January's Featured Rider: Darian Harvey

Darian Harvey is the current National Mountain Bike Series Downhill Champion and represented the USA at the 2007 World Downhill Championships. She's fast on the downhill bike and aggressive on the 4x course. Darian has a Fine Arts degree with an emphasis in photography, and she's an ace bike mechanic as well. She's current training in California, and will return to Durango, CO to skate ski and snowboard until the mountains thaw enough for her to start riding bikes again. --FF

Name: Darian Harvey
Home: Durango, CO
Age: 26
Favorite type of riding: Fast, flowy DH tracks with wide-open, drifty corners.
Why you ride: I ride because I love it. I love that no matter what happens to me on a ride, I can come home with a smile on my face. I can get a flat tire, go over the bars, or just ride poorly--the bottom line is that I had a chance to ride my bike, and for that I am happy.
Sponsors: SoBe-Cannondale Team (SoBe, Cannondale, Fox, Shimano, Mavic, Michelin, E-13, Thomson, Smith, Bear Naked, Marmot, Hydrapak, Teva, Pedro, Thule ), Six Six One, Royal, and Sunline
Website: MySpace.com/DarianHarvey

When I was 10 years old, my cousin bought his first mountain bike. He let me ride it a couple of times and I was hooked. I knew that I had to have a mountain bike of my own, so I started working odd jobs and saving money. I subscribed to Mountain Bike Action for about five years before I could afford to buy my own bike.

In those magazines, it always appeared that the gravity riders had more fun. The cross country riders always had these painful grimaces on their faces, while the gravity riders looked like they were having a blast. I would see pictures of legends like Missy Giove, John Tomac, Shawn Palmer, Anne-Caroline Chausson, and I would think, "I want to do that!" So the first bike I bought was a typical hardtail, but I always dreamed of racing on a downhill bike of my own. After several more years of saving, my dream came true. I bought my first DH bike, and have been racing ever since.

One of my big goals for 2009 is something that I have struggled with for a long time. My goal is to become proficient at jumping. Anyone that has ever watched me race 4X or dual slalom knows that jumping is my Achilles heel and my inability to jump doubles has cost me races. I intend to change that for 2009 and I am actually moving to California for part of the winter so that I can work on my jumping skills. Look out dirt jumps, here I come!

I think that there are many important skills that can help riders be successful in our sport, but the two most important things to me are fitness and mental preparation. It doesn't matter how high you can bunnyhop, how far you can jump, how long you can manual, if you can't remember your lines and don't have the power to pedal out of every corner, you are not going to win races. All those fun skills come in handy in nearly all riding situations, but great fitness allows you to be competitive and proper mental preparation allows you to put all of your skills together and hopefully win.

I would say that my career highlight so far would be winning the 2008 Pro Women's Downhill National Mountain Bike Series Championship. This year was the first year that I was able to make it to nearly all the races in the series (only missed one this year), and I ended up winning the whole thing.

Get in the Van from UT to Sea Otter for $385 While You Can!

On January 1, the price of our Sea Otter Road Trip will increase from $385 to $475. The price increase is to cover the greater expense of booking rooms at a later date.

Either way, you'll get a super bargain: A van ride for you and up to 2 bikes from UT to Monterey and back, hotel room from April 15-20, and all the gas is pre-paid. Click here for more details and to reserve your spot in the van before the price goes up!

Enter Our Winter Training Video Contest!

You're done with school, have a few days off of work, are snowed in, or are rained out. What are you going to do? Train! And do it for a chance to win a $100 gift certificate to Freeride Foundation. Take that new digi-cam you just unwrapped and turn Granny's basement into your personal gym. Whether you get to ride all year, have to put the bike away in September, or turn into a compulsive gym rat as soon as Daylight Savings kills your post-work ride, we want to see how you're getting ready for 2009. Yes, you can literally bring the New Year in with a bang. Oh, and don't worry, we won't steal your workouts--we promise. Really.

The Details:
-Create a 2-3 minute video documenting your winter training regimen.
-Upload it to YouTube, think of a catchy title, and be sure to include "FreerideFoundation.com Training Secrets Video Contest" somewhere in the video's description.
-Then email the link to your video, your name, and your email and/or phone number to jackie@freeridefoundation.com.

Blog visitors will vote on the videos to determine the winner of the contest. Voting on the Blog will begin on Friday, December 26 and run through Thursday, January 8.

Video links can be submitted any time through January 8, but getting your entry in early will help you accumulate more votes!

-We will not post videos longer than 3 minutes, but if you can make us spew coffee on our keyboards in under 2 minutes, by all means go for it!
-Include your friends and family--you'll be able to divvy up the gift certificate if you win.
-Also, please keep all videos PG/PG-13.
-Anyone can enter, anyone can vote.

Here's our first entry, submitted through MarthaHucker.com.



Think you can do better? Let's see it!

Merry Christmas!

Wishing you a day of family and fun! Need to do a little more shopping? Use the discount code MERRY25 to take $10 off an order of $20 or more--just for today!
Enjoy!

Last-Minute Gift Ideas!

Pro procrastinators can put off ordering until Monday, December 22 up to 3pm MST, choose Express Shipping, and still get their gifts in time for Christmas! Not that we recommend walking that fine line, but if you're so pro that you're planning on procrastinating, there's still hope for you!

In addition to our Gravity Girls' Gift Guide, other smart gifts include The Way Bobby Sees It DVD, a Freeride Foundation Gift Certificate, and the 2009 Sea Otter Road Trip. You can order the Gift Certificate or Road Trip at the very last minute, because both gifts are emailed to the recipient.

Don't procrastinate beyond the 25th, though. The awesome deals found in the Gravity Girls' Gift Guide will disappear after Christmas Day!

Confused about sizes, colors, or which gift to choose? Give us a call (801.647.9167) and we'll help you out!

Video Contest: Reveal Your Training Secrets

You're done with school, have a few days off of work, are snowed in, or are rained out. What are you going to do? Train! And do it for a chance to win a $100 gift certificate to Freeride Foundation. Take that new digi-cam you just unwrapped and turn Granny's basement into your personal gym. Whether you get to ride all year, have to put the bike away in September, or turn into a compulsive gym rat as soon as Daylight Savings kills your post-work ride, we want to see how you're getting ready for 2009. Yes, you can literally bring the New Year in with a bang. Oh, and don't worry, we won't steal your workouts--we promise. Really.

The Details:
-Create a 2-3 minute video documenting your winter training regimen.
-Upload it to YouTube, think of a catchy title, and be sure to include "FreerideFoundation.com Training Secrets Video Contest" somewhere in the video's description.
-Then email the link to your video, your name, and your email and/or phone number to jackie@freeridefoundation.com.

We will start posting links to the videos on our Blog as soon as we get entries!

Blog visitors will vote on the videos to determine the winner of the contest. Voting on the Blog will begin on Friday, December 26 and run through Thursday, January 8.

Video links can be submitted any time between now and January 8, but getting your entry in by the 26th will help you accumulate more votes!

-We will not post videos longer than 3 minutes, but if you can make us spew coffee on our keyboards in under 2 minutes, by all means go for it!
-Include your friends and family--you'll be able to divvy up the gift certificate if you win.
-Also, please keep all videos PG/PG-13.
-Anyone can enter, anyone can vote.

Need some inspiration? Check out the video that got Kristin Butcher into this year's Hell Ride:

Sea Otter Classic Offers Discounted Entry Fees This Week

Go to the Sea Otter Classic website to take advantage of their holiday special and to register for the 2009 races. Then visit Freeride Foundation to reserve your spot for our Sea Otter Road Trip!

Gravity Gifts for Girls: Fox Safety First! and Casual Monday Gift Packs

Are you gift shopping for your BFF (Best Freeride Friend)? Maybe you're sending subtle hints to your significant other about which goodies you really, really, really want? Or perhaps you're that significant other and you're desperately looking for the perfect gift? What really matters is that you've come to the right place.

We've created two final Gravity Gift Packs to make last-minute shopping easy and painless. Be sure to choose Express Shipping to guarantee delivery by the 25th!

The first new package is the Fox Safety First! Gift Pack. Save almost $15 on the Fox Launch Elbow Pads combined with either the Fox Launch Knee/Shin Guards or the Fox Launch Shorty Pads. This package works for guys too, and can only ship to US locations.

The second new package is the Casual Monday Gift Pack. It includes the Nema Brite t-shirt and the Fox Mo Ichi Do Wallet at a price that will let you kick back and relax. This package can only ship to US locations.

Avoiding Gravity Gear Faux Pas: Upper Body Armor

Body armor is body armor right? Just put it on and go ride your bike. If only it were that easy. Upper body armor comes in several forms: full jackets, elbow pads, back protection, and chest protection. It is important to choose proper protection for the occasion, and then wear it correctly in order to take full advantage of the armor's benefits.

We'll begin by re-stating that Spandex and body armor are not meant to be mixed. For more on this topic, revisit our 48Straight interview.

Elbow pads, like our Fox Launch pads, are versatile pieces of protection. They're great for dirt jumping, riding downhill, racing dual slalom, and racing BMX. Obviously, elbow pads only protect your arms, so it's best to wear them (as opposed to a full jacket) only if you feel confident in the terrain, but want to avoid road rash should you suddenly make contact with the ground.

Elbow pads and t-shirts or short-sleeve jerseys are great combinations. Should you choose to wear a long sleeve jersey or jacket with your elbow pads, the jersey or jacket sleeve should always cover the pads. This keeps your jersey from pushing the pads down toward your wrists, and also ensures proper bloodflow to your arms and hands.

Full body armor jackets are ideal downhill riding and racing. A full jacket integrates padded shoulders and elbows, chest, and back protection. The full jacket ensures a snug fit, and helps to keep all of the padding in its proper place. The best back protection can usually be found in full jackets. Full jackets are deal for downhill because they offer they impact and abrasion resistance from crashes that occur at speed. That's not to say you won't get hurt, but your chances of severe injury are greatly reduced. These jackets are overkill for cross country riding, most Super D races, BMX, and dirt jumping, where speeds are slower and menacing inanimate objects are fewer.

Jackets can be really hot in the summer, and they can be really cold in the winter. You should never choose not to wear your jacket based on temperature. Following these guidelines will make wearing your armor more pleasant:

• First, if you need to wear a base layer underneath the jacket, be sure it is made of lightweight, technical moisture-wicking fabric. In the summer, we really only need to wear our sports bras underneath. However, if this is uncomfortable, try to find a lightweight, sleeveless base layer. Moisture wicking properties are important because built-up moisture can cause chaffing, prevents cooling when it's hot out, and prevents warming when it's cold out.
• Never combine a cotton shirt with body armor--as a base layer or as a jersey. Even if you wear your t-shirt over your body armor, the cotton will trap moisture and create misery.
• Always wear a jersey. And always wear the jersey over your body armor. Jerseys are designed to be worn over armor. Wearing your jersey under your armor will only cause wrinkly pressure points, chaffing, and moisture buildup.
• Wear only long- or short- sleeve jerseys with a full jacket. Sleeveless jerseys and full body armor are simply unsightly. You're wearing armor, so you can't show off your guns, and armor isn't that pretty to look at. Save the sleeveless for your cross country training rides.
• If you often ride in inclimate climates, it's smart to get a waterproof jacket that's big enough to fit over your jersey and armor. If it's cold enough that you need an extra layer, your cotton hoody will still let cold air in and will trap moisture. A waterproof jacket will resist wind and protect you from the elements. Pitzips are handy features too.
  

We're not fans of wearing back or chest protection without the rest of the package. You can buy vests that have only back protection. However, if you feel that you need back protection, we're assuming that you'll be going fast enough to need front protection too.

Moto-style roost protectors cover the chest and back, and usually the shoulders. However, these products are made to withstand flying dirt and debris on the track. They're not made to withstand rag-dolling through a forest. Roost protectors normally attach with straps by the ribs. It's easy for the plates to shift as you tumble, reducing your protection. That said, wearing a roost protector is much better than wearing nothing if you're planning on pinning it through some tech. Roost protectors are traditionally worn over jerseys, as are the new Leatt neck braces.

To catch up on our previous installments of Avoiding the Gravity Gear Faux Pas, click here. Our next edition will cover lower body armor dos and don'ts.

Stockings for Your Stockings

Some of the new 2009 Twin Six socks showed up yesterday. They're argyle and will match that sweater you're wearing to Grandma's house just perfectly!

Fox Racing Products Are Here!

We just received our first shipment of goodies from Fox Racing. Helmets, body armor, wallets, and more are all ready to go! These products also represent the some of the first unisex items that we'll carry on Freeride Foundation. So guys, it's OK to shop a bit, as long as you pick up a cute wallet for your girl too! We can only ship Fox items to US locations.

This Week's Gift for Gravity Girls: Gymtastic Gift Pack

Are you gift shopping for your BFF (Best Freeride Friend)? Maybe you're sending subtle hints to your significant other about which goodies you really, really, really want? Or perhaps you're that significant other and you're desperately looking for the perfect gift? What really matters is that you've come to the right place. Each week we'll post a new No-Brainer Gift for Gravity Girls. Not only will these packages make shopping quick and easy, but they'll also save you a few bucks in the process! Joy!

This week's addition to the Gravity Girls' Gift Guide is the Gymtastic Gift Pack. The Sombrio Session Jersey and Kona Short Bra Top are perfect for hitting the gym this winter, but are also great for riding, running, and yoga all year. You'll save $15 when you buy these items together.
(Be sure to buy by Friday, December 12 to have ground-shipped orders arrive by Christmas!)

Movie Review: Latitudes

Freeride Foundation wants to help you stock your DVD case with rad riding movies. However, we're getting picky. We only want to sell and support production companies and films that support women riders. That's one of the reasons we brought in The Way Bobby Sees It--Wendy Todd was a co-producer and she played a large part in getting Bobby prepared for the race. Believe it or not, there are several movies from this year that include significant women's riding segments.

The first movie we're reviewing is DH Productions' hi-def film Latitudes. Lisa Myklak turned me on to this flick. She'd told me that she and Emily Johnston were at Woodward West, and were fighting for camera time. When the two girls decided to hit a huge gap jump, they immediately had everyone's attention. The resulting segment shows Lisa and Emily ripping singletrack with the guys, hucking off of Woodward's stunts, and of course, boosting the gap. While I still have a few more films to watch from this season, this segment strikes me as the most comprehensive women's gravity segment possibly since the Marla and Missy years.

Lisa and Emily aren't the only ones to get some air time. Hannah Hannah appears early in the film, riding with the Cannondale Cut crew. The only problem is that none of the riders in the segment receive credits. So, if you don't put 2 and 2 together and realize that Latitudes' main sponsor is Cannondale, and that Mick is a Cannondale Cut rider, and that the girl riding with them must be his ripping freerider wife Hannah, you'd be left wondering who this anonymous female shredder could be. The movie came with a second disc, which includes the Nomads TV show created from Latitudes' France riding chapter. Hannah is introduced here, but who watches Disc 2 first?

Amelia Colasurdo has a short but cool big-mountain-style segment from Southern Utah too. She's also the caboose on the Salt Lake City chapter's singletrack segments. She has a much larger role in the Nomads TV show created from the Southern Utah chapter, which is also found on the second disc.

As for the rest of the movie, there are impressive big mountain and dirt jumping performances from JD Swanguen and the Van Dines, and cool urban and dirt jump segments with Aaron Chase, Jeff Lenosky, Dave Smutok, and Kyle Ebbett to name just a few of Latitudes' featured athletes.

We're stoked to see a movie with more than one female rider and with girls showing up in several segments throughout the film. The industry has a long way to go to when it comes to incorporating ripping female riders into mountain bike films, but at least we're seeing some progress.

We're working on bringing Latitudes to Freeride Foundation, but in the meantime, you can grab a copy at DH-Productions.com.

Holiday Shipping Calendar

Starting Sunday, December 7, all orders to the US, Canada, and Mexico that total $75 and more will receive free shipping through the end of the year. (Normally orders over $100 ship free!).

US and Canadian deliveries that ship via Basic Ground will be guaranteed by Christmas if the order is placed by Friday, December 12.

US deliveries that ship via Express will be guaranteed by Christmas if the order is placed by Monday, December 22 at 3:00pm MST.

All international deliveries (including Canada and Mexico) that ship via Priority or Express will be guaranteed by Christmas if the order is placed by Wednesday, December 17 at 3:00pm MST.

We can expedite any shipment, for additional postage. Just call or email us when you place your order! (jackie@freeridefoundation.com)

Happy shopping!

2009 Mob in Mojave Offers More Bang for Your Buck!

Downhill Mike is promoting the Mob in Mojave downhill, dual slalom, and Super D races at Bootleg Canyon, NV on February 14-15, 2009. This race is the first on the USAC Mountain Bike National Gravity Calendar. Downhill Mike is doing his best to make your trip to the desert totally fun and affordable.

First, the total downhill registration fee is $75, and that includes shuttles on Saturday and Sunday. Friday's shuttles are $20. There will be 3 shuttle vehicles available, so you'll get plenty of practice runs in.

Next, Pro Women will receive cash payouts for 1st-3rd, starting at $450 for first. All other classes receive prizes for 1st-3rd.

The dual slalom course will feature a "Y" format, with a shared finish. It should be super fun to race and to watch!

Also, Gene Hamilton will be setting up a special 2-day race clinic beginning on 2-13-09, to help you get ready for Bootleg's gnarly terrain.

For more information about the Mob in Mojave, visit www.downhillmike.com.

Nema Tees Are Here!

Our first Nema products arrived today. We received the Brite T-shirt and the Phoebe T-shirt. Nema's downhill pants, freeride jerseys, and shorts will get here in a few months. In the meantime, enjoy the tees and check out Nema's 2009 gravity Contingency Program.

Holiday Bash at the SDGC This Weekend

Not ready to put away the downhill bike yet? Join the Stump Grinder Dirt Club in Los Olivos, CA this weekend for their Holiday Bash race. There's a dual slalom on Saturday and a downhill race on Sunday! Click here for more info.

Australian National Series #2 Results

The downhill and 4x crew came together in Illinbah, Australia this weekend for the second stop of the Australian National Series. Claire Buchar has moved her winter training from SoCal to Down Under, and took the downhill win in super muddy conditions. Caroline Buchanan continues to rule 4x, taking her second win in the series.

Downhill
Elite Women
1. Claire Buchar
2. Leigh Douglas
3. Caroline Buchanan
4. Claire Whiteman
5. Sarah Booth
6. Cara Smith
7. Emma Lewis
8. Shannon Chugg
9. Jayne Rutter
10. Samantha Gambrill
11. Leonie Picton

Women Under 19
1. Emily Hockey
2. Danielle Beecroft
3. Bec Kirss
4. Jaz Rosa

4x
Elite Women
1. Caroline Buchanan
2. Sarsha Huntington
3. Kylie Maduna
4. Cherie Simpson
5. Tanya Bailey
6. Vanessa Thompson
7. Danielle Beecroft
8. Shannon Jobson

We found these results on CyclingNews.com.

Tracy Moseley Signs with Trek

Tracy Moseley is officially off of Kona and onto Trek!

Here's a blurb from the press release on Trek's website:

Today the speculation on the six-rider line up for the new Trek-sponsored World Cup program reaches a conclusion with the announcement that 29-year old Tracy Moseley from the UK has signed up to ride a Session 88 in 2009.

Tracy is one of the greatest downhillers in the sport's history and has a place in a very exclusive club of only five downhill riders, male or female, to have won 10 or more World Cup races in their career. Tracy has won her 10 World Cup races between 2002 and 2008, with two of those victories taking place in the past season at the Fort William and Canberra rounds.

Tracy joins World #5 Justin Leov (NZL) and South African Andrew Neethling, as well as XC teammates Lukas and Mathias Flueckiger (SUI), and fellow countryman (and near neighbor), Liam Killeen.

On the announcement, Tracy said today: "I am really excited to have this great opportunity to ride on a new exciting bike from 2009, and with a great team around me to give me all the support I'll need to further improve. I'm also really happy to have two great guys to ride with as I believe that is really important for my ongoing development as a racer. These three things combined, the new bike, the team support and my teammates, will make a big difference to me."

Click here to read the entire press release on Trek's site.

This Week Only: Free Domestic Shipping on All Orders!

To kick off the interweb shopping season, we're offering free US shipping on all orders placed during the first week of December. Just choose the Free Shipping option at checkout. Expedited shipping rates will be offered as well. Also, you'll see increased discounts on many items throughout the site. Click here to start shopping and building your riding kits for next season!

This Week's Gift for Gravity Girls: Twin Six Tops and Socks

Are you gift shopping for your BFF (Best Freeride Friend)? Maybe you're sending subtle hints to your significant other about which goodies you really, really, really want? Or perhaps you're that significant other and you're desperately looking for the perfect gift? What really matters is that you've come to the right place. Each week we'll post a new No-Brainer Gift for Gravity Girls. Not only will these packages make shopping quick and easy, but they'll also save you a few bucks in the process! Joy!

This week's addition to the Gravity Girls' Gift Guide is the Twin Six Tops and Socks Gift Pack. This package lets you pair a Twin Six Masher or Two Wheels for Life t-shirt with the Skull or 3-inch Argyle socks. You'll save more than $4 when you buy these items together.

December's Featured Rider: Katrina Strand

It's hard to discuss Canadian downhill riders without mentioning Katrina Strand. She's a Whistler, BC local who has dedicated her career to gravity riding. Katrina and Claire Buchar are the Candian DH Girls, and the two were ranked 19th in Decline Magazine's 26 Most Influential People in Mountain Biking earlier this year. When Katrina's not racing World Cups or Canadian Nationals, she coaches other athletes through her business, Katrina Strand Fitness Coaching. Oh, and can someone get this girl a frame sponsor?--FF

Name: Katrina Strand
Home: Whistler, BC
Age: You can only be young once, but you can be immature forever?!
Favorite type of riding: Downhill! But there isn’t any type of biking that I don’t like – you’ll see me at the dirt jumps and the velodrome, riding cross country, all mountain , BMX, and road
Why you ride: Challenge, adventure, fun
Sponsors: Oakley, Maxxis, Shimano, Mavic, Fox Shox, Crank Brothers, Syncros, Dakine, e13, Giro, Fizik, Whistler Bike Park, Evolution Bike Shop, Peak Performance Massage Therapy
Website: CanadianDHGirls.com

On a rainy summer day in 1997, my best buddy Lisa Lefroy and I grabbed her dad’s cruisers and brought them up the Whistler Mountain Bike Park. We were the only people out there, slip and sliding the whole way down. At the end of the day, we were scrapped, bruised, muddy and happy. Shortly after I bought my first mountain bike!

When I first started mountain biking, my intentions were %100 genuine. I loved being outside with my friends, riding trails, going on adventures, and challenging myself. Ten years later, I have traveled all over the world with my bike – from South America to Jamaica, Europe, Australia, and New Zealand. I have represented Canada at the World Championships, had top-three finishes at the Canadian National Championships, and top-15 results at World Cups. I have written several media and editorial projects, been in countless marketing campaigns and magazine articles, coached thousands of people and co-created the only women’s-only freeride event in existence, The Gala.

Through all of this, my intentions remain the same – I ride because I love to ride! All of this came through being passionate about mountain bikes. I work hard because I want to work hard. It has not been glamorous in any way. I have, for lack of a better expression, worked my ass off! But, I love it. I am so lucky to have found my passion – so when the hurdles get big, it doesn’t scare me away, it only makes me jump higher.

I’m starting off 2009 with a trip overseas to Australia and New Zealand. As for the rest of the year, I’m not so sure yet. I am still working on a frame sponsor so we’ll have to see. But whatever happens, the future looks bright. I’ll always be a rider and I will always be out there, riding in the woods, looking for the next adventure, pushing my limits and laughing with my friends.

New Twin Six Jerseys and Tees Are in Stock!

We just received Twin Six's latest jersey design, The Masher, as well as their new Masher t-shirt and Two Wheels for Life t-shirt. In addition, we've restocked quite a few of our best selling Twin Six classics, which are currently on sale. Click here to check out the entire Twin Six line on Freeride Foundation!

17th Annual Southridge Challenge Downhill Results

Maxine Irving set her camera down and rolled into the start gate to handily win the 17th Annual Southridge Challenge downhill race this weekend. This race, which was held at Southridge Park in Fontana, CA, was the final event on the Soutridge USA 2008 race calendar. The Winter Series downhill and 4x races start January 10-11, 2009.

Pro Women
1. Maxine Irving
2. Kim Hard
3. Joy Martin
4. Christine Hirst
5. Sarah Jansen
6. Vaea Verbeeck
7. Jill Hamilton

Expert Women 34 & Under
1. Francine Johnson
2. Erika Noel

Expert Women 35+
1. Laura Noonan
2. Nancy Harris
3. Erica Phillips

Sport Women 34 & Under
1. Margaret Gregory

Sport Women 35+
1. Carla Bray

Beginner Women 35+
1. Lala Mijares

2009 Sea Otter Road Trip!

Allie and I are always looking for ways to get to more races and save money while doing it. We figure that there are more people out there like us. So, we're putting together a 2009 Sea Otter Road Trip.

Save money by traveling with a fun group of riders! Save time by letting us work out the travel and lodging details! Rooms are already filling up, so we'll guarantee you're not sleeping in the dirt. Tell your friends. Boys and cross country or road racers are welcome too!

• You'll get a ride to the race from Park City, or various points along I-80, 5 nights of lodging at Holiday Inn Express, rides to and from the race venue every day, and a ride back home.
• 12 spaces are available.
• The fee includes gas and full insurance coverage on the rental van and drivers.
• The van will leave early in the morning on Wednesday, April 15, 2009 from Park City, UT and arrive that evening in Monterey, CA.
• The van will leave early in the morning on Monday, April 20, 2009 from Monterey, CA and arrive that evening in Park City, UT.
• If you live outside of Park City or Salt Lake, you can travel there and then hop in the van!
• Each rider may bring a maximum of 2 bikes.
• The $385 rate is valid through Dec. 31. On January 1, 2009, the fee will increase to $475 to account for increased room rates.


• Compare the $385 to camping at the venue for $70/night ($280 for 4 nights), $319 to fly from SLC to Monterey (travelocity.com), or putting more than 1,800 miles on your own vehicle.

Click here to find out more and/or to reserve your spot!

Springy Thingies: Learning about Suspension

Not only do we want you to look hot when you're riding your bike, but we also want you to look (act, and ride) like you know what you're doing out there. Most experienced riders have learned the ins and outs of their bike's suspension. However, it takes a bit of tinkering to figure it all out. Tinkering with your ride can seem like a sketchy operation, and so we've enlisted some guidance.

We've consulted with Fox Racing Shox's Elayna Caldwell about some suspension basics. This article is the first in a series. Once you pass the online quiz, we'll move on to more in-depth material. (Ha! There's no quiz, but there will be a follow-up article!).

Elayna Caldwell is the Marketing Manager at Fox Racing Shox. She's been riding bikes since 1991 and she has some mad hot-dog-eating skillz too.

"I love all kinds of riding, I really love my Swobo Folsom cruiser for around town, it has a coaster brake and I can skid." She says. "I love singletrack of any kind. 'Extreme cross country' is a term I like, little bits of air here and there but I am not really rad. I’d rather not be in body armor and a full face, would rather be in baggies and a t-shirt. Yes, I said T-shirt."

FF: Even though suspension is the main reason we love riding downhill and trail bikes, it seems like this component is often overlooked. Maybe we set up our suspension when we pick up the bike at the shop, but then never touch it again. How can riders benefit from properly adjusted suspension, and at the most basic level, how can you tell if your suspension setup needs some adjustment?

EC: Suspension is the most important part of any bike. You are lucky if the shop sets it up for you. Most women I see have improperly set-up suspension. It is usually far too stiff. Whenever I give a clinic, I like to reinforce to women that they should "play" with their suspension. You won't break it.

A properly set-up bike allows greater rider confidence. Your wheels will track better and your bike will respond appropriately. For example, if you have too much air or too stiff of a coil spring in your fork or shock, when you hit a bump, it will not absorb it as well and it will feel harsh. A properly set up bike will absorb the bump and feel smoother.

FF: Is basic suspension adjustment something that the average rider can do themselves, or should riders visit a shop to make these changes?

EC: Yes, you can do it yourself and please do. Every suspension company should have a ‘how to’ set-up guide in the owner’s manual. If you can’t find your owner’s manual, it is all on the website. Set-up is explained very well on Fox's service site.

FF: There are a lot of terms that apply to suspension. What does each term refer to, and how does it affect the feel of the bike?

Travel – The amount of (inches or centimeters) a fork or shock can move. For example our F120 RLC has 120mm or 4.7 inches of travel.

Rebound – All suspension does two things: it compresses (when it goes down) and it rebounds (when it comes back up). I know that is super over-simplified, and not very technical. All of the adjustments on a fork or shock control the speed at which those two things occur.
Compression (High vs low?) – This is my easy way of explaining and how I understand it when the engineers explain it to me.

High Speed Compression means the speed at which the fork or shock is moving is fast. So, you could be going fairly slowly off of a big jump, and when you the ground and your fork and shock compress very quickly, you just experienced High Speed Compression.
Low Speed Compression means that the speed the fork or shock is moving is slow. You could be riding pretty fast over some tiny little bumps, but your suspension is not moving very quickly. That is Low Speed Compression.

Damping (or is it dampening?) – Oh, thank you for asking. It is Damping. Dampening is to make something wet. That reminds me of my favorite sticker: "your stupid" [get it?]. Anyway, damping is what controls the speed of a fork or shock's rebound and compression. For example, our 40 RC2 downhill fork has a cartridge in the right leg called the Damper. You would not believe how much time the engineers spend working on this. Good damping is what separates a good fork or shock from a mediocre one. However, if improperly set up, it won't feel good.

Other important terms?
Sag – And no, we are not talking about boobs. This is the most important thing about set-up and how to set up. Sag is the amount your suspension moves when you sit on your bike in the garage. Typically, and this varies from bike to bike, so check your owners manual, you want about 25-30% of the available travel to sag when you do the garage test.

So you have a 6-inch travel bike like a Nomad, for example. the fork probably has about 160mm or 6.3 inches of travel. When you sit on your bike with your full weight and put your feet on the pedals, you want it to compress about 2 inches. If it does not move that much, you need to take air out or change the coil in your fork, depending on if you have an air spring or a coil spring. If it moves too much, you need to add air or change to a firmer spring. You will need a friend to help you with this. They need to hold the bike while you are on it, and they can mark the stanchion (fork's upper tube) with a Sharpie to see how much sag you have. The same goes for rear shocks.

We'll get intimate with the bits and pieces that make up your suspension next month! Oooh!

A Sweet Deal: BetterRide and Freeride Foundation

Freeride Foundation has teamed up with Gene Hamilton's BetterRide mountain bike camps to offer special pricing for the Women's Downhill Camp, February 27-March 1, 2009 at Bootleg Canyon, NV.

The 3-day camp normally costs $599, but if you sign up by November 30 and mention you're with us, you'll get a 15% discount ($90). If you can't make it work by the 30th, sign up by January 5th and get a 10% discount. Click here to sign up!

The El Rancho Motel is the recommended lodging, and we'd like to help everyone attending to share rooms to save even more cash! If you'd like to bring a friend or three along, don't worry--you can all get the discounted Freeride Foundation clinic rate!

This Week's Gift for Gravity Girls: Stars and Bars Gift Pack

Are you gift shopping for your BFF (Best Freeride Friend)? Maybe you're sending subtle hints to your significant other about which goodies you really, really, really want? Or perhaps you're that significant other and you're desperately looking for the perfect gift? What really matters is that you've come to the right place. Each week we'll post a new No-Brainer Gift for Gravity Girls. Not only will these packages make shopping quick and easy, but they'll also save you a few bucks in the process! Joy!

This week's addition to the Gravity Girls' Gift Guide is the Stars and Bars Gift Pack. This package includes the Sombrio Lofter jersey, the Harlot Logo socks, and the Kona Supreme gloves. Buying the Stars and Bars Pack saves you $30 over buying each piece on its own.

The FOMO Effect

FOMO, according to Yeti's Ariel Lindsley and Abby Hippely, is the acronym for the "fear of missing out." Ariel explained this phenomenon last summer when discussing the need to pack motos, downhill bikes, and cross country bikes for a weekend trip to the Sierra foothills. The need to over-pack stemmed from the FOMO. What if everyone else was riding motos, but he and Abby had only brought bikes? And what if someone wanted to go to Northstar after an early morning cross country ride?

The FOMO's are felt far beyond choosing which equipment to haul around the country. Remember the last time you rode at your local resort with your favorite riding buddies? And remember when you were so tired that you could barely wrap your fingers around your grips and you were ready to call it quits? But then, the posse decided take another run, and you went too, even though you knew you'd ride like poo? My dear, you experienced the FOMO. The thought of all of your friends hanging out on the chairlift without you, and riding your favorite trail while you sat at the bottom by yourself, was too much to bear. You sucked it up and rode like poo, just so you could make sure that nothing cool happened without you.

The FOMO isn't necessarily a bad thing. Sometimes it's what motivates us to try something new or to get out and ride when we had planned on taking the day off. And if you have the room to travel with every toy in the garage, your recreational options while on the road are limitless.

The FOMO effect schooled me today, though. After two weeks of cold, rainy, and snowy weather, the sun came out all day yesterday. Temperatures reached the mid-50s today. I decided it was time to pedal. I haven't ridden in two weeks, and 3 hours of singletrack shredding sounded like the perfect way to spend my Saturday afternoon. Besides, if I didn't get out to ride today, tomorrow, and Monday, I might not get to ride dirt again until spring. FOMO!

Two hours and 20 pounds of mud later, a comment made by Gob Bluth of Arrested Development was stuck in my head: "I've made a huge mistake." By the time my wheels stopped rolling due to mud the consistency of a Frosty, blended with mini-sticks and scrub oak leaves, it seemed silly for me to reverse my direction on what I knew was a loop. The FOMO struck again! Had I simply retreated, I would have saved myself 1.5 hours of hiking, sliding, and stopping to de-mud-ify my drivetrain and tires. But no, I was convinced that tacky sand and hours of fun were waiting just up the trail and around the corner, so I pressed on. Of course, the slimy conditions never changed.

This lesson is one that I've learned before. How could the trails actually be dry two days after two weeks of precipitation and freezing temperatures? The FOMO's pull proved too strong to resist. Acknowledging the FOMO's existence may be the first step toward preventing it from landing me in more undesirable situations. The second step will be to not give in to its incredible power. At least now I know that I am not going to miss out on anything by going for a run tomorrow.

Race 4 Tara 2 Results

Last weekend, Sand Hill Ranch in Brentwood, CA hosted a day of mountaincross racing to benefit Tara Llanes. The event raised over $8500 for her! Lainey Aldridge won the event for the Pro Women for the second year in a row. Only the top 4 riders are listed in the results, which can be found at SandHillRacing.com.

Pro Women
1. Lainey Aldridge
2. Tasa Herndon
3. Kelly Moore
4. Rosie Bernhard

Amateur Women
1. Sandra Ross
2. April Malvino
3. Juliana Quintero
4. Glenda Barnhart

Mongoose Hillbilly Bike Bash Results

The first-ever Hillbilly Bike Bash went down in history at Vail Lake Resort, CA last weekend. After dabbling in cross country and endurance racing for the last few years, Stephanie Gaudreau returned to her Pro Downhill form with a decisive win. For more information on the event, visit PCAMTB.com. Yee-ha!

Downhill
Pro Women
1. Stephanie Gaudreau
2. Joy Martin
3. Christine Hirst
4. Sarah Jansen

Expert Women
1. Nancy Harris
2. Jill Hamilton

Sport Women
1. Erica Phillips
2. Lisa Tucker

2nd Freeride Foundation Flyer Emails on Friday!

The Freeride Foundation Flyer, (or the FFFlyer) mails again on Friday, November 14. The Flyer is chock full of goodies like sale announcements, product previews, and some more stuff that I'll come up with later, but that you definitely won't want to miss. This newsletter will be mailed only to current Freeride Foundation customers and account holders who choose to receive it.

If you want to be on that exclusive list, click here and create an account. Be sure you've subscribed to the newsletter! Current customers, now's a great time to log into your account and confirm that you're subscribed as well.

Plattekill's Final Downhill Race of 2008

The last race Plattekill's season was held in Roxbury, NY this weekend. The race was also the final race of the New York State Downhill Championship Series. Kristine Koch took her first Pro/Expert win at the double-points race. Vicki Koch held onto her significant points lead to win the overall Pro/Expert Women's series. Click here to view the entire series points and rankings.

Downhill Race
Pro/Expert
1. Kristine Koch
2. Vicki Koch

Junior Beginner
1. Taylor Allison

Freeride Foundation Is Going Global!

I just finished setting up international shipping options for Freeride Foundation! Since my brain is officially fried from this project, I'm reproducing our own press release below. Pass it on!


Freeride Foundation—the first and only online retail store dedicated to female gravity addicts—wants women the world over to look and feel their best while shredding singletrack. This unique website now ships women’s-specific downhill and freeride clothing and gear to 68 countries. Due to increasing requests to ship products internationally, Freeride Foundation has increased its sales area from the US and Canada to all of North America, Western Europe, South Africa, Australia, New Zealand, Argentina, Chile, and Brazil. All of Freeride Foundation’s current brand offerings (Sombrio, Harlot, Twin Six, and Kona) are available for international purchase.

“We are excited to offer our growing product selection to women around the world. This expansion is timely as well, since Australia and New Zealand’s racing season is now in full swing,” says Jackie Baker, Freeride Foundation’s owner and founder. “The gravity disciplines are hugely popular in regions we’ve targeted. Now women in these areas can easily purchase the finest downhill and freeride clothing.”

Freeride Foundation now offers several shipping options to all customers. USPS Express delivers products within 1-2 days domestically and 6 days internationally. USPS Global Express delivers products internationally in 1-3 days. All orders totaling $100+ ship for free to the US, Canada, and Mexico. All other international orders totaling $200+ ship via USPS Express for just $20.

Freeride Foundation’s goal is to provide women with a comprehensive catalog of downhill and freeride clothing and gear in an inviting and entertaining environment. In addition to carrying women’s riding clothes from the industry’s top brands, the website offers an online community for gravity girls. To see if Freeride Foundation ships to your location, and to join the Freeride Foundation online community, visit www.freeridefoundation.com.

Buy The Way Bobby Sees It on Freeride Foundation!

Just in time for chilly weather and shorter days, we're bringing in some sweet riding movies. The first movie to arrive is Poison Oak Production's documentary, The Way Bobby Sees It. We reviewed this movie earlier this year, and now you can own it. Or, give this inspirational DVD as a gift! It's perfect for anyone--whether or not they ride bikes.
Click here to buy your copy!

DirtRag Women's Weekend at Ray's Indoor Mountain Bike Park

Set aside the dates of February 20-22, 2009 and book your tickets to Cleveland, Ohio! The annual DirtRag Women's Weekend at Ray's Indoor Mountain Bike Park is set to go off! We'll post more details as we get them.

Just know that if you show up in Northeast Ohio that weekend, you'll be greeted with loads of fun riding, great riders and coaches, and maybe even a super-sick non-Women's-Weekend-sanctioned night skiing session at my alma mater, Brandywine. Oh, we know you want to travel to the Heartland now!

Happy Election Day!

Yeah! I doubt any US citizen could possibly have forgotten what day it is, but just in case: It's time to vote (if you haven't already)! Grab a Bike mag and a Decline mag (it may be a long wait), and go exercise your rights!

Australian National Series Downhill #1 Results

Claire Whiteman won the first downhill race of the Australian National Series, which was held in Adelaide, South Australia on November 1st and 2nd. The next round of the Series takes place November 29-30 and includes 4x and downhill. More information on the series can be found at NationalSeries.com.au.

Elite Women
1. Claire Whiteman
2. Leigh Douglas
3. Sarah Booth
4. Cara Smith
5. Emma Lewis
6. Leonie Picton
7. Lea Harley
8. Joanne Fox
9. Jayne Rutter
10. Shannon Chugg

Women Under 17
1. Em Hockey
2. Bec Kriss
3. Jaz Rosa
4. Christie Batt

Women Under 19
1. Shelly Flood

Masters Women
1. Carol Moore

Veteran Women
1. Julie Harris
2. Melanie Spurling

The Inside Scoop: Neven's Collegiate Nationals

It's always interesting to discover what "really" happens at races. Without actually attending the race, watching a Freecaster broadcast, or getting a complete report from a racer, it's easy to take a list of results at face value. Yet you know that every rider out there has a story about how they crashed, narrowly avoided crashing, or had the most amazing and glorious race runs of their lives.

Collegiate racing tends to bring out even more of these stories because it's just so much fun. This year's National Championships took place in Banner Elk, NC. Neven Steinmetz trekked across the country with the University of Colorado cycling team and her sights set on a Dual Slalom Collegiate National Champion's jersey, and perhaps one in downhill too.

On paper, Neven should have been a ringer for the dual slalom title, and was a strong contender for a downhill win too. However, an untimely bailout at the crux of the downhill course during pre-race practice on Saturday ended her chances for downhill domination.

Says Neven, "It was just super muddy and slick. I knew I was going to crash, so it was either endo into some rocks or try and bail over the berm--as it turns out, also into rocks! I thought it might just be sprained and tried to ride down, but I had to put my foot out moto-style at one point because it was so muddy. When I felt the bones move, I knew I wasn't going to be racing the DH an hour later!"

Still, the dual slalom was more than 24 hours away. Being the focused athlete that she is, Neven decided to take her chances and attempt to snag her dual slalom win. We don't want to suggest that it's a good idea to race bikes when you know you're broken. Not only is it easier to cause more damage to the already broken parts, but it's pretty easy to throw yourself on the ground again and end up with more than one broken limb. Neven knew she was taking a chance that might send her into the operating room, but she was willing to deal with the possible consequences for the sake of another University of Colorado win.

In the true spirit of collegiate cycling, her CU teammates borrowed a wagon and pulled Neven up the hill to her heats. She made it through the rounds and finished 4th. More impressive was the fact that she managed to minimize the harm done to her heavily wrapped and air-casted kankle by running one clipless pedal and one flat pedal. She gimped her way back to Boulder to receive the good news that no surgery would be required--just 6 weeks of crutches plus some rehab.

So kids, the morals of the story here are: Stay in School!; Don't Try This at Home!; and When in Doubt, Have Your Friends Pull You Up the Hill in a Wagon!

November's Featured Rider: Nadia Steinbrecher

By day, Nadia Steinbrecher is a home health care nurse, but when she’s not tending to those in need she’s quickly becoming one of the best female freeriders in the country. Nadia can also be found studying nutrition at Colorado State University or shredding skate parks and dirt jumps. Nadia has an affinity for Ray’s Indoor Mountain Bike Park in Cleveland, OH, and she is always stoked to coach girls through tricks and stunts. Nadia didn’t start riding when she was 21, so we know she has plenty more tricks up her sleeves!--FF

Name: Nadia Steinbrecher
Home: Fort Collins/Boulder, CO
Age: 26
Favorite type of riding: Street/Park, Flowy singletrack, JUMPING!
Why you ride: It keeps me smiling, sane, and fit.
Sponsors: Black Market bikes, Girth, Deity components, Atomlab, Fox Shox, Kenda, 661

When I’m riding a trail, I don’t look for the fastest line--I look for the most fun one. Anyone who’s ever ridden behind me can tell you that I jump over everything I possibly can and wallride things that probably weren’t meant to be, well, wallridden.

With “freeride,” I feel like I get to express myself more on my bike. I’ve always been a creative person and I get so inspired watching BMX and Moto and I just enjoy doing tricks. I like showing the world that mountain biking involves more than spandex and dudes with shaved legs, and I hope I can inspire more girls to get their bikes off the ground and trying new things.

I ride because it clears my mind, I’ve made some amazing friends along the way, I get to travel, and I absolutely love it. I also like being able to do tricks that most boys don’t know how to do.

I’m such a girly-girl outside of riding. Before I got into bikes I was going to school for fashion design (I love to sew). My shoe and purse collection is embarrassingly huge! I’m also really into music (my vinyl collection rivals the shoe/purse assortment) and I play bass guitar. I’m working on my degree in nutrition right now, so I guess I’m interested in food too. I was never really much of an athlete before I started riding bikes, but this sport has brought out a side of me that I never knew existed.

Being able to relax and enjoy yourself while riding is key. I know personally that it can be very intimidating for girls (especially when you’re first starting out) to ride with guys (especially really good ones). I used to get so nervous before and during rides and just work myself up over nothing. I wasn’t having fun at all. Then one day I realized that riding bikes was not equivalent to root canals or a chemistry test and I started to enjoy myself so much more. Learning skills suddenly became fun and interesting.

Martha Hucker: Say It Fast

The Internet is a wonderful place. Through the magic of the interweb, the New Zealand blog-site Martha Hucker managed to find us. And we couldn't be more stoked to be connected to this awesome site, which is dedicated to women's riding. They put our blog to shame with their exclusive interviews and insights, but that's why we're telling you to check them out (and hey, we're busy trying to keep you stocked with super sweet riding kits). You'll definitely learn a thing or two about your favorite female riders from all over the world. We even found a sweet video of Colorado's Tammy Donahugh (see below). Thanks, Martha Hucker!

Speaking of all over the world, we're currently working to implement international shipping options on Freeride Foundation. We hope to have everything up and running by the middle of November!

2008 Collegiate National Mountain Bike Championships

The 2008 USA Cycling Collegiate National Mountain Bike Championships were held this weekend in Banner Elk, North Carolina. Hosted by Lees-McRae College, the Nationals consisted of dual slalom, short track, cross country, and downhill races for Division 1 and Division 2 schools. Fort Lewis dominated the Division 1 podiums. Emma Millar took home National Championship title in Division 1 Downhill, while Chloe Jackson from Lees-McRae won the Division 1 Dual Slalom. Robyn Embrey won the Division 2 Downhill, and Johanna Tuttle won the National Championship title in Division 2 Dual Slalom.

We found these results on CyclingNews.com and USACycling.org.

Downhill
Division 1
1. Emma Millar (Fort Lewis College)
2. Sage Wilderman (Fort Lewis College)
3. Alisha Gibson (Fort Lewis College)
4. Hannah Trimble (Lees-McRae College)
5. Soraya Khalje (University of Colorado-Boulder)
6. Eszter Horanyi (University of Colorado-Boulder)
7. Sabina Kraushaar (Fourt Lewis College)
8. Carla Swart (Lees-McRae College)
9. Chloe Jackson (Lees-McRae College)
10. Andrea Kelchlin (Northeastern University)
11. Heather McFadden (Chico State)
12. Jamie Dinkins (University of Tennessee)
13. Ally Stacher (Lees-McRae College)
14. Kristi Henne (Lees-McRae College)
15. Olivia Maurey (Lees-McRae College)
16. Abigail Caroll (University of Colorado-Boulder)
17. Brittany Engleking (University of Colorado-Boulder)
18. Margaret Sullivan (Northeastern University)
19. Sarah Lukas (Lindsey Wilson College)
20. Sara Hanson (Virginia Polytechnic)
21. Emily Benson (Lindsey Wilson College)

Division 2
1. Robyn Embrey (Sierra Nevada College)
2. Johanna Tuttle (Brevard College)
3. Christen Boyer (Colorado School of Mines)
4. Jamie Bourgo (Michigan Technological University)
5. Rebecca Tomszewski (Appalachian State University)
6. Naticia Slusher (Mesa State College)
7. Courtney Steen (Colorado School of Mines)
8. Lauren Parker (Warren Wilson College)
9. Sarah Sietz (Union College)
10. Julia Tellman (Brevard College)
11. Tallulah Winquist (Warren Wilson College)
12. Melissa Marts (Colorado School of Mines)
13. Hanna Waldman (Warren Wilson College)
14. Nina Otter (Warren Wilson College)
15. Ileana Anderson (Warren Wilson College)
16. Amanda Gilbert (Appalachian State University)
17. Amy Russell (Union College)
18. Rachel Millsop (Union College)
19. Sarah Roberts (Colorado School of Mines)

Dual Slalom
Division 1
1. Chloe Jackson (Lees-McRae College)
2. Emma Millar (Fort Lewis College)
3. Sage Wilderman (Fort Lewis College)
4. Neven Steinmetz (University of Colorado-Boulder)
5. Alisha Gibson (Fort Lewis College)
6. Hannah Trimble (Lees-McRae College)
7. Carla Swart (Lees-McRae College)
8. Ashley Grubb (Fort Lewis College)
9. Oliva Maurey (Lees-McRae College)
10. Sarah Lukas (Lindsey Wilson College)
11. Eszter Horanyi (University of Colorado-Boulder)
12. Sabina Kraushaar (Fort Lewis College)
13. Kristi Henne (Lees-McRae College)
14. Jamie Dinkins (University of Tennessee-Chattanooga)
15. Heather McFadden (Chico State)
16. Ally Stacher (Lees-McRae College)
17. Brittany Engleking (University of Colorado-Boulder)
18. Soraya Khalje (University of Colorado-Boulder)
19. Andrea Kelchlin (Northeastern University)
20. Emily Benon (Lindsey Wilson College)
21. Margaret Sullivan (Northeastern University)
22. Abigail Carroll (University of Colorado-Boulder)

Division 2
1. Johanna Tuttle (Brevard College)
2. Robyn Embrey
3. Jamie Bourgo (Michigan Technological University)
4. Christen Boyer (Colorado School of Mines)
5. Rachel Millsop (Union College)
6. Hanna Waldman (Warren Wilson College)
7. Rebecca Tomaszewski (Appalachian State University)
8. Courtney Steen (Colorado School of Mines)
9. Julia Tellman (Brevard College)
10. Vanessa Emery (Warren Wilson College)
11. Lauren Parker (Warren Wilson College)
12. Nina Otter (Warren Wilson College)
13. Melissa Marts (Colorado School of Mines)
14. Ileana Anderson (Warren Wilson College)
15. Sarah Seitz (Union College)
16.Naticia Slusher (Mesa Sate College)
17. Tallulah Winquist (Warren Wilson College)
18. Amy Russell (Union College)
19. Sarah Roberts (Colorado School of Mines)
20. Amanda Gilbert (Appalachian State University)

Jeep 48Straight Finale

Fionn Griffiths won the final race of the Jeep 48Straight Series in San Luis Obispo, CA today. She bested Melissa Buhl in the final round. Melissa maintained her overall points lead and walked away with the series title, a heap of cash, and a Jeep! Visit 48Straight.com for more info.

San Luis Obispo
1. Fionn Griffiths
2. Melissa Buhl
3. Kathy Pruitt
4. Lisa Myklak
5. Michelle Rivera
6. Stephanie Nychka
7. Joanna Petterson
8. Leslie Slagle

Race for Tara at Sand Hill Ranch

Sand Hill Ranch in Brentwood, CA is hosting their second Race for Tara on November 8, 2008. Tara Llanes will be there too! Allie and I raced this 4x fiesta last year and it was super fun. Lots of people came out and there was a huge raffle. It sounds like this year's event is going to be even bigger and better. Get out there and Race for Tara! Click here for more information.

Edit to Previous Faux Pas Post

I failed to mention the pros and cons of full face helmets without or without visors. It's commonly accepted that visor-less helmets are not only unsightly, but are a sure sign that someone's recently taken a major digger.
Well, don't take it from me that full face helmets need to have visors, take it from the UCI's list of 2009 World Cup rules:
"Protections in Downhill/4X:
An approved full-face helmet must be worn properly fastened both when racing and when training on the course. The helmet must be fitted with a visor. Open-face helmets may not be worn."
So there!

Avoiding Gravity Gear Faux Pas: From the Top

We want all riders to look and perform their best out there, and that's what this series is all about. It's a community service. The guidelines of fashion are dictated first foremost by safety. You may not violate any of the laws of gravity fashion, but maybe you know people who do. This series could be the intervention they need so that they can keep all of their teeth until they fall out from natural causes.

I briefly touched on helmets and eyewear in our last article, and there are a few things that need a bit of clarification. As long as you're wearing a helmet, it can be a cross country, skate-style, or full face. I definitely wouldn't recommend riding too much downhill gnar in your XC cap, but hey, it could still be the difference between a coherent you and a concussed you.

Allie brought another important point to my attention. Wearing a full face helmet can often prevent tooth, face, and brain injuries while riding dirt jumps, slalom, and BMX tracks. The mouth guard will often hit the dirt first, preventing your jaw from slapping the ground and resulting in the aforementioned tooth loss and/or concussion. We're no scientists here, but there's a reason why athletes who go big usually opt for the full-faces.

I'll stand by the my statement that for safety reasons, you should always wear goggles (not sunglasses) with your full-face or skate-style helmet when riding and racing downhill. When you're pushing 40mph on a fireroad on your downhill rig, nothing protects your baby blues from wind and grit like a pair of goggles. However, it can be a real pain in the rear for prescription wearers to find goggles that'll fit over their glasses, inside their helmets, and prevent fogging. My advice is to keep looking and keep trying on goggles. The last thing you want is to crash, have your $300 prescriptions go flying, and find yourself stranded in the woods with a bunch of big fuzzy brown blobs--any of which could be a tree, a bear, a moose, or a Sasquatch.

Finally, a word about goggles. There is a difference between snow and moto. Snow goggles are designed to insulated from the cold, while using that cold air to vent and prevent fogging. Moto and gravity goggles are meant to be worn in warm temperatures, and use even more venting to prevent fogging. You'll sweat less and be more comfortable when you wear moto-specific goggles. Also, snow goggles usually don't have the grippy rubber on the straps. The grippiness helps to keep your riding goggles from slipping off your helmet while you're po-go-ing down rock gardens and through breaking bumps.

Join us next time for an enthralling discussion about upper body armor.

Click here to read the first installment of Avoiding Gravity Gear Faux Pas.