Super Bowl Sunday Preview

Wondering what it will be like for this Sunday's 30th++ edition of the Super Bowl Sunday Ride? We sent out our roaming reporter "Old Man Freeride" to Shenandoah Mountain on a cold morning to evaluate the conditions...Here is his report!

Ice happens when it is 13 degrees!

Ice will probably greet most riders. Intially this will  be spitting out of the rocks bands up the steep cuts next to the road...but expect things to change a little as you get close to the "Bob Turn" about two miles from the Briery Branch Gap.  At this point the road is mostly covered but completely rideable, a nice packed in surface thanks to those vehicle explorers trying to get up to the mountain.

I brought my bathing suit for nothing!!

At the saddle there still might be a few vehicles in the "Long Term Parking" spots but I image they will be moved then by either the owners or new vehicle owners. At the saddle sits about 5" of very dry snow, lacking the moisture needed for a good mid ride snow ball fight.

One of two vehicle hibernating at the saddle. 

From the saddle for the next 3 miles as you make your way to  Flagpole Knobup the snow should stay pretty consistant with a solid ice layer underneath the white stuff.  Even with the cold mountain temperatures and "West by God Virginia" winds the bright sun will bring out dirt on the south facing slopes.

As usual the last 1/4 mile to the highest point in Rockingham County will have some snow drifts and making the final push to the group photo epic!

The downhills? I imagine the top portion of the descents will still have some deep snow and ice but this will quickly break and dirt will appear as the sun hits the south/east facing descents.

Fresh Tracks on the last pitch to Flagpole... Freshies!!!

So, load up your packs, deflate your tires, bring warm layers (think wool!!) and plenty of food because it is time for another great edition of Harrisonburg's oldest annual mountain bike ride!

-SBC's roaming reporter, "Old Man Freeride".

Minimo: similar to dynamo in both words end in mo

So the first minimo is in the books! What is this you ask? Its an exploratory ride conceived by the 2 handsome devils below that takes place any time day or night done on whatever bike you like with the focus on snacks and fun of course. So leave your heart rate monitors and GPS things at home and join us. Don't forget the twinkies!

Birthed In The Basement

Shop guy Matt here. So, when I'm not at The Shop, I'm usually either outside or tinkering in my basement.  This little pile of tubing is what I've been squeezing out of my free time. I have been practicing and destroying things and learning about what not to do. That seems to be the hard way, but when you're talking about fire and metal descriptions can be a little murky. Do you  have any idea how many shades of red hot steel can be? Have you ever looked at a brass rod as it goes through all of the transitions from solid to liquid and back again? It feels a little like magic. Doing all of that with the end result being a vehicle for exploration seems like a worthwhile way to spend some time. 

Join us This Thursday for a Bicycle Camping Workshop

Please join us this Thursday, January 29 at Walkabout Outfitters for an evening "workshop" to talk about Bicycle Camping, Bike touring, Bikepacking, or whatever else you may want to call it. We had 4 fun and adventurous Bicycle Camping trips last year and are very happy to announce 4 more for 2015. Our two spring dates are set for Saturday April 18 and Saturday May 30.

The workshop is free and open to everyone so please join us at 6:30pm at Walkabout Outfitters in Downtown Harrisonburg. We will have our very own Matt Hassman, bicycle camping extraordinaire, on hand with a fully loaded touring bicycle to show you what it looks like to fill your bags and head to the mountains. We will also have Paul Hansbarger, a recent addition to the Friendly City, Paul has his own frame bag company where he can sew you custom frame bags for your bike touring needs. Paul's company Wanderlust is off the ground and running so make sure to check it out.

Bring your questions, and we will bring some answers. What to bring, wear, eat, how to cook, where to go, how to carry your gear. This is the first of two workshops so be sure to mark Thursday February 19 on your calendar for our second workshop, this time at Shenandoah Bicycle Company. 

Clearing Trails for the Shenduro

Panorama of Death Star, Snowy Shenandoah To the East with Wild and Wonderful to the West!

Wootten and Watters went West to clear wood from a seldom ridden ridge, Sugar Run Trail, also known as 1025 or "Death Star".  The ridge dives West off Shenandoah Mountain and pokes out towards Sugar Grove.  The secret satellites from the NIOC-Naval base are within plain sight (hence the name death star).  What's the bigger secret is how rad this trail is.  We're blowing the whistle on this one at the next Shenduro on March 15th!  Come on out and enjoy it!  

The first chute on Death Star.  Relatively easy to ride slow.

Few folks get on this ridge because it is so remote, you can tell when you are out riding.  The trail begins with a fast double-track descent into a basin with minimal evidence of an actual trail.  You have to follow the yellow blazes to stay on track, but you eventually pop out on the ridge where the trail is obvious and well marked.

Collin hard at lurk, creepin towards the listening station.  (seen in back)

Collin rides the second complex chute on Sugar Run.

Blowdowns are not only a bummer on a ride, but can be hazardous at speed, so its always a good call to throw that folding saw in your campbell pack and do your friends a favor if you've got the time.

Sawing logs not sleeping on the job.

Notice the blade guard.  An easy to transport trailwork implement.

After some sawing, tree removed.

Evidence of trailwork from years ago.

We're lucky to live in a place where Skiing and Snowboarding go hand in hand with riding bikes.  After Wootten finished riding, he rolled over to Massanutten Resort to do some slope sliding.  The classic Mid-Atlantic packed slush was perfect for retrieving his old tricks in the progression park and forgiving enough to teach some new ones to Dr. Nonnemacher.

Multisporting so hard.  Snowboarding, Trailwork, and Shenduro Prep!

Blue Ridge Gravity D-Cup Series

Our gnarly neighbors to the South in Roanoke are putting together a winter/spring community race series similar to the Six Pack Downhills that we all enjoy every Friday in the Fall.  The events are always on Sundays.  Racers are expected to be at the start line (at the top of the mountain) at Noon.

A tradition we are excited to see bubble up with the D-Cup series; the winner gets to ride the Klunker for the following race.

Unfortunately, the first race is on the same day as the Superbowl Sunday Ride...  Hopefully we'll rally a crew from Harrisonburg to make one of the events!

Here's a video of the race course for the first event on North Mountain.  Go to Blue Ridge Gravity for more information about the series.