Eastern Panhandle Cycling Info!

 

Material by ways of EP/BC:

Hello Those about to Bike: I believe Fall is here, my favorite season and why I choose to live in Wild Wonderful WV! It’s hard to find any better place than WV to enjoy fall colors and festivities. Get out there and ride your bike and enjoy this wonderful time of the year. This issue: Take A Kid Mt. Biking Day Fall Cycling Breast Cancer Awareness Advice from the staff

This Sat October 6th is National Take A Kid Mountain Biking Day. With help from Specialized and IMBA, EP/BC will be hosting kids of all skill levels at Poor House Farm Park in Martinsburg, WV this Sat for some riding and mountain biking instuction. Date: Saturday, October 6th, 2012 Time: 12:00pm to 2:00pm Location: Poor House Farm Park At The Pavilion RSVP: epbicycles@gmail.com We Are Limited to 50 Participants      Please Bring: Parent Bike Helmet Good Riding Shoes Local experts will be on hand to discuss essentials for mountain biking. Give some helpful hints and help with skills. We will also discuss trail building opportunities for Poor House Farm Park

Fall Cycling Opportunities Fall is one of the best times of the year to ride (My Favorite!) and here are a few places that are wonderful to check out: The C&O Canal Towpath (No Brainer) one of the best bike paths in the country and it’s in our back yard. Mountain Biking Canaan Valley The Western Maryland Rail Trail The Great Allegheny Passage Sleepy Creek. Mainly hiking trails but the red multi use trails are good for mountain biking Gambrills State Park Greenbrier River Trail Just remember to pack the essentials and dress properly. Come in and we will happily show you the many ways to properly pack for the adventure.

 

Read Full Post »

Bike Camping Adventures!

 

Well, as everyone knows… having a big fire is priority #1 after getting camp set up, and riding until tired. Last night, Tiffin, The Girl™, and I went out to the flats for a jaunt of night riding and camping. The night riding was fantastic! Being a little disoriented as to where you are is an interesting feeling. Without daylight, the same locations we always ride around look and feel a little bit different, but not scary different. Without being able to see as well, we ended up taking stray trails, which have not been ridden by bikes (ATV trails, dirt bike trails, etc) for months, if not years.

After riding around for about an hour and a half, we started to set up camp Just like past cyclocamping posts ere on WV Cycling, we used the same gear, same tents, so not a lot to report there. I did end up packing an abundance of leaves under my Tyvek ground cloth. This was free padding, and significantly made an improvement in comfort and happiness! I suggest everyone to do this when weight-weenie camping!

We started setting up a fire in a nice little firepit that we dug up the night before. Fire was a-blazing for a good two hours. We roasted hot dogs, and Tiffin tried to make popcorn by breaking open a package of microwave popcorn and placing them in a espresso milk frothing mug.

The oils got so hot in the stainless steel mug that they ignited, he had to blow out the fire before he could eat the popcorn…  Such a bad idea…

Our campfire was so warm that I had to move my stump bench away from the firepit. When I was scooting it away, I saw a Red Salamander. He was a very shy little reptile and attempted to hide back under something immediately. I was lucky to nab a photo:

Sleeping was very much more comfortable, just as I said earlier. Having the leaves, a foam pad, and a light sleeping bag really made a difference. Maybe being a weightweenie camper is as fun as being a weightweenie cyclist.

 

 

Read Full Post »

Product Reviews – Part II – All City Star BMX Grips

This review is long overdue. I received these grips from All-City in January 2010.

I often review something once it has served its purpose and has been completely used up/annihilated. With these grips, this wasn’t the case. I ended up cutting them off when I decided to strip down my MTB and clean every bolt/bearing/etc. This was in May 2012.

The grips are a dual durometer, with the white stars being a tougher rubber than the black. The black rubber is pretty gummy and kept its grip their entire lifetime. Roughly 18 months into using them, the soft durometer (black) rubber started edging away from the tougher inner rubber (white). This was a visible issue, but not a functional issue at all.

The grips were also very easy to clean up. I often would get them filthy looking after four or five rides, but a touch of water and soap on a rag would clean them off in less than 30 seconds. The little stars were still very white the day I cut them off.

Since these were a set of “BMX” grips, the donut flanges at the end were pretty big, but not enough to be in the way of my brakes.

The only thing I could complain about is the colors of the grips. I really wish the black had been reversed with the white, but this is just so it would better match my bike ~_~

These grips are pretty flashy and a cheap piece of bling to put on your bike. Even the bar-end side of them were in great condition when I removed them. You know how often during crashes or overall neglect for the bar ends result in a smushed or crappy looking edge? Not these guys. They last forever, and are as comfy as grips get.

They MSRP for around $10, so you should go out and pick up a pair for your bike! They come in several colors: http://allcitycycles.com/products/star_bmx_grips

Numeric Review: 4/5.

These would have gotten a perfect score if they would have come in a colorway that fit my bike better. YMMV.

***FCC Mandatory Warning – I did receive these for a discounted price, please be aware that I am showing no bias for them, regardless of the costs or benefits.

Read Full Post »

What _____ Think I Do – Cyclocross Edition

Cyclocross is a zany bunch, and East Coast vs West Coast vs Euro have many different views on things…

Tell me what you think:

Click for larger image

Read Full Post »

WV Rave 2012 – MUST RIDE

I’ve been a fan of the WV Rave events since 2008. LBS owner, Gene Wells and I wanted to do this since it’s first year, but something always got in the way for me, and I was fortunate enough to ride in 2011.

This event is organized by the Habitat for Humanity of Nicholas and Webster County As they state, their goal is:

To Provide families with simple, decent, and affordable quality housing while spreading God’s love through our faith and actions.

You can see past projects of their work by click in the picture below.

In 2011, according to their site, they earned $5000 from the WV RAVE bike ride!

I know, I know, it’s a charity ride…. not a race, but still…. this is a GREAT COURSE… Hence the all caps.

The Camp Caesar starting point is a 4-H camp with little log cabins that we slept at the night before. It is a really rustic feel, sleeping on cots that you could imagine being in a school nurse’s station, or in a really old dormitory. Luckily, the next morning, they had an awesome breakfast incuded in the price of lodging. All of the typical breakfast fixings were there, and very well made!

The course that we did was the 100 mile, and it was fun, but rough. I think I bonked at about mile 70 or so, and had a hard time keeping my speed up. The climbs aren’t bad… They’re steady, but not bad. Bring your compact unless you’re a complete B.A.

At the end, oh gosh…. They have a truly wonderful post-ride barbecue that was to die for. I think I ended up eating all of the desserts. All of them. So good!

If you’re going to do any kind of charity ride in West Virginia this year, this must be it. The event volunteers are all friendly, wholesome, awesome people. The course is well marked, and cleaned. I can’t really think of anything negative to say other than me bonking… 😛

I’m going to list some info and documents to link to the appropriate places to register… Maybe some photos too!

—————————————————————————————————-

Ridge And Valley Excursion (RAVE) Bike Tour 2012

RAVE 2011 was a success! Tell your friends and family for next year, and come ride!

Route options

There are five different routes of varying difficulty to choose. All cyclists begin and end at Camp Caesar 4H camp.

+Family Fun Ride is the 15 mile option and is also relatively flat. The route runs part way up Williams River and back.

+Endurance Ride is 50 miles long and is also relatively flat. The route runs to Tea Creek Campground and back. Map found HERE

+Ridge Riders is 75 miles long, includes a 4-mile climb and 8-mile descent on the Highland Scenic Highway (Rt. 150). Map found HERE

+Metric Century New course added for 2012 at request of cyclists. Experience the challenge of climbing Black Mountain on Rt. 150 to turn around at Big Spruce Overlook (SAG station) and enjoy the descent! 

+Top of the World Century (100 mile) Ride includes a 5-mile climb and 5 to 6 other challenging, but shorter, climbs on the Highland Scenic Highway. Route goes into Marlinton and returns to Williams River Rd. Map found HERE

There will be a cookout style dinner at Camp Caesar upon return for all riders! Cost included in registration fee.

Lodging

A $50 lodging fee (seperate from riding fee) includes 1 night lodging at Camp Caesar, Friday evening meal, and breakfast Saturday morning. Please call Betsy Morris, Camp Caesar Director, at 304-226-3888 or email at campcaesar@frontiernet.net.

Bike clubs or groups may choose to rent a cabin for their entire group.

Late registrants (after May 14th) will pay $9 for dinner on Friday and $7 for breakfast the following morning.

Payment Options

Since we are not able to handle credit/debit cards on this site, check or money order must be mailed to:  Habitat for Humanity of Nicholas and Webster Counties PO Box 544 Summersville, WV 26651. Please print off registration form and submit with payment. OR
you may click on this link www.raceit.com.to use credit card. Please print off receipt from raceit and bring with you day of ride.
The route fees are as follows:
Family Fun Ride: $25/Child, $30/Adult
     Endurance Ride: $50
     Ridge Runners: $50
     Metric Century:  $50
     Top of the World: $50
These do not include lodging.

All fees are non-refundable unless event is cancelled.

Confirmation of entry and payment will be made by either email, phone, or mail.

Ride Packet

Packets can be picked up on Friday evening from 5pm-7pm at Burton Hall at Camp Caesar, or Saturday morning before the ride and will include a map of your chosen course. Ride packets will not be mailed.

Buckhannon's very own Tom Woods

Kelly and Les at one of the fully stocked Rest Stops

A bunch of guys standing around looking PRO.

Important links:

Event Info: http://www.helpbuilditwv.org/rave—annual-bike-tour.html

Facebook page: http://www.facebook.com/groups/120803621289871/

Registration Page #2: http://iplayoutside.com/Events/2012/06/13898.html

If you have any questions, feel more than free to ask, and I can try to answer them, or direct you in the proper direction!

 

Read Full Post »