Sunday Ride 9-30

This Sunday we will get as far away from Teaberry as possible.
Ride is from Pine Grove Furnace Lot.
See you then!

Iron Cross Free Entries (YEAH!)

If you are interested in the free entries for the Iron Cross (If you are racing why wouldn't you be) please post in the comments or email me by 10/1/12. If we have more than 5 members interested names will be picked from a hat to select 5. Pre-reg closes on 10/4/12 so the 10/1 deadline will give us time to let individuals know who was selected for the free entries. If you are not racing please...please consider volunteering (see previous post). We would like to have 8 more volunteers. Thanks!

Iron Cross 10/7 Checkpoint Volunteers

MBM is looking for volunteers to staff a checkpoint for the Iron Cross race on Sunday, October 7th. Previous years volunteers have reported having a good time. Also MBM has been given major kudos for running great checkpoints at past years Iron Cross races. Let's do it again this year. Please comment below if you are able to volunteer. Thanks! ***I should also note MBM gets 5 free entries and cash for helping out. The race will be here before we know it so please sign up to help out and make the checkpoint a success.***

Anyone selling any mountain bikes?

A friend of mine is looking to buy a used mens mountain bike. He is looking to spend around 400 bucks. Anyone selling?

Teaberry Race is Sept 23rd.

The Terror of Teaberry Race is this Sunday. I think it will live up to its name this year.
The best of luck to everyone racing!!
MBM will have an EZ up near the finish. Stop by after the race.
See you there!

Trail maintenance

First thing- that jersey order with my sig was from Sue.

1-Wayne's trail has been maintained. That means that the logs are usable but may be considered 'flow killers'.
2-The old bridge on Buckets has been removed from the forest so Slowride is off the hook. That new bridge is quite the masterpiece! I have some free beer for the team that produced it.

Teaberry Pre Ride Tomorrow

I am doing a preride tomorrow (Friday) around noon. Post if interested.

"Felony Lane"

UPDATE----Visitor Warning: Ongoing Criminal Activity in South Central Pennsylvania Parks and Forests

by Tuscarora State Forest on Wednesday, September 12, 2012 at 9:40pm ·

Since August 4th 2012, 5 state parks and 1 state forest picnic area in Perry, Cumberland, and Franklin Counties have repeatedly been targeted by an organized crime ring known as "Felony Lane".  During the course of 3 separate sprees windows in more than 15 vehicles have been broken out to steal items left in plain view.  Actors are usually black or Hispanic males operating lease vehicles from the south.  In the past cars displayed Florida and Tennessee tags.  Actors remove purses and utilize credit cards they steal.  They then hand personal information off to accomplice females matching the descriptions of the victims.  The females write checks to one victim from another victim's checkbook and cash thousands of dollars in checks at local and distant banks.  Checks from local victims have been cashed as far away as Indiana and New Hampshire. We are working closely with the State Police and authorities in other states to locate these individuals.  Park and forest visitors are urged to be aware of any suspicious activity.  Note license plate numbers and state of suspicious vehicles and report them to the nearest ranger or law enforcement office.  Do not leave valuable items in plain view and park in busy well lit areas if possible. 

UPDATE:  Leased vehicle with Tennessee tags observed at Fowler Hollow was turned in on Wednesday.  Suspect are now operating a black Infinity FX35 bearing PA registration GYZ8709.  This is most likely the vehicle they were in on Wednesday afternoon when they struck Little Buffalo and Colonel Denning. Be on the look out and please report any sightings or suspicious activity to local authorities.    

TeaBerry Race & Preride

I need a few people to help with the last checkpoint at the Teaberry race. Please use the email address at the right or post a comment and let me know if you can help.


We need someone to lead the ride this Sunday. Both Dave and I are out of town.
We were thinking it would be a Teaberry preride or post up.

Gotta Run?

One of our own members is making this happen. If you run you should check it out. I've added a link here: ROTC 10K 

Mud Banks

I'm planning to ride from the mud banks tonight from 5:30-7:30 if anyone cares to join me. I might have my wife with me and if so, the ride will be slower than usual. Anyone is welcome to join me (us). Nothing crazy, gonna try for 8-12 miles depending if my wife comes along.

Jeremy

Jersey REorder interest?????????????????

There has been recent interest in doing a jersey Reorder. I would like to try NOT to use any club money so I would like to see two new sponsors to keep the cost down a bit. If you are interested in Sponsor ship at $250 let me know! 

I would like to order short and long sleeve jerseys. The long sleeve turned out SUPER SWEET!

If you are interested let me know. Before the order is placed I will need all orders PREPAID once we have the true cost since I am putting the order on my Credit Card.

Our MINIMUM interest has to be 10 short sleeve or 10 long sleeve to even consider the order!

Currently I have interest in 5 short sleeve and 3 long sleeve post up if your interested!

Please post what you would like. We don't need sizes yet!

trouble in the Shed

The below quote from Joe's recent post sums up the problem.
Over the last several month's MORE has received a number of concerning communications from officials regarding mountain biking in the watershed. In chronological order, these include:

• MORE was emailed concerns from high level officials within DNR regarding mountain biking in the Watershed and potential impact to the land being managed as a wildlife management area. This was in response to internal DNR inquiries about mountain biking in the watershed prompted by DNR's trail coordinator.
• Subsequently, as part of a response on our next trail reroute project for the Catoctin Trail we received detailed comments and concerns from DNR about mountain biking in general (i.e. not project related) which included comments about illegal trail building, concerns about protected species such as rattlesnakes and concerns about habitat destruction. As a result of these concerns, our current epic loop project is on hold. We are working to get this back on track.
• Most recently, the City recently received a complaint from a citizen who came across users building trails. When this person talked to them they claimed to be with MORE. This person was not doing official MORE trail work and it is unknown if they were even a member. The citizen complained "riders are ripping rocks and trees up to construct miles of trail/ jumps/bridges" and users are posting directions to "local bike shops and website blogs".

Here's the link to the first post which kicked off pages of vitriol and typical MORE drama and hate.  Unfortunately, this was initiated by a couple of guys who have had so many fallings outs and ins with MORE over so many things over the past 5 years.  This will probably chase them away again,even though they were trying to be helpful.

The real point is that this could easily happen in the beloved Meeshow.
http://www.more-mtb.org/forum/showthread.php?p=233238#post233238

Don't assume from the 3rd bullet that the problem is jumps.  Read the whole thread if you want to understand the whole problem.

Tuesday Evening Ride

Mud Banks at 5:30pm. This should be a relatively stout evening ride that will continue through darkness. The loop will take us up Dead Woman's Hollow as well, so break out your lights and your climbing legs!!! Rumor has it HOTDOG will be present!!!

Barbie Bike Upgrade! Go big or go home!

Just had to share Maddie's first bike upgrade! Sweet Avid lever!

Sunday Ride 9-9

Ride from Big Flat.
Ride time 9am.
Thinking of heading Scientology-way ... oh my, does that mean climbing Canada Hollow????????

I hear there's a moto shindig up there on Sunday. Any votes for alternate locations?
How about Caledonia and we'll head up Secret?

Tonight's ride

Just thought I'd post up to see who is riding from Mont Alto tonight.

I'll be there.  5:00pm start unless somebody needs it later.  We've already lost enough daylight that a 5:30 start is beginning to look sketchy.  Get those lights ready people!

Hope to see a big bunch of riders this evening!  Please post if you are coming.

Thank you’s & Get your butt out to a ride!

Thank you to Dave, Jason & Ken for pulling me around the Shed today!  I had a blast!  (except for that uphill stretch).  I was really pleased that I could keep the waits to a minimum.  I was riding features that I couldn’t ride in the spring.  That brings me to the next thank you.

Thank you to MBM for the encouragement and patience on the Sunday rides!  My riding would not have improved without it.  I was grinning today after I cleared sections that I would have walked just a few months ago.  

A part of that was be due to Mike from the Rock Shox van that was at the enduro.  I’ve struggled to find the right suspension settings and Mike sent me out with some adjustments.  I didn’t get to fully test the new settings since I was stopping to pull arrows (especially on Four Logs and Turtle – thanks Buck).  Today I rode enough that I know the setup is spot on.  Thanks Mike! 

And finally: 

Get out to the MBM rides!  I hear too many other riders that worry they're not fast enough or good enough on the trails to come out.  Well you won’t get there not riding your mountain bike!  Get out and join us and you’ll get better, too!

Hans

Sunday Ride 9-2

I will be out of town and likely very hung-over on Sunday, so post your hearts out if anybody wants to lead a ride or just ride and offer for people to join.

On another note: there has been talk of doing a jersey-reorder. Anybody who is interested, post-up and we'll get a count to see if it's going to be substantial enough to move ahead.

MadCap viddy

Thursday night -->Bottom of Quarry Gap Road

A few of us are riding from the bottom of Quarry Gap Road tonight switching things up from the typical Mont Alto location.  Start time 5:30pm.

Thank you's and more!

That was a crazy journey we all just went through and I want to thank the MBM members for the work they put into making it such a success. It was a leap of faith for many of you and I appreciate you jumping into my vision of a good time. The end result was an event that provided an unforgettable experience for the riders, while exposing them to some of the most challenging riding in the world. The number of “Thank You’s” and “had a great time” comments that have come my way are proof that something special happened.

A good event is made up of all the components coming together to make a whole package. The participants came away safe, happy and ready to return next year! This was due entirely to everyone who stepped up and took on the stress of organizing something that we were all short on experience with.

Thank you Brian, our MBM president, for listening to the wishes of the club despite your hesitation when I brought the idea to the MBM. You really took on many of the details and made sure needs were filled. I could list them all out, but its a pretty long list! I know all you wanted was a beer and a break on Saturday!

Thanks to Donna for organizing volunteers along with many other things. Thinking on your feet and manning the timing tent were just a few of the other bonuses we got from you. Oh and the amazing cilantro rice for the burritos!

To Stephanie for the note taking, budget watching, meal making, and timing planning. I know there are other things but you get the idea! The burritos were amazing! I’m pretty sure that was one of the best post-race meals ever served at a Sunday race. When we realized we were going to be an hour or more ahead of schedule, you busted butt to be ready for the racers. They really appreciated that!

To Jody for being an advocate from the beginning, organizing the Monday trail work, working on the timing, and helping me see when mistakes were being made. It’s true, I don’t know everything. :)

Thanks to Larry for the DCNR interaction, for being a brain to bounce ideas off of and for coming out to help with trailwork. Sorry you couldn’t be there on race day! We missed you.

To Steve for radios and chiming in with wit and encouragement. And of course race day efforts!

To Howard for the trail work and race day presence. For the course marking and the all around belief in the event.

To the Witters and Charlie for everything from trail-work, sweeping, and creation, and not strangling me (yet) for transgressions. Apologies to come..

Hey Zach Adams! Thanks for coming to the race too! It was pretty cool to see all the Michaux race promoters together at an event!

Of course the volunteers deserve a ton of thank yous. I know I’m missing specific names so I apologize to you for not getting all of you. To Dale, Hans, Vicki, Jill, Les, Alicia, Sarah, David G, Dave R! And to Sheena for the baked goods! Who else made goodies?

All the locals who stepped up and to my group of friends from Philly who came to help and spread cheer. Anna, Nick, Damien, Eric, Jeremy!

To the Gettysburg Bicycle guys for providing so much logistical support. From DCNR to insurance we couldn’t have done it anywhere near as easily without you. Your influence and risk-taking was invaluable. And you guys got to finally do a Michaux race!

To the Dirt Rag guys who care about grassroots events and believed enough to donate enough swag to choke a steam engine. They drove from Pittsburgh to do rider sweep! Thanks Matt and Steve!

Thanks to our other sponsors too for their amazing product to give away! Stan’s NoTubes rims, VP Components pedals, Lone Wolf Cycling course tape, coozies, and Bear Mountain Stickers for the vinyl stickers!

How about some apologies?
As with any new adventure we learn new things along the way and I sure had a few of those moments. It was stressful at times but the end result was a killer event and I am very proud of that.
It took a lot to make the Madcap happen. I’ve worked other events but have never undertaken a project this big. When MBM agreed to be a part of the event it was a big relief to have their support. As it morphed into solely an MBM fundraiser I took a more backseat roll than I had originally planned. I think than anyone had planned. I worked with Jes and made sure paperwork and the promotional side of things were happening. I felt like I was keeping an eye on things, chiming in when needed, and everyone was on task, but maybe people needed more input from me.

In the process of making these events happen, communication becomes the number one stumbling block. The summer became a lot more hectic for me than I had planned. Being self employed I took the freelancing job opportunities as they came. It took me away at key times, but I was confident in the MBM team. I apologize for not realizing how much direction everyone might have been looking for.

The biggest apology has to deal with trail work that I performed on Buckets. Specifically taking out logs when I should have left well enough alone. I’m really upset how this has turned out, because I originally came to the club to get their blessing to use the trails out of respect to the people who occupy the trails the most.

I know people are mad, and rightfully so, but I hope you understand my motivation. I look back and realize I was overthinking things but there were reasons I did what I did. When putting on an event I think of peoples experience and worry too much about it sometimes. On Buckets my two biggest worries were safety and flow. I didn’t intend to go out there on Friday and willy nilly remove logs. There were three that I had in mind and thought that I had some consensus with from another individual who I think of as an authority figure. One was the super-awkwardly angled log under the dead pine tree. Then there was one towards the finish that was on the side slope. And finally the built up log on the flats at the bottom before the slippery rocky built one.

When I got there I had those in mind but I also had just received dire warnings from both Jes and Rich about the issues of mountain bikers relations with DCNR and how we couldn’t afford a report or incident since we were on probation more or less. So I got carried away. I was feeling stressed and probably not in the best decision making mode. I started thinking about wet off-camber logs and racers coming down tired and stressed. I didn’t want hurt riders ruining themselves or have an unnecessarily negative experience.

I cut logs that I agonized over. Logs that I had been riding for years. Ones that I experienced their slow deterioration from an original freshness to ones worn in like the wooden handles of old tools. I learned how to lighten the rear end of my bike on these logs. How to suck it up and become a more refined rider. When I think back it feels as if I just closed my eyes and cut when the decision became too hard to debate.

I didn’t cut because I couldn’t ride them, I cut because I thought it would be safer or more fun for people (strangers) who hadn’t spent years learning how to twinkle-toe over these things. It never occurred to me before the race to actually alter any of the trails in any way. This is where I went astray. Apparently I didn’t need to worry since no one injured themselves on logs that were both off-camber and loose. ;)

To Mike, I apologize. I didn’t realize the history you had with the trail. I feel like I’ve been riding Buckets almost as long as I’ve been riding and I indulged myself in a sense of ownership. I’ll gladly come back this weekend and help drag as many logs onto Buckets as you like. I’ll reset the ones that were cut and pin them in. I have tools and carpentry skills.

Howard I believe you had a lot to do with Buckets also and I apologize to you. Really it wasn’t done with ill intent.

Jody, you deserve an apology too. I never claimed to always be right, but I didn’t always realize where I was wrong. I don’t know everything and I like feedback. Except in the form of yelling. If I’m doing something you don’t like, let me know early. I thought I was communicating when I was doing things, but I realized I was relying too much on Facebook and group emails where messages get lost. Truly I’m sorry for that. It’ll be an area for improvement for me.

I welcome the opportunity to come and have a discussion about the race.

In the end I really care about Michaux and the trails there. I think we all did an incredible job putting on another event in the forest. It was different and brought a new group of riders to experience the unique Michaux trail experience.

         
I'll see you out there.

Harlan Price

ps. Sorry to the people I missed!

South Mountain Outdoors 2012 this weekend

http://southmountainoutdoors.blogspot.com/

Madcap Madness

Click to link of Ed Mcdaniel's photos!


 Matt Miller's Blog

Pics that Don Pagano took during the event

MadCap Course Marking

Anyone interested in helping mark the course meet at Mont Alto at 9am Saturday morning.

MBM Picnic August 25th

If you haven't been getting the news letters you may not know we're having a picnic for all members, family and guests at Camp Penn on Saturday. Camp opens at noon.
Please use the email address at the right and send me your contact info. I'll reply with a schedule and put you on the mailing list.            (No alcohol at Camp Penn please.)

The Madcap Enduro is here!!

Register here!

https://www.bikereg.com/Net/16736

Thanks to our sponsors:

Expect some sweet goodies from the East Coast's premier Mountain Bike Magazine!

Local trail lovers, Stan's NoTubes continues to pass the joy with certificates for two sets of Arch EX rims! 

VP is donating some incredible headsets and pedals for all you pump-trackers and flat pedal lovers. 

Maybe something like this?....

Thursday 8-23 Mont Alto Ride Relocated

Hey all, let's take a break from Mont Alto this Thursday. Meet at "Old Reservoir Lot", near Caledonia at 5:30.

Preride

This Sunday will be a preride of the Enduro course.
We will leave the Old Forge lot at 9am.

Timing test

Thursday we are going to test out our timing for the Madcap. Meeting at 5:30 in the Mont Alto parking lot if you want to join us.