Hi Folks,
We’re cancelling the shop mountain bike ride tonight. Unfortunately, the trails are just too muddy right now. Let’s hope for good weather next week!
Matt
Vermont State Time Trial Championships
June 9th, 2013
Onion River Sports is excited to announce the return of the Vermont State Time Trial Championships on Sunday, June 9th! It’s been quite a few years since this event has been held in Vermont, and we’re excited to bring it back with a few twists.
Course: We’ll stage the start in Roxbury, and riders will tackle a 40k out and back course on Route 12A towards Randolph. Juniors will turn around earlier and will race a 20k course. See below for a map and elevation profile.
Registration: Preregister for $25 on Bikereg.com. Day of registration is $30.
Prizes: Medals and Custom State Champion Jerseys to category winners.
Venue: We’re excited to announce that we’ll be partnering with the Windridge Tennis Camp! They’re graciously allowing us to use their space. They’ll also be selling delicious, local, organic food after the race. Race hard, and then grab something good to eat and enjoy some live music prior to the awards ceremony.
Categories:
Pro 1,2 Men
Cat 3 Men
Cat 4 Men
Cat 5 (Citizens) Men
Masters Men 35+
Masters Men 45+
Masters Men 55+
Pro 1,2,3 Women
Cat 4 (Citizens) Women
Masters Womens 35+
Junior Men 17-18
Junior Men 15-16
Junior Women 17-18
Junior Women 15-16
Course Map (Google Earth)
For more information contact Matt at Onion River Sports at 802-229-9409 or events@onionriver.com or www.onionriver.com
Results from the first Cliffhanger can be found below. Check ‘em out and start training for the next one on June 16th.
Local photographer K.G O’Donnell was on hand to capture all the action at the first Cliffhanger race of 2013 and was kind enough to pass on a few images for us to share with you. Many thanks and enjoy.
Friday Night Fix Schedule – 2013
All Clinics run from 6:00pm to 7:30pm
At Onion River Sports
April 26 – Flat Fix and Troubleshooting #1
May 10 – Commuter Edition May 24 – Ladies Night with Mountain Moxie
June 7 - Shifting and Drivetrains 101
June 21 – Brake Night
July 12 – Ladies Night with Mountain Moxie
July 19 – Flat Fix and Troubleshooting #2
August 2 – Shifting and Drivetrains 101
August 16 – Flat Fix and Troubleshooting encore Edition
All Clinics are FREE and open to the public. Just come on by.
Get to know your bicycle and learn a different element of bike maintenance with our mechanics each session. You’ll be prepared for a summer of riding, and your bike will thank you. Bring your curiosity and a friend (or a date, it is Friday night, after all!)
FRIDAY NIGHT FIX 2013 DESCRIPTIONS
Additional information, contact Matt at events@onionriver.com or call 229-9409
April 26, 6:00-7:00pm at Onion River Sports
Flat Fix and Troubleshooting
Have you found yourself stuck on the road, tire flat as a pancake and without the usual riding buddy who fixes your flats for you? If the answer is “yes” then this is the clinic for you! Our seasoned mechanic will give you an overview of fixing a front or rear flat tire, help you identify what flat-fix gear you’ll need to take with you on your ride and give you the skills to fix that flat yourself! They’ll also help you self-diagnose other basic bike maladies by showing you what to look and listen for, time permitting.
*While you don’t need to bring your bike to participate in this hands-on tutorial, you’re more than welcome to!
May 10, 6:00-7:00pm at Onion River Sports
Commuter Night
Our own commuting expert, Aaron Bilsing, will host this workshop covering everything you need to know about riding your bike to work, including choosing a bike, gear for all seasons, navigating traffic, basic commuting maintenance, and more.
May 24, 6:00-7:30pm at Onion River Sports
Ladies’ Night with Mountain Moxie
Join us for this women-only evening of refreshments and bike maintenance! Kelly Ault from Mountain Moxie will begin with instruction on how to fix a flat tire and then she’ll discuss preparing your bike for a big ride or race. Did you take your bike out of the car the morning of only to discover your brakes are now rubbing on your wheel and your shifting isn’t quite right? She’ll help you troubleshoot—and learn quick fixes for—some of the bike problems you may encounter on the start line or the start of your ride.
June 7, 6:00-7:0pm at Onion River Sports
Shifting and Drive Trains 101
This edition of the Friday Night Fix will attempt to answer any and all questions you have about proper shifting technique, assessing wear and damage or anything else that relates to the components of you bike that keep you moving forward! We’ll also discuss the basic nomenclature of drivetrain components (so you could theoretically describe problems your experiencing over the phone to one of our mechanical staff with more effectiveness than “I can’t get the wheel thing to mate with the dangly, loose metal rope thing, which is lodged the V-shaped part of the gooseneck thing.” Unlock the secrets of the often misunderstood and overlooked all-important barrel adjuster. If you know you love riding, but don’t know how to figure out how to keep riding problem-free, come to this clinic.
June 21, 6:00-7:0pm at Onion River Sports
Brake Night
Join us for an introduction to the brakes on your bike. Our mechanic will cover the basic differences between and maintenance of V-brakes and hydraulic and cable-actuated disc brakes. Then, they’ll go over V-brake and disc brake pad installation and set up, to keep you out on the roads and trails trouble-free this summer!
July 12, 6:00-7:30pm at Onion River Sports
Ladies’ Friday-the-13th Night with Mountain Moxie!
Join us for this 2nd women-only evening of refreshments and bike maintenance! Kelly Ault from Mountain Moxie will lead this clinic, beginning with the basics on how to fix a flat tire and then she’ll delve into shifting and braking issues and possible causes and solutions. Anything else you’d like to know about riding in general, ride diet, training or how to select the right type of bike for your riding style? Come to this fun-filled evening!
July 19, 6:00-7:0pm at Onion River Sports
Flat Fix and Troubleshooting #2
Have you once again found yourself stuck on the road, a tire lever in this hand, a patch in the other, your pump between you teeth and not knowing what to do next? Then this is the clinic for you! Our seasoned mechanic will give you an overview of fixing a front or rear flat tire, help you identify what flat-fix gear you’ll need to take with you on your ride and give you the skills to fix that flat yourself! They’ll also help you self-diagnose other basic bike issues by showing you what to look and listen for, time permitting.
*While you don’t need to bring your bike to participate in this hands-on tutorial, you’re more than welcome to!
Augusr 2, 6:00-7:00pm at Onion River Sports
Shifting and Drive Trains 101
This edition of the Friday Night Fix will attempt to answer any and all questions you have about proper shifting technique, assessing wear and damage or anything else that relates to the components of you bike that keep you moving forward! We’ll also discuss the basic nomenclature of drivetrain components (so you could theoretically describe problems your experiencing over the phone to one of our mechanical staff with more effectiveness than “I can’t get the wheel thing to mate with the dangly, loose metal rope thing, which is lodged the V-shaped part of the gooseneck thing.” Unlock the secrets of the often misunderstood and overlooked all-important barrel adjuster. If you know you love riding, but don’t know how to figure out how to keep riding problem-free, come to this clinic.
August 16, 6:00-7:00pm at Onion River Sports
Flat Fix and Troubleshooting – Encore Edition
If you missed the first and second Flat Fix clinics, here’s your chance to catch up! Since you’re still having trouble getting your steed up and running after an unfortunate encounter with a broken bottle, then this is the clinic for you! Our mechanic will give you an overview of fixing a front or rear flat tire, help you know what flat-fix gear you’ll need to take with you on your ride, and give you the skills to fix that flat yourself. They’ll also help you self-diagnose other common bike problems by showing you what to look and listen for. Know the GU wrapper or dollar bill trick? If not, come to this finale event!
We were very excited to hear the the Barre Town Forest and the Millstone Trails have been preserved! Check out the press release below for all the details.
Montpelier, VT – 04/01/2013
A 355-acre forest which includes a variety of popular trails used for hiking, mountain biking, snowmobiling and cross-country skiing will be protected as the Barre Town Forest, The Trust for Public Land and the U.S. Forest Service announced today.
The land in Graniteville and Websterville includes the site of one of the first granite quarries in Barre, established in 1790.
“The trail network on the Barre Town Forest and surrounding area is home to unique recreation opportunities,” said Rodger Krussman, Vermont Director for The Trust for Public Land. “Protecting this place for future generations to come is an excellent way to achieve our mission of protecting land for people. We are grateful to the Vermont congressional delegation and our state and private partners for their support for this project that will help the local community.”
The Trust for Public Land facilitated the Town’s acquisition of the land from the Rock of Ages Corp. and other private owners. It will be protected from future development with a conservation easement held by Vermont Land Trust and Vermont Housing & Conservation Board.
“Town ownership of local forests is a New England tradition, dating back to colonial days, said Forest Service Deputy Chief Jim Hubbard. “We’re glad to be partners in this great success story.”
“This is a momentous event for us,” said Barre Town Manager Carl Rogers. “It will improve the quality of life for people who live here by providing the health benefits of outdoor recreation. And it will bring visitors, who will help our local economy.”
Barre Town resident Tom Stuwe applauded the protection, “These trails helped me lose 50 pounds and had a big impact on my health. I am thrilled the property will forever be open to my family and the rest of Vermont.”
Senator Patrick Leahy, along with Senator Bernie Sanders and Representative Peter Welch, worked closely with The Trust for Public Land to ensure that the Barre Town Forest received a grant from the U.S. Forest Service’s Community Forest and Open Space Program, authored by Sen. Leahy in the 2008 Farm Bill.
Sen. Leahy said, “A community treasure is being enhanced. The Barre Town Forest will be a tremendous recreation asset for central Vermonters, and it will also draw tourists from across the region. I am proud of the federal participation in this partnership, with The Trust for Public Land and full suite of local, state and nongovernmental conservation partners.”
Congressman Welch said, “The Barre Town Forest project is the result of years of determined effort, partnerships at all levels, and tireless dedication of local volunteers. It will provide generations of visitors with unique recreational opportunities and preserve an important chapter of the region’s rich history. Congratulations to Barre Town, the Trust for Public Land, and all of the partners for the successful results of your dedicated efforts on behalf of this great project.”
The $1.37 million for the project came from a variety of public and private sources. The largest, $400,000, was from the U.S. Forest Service’s Community Forest program. Another $310,500 was from the Vermont Housing & Conservation Board, a quasi-state agency celebrating 25 years of investing in affordable housing, farmland conservation, the protection of natural areas and public recreation lands, and historic preservation. Additionally, $220,000 came from the Community Forest Fund established by the Open Space Conservancy and Jane’s Trust, $100,000 each from the Town of Barre and Millstone Trails Association, and the remainder came from private donors and foundations.
Founded in 1972, The Trust for Public Land is the leading nonprofit working to conserve land for people. Operating from more than 30 offices nationwide, The Trust for Public Land has protected more than three million acres from the inner city to the wilderness and helped generate more than $34 billion in public funds for conservation. Nearly ten million people live within a ten-minute walk of a Trust for Public Land park, garden, or natural area, and millions more visit these sites every year.
The mission of the United States Forest Service is to sustain the health, diversity and productivity of the nation’s forests and grasslands to meet the needs of present and future generations. The agency manages 193 million acres of public land, provides assistance to state and private landowners, and maintains the largest forestry research organization in the world. Forest Service lands contribute more than $13 billion to the economy each year through visitor spending alone. Those same lands provide 20 percent of the nation’s clean water supply, a value estimated at $27 billion per year.
Onion River Sports Cycling 101
with Linda Freeman and Onion River Sports
Tuesdays at 5:30pm beginning April 23rd
Meets at Montpelier H.S. parking lot
This is a Beginner Ride
Train for a summer of riding, the Onion River Century Ride (or the Century of your choice) with us. Training rides will be on local, paved roads and are designed to build confidence, strength, endurance, road-riding skills and a sense of community. Suitable for riders new to riding on the road or in a group, as well as advanced cyclists interested in a relaxed group road ride. No-drop policy, no charge and led by Linda Freeman and an ORS staff rider. Regular participation suggested, but drop-ins are welcome until 7/2/13. Come prepared with your own bike, helmet, appropriate clothing, water bottle and a smile! If you’re unsure of your bike or helmet’s fit, stop by Onion River Sports before the ride and we’ll check it out!
Questions? Email events@onionriver.com or call Onion River Sports at 802-229-9409 or Linda at 223-6161 x 719.
