This is a low key social fundraiser for SF Urban Riders, their will be a low-key sliding scale donation jar to help raise funds for the McLaren Bike Park and other SFUR programs ($1-$20)

The 1994 coverage of the  in-augural Leadville 100 features John Stamstad who won the Iditarod Bike Race numerous times, went on to be inducted into the Mountain Bike Hall of Fame, and later pioneered the Ride the Divide route and race. The video also features the heroics of local riders like DFL legend  Kyle Brutschy who rode out a Top 10 finish.

Also on the schedule, vintage DFL Mountain Bike Road Trip movies to Moab, Utah and Crested Butte, Colorado.

Celebrate Mountain Biking in its Hard Tail days…. well before disc brakes, mega-travel suspension, and 29er technology!

Date: Tuesday January 24th

Time: 6pm – 8pm

Location: Sports Basement (Grotto Room)  1590 Bryant Street  San Francisco, CA 94103

Spread the Word – Hope to see you there!

Right now we are simply asking for year end donations, as this is the time of year for giving. Since every little bit helps, SFUR will be continually working on fun and interesting ways for its supporters to get involved. One such way is joining the recently launched McLaren Bike Park Founders Club. In the new year SFUR promises to step up our game with more exciting special promotion/fundraising events that can turn fun into money (TBA).

Why is it important to support SFUR?

Over the past couple of years SF Urban Riders has managed to create some great cycling opportunities for riders of all ages and abilities. Taking a moment to reflect,  a few standouts include: providing huge support toward the Interior Greenbelt/Mount Sutro trail system, hosting Take a Kid Mountain Biking Day annually, and working with SFRPD and the community to conceptually plan the McLaren Bike Park. SFUR has managed to produce good results while running on a lean budget. Now things change as SFUR looks to partner with SF Rec & Park on a large scale Capital Improvement project, a.k.a the McLaren Bike Park. Although grants will be applied for (and awarded) for the construction of the bike park, SFUR is responsible for raising funds to pay for much of the design and other documents and permits. That cost could reach $75,000-$100,000 to obtain a world class bike park. A small price for a bike park that will also serve as a venue for a variety of future bike events. It is important to note, that the funds SFUR raises locally is also part of the requirement to leverage the larger construction grants. So it’s time to start!

McLaren Bike Park conceptual design plans

Who is Donating? Specialized Bicycles (w/ Mike’s Bikes of San Francisco) awarded SFUR a Dealer Grant ($5,000) in July 2011,the  Single Speed Cyclo Cross World Championships recently hosted in Golden Gate Park raised $360 in November,  Gamut USA ($1,000) became the first to join the Founders Club just last week. Now we are spreading the news to our members and anyone else who wants to support a positive change in San Francisco’s youth bike culture… and already individuals have started showing their generosity. So far SFUR has raised over $7,500 toward our goal.

How to Participate:

Make secure On-Line donations of any size HERE

If you want to pay by check, please make them out to SF Parks Alliance, and note SF Urban Riders on the check. Mail to: SF Urban Riders c/o Dustin Smith, 221 Warren Dr., San Francisco, CA 94131.

75% goes directly to McLaren Bike Park Design and Development. 20% to the SF Urban Riders general fund for operating costs and youth programs. 5% to SF Parks Alliance, SFUR’s non-profit fiscal host.

For more info contact info@sfurbanriders.org.

Thanks for your continued support. Let’s make San Francisco a better place to learn modern bike skills!

Youth group ride in McLaren Park

TKMBD 2011 Event in McLaren Park

Youth Cycling programs are so much more than riding.

TKMBD 2011 Event in McLaren Park

Blazing Saddles was a great TKMBD partner.

The Presidio Y-Bike program and SFRPD assisted with the bike skills and rider management responsibilities again this year. The Y-Bike program has unique resources and programs that continue to be a key component to youth cycling opportunities in San Francisco.

Sheila Moon Athletic Apparel was on-site teaching the next generation about cycling fashion. The Moon booth made sure everyone got a chance for arm warmers or skull caps.

Matt Dove from the Y-Bike program talks trail safety.

After party at the Sheila Moon Athletic Apparel booth.

Specialized is always a welcome TKMBD sponsor. There presence and resources helps make the event  special…. with everything from the FREE Youth Bike Raffle, to all the other schwag they bring like shirts, helmets, water bottles, and bike karma.

Lets do it again next year!

At the end of the day Specialized T shirts for every participant.

Group photo at the Blue water tank in McLaren Park

Everyone is excited about Mountain Biking in the City.

Antelope  MTB Crash: HERE

Cyclocross Barrier Crash: HERE

Danny Hart’s 2011 Championship Downhill Run: HERE

Danny MacAskill Freestyle MTB: HERE

Single Speed Cyclo Cross World Championship in Golden Gate Park: HERE

This will be the THIRD Year in a row that SF Urban Riders has stepped up to the plate to assist our partners SF Rec & Park and V-O-CAL with trail construction and maintenance in McLaren Park, and anybody that rides the trails of McLaren has made note of the improvements. When this process first started it spooked the local cycling community to hear of change in one of our beloved and secret training areas. The SFUR headquarters took many concerned phone calls from friends, neighbors, and urban cyclists. Now the vision of a better trail system and what it can bring to the future of off-road cycling in San Francisco is sweeping away the cynicism and reigning in optimism for a better future. When a large open space like McLaren Park improves its trail infrastructure, it also opens up new possibilities for hosting better, and more awesome trail events that can contine to benefit the park…… Can anyone say Cyclocross or Short Track Series venue?

Constructing the Deeley Falls Switchback in McLaren Park- November 2010

When you add the McLaren Bike Park project to the equation, you begin to see an infrastructure that could host world class cycling events right here in San Francisco! Sure it may take another five years to host a large scale, permitted event, but when it does it will have been worth every swing of the pick, and volunteer hour. As part of the process, SFUR Trail Specialists have been working closely with SF Rec & Park on both the trail alignments and the closing off of selected ‘social trails’.

Check out the details of the McLaren Park trail project on the map below, and take notice of how the new trails will bring a big increase in trail connectivity. That alone makes it a project worthy of the cycling communities focus and effort. The other tremendous benefit of this event is CAMPING! Camping and a camp fire will be happening Saturday Night to all volunteers interested. Bring some friends and party in McLaren Park with SF Urban Riders!

Every Hour SFUR Volunteers Contribute Will Be Credited Toward a McLaren Bike Park Community Grant!

Information & Registration On-Line: Click Here

Map of Overall Project Scope Showing Improved Trail Connectivity.

McLaren Trail Work Flyer

Practicing skills before a Mount Sutro trail ride.

It is a new year, and a new era at the San Francisco Recreation and Parks Department. SFRPD has stepped up to offer more focus on contemporary recreation like Thai Kickboxing, Kayaking, Geocache Adventuring, and even Mountain Biking.

The developing partnership between SFUR and SFRPD has produced a winner: The Women’s Mountain Bike Boot Camp.

This program will run  THREE weeks and be hosted primarily at Crocker Amazon and McLaren Parks. It is possible, depending on the individual needs of each group, that a variety of other locations like Mount Sutro, San Bruno Mountain and elsewhere may also be used in order to maximize the quality of programming. The instructor has been confirmed, and we are excited Julie Bates from Team Roaring Mouse will be leading the program. She has a great resume of professional training, and is well known in the local cycling  community. All this adds up to a winning program, that will be fun for its participants, and improve all riders basic skills,trail system knowledge, and maintenance ability. Their is a small registration fee to pay for the Instructors time.

PLEASE SPREAD THE WORD!

It is important to show SFRPD that the community will support Mountain Bike programming.

For more details contact: Clay.Breitweiser@sfgov.org     OR call 415-337-4705

Course Dates: Saturday July 16  Through Saturday July 30th

Meeting Location: Crocker Amazon Skate Park  ( near Soccer Fields)

Course Number: 22049

Course Cost: $75   for the Full Course ( 3 Weeks)

Find the SFRPD Summer 2011 Activities Guide and Registration Information Here.

(Note-  Full Details on registration can be found on PAGE 48 of the SFRPD Summer Activities Guide)

Take a Kid Mountain Biking Day 2009 in McLaren Park.

SF Urban Riders is proud of the seeds we have planted at the youth level, and the amazing youth opportunities that continue to blossom from those efforts. Now there are several ways that youth in our urban confines can practice and participate in organized Mountain Biking activities. Whether it is starting out with instruction at a summer camp, or challenging themselves taking laps at a high school race series.

Introduction to Mountain Biking Programs: SFUR has developed a complete introductory mountain bike curriculum geared toward youth with current basic bike skills. The program aims to improve every participants braking, cornering, and balance skills by emphasizes the best techniques. The program also focuses on improving endurance, exploring nature, understanding trail etiquette, and the importance of proper nutrition. This program is available at the Presidio YMCA all Summer (2011), and through SFRPD at Crocker Amazon Park in July, 2011. To Register for the Youth Mountain Bike programs follow the appropriate links:

More Info on the Presidio YMCA program can be found here:

More Info on the SFRPD Crocker Amazon program can be found here:

(SFRPD Youth Mountain Biking classes can be found on Page 25 of the 2011 Summer Activities Guide)

Take a Kid Mountain Biking Day Event (TKMBD): Take a Kid Mountain Biking Day is a national event, organized locally by SFUR since 2009. The spirit of the event is to provide a FREE opportunity for kids and families to have a safe and rewarding mountain biking experience locally in McLaren Park.  SFUR and its partners Presidio YMCA, SF Recreation & Parks Department, Specialized Bicycles, IMBA, Clif Bar and others provide certified instructors, a pre-designed course, a fleet of demo bicycles, and even nutritional snacks so every kid could concentrate on just having fun and learning better bike skills!  The final details for this years TKMBD event are still be worked out. In the meantime, mark your calendars for Saturday September 24th, 2011  to participate in this awesome event!

SF Composite High School Team: The top rung of the youth cycling pyramid is the San Francisco Composite High School team that formed this year to compete in the Norcal High School Cycling League. The team came together in true grassroots fashion, with a single bike shop (Big Swingin’ Cycles) connecting a few like-minded kids together from different schools, and then inspiring support from their families. Our riders put together an impressive first season with little resources, and only a few weeks to prepare. Big salute to Brendan, Calvin, and Neil for chasing their dreams even under difficult circumstances. If you know a young rider looking for more information on the SF High School Mountain Biking team contact SF Urban Riders!

Brendan breaking from the pack at the start of a Norcal race.

SF High School Composite team members Neil, Calvin, and Brendan

The trail twists and turns through the Oak Woodlands in Golden Gate Park.

THIS IS FOR REAL – HELP MAKE A DIFFERENCE!

The Recreation and Park Department will be hosting a series of community meetings to discuss the future trail improvement at the Oak Woodlands Trails in the northeastern corner of Golden Gate Park (along Fulton Street from Stanyan to 6th Ave).

LOCATION: Senior Center GGP 6161 Fulton Street
At the Senior Center in Golden Gate Park (located on Fulton Street near 37th Avenue)

TIME: From 6:00-7:30pm

DATES:
Weds, May 25: Project Kick-Off and Information Gathering
Weds, June 15: Design Options
Weds, July 13: Final Trail Plan

Your input is important and will help to improve the Oak Woodlands trail corridor in a way that is most beneficial to the community…. (which means Open to Bicycles).

Organizations supportive of this Project:
Bay Area Ridge Trail
Oak Woodlands Volunteer group
Sutro Stewards
SF Parks Trust
Guardsmen/ Horseshoe pits

The Oak Woodlands Trail is the proposed new routing for the Bay Area Ridge Trail and that makes this project all the more plausible for cyclists.

Get ready for adventure with SF Urban Riders Youth MTB events.

SF Urban Riders is pleased to announce a new Youth Mountain Biking Program has been launched, this time with the SF Recreation & Park Department. This exciting new program will be hosted at Crocker Amazon Playground, and rides will take place in scenic McLaren Park. Please spread the word to any interested youth. More programs are scheduled for McLaren Park later in July, and again in the Fall. The future of riding keeps getting closer. Read full details in our Promo Release below.

SIGN UP FOR THE CLASS HERE. Course# 20097

NorCal Racing Series action as featured on their website.

With the success of the Norcal High School Mountain Bike Racing Series, it was only a matter of time before kids attending High School in San Francisco would want to participate.  The time has come, as young riders have stepped forward and asked for the opportunity. So far it is just Saint Ignatius and Stuart Hall, but we know the Bay School, Balboa, and Lowell are not far behind… maybe Lincoln, or International, or  Burton, or Galileo also have some kids yearning for something new and exciting.

This new venture has taken shape because two riders came forward independently, both looking for a way to have a team to support them in the 2011 NorCal series. Big Swingin Cycles has been an active supporter of NorCal for some time, and SFUR is active in local youth mountain bike opportunities….. so stepping in to assist the team was an easy first step to make.

Now the SF Composite Team has been formed and papers filed with the League Offices. The SF Composite Team is open to any high school riders in San Francisco that wish to participate. Any skill level, gender or religion.

If you would like to learn more or have specific questions please inquire with SF Urban Riders  or Big Swingin Cycles.

FIRST OFFICIAL TEAM RIDE

DATE: Sunday February 6^th

TIME: 10am

LOCATION: OCEAN BEACH   at FULTON AVE (  near 8000 Fulton Ave)