Thursday Night Ride Report

Riders: Sue Witter, Rob Mazzei, Dave Hamilton, Chris Bratthauar

Left the Mont Alto parking lot @ 5pm sharp taking the Park trail over to Staley. From there we decided it would be a good day to climb Shelf trail to stay off the low, muddy trails.

"Rocket" Rob took off ahead of the group and missed the turn on to Shelf trail. The rest of the crew debated for a few minutes whether we should leave Rob to the mercy of the mountain or follow him. We decided Rob should live and we headed up Ramp trail after him.

We regrouped in the clearing and climbed the rest of the way to Wirt Road. From there we headed across Charcoal Hearth trail to Staley Road. Climbed up Four Logs and then up to the fire tower. We headed down the trail behind the fire tower and across Crumble regrouping again on Snowy Mountain Road.

We climbed up Snowy Mountain to the top of Four Logs. The crew bombed down Four Logs and the top of Turtle where things started to get mushy, so we headed out to Staley Road. From there we coasted down Staley Road to the double track that leads up to Lower Buckets.

We made the short climb and headed back on to the singletrack. Lower Buckets was in great condition and we flowed down it like we were on rails. We finished up on the Park trail, making our way back to the parking lot.

We emerged from the woods around 7:30 pm, just as the sun was disappearing behind the trees. All in all a great ride to start the "Thursday Night" season.

Membership Renewal Time

We would like to thank you for your participation 2006 and look forward to your continued support of the club during 2007. You should have received an emailed membership invitation already - if not, let me know. Please update your contact information (email) and return with a check for $10 to us at: MBM, 6132 Moser Road, Boonsboro, MD 21713

Please feel free to invite any of your cycling friends to a club ride or to join MBM as well. If you would like any additional information, please contact me.

Happy trails.

Rides 3/29 and 4/1

Thursday, 3/29 Mont Alto @ 5 pm.

Sunday, 4/1 Maximus Sport Loop (sorta...). Meet at Bendersville Road Parking lot. Ride starts at 9 am.

Bad News, Good News

I took a walk in the woods around Mont Alto today with my kids. The BAD news is the ground is completely SATURATED.

The GOOD news is all the stinkin' snow is GONE!

Here's to a HUMID ride tomorrow morning...

Thursday ride

Posting for Dale.....Mont Alto, 5PM if the weather is good.

Sunday Ride, 3/25

Mont Alto. 9 AM. Hope for no slush on the trails.

Spin, Spin, Spin

Ok, last week we had a couple of nice days and I got out on the road bike with short sleeves. The Tuesday night Carlisle fast ride featured - well, fast people. 35 at the start and as we added miles it pared down to three:
Nathan Goates from Shippensburg University (l) and Taylor McClain (r) from Penn State.


On the climb up to King Gap State Park, at a fast clip - sub 13 minutes.
This photo is of the group leaving the movie theatre parking lot - 35 in all. Now it is trainer time again. Five days straight on the trainer and I'm about to pull my hair out - thank god for cycling.tv and the Paris-Nice race.

Snow......When will it end??

Now this was Hard Core!!! Shovel the track so you could race.
Jack Frost Classic Feb 2001.

Sunday Ride, 3/11

Mont Alto , 9 am.

Remember, daylight savings is in effect Sunday morning! Don't show up an hour late!!

Hail to the Chief!!

Check out this newly retired MBM Ex-President in his Beginner Racer Days.

We shouldn't be seeing this pained expression now that he can spend all of his time riding.

Mont Alto Trail Conditions

Took a quick ride up to Mont Alto this morning to check on trail conditions. Overall, looks plenty rideable. There is a soft slushy layer on top of the little bit of hard snow that is left. The fire roads still look a little nasty, but the singletrack looks OK. See you all in the morning!

Beginning of Park Trail

Park Trail looks nice

Going up Buckets

Staley Road - Icy! Stay on the singletrack!

Sunday Ride, 3/4

Mont Alto 9 AM - Snow tire season should be over!

Mud tire season may now be in full effect.

Big Bar's and Stem's

Does anybody have an opinion on the newer 31.8 diameter bar/stem combo's?
Is there any advantage in stiffness or weight? From what I have seen this combo is generally heavier.

Any thoughts on the Pro's and Con's?
T

MBM Annual Meeting Update

The annual MBM meeting was held as scheduled on Feb 25th.

Those attending included: Trevis Benchoff, Mike Witter, Sue Witter, Wayne Benedict, Chris Bratthauar, Joel Moats, Bruce Kessler, Martin Kell, Aaron Himelfarb, Dale Fitzsimmons, Rob Mazzei, Morgan Styer & Hillary Styer.

Trevis reported 65 members in 2006. It was decided to e-mail club membership renewal notices in lieu of using mailed letters. Club dues bank deposits will continue to be handled by Trevis and Dona. Several email notices will be sent out as reminders to renew memberships. A deadline of May 1, 2007 was agreed upon to pay 2007 dues.

The treasurer reports a balance of $1413.29. Some of this will be spent on lumber for a new bridge on the 'Middle Narrows' and the balance along with incoming dues will allow new jerseys to be purchased next year for very little cost to members.

Mike Witter agreed to figure out lumber costs for this new bridge.

147.5 hrs of trail maintenance was reported to DCNR for 2006- up from 127 in 2005. The goal for 2007 is 200 hrs. Colonel Weistling also needs to be cleaned up after clear cutting and there are several blow downs in the Old Forge area.

There are no jersey or sock purchases planned for 2007.

The club will renew it's IMBA membership for 2007.

Dale will continue to coordinate the regular Sunday morning and Thursday after work rides, but after May 1, 2007 the ride info will be on the blog only. All other rides should be submitted to the blog also. http://the-skinny-on-mbm.blogspot.com/

Elections: Aaron was elected 'Trail Maintenance Boss'
Dona will continue the Treasurer's post
Sue will continue as Secretary
Dale 'Ride Czar'
Morgan was elected our new Vice President
Chris Bratthauar is our new MBM President!

Meeting adjourned

XL jersey for sale

I'm selling a size XL short sleeve Michaux jersey with full length zipper. It is the maroon version and in like-new condition. The only reason I'm selling it is because I've lost some weight and it is too big on me now. $25 takes it.

Trail Conditions 2/24

Michaux(Mont Alto) trail conditions @ 1300 hrs today are as follows.

Fireroads are icey and slushy-yes at the same time.
Trails are very bad momentumly speaking.EVEN DOWNHILL.
Too deep and crusty and you can't ride on top of the snow anymore.

Spike tires still suggested.

Details on the Bike and Browes Snow Race

Come out and race your bike downhill in the snow at Whitetail Ski Resort on March 10th.
www.skiwhitetail.com
Dual Slalom Mt. Bike Race on the Stalker Ski Slope
Registration 8:00-9:00 AM Race starts at 10:00 AM
$10 Registration Fee
Junior 10-17 years and Senior 18+ Categories
Prizes awarded to 1st and 2nd placeBest Crash / Wildest Run Prize
First 25 Entries will receive a gift bag courtesy of the Bike and Browse
Helmets are required and you must provide your own bicycleJunior racers must have a parent or guardian sign your release form.
www.thebikestore.com

Dual Slolam race on March 10th

Hey everybody, I just got off the horn with Mike Reed from Beautiful downtown Waynesboro. He was letting me know about the snowrace happening at whitetail this year.

Last year's event was a blast, the course was kept fairly simple with just some turns around gates, then both riders merged into one course for some elbow rubbin' bar bangin' action to the finish. The hardest part about the event is staying on two wheels while constantly drifting one way or another.

Trivia Question!!

Name the year and race where this picture was taken.

Bonus: Name everyone in the picture.

The winner will receive some MBM swag!

Deadline: 2/25/07 - MBM winter meeting.

Tour Of California

For anyone intrested the Amgen Tour of California is being covered by OLN all this week.
http://www.amgentourofcalifornia.com/race-live/tv-schedule.html

ice riders

ice riders

photos from today

2/18 MBM Ride

RIDE REPORT

Well for those who didn't make the ride today,you missed one of the best winter rides to date.
The snow was deep and crusted turning previously heinously rocky trails into a magic carpet ride.Turtle was transformed into something reminiscent of a bobsled run.
The great amount of traction available allowed riders to scale steep pitches and climbs with ease.All riders were sporting studded rubber,spikes and screwed knobbies.

Riders: Dale Fitzsimmons,Steve Seeber,Mark Youngblood,Sue Witter,Joel Moats

MBM Annual Meeting! Reminder!

JUST A REMINDER..... MBM annual meeting is next Sunday February 25th, 2:00 PM @ Sue Witter's house. Please mark your calendars and plan to attend! Please let me know if you are planning to come!

Ice Tires

Well,I just finished up my new set of killer ice tires and took them for a spin across the ice rink that is my yard.
I had to put Bytor and Snowdog to sleep(for those who don't know ,they were the first pair of ice tires).They each suffered from siderot and severe ugliness.
You to can enjoy the rush of icecycling and add 5 lbs of Heavy Metal to your treasured steed.
They're made from a pair of Maxxis Swampthings and about $14 in hardware.
Ingredients;
48-6/32 screws
96-washers
48-nuts
blue locktight
2 hours worth of elbow grease

Now all that's left is to coax some gullable saps to go along with me tommorow------
Mont Alto/2pm

RIDE REPORT

They worked awesome.90% of the trails are crusted on top to where you ride on top of the snow/ice.
I had a really fun ride today.Cruising along with the Ipod Shuffle kicking the tunes and the Salsa gliding above the rocks!
Fireroads are good,not icy and plenty of traction.
Whoever comes tommorow should have tall knobbies at least,if not studded tires.Some spots where the sun hits it(melt/refreeze) are solid ice.
You also have to beware of the sudden collapse of crust that happens in the areas that have more tree cover.----I experienced this phenomena several times at speed today.Let's just say I got in some "learn how to fall" intervals.

TWT --3:15

Spring is on the way right??

After all the snow melts out here this is what it's going to look like!! Another 4 inches last night. I miss my mountain bike!!

blog

Lets go for a ride!!!! Mark

Go Buck Go!!!

Keep the posting alive Bucky!!!

MOAB ANYONE??????

Just dreaming of Moab!! Only 16 Hours away!! Sorry for everyone back in PA 32 Hours away!!

rides

Just giving this blog a ride
Sunday feb 11 mont alto 9am