Holiday hours

Posted by Patty Mon, 29 Dec 2008 22:12:00 GMT

Quick note about our holiday hours this week and next:

Tuesday 12/23/08: Open late until 9:00pm
Wednesday 12/24/08: Closing early: 1:00pm
Thursday 12/25/08: Closed
Friday 12/26/08: 10am to 7pm
Saturday 12/27/08: 9am to 6pm
Sunday 12/28/08: 12noon to 5pm
Monday 12/29/08: Closed
Tuesday 12/30/08: 10am to 7pm
Wednesday 12/31/08: Closed for inventory
Thursday 1/1/09: Closed for new years
Friday 1/2/09: resume regular schedule (see right)

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Soil types and where to ride in Winter, Part 2

Posted by Patty Sat, 27 Dec 2008 12:19:00 GMT

Here are some tips on choosing a place to ride in winter

Where to go when it’s ACTIVELY RAINING:

We recommend pavement or gravel surfaces, or very sandy or rocky trails.

Option 1: Paved MUPs

Paved off-road multi-use paths are great if you don’t want to share space with cars when their wipers are wiping and visibility is poor. They also tend to be relatively pedestrian-free at these times, which makes biking much more pleasant and conflict-free.
The San Francisco Bay Trail is great, especially from San Mateo to Redwood shores, and from Palo Alto Baylands to Shoreline Park in Mountain View. The Bay Trail is incomplete, so check their website for what sections are finished in your area. Unpaved sections of the Bay Trail tend to be greasy gooey mud, so be aware. Other paved MUPs include… Read more...

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Soil types and where to ride in Winter, Part 1

Posted by Patty Fri, 19 Dec 2008 00:58:00 GMT

We get a lot of questions about where it is good to ride when the weather turns wet. We could just tell you where it’s good today, but that’s sort of like telling you which way to turn your rebound knob in the middle of the Braille Trail. Recommendations like these are transient, valid one-time only, and depend on current conditions.

Short of going out and actually sampling the trails ourselves, or perhaps having a cadre of trail samplers who would reliably report conditions to us, we instead use local knowledge of geology, topography, microclimates, and past experience to make predictions on local trail conditions.


Soquel Forest rain ride after effects: not so good for your drive train

For a detailed discussion of our weather, soil types, and winter trail conditions, click below to read on.

Read more...

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BC videos

Posted by PeterD Mon, 15 Dec 2008 18:10:00 GMT

Here is something to keep you going while the cold and rain is outside…

A group of our customers were up in BC this past summer. One of them (Brian) edited up some videos of their trip. Here are two videos for your viewing pleasure…

Mt. Fromme

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What form!?!

Posted by PeterD Sun, 30 Nov 2008 16:34:00 GMT

Berry's formBerry has an interesting method for doing some stream crossings, though I am not sure how to describe it. This shot was from Thursday’s Appetite Seminar ride in Marin.

How would you describe it?

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build up your appetite for turkey?

Posted by PeterD Mon, 24 Nov 2008 23:57:00 GMT

No surprise – the shop will be closed on Thursday.

But that doesn’t mean you can’t build up your appetite by going for a ride. And if you want company, there are annual rides, including Los Gatos’ Turkey Day Ride and Fairfax’s Appetite Seminar.

There are not official rides, as there isn’t a ride leader, official departure time, or anything like that. Just mass gatherings where people go to a designated start area and ride a designated route. Routes are pretty easy to find – just follow the mass of people.

There is a bull pen in the town of Fairfax where a few kegs of donated beer are available for your enjoyment after the ride (though it often runs out early, so plan to be there before 11 or so to make sure you get some). And Los Gatos’ tradition has come to include a picnic at the top (so watch for people towing roasted pigs, kegs, etc.) to the top.

I think you may find Charles in Los Gatos, and Berry up in Fairfax…

2 years ago, Charles wrote up a bit about the history of the Appetite Seminar and his experience on the ride and posted it here.

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Stuck at your computer?

Posted by PeterD Wed, 19 Nov 2008 22:47:00 GMT

For those looking to waste some time when stuck in front of your computer, here are a pair of good time wasters.

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Road to Soquel Forest repairs nearly done

Posted by Patty Fri, 14 Nov 2008 23:54:15 GMT

We got word today from the Soquel Demonstration State Forest Managers that repairs to the slide on Highland Way are nearly done. The contractor reported that the paving is done and they will finish ahead of schedule. We don’t know if the K-rails blocking the road have been removed yet, but if not they should be soon.

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No Plans

Posted by Charles Mon, 03 Nov 2008 04:44:00 GMT

Guided by dubious forecasts and a lack of faith in the ability of any tool at my fingertips to be able to predict the weather, combined with friends that are either out of town or unusually tied to their desks, I approach this Monday with no ride plan. One thing that keeps me sane and reasonably healthy while working the schedule I do, on the diet of food and drink that I do, is my Monday ride. I have had the support, encouragement, companionship, and abuse of a semi regular cast of characters over these last three years to get out on this day of the week for what I hope is a calorie deficit social event, and to not have that on this day is unusual, and significant, but not unheard of.

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Day of the Dead Saturday, November 1, 6:30PM candle light party

Posted by Patty Thu, 30 Oct 2008 22:06:00 GMT

Friday night is the night for little kids. This year Saturday night is for big kids! Plan on joining us for a super fun candlelit evening of socializing and scaring each other with our alter-egos. Party starts at 6:30pm and runs until the candles burn down. Healthy finger food to dilute all that candy you ate, intoxicating conversation, boiling beverages, what more could you want? Oh, costumes. Wear one! Bring leftover bags of funsize candy to donate to the Second Harvest Food Bank.

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