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HRRT Spring Endurance Dirt Series
New this year! Endurance Series Challenge to be held May 20, 2012. Riders can choose your own distance, 2, 4 or 6 hours! Get ready for those early season endurance races…the only endurance race in the NY in May.
FUN! SEMI TECHNICAL! Nearly 100% SINGLETRACK!
5 plus mile loop in Schenectady’s Central Park nature trails. Nearly 100% singletrack, with rocks, roots, stairs, log crossings, bridges, and short steep up and down hills.
There are a bunch of options for racers…solo, duo, and three person. Should a class have less than 4 racers or teams, classes may be combined
Merchandise Prizes award in each class for top three!
Directions: Take Northway (I-87) to exit 7. Take route 7 towards Schenectady. Take a right onto Golf Rd. At the end of Golf Rd is Feur Ave. Turn Right onto Feur Ave and parking lot is immediately on your left. The ride is held in the trails, across from the parking lot, on the other side of Feur Ave. You will see a bunch of dirty bikers.
Date: May 20, 2012
Time: 10am- 4pm
Food: There will be limited water and food. Please bring anything else you desire.
Pit areas: Each racer or team for the 6 hour race will have a pit area on pit row. You can bring a pop up tent, bike stand portbale shower ect, no grills are allowed, and no beer…park rules. Racers coming in later for the 4 or 2 hour series can choose a spot at the end of pit row, still on course side.
After Party: There will have a BBQ! Ask at the race for details.
Trail Description: Technical 5+ mile loop, in Central Park, Schenectady, NY. Roots, rocks, bridges, logs, short steep up and down hill. For a link to the trail information go here: http://capitalmtb.org/Resources/Schenectady%27s_Central_Park_Trails
Race updates will be posted on the HRRT Website. In the past there has been 60 plus racers at this event!
Day of event registration is available from 9:00 am. Pre-registered riders will have designated pit areas.
Day of registration there is a $5 surcharge.
These trails are part of the Schenectady County Parks Department recreation segment. We are allowed to host these events with a $5 day use fee to be collected from every rider day of event. This is separate from your registration fee, please come with exact change.
Register here via BikeReg.com: HRRT Spring Endurance Dirt Series, 2, 4 or 6 Hours Online Registration.
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May is National Bike Month
National Bike Month is an opportunity to celebrate the unique power of the bicycle and the many reasons we ride. Whether you bike to work or school; to save money or time; to preserve your health or the environment; to explore your community or get to your destination, get involved in Bike Month in your city or state — and help get more people in your community out riding too!
National Bike Month is May 2012
When is Bike to Work Week and Day?
The League of American Bicyclists is the national sponsor of Bike Month, and this year Bike to Work Week is May 14-18 and Bike to Work Day is Friday, May 18.
When is Bike to School Day?
The inaugural Bike to School Day is May 9, 2012. Learn more, register or find an event in your area here.
Bike Month Guide
Need some ideas? Use the League’s Bike Month Guide to learn how to get started promoting your event.
Bike Month Promotion
Help promote bicycling this May and every month! The League has free Bike Month promo tools like logos, posters and banners to place on your Web site this May. Printer files can also be requested atcommunications@bikeleague.org.
Bike Month Events
Check the Bike Month events section often to see what Bike Month and Bike to Work Week events are going on in your community. Also, post your area, club, business or school’s Bike Month events on our Web site for free! Post or find Bike Month events today.
U.S. Bike Commuter Data
Do you want to know how many people ride bikes in America, who’s riding, and how many miles of bike lanes there are? The Census Bureau collects American Community Survey (ACS) data from a sample of the population in the United States and gives us this insight. Find out who’s riding bikes in the largest 244 cities in the U.S.
Ride Better
Are you planning on riding this Bike Month but need to freshen up on your bike safety and riding skills? The League has several bike education resources to help you ride confidently and safely this May. The League’s Ride Betterpage has detailed the Rules of the Road and commuting tips to making riding fun and safe for all new and returning riders. Simple bike maintenance and fix-it info is also located located on the Ride Better page.
The 29er debate continues, this time vs the 650B
I’ve been riding a 29er for a little more than a year now. I’ve written about the comparisons of a 29 vs 26 inch wheeled mountain bike, and I’m still committed to the 29er. And, if you look around, so are a large number of the Pro’s. Let’s face it, if pro riders have committed to the 29er, it’s for good reason. It’s not marketing, it’s winning.
Ok, so some of you might still say that a smaller wheel is quicker in the tight singletrack, and that the 650B is better than a 29er for the same reasons as a 26. Ok, I’ll agree that a 650B is better, more efficient, than a 26, but I have to say that a 29er is still going to be faster. For the same reasons that a 29er is faster, more efficient, than a 26. So now that bicycle makers are starting to go wild with the 650B wheel size, the controversy still isn’t going to go away, it is just going to shift from 29er vs 26 to a 29er vs 650B debate.
At the top of my world with my Motobecane Fantom 29
I have never been on a 650B bike, so I really have no direct knowledge of a comparison. But the science is the same. It’s not as dramatic as 29er vs 26, but the science is the same. When I have the opportunity to test ride a 650B wheeled bike, I will. Until then, I stand by my 29er.
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2012 NYS Cyclocross Championships Announced!
Running the barriers at Satratoga Spa:Cyclocross
The 2012 NYS Cyclocross Championships will be contested at the Spa Cross Cyclocross in Saratoga Springs, New York, on October 21, 2012.
The challenging course is located on the eastern section of the Saratoga Race Course property, behind the Oklahoma training track. A grassy hillside provides elevation changes, including descents with off-camber turns and a run-up enforced by wooden steps. The hill also provides a panoramic view of the course for spectators. The course also makes use of existing sand roads and dirt piles as natural obstacles. The Start/Finish area includes a paved road that allows for a start grid and starting and finishing stretches.
Medals will be awarded for all NYS Championship Cyclocross categories, with cash prizes for elite races and swag for all other categories. A non-sanctioned race will be scheduled for children younger than ten (10), and a dedicated children’s course will be open for use throughout the day.
A race expo will feature food vendors as well as items of interest to the cycling community.
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NICA Expands to Accommodate Growth in High School Mountain Biking
Founder and Executive Director, Matt Fritzinger, to transition and focus on building new leagues
Contact: Paul Skilbeck paul@nationalmtb.org 415.516.1444
BERKELEY, Calif. (Press Release) – The strong growth of the National Interscholastic Cycling Association (NICA) continues with applications from Arizona, Georgia, Maryland, New York, Tennessee, Virginia and West Virginia to join the organization’s Project League program,. Project Leagues have access to select NICA services, providing them the needed public awareness, support, funding and momentum to become fully fledged chapter leagues.
As many as three will be chosen for 2013 induction, and the total number of NICA leagues – now seven – will rise to as many as 10. This will bring the organization three steps closer to its goal of providing mountain biking opportunities to high school students coast to coast by 2020.
Supporting this expansion requires a considerable depth of technical advisory experience leading up to the initial racing season. NICA’s Executive Director, Matt Fritzinger, who founded NICA, and the pioneering NorCal League before that, is uniquely qualified for this job and will transition from his current role to focus on key tasks such as new league technical development and fundraising.
Fritzinger said, “NICA is a jet plane we have built together, and it has been a great thrill to be centrally involved in building it. This aircraft is ready to be handed over to a seasoned pilot, rather than someone who specializes in the creative work. I’m very excited about building new leagues where I can draw on a decade of operations experience. I also look forward to building relationships with new supporters who want to join this movement.’”
NICA leagues existing and prospective (click to enlarge)
Fritzinger will remain in post as Executive Director to participate in the transition. NICA is presently engaged in the search for a replacement and interviews are being handled by NICA President,Rick Spittler.
Spittler said, “The idea of Matt transitioning from Executive Director to special projects was a joint decision by Matt and the NICA Board. Since Matt is continuing in his role until a new Executive Director is found, there will be no disruption in any races or day-to-day activities. Matt is simply refocusing to accommodate NICA’s incredible growth. He has built the organization from one league in Northern California to something that will be nationwide in the next decade, and now he’s going to focus solely on that goal.”
For a job description and application instructions go to http://www.nationalmtb.org/blog/wp-content/uploads/Microsoft-Word-Executive-Director-Job-Description.doc.pdf
About the National Interscholastic Cycling Association
Founded in 2009, the National Interscholastic Cycling Association (NICA) develops high school mountain biking programs for student-athletes across the United States. NICA provides leadership, services and governance for local leagues to produce quality mountain bike events, and supports every student-athlete in the development of strong body, strong mind and strong character through their efforts on the bike.
NICA exists by virtue of generous donors and sponsors, including the founding national sponsor, Specialized Bicycle Components, as well as Easton Foundations, JEEP, SRAM, Trek Bicycles, Clif Bar & Company, Primal Wear, GU Sports, Kinetic, Maxxis, adidas Eyewear, CamelBak, Dirt Rag, Feedback Sports, Fort Lewis College, Fox Racing Shox, Mountain Bike Action, QBP, Ritchey Designs, Sidi America and WTB. For more information on NICA visit www.nationalmtb.org or call 510.524.5464.
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Cyclocross Everywhere at Sea Otter
It’s only April and the cyclocross bug has already bit. And it’s the fault of the Sea Otter Classic and the great coverage by Cyclocross Magazine.
The big thing was disc brake equipped ‘cross bikes. Disc equipped 2012 and 2013 model year cyclocross bikes from Redline, Raleigh, Diamond Back, Felt, Cannondale, Look, Norco and Colnago, along with many others were on display.
And then there were tires. A lot of new ’cross tires on the market. New cyclocross tires were unveiled by Continental, Ritchey, Hutchinson and Vee Rubber. I’m most interested in the Vee Rubber tires. As you may know, Vee Rubber USA bicycle division in now headed up by Jim Wannamaker, formerly known as Jim from Kenda.
Along with bikes and tires, there was a lot of other cyclocross on display too. Cyclocross Magazine has great coverage of all thing cyclocross from the 2012 edition of the Sea Otter Classic. Click the link HEREand you can read all about it.
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Endless Bike Company’s Kick-Ass-Cogs
If you’re a singlespeed rider, and you’re like me, you are often looking for a lower gear for those climbs. I would rather have a lower gear for climbing, than a higher gear to avoid spinning on the flats. I currently use a 22T on my Redline MonoCog 29er. I would love to have a 23T or 25T. I could never find more than a 22T…that is until now.
Introducing Endless Bike Company’s Kick-Ass-Cogs. According to Endless Bike Company, at a full quarter inch wide (6.35mm) at the splines, Kick-Ass-Cogs simply will not damage your free hub body the way a narrower cog can. Made of high strength 7075-T6 alloy (Stronger and harder than most common steels), Kick-Ass-Cogs are precision machined insuring perfect axial and radial alignment that compliments the superior chain lines that cassette style hubs allow.
The specially engineered tooth profile on Kick-Ass-Cogs improves both cog and chain life while minimizing drive train friction. With a Kick-Ass-Cog on your bike, you can expect a smooth, quiet drivetrain for miles to come.
Like all EndlessBikeCo. Products, Kick-Ass-Cogs are made in the USA, in Western North Carolina; not in some faceless factory on the other side of the planet.
Cog sizes range from 14T-25T in single tooth increments. You can buy Kick-Ass-Cogs and all their products direct from Endless Bike Company’s website.
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Albany Bicycle Coalition: 2012 Bike EXPO
Albany Bicycle Coalition (ABC) is proud to announce the Second Annual Bike EXPO to kick off National Bike Month and promote cycling across the Capital Region. The community event will take place on May 6th, 2012 from 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. at the Washington Park Lakehouse in the heart of Albany.
The Bike EXPO will feature a family-friendly ride on car-free park roadways, a guided tour of Albany’s bicycle amenities, exhibitions, free tech advice, refreshments, raffles and prizes. Vendors and tables will include bike shops, bicycle clubs, and advocacy organizations. The event is free and open to the public.
“We are trying to bring together cyclists regardless of their individual riding skills or their motivation for riding. We are using bicycles as a central focus for sustainable and healthy living in the Capital District. Our secondary goal is to highlight the many cycling improvements in the city – shared lanes, hundreds of bicycle racks, bicycle signage, and bicycle lanes,” states John Vendetti, event coordinator.
This event is sponsored in part by the New York Bicycling Coalition, the Albany Bicycle Rescue, the Pine Hills Neighborhood Association, the Delaware Area Neighborhood Association, and the Council of Albany Neighborhood Association.
The Albany Bicycle Coalition is made up of a group of dedicated cyclists whose goal is to promote bicycling as a viable means of both transportation and recreation in the Capital Region.
Mavic debuts 29er wheelsets
Mavic finally has three brand new 29er wheelsets, the first full line of 29er wheels for Mavic. The Crossmax SLR, Crossmax ST, and Crossride wheelsets all offer Mavic’s signature system-engineered approach to wheels, as well as competitive weights and a good pricing.
The debut of these wheels comes almost a year after Mavic’s original intended release date. A number of design challenges, particularly with the lightweight SLR set held off the introduction until now.
The Crossmax SLR 29 should be available in mid June, while the Crossmax ST and Crossride won’t be available until August.
Crossmax SLR – Weight: 1629 grams, Price: $1000
Crossmax ST – Weight: 1710 grams, Price: $825
Crossride – Weight: 2020 grams, Price $300
For an in depth technical review of Mavic’s new 29er wheels, check out the article from BikeRumor.com.
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Broken Bike campaign supports MS
NEW YORK — The Broken Bike campaign has kicked off in Albany, as well as other regions upstate. It’s part of the National Multiple Sclerosis Society of Upstate New York’s effort to raise awareness and support for the deadly disease.
These broken orange bikes are being placed at 15 upstate locations to promote three bike events the society is hosting. The project will help raise funds for the Capital Region’s Hudson River Ramble.
It also helps fund Rochester’s Finger Lake Challenge and Buffalo’s Head for the Hills event.
Event organizers said everyone is welcome to participate.
“The course themselves are rolling hills, it’s not just for the experienced rider, there’s definitely opportunities for the novice rider who wants to enjoy a beautiful ride,” said campaign manager Alyssa Shoup.
The Capital Region’s Hudson River Ramble will take place on September 22nd in Schodack.
The MS Society hopes to raise more than $65,000 at the bike events. The organization said that in Albany County alone, there are more than 580 people living with MS.
via Broken Bike campaign supports MS – YNN, Your News Now.
