At a time when every voice counts, it’s important to stand up and use yours to support those in, and outside your community. As an athlete with a platform, professional CX racer Tobin Ortenblad, and his good friend and fellow racer Dillon Hollinger, wanted to use their own voice to bring the cycling community together by raising awareness for social injustice. To do this, Tobin and Dillon developed a fundraising campaign around an Everesting attempt, but with a little twist…
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Reportage
The Cruiser Classic Turned 21
The Cruiser Classic is an event that’s like an old friend – an old friend with a quick wit, who moves slowly in the morning. The Cruiser Classic and I first met in 2010 thanks to our mutual friend Ken Baker, who helped put the first Cruiser Classic together in Chico, CA. It’s safe to say the Cruiser Classic makes friends easily, and it became one of those forever bonds of friendship between us because the Cruiser Classic is about FUN for everyone.
Radar
Register Now for the 2019 Surf City CX Race
This just in from the Mountain Bikers of Santa Cruz:
“Big things are happening with Surf City CX this year. With MBOSC coming on to manage the race, the 2019 event is shaping up to be one nobody will soon forget. The race will be held at a brand new venue right here on the Westside of Santa Cruz at Antonelli Pond! The best part about this venue is that it’s easy access from anywhere in Santa Cruz, so we expect this to be a great community event. With a FREE Kids Race, Costume Race, food trucks, live music, and a beer garden, there is a lot of fun to be had for the whole family. Whether you’re a seasoned cyclocross pro or racing for the first time, this will be a race to remember. Claim your spot to race at this brand new venue and register NOW!”
Surf City Cyclocross Race
Sunday, October 27
Antonelli Pond, Westside of Santa Cruz
Reportage
Rugged Hills and Mingling with Redwoods: the 2019 Old Growth Classic
The redwoods hit me with that kind of awe those quixotic transcendentalists describe as, well, awe. It was like this – the trance state incurred by the tree-lined road was jostled by the excitement of entering an amalgam of friends, acquaintances, and randos held together by the common love for the physical-meets-mental journey of a bike race.
Reportage
A Look Inside Santa Cruz’s Spokesman Bicycles Outpost and Their Wild Custom Builds
Santa Cruz has no shortage of bike shops. This sleepy little beach town might be known for its surfing and pesky vampires, but the road and mountain riding is exceptional. With a myriad of dirt and paved roads snaking their way through coastal redwoods, and dusty, steep mountain bike trails, any cyclist can spend days upon days exploring the terrain. Spokesman Bicycles is one of the powerhouse shops in Santa Cruz and just recently opened up what they’re calling Outpost on the West Side of town, right next to their friends Sawyer and Co, a surfing lifestyle shop.
Reportage
Kenji’s MASH Santa Cruz Stigmata is Rare Indeed
Three years ago, at the start of the 2016 ‘cross season, Santa Cruz and MASH SF teamed up to create what is, in my opinion, the most recognizable Stigmata frameset of all time. There have been other team builds, other rad bikes, but this is the one everyone remembers. And yet, there were only 12 of these frames available to the public and less than 20 including the team frames!
Reportage
Trevor and His Cascadia Cycles Doug Fir Rigid MTB
Everything Trevor does seems to be dripping in story and lore as he comes from the homeland of mountain biking, Marin. He is the kind of person you just find stumbling out of the woods, shoeless, with the biggest grin on his face. In fact, recently he finally gained the attention of the owner of Black Mountain Cycles, after years of visiting the shop, because Ted King ran into Trevor out on the trails and regaled the shop owner about his encounter with the barefoot forest nymph.
Radar
the Old Growth Classic Reg Opens Today, July 10th at 7pm
The Old Growth Classic is coming back to Big Basin Redwoods State Park once again on September 14, 2019! Mountain Bikers of Santa Cruz (MBOSC) is proud to partner with Ibis Cycles to present the second annual Old Growth Classic. This event is a full weekend experience featuring a 55-mile mixed terrain race, two nights of camping, live music, delicious catered meals, and more summer camp fun. A significant portion of the proceeds will go directly to State Parks.
This year there are two event packages available: Full Weekend Package and Race Day Only Package. The total participation has also increased to 500 racers. Registration opens on Wednesday, July 10, at 7:00pm Pacific, so mark your calendars because this event will sell out quick. Click here to register!
Learn more about Old Growth Classic here: http://oldgrowthclassic.
Register here: https://timeyourrace.
Reportage
The New Santa Cruz Stigmata Got Chubbier… and Lighter
Last week, we looked at the new Juliana Quincy, through the eyes and words of Amy Jurries and today, I’ll be taking you through the new Stigmata, as someone who rallied and loved the last model. How does it compare? Read on below.
The Santa Cruz Stigmata was truly one of the first disc all-road bikes that opened my eyes to not only what an off-road bike could be, but what it should be. I loved it so much that it influenced the geometry of my Firefly, yet that initial Stigmata review was over four years ago. A lot has changed in that time and the Stiggy was long overdue for an overhaul, mainly in one specific area, the tire clearance!
Radar
The Syndicate at Sea Otter
The purveyors of speed and stoke, Santa Cruz’s Syndicate, take on the Sea Otter Classic.
Radar
Come to Juliana Bicycles Bike Night in Santa Cruz Tonight!
If you’re in Santa Cruz or en route to Monterrey for Sea Otter, be sure to swing through the Juliana Bike Night at the Santa Cruz Bicycles Factory – 2841 Mission St – at 6pm!
Radar
Mountain Bikers of Santa Cruz: the Mountain Biking Impact Review
As cyclists, do we impact the environment? Should this cause pause while we’re riding damp or blown out trails?
“Mountain Bikers of Santa Cruz (MBOSC) is proud to introduce the Mountain Biking Impact Review, which is the product of a year of comprehensive research by MBOSC’s Science Committee.
This Mountain Biking Impact Review poses questions that we believe are the most frequently asked concerning the social and environmental impacts of mountain biking and trail construction. The answers to these questions were created based on a comprehensive literature search on the relationships of trails and recreational trail users (specifically mountain bikes, but also other user groups) and natural resources within the following topics: Hydrology & Geology, Plants & Wildlife, and Social Issues. The questions provide constructive discussion topics as we work together to advocate for improved trail access.”
Head to MBOSC for the full report.
Radar
@DirtDrops Photo Exhibit
February 24th, Chris Corona, aka DirtDrops has a photo exhibit at Caletti Cycles showcasing his Santa Cruz-based photography. His Caletti will also be on exhibit, so if you have time, make sure you put it on your calendar.
Reportage
Small Package but Big Fun with the Santa Cruz 5010
In a world dominated by big hitters and in a lineup celebrated by names like the Bronson and Nomad, the 5010 is often overlooked as being a capable all-mountain trail bike. When it was first released, five years ago, the SOLO, as it was called, was marketed as the little-wheeled brother of the Tallboy, which many people regarded as an XC bike. There’s no denying the allure of the almighty enduro bike, which has largely dominated the mountain bike industry over the past many years.
There was always something about the 5010 that has been attractive to me but for whatever reason, I never got to throw my leg around one until we rode them here in the mountains of Los Angeles with a few of Santa Cruz’s employees. People have said the current 5010 is the best yet and since I have no benchmark for comparison, I’m going to have to agree.
So what changed? Other than the standard approach of lengthening, lowering, and slackening? Seriously, how many years can the “industry” state those three geometry adjustments as a reason for the upgrade and most importantly, your money?
Radar
Surf City CX Halloween Race p/b Team Rock Lobster
Want to go to the Surf City CX Halloween race? Check out the details below, including registration links!
Radar
Old Growth Classic Video!
Mountain Bikers of Santa Cruz absolutely killed it with this event. The 2018 Old Growth Classic was the first ever bike race in Big Basin Redwoods State Park, resulting in a truly memorable weekend. The race took entrants through redwoods and meandering roads to the finish where a true party awaited at camp…
Radar
The Big Basin Old Growth Classic is Coming on August 24-26
I’m very excited about this for a number of reasons, including a wonderful place like Big Basin being opened up for a bike race, the organanization throwing the event, the sponsors, and the list goes on. You can read more about the Big Basin Old Growth Classic below!
Reportage
Into the Woods for a Dungeons and Dragons Themed Wildcat
Into the Woods for a Dungeons and Dragons Themed Wildcat
Photos by David Smith, words by Hans Van Housen
On the 1st of July 30-some people showed up for the Dungeons and Dragons-themed Wildcat. Wildcats are alleycat-style checkpoint races, but on dirt, and with no experience necessary. These champions came to the Santa Cruz Forest above UCSC to prove that the Sharpie was indeed mightier than the sword. Four checkpoints scattered about the woods stationed with wizards and space wolves. Each racer had to throw a 20-sided dice and if they threw an 11 or lower they would have to spin in a circle 20 times. If they threw higher then a 12, they’d get their manifest signed and head to the next checkpoint. It was madness.