Tag: Sierra National Forest

mountain biking gear, Uncategorized

What Mountain Biking Gear Do You Need to Get?

Liz Donahey

What mountain biking gear do you need to get to be ready to ride safely and comfortably on any terrain? Here’s a guide to what mountain biking gear you need to get including 20 things you’ll need to be ready, comfy, and safe to ride your mountain bike. So you’re excited and ready to ride your mountain bike. Whether it’s your first mountain bike ride, or your 1000th, getting the gear your need will make your ride more safe, comfortable, and fun! Prepping for a ride takes time and the more you prep in advance, the easier it is to get ready to hit the trail. Note: Best for recreational or social ride vs competitions (that’s another list!). Mountain Biking Checklist

  1. Mountain bike with seat dropper, full suspension, disc breaks, 27 or 29-inch wheels, tubeless tires, water bottle cage (optional) if you prefer wearing a hydration pack on your back or waste like a Camelbak). My bike: Santa Cruz Tallboy CC
  2. Helmet with MIPS for head safety, regular or choose a full-face if you’re into faster downhill riding.
  3. Short-sleeved riding jersey like the Pearl Izumi Women’s Sugar Jersey that you can get at Sports Basement with pockets for holding your water bottles, food, and phone. Get long-sleeved riding shirts/Jersey-like Merino wool long-sleeved layers for colder, wetter, darker temps. If it looks and feels great, and isn’t too hot as you start your ride, you’re good. Pro-tip: Bring an extra 7shirt that’s dry if it’s raining or you’re just sweating a ton!
  4. Riding vest, windbreaker, or jacket for colder days or evening rides. Insulation again the cold is good. Rain-proof.
  5. Riding shorts with shams like the Fox Women’s Flexair Shorts. Or winter riding pants in colder weather for 55 degrees or cooler, otherwise you could probably ditch the winter pants.
  6. Long winter pants for colder days like Specialized riding pants which I got at the Trail House in Santa Rosa. preferably with lots of big pockets that aren’t designed for a baby mouse. You can store your food and phone are usually in these big pockets, especially the latest specialized MTB riding pants. Maybe show the latest specialized in a beautiful ivory color long-sleeved shirt and pants that are really.
  7. Riding gloves. Fox, Fast House and many others makes some great gloves that are durable, comfy and keep your hands safe and warm.
  8. Mountain biking shoes either flats or clipped in shoes. Flats shoes are not attached to the peddles, while clips are attached. Personally, I prefer Adidas 5 women’s mountain biking flats, even though I may be sacrificing from peddle power and exerting more energy, especially if I am tired, but I love the comfort of being able to put my feet down more easily and quickly in flats.
  9. Trail Snacks. Gu energy gels, Clif bars like Cool Mint, Clif Protein Builder bars or Block Chews, Lara bars that come in delicious flavors like blueberry, banana break, apple and more can all be bought at most sporting good stores, bike shops, or on Amazon. Save money and buy cheaply in bulk especially if you’re consuming 60 snacks per month like me! Depending on how many calories you burn during a ride and how long your ride is going to be calculate how many snacks you’ll need. Typically 200 too 1400 calories per hour is good to eat packed with nutrients and proteins and quick sugars to keep you going.
  10. Riding backpack or Fanny pack like a Camelbak Rogue with lightweight design and a built-in water bladder that makes it easy to drink from the tube without stopping your ride and can hold up to 3 litters of water. You will want 1 litter of water per hour while riding. It’s convenient for bringing along your phone, food, universal tool, small bike pump, bandages, phone, sweat rag, extra shirt and other items.
  11. Riding glasses and/or goggles. lots to choose from just make sure you can see in changing light conditions, cold, rain and wind. Bring a wipe to keep clean and clear.
  12. Mountain biking socks. You’ll want to get mountain biking socks that are high enough to protect your shins from impacts like pedal strikes and other impacts while keeping you warm on colder days or evening rides. Merino wool hiking socks at REI or Sports Basement are also great when wearing flat mountain biking shoes, especially in colder weather and will keep your feet dry and snug. Buying multiple pairs is smart and helpful if you are riding a few days in a row to avoid doing lots of laundry, and avoiding stinky socks!
  13. Headphones or earbuds for listening to music or taking calls on the go.
  14. Bike computer such as a Wahoo or Garmin. I prefer the Garmin and tested the GPS on both simultaneously for one week to compare the GPS accuracy and records indicated the Wahoo won.
  15. Hot hand warmer packets if it’s really cold to warm up quickly.
  16. Headlamp and bike lamp combo like the NiteRider Lumina Micro 900 if you run out of sunlight on these short winter days.
  17. Big and Small Bike Pump just in case you get flat like the Leznye Floor Pump or the Top Peak small bike pump kit with Universal Tool small bike pump that you can attach to your bike or put in your bike pack.
  18. GoPro (optional) camera such as the new GoPro Hero 11 Black to capture all your epic adventures!
  19. Cozy changeout clothes like a sweat shirt, sweatpants, and flipflops that are easy to change into.
  20. Bike box like a durable plastic milk crate size bin or basket with handles to make it easy to transport and organize all your gear from your house to your ride site if you’re driving to your ride location. Keep a plastic bag with your changeout clothes and extra shoes like flip flops so you’re not cold and wet after your ride. This may be the most important item on this list, especially if you’re meeting up for a post-ride beer with your friends and family!
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Pedal Forward Bikes & Adventure does what it preaches! – By Jorge Negrete.

Mike Broderick

“Greenwashing” is when a company wants to appear “green.” They put a green leaf on their packaging, or they say that their product is “eco-friendly” or “natural” (plastic is also natural). However, these companies do not back up their claims of being green with any data or environmental studies. 

When I was the Environmental Manager at Tenaya Lodge, I was cautious to “do what I preach.” As a co-owner of Pedal Forward Bikes & Adventure, I have that same commitment.

Since day one, I have been very concerned with operating our business responsibly and with whom we will do business. I have been happy to find bike companies doing their part with solid sustainability goals and practices.

Companies like PNW refuse to use any plastic in their packaging, and Portland Design Works partners with ecological non-profits by sending part of their profits to support these organizations.

Also, at Pedal Forward Bikes & Adventure, we use solvents and cleaners that are 100% biodegradable, like Simple Green, plant-based chain lubes from Mountain Flow. We are considering reducing our water consumption with an Eco-parts washer with biodegradable solvents and a bike wash cleaner from Muc-off. 

  1. We buy locally and invest locally: Every time we have to make t-shirts, signs, get coffee, or anything for the shop, we first search to work with small local businesses like us, as we stated in our commitment.

2. We purchase bamboo toilet paper and paper towels with oils, but we also reuse and wash our shop rags.

3. We invest in our community: we are working with the board from the Ahwahnee hills park to grant access for bikes, especially for kids and people that start riding. We are active participants in trail maintenance with Yosemite South Gate Trails Co-Op. 

4. To bring kids and families together for a fun day of riding, we organized the Mountain Area Bike Rodeo, working together with the Mountain Christian Center.

5. We are in constant conversation with landowners to build new mountain bike trails in the area.

6. We Refuse and Reuse as we said to our customers, “we fix first and replace it if it is not fixable,” we offer used parts that are in good condition, we receive used bikes in any conditions to reuse the components or fix old bikes. We donate it to somebody in need of one.

7. We reuse bike boxes to ship customers bikes and the foams and bubble wrap that come with them.

8. We also recycle!!! Yes, we do, and we collect the data! Below is a review of our results:

Pedal Forward Waste Metrics 2020-2021

Our total waste of trash and recyclables was 2,330.7 Lbs. This equals 100% of our waste. From this waste, the total trash that goes into a landfill is 151.9 Lbs; This is only 6.5% of our waste. 

Our total diversion (total of all recyclables) is 2,178.8 lbs. This gives us a diversion percentage of 93.5%.

At 93% diversion Pedal Forward Bikes & Adventure is attaining “Zero Waste” standards, as more than 90% of our waste is diverted.

What do we need to do to keep improving our sustainability goals?

We need to focus on working with companies that have the same sustainability goals as us. For example, during the Sea Otter festival, I just had a conversation with the Director of Fox Racing North America about their products’ excessive packaging. We need to start these conversations to show our manufacturers that we care.

For Pedal Forward Bikes & Adventure, there is still room for improvement, and we are going to continue to buy smart and put our money where it matters to make a difference.

Like I said at the beginning of this blog, we are not greenwashing. The only greenwashing we do here is when we use Simply Green degreaser to clean parts.

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Pedal Forward Bikes & Adventure’s New Bike Trail Website Content

Mike Broderick

At your local bike shop, Pedal Forward Bikes & Adventure, our mission is to build deep connections with our customers and inspire them to take more adventures! To inspire you to explore the local Sierra National Forest on your bike, we’re stoked to let you know we have just published mountain biking trail content on our website.

We currently have information on 29 different trails and locations where you will find fantastic riding. We have trail recommendations for every rider, from black diamond single-track trails like Octopussy near Bass Lake, California, to mellow dirt roads suitable for young children at Tesoro Viejo just north of Clovis, California, off of Highway 41. We also have included information on riding in Yosemite National Park. We plan to include road biking routes. If you have some favorite routes, please email us or DM us on social media to add to our website.

The mountain bike trail content we currently have provided is only just the start. Over time, we will be adding more trails, such as the trail network in Jerseydale, California, near Mariposa. Additionally, we will include videos of each trail, so you will see how the trail looks before your go for your first ride. Eventually, we plan to have more detailed videos reviewing the different lines you can ride and descriptions of what you can expect during your ride.  

After you check out our trail content, swing by the shop for some in-person advice on riding locations. We’ll give you recommendations based on your skill and fitness level. We also hold “Shop Rides” regularly. Our “Shop Rides” are purely social, and all skill levels are welcome. It’s a fantastic way to meet other riders and join others when riding a trail for the first time. Click here to check out our ”Shop Ride“ calendar. Don’t forget to follow us on Facebook and Instagram to get notified of our next ride, the latest news on products we carry, and our efforts to support the riding community of all ages.

We hope you find this information helpful so you can get out there and Pedal Forward!

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Leading the Effort for New Family & Beginner Mountain Biking Trails Near Oakhurst, California

Mike Broderick

At Pedal Forward Bikes & Adventure, we strive to be more than just a bike shop. Giving back to the community and inspiring our customers to have more adventure are two of our core values. Beyond selling bikes, gear, apparel, and repairing bicycles, we also advise customers where to ride and hike. Having talked to hundreds of customers since opening, it has become woefully evident our wonderful town needs more places for families and new mountain bikers to develop their single-track riding skills. The popular riding trails require long and often steep climbs followed by single-track descents that are challenging for children and new riders. We currently suggest that these riders drive all the way to Tenaya Lodge and ride Jackson Road or head south to Tesoro Viejo. Unfortunately, both options do not offer single-track riding.

Our search to find the perfect location close to Oakhurst lead us to explore options at the 400 acre Ahwahnee Hills Regional Park located at 43469 Highway 49, in Ahwahnee, California. We are collaborating with The Friends of Ahwahnee Hills Regional Park. Fern Facchino, the Chairman, has graciously invited us to present our plan for family mountain biking in the park. We’ve attended two board meetings and are pleading our case to obtain approval to develop a sustainable single-track mountain bike trail specifically designed for families and new riders. Read on to see our proposal.

Ahwahnee Hills Regional Park

Proposal: Access for bicycle use within Ahwahnee Hills Regional Park 

This proposal is presented by Jorge Negrete and Michael Broderick owners of Pedal Forward Bikes & Adventure located in Oakhurst, California on behalf of local families. Jorge is a board member of Yosemite South Gate Trails Cooperative, a mountain bike enthusiast, and former Environmental Manager at Tenaya Lodge at Yosemite. Michael is also a mountain bike enthusiast, tourism expert, and former Director of Sales & Marketing at Tenaya Lodge at Yosemite.

Reference:

Families living in our mountain communities need access to safe family-friendly bicycle trail riding, especially for beginners learning to ride on trails. Currently, there are no designated and conveniently located areas that are safe for families to ride bicycles. Due to the steep and challenging terrain of the mountain area, families cannot ride together in safe, “easy”, “green level” trails. Most of the existing bike trails access points are difficult to locate and entail long drives from Oakhurst/Ahwahnee area. Biking is an excellent outdoor activity that enables children to stay healthy, enjoy the outdoors, and develop a passion for an active lifestyle. Currently, there are non-profits in the area that use mountain biking to keep children involved in athletics providing alternatives to video games, social media, and other potentially negative activities. The addition of a convenient, safe, and fun trail within the Ahwahnee Hills Regional Park will positively benefit the community and promote the park as a place where a family can spend the day together. Families visiting the area will have another family-friendly recreational activity that will positively impact our local businesses that rely on tourism.

The increased demand for outdoor activities that the community of Oakhurst/Ahwahnee are looking for will benefit families and visitors that are looking for a retreat in the mountains.

Details of Proposal:

1. Kids and families will benefit from the riding areas while keeping the bikes off equestrian trails with signs clearly noting: “No bikes allowed.” Signage will educate visitors on proper trail etiquette required between riders, hikers, and horseback riders to share access on the Orange trails that are already designated within the park. 

2. Extend the existing hiking trail, keeping it separated from equestrian trails. This will benefit hikers that can enjoy the trail as well.

3. This trail expansion will have the appropriate signage for the specific trail for mountain bikers. The future possibility to build trail features will provide a safe and fun family training ground for riders interested in developing their skills in order to ride the more challenging biking trails in the Bass Lake/Oakhurst area. This trail development could become a small scale version of the Woodward Park trails near Clovis, California.

As a board member of Yosemite South Gate Trails CO-OP, we have the expertise to build and maintain sustainable trails while educating users on the appropriate trail etiquette.

This proposed access is only for non-motorized bicycles. Attached is an environmental impact study about mountain biking. The study concludes that “the environmental effects of well-managed mountain biking are minimal.”

There will be scheduled maintenance of these trails by members of Yosemite South Gate Trail Cooperative, bike enthusiasts, and through community events.

The green trail on the map below illustrates the potential expansion and development of hiking/Mountain bike trails in Ahwahnee Regional Park. Note that a separate biking only trail could be designated. Additionally, a new bike only trail can be build next to the red (hiking) trail to eliminate any mixed use trails.

Michael Broderick & Jorge Negrete – Pedal Forward Bikes & Adventure, LLC Owners

Shop Ride – 007 Bass Lake Area – Saturday, January 9

Join us on our weekly shop rides to stay fit and make connections with our riding community!

Let’s ride 007 together! This ride begins with a nice 944′ aerobic building climb to the single track trail entrance. The single track portion is 100% downhill. Enjoy thrilling flowy sections, challenging rock gardens and fast turns. Although the trail is rated blue on TrailForks, it has a few sections that can be considered black. New riders will develop their skills and may want to ride slowly or walk the more challenging sections. Let us show you how to navigate the trickier sections if you’ve never ridden 007 before. Anticipate the ride lasting approximately 1:00 hour to 1:10 minutes of riding time. Click here to see the trail map on TrailForks.

The ride will begin promptly at 8:00 am, so please arrive a few minutes early to gear up and make any last-minute bike adjustments. We’ll have some tools with us.
See you this Saturday, weather permitting.

Pedal Forward!

Mike & Jorge

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Our Mission

Mike Broderick

Our mission is to share our passion for cycling and the High Sierras with a concierge approach to helping our customers maximize their cycling experience. We want to inspire our customers to pursue more adventures in life and to always “pedal forward.” We strive to build a strong relationship with every customer and seek to understand them to provide the best service and products to enrich their lives. We don’t want only to be just the best local bike shop; we want to be the best bike shop in California! Follow our blog as we share our love for mountain living and all the adventures life has to offer.