Sunday, February 27, 2011
Tuesday Ride 3/1
How about this week we head down south of Boulder-town to check out the Dirty Bismark loop? Sounds like it's a mix of singletrack and wide bike path but we haven't been down that direction in a while. Who's in?
Or would you rather go to Left Hand?
Monday, February 21, 2011
Tuesday ride 2/22
Get your snow gear on, we're riding high on Tues 2/22. Meetup at the shop at 6 and we'll caravan up to the frozen reaches of Peaceful Valley. You don't know winter riding until you've ridden frozen Nordic trails at night!
Wednesday, February 16, 2011
Snow Ride, Take it Easy
With the warm temps we've been experiencing, we figured yesterday's Tuesday ride would be a prime opportunity to get in a little nordic style action. Peaceful Valley and Buchanan Pass were the ticket.
Next week? We'll see...
Monday, February 07, 2011
Sunday, February 06, 2011
Join th Army! The BMA Guerilla Army!
The mission of the BMA Guerrilla Army is to get mountain bikers off their asses and to public meetings. We'll have some guerrilla actions at strategic moments to bring out the crowds.
We have a lot of work to do to get 500 people to the OSBT meeting this Wednesday 2/9 at 6pm City Council Chambers 1777 Broadway (intersection w/ Canyon). We have a volunteer general for the Army who has some cool ideas for how to get people to the meeting, such as flyering cars with bike racks on them over the next few days. But our general needs help to make this happen. If you'd like to lend some elbow grease to the cause, please click on the "Join the BMA Guerrilla Army" button at the link below. Forward this message on to trusted friends that you think might be interested. More info to come on all the other ways you can help if this ain't your shtick.
http://bouldermountainbike.org/takeaction
What are you talking about?
On Tuesday, February 1st at 9:26 pm, Boulder's Open Space and Mountain Parks (OSMP) Department recommended the continuation of a total ban on mountain bikes in the West Trail Study Area (the open space between Mount Sanitas and Eldorado Springs Dr). To justify this decision they cited "irreconcilable visitor conflict" and said new shared-use trails were "not a reasonable option from either an environmental or a cost perspective." BMA stands ready to engage with staff to resolve the problems that BMA's modest proposal could cause. Learn more about BMA's position at the link above.
Tuesday, February 01, 2011
Boulder County Access Politics at their Finest (I)
City of Boulder has already made it thru 2 TSAs already. Those TSAs were manged in the typical way that local land managers use for public input. The process is basically simple:
-initial public info meeting and comment period
-some sort of interim status and comment period
-suggestions A, B, C, D are presented and there's a comment period
-Staff final recommendation based on previous comments and feedback and comment period
-City of Boulder puts the plan into effect
The first involved the Marshal Mesa area South of Boulder and East of 93 and it stayed pretty low key. Key bike related takeaways from that TSA were a new trailhead for Marshal Mesa right on Broadway and new trails like Cowdrey Draw, High Plains, Coal Seam and Marshall Valley. The plan also laid out the initial framework for the "Dirty Bismark," a ride that has been dreamed of by Boulder Residents for years. Things turned out well and the whole project, although it was still very much "on the radar," didn't bring out a ton of press or comments from the public at large. Thanks largely to Boulder Mountainbike Alliance (BMA) for being on the scene and having the job well handled.
Next TSA was the Doudy Draw area, which included all of the park land south of Eldorado Canyon Drive and West of 93. Now we were getting into some touchy territory, as bikes had been banned in about 95% of this area. Until this TSA, bike access was limited to the Community Ditch, and the very bottom part of Doudy Draw so you could ride off of the ditch and down the draw to the parking lot. Basically pretty lame already and we didn't have much to lose. This was a much bigger deal for Boulder area peeps, both mountain bikers and non mountain bikers. Boulder hikers and haters wanted to keep the bikes out. They got banned for a reason after all, right? But bike supporters came out in throngs to the public meetings and made a lot of good, logical, fact based suggestions. Remember how the process works? City management tries to reach a decision, based largely on public input. Because bike support had been vocal, well thought out, logical and based on facts, OSMP staff recommended opening up Doudy Draw in it's entirety (complete with a reroute to make the trail more sustainable). OSMP staff also called for the creation of what is now Springbrook Loops and Flatirons Vista Loop, both of which would be bike accessible. Again bike peeps were happy and non bike peeps were not.
Now, enter the introduction of the West TSA. The "crown jewel" of Boulder OSMP as it's referred to by staff and some Boulder area residents. This is also a TSA where there are ABSOLUTELY ZERO bike allowed trails in the region.
There's the background. Now do some reading, catch up, and form your own opinion of how it all came down. I'll tell you mine shortly.
For a refresher, go here for the official word from the city and here to learn a little about the politics as they have already played out.
Monday, January 31, 2011
Sunday, January 30, 2011
BMA Banquet is this coming weekend!

This Friday, February 4 is the 6th Annual BMA Banquet. Put on your fancy duds, head to downtown Boulder and be prepared for a fun, bike peeps party and auction. All proceeds go to BMA. It typically sells out, but there are still tickets available. Check here if you're a FB person, otherwise, find it at BMA's new website!
Wednesday, January 26, 2011
Some cool techy tidbits
Thursday, January 13, 2011
Turner 5 Spot Bling
Friday, January 07, 2011
Tuesday, Tuesday, Tuesday!

Boulder Mountainbike Alliance is a great organzation. We like BMA and think you should, too.
BMA is our regions mountain bike trail advocacy effort. BMA offers a united voice of mountain bikers for municipalities and land managers to hear, their trail work efforts have dedicated hundreds upon hundreds of community service, and they promote social rides for riders of all abilities. The management of BMA comes from a group of extremely dedicated mountainbikers and some of them have been at it for 20+ years.
Redstone would like to offer our thanks to BMA as well as our full support. In light of that, we will be supplanting our normally scheduled Tuesday Ride next week (1/11) with BMA's party to launch their new logo, new website, and membership drive.
Details for the party are here.
Hopefully we'll see some of next Tuesday at Avery's Brewery in Boulder!
Friday, December 31, 2010
We're open in our new location! Redstone v3.0!
This battle station is now fully operational. Come visit us at our new location at 355 Broadway, SE corner of 4th and Main. First ever happy hour in the new location today, too. Get here early though, cause we're leaving early. it's New Years Eve and time to party!
Thursday, December 30, 2010
Boulder's Valmont Bike Park update!

The City of Boulder's Parks and Recreation Department is making great progress towards a spring 2011 opening of the Valmont Bike Park. While an exact opening date has not yet been selected, the site is still a flurry of activity with workers installing utilities, restrooms, parking facilities, landscaping, and riding elements. Fourteen months ago we were celebrating the Bike Park's ground breaking - now we're very close to it opening. Your donations have made a significant impact in making the park better for the community; we want to thank you not only for the financial support, but your patience as well - as we all await the big day.
Recently, the park was awarded an additional $45,000 grant from Great Outdoors Colorado (GOCO) for the informational and trail signs at the park. To most observers, this seems like a lot of money for signs. The signage is one of many important safety elements of the park. The park will be teaming with kids and new riders, and safety is of paramount importance. All the riding features must be clearly marked, like a ski area, to steer inexperienced riders away from the expert level elements. Parks & Rec is wisely taking risk management seriously, we not only want a good riding experience, but rider safety cannot be compromised. GOCO is the agency responsible for allocating state lottery proceeds, and we want to thank the state of Colorado's Lottery for awarding us this grant. Between the coordinated fundraising efforts and grant writing of Parks & Rec and BMA, we have added $500,000 to enhancements to the park!
As of the week of December 20th, the restroom building was framed and sheathed, most of the irrigation pipe and sprinkler heads installed, 90% of the trails complete, seeding and erosion control mats installed, and concrete work is complete. The hub plaza is 80% complete. Local artist Christian Mueller was tasked with the design, and his vision is nearly complete. The hub plaza will serve as the gathering space for riders and park users, and is a true work of art. The plaza is shaped like a chainring, and has enormous stones radiating from the center like spokes of a wheel. For more photos and progress report, please see the city's website www.ValmontCityPark.org

Judd DeVal of Alpine Bike Parks is the bike trail contractor. He and his crew have come from Vancouver, BC, Santa Cruz, Boise, and North Carolina to build the bike features. Alpine Bike Parks has built some of the finest parks in the world and we are fortunate to have this crew working on Valmont. They are out there long days sculpting the trails, pouring concrete for the wall rides, and welding the structures for bridges and jumps. They have made impressive progress, and you will be grinning ear to ear when you get to ride the finished product.
Chance Brown of J2 Construction, the site's general contractor, has done an amazing job coordinating the park's major excavation work and overall progress. These two teams are doing a remarkable job to bring make this dream park a reality.
We had poaching problems when the park construction began, but most of these problems have subsided as riders realized poaching was creating havoc for the construction crews and delaying the project. Thanks for being responsive and letting the crews get their job done unhindered.

The single biggest question we hear is "When is the park going to open?" The Parks & Rec Department has been working hard to get Valmont open. They are doing a great job in balancing the maintenance of existing parks, while simultaneously building the Bike Park and installing synthetic turf (and other upgrades) at East Boulder Community Park.
Since we have been working together on the fundraising, we have witnessed the monumental task first hand. There are other city departments involved, various contractors, wildlife and irrigation ditch concerns, and budgets to manage. Park construction is a large undertaking - as they must ensure adequate parking, restroom facilities, landscaping, and information signage commensurate with the number of visitors the park will attract. They must also comply with all clean water, clean air and noise regulations and make required transportation improvements to Goose Creek, Valmont and Airport roads to keep traffic (both bike and car) flowing seamlessly. We hope to be able to pinpoint an opening date in the New Year, but rest assured, this is going as quickly as possible and no one is dragging their feet.

We have had many generous offers to volunteer to help, and we are sorry there has been no opportunity to date. We hope to have some opportunities soon, but most of the construction is beyond the scope of volunteer days. If we had to move 16,000 yards of dirt (a dump truck holds 6 yards) with shovels, we would be out there until the year 2071. With earth movers, cranes and concrete trucks buzzing around and open utilities, the site is not safe for volunteers.
If you see any members of Parks and Recreation, from the guy shoveling snow on the Pearl St. Mall, to the staff behind the desk at one of the Rec Centers, they all deserve our thanks. We have a new appreciation for our Parks and Recreation Department, let them hear it.
Wednesday, December 22, 2010
Intense Tracer 2 coming soon!
Sunday, December 19, 2010
How about some Turner bike bling!
The new Dynasys 10 speed Shimano drivetrain is smooth and good looking as ever.
We upgraded the bars to carbon Race Face Next bars. Also note those pimpin' brakes...
Even though the kit came with Formula RX brakes (which we love) we decided up upgrade to our favorite brake ever, the Formula The One. Even though it's technically a dh oriented brake, it's still lighter than a Magura Marta SL and has more stopping power than anything we've ever used. Win! That's not your everyday rear hub there, either. Powertap SL+ disc baby!
Thursday, December 16, 2010
Thursday update!
Don't forget, our 2nd Annual White Elephant 6 Pack Exchange is tomorrow, Friday 12/17!
The official invite Linky is here complete with rules, etc :) Start time is normal happy hour time and we'll get going on the exchange around 6:30. Please wrap your 6 pack.
CYCLOCROSS IN LYONS!!! This Saturday in Bohn Park. OB will be on hand with beer so you can enjoy the excellent spectating of this fun course. I'll be working in the shop here that morning so make sure to swing by to say hi.
Oh, and the bike shop is moving as well. New address is 355 Main St. Expect to see us there sometime around the first of the year. It's on 4th and Main Street on the SE corner. It's the big building/old gas station just to the north of the world's smallest bike shop, now Redstone Radio.
Monday, December 06, 2010
Read This!! Boulder Access/West TSA info inside
We need you to show up on Dec 9th to speak to the Open Space Board of Trustees(OSBT).
Bikes are the most significant "non-consensus" item, and our fate will be decided in the next 60 to 90 days. The schedule has been set, and even though it is subject to change, we know what the process looks like all the way to City Council.
- December 6: Open house to present CCG package of agreements. This is all about what they agreed to, so bikes aren't on the radar. BMA WTSA Strategy Meeting instead.... read below at the bottom of this alert!
- December 9: West Senior Center, 909 Arapahoe Ave, at 6PM. OSBT considers the West TSA. TIME TO SHOW UP... BIG TIME
- December 15: OSBT Study Session for West TSA. Format of meeting to be decided at December 9 OSBT meeting. No public comments at the this meeting.
- Feb 1 - OSMP publishes West TSA Draft Management Plan - with CCG recommendations and staff proposals of non consensus items.... This the day we find out what OSMP is going to do about mountain bikes.
- Feb 9 - OSMP Open house for Draft Plan and OSBT Study Session
- Feb 23 - OSBT Plan Recommendations
- Mar 16 - City Council considers the West TSA
CONOR O'NIELLS
1922 13th St
seating area in the back
Monday, December 6
5:30 - 7pm
Sunday, December 05, 2010
This weeks Tuesday episode will be Lion Gulch
Friday, December 03, 2010
How 'bout some Friday ride stokeage?
December? Check
55 degrees? Check
Shorts???? Check
Crocodile warnings? Check

Dry slick? Check
Fast, rippin' smooth singletrack? Check
Some rocks to have fun on as well? Check
Uncrowded singletrack and witness to a beautiful rising sun? Check
And a great day with the water moving in town? Check
Make sure y'alls get out today and tomorrow. Might be the last good ride for a while. But we've been saying that for a month now, guess we'll see!
Transition's all new bike, the Bandit!

Transition mentions in their press release, "The Bandit is a 130mm travel frame designed for use with 140mm forks. This bike is a lighter weight offering than the Covert, aimed at riders looking for more of a traditional “trail bike” than an enduro bike. The frame will have a 68 degree head angle, 429mm chainstay length and 8.5mm of BB drop for a assembled BB height of roughly 330mm. We will be offering this bike in 4 sizes to give riders several options to fit them “just right”. The wheelbase will range from about 1080mm to 1160mm for the small to extra large sizes. With corresponding top tubes of 546mm to 622mm. A 74 degree seat angle helps give you an aggressive climbing position without having to shift your weight around too much. The bike is extremely balanced with a great suspension feel. Perfect for getting out and exploring the mountains on epic rides."
It's got a linkage very similar to their Bottle Rocket

And it looks great dirty, too!

If you want one, get in line. As of right now, expected delivery is May.

