April/2013

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Event News
Athlete's Corner

On Tap and On Bikes at Sea Otter  

 

When you visit Sierra Nevada's Chico, CA, brewery, you'll see bikes everywhere, in one form or another. It might be Beer Campers pedaling one of their beer bikes. Certainly outside the pub you'll see plenty of local commuters locked to 5-gallon-keg bike racks. Someone might even be pumping up tires or adjusting a chain at the company's public bicycle maintenance station. Keep Reading. 

Riding an MTB Event? Get these Essentials 

 

If you're planning on riding one of the cross-country mountain bike events at this year's Sea Otter Classic, you'll need to be well prepared.
Obviously we can't provide you with fitness or strength (we would if we could...), but what we can offer you is the best riding equipment and accessories on the market.
Learn More.  

 

Check Out the 2013 Sea Otter Guide  

 

Find your way around the Sea Otter Festival, check out events, sponsors, and the latest bikes and gear from the industry for 2013. Printed copies will be available at the festival, but check out the digital version and make your plan for Sea Otter 2013!  Keep Reading. 

Italian Flair Coming to Sea Otter

 

Spring is in the air and it's time get your cycling gear in shape for the most exciting pink events of the year! The Gran Fondo Giro d'Italia is kicking off in a few weeks, starting on Saturday, April 20 as part of the most beloved cycling festival in the nation: The Gran Fondo Giro d'Italia Sea Otter Classic will premier in Monterey, CA, adding its unmistakable Italian twist to the event. Learn More.  

 

Festival Guide
Join NICA for 'Singletrack High'  

 

The National Interscholastic Cycling Association will host a screening of "Singletrack High", a film about NICA riders from Pedal Born Pictures. Head to the Golden State Theater at 417 Alvarado St. in downtown Monterey at 7:30 p.m. on Saturday, April 20 during Sea Otter.
Check out a teaser clip here

Check Out Sea Otter's New Ride Zones  

 

Test out your skills and the latest gear on Sea Otter's new ride zones, built by IMBA and Alpine Bike Parks. A kids zone helps little shredders improve their abilities in a safe environment - there's even a spot for pushbikes - while the Bike Skills Zone is suitable for more advanced riders of all ages looking to perfect their flow.  Keep Reading.  

 

'Gold Rusch' Joins Slate of Women's Activities

 

Decorated mountain bike legend Rebecca Rusch and the SRAM Gold Rusch Tour will join the women's activities at Sea Otter next week with a pair of women's rides and a Ladies Lounge at the SRAM booth. Check out all women's activities here

Festival Calendar Goes Live April 16
 

Wondering where the best events are during the Sea Otter festival? Our full festival calendar goes live on SeaOtterClassic.com on April 16 with all of the best product unveilings, events, rides and more. Check out the Festival calendar page for the link on April 16! 

Recycle Old Tubes at Sea Otter
 

Sea Otter Classic and ROTTUA Sandals have teamed up to keep used bicycle tires above ground!

This unique program compliments Sea Otter's ongoing sustainability efforts with Sierra Nevada Brewing Company and Clif Bar to reuse, recycle, and repurpose. Keep Reading
Tips for Tourists Riding in Monterey 
 
You came here to ride, not just race. Check out all the great cycling around Monterey, tips for getting around and a sneak peak into the locals' favorite routes at Bicycling Monterey.

Check Out the Village Activities at Sea Otter

 

Little ones looking for an egg hunt? Wanna give a backflip a go on the air bag? How about taking in a bird's eye view of the lakebed at laguna Seca from a zip line over the expo area? Sea Otter has something for everyone in the festival area, check out all the activities here.

Get Some Girl Power with Little Bellas
 

Little Bellas day camp is an adventure in mountain biking designed to get girls hooked on the sport and engaged in the Sea Otter festival with a focus on improving skills and having fun. It is a great opportunity for girls looking to try out mountain biking as well as for those who are ready for the next level of challenge. Keep Reading.

Free Yoga at Sea Otter

 

Join Rita Leon and pro rider Ryan Leech for FREE yoga sessions each day during Sea Otter. Poses will have you seated, on knees, balancing and standing. This class allows beginners as well as the intermediate yogi to advance in their own practice. No experience is necessary. Learn More.

Introducing the Magicshine Night Ride
 

You've never seen Laguna Seca like this. Join Sea Otter sponsor MagicShine for a night ride at 7:30 p.m. on Saturday, April 20. Whether an experienced after-dark rider or a first-timer with lights, cyclists of all abilities are welcome for this first-ever event at Sea Otter.

Keep Reading.

#Throwback Thursday

Cedric Gracia and Mike King race on the Sea Otter Classic dual slalom course in 2002.

Check out the Sea Otter Classic Facebook page every Thursday for photos from the archives!

Sponsor Spotlight
Volkswagen
Founded in 1955, Volkswagen of America, Inc. is headquartered in Herndon, Virginia. It is a subsidiary of Volkswagen AG, headquartered in Wolfsburg, Germany. Volkswagen is one of the world's largest producers of passenger cars and Europe's largest automaker.  Learn more.

SRAM
SRAM was born in 1987 in downtown Chicago, IL, with one component (the Grip Shift), one warehouse, and six employees. SRAM has since expanded through growth and acquisition into the world's second largest cycling component manufacturer whose brands include SRAM, RockShox, Avid, and Truvativ. Learn more.

Magicshine
Magicshine is the market leader in high-performance budget MTB lights. Through user reviews and research & development, our bike lights and diving lights have been in the forefront of sporting LED light evolution. Magicshine bike lights are commonly spotted at MTB night racing meetings all over the world. Learn more.

Chain Reaction Cycles
The company was established in 1984 when George and Janice Watson opened Ballynure Cycles in the small village of Ballynure, Northern Ireland. In 1989 the shop moved to the larger premises and was rebranded as Chain Reaction Cycles, offering specialist brands with everything for sale via mail order. ChainReactionCycles.com website launched in 1999. Learn more.
Clif Bar
Clif Bar & Company is a leading maker of nutritious, all-natural, organic foods and drinks, including CLIF(R) BAR energy bar, LUNA(R), The Whole Nutrition Bar for Women(R); and CLIF Kid(R), Nourishing Kids in Motion(R). Focused on sports nutrition and healthy snacks, the employee and family-owned company is committed to sustaining its people, brands, business, community and planet. Learn more.

Primal
Primal Wear, founded in 1992, has emerged as the leading designer and manufacturer of premier cycling apparel for teams, clubs and events around the world. Primal is committed to the progression of cycling for all abilities and is dedicated to promoting and sponsoring events that benefit people's lives. Learn more.

Thule
Thule Inc the leading US manufacturer of car rack products, with production sites in Seymour, Connecticut and Chicago, Illinois. Thule's product line features multi-purpose roof racks, roof top boxes, rear mount racks, and accessories for outdoor equipment including bikes, skis, snowboards, kayaks, canoes, and surfboards.  Learn More 

Fox
FOX redefines ride dynamics for ATVs, mountain bikes, motocross, off-road vehicles, snowmobiles, trucks, and UTVs. In 1974, Bob Fox redefined the world of motocross suspension with the FOX AirShox and for over three decades, FOX's team of enthusiasts and professional athletes have been uniquely committed to redefining ride dynamics that improve your performance.  Learn more. 
MTBR/Road Bike Review
Mtbr.com is the largest mountain biking website on the internet and RoadBikeReview.com is the cycling resource site for road bike products. You can read reviews written by fellow riders on bikes and products, trails, and bike shops.Both sites  also have very active discussion forums, photo galleries, and classifieds. Learn more.

Specialized First Gear
Get kids riding bikes and you set them on a winning course for life. First Gear was created by Specialized to do just that - for as many kids as possible. Our vision is to get every kid riding a bike, starting with 10,000 new kids this year.  Learn More 

Kenda
For more than 50 years, Kenda has shown a commitment to designing and manufacturing quality tires and tubes for a wide range of activities and vehicles. From bicycles to motorcycles, automotive to industrial, Kenda has a tire to fit every occasion. Learn more. 
Zazoosh
Zazoosh Media is proud to have been selected as the official athlete photography provider for the 2012 Sea Otter Classic. Originally born out of a group of biking and running fanatics snapping photos out on the trails and at local races, Zazoosh has grown to become a leading provider of participant photography for triathlon, cycling, running, and mountain bike events. Learn more.

Advocacy Spotlight
IMBA Building Two New Test Ride Areas for Sea Otter 

 

IMBA Trail Solutions is designing and building two test ride areas for the event. The "SRAM Mountain Bike Skills Zone, presented by IMBA" will offer bike park features for teenage and adult riders looking to test the vast array of demo bikes and equipment on offer at the four-day event. The adjacent "Specialized/IMBA Kids Bike Play Area" will provide terrain for younger riders, including push- and pedal-bike features that even toddlers will enjoy. Keep Reading.

 
PeopleForBikes.org Wants to Know Why You Ride 

PeopleForBikes.org is the national bike movement with the goal of uniting one million Americans for a better future for bicycling. We might ride in different ways and for different reasons, but one thing unites us all-a belief that good things happen when people ride bikes. Tell us your story about why YOU ride at our Story Gallery here.

 

 
Specialized First Gear Gets Kids Hooked on Bikes for Life 

The Specialized First Gear initiative was born out of a fundamental need to get kids riding bikes. Set a kid riding and you set them on a winning course for life: You help defeat childhood obesity and attention deficit disorders. You give them a chance to progress and even excel in a sport. And you develop healthy habits that last a lifetime. If the First Gear initiative inspires others to take up the cause, that's a win-win. Learn more.

IBD Summit
 
Schedule Set for IBD Summit 

As the cycling industry heads to Monterey for Sea Otter many of the country's most influential retailers gather at the second annual IBD Summit for three days of sessions, riding and networking to help better their business. Check out the full schedule here.   

 
Bicycle Leadership Conference

 
USADA COO To Address Performance Enhancing Drugs at BLC 

John Frothingham, Chief operating Officer of the U.S. Anti-Doping Agency (USADA) will deliver an address at this year's Bicycle Leadership Conference on how companies within the industry can work together to ensure competitive cycling is free of performance enhancing drugs. Learn more here.

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