Category Archives: video

March Begins

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March has begun, and the great piles of snow have started to melt. There are storms on the horizon, but the temperatures seem to be on the rise. My bike has been brought back into the commuting mix, and the road bike even came out of the shed this morning. The plan is to go out at lunch for some miles and a little hill climbing. I have a feeling it’s going to hurt!

Muscle Powered
Muscle Powered at Comma Coffee

I was recently riding by the gas station, and got this photo of the rising gas prices. These prices remind me of the $4 gas from a couple years ago. Demand for simple commuter bikes went up during this time, and the bicycle industry shifted focus from racing replicas to producing full lines of great city bikes. The gas prices went back down again, many people went back to their old ways, but the great selection of bikes still remains. I see this being a great year for the bicycle industry, and I’m hoping we have large participation in May’s Bike Month this year!

On the Rise
Gas prices on the rise – Yet another reason to ride!

I think a lot of people feel trapped when energy prices get so high, often blaming someone else that it’s just not fair. What can we do? Bicycle traffic only accounts for about a percentage or less of all traffic modes here in America though. We need to look at what other cities are doing, especially some of those in other countries.


Bicycle Rush Hour Utrecht (Netherlands) III

Check out this video of rush hour in the Netherlands. Some things to notice: A ton of bikes and people walking. People of all sorts participating. Regular clothes and no helmets. A lot of public transportation. A lot of skinny people. It all seems to work rather nicely!

Hope everyone is getting their bikes back out and enjoying some riding!

Bike Carson Photos of the Week

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…and we’re back! It was a busy couple weeks of good riding without a lot of time for writing. Let’s get caught up now with a mix of reader submitted photography and some of my own pictures and stories.

Levi @ District CX championships, Reno
Levi @ District CX championships in Reno by Kary Grabow

First we have some CX championships racing action in Reno from Kary Grabow.

Paul Bass
Paul Bass at the Bicycle Authority

Here’s a photo from the Bicycle Authority taken by Dan Turner, Paul Bass and his new 2011 Kona Cowan frame.  Who’s Paul Bass you say?  He’s a Kona Bikes pro rider, and is the guy that did a back flip over Ash Canyon road.  Here’s a video of that stunt HERE.

bicycle authority team
Last race of the 2010 Season from Dan Turner

Here’s a photo of the Bicycle Authority BMX team at the last Carson race of the 2010 season.

Furly Night Commuter
Furly Night Commuter by Antoine Pethers

Here’s a photo from Antoine Pethers in New Zealand, riding his fur covered Surly, or “Furly” as he calls it. Antoine says, “Riding home from work on the East Coast Bay’s ‘Share with Care’ bike path. It’s nice to be physically separated from the drunks at this hour of the night. Getting warm in Auckland, shorts and a t-shirt at 10.30pm.”

More great photos and writing can be found on Antoine’s blog, Bike Friendly North Shore.

Karate Monkey
Frozen singletrack along the V&T Trail

Winter storms left the foothills covered in snow for days. Cold temperatures made the trails packed and frozen though, and we actually got some good riding in. It was definitely slow going and challenging, but the changing conditions really keep the same old trails interesting!

Robin riding Lakeview
Robin Sharp riding the slushy snow above Lakeview.

Lakeview Hill
Ashley Dale dropping down to the V&T

After our cold spell, the temperature warmed up at the noon hour, and the snow became butter cream frosting. Instead of riding on top of it, we were sliding through it, fighting to stay upright. There was walking and crashing involved at times which caused mixed emotions from the riders. Some grumbled, some laughed.  I don’t think anyone cried.  But in the end, it’s still nice to get out. Winter can be tough!

Rainbow Monkey
Rainbow Monkey

Last week the snow left the flats and southern facing slopes, leaving the trails in epic conditions. Hard packed sand with very little rolling resistance and tons of traction. Hero Dirt. One day we even had a rainbow to ride under.

Four Day Trail
Tom on the Four Day Trail

Although the Creek Trail is still under the snow at the bottom of the canyon, all the other trails were open in Ash Canyon including the higher elevation Evidence Trail. Clearing the switchbacks on this trail has never been easier!

Jingle Bell Run
Jingle Bell Run

Last weekend, my friend Brent and I had the opportunity to be ride leaders for the 5K Jingle Bell Run. I stayed up front with the leader to make sure people knew the course, and Brent floated around and helped with problem traffic areas. The runners were all decked out in Santa hats and jingle bells. What a good time!


I ain’t got no brakes!

We’ll finish with this video. Scott Russel demonstrates why disc brakes are a better idea on a snow bike!

These pictures were selected from the Bike Carson Flickr Pool. Instructions for adding your photos to the pool can be found HERE.

Ride The Divide Movie comes to Truckee

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Ride the Divide is an award-winning feature film about the world’s toughest mountain bike race, which traverses over 2,700 miles along the Continental Divide in the Rocky Mountains. The film weaves the story of three characters’ experiences with immense mountain beauty and small-town culture as they attempt to pedal from Banff, Canada to a small, dusty crossing on the Mexican border.

Ride The Divide Movie Trailer from Ride The Divide on Vimeo.

Ride The Divide, the award-winning feature-length documentary about the world’s toughest mountain bike race, will make a stop in Truckee on Tuesday, November 16, at the Fifty Fifty Brewing Co. The film chronicles the story of several mountain bikers who attempt the 2,711-mile race named the Tour Divide along the Continental Divide in the Rocky Mountains. The movie was named the Best Adventure Film at this year’s Vail Film Festival.

This film has become an instant cycling classic, and made its television premiere in September on the Documentary Channel. But the Adventure Cycling Association said the film should be seen on the big screen: “The cinematography is stunning!” Added UpaDowna, “Ride The Divide is one of the most inspiring real cycling movies … in a long time.” Grizzly Adam of Epic Cycling summed it up succinctly: “In a word? Fantastic. In more words? Moving, funny, inspiring.” Cycle & Style magazine added, “If you have the opportunity to see Ride The Divide, you really should!”

Ride The Divide embraces the inspiring stories of three of the racers who experience the immense mountain beauty and small-town culture as they attempt to pedal from Banff, Canada, to a small, dusty crossing on the Mexican border. There’s Mike, a 40-year-old family man who uses this challenge to chart a new course in life; Matthew, a leader in extreme endurance racing who’s competing for his fifth time; and Mary, the first female rider to race this route. As they set out, they will attempt to accomplish what very few have been able to. Over the course of a few weeks, they’ll attempt to climb over 200,000 vertical feet along the backbone of the Rocky Mountains.

They’ll experience mental breakdowns, treacherous snow, hellacious blisters, and total fatigue. Above all, they’ll race with no support – at times in total isolation. The tests of endurance and the accomplished moments throughout Ride the Divide prompt us to reflect on our inner desires to live life to the fullest.

Ride The Divide made its debut at the Vail Film Festival and was named the best adventure film at the event. Outside Magazine proclaimed that “(t)he toughest bike race in the world is not in France,” after reviewing the film.

Ride The Divide will be shown at 9 p.m. at the Fifty Fifty Brewing Co. at 11197 Brockway Road in Truckee. Tickets are $10 at the door and can be reserved in advance at Fifty Fifty. State law requires that viewers must be 21 years of age to attend. For more information on the film, go to www.ridethedividemovie.com.