santa Cruz Favorites
1) Another Bike Shop, for always doing the right thing and caring about a good ride.
2) Cafe Brasil during the day, Saturn Cafe for a relaxing vegan dinner, and Cafe Carlos off Santa’s Village Dr. during the evening.
3) The trails of UCSC and Pogonip (see pictured), in addition to Soquel Demonstration forest and Wilder Ranch.
4) The adventures of carpooling with folks from ihatebikes.net.
something a little cooler
[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4K3w7zfyrL0&hl=en&fs=1]
Yeah, Ryan Leech is one of my heroes. I kinda wish we had more man-made bridges in the Bay Area, so I could learn some of this stuff.
moonlit singletrack
this was taken at 5pm, during yesterday’s foggy sunset ride. this is middle Palos Colorados, a slightly scarier version on the cross bike with limited visibility.
