*FCC FACEBOOK WEEKLY WRAP-UP* *(An anti-social media compendium for our non-Facebook members)*
*MIDNIGHT SUN BIKE*Midnight Sun Run – Riders Needed
The 40th Annual Midnight Sun Run happens on Saturday, June 18th, starting at 10pm at the Patty Center on the UAF campus and ending inside Pioneer Park.
The Fairbanks Cycle Club participates in this event by setting the pace for the lead runners and providing basic course security for the runners.
I need four to six FCC members to show up to help out with this. If you’re interested, email me or call/text my cell phone (907) 687-0777 or call my landline at (907) 455-8448 and leave a message.
The only requirement is you have to be an FCC member. Wear your FCC jersey and/or any other FCC swag you have and show up at 9:30 at the base of the steps to the Patty Center. Once we’re set up, I’ll tell everyone what we’ll be doing, what to expect, etc.
It’s a great community event and an easy way for us to participate and get the FCC out there in the public eye.
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*JENNY’S WESTERN WILDLANDS ADVENTURE – HIGHS AND LOWS – LITERALLY*FCC Secretary Jenny Campbell is off on a multi-month tour of the Western Wildlands bikepacking route with a friend. We’re keeping track of her adventure.
For more info on the Western Wildlands bikepacking Route see: www.bikepackingroots.org/western-wildlands.html
June 16: Soda Springs, ID, home of many natural CARBONATED springs! This area was an oasis for folks on the Oregon Trail and a gathering point after crossing the Great Plains. We had a long ride yesterday to get here, much of it passing through a gigantic phosphate mine and it’s associated contaminated creeks. It was odd witnessing the massive impact we can have on the landscape after so many weeks surrounded only by plains, forests and mountains. Getting here to Soda Springs to dip our cups into the healing waters was quite a treat. Now back into cattle country (a slightly different kind of impact) and on to Hailey, ID next week for bike maintenance and to replace gear worn out by cacti, trail dirt and misuse by a certain person stuffing too much food into her bags and breaking zippers…..🤦‍♀️
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*WILCOX RECOLLECTIONS OF TRANS-BALKAN RACE*Like following the accomplishments of Anchoragite Lael Wilcox? Here’s another good one!
Shared from BIKEPACKING.com June 16 Following her first-place finish in the women’s category at the 2022 Trans Balkan Race, Lael Wilcox put together this reflection that captures some of the beauty she encountered as she pedaled across Slovenia, Croatia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, and Montenegro. Read it here, alongside a stunning photo gallery by Rugile Kaladyte…
bikepacking.com/plog/2022-trans-balkan-race-lael-wilcox/
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*RIDING TO FIGHT CLIMATE CHANGE*Here’s an interesting website for anyone wanting to “actively” help with battling climate change. Climate Ride is a nonprofit that organizes charitable biking, running, and hiking events to raise awareness and support sustainability, active transportation, and environmental causes.
It doesn’t look like there are any Alaska events right now: www.climateride.org/events/
But they do have a Design Your Own Event page: www.climateride.org/events/independent-challenge/
Anyone interested in organizing an event, even a small one? Besides “Design Your Own,” they have events broken down by Bike, Gravel Ride, Green Fondo, Hike, Mountain Bike, Multisport, Nordic Ski and Run.
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*VOLUNTEER OPPORTUNITY WITH BIKING COMPONENT*Calling all mountain bikers and/or bikepackers! Want to get in a ride on a nice trail, do a good deed, AND watch some crazy runners?
Drew’s Angel Creek 50 is looking for a few more checkpoint volunteers. If you don’t know, the DAC50 is a 50-mile footrace held on trails in the Chena River State Recreation Area. Fifty miles. On foot. Crazy, right?
You can help out at one of two checkpoints and watch these runners try this insane event. Information below. If you’d like to help out go to the DAC50 UltraSignup page: ultrasignup.com/volunteer.aspx?dtid=46964.
If you’ve got any questions, contact Karen Taber: 907.450.9620 or ktrailrunner (at) gmail.com
Checkpoint #2 You get to bike 16 miles on the wonderful Compeau Trail. You help out with the race and get to watch the runners early on. You can make bets with the other volunteers on who will make it the whole distance! Then you get to bike back on the same trail, which has some fun, swooping descents. It is highly recommended that volunteers spend the night, so this is a great opportunity to get in some bikepacking.
Map of the Compeau Trail
dnr.alaska.gov/parks/maps/compeaucoloradotrl.pdf
Checkpoint #4 You get to bike 10 miles to the Upper Angel Creek Cabin on the fun Angel Creek Hillside Trail. You help out with the race and get to watch the runners after they’ve done the most brutal part of the trail. Should be interesting! Then you get to bike back. At this checkpoint volunteers have the option of staying in the cabin the night before and after the race.
Map of the Angel Creek Hillside Trail dnr.alaska.gov/parks/maps/angelcreekhilltrail.pdf
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*ENVIRONMENTALLY FRIENDLY HELMET*POC is a well-respected helmet company. If you’re looking for a new helmet, here’s one that’s easier on the environment.
Shared from BIKEPACKING.com June 14 Designed with its entire life cycle in mind, the all-new POC Myelin helmet is made from 50% recycled materials and features an innovative glue-free construction that allows it to be easily broken down into its individual elements for recycling. Learn more here… bikepacking.com/news/poc-myelin-helmet/
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*BANKSTOWN OPENS STOREFRONT*Bankstown Bike and Ski (the guy who’s been working out of a trailer) now has a brick-and-mortar store in Ester. It opens today!
Shared from Bankstown Bike and Ski is feeling stoked at Ester Gold Camp. June 13 Bankstown Bike and Ski Shop will officially be open starting tomorrow, June 14th, at 12 noon! We are located right next to the Malemute Saloon in Ester Gold Camp. We are a full scale bicycle service, repair, and overhaul shop and we are excited to serve this wonderful community! We have an awesome selection of grips, bar tape, handlebars, and more to update your ride and make biking more comfortable and more fun!Check out our business page, our website, and our instagram for more info, or better yet just stop in and say hello! Soft opening is tomorrow – stay tuned for info on weekly rides, a grand opening event, Saturday popups at your favorite breweries, and bike rentals! Cheers everyone! See you out there!
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*JENNY’S WESTERN WILDLANDS ADVENTURE – HIGHS AND LOWS – LITERALLY*FCC Secretary Jenny Campbell is off on a multi-month tour of the Western Wildlands bikepacking route with a friend. We’re keeping track of her adventure.
For more info on the Western Wildlands bikepacking Route see: www.bikepackingroots.org/western-wildlands.html
June 11: The last four days have challenged me both physically and mentally. Multiple climbs over 10,000’ and many in the 9,000’ range. Yesterday was a low point where I really wondered if I could make the entire trip. Saving graces: the gorgeous scenery of the Wasatch and Uinta ranges and traveling with two compassionate guys who went slow and stopped when I couldn’t go any further. After 10 hours of sleep and lots of food, today was better – even with the 14 mile 10,700 foot climb over Bald Mountain pass. So, onward into Wyoming then Idaho in a couple of days. As a friend says, “We can do hard things!”
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*FCC RESOURCES*We’ve got lots of useful stuff on our website, including a bunch of information under our Resources dropdown menu: –National and International Cycling Advocacy Groups –Tanana Valley State Forest Roads –Winter Riding Tips –Maps Archive
See those and more under Resources at: www.fairbankscycleclub.org/