Off-road bicyclists stage Fat Tire Fest

Hundreds of mountain bikers, from professionals to toddlers, descended upon Castaic Lake State recreation Area Sunday for the 2009 iteration of the Fat Tire Fest, put on by local bike trail advocacy nonprofit CORBA (Concerned Off-Road Bicyclists Assn.).

The event featured group rides led by professional mountain bikers Ned Overend, Brian Lopes and Sid Taberlay; demo bikes from companies including Cannondale, Giant, Ibis, Specialized and Trek Women; a skills clinic; poker ride; wheelie contest; a bike limbo contest; a silent auction; and a raffle drawing.  The festival is CORBA's biggest source of funding each year and all proceeds go to help the group advance the cause of mountain biking in the greater Los Angeles area, said association president Jeff Klinger.

"We get probably 50% of our operating budget from just this event," Klinger said.  The group has held the festival every year since its inception in 1987.

In addition to maintaining trails in L.A. and parts of Ventura counties, Klinger said CORBA advocates for greater trail access for mountain bikers; runs a youth-outreach program that brings inner-city kids ages 8 to 17 on mountain biking trips in the Santa Monica mountains; and provides free skills clinics and group rides for cyclists of all levels, including those new to the sport.

The big draw of the day was the chance to ride with pros Lopes, Overend and Taberlay. 

The spin on Levi Leipheimer, an American cyclist you oughta know

An earlier post took note of cyclist Levi Leipheimer’s fund-raising brainstorm King Ridge Gran Fondo. Now here’s a look at the man behind the wheels:

[Part 2 of 2] Ask most Americans if they know who Levi Leipheimer is and they’ll give you a blank look.  Mennonite author, Jewish poet, fashion designer and guy with a beard were some actual responses people gave when asked who they thought he was.

The reality is, Leipheimer is neither a Mennonite nor a poet, he spends most of his time wearing, but not designing tight clothing and he shaves nearly all the hair on his body.  But for good reason. Leipheimer is one of the best American cyclists you’ve never heard of.

Now, go down to your local coffee shop on a Saturday morning and ask any of the spandex-clad beanpoles who Leipheimer is and they’ll choke on their macchiatos in a rush to extol his accomplishments.  As a rider for Team Discovery and then Team Astana, his highlights include winning the Tour of California in 2007, 2008 and 2009; third place in the 2007 Tour de France; second place in the 2008 Vuelta a Espana (Tour of Spain) and a bronze medal in the 2008 Summer Olympics in Beijing.  He’s also a friend and teammate to the only American cyclist everyone has heard of, Lance Armstrong.

Leipheimer’s most recent competitive endeavor was a sixth-place finish at the 2009 Tour of Missouri, which wrapped up on Sept. 13.  This top 10 success highlights two important facts: that Leipheimer is very much a rider on the mend; and that this was his first professional race since a crash forced him to drop out of the Tour de France in July.

That crash came at the end of stage 12, as a quick left turn caught Leipheimer by surprise, sending him into and over the curb.  Though he initially thought it was only a sprain, a night of sleepless agony and X-rays the next morning confirmed he had broken the scaphoid bone in his right wrist.

Leipheimer was forced to drop out of the race and immediately undergo surgery.

Thousands gear up for pro cyclist Levi Leipheimer's fundraising ride

For a look at the man behind the wheels, check out Part 2 of our interview with Levi Leipheimer, in which he discusses his healing wrist, his future with Team RadioShack and the impact of doping on professional cycling.

[Part 1 of 2] Imagine you’re a professional athlete looking for a way to raise some money for a cause you believe in.  The options are often as numerous as your Twitter followers.  You can start a foundation, host a golf tournament, maybe throw in a silent auction for good measure.

Or if you’re a pro cyclist, you could have some real fun with it and call some of your riding buddies, a couple of sponsors and 3,500 total strangers and go for a ride.

That’s what Levi Leipheimer* decided to do as a way to raise money to allow his hometown of Santa Rosa to continue hosting a stage of the Tour of California, something the city has been fortunate enough to do every year since the race’s inception in 2006.

The event is called a gran fondo; roughly translated from Italian it means big ride. It’s not a race, but rather a group ride in which the participants, often numbering into the thousands, are fully supported: a closed route on public roads; regular rest stops with food and drink; mechanics available to fix any bike malady and a medical team to fix any body malady.

Leipheimer’s iteration is called the King Ridge Gran Fondo, and it takes place in Santa Rosa on Oct. 3rd.  Leipheimer says local businesses and the city had been so gracious in their investment in hosting a Tour of California stage for the past four years that when the current economic climate threatened the possibility of a fifth year, he wanted to help out.

Red Bull X-Fighters freestyle motocross tour hits Texas this Saturday

Above is a promo video for the Red Bull X-Fighters freestyle motocross tour, which comes to Texas Saturday, June 27.

The third stop in the five-round global series, this will be the only X-Fighters event held in the U.S. this year. After Texas, riders move on to Leg 4 in Madrid on July 16 and 17 and then London for the Aug. 22 finale.

Those invited to compete include previous X-Fighters winners Jeremy "Twitch" Stenberg, Mat Rebeaud, Robbie Maddison and Danny Torres.

Stenberg recently had his motorcycles stolen from his Temecula home and there has been no news as to if they have been recovered, so he may be riding some different bikes.

Also, newcomer Levi Sherwood, winner in Mexico City, had a bad landing during a training session last week and will not be able to ride. His replacement will be Metal Mulisha rider Jeff "Ox" Kargola. Sherwood should be back in time for Madrid.

With the riders coming out of the bull chutes at the historic Fort Worth stockyards in head-to-head competition featuring jumps of 75 to 115 feet, this should be an exciting event.

Enjoy the video.

-- Kelly Burgess

Video courtesy of Red Bull Motorsports

National forests not as popular, but Inyo may be an exception

These findings are not surprising and yet another sad reminder that today's gadget-minded kids and even their parents are spending less time tuning in to nature: The U.S. Forest Service recently issued a report stating that visits to national forests have dropped sharply -- from 204.8 million in 2001 to 178.6 million in 2007, a 16.6% decline.

Some areas are worse than others. In the Pacific Northwest, visitation is down by nearly 30%, but in California it's down only 7%.

Indeed, California has its bright spots, one of them being the Inyo National Forest, which includes such breathtaking parcels as the Ansel Adams Wilderness and John Muir Wilderness (and its towering centerpiece, Mt. Whitney).

The Inyo Register, quoting an Inyo National Forest officer and using anecdotal evidence from retailers, reports that preliminary findings indicate an increase in visitation.

The INF's Jeff Marsolais told the newspaper that visitor sampling was done in 2002 and 2005 and a draft of these findings was produced in July 2007. Data are still being refined but point to an upward trend expected to continue for the next several years.

As for the rest of the country, who knows what's going through people's minds. Outdoor recreation is, compared with most sporting events and other types of vacationing, a great value. It helps keep the fat off children and provides them with an understanding and, hopefully, an appreciation of the natural world.

That's healthier for them and essential for the future health of our national forests.

-- Pete Thomas

Photo: Snowmobilers negotiate an Inyo National Forest trail near Mammoth Lakes. Credit: Pete Thomas / Los Angeles Times

Glendora remains on cougar alert

Residents of Glendora remain on alert after last week's apparent near-miss attack by a mountain lion on a cyclist traveling south on Glendora Mountain Road near mile-marker 930.
The incident occurred at dusk on Aug 25. An adult male cyclist was traveling downhill at about 20 mph when the predator appears to have vaulted down a steep embankment in an attempt to attack him.
Kevin Brennan, a biologist for the state Department of Fish and Game, said in an interview Wednesday that the cyclist saw the cougar behind him first to his left, then to his right, "then he peddled as fast as he could to get out of there."
The incident was not reported until 24 hours afterward and hot, dry weather made tracking the animal with hounds impossible because the heat had removed the scent. Brennan did see paw prints, though, and said they were from either a yearling or full-grown adult.
Had a DFG team been put on this predator's track sooner, it likely would have been cornered and killed because of its aggressive behavior so close to civilization.
There have been no reported incidents since. Mountain lions have a very large home range--up to 200 miles for adult males--and this one has extensive Angeles National Forest wilderness in which to roam, so it is hoped this was merely a case of the cyclist being in the wrong place at the wrong time.
But bikers and hikers are urged to exercise extreme caution, and Brennan suggests resident follow these guidelines:
--Do not hike, bike, or jog alone.
--Avoid hiking or jogging when mountain lions are most active -- dawn, dusk and at night.
--Keep a close watch on small children.
--Do not approach a mountain lion.
--If encounter a mountain lion, do not run; instead, face the animal, make noise and try to look bigger by waving your arms; throw rocks or other objects. Pick up small children.
--If attacked, fight back.
--If a mountain lion attacks a person, immediately call 911.

For information about coexisting with mountain lions, visit the DFG's Keep Me Wild website.

--Pete Thomas

Photo credit: Associated Press

A weekend in Portland, Ore.

Is it any surprise that Portland, Ore., rocks?

Where else can you walk or take public transportation to trail heads in the largest forested natural area within a city limits in the U.S.? Hiking, cycling and kayaking are a snap. All in a city with the most breweries in the nation (more than two dozen in the city nicknamed Beervana).

We wanted to check out exactly how easy it would be to get to outdoor pursuits in Portland sans car, so we flew up and spent a vehicle-free weekend recently in the urban gem of the Pacific Northwest.

The photo at right is along Cornell Road, in the northwest section of the city. A trail head into Forest Park is just before the tunnel (one of several ways into the park), about a 15-minute walk from our hotel. This is also minutes away from popular Northwest 23rd Avenue, aka "Trendy-third."

Downieville downhill... in the dark

In the Travel blog this morning, Times writer Hugo Martin offered a little preview of an insanely difficult mountain biking race taking place this Sunday northwest of Lake Tahoe, focusing on one of the more inspirational fellows planning to participate in its 5,333-foot descent:

Anyone who has ever tried mountain biking Downieville’s legendary downhill trails knows you need great skills, brawny legs and an excellent medical plan. I attempted the 17-mile, high-speed plunge last year for a Los Angeles Times Travel article and was lucky I survived with only a few bruises and cuts.

But Bobby McMullen, a mountain biker from Redding, California, must have nerves of steel. He is once again taking on the Downieville Classic Mountain Bike Race this weekend. Oh, yeah, and he’s legally blind. McMullen’s daredevil exploits have been documented in a film called “The Way Bobby Sees It,” by Poison Oak Productions.

Martin's not exaggerating. Check out the YouTube trailer from the film for confirmation.

Mandatory pre-registration for the race is now closed, by the way. But if you've got the means to get to Downieville this weekend, it should be quite a spectacle -- even for those who can't see it.

-- Liam Gowing

Photo: A Downieville bike racing contestant. Credit: Al Seib / Los Angeles Times

Southern California bike trail roundup

Exercise bike at the gym starting to feel like a tease? Then dust off the spokes and strap on the bike rack ... the open road awaits! 

Bolsa Chica, Huntington Beach
A Huntington Beach version of the Santa Monica bike path.

Crystal Cove, Laguna Beach
Beautiful ocean views and good fire-road riding with some single track. Trails intersect with the El Moro Canyon backcountry of the state park.  Between Corona del Mar and Laguna Beach

El Capitan State Beach, Santa Barbara
A bike trail connects the park with Refugio State Beach, 2.5 miles away along sandy beaches and rocky tidepools.  (Great camping and horseback riding too!)

Griffith Park, Los Angeles
Rent bikes and tour 4,210 acres of natural chaparral-covered terrain and landscaped parkland in the largest municipal park with an urban wilderness area in the United States.

Malibu Creek State Park, Malibu
Fifteen miles of stream-side trail through oak and sycamore hillsides.

Portuguese Bend, Palos Verdes Peninsula
The ultimate "secret" local spot in the South Bay area.

Paseo Miramar / Topanga Loop, Topanga
Topanga State Park boasts 36 miles of trails through open grassland, live oaks and spectacular views of the Pacific Ocean.

Point Mugu State Park, Ventura
One of the most popular areas to mountain bike in the Santa Monica Mountains. Single track, wide open fire road and a nice, narrow paved road coupled with spectacular scenery makes this a top valley-to-ocean ride.

Santa Monica and Venice Beach Bike Path
Enjoy summer fun all year long with a smooth ride at the beach.

Zuma Ridge / Trancas Canyon, Malibu
It’s worth the challenge to get to this lesser used trail…

—Post and photo by Sari Heifetz

A crash course on first aid's secret weapon

I'm lying on the couch while I type this. Bleeding.

About an hour ago, I flipped over the handle bars of my mountain bike just outside Will Rogers State Park in Pacific Palisades.

I was really lucky. I had almost stopped, my helmet was securely in place and five minutes before I'd thrown on a lightweight jacket to cover my arms.

Still, I'm bleeding.

My left arm looks like a raspberry and I know it's going to be stiff tomorrow. You know the drill. Rest. Ice. Compression. Elevation. Secret weapon.

Secret weapon? That would be a tube of Brave Soldier Antiseptic Healing Ointment. It's like Neosporin on steroids — but you won't get disqualified from your next triathlon. I started using it a couple of years ago and never travel without it. It soothed me after a horrible case of poison oak. My roommate used it to prevent scarring after a major surgery. It's also great on smaller things such as paper cuts and badly chapped lips.

This is the first time I'll use it on a mountain biking injury, but that's exactly what the product was developed for. It was formulated by a doctor and a mountain biker; road rash was their common enemy.

At $12 for a 1-ounce tube, Brave Soldier is pretty steep. But so are those hills. What's a scar-free outdoor lifestyle worth to you?

You can find Brave Soldier at a number of high-end retailers. If Kitson and Montage aren't gritty enough for you, there also are a couple of bike shops that carry the product or you can just order online.

—Adam Rose

For an update and post-crash photo, click "Read more" (not serious, but also not for weaker stomachs).