chinamtb 08

BE A PART OF ONE THE FASTEST GROWING SPORTING COMMUNITIES IN HONG KONG. THE HKMBA IS BACK. NEW PEOPLE, NEW ENERGY, AND A FRESH COMMITMENT TO PROMOTING MOUNTAIN BIKING.

For the past 16 years the Hong Kong Mountain Bike Association has represented the interests of mountain bikers in Hong Kong by lobbying for better trail access, as well as by providing information to visitors and residents on how they can engage in mountain biking and related activities. After a two-year hiatus we are back in the saddle and working harder than ever to get better trails for all riders of all levels. HKMBA is non-profit, all volunteer organization made up of mountain bikers just like you. We are always looking for help in order to keep our efforts moving forward.

As has always been the case our primary objective is to promote the improvement and expansion of the existing network of trails in Hong Kong.
In addition we are going to offer a better community interface via our newly designed web site www.hkmba.org where you can:

* Keep up to date with all of the HKMBA advocacy efforts and projects
* Locate legal trial networks in Hong Kong
* Join in or create discussions in our rider’s forum
* Buy and sell bikes & gear through our classifieds section
* Keep informed about what is happening in the world of mountain biking
* Plan your ride or race with our events calendar
* Participate in HKMBA group or social rides
* Download maps and screen savers
* Volunteer opportunity listings
* Plus much more

Our goal is for the HKMBA website to be the hub for all things mountain biking in Hong Kong.

Membership is free - take a look and sign up!

www.hkmba.org

ALSO

We are planning on attending the Action Asia Enduro Mountain Bike race at Tai Lam on September 21st. We will be handing out information sheets and talking about our plans and efforts. We are also going to ask for volunteers to man the water bucket stations to pour cool water over the head of the hot racers, compliments of HKMBA. Can you help?

COMING SOON

HKMBA also plans to host social rides for mountain bikers of all levels throughout the territory and beyond, so check out our website for more details of these upcoming rides.

Look forward to seeing you on the trails

Robert (Bob) Smith

Chairman
Hong Kong Mountain Bike Association
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Date: Saturday & Sunday Sept 20-21, 2008

Tianjin Adventure Club (TAC) is looking forward to show the MOB their
MTB backyard in the mountains North of Mount Panshan!

Date of departure: Sat Sept 20, 2008
Time to meet: before 0750 for a 0800 SHARP departure
An early and prompt start is essential

Where we meet: Agriculture Exhibition Hall (AEH)
400m south of the Sheraton,
opposite the eastern end of Dongzhimenwai

Tracks are all mountainous and situated North East of Mount Panshan.
Both days are loops - so we will start and end at the hotel,

Both days will make a combined trip following the MOB tradition: One
long trip and one shorter trip.

We will have lunch along the way - bring a lunch pack for Saturday

There will be a little pushing of the bikes now and then when the
tracks become too steep.

There will be some hard paved tracks, but most will be dirt track.

You will with guarantee meet local people who has never seen a MTB
before!

Estimated expenses/person:
Participation & transportation: RMB200
Hotel room:                             RMB170
Dinner                RMB  40
(RMB240/double room and 2 persons/room)
________________________________
Est TOTAL                              RMB410

We will go dutch on breakfast & dinner

Sign-up:
beijingmob-owner@googlegroups.com
Book best before noontime this Thursday Sept 18, 2008
Cancel before 4 pm on Friday noontime (Sept 19, 2008)
Still pay for the ride
if you cancel late or don’t show up on Sat morning
We need to book the hotel rooms in well advance.
Thank you very much for your understanding!

What to Bring:
Mobile (in the consideration of any case
may happen and in case you do not give your mobile number to the
organizer, please DO when sign-in), Mountain bike, HELMET
(compulsory), water (there should be some shops), sunglasses, snacks,
BIKE GLOVES, suntan lotion, spare tube, pump & basic repair tools,
toilet kits & good mood ( I’ll NOT complain & I’ll NOT discuss
politics.) & your passport/ID card; if you do not want Chinese
breakfast, bring your own corn flakes, milk and coffee & some RMB cash

If you need a rental bike, suggest to go to RockBike.
RockBike is located on the northside of Ping’an Blvd, a couple of
hundred meters from Houhai.
RockBike Tel: 64011183

Birkebeinerrittet in Norway is the world’s biggest MTB competition. It is a race with a history deeply rooted in the forests of the Scandinavian Peninsula, so it couldn’t be more perfect than to hold the Chinese version in the northern mountains of Changchun. You will cycle in the beautiful forest reserve Jingyuetan Park and experience the Chinese autumn and impressive nature while taking part in a traditional Nordic event. Birkebeinerrittet China is a mountain bike race for anyone who likes sports and outdoor activities. You don’t need to be a professional to be in it.

Birkerbeinerrittet China is also more than just a race. Participants will be staying at the five-star Shangri-La hotel which is located in the business and entertainment center of Changchun where they will be treated to a dinner banquet Saturday evening. This is the chance to enjoy a genuinely healthy and adventurous weekend.

Event organizer: Nordic Ways
Venue: Jingyuetan Park, Changchun, Jilin Province
Date:  11th October (The event will be held during the weekend with the race on Saturday 11th. With travel package, you can come on Thursday 9^th or Friday the 10^th and go home Sunday 12^th.)
 

Registration has already opened at our website! Travel packages for the race can also be booked online. Those who do not have a bicycle can rent one onsite, including helmet.
For more information about registration and travel packages, please contact Ellinor Axner Yin at ellinor.axner@nordicways.com, 010-65920545 ext 121 , or log on to our website: www.nordicways.com

Vatternrundan one of the biggest participatory cycling events in the world and it is held each year in Sweden with the track going around Lake Vattern. Nordic Ways will hold it’s sister event here in China  the last weekend of august 08, 29th to 31st. It will take place at Changbai Mountain in Jilin province. An amateur and a professional race will be held. After-bike activities such as dinner banquet, open Vattern bar and mountain sightseeing. For more information about the track, travel packages and registration you can go to our website www.nordicways.com or contact ellinor.axner@nordicways.com

In October, we will also have a mountainbike event. It is also held in participation with one of the largest mountainbike competitions in the world  - the Norwegian Birkebeinerrittet. Birkebeinerrittet China will be held on the 11th of October 2008 up north in Changchun. Don’t miss out on it!

Here’s a handy schedule for all the cycling events which will be held during the 08 Beijing Olympics. The times are Eastern times and are subject to change.

Day 1 of the Olympics 8th August

Day 2

Day 5

Day 7

Day 8

Day 9

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10:30am

I’m not entirely sure what time the torch arrived, but luckily for you and me I was in the right place at the right time with my super zoom camera! I was under the impression the torch would come first in the procession, but I was wrong. The first thing to come along was the Coca-Cola float followed closely by the Samsung and Lenovo vans. Then the cheering really got started when the new torch bearer came along and stood practically in front of us. After a bit of posing the former bearer arrived and the torch was lit…. and that was that. I’ll post more pictures later.

8:30am

Still nothing much going on, however the crowds are here and the helicopters are flying low.

7:44am

You may ask why am I awake at this ungodly hour when I should be tucked up in bed dreaming of shiny bike parts. Well the reason is today is the day the Olympic torch and its bearer/s come to Qingdao. Luckily for me my home is a quick 30 second walk from the main route of the torch, however it also means I get to here the drums banging at 7am in preparation for the big event. I just had a quick look around (there’s not much to see). The main Hong Kong Rd which runs through Qingdao has been blocked off and is lined with brightly dressed Olympic volunteers (1000’s of them!) equally huge numbers of police are out and about, and there are a handful of vendors. I’m not entirely sure when the torch is due, and I doubt I’ll get to see it (there’s going to be huge! crowds) I may even take my bike for a ride, however if I am around and I have my camera I’ll get a pic.

Route:
We will start at Tanghe, paved ride to Simatai, continue 1.5km uphill
on the paved and downhill a couples of kilometers till we hit our
simple trail, before we reach Jinshanling, some bike pushing on the
steep rock till we reach Jinshanling Great Wall Tower. We need to pay
RMB 40/person (group offer) as an entry fee. Then we cross the arch,
downhill along the simple trail. Keep entry tickets with you, the
local will double-check at the exit of Jinshanling. We will continue
riding 2km downhill, when we see the Advertisement along the main road
on our right-hand side, that will be our 2nd valley, uphill and
downhill and uphill again, we will conquer Simatai Great Wall. MUSHES
can go through the arch of Jinshanling Great Wall and ride along the
Wall, back to the MOB bus. MIOB will continue extra climb, bike
pushing needed for the enjoyment of quite challenging single trail
downhill.

Total distance: approx. 50km +
Total climb: est. 850 meters

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One week from now bikers will start dropping in to Xi Wu Qi Inner Mongolia for the 3 days MTB race that offers so much more than just a race. You will be able to ride Mongolian horses, watch wrestling shows, eat traditional Mongolian dishes… and enjoy spending time with other bikers, runners, and friends.

The marathon will take place on Monday, July 7th, the day after the last bike stage… signed up yet?

Visit www.nordicways.com for more info

Lidingoloppet China, 21st June

Only one week to go until the big Cross Country  Running Festival Lidingolloppet China. The preparations are going well in the “small” city up north, Changchun with ‘only’ 7 million people. The tracks are being marked, the beer-tens are setting up, and the May-pole is under production. The event coincides with the Swedish summer tradition Midsummer, and we will therefore combine the event with the traditional Swedish Midsummer Festivities.

Genghis Khan MTB Adventure &Grassland Marathon, July 4-7th

The great MTB Adventure n the traces of Genghis Khan is also around the corner, less than one month to go! This is the second edition of this Inner Mongolia Adventure, however, this year also with a Marathon for all runners out there! The adventure involves 3 stages of MTB and one stage of running. It will go on for 4 days, but it is up to you to decide how many stages do you think you can manage! Amateurs or Elite … everyone is welcome!

After the race you will experience true Mongolian Culture with wrestling shows ans Mongolian horses, you may  even stay one night in Mongolian Tents.

Vattenrundan China, August 29-31st

Coming up after the Olympics is another of the Swedish classics that will do its second appearance in China. The setting for the road bike race Vattenrundan China is Changbai Mountain, a dormant  volcano famous for its volcanic lakes, thermal springs, and pine forests. As usual in our events; amateurs, elite, bike-fans and tourists are all welcome!

To see more details and to sign up visit www.nordicways.com

The past few weeks have seen some excellent ride conditions here in Qingdao. The weather has been warm and moist, but not humid. This has made for some eerie mist and nice grippy smooth hardpacked trails. Best of all due to the lack of rain and the sticky consistency of the trail dirt, we’ve had fun building up some small jumps to liven up our tried and trusted ride.

This week we’ll continue the work by building up a double we stared last week, and Ash christened in spectacular style, and also try to add a few berms and drops to the first downhill.

If your up for an early start and getting muddy in the eerie foggy forest drop us an email. andi@chinamtb.com.