2012 VP Components Dirt Club Enduro Announced
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SANTA BARBARA, CA., (February 17, 2012) – The VP Components Dirt Club Enduro will be an awesome and exciting test of speed, skill and endurance for mountain bike enthusiasts of all levels. This two day event promises to be an exhilarating and rewarding adventure for all.
The VP Components Dirt Club Enduro format will be based loosely on WRC Auto Rally and European MTB Enduros. Our event will feature predominantly downhill timed special stages linked together by non-timed liaison stages. Each rider will complete the courses on the same bike without shuttles or lifts, riding along through check-points to the start of each timed special stage.
This is an event that is all about having fun and riding your bike fast. The top athlete in each category will be the fastest and most skillful bike handler for sure. There will be a mix of pure Downhill type tracks, Super D tracks, and XC descents. And because the riders will have to ride the liaison to the start of each timed stage, there will also be a strong fitness element to this race. There will be cash payout in the Open/Expert Men and Women categories and high value prizes at least 10 deep in every category.
The DIRT CLUB near Los Olivos, CA is a private location for mountain biking enthusiasts to enjoy their sport in a safe location completely removed from other trail users, this is a 100% conflict free riding area. With downhill trails, super d trails, a dual slalom course, a 12 mile cross country course, an ever expanding pump track, a new DJ line, and miles of dirt double track ranching roads, countless opportunities are provided for riders of all abilities to explore and have fun. This venue has hosted various MTB races the past 12 years, including the Santa Ynez Valley Classic leg of the US TRIPLE CROWN SERIES.
The Stages:
SESSION 1 features two laps of a 10 mile loop with 4 special stages per lap for a total of 20 miles and 8 timed special stages. The special stages will all be short in duration, ranging from high-speed less technical trails, to short downhill and super d tracks with berms, jumps, and drops. We expect this to be a 2-2.5 hour day.
SESSION 2 (Night racing) will require each competitor to have a light and will cover a 6 mile loop with 2 timed special stages. The special stages will be held on tight and fast descending cross-country single track that we expect to run around 3 minutes in duration each.
SESSION 3 will be the big day that likely decides the winners over a 10 mile course with two timed special stages. This will be essentially a two run Super D on the Dirt Club’s new Super D Flow Trail. The Super D Flow Trail features two short climbs, berms, pump features, jumps, drops, and even a big sender for 15-20 minutes per run.
*All courses can be ridden by riders of all ability levels and there are slower beginner options for challenging features.
For additional information on the event, see the event website; www.vp-usa.com/enduro
Bicycle, Mountain Bike |
X-Fusion Signs Brian Lopes
X-Fusion is pleased to announce the signing of 4-time World Champion Brian Lopes. A Mountain Bike and BMX Hall of Fame member, Lopes professional cycling career has spanned over 20 years. During that time, he has won over 19 titles and still has more World Cup event wins than any other male athlete in history.
“There were a lot of athletes looking to ride X-Fusion for 2012, but we decided to work with Brian because he offers more than just a marketing face for the brand”, says X-Fusion Marketing Manager John Hauer. “We’ve already benefitted from his testing expertise and since he is riding everything from cross-country to downhill to pump tracks to dirt jumps, he can positively affect our entire product line.”
X-Fusion’s close relationship with another local Santa Cruz company, Ibis Cycles, also helped with the partnership between Brian and X-Fusion.
“Around Interbike, I found out Ibis was using X-Fusion forks and shocks on their Special Blend complete bikes”’ says Lopes. “All the Ibis guys there were raving about the performance, so I knew it was something I should check out”.
Lopes has signed with X-Fusion for two years, and for he plans to take part in a diverse competitive schedule of events consisting of Sprint Eliminator, Enduro, Super D, Downhill and Dual Slalom Races.
Bicycle, Brian Lopes, Mountain Bike, X-Fusion |
2011 Parkfield Classic
The 2011 Parkfield Classic kicked off this past weekend. It is located about an hour and a half North/East of San Luis Obispo. The event is the official kickoff to the Collegiant race series. Typically turnout for the race is a majority of College students.
This year the campground was not too loud. People stayed up late had a good time and shared BBQ tips and techniques at the neighbors grill while sucking down cheap beers. The pixie bike race somehow turned into a jump contest and a few competitors were throwing 360's and tail-whips over the wood ramps.
2012 Specialized Demo II
With two downhill World Championships already to its name, the Demo 8 II is the world's fastest downhill machine. With 200mm of travel, a Cane Creek Double Barrel shock and a RockShox World Cup fork, it oozes premium downhill performance.
Danny Hart's 2011 UCI World Champion Run
Great Britain’s Danny Hart gave us a master class in downhill racing as he demolished the wet Champéry track in a show of dominance not seen here since Hill's infamous run of 2007. Coming off the back of an amazing 2nd place at the last round of the World Cup in Val di Sole, Hart went one better to cut more than 11 seconds off the time set by silver medalist Damien Spagnolo (FRA)... even finding time to showboat over the last jumps. A defining moment in Downhill racing, the 2011 World Championships are sure to go down in history. Roll on the 2012 season...
