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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Well for the past few weeks we’ve continued to ride but our numbers have dwindled as people popped back to home for holidays and what not. Ken, Kuni and myself have continued to ride and Ash and Phil will be back just in time for next Sunday’s ride. I’m hoping to get some of the Olympic guys to come out with us at some point too.

The weather is awesome now. This is really thanks to the Olympics! the air quality is soooo much better than a few months ago, the views from the top of the new DH were amazing on Sunday (unfortunately I didn’t take a still camera). The previous weeks rides were wet and muddy and claimed yet another of my phones Bye bye Blackberry you served me well. It was my only stupid fault really. Had a bit of a blond moment where I decided part of the river would be shallow due to the face a duck was swimming about (maybe I was hungover/still drunk?) anyway Kuni and I rode through with water easily coming over the tops of our 6 inch travel forks, but it was surprisingly easy going.

I’m going to try and load a helmet cam video of the new DH in a mo. It’s not very interesting to watch to be honest, but its fun to ride! Got to watch out for those trees though they really make the path narrow.

Update: heres the video (I hope) may take a while to start so be patient.

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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We’ll last weekend we got to the track and did a bit of work on the jump (as some arse had tried to destroy it). Then we spent 4 hours in the hot sun building our berm. We’re pretty impressed with the results (check the photos below) I just hope it survived the torrential rain this morning and Phil’s load-bearing cardboard does its job. Next weekend we’ll get some more done, probably a berm to the left right after this right hander as it’s pretty damn quick now!

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Date: Saturday June 28, 2008

Route: This is a clockwise route. Start in Shidu town, just west of
the low bridge over the river. After 0.5km, take the junction to the
north, after 7.5km along the paved road, it is the entrance of our
1st gorge. The local paved the 7km at the entrance and then ahead up
the valley onto gravel. Follow the 14km gravel track over the
ridgeline, climbing from 200 to 850 m before dropping to 600m. At one
point the track suddenly narrows to a seductive small track that goes
straight ahead and peters out: the real route hairpins back on your
left across a river bad. Later on there are some huge switchbacks,
ENJOY!!! At some mountain village follow your nose out through the
village, the road after here is decrepit, and the path reduced to a
single track on top of the old abandoned road.

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The guys over in Hangzhou have been out and about again. This time at Yu Yang Hill, Suzhou. It seems they’ve found what we have always wanted a DH track in their backyard! With any luck we’ll be able to visit Hangzhou sometime and see what the riding is really like.

[Show as slideshow]

The Sun Riders are an ex-pat/Chinese bike club based in Hangzhou. Not much is known about them at the moment, but we’re hoping to get details and updates for when and where they ride soon. In the meantime you can sit back and watch this video of the Sun Riders in action!

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

Date: Saturday May 31, 2008

Route: This Sat, it is A to B ride, half paved and half dirt.

Start beside Banchengzi Reservoir, riding along the right-side of our
Spoon Ride till Panzipai, turn northeast till Qianhuozhiling, from
here downhill ride on the dirt trail approx 38km all the way till we
hit the main road at Gumenkou.  Turn right back to MOB Bus.

Total distance: approx. 90km
Total climb: est.  800meters
Estimated time back to town: 7 pm
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Date: Saturday May 24, 2008

Route: This Sat will be the farewell ride of Jobst, who will go back to
Germany at the end of May 2008.
All the best to YOU, Jobst!!

We will start again in Shandongzhuang, ride along our 15km paved
uphill till the 1st barrage. From there, offroad downhill till the T-
jonction. This time we will take left wing dirt road, followed by
single trail, plus some bike on shoulders. As soon as we hit the main
road, we will turn left and ride along the river back to MOB bus.

Total distance: approx 50km
Total climb: est. 1000 meters
Estimated time back to town: around 6pm

Sign-up:
beijingmob-owner@googlegroups.com
Book as early as possible.

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