Backcountry Bike & Ski

Spring Stage Race Road Races

Mountain Bike Alaska — Thu, 23 May 2013 01:03:46 +0000

Get those skinnies ready for the Spring Stage Road Race Series this Friday through Sunday.

24	Fri	7:00 PM	Spring Stage Race Stage 1: Clarks Road Hill Climb
25	Sat	9:00 AM	Spring Stage Race Stage 2: Elmendorf AFB Criterium
25	Sat	3:00 PM	Spring Stage Race Stage 3: Elmendorf AFB Time Trial
26	Sun	9:00 AM	Spring Stage Race Stage 4: Martin Luther King Blvd Circuit Race

It’s a holiday weekend, temperatures are on the rise, the weekend weather forecast is looking good…come enjoy four back-to-back races and earn that rest day on Monday! The stage lineup will be the same as last year:

- Friday evening: Clarks Road Hill Climb. Mass start by category, starting at 7:00pm

- Saturday morning: Elmendorf Criterium. Each category will race for a prescribed amount of time plus one additional lap. First categories start at 9:00am

- Saturday afternoon: Elmendorf Time Trial. Riders depart at 30-second intervals, in reverse order of the overall series standings. Race start is 3:00pm.

- Sunday morning: Martin Luther King Blvd Circuit Race. Criterium format, with categories racing for a prescribed amount of time plus one additional lap. First categories start at 9:00am.

Winners will be recognized for all four individual races as well as the overall series. Just like last year, the series will based on points instead of elapsed time. Details on the points system, including intermediate bonus sprints, will be announced before the race start.

Ready To Ride

Mountain Bike Alaska — Sat, 27 Apr 2013 01:17:58 +0000

The sun is back and bright, the geese and cranes have arrived, and the roads are dry and ready to ride.

The Palmer Spring Classic Randonee Style Road Ride starts Saturday, April 27th, at 9AM at Vagabond Blues. Check in begins at 7:30-9:15am. The cost is $25 and you can choose to do the 50K/100K/or 200K. This is a self-supported ride, all riders should be prepared to take care of mechanicals, nutrition, and hydration for the ride they are choosing to do.

ALL RIDERS PLEASE PARK AT THE MAT-SU BOROUGH BUILDING PARKING LOT, OLD CARR’S PARKING LOT OR ACROSS THE STREET FROM THE BIKE SHOP. DO NOT PARK ON MAIN STREET!!!!!!!!!!!!

Who Let The Girls Out is also taking place all day on April 27th with venues all around town. Be sure to pick up the latest April edition of Make-A-Scene Newspaper for a map of participating locations and more details about the fun taking place this weekend!

Valley Mountain Bikers and Hikers presents 2013 Summer Youth Mountain Biking Program: SprocKidz! Be sure to sign up at www.vmbah.org. All VMBAH and SprocKidz Members will get a 10% discount at Backcountry Bike and Ski on all our regular priced items, including bikes!! So come on in, and get the family outfitted for riding this summer!

Spring Fever

Mountain Bike Alaska — Tue, 26 Mar 2013 22:41:00 +0000

We here at Backcountry Bike and Ski are super excited for this upcomming summer season we can barely hold it in!!!! There’s a lot happening around these parts with grants being approved for singletrack trail construction around the Valley, momentum growing for the Palmer Bike Park Project, and perhaps (once the City gets their act together) the first ever pocket pump track at Wilson Park in the Brittany Estates Neighborhood. Not sure what a pump track is, check out this great article on MTBR:

http://reviews.mtbr.com/feature-the-backyard-pump-track-introduction

Valley Mountain Bikers and Hikers (website) has some great events coming up to help gain local support and raise funds for the above projects and so much more!! If you aren’t a member yet, be sure to visit www.vmbah.org and become one! Your funds will help build new single track trails, keep our existing trails maintained, and help fund the SprocKids Summer Bike program for Valley kids!

Not sure if you should join? Come out to our Palmer Bike Film Festival on April 12th at 5:30PM for a bike film festival for the whole family. Tickets are $20 Adults, $10 Kids 12 and Under, and includes pizza and salad from Turkey Red and non-alcoholic beverages. Beer from Arkose is available for purchase and there will be TONS of raffle items up for grabs! There will also be booths for the Palmer Bike Park Project so you can learn more on how to get involved to make Palmer the Heart of Cycling in Alaska, as well as SprocKids Summer Bike Program. Come on down to the Palmer Train Depot on April 12th for fun, films, and all things bike!

We also have a full summer of races, rides, and events happening to be sure to check out Calendar of Events HERE. Our first spring ride is the Palmer Spring Classic which is always a blast on April 27th. Make sure to get out this summer, ride some trails, volunteer, and be part of making Palmer the best place possible to live, work, and recreate!

Questions? Call us to talk at 746-5018 or come by the shop and check out our flyers for upcoming events.