HEADS UP! Registration for 2013 TSEpic will be closing in just two days. Get registered before midnight on May 10 for the best week of your life!

What is the Trans-Sylvania Mountain Bike Epic? It’s a 7 day stage race in Pennsylvania based out of   Seven Mountains Boy Scout Campground. This year’s race will be held May 26-June 1, 2013!

Get details here and registration information here.

Thursday, May 16th: Trail Solutions Trail Building School 101 - $189
Fri-Sat 5/17-18: Trail Solutions Mountain Bike Trails 201 - $425
Sun 5/19: Trail Solutions Working with Rock 201  - $250

Learning sustainable trail-building techniques will not only mean better trails but will provide you with valuable information and skills that you can share with your local chapter but when working with land managers.

More details below.

IMBA Trail Solutions is offering three trailbuilding classes over four days in beautiful Anniston, AL,  May 16th through 19th. These classes are geared towards those who take their trailbuilding a bit more seriously than the average bear. If you want to dive in, get your hands dirty, and learn more about trailbuilding from the pros, then sign up, and head to Coldwater Mountain to get your fill of trailbuilding expertise.

Here’s a summary of the courses offered, and links to registration :

Thursday, May 16th: Trail Solutions Trail Building School 101

Join IMBA Trail Solutions at Coldwater Mountain in Anniston, Alabama, for training and instruction on the latest trail building techniques.
Cost – $189
Instructor – Richard Edwards
Register Now 

Fri-Sat 5/17-18: Trail Solutions Mountain Bike Trails 201

A demonstration of cutting-edge trailbuilding techniques and best-management practices for developing high quality mountain bike trails, from flow to gnar. Classroom session in the morning, followed by a tour of active trailbuilding sites that showcase a variety of trail types and construction techniques.

An advanced demonstration of cutting-edge trailbuilding techniques and best-management practices for developing high-quality mountain bike trails, from flow to gnar.  This course includes a classroom session in the morning, followed by a tour of active trailbuilding  sites that showcase a variety of trail types and construction techniques in the afternoon.
Cost – $425
Pre-requisites – Sustainable Trails 101, or an a equivalent course taught by the IMBA TCC, Georgia Trails Education Specialist, other PTBA instructor.
Instructors – Richard Edwards, Stephen Mullins
Register Now

Sun 5/19: Trail Solutions Working with Rock 201

An advanced, hands-on workshop that teaches how to install rock armoring and rock features on mountain bike trails. Topics covered include feature placement, optimal tools, build techniques, and safety.
Location – Coldwater Mountain Bike Trails, Anniston, AL
Cost – $250
Pre-requisites – Sustainable Trails 101, or an a equivalent course taught by the IMBA TCC, Georgia Trails Education Specialist, other PTBA instructor.
Instructor – Richard Edwards
Register Now

Update: Oops! Gotta mention  the Whiskey 50! Geoff Kabush took first and Jeremiah Bishop took second! Congrats!

Trans Iowa Radio – April 26-28
Friday through Sunday Guitar Ted will be calling in with updates:
Listen to race updates here: Trans Iowa Radio.

Stagecoach 400 April 26-31
Stagecoach Radio Racer Updates

Also keep in mind the NUE Cohutta 100 starts tomorrow!

Get the podcast here!

All audio is also available via RSS link or iTunes!

You can also click on the racer links to view their track on Trackleaders.com. You can get updates at Bikepacking.net as well!

 SpiritOfHowdy.org will offer coaches tools for helping guide young athletes into responsible and respectful users and stewards of the trail. Additionally, the site will offer IMBA information on trail maintenance and shared use initiatives for working with other riding groups and land managers.

The idea, started by NICE founder Matt Fitzburger, is to instill a riding code in young riders to bolster better trail relationships among users.

“Teaching young student-athletes that their behavior and riding style on the trail directly affects other trail user and the natural environment and, ultimately, the support from their schools, has always been central in our philosophy. Recently NICA student-athletes coined the phrase “Spirit of Howdy,” and I’m thrilled to work with IMBA to launch the Spirit of Howdy website as the site effectively advances what our community stands for.” - NICA’s executive director, Austin McInerny

“The Spirit of Howdy campaign represents the values that both IMBA and NICA wish to teach our youth. The Spirit of Howdy is more than being friendly to other trail users — it’s also about caring for the trails and our environment, stewarding our parks and natural resources, and giving back to our communities.” - IMBA Executive Director, Mike van Abel

The initiative will be launched at the screening of Singletrack High at the Golden State Theater in Monterey, Calif. 7:30 p.m., April 20th.

Get the full press release here.

“It was basically a reaction to the first time they came to us and said they would no longer allow dual-sanctioned races or permit UCI-licensed pros to compete in our races here in Oregon,” explained [Kenji] Sugahara, “…our membership loves what OBRA does here in Oregon, we create a lot of value for our customer, we have a good product and a good community, and that is something we feel we can produce across the whole country.”

Get the full story here.

CyclingNews reported the news this morning.

“The UCI has decided to postpone strict enforcement of rule 1.2.019 in 2013 with the expectation that all stakeholders (National Federations, race directors, teams and riders) will discuss and do what is necessary to prepare for the rule’s full enforcement in 2014.”

Promoter Mike McCormack, who puts on the Breck Epic mountain bike stage race posted on Facebook, “… We will NOT be dictated to by the UCI or USAC. Now, in 2014 or ever.”

Get the full story here.

The group discusses the current situation as well as some changes they would like to see.

Guests include:
Scott Tedro – Team Sho-Air
Ty Kady – Team Sho-Air
Austin McInerny – Executive Director of NICA
Mike McCormack – Director – Breck Epic
Jason Sager – Team Jamis
Kevin Forrester – Director – Tatanka 100
Burke Swindlehurst – Director – Crusher in the Tushar
Carlos Perez – Event Coordinator Levi’s GranFondo
Jason Ranao -
Mitch Hoke – Kenda/Felt Pro Mountain Bike Team
Tom Coleman – Wobble-Naught Laser Precision Bike Fitting

Get it here.

USA Cycling appears to rather be pushing that events pay the permit fee and get sanctioned and questions promoters’ reasons for not doing so:

“The only reasons not to sanction an event with USA Cycling are if the organizer is: 1) under-insuring the volunteers and/or participants, 2) avoiding the requirement to have USA Cycling licensed officials at the event and the athlete protection policies they enforce or 3) avoiding the USA Cycling RaceClean program.”

Certainly not a diplomatic response. The insurance angle appears to be the bait USAC thinks will lure promoters but doubling the sale with a veiled threat isn’t going to be received well.

See the full interview here.

First of all I need to state that the rule itself just plain sucks…2nd of all, I doubt that the sanctions are legal. I’m not sure if the rule itself is legal in the United States. It’s like the UCI rule that states that more than 50% of the riders on a Continental Pro team have to be under 27 years old. Someone needs to legally challenge both these rules.

Pro rider and former USAC board member Jeremy Horgan-Kobelski has a great opinion piece in Velonews as well:

Friday’s announcement, though, renders all unsanctioned racing off-limits for all licensed professionals in this country, as well as all UCI licensed masters and junior racers in all disciplines — including cyclocross, which is simply not realistic, given the culture and history of mountain bike racing in this country…Given Friday’s developments, I won’t be taking a UCI or USAC license this year unless a viable solution is negotiated where professionals can race in events of their choosing — a solution that promotes the grassroots growth of the sport, balances the needs of the athletes and the industry, and above all, preserves the culture of mountain biking in the country that started it.

The issue is gaining steam with professionals from Eddie O’Dea to Rebecca Rush vocalizing their disapproval. As more high-profile pro riders consider dropping licenses this could very well limit USA Cycling’s influence in mountain biking1

“Cyclists on the Epic will become the first Munda Biddi Trail Blazers and the first people in the world to ride the full length of the iconic trail, which means ‘path through the forest’ in Noongar Aboriginal language.”

It sounds like a time trial is in order!

Drew is joined by Jeremy Horgan-Kobelski and Macky Franklin to cohost the discussion. Listen in to hear what the pros, who are affected by the decision, are thinking.

Also:

Justin Lindine and Scott Tedro called in during the show to discuss what is going on, what can be done, and more.

We received this mandate from the UCI regarding forbidden races and rule 1.2.019. They now clarify ALL license holders are now subject to fines and suspension for attending any “Non Sanctioned” events, regardless if they are on a UCI team or not. We are also told this applies to any Amateur holding a USAC license.

Scott Tedro later posted:

“The key sentence in the UCI statement is “A national federation may grant special exceptions for races or particular events run in its own country.” This is not the UCI, this is in fact the USAC is trying to force promoters to use their product…

He intends to review this clarification with his legal team.

USA Cycling has chimed in as well and as Tedro notes, their answer seems to be to encourage promotors and racers join USAC.

A bigger question is that does this mean for pro-riders who want to race non-UCI and non-USAC races? With so many series like NUE, USCup, and many other events drawing pro-riders this could have a chilling effect on race promotion.

So far, people aren’t taking kindly to UCI or USAC. Cyclocross Magazine posted the clarification and notes the impact on their events. Comments are coming in:

CXMagazine.com:
twohandmath: Bike racing existed before USAC/UCI, exists without them, and will continue to do so. While there is value in national and international federations regulating the sport at the highest level, they’ve done a real poor job at that the last 20 years or so, and lose credibility in all aspects.

Facebook:
Allen Ball: A good move to reduce UCI membership roles. Arrogance will be it’s own reward.

And even Bicycling Magazine is tweeting that this is “bad news:”

@BicyclingMag
Bad news UCI license holders & non-USAC events: RT @USACycling Clarification from@UCI_cycling on rule 1.2.019: http://bit.ly/10zvEnI

Check out TIv9′s director Guitar Ted on the Guitar Ted Show on Mountain Bike Radio Wednesday April 3rd at 8:00pm Central! He’ll be talking with Ben Welnak and Tim Elk about the race and race prep. This is a forum so feel free to call in!

Next up is the Cohutta 100 set for April 27th in Ducktown, TN. Get the entire NUE 2013 Schedule here!

The Allegheny Mountains Loop is a 400 mile bicycle route created and mapped by the Adventure Cycling Association.

The route begins and ends at Virginia Tech’s War Memorial Chapel in Blacksburg, VA.

A “mass start” of individual time trails is proposed each year on the first Friday in October at 8:00am (local time).

Head over to alleghenymountainsloop.blogspot.com for details. RSVP if you plan to race this event!

Congrats to all the racers! You can get the attendee list here.

HuRaCaN 300 results update:
3 way tie for first: Shey Lindner , Eddie O’Dea , Jason Murell - 23hrs07mins
4th place A. Jeffrey Tomassetti
5th place Karlos Bernart.

All audio is also available via RSS link or iTunes!