Have you had your eyes on a Dirt Rag Woolistic wool jersey or super comfortable Voler cycling shorts? How about a pint glass set or an organic cotton Bicycle Times T-shirt? Well, now’s your chance to order and save a nice chunk of change.

From 5/29 to 6/14/2009 we are celebrating our 20th Anniversary and offering 20% off Dirt Rag or Bicycle Times products in our online merch area.

To score the 20% discount on your online merch order, simply enter the coupon code at checkout: Summer2009.

Offer is limited to stock on hand, so order before your size is gone. Click here to shop.

The International Mountain Bicycling Association (IMBA) reports that California State Parks has announced a proposal to open a singletrack trail for mountain biking in Marin County, on the shoulders of Mt. Tamalpais. The agency plans to allow bicycle use on the four-mile Bill’s Trail segment, and is soliciting public comments on the project. The commentary period ends on June 26th, 2009.

Located within the Mt. Tamaplais watershed in Samuel Taylor State Park, Bill’s Trail winds through native ferns, wildflowers and hazelnut trees. It averages a reasonable 7-percent grade, and its six switchbacks provide riders with multiple views of the surrounding landscapes. While it is expected that bike access on Bill’s Trail will be limited to alternate days at first, the parks department states that this stipulation will be open to further review.

“I’m urging mountain bikers across the country to send comments in support of this project,” says IMBA Executive Director Mike Van Abel. “It’s hard to imagine a more important location than Marin, where mountain bikers have worked incredibly hard to regain access to the very trails that helped bring our sport into the world.”

IMBA has issued a call to action, asking mountain bikers to tell California State Parks that they support the decision to open Bill’s Trail to bicycles. Click here to go to IMBA’s webpage that has more information about this historic opportunity, including a convenient web-form for contacting decision makers and letting them know that you support opening Bill’s Trail to bicycles.

This weekend the Western Chapter of the Michigan Mountain Bike Association is hosting the 9th Annual Midwest Mountain Bike Summit in Grand Rapids, Michigan. This three day event focusing on mountain bike advocacy will include a two-day IMBA trail school, hands-on technical trail building demonstrations, a mountain bike festival, food, demos, organized rides, a raffle, music from local bands, and a photograph and video contest. Topping off the event will be a 40 mile long epic ride.

Dirt Rag will be at the summit to learn, schmooze and ride. We’ll be bringing the newest Dirt Rag and Bicycle Times merchandise, so stop on by to see the goods. We’ll also be giving away some fine products from our generous World Tour sponsors for new and renewing subscribers.

Registration for the event is $45 and that includes the following:
* Welcome Reception including dinner on Thursday evening
* Breakfast Buffet with IMBA Friday morning
* Lunch followed by advocacy break out sessions Friday afternoon
* Demos and group rides on Saturday
* Spot on the Epic Ride Sunday
* Event T-shirt

More information can be found at the Midwest Mountain Bike Summit website.

Dirt Rag issue #142 is on the streets and copies are now hitting subscribers’ mailboxes. Non-subscribers may purchase single issues of #142 in digital format via Zinio and in traditional paper format via Dirt Rag Merch.

If you have not yet experienced digital Dirt Rag, click here for a sample of Dirt Rag within your web browser via Zinio’s robust, high-quality, reader interface. A one year (7 issue) digital Dirt Rag subscription is available for $9.95, a $10 saving compared to the domestic subscription rate for the printed version. Foreign subscribers who choose to go digital will save even more money, not to mention getting their issues of Dirt Rag a lot quicker than via the mail.

Traditional paper subscriptions to Dirt Rag are available here for $19.95 for one year to USA addresses (additional mailing fees apply to foreign addresses).

On Sunday, May 17th the Boggs Mountain Demonstration Forest in Cobb, CA hosted 374 high school mountain bike racers for the 2009 California High School Mountain Bike Championships, presented by Touchstone Climbing and Fitness. Racers from the well-established NorCal League squared off against the new kids on the block from the recently-formed SoCal League.

The six-mile loop through Boggs Demonstration Forest offered a wide range of conditions that favored the all-round rider with good bike handling skills. The trails were dry, the dust was up, and the mercury climbed into the 90s—adding to the physical demands placed upon the young competitors.

“Once again these kids, and their parents, and the coaches leave me speechless with admiration. We now have more than 600 school kids competing in California high school leagues. The SoCal riders did just great, we can see there is a lot of talent already in that league. There is so much going on in high school mountain biking, but as the pinnacle of what we are doing, this event made me proud,” said League director and founder Matt Fritzinger.

2009 California High School Mountain Bike Championships Race Results

Varsity Girls Top Ten

1. Shayna Powless – Independent
2. Christine Weir – Nevada Union
3. Lauren Catlin – Drake
4. Carolina Gomez Villafane – Los Gatos
5. Lauren Mcquinn – San Marin
6. Kelsey Anderson – Novato
7. Lauren Freudman – San Rafael
8. Karli Haugen – Folsom
9. Charlotte Perry-Houts – Albany
10. Mary Brosnan – San Rafael

Varsity Boys Top Ten

1. John Bennett – El Cerrito
2. Nate Byrom – Nevada Union
3. Will Curtis – San Rafael
4. Davis Bentley – Redwood
5. Alex Stevenson – Berkeley
6. Clayton Herrick – San Rafael
7. Nick Newcomb – Drake
8. Tony Smith – Marin Cath
9. Sam Bassetti – Drake
10. Christopher Convis – Nevada Union

For complete results in all of the age groups, and the final 2009 California High School Mountain Bike team standings, click here.