Mountain biking at night...

Discover a whole new world on your favorite bike trails at night. Ordinary rocks become gnomes, dead trees become towering giants and your adrenaline glands supply a little extra torque to your pedals.

For some, night mountain biking provides a thrill that they cannot find while riding in the daytime. For others, the night is the only time for them to ride, being busy with things like school and work. But whatever the reason, safety must be observed when riding your mountain bike after sunset. Here are a few tips to keep you out of harm’s way during your night mountain biking sessions:

• Invest in a good lighting system. A lighting system is the most important thing in night mountain biking. Lighting systems include headlights (attached to the handlebar), taillights, and may also include helmet lights. It is advisable, however, to have both a headlight and a helmet light since headlights only let you see where your handlebar is pointed, while helmet lights allow you to see where your head is turned. Taillights are necessary for riders behind you to see where you are going. Get headlights that are lightweight, bright, and can last for a long time. Helmet lights should also be lightweight, but not as bright as your headlight.
• Check the duration of your lighting system. It’s important to know how long those lights are going to last. If they are only going to last for 4 hours, then don’t ride beyond 4 hours. Otherwise, you’ll be left in the darkness.
• Never ride alone. If an accident occurs while riding in the night, no one might be able to help you. So always ride in a group, and never stray away from it. It’s also a good thing to carry a warning device such as a whistle or a horn to alert your fellow riders in case of an emergency.
• Familiarize yourself with the trail. Go through the trail a few times during daytime before riding it in the night. Things will look different once the sun goes down, so it is best to have a good knowledge of the trail so as to prevent confusion. Also, exploring new trails during the night can lead to accidents and even getting lost.
• Slow down. The night makes things harder to see, so it is recommended to step your riding pace down a bit. Take a little more time to examine what’s in front of you, and adjust accordingly. With that said, expect night rides to be a bit longer than daytime rides.
• Wear bright clothing. This will make you more visible in the dark. Neon colors like yellow and orange should do the trick.
• Wear protective eyewear. You can never tell if some bugs or low-hanging branches are about to poke you in the eyes, so you’ll need to protect them all the time. A pair of clear glasses or goggles is what you need.
• Bring a small flashlight along. Flat tires and other bike-related accidents are inevitable. A pocket-sized flashlight will come in handy when taking care of these things. Using it instead of your helmet light will allow you to conserve the latter’s battery life.
• Train, train, and train. Mountain biking is a physically-demanding sport, so make sure you go through the proper training exercises before trying this activity so as to prevent injuries.

These are just some basic safety guidelines for mountain biking during the night. Make sure to follow them each time you and your friends decide to go for a ride after sundown. And as you go along with this activity, you will probably learn new things that are not mentioned here. So the best way to get better at night mountain biking is to do it often. Organize a full-moon ride with some friends and turn off all your lights. You'll be surprised how well you see once your eyes adjust to the dark

The Toughest Off-Road Techniques to Master Are Awareness and Respect

Moving softly across the land means leaving no more than an echo. Whether you're afoot, astride a horse, on skis, or riding a mountain bike, the approach is the same. The medium changes but not the rules.

The foundation for all backcountry ethics is respect -- for land, for life, for one another, for yourself. It's that simple.

But while the concept is straightforward, consistently abiding by it is not. For example, I love finding new lines on the slickrock in Moab, Utah. The objective is to stay on the rock as much as possible, leave no skid marks, and never ride through delicate cryptogamic soil or vegetation. But in reality, leaving no trace is impossible. Lichen is crushed, sandstone crumbled, moss torn, and the rock scarred whenever a tire slips. Hiking has the same effect, even in running shoes.

The only way to leave no trace is to stay away. Consequently, the best I can do is minimize my impact. I choose routes precisely, always looking for aesthetically pleasing lines and paths that are defined by the contours of the land. When confronted with an especially steep face of rock with a slim chance of cleaning it, I look for another route rather than risk scarring it.

Sometimes these choices are blurred by the moment's action. For instance, if a 10-inch-wide band of cryptogamic soil lies between me and the fin of sandstone I want to reach-and there's no other route-do I continue riding or do I stop and walk? The latter means breaking my rhythm and losing momentum while the former involves scarring less than a square foot of soil, a pittance when measured against the desert's scale.

At first, the decision is obvious- keep riding. Except the cryptogam may be 30 years old and restoring it may take another 20. Are five decades of damage worth the fraction of a second it takes to ride across? Or, more bluntly, does my personal convenience override the cryptogam's need to survive? For if I ride, chances are good others will follow. Human tracks are like cancer cells; they multiply quickly.

To ride softly means to stop and step across. And mostly I do. But occasionally I'm so caught up in my riding that I lose sight of the turbulence I create. I hammer ahead, doing my best to ride cleanly, while rationalizing that I'll impact the land no matter how careful I am. I imagine this is true of most of us-hiker, biker, climber, horseman, etc.

More examples: Rain or melting snow turns a section of trail to mud. The easiest course is to ride through, churning it into a bog, instead of lifting the bike and walking past. Or a tree falls across a trail and rather than take the time to clear it or carry the bike over, we ride around and create a new path.

Or on a mountain pass, we spot an appealing viewpoint and casually ride across the tundra instead of leaving the bike and walking. Our tracks remain, soon someone else follows, and another trail begins.

Alone, these actions seem minor. But when multiplied by all of us in the backcountry, the effects can be major. More important, they're indicative of society's prevailing attitude that man's wants prevail. Consequently, the first step in moving softly over the land is recognizing that options exist - that we can choose to minimize and mitigate our impact.

Then there's the social dimension of soft cycling - the part that in terms of regulation and access is having tremendous influence on mountain bikers. Near Crested Butte, Colorado, is one of the finest singletracks I've ridden. I know it well and can trace its entirety in my mind. I know how fast its turns can be taken, where to shift and brake, and when to accelerate through blind corners. To blast over its length is a joy, except that should a hiker suddenly appear, one of us might get hurt.

Finding a hiker on this path is so rare that discounting the possibility is easy. And on an especially sparkling day, the trail almost begs to be toasted at maximum velocity. But soft cycling dictates that I do otherwise. Instead of blasting ahead, I hold back just enough to avoid such a collision. Just as I don't want to tear up the trail, I don't want to destroy another's enjoyment.

If one word defines soft cycling, it's responsibility. Under its rules, we are totally accountable for our actions. If we're injured or come across someone who is, we're equipped to deal with it. If a tire flats or a bike breaks, we have the necessary tools to fix it. What we carry in, we take out. What trash we find, we pick up. If a wind has blown deadfall across a trail, we clear what we can. Always, we have in mind that we're only visitors in the backcountry and so treat it accordingly. We respect our fellow visitors and their dreams, too, and treat each other with honor.

Ultimately soft cycling is a way of life, a way of thinking that stretches well beyond mountain biking. It's an awareness that the world and ourselves are constantly evolving, and that what we may arrogantly call "right" in our youth may be seen as humorous or destructive in our maturity. Who knows what mountain bikes will look like and be capable of in the future? Maybe those who fear our fat tires will be proven right, or maybe a new age of environmentalism will cite the mountain bike as our salvation.-Hank Barlow, Mountain Bike magazine

Question: Should I Mountain Bike on a Wet Trail? - Riding Wet Trails

Mountain biking on wet trails can be very damaging to the trail, especially in certain soil types. Riding and damaging a wet trail can not only lead to accelerated erosion but can lead to trail closures. So, when is it ok to ride a wet trail?

Answer: In some particularly damp parts of the world, if you don't ride when it's wet, you simply won't be able to ride. In these areas as well as other areas where mud and erosion are not an issue, riding in the wet is just fine. However, in most areas riding it simply isn't acceptable. In almost all cases you shouldn't ride on a trail when it is muddy. When you ride in the mud you are significantly contributing to trail erosion, and you seriously effect the quality of the surface of the trail when it dries out.

Trail damage and erosion is one of the most effective reasons people use to get trails closed. You shouldn't be surprised to find a trail that has been ridden in the mud one day closed to mountain bikers another. A mountain biker should always make a conscious effort to preserve the environment they are riding in. This includes an honest evaluation of the trail condition and an effort to minimize damage to it. That said, there are some other issues to riding wet trails. Damp trails are particularly fragile, so, as always, avoid hard braking and locking up your wheels.

Don't go around puddles, go straight through them. If everyone goes around the outskirts of a puddle it damages the sides of the trail and widens it. Going through the puddle keeps the trail at the same width and minimizes trail damage 

Rules of the Trail

These guidelines for trail behavior are recognized around the world. IMBA developed the "Rules of the Trail" to promote responsible and courteous conduct on shared-use trails. Keep in mind that conventions for yielding and passing may vary, depending on traffic conditions and the intended use of the trail.

1. Ride On Open Trails Only

Respect trail and road closures -- ask a land manager for clarification if you are uncertain about the status of a trail. Do not trespass on private land. Obtain permits or other authorization as may be required. Be aware that bicycles are not permitted in areas protected as state or federal Wilderness

2. Leave No Trace

Be sensitive to the dirt beneath you. Wet and muddy trails are more vulnerable to damage than dry ones. When the trail is soft, consider other riding options. This also means staying on existing trails and not creating new ones. Don't cut switchbacks. Be sure to pack out at least as much as you pack in.

3. Control Your Bicycle

Inattention for even a moment could put yourself and others at risk. Obey all bicycle speed regulations and recommendations, and ride within your limits.

4. Yield to Others

Do your utmost to let your fellow trail users know you're coming -- a friendly greeting or bell ring are good methods. Try to anticipate other trail users as you ride around corners. Bicyclists should yield to all other trail users, unless the trail is clearly signed for bike-only travel. Bicyclists traveling downhill should yield to ones headed uphill, unless the trail is clearly signed for one-way or downhill-only traffic. Strive to make each pass a safe and courteous one.

5. Never Scare Animals

Animals are easily startled by an unannounced approach, a sudden movement or a loud noise. Give animals enough room and time to adjust to you. When passing horses, use special care and follow directions from the horseback riders (ask if uncertain). Running cattle and disturbing wildlife are serious offenses.

6. Plan Ahead

Know your equipment, your ability and the area in which you are riding -- and prepare accordingly. Strive to be self-sufficient: keep your equipment in good repair and carry necessary supplies for changes in weather or other conditions. Always wear a helmet and appropriate safety gear.

Fall Riding at Alum Creek

 close to the trail head of Phase 1

meadow after the creek crossing

The bridge and rock garden on the approach to the creek crossing

What's left of a large tree that came down during Landicane Ike with winds over 75 mph

And then there was this raccoon out on the trail (now in the tree) of the intermediate loop.

On the beginner trail after the skills park I came up on these three deer. 

 

2008 Olympic Games competition and television schedule

The following is the schedule of cycling events for the 2008 Olympic Games. (All times local to Beijing):*Medal Events in Bold

Saturday, Aug. 9

11:00 a.m. – Men’s Road Race (George Hincapie, Levi Leipheimer, Jason McCartney, Christian Vande Velde, David Zabriskie)

Sunday, Aug. 10

2:00 p.m. – Women’s Road Race (Kristin Armstrong, Amber Neben, Christine Thorburn)

Wednesday, Aug. 13

11:30 a.m. – Women’s Time Trial (Kristin Armstrong, Christine Thorburn)

1:30 p.m. – Men’s Time Trial Levi Leipheimer, David Zabriskie)

Friday, Aug. 15

4:30 p.m. – Men’s Team Sprint Qualifying (Michael Blatchford, Adam Duvendeck, Giddeon Massie)

4:55 p.m. – Men’s Individual Pursuit Qualifying (Taylor Phinney)

5:45 p.m. – Men’s Team Sprint Round 1

6:00 p.m. – Women’s Individual Pursuit Qualifying (Sarah Hammer)

6:40 p.m. – Men’s Team Sprint Finals

 

Saturday, Aug. 16

4:30 p.m. – Men’s Individual Pursuit Round 1

4:50 p.m. – Men’s Keirin Round 1 (Athlete TBD)

5:05 p.m. – Women’s Individual Pursuit Round 1

5:25 p.m. – Men’s Keirin Repechage

5:40 pm. – Men’s Points Race (Bobby Lea)

6:30 p.m. – Men’s Keirin Round 2

6:50 p.m. – Men’s Individual Pursuit Finals

7:15 p.m. – Men’s Keirin Finals

Sunday, Aug. 17

11:05 a.m. – Women’s Sprint Qualifying (Jennie Reed)

11:20 a.m. – Men’s Sprint Qualifying (Michael Blatchford)

4:30 p.m. – Men’s Sprint 1/16 Finals

5:05 p.m. – Women’s Individual Pursuit Finals

5:15 p.m. – Women’s Sprint 1/8 Finals

5:35 p.m. – Women’s Sprint 1/8 Finals

6:15 p.m. – Men’s Team Pursuit Round 1

 

Monday, Aug. 18

4:30 p.m. – Women’s Points Race (Sarah Hammer)

5:05 p.m. – Women’s Sprint Quarterfinals

5:20 p.m. – Men’s Sprint Quarterfinals

6:15 p.m. – Men’s Team Pursuit Finals

 

Tuesday, Aug. 19

4:30 p.m. – Women’s Sprint Semifinals

4:40 p.m. – Men’s Sprint Semifinals

5:30 p.m. – Men’s Madison (Bobby Lea, Michael Friedman)

6:25 p.m. – Women’s Sprint Finals

6:35 p.m. – Men’s Sprint Finals

 

Wednesday, Aug. 20

9:00 a.m. – Men’s BMX Time Trial Seeding 1 (Kyle Bennett, Mike Day, Donny Robinson)

9:45 a.m. – Women’s BMX Time Trial Seeding 1 (Jill Kintner)

10:15 a.m. – Men’s BMX Time Trial Seeding 2 (Kyle Bennett, Mike Day, Donny Robinson)

11:00 a.m. – Women’s BMX Time Trial Seeding 2 (Jill Kintner)

11:40 a.m. – Men’s BMX Quarterfinal 1 (Kyle Bennett, Mike Day, Donny Robinson)

12:05 p.m. – Men’s BMX Quarterfinal 2 (Kyle Bennett, Mike Day, Donny Robinson)

12:32 p.m. – Men’s BMX Quarterfinal 3 (Kyle Bennett, Mike Day, Donny Robinson)

 

Thursday, Aug. 21

9:00 a.m. – Women’s BMX Semifinal 1 (Jill Kintner)

9:08 a.m. – Men’s BMX Semifinal 1

9:30 a.m. – Women’s BMX Semifinal 2 (Jill Kintner)

9:38 a.m. – Men’s BMX Semifinal 2

10:00 a.m. – Women’s BMX Semifinal 3 (Jill Kintner)

10:08 a.m. – Men’s BMX Semifinal 3

10:30 a.m. – Women’s BMX Finals

10:40 a.m. – Men’s BMX finals

 

Friday, Aug. 22

3:00 p.m. – Women’s Cross Country Mountain Bike (Georgia Gould, Mary McConneloug)

 

Saturday, Aug. 23

3:00 p.m. – Men’s Cross Country Mountain Bike (Adam Craig, Todd Wells)

TELEVISION SCHEDULE

USA cycling fans can follow all the cycling action via live streaming video online at www.nbcolympics.com or either live or via tape delay on several NBC networks.

Ah the rainy season...

  Well here I find myself awaiting the end of the rainy season here in South West Florida which brings us about 28 inches of rain from June thru August and hopefully no Hurricanes... The trails become ride able as we get into late August, sooner for those in the northern part of the state.  So I have a few blogs worth while to list and a great source for coaching. 

Blogs : 

http://mtnbkrsjoeandamanda.typepad.com/

http://bridget-the-mtb-cx-girl.blogspot.com/

Coaching: http://endurancefactor.com/index.htm

Alpe d' Huez

Vingt et un virages

Subaru-Gary Fisher MTB Team Back for 2008

For 2008 the Subaru-Gary Fisher team is returning the core of its team including Olympic hopefuls Jeremy Horgan-Kobelski, Willow Koerber, and Heather Irmiger. However, the biggest resigning during the off-season was that of title sponsor, Subaru. Subaru is continuing its commitment to mountain biking with a three-year deal that will ensure the continuation of the
most successful mountain bike team in America through 2010.

The 2008 team will consist of Jeremy Horgan-Kobelski, Willow Koerber, Heather Irmiger, Sam Schultz, Nat Ross, Jenny Copnall, Ken Onodera, Asa Erlandsson, and Dror Pekatch. This past year Jeremy Horgan-Kobelski captured another first place cross country finish at Deer Valley, UT. Willow Koerber stood on two World Cup podiums and five domestic podiums while
finishing the season as the top ranked American woman in the World Cup rankings. Nat Ross pulled in the overall National Point Series endurance title for the second year in the row. Heather Irmiger pulled in three domestic podiums.

In 2007 the team was racing for their country to secure the maximum number of Olympic roster spots for the U.S. For 2008, the Subaru-Gary Fisher riders will be focused on securing UCI race
points to earn their individual Olympic berth. Both Jeremy Horgan-Kobelski and Willow Koerber ended 2007 in prime positions to capture U.S. Olympic roster spots and participated in the test race on the Beijing Olympic course.
A critical element of any team is the sponsors. Subaru of America returns for their eighth year as title sponsor. SRAM, RockShox, Avid, Bontrager, Crank Brothers, Stronglight, and Genuine Innovations equip the team bikes. GU Energy Gel and GU20 Sports Drink will be fueling the team. 661 provides gloves and protective gear. Pedros helps to keep the bikes clean and lubed.
Brave Solider helps with trail rash and skincare. Cane Creek will be providing headsets for the team. Shimano Footwear, Sara Sportline cycling socks and Curve baselayers outfit the riders. Light and Motion will be keeping the trail lit at night. And Yakima equips all of the team’s Subarus
with racks.

The 2008 Subaru-Gary Fisher team has two categories: National Team and Global Team. The National Team will race largely in North America with a focus on the NMBS events, World Cups, premier domestic events, and select international races. Jeremy Horgan-Kobelski ,JHK is the most prolific American mountain bike racer of the last decade. He is a 4 time
National Champion. In 2007, JHK was fourth in the overall National Mountain Bike Series and also finished second overall American in the World Cup series. His resume also includes three short track National Championships. Before turning pro in 2000 he was 4-time Collegiate National Champion and 2-time Collegiate Cyclist of the Year. He enters the 2008
season anxious to race his way into his second trip to the Olympics.

Willow is one of the most recognizable professionals in mountain biking. Over her years as a professional she has built a solid fan base because of her refined style, approachability and winning ways. Willow first appeared on the national scene while racing at the collegiate level, where she won three Collegiate National Championships. In 2007, Willow stepped up her game and had a breakout year. She scored two World Cup podiums and finished as the topranked American in the World Cup series. Given her strong World Cup finish, Willow is poised to claim one of the two US women Olympic spots. 2007 saw Heather solidify herself as one of the top American female racers. She finished fourth overall in the NMBS cross-count series and fifth overall in the short track series. This included a third place finish in Snowmass, CO, NMBS race. For 2008 the former Collegiate
National Champion will be racing the NMBS events and World Cup races in hopes of scoring a US Olympic berth. .

As a former US Under 23 National Champion, Sam looks to garner more podium appearances now that he has graduated to the elites and continues his rise within the American mountain biking scene. A 2007 highlight for Sam was being a member of the bronze metal USA relay team at the Mountain Bike World Championships. The Missoula, MT, native lives and trains in Colorado Springs. In 2007, he finished 11th overall on the NMBS XC Series.

2007 was a full and successful year for the longest standing member of the Subaru-Gary Fisher team. The endurance rider was the 2007 Ultra-Endurance Series champion. He bested long-time rival Tinker Juarez to earn the distinction. In between his epic rides and 24 hour races Nat found time to compete in Race Across America (RAAM) for the second
consecutive year. His consistent podium finishes along with his affable personality have made Nat a crowd favorite wherever he travels. For 2008, the Colorado native will continue to focus on the endurance races and repeating as the Series leader. Athletes on the Global Team will join the team at select events. Subaru-Gary Fisher strives to work with athletes from around the world as they make their way to the top of the sport.

Jenny returns to Subaru-Gary Fisher for her fifth season. She dominates the UK women’s mountain bike scene. She is the defending UK Champion for both cross-country and marathon. In 2007, Jenny finished second in British National Series after four consecutive years of sitting on top. She has raced since 1996 and has steadily progressed to her current place on one of the World’s top teams. Jenny will continue to race an aggressive schedule in her native UK and compete in select World Cup events.
Ken Onodera, the 22-year old professional from Japan is two time All Japan National Champion and winner of the All Asia Championship in 2004. Ken has a very easy going attitude which belies his speed and aggression when racing his bike.
Asa Erlandsson has raced for Gary Fisher Bicycles for the last five years, competing in cross country and marathon events. The Swedish native is the 2007 Nordic marathon and Swedish marathon series Champion. In 2008 she’ll be focused once again balancing her marathon races with
select international races after having finished 13th at Marathon Worlds, 2nd at

Roc D’Azur, and 2 top-10s at Marathon World Cups.
Dror Pekatch is one of Israel’s most successful international mountain bike professionals. He has consistently represented Gary Fisher well on the race course and been a tireless ambassador and organizer for the mountain biking in Israel.

The Subaru-Gary Fisher MTB Team is proud to be sponsored by:
Subaru of America, Inc, Gary Fisher Bicycles, SRAM , RockShox, Bontrager Wheelworks and Components, Avid Brakes, Bontrager tires, Crank Brothers pedals, 661 gloves, Tokyo Joe's, Stronglight chainrings, Light & Motion, Pedros, Genuine Innovations, Brave Soldier, Yakima, Mountainsmith, Cane Creek, Shimano footwear, Sara Sportline Cycling Socks, GU Energy Gel, GU20 Sports Drink, and Curve baselayers.

In the storied history of Gary Fisher Bikes, our racing team has had its share of success. But don’t get us wrong, there’s more to our team than getting muddy, winning races, and popping open cold bottles of the bubbly stuff. They’ve been a key sounding board for Gary’s thoughts, ideas, and latest mad inklings. And who better to test new bikes than the best riders in the world?

Subaru and Gary Fisher also support the International Mountain Bike Association. IMBA creates, enhances and preserves trail opportunities for mountain bikers worldwide.

Check out Fisher's Homegrown 29er' Crew  ( www.29ercrew.com )

Gary Fisher Bicycles - Official Bikes of the Subaru/IMBA Trail Care Crew
Gary Fisher Bicycles is the official bike supplier of the Subaru/IMBA Trail Care Crew and the IMBA Trail Solutions program, providing cutting edge bikes to keep IMBA's field teams rolling. The company also supports IMBA financially as an Above-and-Beyond Corporate Member. Learn more about Gary Fisher Bicycles here.
IMBA sincerely thanks Gary Fisher Bicycles for their support of mountain biking and the Subaru/IMBA Trail Care Crew.