So far so good with the new camera

So I've played with the camera this weekend. We tried to do a ride yesterday at South Park, but the trails were muddy so we bailed on the ride after our friend, who is a new rider, had a bad crash. She is fine though and a real trooper.

About the camera, The GoPro Hero Wide is actually really easy to use. The various mounts they have will let you put it just about anywhere. The handlebar/seatpost mount doesn't fit my fatty 1.5 inch bars, but I've had this problem with other bar mounted items. If I move it off to the side where it narrows it does fit. The helmet mount, chest mount, headlamp style mount and sticky mounts all use a snap-in type connection, which makes it easy to move from one to the other, but other mounts require you to screw pieces together to get the various angles/postions you might need.

I've found that the transfer rate using the USB cable from the camera is slow, like USB 1.0 devices, but no software or drivers were needed to connect. This also drains your batteries. I opted to pop the memory card out and use a USB card reader to speed up transfers and save the batteries, this was much faster.

The wide angle lens does distort images, but I actually like the effect and being able to get so much into a shot is great. Like they say is does seem more immersive.

The draw back to this is that things look farther away, but that is to be expected.
All in all I give the camera really high marks. So far battery life with the Energizer AAA nmh rechargable batteries.

I'm looking forward to some epic ride footage.
Here is some more test footage I shot.

First test with the GoPro Hero

Testing out the new camera on the ATV.

Woohoo Sponsor goodies!

This website is now sponsored by GoPro Camera!

GoPro makes a small wearable sports camera that is industry's widest 170º wide angle lens and 5 megapixel sensor for the most immersive point of view video and photos possible from a wearable sports camera, period.

I just received a kit from them.

Helmet Hero Wide

Handlebar/Seatpost Mount

Chest Mount

2G SD Card

Ultimate Lithium Batteries

I can't wait to test it out this weekend. Review and video to come soon!

Pa. awards funds for walking, bicycling trails

Pa. awards funds for walking, bicycling trails:
"The state will invest $76 million in 80 transportation projects that will focus on reducing vehicle use and encouraging walking and bicycling, Gov. Ed Rendell announced today"

via Pittsburgh Post-Gazette - click on the link for the full story.

Mountain Bike Rides for Kids 2009! First ride this SUNDAY!

Here is some event news from Holly via PORC. She is dedicated to getting kids into our sport.

Mountain Bike Rides for Kids 2009!
Purpose: To expose kids to the joys of trail riding!
Time: 2-4ish pm
Dates & Locations :
-May 31- Hartwood Acres Park, Mansion Parking Lot
-July 26- North Park, Pie Traynor Field Lot (near pool)
-Aug 30- North Park, Pie Traynoe Field Lot (near pool)
-October 3- Hartwood Acres Park, Mansion Lot (*International Take aKid Mountain Biking Day)

Sponsors: Dirty Harry’s, Pro Bikes, & P.O.R.C.
Thank you to: both shops for providing snacks & prizes for 2 rides &P.O.R.C. for providing our rides with insurance & ride volunteers!

Kids' Need: a bike (in trail shape by 2pm), a helmet, a water bottle(& a way to bring it along), a signed parental release form! (must sign at event)

Ride Specifics:
-Parents are encouraged not to ride with their own children, but areencouraged volunteer to help with the opposite group (other level), orride/walk park with other parents, or return by 4pm.
-Suggested Ages 7-12
-Ride will consist of some basic riding instruction, a 60-80 minutetrail ride, and then a snack/prize giveaway at the end.
-All riders and adults need to be aware of the risks involved inmountain biking.

If you need contact information email me.

24 Hours of Big Bear - Also June 13-14

24 Hours of Big Bear, June 13-14. This conflicts with the 7 Springs downhill race, but it is another great event to see or do.

Hosted by Granny Gear Productions, this is the races 18th year. A lot of Pittsburghers ride in this race, so go down and cheer them on. Big Bear really isn't that far away and there are plenty of places to see the racers.

Full event details here

I didn't make it down there last year, but I did in 2007 and shot this video.

7 Springs - GES Dowhhill Race June 12-14

Seven Springs Mountain Resort - 7 Springs: "Seven Springs Mountain Resort will host the third annual Gravity East Downhill Series, June 12 - 14, 2009! As the premier gravity series in the United States, the GES event at Seven Springs will be the third stop on a circuit of 11 top downhill courses on the East Coast."

Full info here

A Mad March Racing Pre-Race Clinic will be held 8 - 10 a.m., Sat., June 13. Mad March Racing, founded in 1998 by Shaums March, works diligently to provide the best hands-on mountain biking instruction available. Clinics feature detailed instruction by certified personable, professional riders, delivering personalized bike fit with secrets passed down from some of the top pro riders and mechanics in the industry. Participants for this clinic must pre-register online here.

For more information, please call (814) 352-2047. The bike park will be closed to the public during this event, only registered riders will have trail access.

I plan on being there to record the action!

Canaan MTB festival - Davis WV Featuring Sue Haywood

June 26-28
Blackwater Bikes in Davis West Virginia is hosting it's first mountain bike festival in Canaan Valley. This is Sue's home town and she is doing a ladies day on Friday the 26th, There is a $60 dollar cost for the Ladies ride with Sue, which includes your lunch and after ride beverages.
Saturday there are various group rides for a $15 donation which goes to the Tucker Country Trails Club.
There are other events on Sunday too.

Full details at http://www.blackwaterbikes.com/

You can get some downhill in at near by Timberline Four Seasons resort too.
Timberline will open over 3,500 vertical feet of expert level downhill riding. Several hundred acres of open riding areas include 40 foot natural wall rides, bermed downhill logging roads, a downhill single track, a downhill double track, and drops and glade tree runs offering dozens of fine choices.

Great weekend.

What a great weekend!
Rode Hartwood Acres on Saturday. We found a trail we hadn’t ridden before and really liked it. I mixed up the trails we rode and it worked out really well. We had a great ride. Back in the parking lot we met a woman with two red Dobermans. One adult female and a little male puppy. It made our day. Lora always wanted a red one.

We had family over on Sunday. The rain kind of ruined our plans of playing outside and taking a hike, but we were still able to swim and cook out. Jaden is walking now and he loved the dogs and they where loving him back.

Yesterday we did a really good ride at Bavington. The rain Sunday must have completely missed Bavington, because it was super dry. We parked on haul road and I took Lora on trails she has never been on. We did a big loop around the whole "new side". She was doing awesome. She even rode this big ramped log. Her heart was pounding, but she did great. I got one tick on me in the tall grass, but I saw it pretty quick. We were having such a good time I didn’t realize how much I was sweating and got really dehydrated. It didn’t hit me until we got home, but even today my legs are so sore. I’ll be trying to get fluids back into the muscles all day.

I hope everyone had a good weekend.

Another after work ride this time at Bavington. We rode the old side. The "Figure 8" and "Short & Sweet", both are getting over grown and are in need of some care. One issue with being the first on the trail for the day, spider webs. I ran trough so many I lost count. I was draped in webs when we got back to the car.

It was hot. There was barely a breeze. We got in almost 8 miles before the short trip home. We got pretty scratched up, but it is still better than missing out on a beautiful day like that.

Peace....

7 Springs Downhill Bike Park opens this weekend.

The Bike staff is working hard to get the trails ready for opening weekend May 23-25; our hours will be 10 a.m. - 6 p.m. Saturday, Sunday and Monday.
Downhill Bike Park Seven Springs Mountain Resort - 7 Springs

Ticks give me the heebie geebies

There has been a lot of talk lately about ticks. I myself found one under my arm after my trip to rays town (picture above). You can get a tick on you anywhere there are deer, so that’s pretty much everywhere. The higher the deer population the higher the concentration of ticks will be.

Lyme disease is a serious disease transmitted by the deer tick. Around Pittsburgh we are in a low risk area, but we aren’t far from some moderate and high risk areas. (see map)

Ticks usually attach as you brush tall grass or sit on the ground. They typically grab the hairs on my legs as I’m riding along. The male tick is pretty small, the female tick is larger.

Insect repellent containing DEET will keep them of you, but the best prevention is frequent body checks.

According to the Pennsylvania Game Commission web site it takes 36 hours before the bacteria that causes Lyme disease starts to move from the tick to its host, so you’ve got some time to get them find it and get it off of you. A tick that has been attached for a while will cause soreness and a bullseye type pattern on the skin.

Tick removal:

• Never burn a tick off or squeeze the body. Both of these methods can force the bacteria from the ticks body into yours.


• Use a good pair of pointed tweezers to grab the head of the tick.


• I’ve been told that spraying with a DEET insect repellent will loosen a tick that is fully attached.


• If you remove a tick that has been attached and feeding “KEEP IT”. Pit it in a small container with alcohol and take it to your doctor for testing. If you have been exposed to Lyme disease, early treatment is crucial.

I bought a small wilderness first aid kit at Walmart that I've since improved, but it came with a nice pair of tweezers in a little container that can be used to keep the tick. I carry it in my camelbak. At Raystown Dan Sharp got one on his leg and we were able to use my tweezers to get it out. Jon Pratt captured the tick and tweezers on camera.

I'm sorry if I just freaked you out.

Afterwork SP ride

I had a good after work ride at South Park with Lora, Robin and John Hindenliter. We did almost 11 miles, ice rink loop, golf course, etc. The weather was perfect. There were a few muddy spots, but I think they are spots that will always be muddy. John is waiting for a new headset for his mountain bike so he was riding his cross bike. I’ve never rode a cross bike, but John kept saying how he forgot how much fun that bike was.

Sometimes you just have a really nice ride and this was one of them.

By the way, for those of you who don’t know John, he is an amazing artist. We have several of his original pieces in our home and might be adding a couple more shortly. Why decorate with crap from retail stores when you could decorate with classy stuff from a local artist. It will have so much more meaning.

Take a look at his art for sale website http://johnsart4sale.blogspot.com/
You can look at some of his other work here http://johnhinderliter.blogspot.com/

Team OTB - Pedal Pittsburgh 2009

Pedal Pittsburgh was a great way to spend a Sunday. Hosted by the Community Design Center of Pittsburgh it is a great way to experience the city.

We got up a bit early to drive down to OTB Bicycle café. The plan was to ride and advertise at the same time. OTB had jerseys made. There were 10 of us riding for OTB. If we wore a camel back it would cover the logo so, I strapped a small hiking hip pack to my bars. It was pretty chilly so wore jackets. Lora had the idea of just putting her jersey over our thin jackets, so that’s what we did.

After some morning fuel of bagles, muffins, coffee, juice and a little bike maintenance we decided to head out on our 35 mile ride. Registration and festivities were held at the South Side works. Parking wasn’t a problem, and traffic was really light. It was great to see so many cyclists riding, roadies, mountain bikers, hybrids, cruisers, recumbent and even unicyclists. I think everyone saw the one unicyclist who was riding a 46 inch wheel and he did the 50 mile ride! That is amazing considering some of the hills we had to climb.

Our ride took us all around the city. We went to neighborhoods I haven’t even been to in years, even by car. For the most part traffic was easy to deal with and there are more bike lanes than I knew of. We were going at a casual pace. We had some road bikes with us and mountain bikes. I removed my 3rd ring a long time ago in exchange for a rock guard and was worried I would really need it, but I never really did.

The rest stops provided bananas, chips, apples, oranges, pretzels and Gatorade. There was a bit of a line for the restrooms and one rest stop ran out of water, but all in all support was good. There were repair stations too. After the event there was a bike check in at the South Side Works and free food. We decided to skip the free food and head back to OTB Bicycle Café for some premier food and a drink. One of the greatest pleasures after a good ride is sitting around a big table, talking about the day and having a good laugh or two. Maurice even stopped in and joined us for a while.

It was a perfect end to a great day.
I want to thank Michael, Erin, Marty, everyone at OTB and the awesome members of our team.

Raystown Video

Here it is. Sorry youtube crushed the quality.




Same video posted to Vimeo. You decide which one is better.

Raystown Lake Trails Grand Opening. from Tom Wright on Vimeo.

Slatyfork Women's weekend with Sue Haywood

May 29-30.

This event is just for the ladies. Do you want some great instruction from one of the best mountain bikers ever? Elk River Touring Center is once again hosting the Slatyfork Women's Weekend with Sue Haywood and Meredith Erlewine, a successful mountain biker in her own right.



My wife Lora has been to serveral of these and I went down with her to ride Snowshoe. I got to observe some of the activities and meet everyone. I can tell you that this is a great event for women. You couldn't ask for a more encouraging and interesting person than Sue. The trails at Slatyfork are fantastic. Gil and Mary will make your stay an enjoyable one and you will eat amazing food. Makes me almost want to put on a spandex skort and join the fun. It's a weekend you will remember, from sitting on the back porch with drink, eating home made salsa, to riding the great trails, this is the female event to go to.



All the details can be found here at the Elk River Touring Center event page.

Great events for the weekend.

A couple of great events to do this weekend. Don't sit at home!

Venture Outdoors Festival on Saturday at Point State Park
Venture Outdoors, a local non profit organization, seeks to transform the Pittsburgh region into a place where the outdoors is an integral part of our culture, our identity and our lifestyle. VO does this by increasing participation in outdoor recreational activity. In turn, this creates a sense of community among participants, an increased awareness of the region's excellent quality of life and a better understanding of and deeper appreciation for the environment and wilderness among the residents of and visitors to Western Pennsylvania.
More information at www.ventureoutdoors.org


Pedal Pittsburgh Sunday - Starting at South Side Works
Hosted by the The Community Design Center of Pittsburgh (CDCP), which is a non-profit organization that improves quality of life through good design of the built environment.
More information at www.pedalpittsburgh.org

*You will see us riding with the great people from the OTB Bicycle Cafe.

Video - Just a tease of the Raystown trails.

Raystown recap.

Let me start by saying, you have to go there. The trails we rode were some of the funnest trails I've been on. Great downhills, moderate climbs, whoops, whoops whoops and banked turns.

I was the first to arrive out of the Pittsburgh people, and had my tent setup when others started to arrive. It tried to rain a few times, but all we got was a sprinkle for a few minutes. More people showed up and base camp was setup. Mountain bikers were given a large camping site with individual areas. The whole area was pretty densely packed with tents. Over 200 mountain bikers signed up to camp, and even more came down Saturday.

We started to relax Friday and have a few drinks when it was decided (Joe) that we should go for a ride. We ended up doing a nice 9 mile loop and made it back just as the sun was going down.

Saturday was the day of the events. There were some press events and vendor booths for Trek and Cannondale, plus other outfitters and of course The friends of Raystown Lake which are the ones who put in the trails. There was a Ribbon cutting ceremony with Colonel Mullen from the army core of engineers. I had a helmet camera with me and have some great footage. Rick had one also.

So lets talk about the trails. Even though the trails are relatively new they were pretty firm and there were only a few areas were there was mud and those areas will probably always be muddy due to springs or streams, but they were very brief. The trails were very well laid out and even though you feel like you've been running downhill for miles, there was never a really a bad climb. You always seemed to get a break from climbing right when you needed it. There was one or two short easy rock gardens, but nothing like Laurel Mountain or Big Bear. These trails are all about flow.

The trails are marked and the map is excellent. The trail map is color coded with easiest, moderate and expert, but instead of technical difficulty it more of a speed thing. We rode Rays revenge and it's a blazing fast downhill with jumps that you would expect at a gravity park. I think even an average rider could ride this trail, although at a slow pace. We rode almost every trail on the east side. The west side is still being developed.

We rode around 20-22 miles, I'm not positive as I broke my gps handle bar mount at about 17.5 and I did an extra loop that the others didn't. I was the only one to suffer a flat and even I think it was a freak thing. I believe I hit a small rock on a fast down hill that jumped up on edge and started rolling, then my back tire ran over it. It cut about a 1/4 inch hole in the tire and went flat in about 2 seconds, spitting slime at the same time. The hole was too big to for the slime to seal my tubeless tire, so I took the tire off wiped the slime from that area and applied a couple of patches. Pressure inflator and I was ready to finish the ride.

Back at camp we cooked and ate and then went down for the provided spaghetti dinner, ate some more and liquid libations were had. The wind really picked up and there was tent carnage everywhere, but still no rain. I think it drizzled a off and on a few times during the night, but not even enough to wet the ground. We did did have some tick issues. Dan found one on his leg and I discovered one when I got home today. It was smaller then the head on a straight pin and was trying to attached in my arm pit. It's to be expected when you are camping and romping through the woods.

I can't say enough about how well these trails are made and how much fun they are to ride.

Watch for a lot of video footage soon.

The tents up!

My camp for the next few days. It has spit rain a few times, but nothing more than a few drops. Saw some riders heading out already. More pictures later.
Sent from my BlackBerry

Raystown weather update #2

Just got another weather update for Raystown.

"OK, this will come as a shock to all (it was to me) but the trails are in GREAT SHAPE!!!
We did some recon rides yesterday and with the exception of a few soft spots, there is no, and I repeat no, mud to speak of! Its almost like we knew what were doing with trail design!
Joking aside, yes, we are ready to go this weekend and are excited to see everyone. The forecast is actually getting better for the weekend, we may see that glowing thing in the sky Saturday.
Safe travels and I will see you on the trails!
Frank"

Sitting at doctors

Looks like the poison ivy finally caught up with me. I think getting
sprayed with chainsaw wood chips of trees wrapped in ivy vines last
Wednesday did it. I got a few bumps and now it is getting worse.
But, hey the trail is clear! LOL

I guess I can't say I never get it anymore.

--
Sent from my mobile device

Last day of registration for Raystown.

You have until 12:30 this afternoon if you want to register for the Raystown Grand opening.
So far 171 people have registered.

It's also a stop on on the Dirt Rag World Tour.

I think luck might be on our side and give us a break from the rain. There is only a 30% chance of rain.

Registration page

Happy Cinco de Mayo!

Raystown weather update.

I just got this email from the Raystown people"

"Just wanted to send out a weather update to everyone who has registered so far. As of yesterday, the trails were still dry, the passing showers hadn't effected them at all. It is raining steady today (and now everyone find some wood to knock on) but the forecast for the end of the week is looking better. This is a rain or shine event, the trails drain amazing well by design, but we may need to close certain sections if issues develop on Thursday or Friday.
Thank you everyone for registering, this is going to be a great event!
Frank Maguire"

Some morning trail maintenance at Bavington.

Just me and Ben again, although there were a few other guys who came out to work, but they were doing their own project.

Ben and I worked on cutting back the brush from the trail, so that when it grows back in it won't be as bad. We also worked on a couple of muddy spots by cutting the berms out to let the water drain. One area looks like there might be a natural spring up the hill a little ways feeding it.

It rained while we were out, but it was actually a nice day to do trail maintenance. I saw so many riders in the parking lot at Haul road and Five Points. I just don't understand why more people don't come out to do a little trail maintenance, instead of taking the let someone else do it attitude. Just imagine how great our trails would be if everyone made an effort to take care of them.

I do it because I think it's the right thing to do and there is nothing better than riding a good trail.