Birthdays are for Bike Riding on the Entire Massanutten Ridge

The Full Pull of the Massanutten Ridge... always worth waking up at 4:30 in the morning. Also a ride that I have had the pleasure to complete many times since 2007. I don't remember exactly how many times but it must be somewhere around 6 or 7. A few years ago I started trying to schedule this ride around my September 24th birthday and make it "Kyle's Birthday ride." The original ringleader of the ride is undoubtedly Mike Carpenter and he took me along for my first Full Pull of the Massanutten Ridge and since that first time I have had the pleasure to ride the full ridge many other times with Mike. Always setting a steady and solid pace, always riding more rocks up and down than anyone else on the trip, Mike Carpenter truly is a professor at the Massanutten Technical Institute (just not the one located in Harrisonburg).

Since that first ride I have been able to take others on the Full Pull and show them all the fun that there is to be had on the ridges of the Massanutten Mountains. Nate Shearer has made the trip a couple of times and wrote up a very nice recap in 2011 on what it means to ride from your door and what sort of rides are available "out the door" from where you lay your head every night. Nate put up a very nice post with some great pictures of the ride back in 2011 that can be found on his blog (Soil Sample- Out the Door September 29, 2011)

The Full Pull Ridge ride is phenomenal and a testament to the exceptional riding that surrounds Harrisonburg, Virginia. At only 65 miles, the ride has over 10,000 feet of climbing on some of the rockiest trails around. If you want to see the details and the map you can checkout the ride on Strava. Full Pull of the Massanutten Ridge from Harrisonburg to Buzzard Rocks on Strava. The ride has it all, but mostly rocks and steep climbs. There are countless beautiful views of the Shenandoah Valley, Page Valley, Fort Valley, the North and South Fork of the Shenandoah River, Winchester, and the Shenandaoh National Park. Hard to believe that the ride is only 65 miles. What a great way to celebrate my 30th Birthday! Make sure to check out the pictures and captions below-Kyle

Map and Elevation profile thanks to Garmin and Strava

Rolling from Harrisonburg at 5:30am

Yes. There is some walking to be done on the ride. Sunrise!

We found friends out there!

Bird Knob overlook. Taking it all in just before lunch

Short Horse Mountain in the background. One of the last pieces of pavement for the day

The Ibis Ripley was a PARTY up on that ridge. In 6 some ridge rides this was the first time that I rode a full suspension bike for the Full Pull

At the very end of the ridge on Buzzard rocks with plenty of daylight to go and the sun setting over the west ridge of Fort Valley in the background

The cliffs of Buzzard rocks and the very northern most section of ridge. Looking at down at the opening of Fort Valley

Overlook above Veach gap. Looking at the South Fork of the Shenandoah River and the Shenandoah National Park in the background

Bird Knob

Mountain bike skills development: Pump Track

Ever wonder why the fast riders are so fast and smooth?  They use their legs and body for more than just pedaling and turning.  They use body movement to gain and maintain speed without pedaling by creating acceleration and momentum.  Riding the pump track is a great tool for learning how to use legs as suspension, corner acceleration and pumping down-slopes while flexing extremities upwards on the up-sloping terrain.



National Brownie Day Pumptrack from Adventure Seen on Vimeo.

SVBC Lookout Trail Reroute

Check out this 5 minute riding video filmed on the new SVBC RTP project on Lookout Mountain in the GWNF.  Our very own Collin, Sam, Nate, Chris, Caitlin, Joel, Dan and Karl are enjoying this warm December weather in style!



Lookout December! from Adventure Seen on Vimeo.

SVBC wouldn't be able to make such amazing trails without YOU! Learn how the project works and find ways you can HELP SVBC put amazing trails like these on the ground!



Support the Shenandoah Valley Bicycle Coaliton Recreational Trails Program! from Shenandoah Bicycle on Vimeo.

Don't forget about Maintenance Class Thursday Night!

 



Ever wonder what those two screws are on your derailleurs?  Chain keeps getting tossed off the gears?  Keep hearing weird noises from your drivetrain when you ride?  Shifting issues?  If you answered yes to any of these questions, be sure to come to SBC tomorrow night!  This Thursday, we'll be covering derailleur and shifting in the SBC Winter maintenance clinic series!

You'll learn how to identify worn out equipment, how to dial in your shifting, how to minimize noise and make your bike more efficient.

See you Thursday at 6:30!  Bring your bike, we'll supply the beer!

Jaron Alumbaugh shredding with his dad!

One of our regular local customers, Sean Alumbaugh made this video of his 7 year old son.  He shot it with his Iphone 4.  Jaron has been riding since he could walk and is ripping on the trails at Massanutten Resort and Hillandale Park.

Their bicycle riding skills are extra ordinary!

Imagine riding a whole day on the Signal Knob downhill with certain death cliffs.

SEA OF ROCK from infinite trails on Vimeo.

Customer Product Review: Bobby Toms Loves his Fargo...and Accessories

If you’re reading this, then it’s probably a safe bet that you love bicycles. I do. And boy, do I love my Fargo.

Early last year, SBC took up the challenge of building out a bike that would wear many, many hats. It had to be fantastic for commuting, single track, gravel roads, loaded touring, and everything in between.

Enter Salsa Cycles preeminent monstrosity, the Fargo. Billed as an off-road touring and bikepacking machine, it is a drop-bar rigid steel 29er with a steady and stable touring geometry and braze-ons for racks front and rear, fenders, and five water bottle cages (more on those to come). And it can do so much more.

The ride is something unexpected in the best way. Big wheels and a low bottom bracket mean that you sit in the bike as much as you sit on the bike. Cornering feels like you’re on autopilot, yet curbs, stairs, and rocks seemingly disappear under your tires. But you should realize this bike is a big ride. Stand up and you can easily see over minivans.

If you like buying something and keeping it mint in the cellophane, that’s cool. Really, it is. But the best thing about the Fargo is how well it responds to constant change. Leave it as is, and you’ll miss out on what could be…

Hot Deal on the 21" X-Cal only $850!

In 2011 we got a rental fleet of  X-Cals.  Today, only one remains (not because the big 21" Excalibur killed the other ones, but because we recently replaced our fleet with a school of Rumblefish).  But seriously, this bike knows how to party!  It's loaded with a dual-air Rock Shox Reba, Avid Juicy Brakes, Tubeless Bontrager Tires and SRAM X-7 drivetrain parts.  This bike retails new for $1,469.  Some lucky tall boy (+6') will take this lightly ridden and well maintained 29er machine home for only $850!

SALE BIKES!

We've got some smoking hot deals on bikes right now!

The Trek 4500 is a great entry level 26" mountain bike, this one is a 19.5" frame.  You can take this bad boy home for just $520 plus tax.



 



The Ion Pro is a sweet aluminum framed Gary Fisher road bike that is ready to shred!  This 54cm powerhouse can be yours for just $1,599.99!




The Lexa C is a great entry level Women's Specific Design (WSD) road bike.  The C stands for "Compact", which means this Lexa is equipped with an efficient lightweight two ringed drivetrain.  Take this 54cm lady beast home for only $575!

Come ride our Ibis demos!

Shenandoah Bicycle Company is proud to announce that we are an IBIS dealer!   Our Ibis rigs are super rad and reasonably priced for a quality carbon bike.  Come ride a demo and you'll see what we're so stoked about!

 

silk sl easton wheels full ultegra build kit 17 pounds.

Mojo SLR with full xt shadow plus, fox 140mm front & rear under 26 pounds.

We can get custom build kits for all Ibis bikes.  Its really cool, you can choose what kind of ride you're looking for with tons of options and we will build it quicker than old man free ride on a super D.  Visit www.ibiscycles.com to see what options are available.

Ibis bikes!

Carbon.  Carbon.  Carbon.  Full-suspension mountain bikes. Rad light road bikes.  We've just become an Ibis dealer!  These affordably priced mountain crushers are light, strong and full of play.  Come check them out!



 

Salsa frames for your upgrading pleasure.

Tired of riding your clapped out hardtail?  Ready to have a little squish for your toosh?  We can special order Salsa frames for your upgrading pleasure.  Check out what Salsa has to offer at www.salsacycles.com.

 

Awesome bikes and a killer deal!

 

Come by the shop and check out the newest 2013 Trek bikes that we have on the floor.   The FUEL EX 8 just got built today and is ready for you to test ride.  Fully loaded with front and rear Through Axels, SLX Shifters, SLX Hydraulic Brakes, Deore XT Derailleurs and DRCV in the Front and Rear.

Also, we have been marking some of our products down.  This rack is just one example of the awesome gear that is on sale here at SBC.  We've got select items from IBEX, Sugoi, Saris, Bontrager, Trek, Light & Motion and many more on sale right now!  Get it while the gettin's good!

Two used bikes: Trek 4 series

The shop just got in two identical 16 inch mountain bikes with 26 inch tires. They are in great condition. Perfect for someone jumping into mountain biking.  $450.00 each.