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WWoommeenn iinn TThhee WWooooddss IIssssuuee Concerned Long Island Mountain Bicyclists is a legal- President’s Message ly incorporated not- One of the greatest challenges in my Also tap this year, IMBA’s second for-profit organiza- term as President has been recruiting annual “Take a Kid Mountain Bicycling tion dedicated to the volunteers to lead rides. At this time, Day,” October 1st, 2005. Last year growth and safe it’s been almost entirely Kevin C.L.I.M.B. held only one children’s ride enjoyment of mountain bicycling. Moriarty and me: my first-Saturday-of- in Bethpage State Park, but everybody Trail News is published by C.L.I.M.B., the-month in Bethpage State Park, and had a blast, including the ride leader. PO Box 203, Woodbury, NY 11797-0203 Kevin’s third- This year it’s my C.L.I.M.B. Board Sunday-of-the-month hope that five volun- President in Cathedral Pines. teers will step for- Paul Falvey, ...... 631-207-9052 I’ve been ward and lead a chil- Vice President A few brave souls dren’s ride on this Michael Vitti,...... 516-676-0242 have been willing to wondering day, one ride leader Secretary Randy Larrison, ...... 631-698-6575 lead a special ride how to for each major trail. Treasurer here and there but it’s Please contact the Bonny Jockel, ...... 631-842-9088 way too long in inspire more C.L.I.M.B. board at Advocacy Committee between. I’ve been the above e-mail Kevin Moriarty, Ed Maloney, wondering how to riders address to find out Michael Vitti, inspire more riders to how you can help out Trail Patrol become regular ride to become on this most impor- Ed Maloney ...... 631-928-4023 leaders- any sugges- tant task, getting Trail Technical Specialist: tions would be greatly future C.L.I.M.B.ers Bill Hichborn, Michael Vitti appreciated, especial- regular ride started. Trail Stewards ly by those members Bethpage State Park Frank Peckham who have requested leaders For those riders that Calverton (DEC) more rides time and traded riding time for Steve Berner time again. volunteering at the Cathedral Pines (Suffolk County) numerous work par- Rich Squillace Eastport (DEC): There was a women’s-only ride once, ties this year, as always, many thanks! Ron Strain and a regular Thursday evening at Our trails are in better shape than we Stillwell (Nassau County) Rocky Point for a while- if we could have seen in ages. Michael Vitti bring them back, that would be terrific. Rocky Point (DEC) The interest is there! If you wish to Bill Hichborn Happy trails! share your favorite trail with a group of Membership Committee people at your level, consider leading a Paul Falvey Paul Falvey 631-271-6527 ride on a regular basis. Web Site Jim Vafeas For more information on becoming a ride leader, Special Events Committee: Don & Lynda Boyle: 631-321-8517 contact us at [email protected] News Letter Committee Christine Wagner, Editor Michael Vitti, Newsletter Coordinator Bob Powers, Consulting Editor C.L.I.M.Bio John Sonnstedt Jr. Layout & Design Bonny Jockel, Treasurer: Advertising George Steinmann Formerly the President of Presidents must've weighed over 40 pounds!" she On the cover: you could say, Bonny once presided over says. This bike was eventually sold to a Photo by: Laetitia Tison, M.D. the Paumonok Bike Club, whose mem- friend, and her second bike- an - Rider: Christine Wagner bers were presidents of other bike clubs. became her singlespeed three years ago, Any member looking to get involved on During one of these meetings, she was which made it 15 pounds lighter. She any of the these committees is welcome asked to help fund a flyer designed by also has a road bike and full-suspension and encouraged. Call the hot line or write to [email protected]. Bob Powers promoting . bike in her stable. This is how she became involved with Trail News is printed by The Glen Cove In addition to biking, Bonny enjoys Printery www.glencoveprintery.com C.L.I.M.B. as their second treasurer. backpacking year-round, snowshoeing, Bob is also responsible for getting kayaking and cross-country skiing. She C.L.I.M.B. Hotline: Bonny into mountain biking in the first loves to stay active as a way to meet peo- 631-271-6527 place over a decade ago. "My first bike ple and to "eat chocolate." visit www.climbonline.org Autumn 05 - C.L.I.M.B. Trail News PDF 2 “BicyclingEditor’s has done Lettermore to emanci- intimidating. Magazines don’t always pate women than any one thing in the help, as they’re written for an audience world. It gives her a feeling of self- that’s already familiar with riding reliance and independence the lingo, not to mention the ads featuring moment she takes her seat; and away pictures of new models with the latest she goes, the picture of untrammeled in frame technology….and I don’t womanhood.” mean the bikes! -Susan B. Anthony (1896) A woman’s frame doesn’t come with Imagine what it must’ve been like for a the upper-body strength and overall woman one hundred years ago to take muscle that men take for granted. a seat behind the handlebars- sidesad- While they mean well, guys can forget dle not being an option! We have since this, and often drive women away from been emancipated in every other way, the sport in frustration. A sturdier so why is the female rider still consid- frame in addition to a macho mindset ered a novelty on the trails? enables a guy to be more at ease bar- reling over obstacles, consequences be Mountain biking is often damned. portrayed as a testos- terone-laden activity, Women, however, pre- which isn’t far from accu- fer to minimize the risk rate: Part of the appeal is Young women of injury by trusting the risk, challenge, and have no such their skills are suffi- excitement. Naturally the need cient for the situation. desire to push the enve- In macho terms, this is lope by going bigger, to get considered an unmanly faster, harder and crazier attention approach. A guy develops, the only limits through expecting a woman to being one’s own coura- fall hard, jump up and geousness. extreme try again might be baf- measures fled by her negative Because this is the image reaction. One woman I that sells, it’s all we ever used to know threw her see- whether in the bike at her husband on Gravity Games or a car advertisement. their first (and last) ride together after In the collective minds of the general she wiped out on a steep downhill at public, this is a sport for young men Stillwell. looking to prove themselves. Young women have no such need to get atten- Had there been somebody to teach me tion through extreme measures- their riding skills all these years, I may main concern is self-preservation. have learned a lot quicker, but it’s also Ridiculous risk-taking is for guys who possible I would have become frustrat- get bonus points for courageousness, a ed and fed up. I’ve since learned that universal phenomenon. riding “like a girl” means being careful and patient, not cowardly. With a bet- Because MTB is so male-dominated, a ter understanding of our differences, it more “macho” culture is encouraged shouldn’t take another century to see and goes largely unchallenged. For more Betties on the trails…and more those women who are interested in hunks in bike ads! learning more, getting started can be Christine Wagner Got stories, photos,comments? Share them with us! You might even be a cover model.* e-mail us at [email protected] *slinky dress optional visit www.climbonline.org Autumn 05 - C.L.I.M.B. Trail News PDF 3 AStatedvocacy R ofepo rthet Trails By Michael Vitti The part I dislike about MTB is having New York City Parks received a to put my in my van and driving $100,000 RTP grant to develop a moun- up to one hour away tain bike trail system just so I can ride on in one of their under dirt. What we need used parks. Stay on Long Island is Attention NYC tuned for details. more trails opened MTBers: C.L.I.M.B. is working to mountain biking with NYC Park offi- so we don’t have to We will be doing a cials to help get this drive as far. More parks cleanup day on and other trails devel- trails means less oped. This is especial- driving, less pollu- Sept 24th, ly great news for tion and more time MTBers in the NYC on the bike. National Public area who don’t have Lands Day cars. Good news: The Transportation Bill at Highbridge Park in The National Parks was passed and the Service has declared funding for the Manhattan MTB a positive recre- Recreational Trails ational activity. That Program was not and another is, it creates a sense of only reinstated but at Cunningham Park in stewardship as the the amount of fund- Queens various users work ing was increased by together with park $144 million. on Sept 25th. officials to help main- Thanks to all who Check the website tain and preserve the wrote letters and land around the trails. phoned our New for details. It does little harm to York senators to the land and attracts support the bill. more law-abiding citi- C.L.I.M.B. plans to take advantage of zens into the area. these funds to open some new trails across the island. Due to unforeseen delays and the heat wave this summer, we have postponed The Recreational Trails Program (RTP) the work on the interpretive trail at is a small part of the Transportation Stillwell until the early fall. Bill that provides grants to fund devel- opment of recreational trails. A is the perfect vehicle Manorville Hills County Park will on which to wheel young people into receive $89,000 dollars from this grant environmental protection and conserva- fund to create a new trailhead parking tion awareness. We have a new chapter lot at Hotwater Street. There are also of Trips for Kids just starting out (more plans for hiking, biking and equestrian info issue.) This is a group that trails within the approximately 10,000- takes kids out on the trails who might acre park. not otherwise have that opportunity.

TThhaannkkss TToo TThhee BBuussiinneesssseess TThhaatt SSuuppppoorrtt OOuurr TTrraaiill WWoorrkk Bike Junkie Clif Bar EMS Davidson Electronics Stop & Shop Tweezerman Wildfire Sales For Information on how your business could help, contact [email protected] visit www.climbonline.org Autumn 05 - C.L.I.M.B. Trail News PDF 4 Family Trail Mom’s on a Mountain Bike! By Rideorglide When I discovered the ridiculous fun of his BMX bike. That was the last I saw of riding singletrack, I knew it was some- my bike for an hour! This wasn’t like her. thing I would eventually want to share In fact, I didn’t get the bike back the with my two kids and their mom. But whole day, which was fine with me, since there were a few hurdles to surmount, she was enjoying it! Meanwhile I was rid- such as the kids’ addiction to Pokemon ing around on a woman’s cruiser in full Gameboy Advance and their perception MTB gear looking like a total wallaby. that riding on trails was in some way dangerous. Plus, our seven-year-old had The trade-off was worth it, though. a tick encounter a while back, and his Unbeknownst to us, mommy had become memories of a trip to the doctor and the emboldened by the fat tires and suspen- doxycycline prescription wouldn’t help sion and she and the ten-year-old had my case at all. found some trails and went off exploring!

But my wife used to cycle a lot years ago We found them later on a trail and they and still rides the stationary bike. I got were stoked- they showed us a trail they her old Peugeot road cruiser tuned up had found that was populated by a dozen and we do plenty of riding at Caumsett rabbits, and a hawk that dropped from State Park. Soon, my seven-year-old son its perch in the woods and flew off down joined me to discover the trails there, the clearing between the trees- and so off while my wife and the ten-year-old son- all four of us cycled down its dirt glori- who was extremely leery of trails, bugs ousness, until it was time to get back and and woodsy places- kept to the pavement. smoke the brisket.

We were all having fun, but the other two A month or two later, after a lot of search- were missing out on some pretty neat ing, I found the perfect full-suspension trails, not to mention all the other trails bike for her in one of our local bike shops. on LI that, with the proper equipment, I And that was just the ticket for her to was sure they’d enjoy. My wife is a really enjoy the trails. “I didn’t think I nature lover, and was missing out big- could do it,” she said, “I thought I was too time on the amazing closeness with old to mountain bike.” No matter where nature that trail riding offers. we rode- Caumsett, Bethpage, Cathedral Pines- she was loving the new bike. My wife had tried my bike a couple of times, but one Sunday, I lowered my seat Now that everybody in the family has fat post to the same height as the one on her tires, we ride dirt more than pavement. road cruiser, and let her try it out in the Any mountain biker will tell you there’s park. no sweeter music than when your spouse, friends, or children ask you if So off she rode off on my full-suspension they can go riding today. Rockhopper, followed by the older son on Top Ten Reasons to Join C.L.I.M.B. 1. 10% discount at select bike shops 7. Swap Meet (that alone pays for itself) 8. Your member dollars provide printing 2. One year’s subscription to Trail Newsletter supplies for creating new trail proposals (for new trails) and educational 3.. Group trips off the Island brochures and interpretive signs to help 4. Your member dollars provide tools and people learn to ride environmentally supplies for Trail Stewards and Trail friendly and socially responsible. Patrollers (better trails, new kiosks and signs) 9..Numbers matter and bigger is better. 5. Free Admission to annual Summer BBQ Be counted. and Winter Holiday Party (free food) 10. Good Trail Karma! A good feeling to 6. Valuable and prestigious C.L.I.M.B. know you are helping others do sticker for your car (sign of solidarity the right thing. and support for the MTB tribe) visit www.climbonline.org Autumn 05 - C.L.I.M.B. Trail News PDF 5 Interview Off the Road and Into the Unknown An interview with Erika Warmbrunn When she walked into her local bike shop and asked for a bike that could survive a trip through Mongolia, the salesperson EW: The food in Mongolia was boring, bland, and almost veg- didn’t think she meant it literally. Who in their right mind etable-free, but hearty and, whenever I was in anyone’s home, would ride alone through a foreign land, unfamiliar with the plentiful. Of course, I am in general very easy language, culture, people, and half a world away from the con- to feed. A picky eater might lose more weight than I did. I only veniences Americans take for granted? remember running my water bottles dry once, in the Vietnamese Highlands, but not so far away from the next Erika Warmbrunn longed to explore a place largely untouched town that it was actually dangerous. by civilization as we know it. This desire led her through and Vietnam as well as Mongolia on that mountain bike- a solo 5,000-mile trek beyond the pavement and into the soul of a peo- CLIMB: You seemed to handle the bike repairs and mainte- ple rarely heard about over here. nance very well, despite the lack of experience or the conven- ience of bike shops. Were there any problems that left you stumped? Although raised in a family that encouraged travel, and armed with fluency in Russian and a working knowledge of French and German, “Mongolia was different and I was going alone. A EW: Ultimately, no I was never completely stumped. But to be girl. On a bicycle! By the time I reached Ulaanbaatar [my honest that was thanks to luck, a very hardy bicycle, and an father] would not have heard from me in six weeks, and my excellent bike shop mechanic back in Seattle. When I said, “Sell name would be on the U.S. State Department Watch List.” me all the tools and spare parts that you think I’ll be able to fig- ure out on my own” (with the help of my little repair book), they clearly put together an excellent package for me. There were The trip lasted about eight months and included: an unexpect- plenty of things that, had they broken, would have ended the ed request to teach English to Mongolian children for a month; trip- the comes to mind. a brush with romance; camping in a jungle where tigers live; thieves on horseback; mysterious illness and equally mysteri- ous medicine; and bureaucratic mind games with customs offi- The rhythmic pounding of hooves resonated on the dry earth cials. Not to mention tire-sucking mud, wheel truing, and con- behind me. I giggled, because I was in Mongolia, and my reali- fusing landscape- challenges more familiar to any mountain ty sounded like a John Wayne movie. I stopped. Two men biker! reined in their horses. The didn’t ask me [questions.] They just stared at me, and their stares were dull. One of them eyed a Originally from Seattle, Erika settled in NYC, an environment truck heading toward us and muttered… “Wait until the truck that must seem tame in comparison to her epic journey. Her is gone.” But John Wayne was nowhere on the horizon. book about the experience won the Barbara Savage Miles From Nowhere Award. She graciously agreed to answer some ques- CLIMB: Do you feel it helped or hindered your journey, being a tions for other die-hard bikers in the area. solo female traveler?

There are very few corners left on this planet where you are not EW: There are advantages and disadvantages to being a solo following in everybody else’s footsteps. I wanted, once, to trace female traveler. In that part of the world, at that time, I hon- my own path across a land as yet untrampled by hordes of estly feel that the advantages (being totally unthreatening, for tourist feet. I wanted to lose myself in unmapped landscapes example) outweighed any disadvantages. In Vietnam, though, and to meet the people who inhabited them. I was fascinated by the apparent belief that American women CLIMB: What kind of training did you do to prepare for this are very promiscuous! kind of ride, if any? CLIMB: What were some of the other, more surprising EW: The opportunity (working as an interpreter in Russia) to American stereotypes that you learned? set out on this trip presented itself so unexpectedly and with so little time to go before departure, that I did no real training EW: One of the funniest, which is in the book, was when a before leaving. I bought Greene, I got visas, I packed up my woman in Mongolia assumed that I was very short for an apartment, and that was about it. Training sure would have American, because her image of Americans came from watch- made the first few weeks faster and less painful, though. ing the NBA finals on television. The assumption that we are all wildly wealthy is also prevalent, although in relative terms CLIMB: How about supplies? Was there anything you would it is of course true (if you can afford to buy a plane ticket to Asia like to have brought? Anything you didn’t really need after all? that costs what someone in China makes in three years, you EW: I carried a water filter, tent, sleeping bag and Thermarest, can’t say you’re poor). Any discussion of money (and there are a first aid kit, bike tools and parts, camera equipment- the a lot) has to be put carefully into context. basics. I did carry a whole range of clothes from polypro and GoreTex for Mongolia to a swimsuit for the beaches in Vietnam. Greene had taken me into parts of Asia inaccessible to tours Dragging the winter clothes around Vietnam was of course and guidebooks, but the merit of travel is not in the simple see- much more of a pain than tucking an extra T-shirt into the bot- ing. It is the time spent savoring and absorbing, it is in flowing tom of my panniers in Mongolia. with the unexpected adventure or invitation rather than trying to force the hours and days into the straight line of reaching a destination. CLIMB: Was food and hydration ever a problem? visit www.climbonline.org Autumn 05 - C.L.I.M.B. Trail News PDF 6 go do it!” Go with an open mind, go knowing that while plan- CLIMB: Any other bike trips planned here or abroad? Or have ning and research and preparation will help you avoid certain you grown sick of bicycling as a result of all the time spent on difficulties and will make some aspects of your journey more one? meaningful, at some points you will have to let go of your plans and ideas and surrender to whatever the moment brings. It EW: The only real bike trip I’ve taken since then was in 2001, helps to be open, accepting, and vulnerable. when my sister and I rode from Denver up to Canada. For now though, it’s mostly rides down the Hudson to work in Midtown. Erika is the author of Where the Pavement Ends, which can be purchased through the CLIMB website www.climbonline.org CLIMB: What advice can you offer to anybody who is consider- She also has her own website, ing a similar bike trip of their own? www.wherethepavementends.com.

EW: Without intending to sound like a Nike commercial: “Just

C.L.I.M.B. EVENTS October 1st Take a Kid Mountain Biking Day The kids’ mountain biking day will start at 9am at Bethpage State Park...meet at the picnic grounds park- ing lot near the grassy island. Make sure your bikes are in good repair and remember that helmets are mandatory. We will ride for about one hour, bring water. 631-231-6527 October 2nd C.L.I.M.B.’s Fall Bus Trip Lake Minnewaska, New Paltz Approximately 25 miles of trails are on dirt carriage roads. There are two main trails that circle the two lakes at the park. One can travel in either direction and all sections are suitable for beginners.

You will need to supply your bike, HELMET, water, some snacks and change of clothes. We will provide a map of the trails to all. On the way back home we will also stop in town so you will be able to get dinner. There are many great restaurants in New Paltz to chose from.

Date: Sunday, October 2, 2005 Time: 6:15AM with Bus Departing at 6:30AM Sharp Meeting place: LIE exit 49 park & ride on North Service Road Price: $35 members; $45 non-members Send your monies, payable to C.L.I.M.B. 44 Emerson Ave., Amityville, NY 11701

There are no refunds and monies should be received by September 18th. Include your phone number, address. An adult or guardian must accompany all participants under the age of 18. Refunds will be sent auto- matically if we do not get 35 paying participants. visit www.climbonline.org Autumn 05 - C.L.I.M.B. Trail News PDF 7 Trail Fuel Quinoa (keen-wwa) may be a tiny grain, pinches salt) but don’t be fooled! Packed with protein, 2-1/2 cups cooked lentils (1 cup dry lentils lysine and other amino acids, it’s a nutri- to 4 cups water) tional powerhouse that can be found in 2 cups corn your grocer’s natural foods section. 1/2 cup chopped scallions 1/2 cup diced sweet red pepper Lentils are a little more familiar to us- so commonplace, in fact, it’s easy to forget Lemon-CCurry Vinaigrette just how powerful they are too. They con- Whisk together the following, then add to tain substantial amounts of iron, folic acid, the quinoa mixture: fiber, protein and magnesium. Combined 1/2 cup olive oil with other nutrients, they help stabilize 2 Tbsp. lemon juice blood sugar levels and improve heart func- 1 Tbsp. Dijon mustard tion. 2 Tbsp. curry powder 2 Tbsp. grated fresh ginger (or 1/2 tea- This dynamic duo makes a low-fat, high- spoon powdered ginger) protein, cholesterol-free salad, perfect for 1 Tbsp. chopped cilantro carbo-loading or post-ride recovery. Try 1 Tbsp. chopped parsley stuffing into a pita pocket or wrap as a 1 tsp. sea salt sandwich. 1/4 tsp. ground pepper Quinoa Lentil Salad Combine the following into a bowl: Let sit for one hour before serving. Good 207-625-8189 [email protected] 1-1/2 cups cooked quinoa (1/2 cup at room temperature or chilled. Makes 4- bikebackcountry.com washed, raw quinoa to 1 cup water + 2 6 servings.

BONKINGTrail Tips Large Selection Accessories, Parts, PRO Gabe Mirkin, M.D. SHOP TEST Jerseys, Apparel, Shoes & Helmets If you watch a major bicycle race on TV, you Bonking is common in bicycle races if a rider RIDES LIFETIME MAINTENANCE have to be impressed by how the riders can eat does not eat frequently, but is rare in long dis- WE WILL NOT BE UNDERSOLD enough to sustain them through races that tance running races. When you run, your leg Air-Dyne Free Agent Powerlite Basso GT Redline require more than five hours of near maximum muscles are damaged from the constant pound- Bontrager Haro Robinson Burley Ibis Schwinn effort. If they do not get enough food during ing on the roads and you must slow down. Bully Kestral Specialized Cannondale Klein Standard their ride, they can fall off their bikes, lie on the However, you pedal in a smooth rotary motion, Trek Dyno Worksman ground unconscious and start to shake all over in which does not damage your muscles, so you Elf Others… a in a massive convulsion. This is called bonk- can continue to pedal at a rapid cadence for FACTORY TRAINED MECHANICS American Cycleops Marzocchi S&M ing: passing out from low blood sugar. many hours. Classic Dia-Compe Mavic Salsa Answer DK Niterider Avid Fox Poor Boy Spinergy Base Hayes Primo Syntace Your brain gets almost all of its fuel from sugar To prevent your blood sugar from dropping too Camelbak HED Profile Time Campagnolo KINK Protec Troy Lee in your bloodstream. When your blood sugar low during intense exercise lasting more than Cinelli Kore Ringle U.G.P. Continental Rock Shox Yeti level drops, your brain cannot get enough fuel to two hours, eat at least every 15 minutes. It does- Cook Bros. Manitou Rolf Wheels function properly, you feel tired and confused n’t matter what you eat: salted peanuts, a peanut ALL BIKES AND EXERCISERS FULLY ASSEMBLED and can pass out. There is only enough sugar in butter and jelly sandwich, chicken, an apple, a Car Racks Videos Baby Joggers Exercise Pulsemeters Spinners Recumbent Exercisers your bloodstream to last three minutes. To keep banana or anything else. Almost all fit people Ski Machines Treadmills Weight Stacks Climbers your blood sugar level from dropping, your liver can take small amounts of food frequently dur- 100’s of Ready To Ride Bicycles must constantly release sugar from its cells into ing exercise without developing stomach 9Your Suspension Hospital9 your bloodstream, but there is only enough cramps. Senior & FAMILY OWNED Delivery & Club Phone sugar in your liver to last 12 hours at rest. During Discounts FOR OVER 22 YEARS Orders intense exercise, your muscles draw sugar from To receive Dr. Mirkin’s free health & fit- 4551 N. SUNRISE HWY BOHEMIA your bloodstream at a rapid rate. Your liver can ness E-Zine each week, send a blank email (Exit 48 Sunrise Hwy) 631-589-3912 run out of its stored sugar and your blood sugar to [email protected] www.byronlake.com level can drop, and you bonk. Visit the website - www.DrMirkin.com BEST PRICES FINANCING AVAILABLE visit www.climbonline.org Autumn 05 - C.L.I.M.B. Trail News PDF 8 DTrailsaring to R aandce Tribulations By mtbikinchick Since moving to Charlotte I've discovered and I had a moment of thought that I may this awesome little series of races down not even finish. Despite slowing down a bit, here that take place during the week and I was always determined not to be passed. are held so frequently, they're hard to miss. My crazy work schedule has kept me from At one point I heard Taryn somewhere seriously considering one, though. among the trees on the switchbacks. I sped up for fear of being caught but at this point Recently, one of these races was held at a I was beginning to struggle. trail only about 10 minutes away from work and I happened to bring all my stuff The hills were near torture but I was riding with me because I wanted to ride- it's been well despite them. It had rained a fair too long since I've been on the bike. Asked amount and there were slick roots every- my friend Taryn to see if she wanted to where. I only dabbed a few times, didn't come and check it out with me. She and her crash once, but did slide out at the bottom "fan club" (husband and Kona the dog) of a hill and had to run up the rest of it. Business a showed up and somehow she convinced me to participate with her. Then came my shining moment: Caught up to a woman from the sport group that was Now, I struggled with entering as a begin- struggling down some roots, about to enter Little Slow? ner, but in the end it turned out to be the a creek bed. She should have moved over right choice. My argument was that I have for me, but didn't. She waddled through never raced and have never had to push half on her bike/ half off. I had the neces- myself in a competition. Plus, the pace and sary momentum and speed so I passed her heat combination might just do me in, in the creek bed, over the rocks, and didn't which it did...luckily not until afterward. even dab! If I had to do it again I probably couldn't. Had I picked a different line or Beginners were to complete one lap (seven tactic, I would have ruined my momentum miles.) There were only four of us girls (one and would've had to walk up the other side. being Taryn) and we chit-chatted on the Turns out she should've entered as a begin- starting line where I could see the others ner anyway, so I guess sandbagging goes eyeing me up, thinking, "Sandbagger!" Oh both ways. well. Taryn and I have ridden enough Reach your target before and although she holds her own very As it turns out, I never got passed and went audience with an ad in on to win. The pain and fatigue made it well, I have gotten ahead of her at times the C.L.I.M.B. Newsletter. therefore she seemed to be my most fierce hard to enjoy, though. Taryn came in sec- competition. ond and like the cornballs we are, we wore Single issue or package deals. our medals and did our silly victory lap Our readers can be your customers. The start was a climb up a gravel-strewn, Banner ads on CLIMB’s website around the parking lot offering to sign also available. grassy road...which sucked. All that social- autographs, certain we were famous. izing kept me from warming up properly. I email [email protected] knew that would be a mistake. We line up, The choice to race beginner was a smart or [email protected] get the word and off we go. The smartest one- a second lap would've killed me. for your free media kit choice I made all day was at that moment; Though I can handle the roots, hills and I was in the perfect gear and shot up the mud, I am a very inexperienced racer and hill. I got in front and Taryn had a few don't feel ready for sport class. Hey, maybe choice words for me. I heard her lovingly it's just not for me. Working two jobs leaves mutter, "You bitch!" Eh, that's racing for ya. me tired and with little time to train. I'm happy I did it...will I do it again remains to As we entered the woods, my legs burned be seen. and I had to focus on breathing and spin- ning so I wouldn't blow myself up. The You can check out the website at pressure was on, though, because I want- www.charlottemtnbike.com Too bad no ed to get as far ahead as possible. Within such series exists on Long Island; races minutes I passed my first person- a young like these are so perfect for a busy person kid bobbling over roots- he let me by with to participate in because there are so no problem. many to choose from, even during the week. In my case, it's hard to train when The heat and pace began to affect me with- you don't have time to ride at all! in the first few miles. It was brutally humid The Professional’s Choice www.davidsonelectronics.com visit www.climbonline.org Autumn 05 - C.L.I.M.B. Trail News PDF 9 POffedro ’thes MTB Island Festival ‘05 By C-Rock “Oh boy! This is soooooo good!!” ple of group beginner rides. They were “Wow! It doesn’t get any better!” well-lead by volunteers who nurtured and encouraged the slackers while mak- “Someone pinch me!” ing sure the ride flowed (as well as a “Why can’t this event be a week large group can flow). long?!” At one point in a ride, a newbie rider These are just some of the comments that apologized to the ride leader and said: I heard this year at Pedro’s. The weather “I’m sorry. I’m ruining your ride aren’t I?” was perfect and hardly seemed real. No The ride leader replied: “I’m here to see rain or wind, ideal temperatures and that YOU have a good time. That’s what stellar trail conditions all contributed to this is all about.” The look on her face one of the best times I have ever had on was a combination of relief, astonish- my bike. ment, and sheer pleasure. My friend Dennis and I rendezvoused I opted for more rides with just a couple with other friends from the Vision web- of buddies. It was exhilarating to ride the site and pooled our resources for a com- trails with an uninterrupted flow. munal campsite. There you are…with Although I had no interest in trying any other people just like YOU. Just like you, of the demo bikes, we rode with others they love their bikes. Just like you, they who had, and they were thrilled to try love the friendship. Just like you, they latest technologies with no obligations or hated to leave the festival. worries of damaging the bikes. The vendors all had cool stuff at great The last few Pedro’s Fests were riddled prices. Group rides were filled with with foul weather and mud. Pedro’s ’05 laughter and challenges. Throughout was the reward for all the MTBers who each day there were back-to-back had attended the harsher versions of this events…something for everyone: festival. For those first-timers, lucky you! DH/road/XC/technical/night rides, Not only is this mountain biking at its celebrity pro riders, trials and jumping. We Carry best, these are people at their best. TOMAC The nights were filled with music, Friendship, support, cooperation, good movies, great beer and snacks. Most peo- times. Really good times. If there was ple in attendance were high on etiquette ever a place to share the love of MTB and low on complaints. I opted for a cou- with over 1,000 other bikers, Pedro’s is the place to be! Est. 1991

JAMIS AIRBORNE RALEIGH C.L.I.M.B. HELP WANTED FUJI K2 TOMAC DK Events Coordinator Membership DIAMOND BACK FREE AGENT Gather info on items, materials, and contacts Membership is the core of any advocacy organi- needed for various events. Oversee event plan- zation-more members means more clout and more IRON HORSE MONGOOSE ning, with help from others. Plan exciting monthly resources. Help maintain and expand recreational meetings for members. Help plan two major mountain biking in the Long Island area by join- PROMPT, PROFESSIONAL events per year for the Summer BBQ and the win- ing our membership team. ter holiday party. REPAIRS ON ALL BIKES Legal and Accounting Committee Fundraising Mountain biking lawyer and accountant wanted to DIRT TEST These opportunities require funding, and we need a help with minor legal and accounting issues as Featuring leader who can help us raise money through chari- they come up. table donations, special events, and grant applica- Iron Horse of L.I. tions. Come and lead our fundraising team, you Ride Leaders Cash, Debit and Credit Cards Accepted will find it highly rewarding. Love to ride? Want to give back to the mountain bik- ing community? Start a regular ride and/or skills Business Marketing & PR clinic for beginners, women, kids, intermediates or 664 Route 25A District We need a volunteer who can help us let the world hammerheads? Your choice know all the great things we are doing. Help us ROCKY POINT communicate with the public, our members, land We always have the need for people with a variety Approx 3/4 Mile East of New Bi-PPass managers and other trail user groups and stakehold- of skills to help us run our organization. We can Two Buildings Down From Thifty Beverage ers. A focus will be placed on reaching out to new always use your help even if there is not a position members. posted that fits you. Contact CLIMB for informa- 631-744-5372 tion on how you can get involved. Hours: Mon - Fri 10-77 Sat 9-55 Sun call for hours visit www.climbonline.org Autumn 05 - C.L.I.M.B. Trail News PDF 10 FLASH YOUR CARD Trail Talk Double Dog Dare % By Monkeyboy There is this log ride on one of my swayed by peer pressure, but something favorite trails that I’ve ridden a bunch of happens when I’m with a group. 10OFF times, but never while riding alone. I’m BIKE STUFF not afraid of that log, it’s just a piece of To be sure, it’s not like than when I was At These Participating Bike Shops wood, barely a foot off the ground, but thirteen and my buddy Fred heckled me still, I ride past it whenever I am by into hitting a bee’s nest with a stickball Babylon Bicycle Shop myself, always. bat. “Go ahead, Chicken… I dare you.” Babylon, 631-587-6709 That was a total Brands Cycle & Fitness I try and chalk it up verbal dare, and I Wantagh,800-649-3739 to how responsible I might add, a really, am, weighing the really bad idea. Bicycle Planet Syosset, (516) 364-4434 consequences of Fred drew a line in falling off and the sand that I just Bike Junkie breaking something had to cross. Bethpage 516 932-7271 important for a few Carl Hart Bicycles seconds of pure, My riding buddies Middle Island., 631-924-5850 adrenaline-filled never (verbally) fun. I tell myself dare me. I’ve never Centerport Cycles how grown-up I am heard the word Northport, (631) 262-0909 for riding past that “Chicken” from any Cycles Plus log. I have a mort- of them, but some- Huntington, 631-271-4242 gage, a good job with thing makes me Frenchies Cycle World lots of responsibilities, and people who hop up onto that log and ride it whenev- Huntington Statiion, 631-673-6002 depend on my coming home unscathed. er they are around. There isn’t even any time for eye contact; it’s a silent, insinu- Peak Mountain Bike Pro Shop I kid myself in thinking that if I was fif- ated Double Dog Dare. Douglaston, 718-225-5119 teen years younger; I would hop up on Long Island Bicycles that log and show it that I am in charge. I consider myself somewhat intelligent, Patchogue, 631-758-2926 Again I rationalize why I should just not easily swayed by other’s opinions, ride past that log, and I always do… that but sometimes, in the woods with my Peter's Bicycle Center Farmingdale, 631-755-2453 is, unless I’m with my biking buddies. buds, I might as well be standing in Something changes when I am with my front of that bee’s nest with a stickball Rocky Point Cycle buds. I am by no means a daredevil bat. “Go ahead, chicken… I dare you…” Rocky Point,(631) 744-5372 showoff, and don’t consider myself easily Sayville Bike Works West Sayville, 631-589-0009 TJM Cycles Z Middle Island, 631-924-4220 Visentin Bike Pro Shop Oyster Bay, 516-922-2150 DIRT RAG Support The Shops That Support The Mountain Biking Community 10% discount cannot be combined with other offers, discounts or promotions. Dirt Rag Gives Back Discount is subject to store’s discretion. $5 to C.L.I.M.B. For every new subscription The gathering place for the local rider or renewal Forums, Product Reviews,Trail Info, User Click the new banner on the C.L.I.M.B. website Galleries, Local Trail Videos and more! Come see what or call 800-762-7612 you've been missing. and mention that you want Them to send $5 to CLIMB. www.visionmtb.com

visit www.climbonline.org Autumn 05 - C.L.I.M.B. Trail News PDF 11 This Just In... After two years of meetings and many hours of negotiations, to protect it.” we finally got permission to build the first mountain bike trail in NYC. It will no longer be a crime to mountain bike “This is the tenth trails grant to a New York City Park, but in NYC on the first two official trails. One in Highbridge the very first to be implemented in a City Park in Manhattan,” said Bernadette Castro, Commissioner of the Park and the other in Cunningham Park. New York State Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation. Commissioner Castro noted that “State Parks New York City Department of Parks and is very pleased to be able to assist City Parks in the creation Recreation Press Release - September 24, 2005 of this novel recreational resource, particularly in an area of dense population and high recreational needs.” FIRST MOUNTAIN BIKING AND BMX TRAIL IN NYC TAKES SHAPE ON “NATIONAL PUBLIC LAND DAY” The biking trail will be built with $100,000 in funding from New York State Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Parks & Recreation Commissioner Adrian Benepe today Preservation. It will weave through the area on the border joined Michael Vitti, Vice President of CLIMB (Concerned of Washington Heights and Inwood, between Fort George Long Island Mountain Bikers); William Dawson Smith of Hill, Dyckman Street, and 10th Avenue. The natural sur- NYC Mountain Bikers; Ozzie Perez, owner of Dyckman face trail will be flanked by George Washington High School Street’s Tread Bike Shop; Frances Rodriguez, representing at the top and the Dyckman Houses at the bottom, ideally the NYS Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic positioned to provide new outdoor recreational opportuni- Preservation; and members of Community Board 12 Martin ties for the growing youth population. Due to the trail’s Collins Zead Ramadan, to break ground on the first official proximity to the Dyckman Street stop of the No. 1 train and mountain biking trail in New York City. Volunteers will lay the Dyckman Street Greenway, this trail will also serve bik- out the design for the trail, implanting flags in the ground ers from all over New York City. to mark the path and wind around environmentally sensi- tive areas. The trail will include a black diamond feature, a BMX track, and a challenge trail for younger and/or newer riders. The “This 2.5-mile biking trail will create a first-of-its-kind project will also include the development and installation of recreational venue in Inwood and will allow the growing trailhead kiosks, trail markers and interpretive signage, number of bike enthusiasts to exercise in an otherwise natural resources monitoring, landscaping material to underused section of the park,” said Commissioner Benepe. replant denuded areas, trail building tools, and educational “Not to be overlooked is the environmental value of the pamphlets that advocate safety and environmental stew- sport itself—mountain biking instills a respect for nature, ardship. and kids who learn to love nature become adults who strive

I WANT TO YES!SUPPORT LONG ISLAND’S MOUNTAIN BIKING COMMUNITY! C.L.I.M.B. MEMBERSHIP APPLICATION (please print clearly) membership renewal new membership Gain access to more trails and improve those already in use; help Name ______improve mountain biking skills and enjoy the freedom that these trails Address ______provide. If these goals match your own, make sure you are part of Town/city ______C.L.I.M.B. State ______Zip code ______NOTE: To renew memberships or join for the first time, fill out the appli- Phone ______cation and mail it with your dues (payable to C.L.I.M.B.) to Email: ______C.L.I.M.B., P.O. BOX 203, $15 Individual membership $25 Family membership (two or more family members) Woodbury, N.Y. 11797. $25 Two year membership C.L.I.M.B Meetings: Second Wednesday of $40 Two year family membership every month. Check the web site & hot line for $150 Life membership location and time. Join On-Line! It’s quick, easy and secure ... www.climbonline.org