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Sunday, May 6th is Lemonade Day! Be sure to stop by and pick up a glass of fresh lemonade to help support the local youth entrepreneurs of Palmer!!
Reese will be outside Backcountry Bike and Ski, selling his lemonade. So make sure to stop by the shop on your Sunday bike ride for an iced cold refreshment!
Coming up next week…
Alisa Kincaid will be hosting a Free Triathlon Clinic on April 26th, 27th, 28th
Backcountry Bike and Ski will host the first Open Maintenance Clinic of the year on Thursday, April 26th at 6:30PM. In this free clinic you will learn the basic tools you need for a road, mountain, or comfort ride. Learn how to change a flat and keep your bike in good working order! The class will last about 1.5 hours with time for mingling and questions afterwards. There will be light refreshments served. Call the shop for any questions 746-5018. You do not need to bring your bike, but feel free to bike here!
Parking: Please park across the street next to In & Out Deli and not at the Motel. Thanks and see you then!
Calling all ladies! Come in to Backcountry Bike & Ski and learn how to fix a flat, install a tire, lube a chain, and perform basic bike maintenance on your road, mountain, or cruiser bike. (You do not need to bring your bike, but you’re more than welcome to bike here!!) This FREE clinic will begin at 6:30PM on Thursday evening and is open to all our loyal female customers, sorry guys.
We will also go over basic tools and gear you might need to ride, as well as a tour of the shop and why women specific clothing is awesome.
All attendees will receive 10% off one item in the shop during the evening of the clinic. (bikes excluded)
Light refreshments will be served, feel free to bring snacks or drinks of your choice for a fun evening of all things bike!
If you can’t make it this Thursday the 19th, we will be having more clinics coming up. Check out our Events page for future clinics open to all genders as well as more clinics for women only.
Get Ready! SKAN 24 (Ski Kincaid All Night) is coming up!
This is a 24 hour format for individuals and teams. Come enjoy this end-of-the-season event!
When: Saturday-Sunday, March 24-25, 2012 Time: 10am -10am Where: Kincaid Park
The 2012 SKAN 24 is going to be even better than last year (Is that possible, you say? YES! It’s possible, we say! Read on…). Not only do we have a whole slew of fantastic sponsors lined up, a quickly growing pile of high-quality swag to give away, and a deal with a local RV rental company for a kickin’ 2-day deal, it’s NATIONAL WAFFLE DAY in Sweden! Yes, you heard correctly, WAFFLES. As in, we’ll be making waffles during the race! Oh my, that is good. We’ll be working hard all winter to make the 2012 SKAN a raging success – the most fun you’ll ever have at a Nordic ski race. Stay tuned for all the race updates by following the race blog – http://www.skan24.blogspot.com/
2012 Race Start Date: March 4th
About the Tour of Anchorage
The Tour of Anchorage is a point to point cross country ski marathon that is at sea level. There are actually 4 races, a 25 k classical race, and a 25k, 40k and 50k freestyle. You are able to classic the 40k or 50k too. The 40k and 50k start on the east side of Anchorage and go through the middle of town, along bike trails. The 25k race starts in the middle of town and uses the same course. All the races finish at Kincaid Park. Bus transportation back to the starts will be provided.
Tips on making it a great “tour”. Smile, relax, have fun.
You can visit the Tour of Anchorage website for full race information.
Good luck to the bikers and skiers in the Susitna 100! Hope the trails are good and the weather fine! Enjoy the views, if you can.
Trail Report February 12, 2012
The entire trail, except Ayrshire Road was marked on Sunday. Ayrshire Road still needs some work due to aggressive snowplowing that placed big chunks of ice on the trail. This will be fixed on Wednesday and marked.
In general, the trail is compacted wet snow. It rained sporadically all day while we were marking. If the temperatures dip to 20 degrees or lower, the trail will be firm. If not, the trail will be mushy.
In many areas, the snow machine traffic has not been concentrated to one track. In these areas, we attempted to mark the firmest route. But on the return trip, we found other, firmer tracks. Please keep in mind that the markings follow the race route, not necessarily the best trail. Use the markings to keep on route and find the track that favors your mode of travel.
The critical intersections were marked with paper plates showing the direction to follow. Please watch carefully for these directions. A more detailed description of the critical points on the trail will be given at the pre-race meeting on Thursday.
Brooks Wade
Check out www.susitna100.com for more information! Good luck, make Alaska proud!
The next Free Swix Waxing Clinic, presented by Mark Strabel, will be focusing on race wax and advanced wax techniques. Stop by the shop Tuesday night for an informative clinic to enhance your ski waxing skills!
When: February 7th, at 6:30 PM
Where: Backcountry Bike and Ski; 132 W. Arctic Ave.
Super Hot 80′s Night
Hey dudes and dudettes! Backcountry Bike & Ski is stoked to present a Super Hot 80′s Night featuring the classic, primo 1989 ski movie: License to Thrill (sequel to “Blizzard of Ahhs”) by Greg Stump. This bomb movie is only $2, Radical! We are amped to provide beverages of the adult variety for those 21+ (donations GREATLY appreciated). There’s one catch… you must come dressed in your most hottest, totally tubular neon 80′s ski gear or active wear. Yes, way!! So, if your not an airhead, noid, dweeb, or hoser, come on by for this major, sick, fresh-o-rama movie night! Word.
- Totally Super Hot 80′s Night
2011-2012 Backcountry Film Festival World Tour
Brought to you by the Winter Wildlands Alliance. “Celebrating the human powered experience.” Sponsored locally by Mat-Su Ski Club and the Alaska Quiet Right Coalition. Located at Colony High School Auditorium, Friday January 27th, 7PM; $5 at the door only, lots of door prizes!
VaMoose 20 Mountain Bike Race & Tour
Fat Tire Bikes will be rolling around Willow
Valley Mountain Bikers and Hikers are teaming up with Arctic Cycles and the Willow Winter Carnival to bring fat tire bikes out to the carnival for an afternoon of winter bike racing and touring. You can choose to speed along with other competitors, or take a more leisurely guided ride. The course will utilize the beautiful groomed trails west of Willow – approximately 20 miles, starting and finishing at the Willow Community Center. Billy from Arctic Cycles will have his fleet of rental bikes there for the afternoon, so if you want to rent a bike give him a call soon – the rental bikes must be reserved in advance. Spectators are welcome and encouraged – the Willow Winter Carnival offers lots of activities, so bring the kids, and make a weekend of it. There will be food, drinks, and a warm place to relax inside the community center.
Where & When: Willow Community Center, Sunday, January 29th. Check-in at 11:00 am. Race start at 12:00 Noon, Touring will start shortly after the race start.
Pre-Registration On-Line: $27.50 race division & $7.50 touring division. (Race division receives times; touring division does not.) www.active.com/event_detail.cfm?event_id=2006264
Same Day Registration: $30 race division & $10.00 touring.
Visit the websites/links for more information.
Our third Swix waxing clinic will focus on the techniques of kick waxing. Clinic starts at 6:30PM on Tuesday, January 10th and is located right here at Backcountry Bike and Ski in downtown Palmer. Certified Swix Wax technician, Mark Strabel, will lead the demonstration and be available to answer any questions you have about nordic waxing or skate waxing. So come by for some hot coffee, learn the techniques of kick waxing, and talk ski. As always this clinic is free to the public!
