Trail Scouting

I stayed home from snowboarding at Beartooth Pass this Memorial Weekend to partake in the BH Fat Tire Festival, and it was good. Hill Climb on Friday night had about 30 gluttons for punishment. It was just under a mile of gravel road climbing, no tech, just hammerfesting. Winning times were around 7 minutes something... Micah from Colorado took the win. Sat. m0rning was the xc race. The expert course was to be about 20 miles which turned out to be 15. It was also on M Hill and had some great trail with technical sections. Good course for the middle of town. My daughter Sierra did the beginner 8 mile course and loved it. Great to see her enjoy riding and racing. She won, lots better than me. Couple Colorado guys took the top two places with some locals biting at their wheels. Lots of rides going on during the days.

Super D on Sunday went well, some shuttles provided some practice runs down a 2 mile course. Some pedaling was involved to keep it real. Not sure how it all went down, but there was some winners. No injuries to speak of. Pretty fun weekend, nice to see someone else sweating it. Thanks for supporting Mountain Biking!

I have been scouting some reroutes for the Dakota Five-0, per the US Forest Service. The Citadel Slide, the most technical descent in the Five-0 will be replaced... Depending on approval it could add some time to race but the scenery and trail should be worth it. Besides we will have another great trail to ride. I will keep you posted as it develops!

I have been fortunate enough to gather some more sponsors. Quarq Technologies will be donating a Garmin Edge 705 for the fastes man and women! More prizes than you can shake a fork at for all others from the likes of Dakine, Pearl Izumi, Ellsworth Bicycles, and all the local bike shops. Summer is around the corner and I hope your all finding time to RIDE!

O-Nine Time to Shine -April Showers, May Flowers and Rides

http://www.blackhillsportal.com/npps/story.cfm?ID=2970

Pasque  Flowers in Pasque Alley along Tinton Trail May 4th.  State Flower Power...

Another Shot on Tinton Trail near an old apple orchard.  Speaking of Trails make some comments by the extended date May 18th.  

Whitewood Road Race this Sat. May 9th- Directions check the local shops (a few flyers around) or call the director 605 642-4277 or 639-1683.  Long Loop 35 miles, short loop 17.5.....

It's on Better Hang On... Signs of summer coming and going.  Make the Most of it.   BHMBA is getting after it this weekend with Storm and Fat Tire Festival Memorial WEEEEkend. 

The Storm Mt. race is on for Sunday, May 10. The course is now marked, and a pre-ride is scheduled for Wednesday, May 6 at 6:30 PM. The race starts at 9:00 AM sharp, with registration taking place from 8:00 - 8:45 AM. For both the pre-ride and the race, please park in Rockerville, across from the Gaslight. If you can’t make the pre-ride on Wednesday, head out there any time and check out the course.

LaFramboise Island Mountain Bike Race

Pierre, SD

Saturday May 30, 2009

 

In case of heavy rain race cancelled

8:30 – 10:00 Registration

10:15 Race Meeting

10:30 Race Begins

This will be a lap race on essentially flat terrain.  One lap = appx. 5.75* miles.  The course is a combination of tree-lined, narrow and twisting single-track and open, wider double-track trail.  It’s not a really tough or difficult course, but is fast and does have some tight corners and fun, challenging spots.  It should be an enjoyable race for riders of all ages and abilities.  The course is located on LaFramboise Island Nature Area, at the end of the causeway separating the island from the City of Pierre.  It is a natural Missouri River island, owned and managed by the SD Division of Parks & Recreation as a Nature Area.  The island is on the Lewis & Clark trail and was visited by Lewis & Clark!  The island and its course are also great for nature viewing, bird watching and easy recreational riding.  

Back in the Saddle

Nice to be riding again.  The trails are still curing out around the hills, but the cross bike has provided the "fix' I need.  More good gravel cruising around Spearfish that you can comprehend.  Yesterday cranked out a ride from Rochford, SD population 15 down the Mickelson Trail to the old ghost-town of Mystic and on to Hill City.  Turned around and rode it back...  Out scouting a one day, north to south Black Hills road ride.  Rapha riders are coming through to feature a Black Hills Ride.  They do a real nice job with the photography and cinematography, capturing the spirit of the rides.  Hope to show them a good one day sample of what we got.  The riding today won't lack any opportunity for colorful pics and historical mining culture. Very Nice, sure to bring a camera next time....

The US Forest Service extended the comment period for the proposed travel management here in the Black Hills. Take a look at the alternatives and make a comment by May 18th. Google Black Hills National Forest Travel Management. The Forest Travel management issue really is huge. Get familiar with the issues and make an imformed comment. Once the new rules are established it will be hard to close them! Next lesson learn to paste links into this window...

Yearning for some more dry singletrack. Rode Lookout Mountain today and it was good, to be back in the dirt, where my heart is at. The trails are old and well worn, and drain well in the spring. A new fresh loop would be nice around the summit.
We need to organize some trail work and finish Hopa Mesa Loop.
I'm Rapha here!
pj