2012 Pass     FALL 2012           Editor: Danny Forer  

Tamarancho and Marin Mtn. Bike Tr
ail News  

                (Mos
t comprehensive listing of off-road bike news in Marin)  
   



   "
SUPPORT BIKE LEGAL SINGLETRACK IN MARIN"


 



Table of Contents:     
1.  
1/2 Year Annual Passes Now On Sale
2.   Trail Work Volunteers Wanted- Sat Sept 29
3.   Team Luna Chix, Skills Clinic- Sat Sept 29
4.   A4B Campout at Tamarancho- Sat Sept 29 
 
5.   Tamarancho Dirt Classic Race- Sun Sept 30
6.   Biketober Festival- Sat Oct 13
7.   Friends of China Camp Benefit/Celebration- Sun Oct 14
8.   NorCal CycleFest Pre-Party- Thurs Oct 18
9.   NorCal CycleFest Dinner- Fri Nov 9

10.  Volunteer Wanted- Pass Program at China Camp
11.  Boy Scout Camp Looking for Bike Donations
12   Marin Mtn Bike News
13.  Downieville and Tahoe Mtn Bike News
14. Tamarancho Bike Shorts    

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1. 1/2 Year and 18 Month Passes Now On Sale 

 
For about $7 per month you can have unlimited riding at Tamarancho for the rest of the year. For $4 a month you can unlimited riding until December 31, 2013.

The 1/2 Year 2012 SILVER Annual Pass and the 18 Month 2013 GOLD Pass are now on sale.

The 1/2 Year 2012 SILVER pass is valid for unlimited riding until December 31, 2012. The cost for the individual SILVER Pass is $25 and $45 for a Family Pass (2 adults living in the same household).

The 18 month 2013 GOLD Pass is valid until December 31, 2013 and costs $65 for an individual and $95 for a family. 
 To purchase a pass online, with a credit card, go to:
TAMARANCHO PASS ONLINE

If you wish to pay by check or cash print out an application:
2012 TAMARANCHO APPLICATION 

Notes about the 2012/3 Annual Passes:
1. A plastic pass will be sent to you via snail mail
2. Print receipt and you can start riding the camp that day.

Day Passes cost $5, and are available online (print out the pass on your own printer). For a day pass go to:
Purchase Day Pass and Print On Your Printer
 
Also, you can purchase a day pass at the following bike stores:

Fairfax Cyclery and Sunshine Bikes (Fairfax)
Summit Bike (San Rafael)
Caesar's Bike and Paradigm (San Anselmo)
Bike Works (San Anselmo)
 
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2. Trailwork Volunteers Wanted- Sat Sept 29

Help repair Coast View Trail, a great bike legal singletrack that connects Pantoll and Muir Beach. State Parks will provide all the equipment in coordination with MCBC (Marin County Bicycle Coalition). Meet at 8:45 at Coast View trailhead parking area on route 1 and hike or bike up to the work area. Please RSVP to April Spooner [email protected]
 
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 luna
3. Te
am Luna Chix, Skills Clinic- Sat Sept 29 

Team Luna Chix has scheduled an all day intermediate/advanced clinic, for women riders who want to improve their technical skills. Catharine Pendrel who is an Olympian and the current world champion (!) will be the lead instructor.

There will also be one FREE scholarship available for someone who is unable to pay the fee of $225. All proceeds will be donated to Breast Cancer Fund.

For more information and to sign up go to:
Team Luna

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4. A4B Campout at Tamarancho- Sat Sept 29
 
A4B
Access 4 Bikes (A4B) will be hosting an overnight camp out and BBQ the night before the Tamarancho Dirt Classic race at Camp Tamarancho. Whether you are racing, volunteering or just spectating you'll have the  advantage of already being in the camp before the crowds arrive. Camping and BBQ is $32. There are also options for people who just want to camp or just want to have the BBQ. All the revenue goes to A4B.

To register and for more information go to: 
Camp Out at Tamarancho 
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5. Tamarancho Dirt Classic Bike Race- Sun. Sept 30
Registration is now open for the Tamarancho Dirt Classic race to be held on Sunday, September 30th.  All categories will be represented including Juniors through Masters, Beginners through Pro.  

The race course includes the very difficult climbs up Dead Heffer and Upper Eagle fireroads, as well as B-17, Broken Dam and Goldman singletrack trails.

This is the only long course cross country mountain bike race in Marin and it is a benefit for High School Mtn Bike League and Marin County Bicycle Coalition off-road program.   
For more information, to preview the race course, and to sign up go to:

  

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biketoberfest2012

 

6. Biketoberfest- Sat Oct 13
 
One of Marin's biggest and best bike events returns to Fairfax, the birthplace of mountain biking.  Some of the highlights includes: 35 varieties of beer for tasting; live music; celebrity road and mtn bike rides; free bike valet parking; the largest West Coast handmade bike show; expo and demo rides; and kids activities.
 
Admission is free, beer tasting is $25, and food is available for sale. All money raised goes to MCBC and Access 4 Bikes. 
For more information:
Biketoberfest

 
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7. Friends of China Camp Benefit/Celebration- Sun Oct 14

Due to state funding problems China Camp State Park is currently being run and funded by Friends of China Camp, a local non-profit. They are currently planning a Benefit/Celebration that will include BBQ, music, group mtn bike rides, demo rides and more.

Details are still being arranged. For more information and to support this organization and their work in keeping China Camp singletrack open to riders go to:
  
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 NorCal Logo
8.  NorCal CycleFest Pre Party- Thurs Oct 18  
 Support NorCal (Northern California League of High School Mountain Biking Teams) and enjoy partying with friends at the same time.

Broken Drum Brewery (1132 4th St, San Rafael) will host this event, 6-10 pm, which is a "Pre Party" for the NorCal Cyclefest Dinner (see details below).

Donate $20 at the door and get 4 raffle tickets for your chance to win a great prize from huge choice of items. Admission is free if you have purchase tickets to the CycleFest.

For more information go to:
NorCal

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9. NorCal CycleFest Dinner- Fri Nov 9

The 2012 CycleFest Dinner will be held at the Mill Valley Community Center and 100% of the profits go to support 55 local High School mountain bike racing teams and over 600 youth riders and racers.
 

Rebecca Rush (3 time Leadville Winner) will be the featured speaker and there will be an auction as well.

Tickets are $100 if purchased prior to September 28.

For more information go to: Nor Cal Cyclefest Dinner

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10. Marin Mtn Bike News

Marin County Parks has announced that they have purchased 22 acres of undeveloped land near Manzanita Fire Road (above Forest Knolls) that will become part of Gary Giacomini Open Space. There will be a celebration on Friday Oct. 5 at 10am. For more info go to: 
Marin County Parks 


  Golden Gate National Recreation Area has announced the re-opening of Middle Green Gulch trail, which is a bike legal singletrack in the Marin Headlands, near the Zen Center. The trail was closed since mid February for repair of erosion damage and to correct drainage problems. This trail is unique in Marin as it is bike legal in the up hill direction only.
To view a map of this trail go to:
GGNRA MAP

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 11. Tahoe, Downieville Mtn Bike News

If you ride Downieville you should support the Sierra Buttes Trail Stewardship (SBTS) which is a volunteer non-profit organization whose primary goal is the building and improving trails in Northern California. Currently they are asking cyclists to BUY 1 FOOT OF SINGLETRACK FOR $5. If you donate money at this time (until Oct 1)  you will be entered into a drawing for a fully tricked out Santa Cruz bike. For more details go to:

The Tahoe Fat Tire Festival returns to Squaw Valley, on Sept 20 for 4 days of racing, group rides, skills clinics, vendors, movies, trailwork classes, and music. For more information go to:
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12. Volunteer Wanted- Pass Program at China Camp
 
 
A volunteer is needed to manage the new proposed Annual Pass Program at China Camp State Park. Friends of China Camp (FOCC) is now the operator of China Camp State Park and funding of the park's operation will partially come from park use fees.  The program will be similar to the one at Tamarancho Boy Scout Camp, including the issuance of annual passes for frequent park users.  Please contact FOCC at [email protected] or call Ernest Chung at 415-588-516

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13.  Boy Scout Camp Looking for Bike Donations

Camp Marin Sierra, a Boy Scout summer camp run by the Marin Council, started a mountain biking program in 2010. We are still seeking donations of good used bikes for this program. Thank you so much to those who have generously donated their used bikes to this valuable program.

Our preference is hardtails that are 26" rims, sizes from 13-17 (small to medium-large). We are particularly interested in small frame bikes with 26" wheels. Please no kids bikes. If you have or know of a bike, email Tim Wells at:Tim Wells
or call 415-454-2983. Thank you ahead of time for your help!"  
 


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shorts


14. Tamarancho Shorts

The "Welcome Kiosk" which is located at the start of Alchemist Trail (at Iron Springs Road) is currently being rebuilt by volunteers. It had been vandalized by a neighbor, who has since moved, and new signage will be going up shortly, including the iconic "Tamarancho" sign constructed of bike parts. We received a donation from a rider of $200 and we used that to buy a Park Bench Mount Repair Stand which has been attached to the post holding the bike rack, for riders to make repairs or adjustments to their bikes. 

Parking- We encourage riders who drive to ride Tamarancho to park in Fairfax. With the new Good Earth market opening, the most popular place to park is now very busy. We suggest parking near the old Good Earth (on Drake). Also, remember that Fairfax Cyclery, which is next to this parking area, sells Day Passes to Tamarancho. 

Tamarancho has heavy bike traffic especially on the weekends. Since all the trails are two-way, there can be lots of oncoming bike traffic. During these prime hours we suggest riding in a clock-wise direction if you want to encounter fewer riders. Also keep in mind that Alchemist trail has the greatest bike use, and as with all trails at Tamarancho the UPHILL RIDER HAS RIGHT OF WAY and always ride in control.

A couple of new "bypass" trails opened last couple of years in Tamarancho. One is near the bottom of Serpentine, and goes around the Rock Face and the other is on Broken Dam, near the Big Bridge, and includes 2 switchbacks. Look for new signage about these options.

Local bike advocacy groups encourage all Marin voters to vote Yes on Measure A, to protect Marin Open Space and Farmland.

As always, we are interested in any comments or suggestions that riders have about the bike program at Tamarancho. Email: [email protected] 

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Contact Information
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For information or comments about Tamarancho bike program, please respond to this email, or contact Danny Forer at [email protected]
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