The Literature Contest is a celebration of the written word. It’s our annual effort to recognize and reward writers who possess the ability to deliver fine prose with a cycling bent and a unique narrative style.

The only requirements: your entry must be 1) cycling themed and 2) no more than 3,000 words, though that limit is not a quota. If you’re in need of guidance or are seeking the tastes of our judging panel, check out the winning stories from 2009 in issues #145 and #146.

Two winners will be chosen, first place and runner-up. Winners will get awesome prizes and have their stories published in Dirt Rag.

Rules

• Entries must include a reference to cycling, preferably mountain biking.
• Entries must be original and previously unpublished.
• Judges’ decisions are final.
• Plagiarism is a crime. Do not plagiarize.
• One entry per person. No more.
• Word count limit is 3,000 words.
• Mail-in entries only.

Entry Guidelines
Include one cover page with title, name and contact information. Do not place personal information, such as name or address, anywhere on the article itself. Entries will not be returned. Send to Dirt Rag Literature Contest, 3483 Saxonburg Blvd, Pittsburgh, PA 15238. All entries must be postmarked by June 1st, 2010.

Here’s the Fine Print: All entrants grant Dirt Rag the rights to reproduce submitted material in the magazine and on dirtragmag.com. Payment for non-winning entries to be made 30 days after print publication. We assume that all entries are original works and are the property of the entrant, with all rights granted therein. We aren’t liable for copyright infringement on the part of the entrant.

Slated for Augusta, Georgia on May 5 – 8th, 2010, the 2010 IMBA World Summit is expected be the largest yet. Seminar topics will include destination and urban trail networks, land conservation and sustainable trails, youth outreach and new programs designed to grow local capacity for the 700+ clubs and patrols in IMBA’s global network.

In addition to seminars and networking, the gathering will feature parties and plenty of riding, including a closing day tour of the Forks Area Trail System (FATS), an IMBA Epic.

Online registration for the 2010 IMBA World Summit is open now through May 3rd, 2010. IMBA members, be sure to login to your account before completing the registration form to enjoy special pricing.

The conference will be held at the Augusta Marriott hotel. IMBA has received a limited number of discounted rooms available at a rate of $109 from May 3rd – May 8, 2010. The rooms are first come, first served, so please make your reservations early and stay at the center of the action during the Summit.

For additional information visit: www.imba.com/summit/2010_World_Summit.html.

We’ve marked down the price on our complete selection of Dirt Rag logo synthetic cycling jerseys from 28% to 35% off. The following styles are on sale for $45 each: Perpetrator, Elements, and women’s Elements. Our 20th Anniversary jerseys (men’s and women’s) are on sale for $50 each. Sale prices valid through February, or while supplies last. Get ‘em while they’re hot!

Our jerseys are made by Voler of their extremely breathable, UV-reflecting SQ Pro fabric and they feature a front zipper, raglan sleeves, and three rear pockets. Available in men’s club cut, and women’s cut (depending on style). Click here to shop….

Dirt Rag Magazine would like to invite you to our own event: Dirt Fest. Mark your calendars for the weekend of May 21st-23rd, 2010 and head over to the Allegrippis trails at Raystown Lake in Hesston, PA.

Dirt Fest will be a fun mountain biking festival, featuring 32 miles of prime singletrack for a weekend of great riding. Camping will be available. We invite you to come and join the festivities, demo mountain bikes and check out the latest products in the industry expo area.

IMBA will be on hand to teach trail building clinics and advocacy, and other club events will take place.

Dirt Rag will be bringing the flavor of hops and barley as we host a Pennsylvania beer tasting event, complete with brew techniques and history. Other entertainment and spectacles will follow.

The cost for attending is $30 per person including two nights of primitive camping at Susquehannock Campground or $15 for the weekend without camping.

Visit dirtfest.blogspot.com for more information on Dirt Fest (and/or to contact the promoters about getting your company or organization involved in the expo area, or as an event sponsor). If you’re ready to rock and roll, click here for registration.

Dirt Rag’s Dirt Fest is brought to you by Dirt Rag, IMBA, Raystown Mountain Bike Association, Rothrock Outfitters, and the Friends of Raystown Lake.

Weekly meeting after weekly meeting, I’ve been promising to get this done, but this morning our esteemed web editor said that he’s “counting on me” to write a blog and submit it today. The blog post based on my experience with the “new” Santa Cruz Tallboy. What to do? I have a few words written down, but not much, and the deadline for the full print article is right around the corner as well. Doh!

Let’s keep it short and sweet. The kids over at Santa Cruz have been delving into the “latest and greatest” of materials, carbon fiber. I’ll get into it more in the upcoming print article, but Santa Cruz tells me that this 29 inch frame is 2 pounds lighter than if it were made of aluminum. So what do I say? You’d be stupid not to! No need to discuss the pluses and minuses right now, this is my first 29er test ride under 30 lbs.

Let me give you an idea of just how much I’ve been procrastinating on this. I picked up the bike after Interbike’s On-Dirt Demo back in September, rode her in Flagstaff on the way home, and this post has been due ever since. This amounts to my incredible squandering of the immediacy of the internet, and for this I am sorry.

The ride however, was not sorry. In Flag, riding up mount Elden was certainly the proof to this low-cal pudding, as I was able to keep up despite the past week’s long workdays and longer nights.

After the hill comes Lower Moto, a technical trail if there ever was one. Rocks, baby, rocks. Big wheels sticking to rocks for awesome traction, yet the lightness and stiffness abounding as I carve the tiny spaces between the derailleur infringing rocks on the sides of the narrow trail.

Yea, I like this bike, it’s no wonder it’s the receiver of much hype. Let’s finish with this Justin Steiner shot of me stunting…

Mine is flat black, the best color, and has a XPX 29 kit. That’s mostly Shimano XT, a Fox F29 RLC100 and a RP23 shock. MSRP is $4874 this way, but a complete is available for as little as $3599. Frame price is $2350 before shock upgrade. Company website: www.santacruzmtb.com.

Universal Sports is teaming up with the International Cycling Union (UCI) to present same-day webcast coverage of the Cyclocross World Championships from Tabor, Czech Republic. The UniversalSports.com website will post coverage of the elite men’s and women’s races on Sunday, Jan. 31st starting at noon (ET). The rest of the races will be offered on-demand. Cyclocross World Championships webcast coverage will be available via this link (at the aforementioned date and time) along with photos, news, and highlights. Webcast coverage only available in the USA.