SBC Long Sleeve T-Shirts Are In!

Hey everyone, we are excited to announce that we are selling SBC long sleeves t-shirts! They are super warm and very comfortable. They are produced by Green Label, a family owned and operated business located here in the Blue Ridge. Their goal is to provide 100% organic certified cotton, pre-shrunk shirts while respecting their workers and the environment. All the shirts are made in the USA and are low impact dyed without using PVCs or other harsh chemistry.

 Jason here is pondering the meaning of life while looking rad with his new SBC long sleeve! 

Supporting the trails...anyway we can!

SBC & Shimano are giving away a Shimano XT Groupset.

Since the day SBC opened it's doors 17 years ago we have been passionate about supporting our local trails. We are always happy to be out there digging with the community and encouraging support for the trails.  This Holiday season we will celebrate SVBC's accomplishments in the National Forest by giving away a full Shimano XT Groupset (Brakes, Cranks, Shifters, Cassette, Derailleurs & chain).

Attend one of the four National Forest Trail Work days in the month of December, or make a donation of  $75 or more to the SVBC trail fund, and you will get a chance to win the XT kit from SBC and favorite parts partner, Shimano!

We love the trail work crews...Hearthstone Ridge - Fall 2016.

• Trail Work  Dec 3rd; https://www.facebook.com/events/1136508676461970/
• Trail Work  Dec 4th: https://www.facebook.com/events/397540580577040/
• Trail Work Dec 10th :https://www.facebook.com/events/1129342247173912/
• Trail Work Dec 11th: https://www.facebook.com/events/373440316333143/

DONATE TODAY

WIN

SBC Shimano XT Group (Brakes, Derailleurs, Crank, Chain, Cassette

Don't Let Jack Frost Nip at Your Toes

It's cooling down this week......

What does that mean??? Awesome winter apparel, including our great warm and waterproof boots to keep you warm and protect your precious feet!

The 45NRTH Wolvhammer Boots on the far left provide a mountaineer boot functionality while still keeping simplicity and style. With fleece lining, a gusseted tongue, and a ballistic nylon shell, winter weather is no match for these boots. 

The 45NRTH Japanther Boots on the far right provide high level water resistance with its waterproof membrane and rubberized shell.These boots are perfect for those sloppy, snowy days so you can keep doing what you love even on the wettest and muddiest days.

The Bontrager OMW Winter Shoes in the middle provide great waterproofing and insulation with the fleece-lined removable inner-bootie to protect your feet from those nasty riding conditions.and they have a roomier performance fit, so you can wear those fuzzy holiday socks.

Come in to try on some of these winter shoes so your feet can stay nice and toasty!

A recap of a ride we all should think about doing!

Our good friends Paul and Owen Johnston spent part of their summer vacation riding bikes together. We always love hear our customer stories of their riding adventures, this is the first, but not last, of Owen's bike riding tours -----------------------------------------------------------------------------

My Dad and I started our journey on the Cumberland Gap trail on 7/26/2016.The Cumberland Gap trail is a 150 mile rails to trail from Cumberland, Maryland to Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania and a great ride for the family.  The trail is well maintained with great places to eat and camp.  On the way up the mountain to the eastern continental divide, I was surprised at the gradual grade going up.  Although it’s not a big grade, you can still feel the downhill after you get to the top.  When you’re on the trail you can see some of the best sites I have ever seen. 

There are many beautiful bridges and big tunnels. Big Savage tunnel was one of my favorites, it is the longest tunnel along the trail, over 3,000 feet long! This particular tunnel was in built in 1911. Each day my Dad and I rode about 45 miles.  Except for the last day, because we didn’t have to set up camp, we road about 60 miles.  On this trip we decided to camp with a tent but we now realize it’s easier to camp with hammocks. We decided to camp the two nights in Adelaide and Husky Haven campground in Rockwood, PA. When biking through neighborhoods, I was surprised about the generosity of the people who live along the trail. Although there were lots of them, two families stood out to me.  In Rockwood, one family turned his dog’s play space into a camp ground and provided showers, water, and bathrooms along with fun games like pool and darts.  He even had a phone charging station. The other family who lived along the trail in Van Meter, PA offered us home grown vegetables, cold beverages, and made us bacon and eggs for a good price.

 The first two days were nice, sunny, and cool.  However, on the last day there was a terrible rain and trust me, when the rain stops, you will feel so much better if you change your clothes.  It may seem like a waste of time, I was skeptical too, but do it. It is worth it. We finished the ride on 7/28/2016 at Point State Park in Pittsburgh where we were met by my mom, my brother Peter, and my Grandmother and Dave.  We had a great experience on the Cumberland Gap trail and would love to do it again.

Owen Johnston

New ride with old Friends

HANGING OUT BY A RIVER WITH OLD FRIENDS...A MEMORY FOR LIFE!

The early 90's mountain bike crew: CJ, Adam & Matt Krop with Chris Scott

Even though I have had my Salsa Horsethief for over a month I finally have it set up and riding perfectly. With the addition of my new Industry Nine wheels and Shimano brakes the Thief is dialed! No better place to test the updated Horsethief then Lookout Mountain and Timber Ridge. No better crew to ride these trails with then your buddies who you first explored this forest with over 20 years ago.

The Thief taking a break after the might Sand-springs climb

It is always a treat to showcase the work on Lookout, the reroute of 6 years ago has now blended perfectly with the old ridge line sections. I remember riding this trail the first time with Adam Krop in 93', except we did it "backwards" in the rain.  Lookout is usually enough to satisfy most folks but yesterday's crew wanted to hit some old school trails so we ascended up Sandsprings to Timber Ridge in the hottest of conditions. The down hill on Wolfe Ridge was rolling fast even with the summer growth that is coming in from every side.

A bear was hungry.

This might be the last time riding Wolfe in it's current state, the next phase of improvements is about to start next week.  More to follow soon!

Enjoy the summer heat with good friends!

-Thomas

A year of a improvements to the George Washington National Forest.

Almost 2 miles of this on the Lower Hankey Project

This year is going to be an exciting year for trail projects in the George Washington National Forest (GWNF).  Our friends with the Shenandoah Valley Bicycle Coalition (SVBC) have been working hard for years to line up funding which is all going to fall to the ground in 2016.  The first and probably the largest project for 2016 is in the books, the Upper & Lower Hankey project.  If you have not been able to get out and experience all the work done by our friends at Elevated Trail Design we encourage to you grab your mountain bike and head to the GWNF.

We have been talking about the Upper Hankey Project for the past two months, and a lot of folks have experienced this new mile of trail that replaces the "death shot" on The Wild Oak Trail (TWOT) near the upper portions of the Dowells Draft Trail.

Map of the Upper Hankey Project. Red=New, Blue = Old

The Lower Hankey Project will open people up to a whole new trail experience, as most folks in the mountain bike community have not ridden this portion of the Wild Oak Trail . This portion of the TWOT had numerous steep sections which kept most mountain bikers away from this area of the National Forest.   The improvements to the lower slopes of Hankey Mountain has created a great trail loop that will allow folks to enjoy the Dowells Draft Trail with less road!

Lower Hankey Project 

A unique thing about these the Upper and Lower Hankey builds is that they are connected by a hidden gem of the trail called the "Besty Trail", AKS "Magic Moss".  The Betsy Trail is a short 1/2 mile trail but is what I commonly refer to as "half track". Half track this is when the tread is so narrow that you can't quite call it single track.

The thin trail of the Betsy Trail....with moss everywhere.

So what are the other projects in store for the National Forest this year?

• Carr Mountain (30 North/West of Harrisonburg): six miles of new trail in a very remote part of the GWNF. The Carr Mountain Trail will be part of the larger Great Eastern Trail
• Wolfe Ridge Trail: Over the years this trail has seen numerous improvements, this time expect another mile of tasty trail to be built. Work will also include  small improvements on the ridge section of the Wolfe Ridge Trail. 
• Chestnut Ridge (TWOT): This trail descending from Little Bald Knob is always a highlight for the SM100 event, these improvements will keep the trail in top shape.
• Camp Todd (TWOT): Probably one of the longest continuous sections of single track on the TWOT is between Camp Todd and Little Bald. This beautiful section of trail will see much needed maintenance.
• Southern Traverse: This 17 mile section of the Shenandoah Mountain Trail will see much needed love. The trail became popular after is was designated an IMBA Epic Ride. 

See you out on the new improved Trails.

-Thomas

West Virginia Extreme Loungin'

Creature comforts and primitive camping on the mountain top make for much needed restorative rest. 

On the outskirts of Harrisonburg day trip distance is the profound North Fork Mountain just North of Franklin, WV.

The cliff lined ridge provides users outcroppings with views of Seneca Rocks, Spruce Knob, Mount Porte Crayon, Dolly Sods and much more. The ridge trail terminates on rt 33 to the south and on the northern tip near Cabins.  

Views from High Knob are spectacular.

Kiki's first time up on North Fork.   

Bicycle Camp Out Weather Alert

Hello campers!

I have been watching the weather as we get closer to this weekend's camp out. In the past, we have had a good time no matter the weather. I will be at the bike shop at 11:30 tomorrow morning prepared to proceed with the camp out for anybody who wants to. Hope to see you!

David

Bicycle Camp Out #2: Stokesville Campground

On Saturday May 21st, we will meet at the bike shop at 11:30am to mingle before our 12:00pm roll out. Our destination is Stokesville Campground. The route is 24 miles with some pavement, some gravel, and some excellent panoramic views of the national forest. It has become a favorite route in my own road ride repertoire and I think you will love it too. We will take plenty of time so everybody can have fun.

This is a self supported event. Bring what you need to be happy outside on and off your bike for 24 hours. Think about bicycle first aid (stuff to fix a flat, multitool, etc.), ride food, dinner, breakfast, ride clothes, camp clothes, shelter, and sleep stuff. There is potable water at the campground and a store near by. 

Come early if you need our help with your bike or packing. If at all possible, address these issues over the next few days so you can roll into your weekend relaxed and prepared. 

Call the bike shop or send me an email at David@shenandoahbicycle.com with any questions or concerns. Most of all, get excited! It's going to be a real good time.

Thursday Nights...Friends, Team Work and Bust-in Moves!

Some of the group this past Thursday!

This past Thursday seemed like old times, 18 people of all ages, riding abilities and strengths getting muddy, building trail and having a good time.  Folks kept rolling up the mountain after 5pm, grabbing tools and lending a hand anywhere they could. Each person giving their own personal touch to what will be the next phase of trails on the Western Slope.  This massive group effort reminded me of building the "2K Trail" (name after the number of volunteer hours to build that .9 mile trail) 7 years ago.  We are building in terrain where there is enough rock to build the great wall of China, so it is not fast or easy work, but we are fortunate to have the support of SVBC  and Massanutten Resort.

Vince and others on the mountain of rocks!

As the work portion of trail work ended I sat on the gravel surface of Del Webb Drive, with a beverage in hand and many new and old friends around, I felt happy! Just plain old good. I commented to Zach Adams (Applachian Dirt) and Sam Skidmore that Thursdays at 8pm is my favorite 30 minutes every week.  This is the time to sit back, hang out and rap with friends,  all after an amazing group effort to build trails that so many folks with enjoy.

We have some of the finish stone workers around!

With 400' completed and 8600' to go we have long rocky road ahead of us. But this road is no more difficult than we have when building "2K", and look what was created, a piece of art!

Dylan and Dad, a great time to get muddy together!

I hope to enjoy some quality time on then trail and gravel road with all of you Thursdays this year!

-Thomas

Nutten but Mountain

    This past weekend I got some free time to hit the western slopes of Massanutten. I spent the first hour hiking up to Leighton's Lookout with an old co-worker of mine. I've biked this trail many times but I wanted to get a chance to see it from foot (which is well worth the hike up). This overlook is one the best views in the area and a fitting memorial to a well known and respected cyclist from the Harrisonburg area, Leighton Thomas Shank. If you've seen the sign and haven't yet checked the spot out please do next time, the view is fantastic.

     After a quick hike down I hopped on my trek for some good ole Massanutten shreddage. On the way up the fire road (don't judge) I got lucky and ran into a buddy from Bluestone who was cool enough to shuttle me to the top of 2K. After some rocky fun, I headed to granny grind for a sweet run down to the lake.

Calories spent, I took some well earned time to chill at the waters edge. See you guys on the mountain!

Bicycle Camp Out #1: Hone Quarry - Pictures Posted

Our IT department over at corporate set up a new, open-to-the-public photo album to serve as a photo dump for all you campers. So, from now until the internet breaks, you can add your photos and view photos from your friends of our recent adventures. All of the photos I was able to gather are posted.

Follow this link to our website and click on the pictures to access the Google Album.

Don't forget that our next camp out is May 21-22, and I expect to see your smiling face.

Thanks,
David

Iced Tea at PULP!

             

Hello, Everyone! I'm excited to announce that PULP will start selling Iced Tea again! We buy our tea from Yunnan Sourcing, a  supplier that focuses on providing great quality, organic tea. This week  we are serving Oolong Iced tea garnished with organic mint and blueberry and agave ice cubes. Each week, we will serve a different flavor of tea and ice cubes. You can get it unsweetened or we can sweeten it up with a bit of agave nectar. If you want something refreshing and delicious, stop by try our our Iced Tea today! And don't forget to grab some PULP while you're at it ;) .
                                      The agave nectar adds a sweet touch to the oolong tea.

                       These are the mint ice cubes and the blueberry and agave ones!

                                                

A preview of the Salsa Redpoint & More!

Friday I was able to get out and take the new Salsa Redpoint to the  SVBC projects on Hankey Mountain.  I come from the 90's cross country race back ground so I was super hesitant to drag a 150mm travel bike up 1500' vertical feet.  My mind of longer travel woods bikes is still scared from some of the earlier projects that companies put out 15 years ago.

The Redpoint heading up the last part of Dowells

Well, times have changed and the longer travel bikes are riding great in both directions, up and down. The Redpoint climbed  with great traction and the front end stayed down even on the upper steep pitches on the final ascent to the top of Hankey.  Once at the stop, I was able to turn the bike downhill and enjoy the stable ride on the fast straight sections of upper Dowells.

Why we call it "Magic Moss Trail"

When I took the turn to "Magic Moss", I thought the bike would not react quick enough for the half-track , super tight turns of this trail. No problem, it gave me the agility needed to enjoy this unused trail in the forest! After scouting out the latest project on Lower Hankey I returned to Dowells and felt right at home descending the off camber roller coaster ride of Dowells Draft.

Me and the Red Point...finding the log line!

Come our next weekend to the SBC/Salsa Demo give one a try yourself! There will also be other great Salsa models available including the Pony Rustler, Warbird,  Spearfish, El Mariachi, and Beargrease. Until then I will try and get more rides on the Redpoint before it ends back up on the Salsa demo van.

See you at Stokesville for the Demo...and don't forget the Thursday clinic at SBC!

Thomas

Jeremy Cline in Snowboarder Mag

Last year, Snowboarder Magazine's 19th annual Super Park came to Seven Springs, PA.  This was the first time SuperPark was held on the East Coast.  I knew I had to show up and have fun, even though I wasn't invited.  I was sure the event founder would let me in since he sent me a few invitations to prior SuperPark events. On the first day of the 4 day event, it was a bluebird day and we all were just having a blast hitting new jumps and rails. My friend suggested that four of us should do something unique at the same time on the last takeoff.  We went for it and nailed it on the second try. The very next day, a well-known photographer, Ethan Stone aka E-Stone, posted a photo of the four of us on the Snowboarder Magazine website.  I was in awe that he happened to be there shooting us in the right spot at the right time. I met him a few times in early 2000's and sent him a FB message asking for the raw photo file for personal use.  His response was, "Yes, I will send you one, but you can't post this anywhere on the internet because it will show up in the issue next year". Eight months later, the magazines hit the stands as I eagerly found the photo. It was my 22nd appearance in snowboard magazines and this was my biggest photo accomplishment because three of us in the photo grew up riding at underrated Massanutten as well as it was taken by one of the most well known snowboarding photographers in the world. Also, that was taken three hours away from Harrisonburg. This happened in the first Super Park in the East Coast. Psyched.

On another note, I was able to ride with the No Names crew at Massanutten this past winter, it was awesome.  See if you can find me.

No Names @ Massanutten from No Names on Vimeo.

Odd Find at Fridley Gap

On April 11th, my friend asked me if I wanted to join her hiking on a beautiful day.  I suggested that we should hit Fridley Gap. After a few steps on the trail, we happened to find a hairless tiny baby as my friend said it was screaming and crying. Naturally, we felt so helpless. I figured to leave it alone and maybe the mother will come back and pick it up in a bit. An hour later, we came back to the same spot where we found the baby and it was still here crying. We thought it was maybe a baby squirrel. My friend couldn't resist it due to its constantly screaming and crying; she decided to call the wildlife rescue. We brought it along with us and someone from the wildlife rescue came to her house and confirmed it was either a baby ferret or weasel. We thought it was possibly a ferret due its long body, but didn't think it would exist in the Valley. What a surprise.

The wildlife rescue will keep us updated on the wildlife animal's survival in a week or so. If it survives and is happened to be a black footed ferret, my friend would love to adopt it and we would name her Squirrel.

Harris-Roubaix...A Ride, A Race, A Potluck!

In the 15 or so years of the Harris-Roubaix there has never once been rain.  Tradition proved true again this year! The temperatures stayed cool and did warm up from the initial frigid wind chill everyone felt at Court Square for the noon send off.

One of the reasons I love this ride so much is that it is everyone! You have the speed racers battling out for the 3 lap crown and you have your casual riders out for a beautiful Sunday ride.

As for the leaders, it was a battle of 4 riders who took control of the course by the 2nd lap. David Flaten, Danny Gibney, Andy Rhodes and Paul Deeble.  David Flaten rolled into the farm first at the end of 3 laps. 

Once again, thank you to the Chambers Family for hosting, SMT for the supplies, the volunteers (Jake, Lemma, Bart, Marcia, Collin, Basil, Bruce, Stephen, Adam, Misty, Chris C) and all who brought great food! See you again next year for another running of the Harris-Roubaix "A celebration of Gravel Roads".