Just Bike Talk

Boulder Closes Valmont Bike Park

Submitted by David on

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VALMONT BIKE PARK REMAINS CLOSED UNTIL FURTHER NOTICE

Parks and Recreation Department requests public cooperation in staying off Valmont Bike Park trails to prevent additional damage


The Parks and Recreation Department has closed Valmont Bike Park due to poor trail conditions, and is asking for public cooperation to stay off Valmont Bike Park trails to prevent further damage. Recent running, snowboarding, sledding, dog walking and biking on the trails have caused excessive damage to not only the top surfacing material, but to the base layer as well. The maintenance required to repair this damage is costly and time-consuming and will extend the re-opening date of the park due to the extra surfacing maintenance work.

"Our staff is evaluating trail and feature surfacing daily to determine if any areas of the bike park can be opened, and we will notify the public once those areas open," said Kirk Kincannon, Parks and Recreation Department director. "However, due to moisture deep in the soil and surfacing material, no areas of the park will be opened within the next few days."

Coffee Talk - Increasing Exposure for Professional Women's Cycling

Submitted by Kris Thompson on

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Women's cycling has grown in the past 10 years right? I see and know more women cyclists now than ever before and rides like Venus de Miles and area women's only-ish cycling clubs seem to be exploding around the Front Range but the 2012 Pro Cycling Challenge will not be entertaining a women's field like in the days of the Red Zinger or HP International Cycling Challenge... elite level women's cycling is not matching this growth. The co-founder of Cervelo has an interesting suggestion for raising exposure for women's cycling, Make it mandatory for every WorldTour race to also organize a women’s race. Also on the same article, a commenter going by the name of "Connie" (hey, I think I know a famous cycling Connie) explains the history of women's cycling at the Red Zinger and death of it at the USA Pro Cycling Challenge.

Gauging from comments we got from a similar topic a few months ago on Measuring the Growth of Cycling, many comments stated that it was not role models that drove their passion for cycling but good venues and support from the cycling community. But we ARE influenced by role models, so it begs the question, how do women cycling role models influence our community?

Interview with CyclePassion Models... not the pin-up vid

Cycling Book Suggestions

Submitted by Kris Thompson on

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Looking for some good cycling book suggestions. Please provide the name a a brief reason why you like it in the comments below. I'll tally them all up in a article soon with my own huge cycling library suggestions

Summarizing and categorizing a little

History Books
- **** Hearts of Lions Best book explaining the history of American Cycling, especially track cycling
- **** Major Taylor - Before there was Jackie Robinson there was Major Taylor, amazing cyclist having to conquer amazing social injustices

Fun & Light reads
- **** Bobke and Bobke II Best ab workout while reading a book. You'll laugh non-stop!
- *** Greg Moody's fictional series. There are 4 I think, somewhat mystery style book and some are Colorado based
- ** Yellow Jersey. Someone in the comments liked this... for me it was just TOO fictional. Could not believe the story was possible... but a good read

Other
- **** The Art of Cycling by Robert F. My 2nd favorite book in my entire library!!!! (Hearts of Lions is 1st) Other commenter liked this book.. It is a must for every commuter but really beyond that, every cyclists should read it.

Unpublished

Erie Velodrome continues to move forward

Submitted by Kris Thompson on

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Thanks to the DailyCamera for showing up last night to the Boulder Valley Velodrome Open house.

From the Daily Camera

Emerson, who started up University Bicycles in Boulder nearly 30 years ago, said he's trying to build a "Belgian-style club culture," in which riders of all ages and skill levels could join up in 30-person clubs to take laps around the oval track.

Colby Pearce, a private cycling coach based in Boulder, said he was considering becoming a founding member. There are only three or four other 250-meter tracks in the United States, and with Colorado's thin air, he predicted the Boulder Valley Velodrome will be the country's fastest.

"Track cycling is the most supercharged form of cycling," he said. "It's so easy to go fast, and it's so addictive. There's no traffic, no potholes, no dogs chasing you -- it's just the track and the buddies you're riding with."

Read the full story at Daily Camera

Video from months ago with David Towle and Doug Emerson

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