Just in time for short-sleeve spring shredding sessions, we’ve slashed the price on our stylish Dirt Rag Elements jersey. For a limited time we’ve offering these top-notch threads for only $50 (normally $69).

The Dirt Rag Elements Jersey is made by Voler of their extremely breathable, UV-reflecting SQ Pro fabric. It features a 20″ hidden zipper, raglan sleeves, and three rear pockets. Hurry, this limited time-offer is valid while supply lasts. Click here to order and/or have a closer look.

[Thanks to Scott House for sending the following report on the fundraiser for injured rider Nick Van Dine].

If you hadn’t already heard, all around good guy and Cannondale factory pilot Nick Van Dine took a nasty fall snowboarding that landed him in the ICU. Nick underwent reconstructive surgery shortly after the crash, and is only a short time away from being back on the bike. Getting rolling on two wheels is the easy part for Nick; it’s the bills that presented the biggest problem.

On Thursday, April 23rd the Mountain Bike community came together to help Nick with some of those bills so he could focus on riding. The NVD Fundraiser kicked off at 7:00pm at the Sidecar Bar in Park City, UT. If you live in a resort town you know this is about as slow of a time as resort towns see, so we had some concerns regarding attendance. By 8:00 o’clock the room was starting to fill up though and the money was rolling in. We had enough raffle prizes to run a Price is Right show, and the silent auction was looking like a Madison Avenue affair. OK, not really but we were set up for success is the point.

At about 9:00pm we really got the night moving along. With the help of the Sidecar bartenders we had adequately lubricated our guest’s wallets, and raffle tickets were going by the 10’s and 20’s. The silent auction was also starting to see some action. Doug Dalton (Cannondale bikes) kicked off the first portion of the raffle and decided after talking to a couple of beautiful young ladies that we needed a live auction as well. Turns out those young ladies really like spa treatments because we raised about an extra $150.00 by letting them bid against each other. What a great show it was!!!

Ledfoot provided the entertainment for the evening. I think a good band is judge by their musical versatility, and Ledfoot had plenty to spare. Our ears were graced with great tunes from the likes of Led Zepplin, the “Nuge”, Rolling Stones, and plenty more. The bar staff kept lubricating wallets and the party kept rolling. At this point the stragglers and fashionably late started to arrive. People like Adrian Montgomery from SCOTT Bikes, and the local freeride crew. Big thanks to Adrian and SCOTT for their donation.

At set break we finished the formalities of the evening, raffling off the rest of the great prizes from sponsors like Troy Lee Designs, Bear Naked, Freeride Foundation, Brothers Bikes, White Pine Touring, and DH Productions just to name a few. It was also time to announce the winners of the silent Auction. Thanks to Thule, Cannondale, Deer Valley Resort, EWR Bikes, Troy Lee Designs, and Camp Chef for donating great items for the Auction. The auction alone raised $2,000.00 and although that is far below the retail value of the items available it was a welcome boost to the night’s funds, and people were stoked on their winnings.

Ledfoot came on for their second set and really got the place hopping. The night ran on with great tunes, cold beer, and great friends. When all was said and done we raised just under $4,000 to help with Nick’s medical costs; a healthy sum by any measure.

It is events like this that remind us what a great bunch of people the mountain bike community is. It’s not about being the coolest, or having the best bike, or being the fastest up or down the hill. It’s about the experiences with your friends. It’s about having fun, and helping each other out for the greater enjoyment of everyone. It’s about self expression, and sharing your vision with all who want to see it. I have never been more stoked to call myself a mountain biker more than I am now. If you’re a mountain biker take a second to reflect on all the great times you have had on and off the trail with your fellow dirt shredders. Think about when you leant a hand to someone you didn’t know on the trail, and when that favor was returned to you by another stranger. That’s the heart and soul of our sport. Not the bike or the trail but the people you meet and the experiences we share. Thanks to all those who attend NVD’s party, and to all the generous sponsors who helped to make this event a success. Shred on!!!!!

[Ed note: If you would like to make a donation to Nick and were not able to attend the fundraiser, White Pine Touring will be collecting donations (Physical: 1790 Bonanza Dr, Park City, UT 84060; Mailing: PO Box 280, Park City, UT 84060). Checks can be made payable to Nick Van Dine.]

The Western Chapter of the Michigan Mountain Bike Association is hosting the 2009 Midwest Mountain Bike Summit on May 29th-31st, 2009 at the Cannonsburg Ski Area near Grand Rapids, MI.

A Welcome Reception will take place at the Comfort Suites North, from 7:00pm until 10:00pm on Thursday, May 28th. Feast on a roast pig from Crane Dance Farms and wash it down with beverages from Founders and Arcadia Brewing. A pump track will be on site for the duration of the Summit.

The Summit starts rocking at 9:00am on May 29th, with the Club-Care presentation led by Kelly and Collins Bishop from IMBA. Throughout the rest of the day, attendees can participate in workshops and seminars focusing on all aspects of mountain bike advocacy, with an emphasis on promoting and developing urban trail systems called gateway trails. Nationally and regionally known presenters including Ryan Schutz from IMBA, Kevin Marley from CAMBR, Mike Dulin from KYMBA, Mike Dunstan from GORC, and Ken Freestone from WMSA will lead discussion on topics such as working with planners, grant writing, developing skills areas, and the economic impact of mountain biking. An IMBA trail school will also be offered concurrently, with Day 1 consisting of a class-based theory session and day 2 a hands-on session at the Cannonsburg Ski Area.

The action on Saturday starts at 8:00am at the Cannonsburg Ski Area, with a morning session featuring hands–on trail building demonstrations—with equipment from Ditchwitch, Trail armoring, Stihl chainsaw safety class, and trail layout with Kelly and Collins. Later in the day, the Summit will have a festival atmosphere, with demos from Trek, Fisher, Giant, and Specialized; organized rides on local trails; a downhill race; and music by the Sinners. Additionally, attendees may submit photographs and digital “YouTube” style videos shot during the Summit, with prizes to be awarded to the top submissions on Sunday afternoon.

Sunday is reserved for the Epic Ride, which takes place at the Cannonsburg Ski Area from 10:00am to 3:00pm. Riders will cover 3 different trail systems (dirt, roads, and paved trails) and over 40 miles of riding. There will be aid stations along the way to refuel, as well as optional stops at local watering holes for refreshments. Shorter ride options will also be available.

For more information visit the Midwest Mountain Bike Summit website at www.midwestmtbsummit.com.

Paradise Royale, a purpose-built mountain bike trail in California’s King Range National Conservation Area (NCA), will receive $600,000 in federal funding from the 2009 omnibus appropriations bill (H.R.1105), which became law on March 30, 2009, (P.L. 111-8). The appropriation follows years of work by IMBA California Policy Advisor Tom Ward, who lobbied representatives in both the House and Senate.

Joey Klein, a senior trail designer for IMBA, has worked closely with Gary Pritchard-Peterson, manager of the King Range NCA, on the Paradise Royale trail. Pritchard-Peterson came up with the original idea of utilizing two defunct logging roads and potential sections of single-track to create a 14-mile loop, connecting two ominous ridges that overlook the spectacular Lost Coast. “IMBA and Joey changed the way we think about trails,” said Pritchard-Peterson during a grand opening, held last fall. The $600,000 funding will be used to expand the orignal 14-mile loop into a more extensive MTB trail system. More info at imba.com.

Tomac Bikes announced the completion of a limited edition John Tomac print—based off a 1995 photo by Tom Moran, which features Johnny T drifting through a corner at the Kamikaze—which was painted by Tomac graphic artist Randy Rigg.

“The Kamikaze has always been a very special event in US downhill racing history,” says Tomac owner Joel Smith. “And I think Johnny’s style and aggressiveness epitomized the racing at the time. The painting really captures the race’s essence of speed, and for those of you who attended those events, it will surely evoke the majesty of racing back then.”

“My goal was to create a realistic portrayal of Johnny’s racing” says artist Randy Rigg. “The painting is just snapshot of a moment, but there is this inherent movement that I hope was captured in it.”

Tomac will produce a limited run of 20 John Tomac autographed giclee prints on 15 inch by 20 inch canvas, which will also be hand signed by the artist. The prints will cost $250, with $50 of each print going to the Tara Llanes Road to Recovery Fund to help the Tara deal with the expenses related to her September 2007 accident. Interested parties should contact Joel Smith via email.

I must be getting old. Somehow Dirt Rag and Bicycle Times “new guy” Matt Kasprzyk was able to evade my patented Rider Profile interrogation for several months before I finally cornered him for the following Q/A session. Matt graciously answered all of my questions, so you could get to know him better.

Name: Matt Kasprzyk

Age: 29

Occupation: Graphic Designer

Hometown: Ransomville, NY

Current location: Pittsburgh, PA

Number of years mountain biking: 4

Number of years road biking: 1

Riding style: XC

First mountain bike: Way back, Cannondale M600. More recently a Gary Fisher Piranha.

Current main bike: 2008 Gary Fisher HiFi Pro 29

Favorite trail ride: Sprague Brook, NY

Best bike vacation spot: So far Vermont, great riding and beer.

Favorite on-bike food: Clif Shot Blocks

Biggest on-bike accomplishment:  Passing riders on climbs during races.

Biggest off-bike accomplishment: Getting a job at Dirt Rag.

How did you get started mountain biking?

I got started mountain biking when I was a kid. Lost interest in the sport, did a bunch of others throughout high school and college. A knee injury snowboarding made me revisit low impact sports and I decided to pick up an old favorite again. I enjoy the outdoors and the challenges of cycling off road, so it has easily become a part of my life.

How did you get started road biking?

Started commuting to work while living in Buffalo, NY. Flat city, wide streets, shitty weather, why not ride your bike to work?

What music goes through your head while you’re riding?

Queen – Bicycle Race

What motivates you to ride your bicycle?

Fitness, fun, endorphins, challenging myself, adventures, and spending time outside with friends.

How did you land your job at Dirt Rag / Bicycle Times?

I have no idea. I like to think my portfolio helped.

Describe the work that you do for Dirt Rag / Bicycle Times.

I’m a graphic designer for the magazines who helps with merchandise designs and page layouts for the mags. I try to make things pretty and reinforce the communication graphically. I also do some reviews for the publications and help at World Tour events.

What’s the best thing about working for Dirt Rag / Bicycle Times?

The work environment. Being around bikes all day and learning from the staff. There’s beer in the basement and singletrack in the back yard!

What was the most unexpected thing you’ve discovered about working for Dirt Rag / Bicycle Times?

I can imagine having a bike worth more then my car.

What is the most difficult thing about working for Dirt Rag / Bicycle Times?

Elastic deadlines.

What were you doing for work before you joined Dirt Rag / Bicycle Times?

I worked doing similar stuff a couple years for the Buffalo Philharmonic Orchestra. A polar opposite to the current DR/BT work environment. I was responsible for ads, direct mail, promotional material and print collateral—anywhere from posters, to annual reports for the non-profit cultural.

What’s your favorite thing about working in the industry?

Afternoon rides are justified as research.

Any non-bike hobbies, or something you do to relax?

I haven’t since moving to Pittsburgh, but wine-making was a big hobby of mine and something I need some space for here.

Tell me something about yourself that most people would be surprised to learn.

All the stuff above is made up.

Anything else you’d like to add?

Nope.