In this issue:

1. The 2012 Mountain Bike Pow Wow wrap-up, Vision Quest and Counting Coup

2. 2012 Rwanda Ride Update Saturday, April 28th 2012

3. The Share Mountain Bike Club Annual Poker Ride, Saturday, May 19th.

4. Shared Use Event at Malibu State Park

1. THE 2012 MOUNTAIN BIKE POW WOW WRAP-UP, VISION QUEST AND COUNTING COUP

The event wrap-up has been posted on our web site at:

http://www.warriorssociety.org/events/writeup_powwow2012.html

Dave Whiting wrote an article on Dana Weber, the 1st place finisher of the Vision Quest:

http://www.ocregister.com/articles/tinker-349506-race-weber.html

Next years Pow Wow will take place on Saturday, April 6th 2012

This year we were approved at the last minute for participants to camp overnight at Black Star. We will again seek permission for next year including hiring a security guard to keep an eye on things.

Thanks to all our participants for their support!

2. 2012 RWANDA RIDE UPDATE SATURDAY, APRIL 28TH

Save $10 on Registration/Jersey Package

Here’s your chance to look great on the trails – even when you’re standing still! For the first time ever, we’re offering authentic 50 Mile Ride commemorative Club Jerseys. These are top quality, Italian-made originals from our friends at DNA Cycling. Features include Air Max Fabric/100% poly micro blend, full front zipper, 3 back pockets, silicon side and back gripper, with “club-fit” sizing. Jerseys sell for $75, with proceeds going toward the Rwanda cause.

Special Registration/Jersey Package Offer!

https://50mileride.webconnex.com/registration2012

If you order your jersey at the time of registration (online only) BEFORE midnight on February 18 – we’ll give you $10 off your jersey price when you check out online (get your jersey for only $65). Simply enter JERSEY into the Coupon Code box and you’ll receive your $10 discount. But, you MUST register and order your jersey by February 18 to receive this offer. Why the rush? It takes several weeks to make these high-end jerseys, and orders placed by February 18 will arrive in time for our event – so you can wear them on the ride! (Jersey orders placed after February 18 will need to be picked up or shipped to you after the event.)
Get your whole crew to register and order jerseys together. You’ll make a great statement on the trails, and you’ll be doing a great thing for our Rwanda cause!

Raise Money While You Ride:

Thanks for riding in our event and helping us raise funds for Project Rwanda. While you’re out there riding and sweating on April 28, you can share the experience with your family and friends. We’re talking about the fundraising experience, not the riding and sweating experience. Help us raise our goal this year by using our online PLEDGE TOOL to help spread the word about your ride. Now you can set up your own web page to collect donations. We’ve made a simple TEMPLATE that you can use to get your online donation page up and running in minutes. Then just send an invitation link to your friends, family and co-workers, and begin collecting pledges – even while you’re out on your training rides. Plus, again this year we’ll have a SPECIAL PRIZE DRAWING – Collect at least $250 in donations, and your name will be entered into our special Pledge Drawing for a very cool prize to be awarded at our event. Thanks for going the extra mile (the extra 50 miles?) to help some very deserving folks in Rwanda.

Prizes – We’ve Got Lots of ‘Em

By now you know our event ends each year with an amazing party at Cook’s Corner. Fresh BBQ (even adding Veggie Burgers this year), live band, beverages of all kinds, fun vendor expo, free massage therapists, and plenty of good vibes with good friends. Oh yeah, did I mention the prize raffle? This year we already have over $20,000 in raffle prizes and more are being added every week.

Our Grand Prize Raffle Bike is a gorgeous Niner Air 9 RDO full carbon full suspension beauty. This is a complete bike with XT/XTR components, Reba fork, Stan’s Arch wheels with DT Swiss hubs (over $6000 value!). And the best part? The winner gets to pick the frame size and color that they want! We’ll build this Grand Prize bike to your order! Other Grand Raffle category prizes are: Shimano XTR groupo (brakes, derailleurs, cranks, cassette – $2100 value), Spinergy wheels (2 sets, one road and one mountain – $2000 total value), San Juan Huts Systems adventure package (2 winners of 7 day/6 night Colorado MTB adventure – $850 value each). Plus, TONS of cool General Raffle category prizes from Yakima, Kuat Racks, Nite Rider, Oakley, Troy Lee Designs, Vestal Watch, Crank Brothers, Spoke Grenade, Estate Services Home Theater, Saw Sports Productions, Over the Hump, and many others. And of course great prizes and support from our local bike shops including: Rock N Road, Edge Cycle Sports, The Path, OC Bicycle Garage, Two Wheels One Planet, Surf City Cyclery, and Trails End Cycling Co. With more prizes added every week!
Raffle tickets are sold in $20 packages. Each package includes one (1) Grand Prize ticket and (20) General Prize tickets. Put your ticket(s) in the basket in front of the prize you want to win. The more tickets you buy, the better your chance of winning! Remember, it’s all for Project Rwanda and Team Rwanda Cycling . Raffle tickets are sold online when you register, at the Fast Track Check In the day before the event, and also at the post-ride party at Cooks Corner. You must be present to win! So plan to stick around for the fun and the prizes after you finish your ride. Good luck to you, and thanks for your support!

SIGN UP TODAY

Remember to REGISTER before February 18 if you want to save $10 on a Registration/Jersey Package .

3. THE SHARE MOUNTAIN BIKE CLUB ANNUAL POKER RIDE, SATURDAY, MAY 19TH

Once again, SHARE Mountain Bike Club is hosting it’s annual Poker Ride.

This event is our major fund raising event for the year, a portion of which we will donate to Santiago Oaks Regional Park.

Join us for a fun ride, a great lunch and a huge opportunity drawing.

PRE-REGISTRATION ONLY!
There will be no day of event registration or purchase of lunches.
For more information and to register, go to:

http://www.active.com/cycling/orange-ca/santiago-oaks-poker-ride-2012

$10 for Members, $30 for Non-Members, $40 for New Members. Add $10 for lunch.
Add $5 late fee for registration after May 13.

VERY IMPORTANT INFORMATION!
DO NOT PARK AT SANTIAGO OAKS REGIONAL PARK!
Poker Ride Parking, Check-In and Start will be at Irvine Regional Park (1 Irvine Park Road, Orange, CA). From the Irvine Regional Park entrance, make the first left and park in Parking Area #2. Look for the SHARE trailer. Parking is $5.00.

The Poker Ride Finish, Lunch and Opportunity Drawing will be at Santiago Oaks Regional Park, at the Private Party Area near the Park Office.

Opportunity Drawing of great merchandise and gift certificates from our generous sponsors.
Grand Prize is a very cool New Belgium Brewing Company cruiser bike!

The first 100 Poker Riders to register will receive a $10 gift certificate to The Path Bike Shop!

A complete pasta lunch and a two New Belgium Brewing Company beers for only $10!

4. SHARED USE EVENT AT MALIBU CREEK

As you probably already know, the California State Trails Conference is in Woodland Hills next week. www.parks.ca.gov/trails/conference On Saturday the 21, the day after the conference, there will be a shared use trail event beginning at 10 AM at Malibu Creek State Park. Jim Meyer of Trails4All is the lead person for the event.

1. Please come to the event. We could use some folks who know their way around Malibu Creek. A good showing from all four user communities (equestrians, hikers, mountain bicyclists and trail runners) shows that we believe in shared use. It’s a rare opportunity to actually ride along together with horses, runners and hikers. Think of it less as a ride and more a symbolic parade.

2. We’re a bit worried about the turnout. Most conference folks will go home on Friday. Local anti-shared use equestrians and hikers seem to be boycotting the event (surprise), so we don’t know how many horse folks will be there. Does anyone have contact with local “friendly equestrians” we could specifically invite to the event?

3. FYI, The ride will begin at upper parking lot and head into park on Crags Road. Those wanting short option (7 miles) will go to MASH site and return on Crags, turn right on Mott Road (the Salvation Army gate will be open) over to Tapia and return on the “new, improved” Tapia Spur Trail. Those wanting long option (13 miles) will cut off on Grasslands Trail to DeAnza and then head out to MASH site and return through Mott and Tapia Spur. Lunch follows.

5. Please post the following to your web pages. Better would be an e-lert.
Thanks.

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Shared Use Event at Malibu Creek State Park

On Saturday, April 21st at 10 AM will be the annual Shared Use Bike-Hike-Horse-Run event that follows the State Trails and Greenways Conference (www.parks.ca.gov/trails/conference) . Registration is required for the conference, but the post conference event is open to all.

The event is intended to show that trail users of all types can enjoy trails together safely. There will be a short 7 mile option and a longer 13 mile opportunity. Both routes will turn around at the MASH site, get the rare opportunity to exit Malibu Creek State Park through the Salvation Army gate on Mott Road and then return to the park on the newly refurbished Tapia Spur Trail. The event will be followed by lunch. Please rsvp to Jim Meyer at jmeyer@trails4all.org.

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Jim Meyer

Trails4All
www.trails4all.org
310-344-9229
562-529fx5153

Visit us on FaceBook @ http://www.facebook.com/Trails4All

Shimano is a Founding Major Sponsor of the Warrior’s Society

Rock N Road Bike Shops is a Major Sponsor of the Warrior’s Society

El Pollo Loco is a Major Sponsor of the Warrior’s Society

Hammer Nutrition is a Major Sponsor of the Warrior’s Society

Switchback Cyclery is a Major Sponsor of the Warrior’s Society

The Silverado/Modjeska Recreation and Park District is a Major Sponsor of the Warrior’s Society

The Warrior’s Society is a Blue Ribbon Coalition (BRC) affiliated organization

The Warrior’s Society is a Tax Exempt Organization under 501 (c) 4 of the IRS Code

“Far better it is to dare mighty dreams, to win glorious triumphs, even though checkered by failure, than to take the ranks with those poor spirits who neither enjoy much nor suffer much, because they live in that gray twilight that knows not victory nor defeat!”

Theodore Roosevelt

www.warriorssociety.org

When you pick up your packet you may also pick up for a friend…you will not need your I.D. until the morning of the event at the check before the event starts

We already did the raffle so if your a winner you will know when you pick up your packet and you will get your raffle product then! That way after you finish the event and you are finished with lunch you won’t have to wait all day for the raffle…..we know you want to go home have a hot shower and hold down the couch after an event like this.

It’s Pow Wow Time ! ! !

Check your emails & warriorssociety.org, they are full of the MOST UP TO DATE information regarding the event.

Changes to event this year:

1. Finish line has moved back to end of Trabuco wash.
2. I.D. will be required upon check-in event morning.
3. Wristbands will be placed on participants at check in
4. Awards and pictures will be done at Finish line

O’Neill Park is NOT open at 5am so plan on leaving your car at Blackstar or having someone drop you off at the start. Carpooling is recommended.

Check in will start at 4:30 am. When you show your picture I.D. you will receive a wristband that you must wear during the event. Only registered riders with number plates will be allowed past the check-point to the start line area. This is a closed course event and only registered riders and support personnel will be allowed on course.

Event Starts promptly at 5:30 am with a mass start from the gate on Blackstar Canyon. SMALL COMMUTER LIGHT RECOMMENDED.

Blackstar Canyon Road has had extreme damage done from all the rains. Be extremely cautious riding up the road as there are wash outs that you will need to walk thru and narrow passage areas with deep ruts.

BE AWARE WHEN COMING DOWN THE DIRT FIRE ROAD FROM HOLY JIM TO THE END OF TRABUCO CREEK ROAD. THE ROAD IS OPEN TO TRAFFIC AND YOU WILL HAVE VEHICLES ON THE ROAD. LOTS OF VEHICLES WILL BE COMING UP THE ROAD AT YOU SO STAY ON THE RIGHT SIDE OF THE ROAD.

Stay on event course at all times, even as you approach the finishing area. Should you cut course or are found disobeying the trail markers you will be given a DNF for your time.

There are checkpoints along the course so you will be tracked as to your location on the course throughout the day.

Cut off Times:

Vision Quest

#1 – 9:30 am Aid Station#1 at the bottom of the Motorway

#2 – 11:30 am, Four Corners

#3 – 12:00 pm, Aid Station #2, Holy Jim parking lot

#4 – 12:45 pm, bottom of West horse Thief

Counting Coup

#1 – 9:30 am, Aid Station #1 at the bottom of the Motorway

#2 – 11:30 am, Four Corners

If you do not make the cut off time your number plate will be removed and you will not be allowed to continue. You will be directed back down Maple Springs or Trabuco Creek Road depending on which cut off you miss.

AID STATION 2 BAGS – If you want to bring your own supplies to Aid Station 2, we must be able to throw way any left over contents and the bag they are in. All bags will be thrown away after the event. No Aid Station bags, disposable or not, will be taken to Aid Station 1. Your Aid Station 2 bag must be dropped off at the check-in table at 5:00am.

Food and Water will ONLY BE PROVIDED AT Aid Station 1 & 2… that means you need to carry enough water and food to sustain you until you hit Aid Station 1 & 2. There will be water, bananas, oranges, and snacks.

You must cross the finish line with a number plate in order to have your time recorded.

Make sure you pick up your finishing feather before leaving the event. We will not be mailing feathers to finishers You must get it at the event.

El Pollo Loco will be supplying a full meal for you at the venue area in O’Neil Park beginning at 12:00pm. You must show your wristband to receive your meal. Food will be served throughout the day to all participants.

Shuttles will be provided starting at 1pm from the venue area back to Blackstar until we get everyone back to their vehicles.

Parking is limited with in O’Neil Park. Parking will be available in the day use area of the park for $5 per car. The day use parking is approximately 1/2 mile from the venue area. If you choose to have friends or family attending the event have them park legally if they park on Trabuco Creek Road, Trabuco Oaks Road or Rose Canyon. There is no parking allowed on Live Oak.

This is what you have trained for all year, your moment has arrived. Stay focused, stay hydrated, stay well fueled and we will see you at the finish line! At the end you will know why this event is considered one of the toughest mountain bike events in North America. You will never look at the Santa Ana Mountains the same again and you will cherish your finishing feather like no other award!