Goldstream Sports Fairbanks Alaska

We groomed the trail on Friday afternoon. It is in great shape and will be good till we see more snow.

Sunday’s race forecastis for a high of 20 with a low the night before around 5. I would recommend a Bad Bob Stone grind, it has plenty of range if it warms up more and runs well in the colder temps. At this time my wax recommendation is for HF waxes, LF would work as well. Toko Blue with a little Red blended on the tail of the skate ski. Classic skis I would use 1/3 red and 2/3 blue since the tracks will be glazing. To prep the glide zone I would recommend a hot wipe to clean the base followed with Toko Moly to repel dirt, and improve brake-a-way speed. It is to soon to make a Kick wax recommendation. Check back for updates and other wax brand recommendations. Joel

We are now meeting for group trainer rides every Saturday at Goldstream Sports. We meet at 8 am and ride for an hour.  We put in a training video or a race video and ride for an hour or more. You will need to bring your  trainer and bike. Everyone is welcome.

This came in from a Fairbanks Cycle Club member, and I’m reposting it here for reference

Here’s good news for the cycling community statewide. However, do not assume this is a slam dunk. Perhaps a few of you will take note and let your leggies know of your interest in this bill. Letters to the editor are also advised.

HB 132 Bicycle Program, sponsored by a bipartisan team. Rep. Seaton (R-Homer)and Rep. Gruenberg (D-Anchorage)

HB132 would authorize municipalities and nonprofit organizations to sponsor programs encouraging the safe use of bicycles as an alternative or supplement to motor vehicles.

It would amend the duties of the Department of Commerce, Community, and Economic Development to include the administration of state funds appropriated for these types of programs and would allow state and federal aid allocated for highways to be used to support bicycle paths. The bill was referred to TRA and FIN committees.

See the bill language and more details here:
http://www.legis.state.ak.us/basis/get_bill.asp?bill=HB%20132&session=26

MIT students develop a bicycle powered washing machine

Posted in redorbit on: Wednesday, 18 February 2009, 16:15 CST

Many people living in developing countries often lack access to electricity, making something as common as a washing machine a luxury. However, thanks to some MIT students, a new human-powered machine may now be one step closer to reality.

After working four years to develop their concept, students and staff at MIT built the pedal-powered washing machine primarily from bicycle parts and empty barrels. The machine was designed to be easy and inexpensive to manufacture,  mostly using parts and tools that are readily available anywhere in the developing world. And since the machines can be made locally, their use can even generate new jobs.

Read the rest of the story on redorbit

This was posted in Bicycle Retailer’s Blog earlier this week

DENVER, CO (BRAIN)—When President Barack Obama signed off on the $787 billion economic stimulus package earlier this week, bicycle advocacy groups such as Bikes Belong were still trying to figure out what it all meant.

What it could mean is $700-$900 million in extra spending on bicycle-related projects. “This is very good news for bicycling,” said Tim Blumenthal, executive director at Bikes Belong. But then added, “If we play our cards right.”

Much of the stimulus money dedicated to transportation will be handed over to each state’s department of transportation, according to Blumenthal. Loosely translated: These state officials aren’t obligated to build bike lanes and bike paths with this newfound money. In fact, they’re much more apt to fund highway projects with the stimulus money—with the thought that it puts more people to work.

“New bike projects put lots of people to work,” Blumenthal said. “This is where people that care about bicycling can get involved.” Blumenthal added that bicyclists should get in contact with their local politicians and state officials to confront this very matter.

Not only can these bike projects be funded through transportation funds, but also through the energy efficiency and schools part of the stimulus package, with programs such as Safe Routes to School, Blumenthal said.

“The money we get [from the stimulus package] could be about a year’s worth of federal funding,” Blumenthal said.

For more on this story with additional insight from Blumenthal, be sure to read the March 15 issue of Bicycle Retailer and Industry News.

—Jason Norman

from Bicycle Retailer

We are planning a weekend of trail building training. IMBA (International Mountain Bike Association) and Alaska Trails will be running the training in Fairbanks in mid May.  The details are being finalized and will be posted as soon as available.  The training will cover sustainable trail building, layout and constructsion. This is valuable information for any user group. When trails are build to sustainable standards they require little maintainense down the road and provide a long term, high quality trails systems.

I skied the trails yesterday and it was great. The new track setter makes for smoother cornering. We are working on one last detail. When we lift the track setter because the corner is to sharp for a track the trail is left quite rough. We are putting a comb mat of the back of the track setter to smooth out the trail when the track setter deck is lifted.  The track currently has just a light layer of snow in it.  I would recommend Start Tar Black this morning and Blue this afternoon for kick wax. Tar waxes are designed for fresh snow.

We groomed the entire ski trail on Saturday and is in great Shape. We continue to add and improve our grooming equipment and the trail gets better every time we groom. With the latest equipment improvements we will be able to regroom on a more timely basis