Beginner Women's Mountain Bike Clinics.

Wow, that was a long hard winter.

Now, the sun is shining, the snow is melting and the trails are drying. PHEW. 

Are you a beginner that needs some help? We are hosting a clinic in June. You can sign up for all 3 or just 1.... or pay as you go. We're easy like that.... We just want you to get inspired and June is the best time to start! 

Sign up for this clinic to get you prepped for the summer. You want to enjoy the outdoors, don't you? 

Summer Race/Event Schedule

Hi All! Finally getting into the spring and summer spirit! Check out what's on the calendar thus far ~ 

EVENTS
March 17 - Snow bke Relay. McCall. www.snowy45.com
April 6- Barking Spider MTB/ wild rockies
April 7 - Ride Stride and Glide / Galena Lodge 
April 13- Sage Brush Scramble/ knobby tire series
May 1 - Coyote Classic / knobby tire series
May 4 - Arbor Day Mud run and short track. Hailey. 
May 18 - 12 Hours of Disco, salmon Idaho. / www.ridesalmon.com/12-hrs-of-disco/
May 25- Eagle Bike Park Slalom Race/wild rockies
May 26- Eagle Bike Park Super D/ wild rockies
May 29 - Short Track, Hailey / powerhouse 
June 5- Short Track, Hailey /Powerhouse 
June 8- 9 to 5 endurance / knobby tire series
June 12- Short Track, Hailey / Powerhouse 
June 15 (or 29th) - Soldier Mountain Mtn bike/ knobby tire series
June 15-16 Boise to Idaho City MTB Tour/ wild rockies
June 19 - Short Track, Hailey /Powerhouse 
June 22- Jug Mountain Ranch XC Enduro / wild rockies
June 23- Jug Mountain Ranch State Championship Enduro / wild rockies
June 26- Short Track Finals / Powerhouse 
June 29- Super Enduro and Apple's party / ride sun valley
June 29-30 - Sun Valley Dirt Rally "scenic ride" / ride sun valley 
June 30 - Sun Valley Enduro Ride "group therapy" / ride sun valley 
July 1 - Bike Demos / ride sun valley
July 1-5 - Local Stoker Rides. Ride new trails with local / ride sun valley
July 2- Idaho Pump Track State Championships / ride sun valley
July 3 - Ketchum Fat Tire Crit / ride sun valley
July 4 - Hailey Road Crit / ride sun valley
July 5- kids mountain bike race / ride sun valley
July 6 - Marathon Nationals!!! / www.usacycling.org
July 6- Sun Valley Bald Juan. For those that don't want to compete in Nat's. Non-comp. / ride sun valley 
July 28- Bogus Marathon /knobby Tire Series
August 3 -Pierre's Hole Driggs, ID / www.ph100.org 
August 3-4 - Tamarack XC and Super D / wild rockies
August 10- Tamarack Super Enduro / wild rockies
August 10 - Whit Henry Galena Grinder (Pro UET) / knobby tire series
August 16- Xterra Wild Ride Tri / wild rockies
Sept 14 - Eagle Bike Park Enduro Championships / wild rockies 
Crosstoberfest - CX October / powerhouse 

Ride Sun Valley - www.ridesunvalley.com 

Wild Rockies Racing - www.wildrockiesracing.com

Knobby Tire Series - www.knobbytireseries.com

Powerhouse - www.powerhouseidaho.com 

Elephants Perch - www.elephantsperch.com 

Galena Lodge - www.galenalodge.com 

Iceman Cameth and Goneth...

And it was.... What was it? It was... Different! I'm from Traverse City, Michigan and have always wanted to do this race. The Iceman Cometh is the largest point to point race in the country. There were 5,147 racers that signed up! That's bigger than the town I live in! It's rolling terrain and come to find out pretty damn fast! I decided, since I am the single speed champ this year, to race my single speed. Back up, I wish I would've thought about that a bit more beforehand. Or talked to someone about gearing, that probably would've helped too. Anything would've helped. The sun shining- that would've helped too. It was 30 degrees at 9:09 when I started in the 4th wave, and snowing. Wet, big, slushy, heavy flakes- reminder to self, this is the ICEMAN and its November in Northern Michigan. Sounds like a Kidd Rock song. I was wearing Lycra. And riding the wrong gear. Do they make a 12? I should've run that. Having Georgia there was awesome. Waldek was pretty entertaining too and they were great dining companions! Seeing Georgia win was awesome! Don't get me wrong this was a very cool race and I would definitely do it again-much differently! This time around I felt like a fly on the wall collecting beta. Which is a good thing! If your newbie and need some tips or some course info, single speed gear beta - let me know!

Whaaa's Happenin' Hot Stuff?

Well, a lot has been happening as of late! Marc and I took a little vacay and headed to Oregon. Usually we head to Bend this time of year but we had been there and done that so we decided to try something new. This time, we went to Hood River, Mount Saint Helens and Portland! It was a full combination of riding, camping, brewery hopping and little racing too. We stayed at Tucker Park in Hood River. It's an awesome campground 5 miles from town and it has hot showers. It's right on the river and it just smells like cherries out there. This Michigan girl felt right at home. Wow, I had no idea how many cherries, apples, pears and fruit stands, wineries there were there! All nestled under the protcetion of Mt Hood, surrounded by water and massive brew houses ~ GORGEOUS! We got hooked up on a few good rides and frequented the Dirty Finger bike shop for gear and... yup, you guessed it, beer too. I guess it's all the rage, bike shops now selling food and beers.

After Hood, we went to Mount Saint Helens to ride up the active volcano. Nothing boiled over but man was it gorgeous! Have you ridden the Ape Canyon/Plains of Abraham trail? I thought it was going to be Epically Gnarly but it was gorgeous! The trail was a nice uphill and then it spit you out on the volcano... Whoa. Coolness all around. Nice steeps and shubbery and just nice moon walking up there! Can you see Marc rounding the corner?

We then headed to Portland for a little bit of the city life. We had never been to the Bicycle Capital and we had a great time beatin' feet all day. We spent 2 solid days on the streets of Portland sampling food and more brews. Checking out cool art and smelling roses. I would go back for sure... we barely skimmed the surface! And, we didn't get a voodoo donut. People really wait in that line?

Our finale in Portland was a Cross Crusade Cyclocross race! We have always wanted to do one! and we done did it! Marc raced the Masters A 45+ and I raced the Women's a Master 35+. We were last to get call ups.... there were 1,700 racers!! Holy shit, it's like the town of Ketchum showing up for race day!! I had a great time! The race was fast, fun and super technical I was sure glad that I was a mtn biker! the first lap I went down so hard. So hard (10 days later my leg is still messed up) but I got back in there and fought back. Marc battled a huge group too. Post race we loaded up and headed on home. Tired and on a good note. Next up was Moose Cross in Victor Idaho. We have gone 3 out of the 4 years. Fun times! Much smaller than cx crusade but nice b/c of that, too!! We had 8 from the Wood River Valley !! I have to say, I have NEVER felt worse on a bike but we all sure had fun! stimulated the economy and so forth. Next up is Crosstoberfest here in Hailey. Come race with us October 26 and 27! There will be 30 breweries represented there and of course, people on bikes too!!

  And just so you know how much fun we have on bikes here in the Wood River Valley.. This also happened... the Boulder Mountain Bike Tour. An early morning ride up the Harriman Trail on Mountain Bikes or up the highway on road bikes. The destination being Galena Lodge where we celebrate the last day of the summer season with lunch and cocktails.  P.S. if you are interested in attending this ride next year, the mountain bikers have MORE Fun!! See you soon!!

 

a 'cross smell in the air

Is.... coming! But wait just a minute because the riding this time of year is still amazing in town. In fact, it can't get much better. We all love summer in the Wood River Valley.. but September is a really tough month to beat! The cooler mornings and evenings, the fallen leaves, the smell in the trees... Ah. It's glorious! However with the inevitable loss of daylight, we are forced to concentrate on shorter rides. That's where cyclocross comes in. We don't have many avenues for cx riding here in Ketchum unless you want to drive to Boise but there is a small group of us that are trying to get a little thing going in Bellevue. If you are interested in cx "racing" in the Wood River Valley and want to get some practice in before Billy's Crosstoberfest weekend October 27 and 28th, then check out SOBX. The directions and "events" are posted on our Facebook page in the Notes and Events page. We have a cx course set up at one of our friends houses. Yes, he has a pretty big yard and appropriately the end of season trophys are a Mr.and Mrs. Potato Head. Finally, equalprizes for men and women! I use quotations when refering to the "races" at SOBX as it is verra casual. We host, what are called, practice races so don't be shy, put your ego in the corner and come down and see what the HAY (for real, there are horses too) is all about! Bring a cold one for pre or post event racing ~ depending on how serious a cx racer you are (I prefer the pre event carbo load)! SOBX is a great way to get in a fun, informal workout! If you are in need a 'cross bike. I know of 2 that are for sale... $300. Redlines. Call 208.725.4041 for more info.

SSGR or Buncha' Bitches Riding Bikes

Well, it's not really a bunch. It's really just a few and honestly we are not all bitches. Or, not bitches all of the time, I should say. BBRB. It's a girls ride that happens once a year. I am not the organizer of this ride.. but more of a reluctant participant. I say reluctant b.c this is always an ass kicker of a ride! The route changes but the goal is consistent ~ that being to have a full day riding dirt! The ride is planned out to be an 8 to 10 hr mountain bike ride... That's why I say reluctant. The group is small so that the group keeps on task.. and usually the group is 4-6 women and this was it's 3rd year. It's a pretty delicate mix and this year we were unsure when it would happen and IF it would happen. All of the smoke that has been surrounding Idaho didn't make the planning easy. In fact, it was going to be sometime at the end of the month.... but a "clear smoke free" window lent itself to us and we jumped on it. It was a gorgeous "fall like" day and it was a great way to wrap up the summer season. We started at Galena Lodge and rode dirt alllllll the way to the Greenhorn parking lot which included some steep ups~ hiking our bikes but we had some looooong descents too on gorgeous pristine single track. It's an early start and I never feel like I have had enough coffee for what lies ahead. Fingers are cold. Everyone is pretty quiet.. anxiously awaiting what's ahead. But as we get into our grove, it happens. The sun warms us. The group becomes more relaxed and we enjoy one another and where we are. Usually someone cries at least once.. and this year, no one did. Though I have to say, I did tear up thinking that I almost conisdered missing this ride.

                                                         Thanks Ladies AND nice work!

Start to Finish: Galena Lodge, down the Harriman trail to Prairie Creek. Up to Prairie Lake. Up Trail #134 to Trail #138 to Baker Lake. Down Baker Lake and up Lost Shirt Gulch to trail #140 (? I think) and onto Castle creek and down to Warm Springs Road. Up Red Warrior and down Lodgepole to Greenhorn parking lot where we had a van parked full of snacks and COLD beers!!

3rd Annual SSGR today

It's gonna be a doozie with the lack of riding in my legs. Stay tuned for the post ride route report! White bunnies, white bunnies (that's my smoke dance). Happy Labor Day Weekend all!