News and Views

The Lee Bird Birthday Ride :: 7 Riders, 4 Peaks, 63 Miles on Dirt

The Lee Bird Birthday Ride :: 7 Riders, 4 Peaks, 63 Miles on Dirt

January 23, 2012 · Leave a Comment 

“No way! That’s impossible!” The words fell heavy into the fire of his psyche and stoked the flames– enough to send Lee Bird on a grueling one day adventure that would become an annual epic mountain bike ride. The “Lee Bird Birthday Ride”, also known as the “4 Peaks Ride”, began in 2004. An excerpt from the invitation to the 2011 ride expatiates the origin of the ride: On December 8, 2004, I left my house for “a little mountain bike ride”. Through rain and snow, I rode to the antennas on 4 mountain tops that I can all see from my house – Mt.... [Read the full story]

Events

Bicycle Maintenance Clinics @ Sport Chalet :: September 24 and 28, 2011

Bicycle Maintenance Clinics @ Sport Chalet :: September 24 and 28, 2011

September 10, 2011 · Leave a Comment 

Join mtbchick at Sport Chalet in La Canada Flintridge 24 September 2011 at 10:30 for a bicycle maintenance and cycling gear clinic! And on 28 September (Wednesday) at 7:30p at Sport Chalet in Laguna Niguel!  Read More →

Races

Sea Otter Classic 2012 :: Mountain Bike Racing Revival?

November 1, 2011 · Leave a Comment 

Pros Return to Long Course, Amateurs: No License Required for Mountain Bike Races The Sea Otter Classic is the largest cycling festival in the world, hosting 5 days of expo, Pro racing, amateur racing and fun rides. In 2012, the Classic will run April 19-22 at the Laguna Seca Raceway in Monterey, California. Sweeping changes are on tap for the 2012 Sea Otter Classic. “The essence of Sea Otter is the long cross country course,” says “Frosty” Jeff Frost, Director of Athlete Services for Sea Otter. “Many, many, many professional riders made the request the last two years,... [Read the full story]

Ask-a-Chick

Q: I am wondering what would be a good entry level mountain bike for my wife?

Q: I am wondering what would be a good entry level mountain bike for my wife?

September 7, 2011 · Leave a Comment 

Q: Hey mtbchick! i am wondering what would be a good entry level mountain bike for my wife? she has had a big box store roadmaster womens bike forever, and she is ready to move up to something that doesn’t weigh close to that of a Abrams tank. i am a fan of trek bikes and was looking at the trek 820 WSD, but was wondering if there is something along the same lines we should check out? we originally had a budget of 200 but if i can get a new trek for 300ish we may go that route. thoughts comments ideas? A: Dear Gracious Husband, It definitely sounds like your wife is ready for an upgrade!... [Read the full story]

How-To

Spinning :: Getting Started with a Heart Rate Monitor

Spinning :: Getting Started with a Heart Rate Monitor

August 24, 2011 · Leave a Comment 

Spinning is a great way to exercise and lose weight, but it is even better with the proper tools to take your workouts from aimless to scientific. If you are new to Spin, getting started early on with a heart rate monitor will ensure you train your body to burn fat as fuel and achieve your goals sooner. A heart rate monitor is a simple machine comprised of a watch and a strap placed around your chest. The strap transmits your heart beat rate to the watch, which records your heart rate. Data collected can then be stored, analyzed and shared with a coach or with friends on Strava.com or mapmyride.com. The... [Read the full story]

People

Project 1 Launches Saturday :: One Woman Takes on an urban Mount Everest

Project 1 Launches Saturday :: One Woman Takes on an urban Mount Everest

August 2, 2011 · Leave a Comment 

As I swung open the door to the frosty Bulgarini Gelato in Altadena, an immediate smile told me it was her. Jamila Gaskins, a woman of great vision and aspirations, and I were to have a bit of gelato on this gloriously hot Southern California day. We opted to sit outside to have our conversation, forcing ourselves to sip melted gelato from our tiny plastic spoons as if it were a dessert soup. Jamila half way to LA on the 2009 AIDS Lifecycle Fundraiser If there’s one thing about women, and women cyclists even more so, it’s the willingness to help one another. Jamila, an independent film... [Read the full story]

News and Views

The Lee Bird Birthday Ride :: 7 Riders, 4 Peaks, 63 Miles on Dirt

The Lee Bird Birthday Ride :: 7 Riders, 4 Peaks, 63 Miles on Dirt

“No way! That’s impossible!” The words fell heavy into the fire of his psyche and stoked the flames– enough to send Lee Bird on a grueling one day adventure that would become an annual epic mountain bike ride. The “Lee Bird Birthday Ride”, also known as the “4 Peaks Ride”,...

[Continue reading: The Lee Bird Birthday Ride :: 7 Riders, 4 Peaks, 63 Miles on Dirt]
Dinner with mtbchick :: Seared Duck Breast

Dinner with mtbchick :: Seared Duck Breast

Seared Duck Breast with Roasted Haricots Verts, Gingered Fingerling Potatoes and Butternut Squash Purée. Photo: Tonya Bray Gourmet dinners are best made at home. They cost a fraction of a 5 star restaurant bill, and it’s fun to prepare good food with loved ones. We’re on a kick here in the mtbchick test...

[Continue reading: Dinner with mtbchick :: Seared Duck Breast]
Pro Girl Get Together and Tango :: mtbchick Tonya blog

Pro Girl Get Together and Tango :: mtbchick Tonya blog

Allison Mann in the San Gabriel Mountains I don’t dislike riding with the guys. In fact I enjoy being pushed to become a stronger cyclist, and the group of guys I ride with actually do not resemble a roving locker room as you might imagine. They are respectful adults who typically behave in a mature manner. It...

[Continue reading: Pro Girl Get Together and Tango :: mtbchick Tonya blog]
Where Was I When December Arrived? :: mtbchick drives a giant truck or two and lives to tell about it

Where Was I When December Arrived? :: mtbchick drives a giant truck or two and lives to tell about it

I was wandering around on my bike and stopped by Dorothy Wong and Jeff Herring’s (www.socalcross.org) place to see how they fared in the apocalyptic wind storm. Jeff was in Chinatown building the course for the weekend’s UCI cyclocross races, and surprisingly Dorothy was at home, frantic and on fire as...

[Continue reading: Where Was I When December Arrived? :: mtbchick drives a giant truck or two and lives to tell about it]
Giro Sica Women’s MTB Shoe and Giro Aeon Helmet :: Reviews

Giro Sica Women’s MTB Shoe and Giro Aeon Helmet :: Reviews

Matchy matchy for the fashion slaves. I love the Giro Sica and the Giro Aeon as an ensemble. The matching helmet and shoes have been my go-to for the past year, and I love every minute I’m wearing the two together. They look great, fit great and perform at the highest level. Here are my reviews and photos. Giro...

[Continue reading: Giro Sica Women’s MTB Shoe and Giro Aeon Helmet :: Reviews]
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Events

Bicycle Maintenance Clinics @ Sport Chalet :: September 24 and 28, 2011

Bicycle Maintenance Clinics @ Sport Chalet :: September 24 and 28, 2011

Join mtbchick at Sport Chalet in La Canada Flintridge 24 September 2011 at 10:30...


Wine and Cycling :: Spin + Wine = Pablove Fundraiser

Wine and Cycling :: Spin + Wine = Pablove Fundraiser

If there are two things that seem to go together perfectly, it could quite possibly...


Spinning for Cyclists + Buying Guide + Spin with mtbchick!

Spinning for Cyclists + Buying Guide + Spin with mtbchick!

Pedal Spin Studio, Montrose, California Spinning® (which is a Registered Trademark...


Art Night at Velo Studio :: 14 july 2011

Art Night at Velo Studio :: 14 july 2011

The tradition of art and cycling continues as Velo Studio, mtbchick.com and peloton...


Fine Bicycles, Fine Art :: Art Night at Velo Studio

Fine Bicycles, Fine Art :: Art Night at Velo Studio

                                                      Art...


Tour of California :: Bob Roll at Velo Pasadena

Tour of California :: Bob Roll at Velo Pasadena

Photos by Corey Keizer www.coreykeizer.com Hrach, Bobke and Nevrik Gevrikyan. Photo:...


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Races

Sea Otter Classic 2012 :: Mountain Bike Racing Revival?

Pros Return to Long Course, Amateurs: No License Required for Mountain Bike Races The...


Women of Cyclocross in Boulder ::  A Corey Keizer Gallery

Women of Cyclocross in Boulder :: A Corey Keizer Gallery

On October 29, 2011, the US cyclocross peloton descended upon the Boulder Reservoir...


The Real Women of Interbike :: Cross Vegas Elite Women Gallery by Corey Keizer

The Real Women of Interbike :: Cross Vegas Elite Women Gallery by Corey Keizer

Our photog Corey J. Keizer was on hand at Cross Vegas 2011 to catch the real girls...


$30,000 Cash Purse for 2012 Whiskey Off Road :: Press Release

$30,000 Cash Purse for 2012 Whiskey Off Road :: Press Release

$30,000 Cash Purse Announced :: 2012 Whiskey Off-Road Mountain Bike Event in Prescott,...


Queens of Cross :: Tough Girls Lead Women’s Cycling Promotion

Queens of Cross :: Tough Girls Lead Women’s Cycling Promotion

Colorado’s Tough Girl Cycling will host the first annual Queens of Cross in...


Cyclocross Season Around the Corner: SoCal Cross Schedule, CrossVegas Reg Open

Cyclocross Season Around the Corner: SoCal Cross Schedule, CrossVegas Reg Open

If you ever needed an excuse to go to Las Vegas, here is the best one yet! Whether...


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