Goldstream Sports Fairbanks Alaska

Come out and help create Alaska’s first Mountain Bike Pump and Skills Park!

Work Shop Schedule

Goldstream Valley Lions Club Bike Park

Participants and community volunteers may come and go as necessary. The Bike Park work party is open to all community members, families and children.  The work parties will be helping to construct the boardwalk skills area using hand tools. Participants will also assist with shaping the dirt pump course using shovels, rakes and compactors.  We are hoping to have lots of people all day long in order to finish the park by Sunday!   So come on out and help create Alaska’s first Mountain Bike Pump and Skills Park.

Friday Morning 9:00-1:00 July 22, 2011

·       Indoor Workshop: From Concept to Ride-Ready and Beyond. (Presented by Ben Blitch of Alpine-Trails)

·       Indoor Workshop: Trends In Community Bike Parks Present by Ben Blitch and Goldstream Sports)

·       Partnering with the borough for community driven projects (Steve Taylor- FNSB Rec Department)

·       Indoor Workshop: Risk Management, Liability, Insurance (Presented by Ben Blitch)

Friday Afternoon through Sunday evening  (Daily start time 9:00- End at 5:00)  July 22, 23 and 24

·       Outdoor workshop: Design! Build! Maintain!

·       Create two jump lines (beginner and intermediate)

·       Create mirrored pump track

·       Create small wooden board walk skills area

·       Provide maintenance demonstration and documentation for sustainability

·       Demonstration by local bike experts: emphasis on safety and skills

·       Celebration: Volunteer picnic and ride time (Sunday afternoon 4:00 PM)

*******  Please, if you have them,  bring  shovels and steel rakes. (we will have plenty of tools if you do not have them).  The Lions will provide snacks, lemonade and water.

What a great ride Dirt Divas! We had 7 people on this ride.  We met at the 8 mile gravel pit and rode a long 3.5 miles straight up Murphy Dome.  But, we were well rewarded by the gorgeous view at the top, and the super fun, beautiful 7.5 mile downhill.  11 miles total, about 1hr 20 min.

See you on the trails!

We had a successful women’s mountain bike camp.  The first camp was in June and our second camp just finished last weekend.  Each time we had a really great group of fun, energetic and motivated women.  Everyone had a chance to learn basic mountain bike skills and practice on wooden structures and varying types of terrain.  I think everyone left with more confidence in bike handling skills.  Thank you to all the participants and to our wonderful sponsors Goldstream Sports, In My Element, Breast Cancer Detection Center, and Alaska Coffee Roasting Co.  I’m looking forward to our next camp!

Hey Paulette! Here is the report of tonight’s ride:

The second meeting of the Dirt Dev(iants) was held on the Birch Hill Ski trails with a crew of 6. We were lucky enough to “book end” our ride between two light evening showers and only got a bit of mud on our bikes and shorts (though one member seemed to have a few more spots on her jersey than the rest of us….name omitted here to protect the guilty party). We cruised around the Relay loop as a warm-up and then high-tailed it out the White Bear where we chugged our way up to “SCUM” corner to have a look around the new Sonott access trail; it is nicely seeded, and a yellow caution tape kept us from even thinking about descending it. Save that one for another day. The rest of the ride on the WB trail was uneventful and pleasant, except for the swarm of mosquitoes which followed us up “heartbeak hill”; we quickly ditched ‘em with a little help from a handy wipe that Chris had in her seat satchel….now THOSE are the BOMB!! They should be required equipment for all Diva rides! The trail was in good shape, thanks to a single pass of the Borough’s mower, but we shied away from the section below the range anticipating a bit more mud there, and re-traced our tracks back up to the Access signpost. Finished up with a section of the Warm-up Loop where it looked like a small army had spent a week or so marching. Those crazy disc-golfers!!! Looks like fun though, and I’d recommend a round or two after we ride here again. Until next week!!! Dev(iant), Nancy

Success!  We had an awesome turnout for our first Dirt Divas B ride.  11 ladies rode 11.5 miles on mountain bikes for about 1.5 hours.  We lost one lady due to a flat tire (more on that later). But she was rescued by her night in shining armor!  It was a beautiful, sunny night and a fun ride.  We rode the bike path and commuter trail from Goldstream Sports to UAF, then we rode up to the ski hut and down the ski trail.  At the start of the bicycle bumps we split into two groups, those who wanted to ride the bicycle bumps and those who did not.  Several ladies decided to get more time and experience on their bikes before tackling those bicycle bumps.  We’re setting goals here.  We re-grouped at the bottom of the hill, road the T-field loop, the potato field loop, back up the ski trail, and back along the bike path to the store.  Great job everyone!

Okay, so about that flat tire.  You never know when it can happen.  It is pretty rare to get a flat on a mountain bike unless you pinch flat, but now we all know that we have to be prepared.  Here are two lists of necessities.  One list is the bare minimum, and the other is a more inclusive kit.  Get what you need and be prepared.

List one:  Bare necessities

• bike bag for the back of your seat to carry everything
• spare tube (the correct size)
• tire levers (to get the tire on and off)
• pump or co2 cartridge and inflator
• energy bar (so you don’t bonk)
• mosquito spray (in case you stuck in the woods changing your tire)

List two:  Inclusive kit for most situations

• includes list one bare necessities plus
• chain tool (and spare link) for the unexpected time when you break a chain (more common on mountain bikes than road bikes because of the rougher terrain)
• crash kit (for ouchies if you bite it)
• tire pressure gauge

So let’s be prepared out there!

See you on the trails,
Paulette

Last note, if this is your last email, enjoy the rest of your summer!

“Kind words can be short and easy to speak, but their echoes are truly endless.”
— Mother Teresa

This is a reminder that the second women’s mountain bike camp is in a week.  Sat. and Sun., July 16 and 17, from 10 am to 1 pm.  Sign up at Goldstream Sports if you haven’t already!  The first camp was a success.  Everyone had a lot of fun and learn some really great biking skills.  There were some free gifts and coffee as well.  Pass the information on to your friends.  See the flier:  womenscamp.pdf

Happy 4th of July Everyone!  “Let Freedom Ring”!

I am planning on riding on the 4th of July depending on the weather.  We will meet at Goldstream Sports and ride at 6:00 as usual. Up Ester Dome we go we go, and what goes up must come down.

Don’t forget our first Tuesday Dirt Divas “B” ride starts on the 5th.  Meet at Goldstream Sports and ride to UAF.  The weather forecast looks better for Tuesday.

See you on the trails

1. Follow the Rules of the Road
• Ride with traffic and obey the same laws as motorists.
• Use the rightmost lane that heads in the direction
that you are traveling.
• Obey all traffic control devices, such as stop signs,
lights, and lane markings.
• Always look back and use hand and arm signals
to indicate your intention to stop, merge or turn.

2. Be Visible
• Ride where drivers can see you.
• Wear brightly colored clothing at all times.
• At night, use a white front light and red rear light
or reflector. Wear reflective tape or clothing.

3. Be Predictable
• Ride in a straight line and don’t swerve between
parked cars.
• Make eye contact with motorists to let them
know you are there.
• Do not ride on the sidewalk.

4. Anticipate Conflicts
• Be aware of traffic around you and be prepared
to take evasive action.
• Learn braking and turning techniques to
avoid crashes.
• Be extra alert at intersections.

5. Wear a Helmet
• Make sure that the helmet fits on top of your
head, not tipped back or forward.
• After a crash or any impact that affects your
helmet, visible or not, replace it immediately.

It is time to get a jump on the riding season. Saturday morning rides start now!!! 8am Saturdays. Bring your bike and trainer. We will have the projector running bike race or training videos. All are welcome, pass the word.

Today we road the Sufferfest Local Hero training video. Great work out. Check out these videos. http://www.thesufferfest.com/

Fisher Collection Rumblefish Reviewed by TwentyNine Inches

I would recommend the Rumblefish highly to anyone looking for a trail bike with big wheels that gobbles up rough terrain, rails corners, and feels solid underneath you. Huckers and extreme chunk riders will probably still want more rear wheel travel, so this probably won’t fit your bill. Everyone else looking for a great performing trail bike should put the Fisher Collective* Rumblefish on their short list for 2011.

Full review at TwentyNine Inches