COMMENTARY | Aptos, Calif., is the site of a festival that celebrates all things on bikes. Called the Santa Cruz Mountain Bike Festival (SCMTBF), it’s brought to you by Mountain Bikers of Santa Cruz (MBOSC) in conjunction with Fox Racing Shox. The SCMTBF is a fund-raiser with all proceeds going to MBOSC. MBOSC is “an IRC 501(c)(3) non-profit educational organization which is dedicated to the promotion of mountain biking in a healthy and environmentally sound manner.” The SCMTBF is on the 14th and 15th of April.
Santa Cruz County in California is internationally known as a mountain biking destination, yet legal trails are nearly non-existent, thanks to a confluence of demographics with the old-school NIMBYs (not in my backyard) and Neo-extreme Eco-warriors. This has led to an epic war between the aforementioned demographic and the demographic who enjoys nature via bicycle. While the battle over putting in a multi-use trail in Pogonip Park has been won by the two-wheeled enthusiasts, there are many other battles raging simultaneously in Santa Cruz County. Like the Arana Gulch Master Plan Connector Trail, the Mar Vista Bike/Pedestrian Bridge Proposal — which would provide commuters with a safe way to cross Highway 1 — or the proposal of rumble strips on Highway 1 north of Santa Cruz — a serious safety hazard for one of the most popular bicycle touring routes in the U.S.
Or the razing of the famous Post Office Jumps. The jumps have put Santa Cruz and its talented riders on the map, but will succumb to another type of hazard — progress. This multi-event festival is located at those post office jumps and is to raise funds for the hazards associated with securing legal yet fun trails for bike enthusiasts. The Post Office Jumps will hopefully move to another location, and the MUT at Pogonip Park will be built this summer.
The SCMTBF is a fun way to contribute to these worthy causes. The festival has something for everyone with a bike. If you seek thrills, compete in the Bell Enduro Race in Demo Forest — the first sanctioned race in this park — or if you’re a die-hard fitness freak, race the lung-busting short track. If you’re bringing the kids, enter them in the kid’s fun ride or wander around the expo area. And I encourage you to use your bike as the mode of transportation for the weekend.
I’m excited to try the Big Air Bag, which is a safe way to try new tricks on the bike. I also will be announcing for the 831 Black Market Contest, so if you’re inclined to heckle me, you know where to look. Otherwise, check back with me for more coverage.
Joh Rathbun is a Freelance Journalist, Pro Mountain Biker and Fitness Model. For appearances, catch Joh emceeing at the Black Market 831 Jump Contest at the SCMTBF, as well as the downhill race at the Sea Otter Classic in Monterey California. Check her Twitter feed to learn more about her adventures, tutorials, and cool events on the West Coast at https://twitter.com/#!/johrathbun or reach her at [email protected].
