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

In my one long and grueling (at times) ride aboard the Fuel EX 9.9—top of the line model with SRAM XX parts—I came away pretty darn impressed with both the efficient pedaling and technical capability of the EX. I haven’t ridden a bike this light—something like 23 lbs. with pedals—in ages and had forgotten just how wonderful they to pedal.

When the trail turned technical and/or pointed downhill the EX continued to be an eager player. The combination of the DRCV rear shock and the new fork tuning certainly seems to play well together, though I hesitate to base too much of my opinion on a fork that really hadn’t even had a chance to break in yet. Full Article

The United States Senate has passed the U.S. Manufacturing Enhancement Act of 2010, better known as the miscellaneous tariff bill, or MTB (H.R. 4380).

Bicycle companies will benefit from lower tariffs on tubing, speedometers, road and hydraulic disc brakes and certain rims and cranks.

“This bill will make it cheaper and easier for American small businesses and manufacturers to make their products here at home and compete around the world,” said Senate Finance Committee Chairman Max Baucus (D-Mont.) “This legislation is exactly the kind of smart, targeted relief U.S. companies need to create and maintain good-paying American jobs.”

As reported, the bill restores duty relief for a cornucopia of sporting goods, including bicycle parts, outdoor footwear, snow sports equipment, volleyballs, rubber basketballs, leather basketballs, synthetic basketballs, and golf bags that expired on Jan. 1, 2010. The bill also included several duty suspensions on waterproof breathable footwear, ski and snowboard equipment and footwear.

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Many trails are already on the system including the Ester Dome Single Track and the Goldstream Sports Classic Ski Trail.

100 People Donating $100 Needed ASAP

We have an opportunity to increase our original plan for the summer from 5 miles to 6.6 miles but we need more funding. We have flagged the entire 6.6 mile loop but will need to cut the length if we do not receive more funds.  Please donate now. Larger donations are welcome, as are smaller donations.

People interested in donating money to the project should make a donation via PayPay (http://www.alaska-trails.org/get_involved/onlinemembership.html) or send a check to Alaska Trails; P.O. Box 100627; Anchorage, AK 99510. Alaska Trails is a 501(c)(3) non-profit group, so donations are tax deductible.

Volunteers are also still needed for the project. Volunteer work parties are being held Thursday evenings. To be put on the notify list contact Geoffrey Orth (geoffrey.orth@alaska-trails.org). Joel Buth, owner of Goldstream Sports and another organizer of the project, is leading weekday sessions behind the dozer and excavator Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays from 8:30 to 11:30 a.m. People interested in helping with those should give Joel a call at 455-6520.

Every one is welcome and the first night is free.

 Practice nights are on Mondays from 6-8 and races Wednesday 6-8. Helmets, long pants and long sleeves are required.

More information at the Far North BMX Blog

Story Highlights

• Summer-long Cancer Awareness Campaign Will Ask Cyclists to Tell the World Who They Ride For

The trail was built to sustainable standards, meaning that the entire trail was built with a five degree out-slope on the tread, grade reversals, drainages, and other construction methods of preventing erosion. The five degree out-slope is vulnerable to damage, especially during the first year, because the trail has not had enough time to fully harden. When ridden in soft conditions it forms a groove in the line most ridden by users. The water then runs down the groove and erosion becomes a serious problem. The best line, usually the most ridden line, becomes an erosion rut. All areas where this rutting occurs will need to be re-graded if the trail is to last for future riding enjoyment. The repairs will take many hours of hard work and manual labor.

Don’t be a trail vandal! Please stay off the trails until they are dry, and the trail has a chance to harden.

If you have ridden the trail this spring, please come and volunteer with us this summer.  Contact us at Goldstream Sports for days and times of volunteering.  The more help we have, the easier it is to build and repair the trail, and everyone can enjoy a fun and beautiful trail.  Thank you.