Posted by Scott on
April 18, 2013
It’s been a little quiet around these parts, so I thought I’d pass on a link to Bike Doula, where we keep a collection of some nice bikes that are born at Passion and go out into the world, blinking, and quickly find their way onto the local singletrack.
What’s a doula? From the aforelinked page:
The Doula is a professional labor support person who provides emotional assistance and information during labor. A Doula does not necessarily deliver the baby or have a clinical role in its creation, as this role is usually fulfilled by one of several professional bike doctors or other support people. The Doula is however experienced in birthing, and provides continuous physical, emotional, and informational support, including continuous reassurance and coping techniques, to the parent before, during and just after delivery.
Enjoy!
Posted by Charles on
March 6, 2013
Ibis Cycles has offered to bring us the best of their fleet for Passion Spring Demo Event the weekend after next. You can test ride some of the finest mountain bikes available, on dirt, for free. We have our roster of bikes that we will have available for test rides up on our website here. As usual, we are taking reservations. To reserve a test ride, please follow the instructions below:
Go to the Spring Demo Availability page. This page is updated live as we take reservations. Review the chart of bikes models and sizes, and the times open in the schedule for Saturday and Sunday. Cells in the chart without a letter in them indicate unreserved time slots. Send an email to PassionTrailBikes@gmail.com, and include the following information:
Rider’s name:
Rider’s cell phone number
Pedal choice (our SPD, our CB, our platform, or YOUR pedals):
Bike Number:
Bike model:
Bike size:
Time slot for reservation on Saturday March 17th,
or Sunday March 18th (9am, 11am, 1pm, 3pm)
We will process reservations in the order received, and will try to handle each request as quickly as possible. We will email you with your reservation confirmation, and you will then be able to see your initial in the time slot on the schedule. For the actual test ride, please arrive at Passion 30 minutes early with your driver’s licence, a major credit card, your ride gear, pedals if you are supplying your own, and a smile. All test rides will take place in Waterdog Park, and will be limited to about 90 minutes, so the next rider can have their turn.
Posted by PeterD on
January 4, 2013
Reports on Soquel Demonstration Forest – some good news and some bad news.
Bad News: Highland Way is closed due to a slide. From Mark at Mountain Bikers of Santa Cruz: Highland Way is still closed from slides (since Christmas). I spoke to someone at SC county public works and they said they are getting their engineer and geologist out there this week to assess. So no news yet on the prognosis. Also the new gate is finally getting installed tomorrow at the bridge on Highland Way. But another report in the Santa Cruz Sentinel says they will start clearing it next week.
These slides often stay here for a long time (and are often cleared by some local before the County gets it done), so I more believe Mark. Once it dries some, you likely will be able to walk/ride over the slide. Those who have crossed it on foot say to bring a change of shoes and sock, as it is still very wet. Officially you are not supposed to pass the slide. And definitely not recommended to try to pass it on the days they are out there working on the slide.
Of course, you could always drive there from the Watsonville side or ride up the fire road from Nisene Marks (trailhead in Aptos) to get to the Demo.
Good News: Tractor Trail is reopened! The area was closed for logging, which is now mostly done (so there may be temporary closures from time to time as they finish up). That said, not clear what shape the trail will be. The logging likely really damaged the old trail, and trail work will be needed to make it as fun (or more fun) than the old trail.
If you are on MTBR, you can follow details at http://forums.mtbr.com/california-norcal/soquel-demonstration-forest-trail-work-828236.html. There is also a link to their trail project dates there, so you can get out and volunteer some time to help make Tractor a good trail (or at Pogonip or the other locations they are working).
If you aren’t familiar with Soquel demonstration Forest, we have info on it here: http://passiontrailbikes.com/pages/SDF
Posted by Charles on
December 21, 2012
Monday December 24 Closed
Christmas Day Closed
Monday December 31 Closed
New Years Day Closed
Otherwise, we will be here our normal hours, Tuesday through Friday from 10:00 to 7:00, Saturday 9:00 to 6:00, Sunday 12:00 to 5:00, and closed on Monday. I hope you are planning a fun and relaxing Christmas.
Posted by Charles on
December 21, 2012
This year’s Lights Wride was very well attended in both numbers of riders as well as quality of decorations and spirit. It was great to have our favorite elf Heather back in town for a few days, lurking in the Lounge and spreading cheer from the back of the tandem. Belmont PD was kind enough to loan us a few officers and cars to enhance our parade down Old County, up Ralston, and then blocked oncoming traffic long enough for us to turn as a group onto Sixth Avenue and head toward San Carlos. Eucalyptus Avenue was as cheery as ever, and a few more houses en route we lit up better than I recalled from last year. My favorite was Tropical Christmas with decorated palm trees and a lake with Santa Boat.
You can find more photos from this event here
It was nice that the weather played along this year by providing dry streets and skies, and just enough winter chill to lend a little Christmas thrill. We were all happy to return to the Lounge post ride for soup, cider, and tasty baked goods. Thanks to all who came and made this such a cheery event for me and other Passionites.
!http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8354/8295881002_c13e376ca5.jpg
!
Posted by Charles on
December 13, 2012
The Holiday Lights Wride meets at Passion at 7:00 Wednesday the 19th, destined for the fabulously decorated houses on Eucalyptus Street in San Carlos. Along the way, we will detour past some fancy displays in Belmont as well. This ride rolls along at a slow, social pace and is open to all ages. Please do make sure if you bring your kids with you, that they have some experience riding in traffic and bring lots of lights. This year we will retrace last year’s 8 mile route, and have a slightly shorter route for families. Both groups will meet up just before the peak of the light show, and all will return to the shop after about two hours. I expect and encourage themed costumes and festively lit up bikes. Last year we had in attendance a couple of Santa suits and a tandem bike with a fully decorated Christmas tree on its rack!
Posted by Charles on
December 13, 2012
The Parks Department in the City of Belmont takes a public look at Waterdog Lake Park once every year or two, and it came up as an agenda item last Wednesday. The purpose of this meeting was to have staff bring to the Commission and public the history and plans for the park, and open the topic for discussion.
Staff put together a great PowerPoint on the park’s issues and assets, history and potential future. There was a husband and wife in the audience that spoke from fear and had been “nearly missed” on numerous occasions, and had “friends with similar experiences” One grad student offered to help with surveying and water engineering, and eight cyclists spoke about how great the place and people are. I said a few words about the economic benefits of allowing bikes in the park related to how much Passion has paid out in local taxes and payroll as a result of Waterdog’s current amenities. After the meeting, and because I went to the meeting, Sally and I spent $70 at a local restaurant on dinner and drinks, and before I did, I saw Dan’s truck parked across the street at Vivace, probably doing similar. Dan lives in Burlingame, but drove to Belmont for the meeting.
Posted by PeterD on
October 24, 2012
Kevin Sullivan, mountain biker, good friend of Passion, and someone who is on the Belmont parks commission, sent out the following:
There will be a discussion about open space at the next Belmont P&R meeting on Wed Nov 7 at 7pm in the Council chambers. I’m encouraging as many people to come as possible but not everyone needs to speak at the meeting if you are not comfortable with that.
and
The conversation did come up because of a local Doctor who wrote your typical letter about being scared by bikes and why should her taxes go to pay for bikes to be in her park.
If you can make the meeting, great. You don’t have to be a Belmont resident (but that helps). Nor have to talk if you are not comfortable. Kevin has background info and talking points he can send out (email is ksullyman AT yahoo DOT com).
Whether you can make the meeting or not, you can help by riding responsibly. Waterdog is a public park and open to all trail users, and we need to ride it as such. It is not a closed race course, so at any moment you could round a corner and find a child, dog, cyclist, runner, deer, etc. Please keep this in mind, and always ride in control.
Posted by PeterD on
September 26, 2012
Just an update on the Demo and Skeggs:
Tractor Trail in the Demo is still closed. We expect the trail got totally razed when they logged the area, so will take some time to rebuild before we can get on it. Watch for upcoming trail work projects to help us build an awesome replacement.
In Skeggs (El Corte Dde Madera Open Space Preserve), there is active construction to build a new parking lot. Here is what is listed on the MROSD web site:
Construction of the Staging Area and Connector Trail has begun. The project includes a 69-space parking lot, restrooms, a bike rack, and sign boards. The section of the Sierra Morena Trail between Gates CM03 and CM04
will be CLOSED until December 2012, due to trail and staging area
construction and other restoration work. Please watch for closure signs and expect truck traffic from
August through October 2012.
Posted by Charles on
May 8, 2012
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Come help celebrate National Bike Month and California Bike Commute Week in May with Bike to Work Day. Bike to Work Day is a promotional event to encourage non-bike riders to try commuting by bicycle. Bike to Work Day in the San Francisco Bay Area is primarily funded by the Metropolitan Transportation Commission with the help of financial donations from event sponsors and volunteers.
There will be over 100 Energizer Stations throughout the SF Bay Area where cyclists can stop by for refreshments and promotional items. 511 Contra Costa has supported cyclists and Energizer Station hosts throughout Contra Costa County since 2001 using Bay Area Air Quality Management District funds and the Contra Costa Transportation Authoritys half-cent sales tax for transportation funds.
More info? Go to the San Francisco Bike Coalition
