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- 2012 Twin Six designed Yeti Beti logo
It’s “that time” of year again. Regardless of prevailing winds and upslope storms, most of us are thinking more about bikes and rides than skis and snow, even if it might be countless-miles-going-nowhere-in-the-basement-riding.
2012 is a big year for Yeti Beti. We officially expanded the team to new riders. On the heels of our 5th season, it seemed like a good time to add new Betis. We chose new riders not only on race resume experience but what they can offer the team and the mountain bike community as a whole. We are excited to welcome Cat Ambrose (Alma, CO), Karen Jarchow (Vail, CO), Jacque King (Breckenridge, CO), and Sarah Musick (Colorado Springs, CO). These women will be riding along side the 7 returning Betis and add great diversity to the team.
Our summer schedule was posted last week and at first glance, it’s ambitious. The team races almost every weekend, local short track races during the week, and Beti group rides thrown in for good measure. Beti rides will start from Golden Bike Shop on a Tuesday each month with our sponsors tagging along to ride and donate some swag to hand out afterwards. Once Summit County has thawed out we’ll add a weekly night ride in Breckenridge. You can keep track of all races, rides, and events here.
Our first big event is our annual fundraiser. This year we’re also making this a fundraiser for COMBA. We’ve moved the location to the American Mountaineering Center in Golden. We’ll have Great Divide beer, lots of cycling swag in the raffle, awesome silent auction items like a 2012 Yeti ASR5-alloy frame, and food. It’s a night that we get to throw a big party and officially kick off our riding season. More information is here.
Maybe we’ll be lucky enough to ride outside before March 31.
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BX2 on a Rocky Mountain ski day
Over the past couple of months, I’ve been able to put the Ergon BX2 pack through the KJ crash test. Not only does Ergon’s sleek design provide a stealthy, slimming look to your everyday adventure, it also holds up to the conditions of tree/sage abraisons, rain, and occasional snow tumble. Ergon doesn’t call it the “Perfect Fit Backpack" without good reason.
The Fit
The easily adjustable fitting on the back of the pack.
I’m the first to admit that I can be directionally challenged as well as instructionally challenged. Although the Ergon BX2 pack doesn’t come with a German navigator, it does provide easy to follow steps for your “Perfect Fit Backpack”. This pack comes in two sizes; regular 5’1”-5’9” and large 5’7”-6’5”. The two size options along with the adjustable four level back length are all the decisions you need to make in creating your perfect fit. Although the pack isn't sold with its own bladder hydration, you can purchase an Ergon bladder separately. Other water bladder systems also easily fit so anything you already have sitting around can find a new home in the internal separate pocket with easy adjustability for the hose.
The Experience
The first time I wore the pack was during a two-day mountain biking trip in Moab, Utah. I barely knew it was there. With being a smaller rider, this is pretty atypical as other packs I've worn are usually too large or the shoulder straps hit you in odd places and produce nagging pains. With the BX2, none of those were issues. Another bonus is with the pack’s expandable sides I’m able to store more than enough food, clothes, and activity accessories and not feel weighed down.
Room for the kitchen sink or just extra treats.
What to take from this jabber?
If you’re someone who likes a comfortable, weightless daypack for biking, hiking, skiing, or maybe a sporty-ergonomically-correct-day-of mall-walking, the BX2 is a great adventure companion for your needs. BOOM.
For more information on Ergon products, please visit:
KJBeti
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LITTLE BELLAS NATIONAL TOUR
Lakewood, CO-- The third annual Beti Bike Bash presented by Stan’s NoTubes is ramping up for another full weekend of events in support of women’s mountain biking. Similar to previous years, the highlight of the weekend’s activities will be a full day of racing on Sunday, June 10 at Bear Creek Lake Park, in the Foothills west of Denver.
“Stan's NoTubes is proud to continue being the presenting sponsor for the 2012 Beti Bike Bash,” explains Cindy Koziatek, Co-Owner of NoTubes and wife of Stan Koziatek. “The group of women who began this event have exhibited a deep love for the sport by creating an ideal setting for women to participate in an inviting race, test their skills, and make new friends in a unique, all-women’s environment. Gear up girls and come join the fun!”
The race has been building over the last two year’s as the premier women’s mountain bike event in Colorado. “Each year we’ve managed to add something new to the race weekend that helps promote the sport,” says Amy Thomas from team YetiBeti. “The all-women’s format has proven to be a very successful niche and we love the energy behind it. Overall, we’ve seen steady growth across all race categories. Clearly, women are excited to have an event created just for them.”
The course at Bear Creek is a 4-mile, non-technical, and fast singletrack loop with views of surrounding Red Rocks Park. Beginners (category 3) will ride two laps, Sport racers (category 2) will ride three laps, and the Open/Pro/Open/Singlespeed racers will complete four fast laps. With support from Stan’s NoTubes, the pro women will again be competing for a cash purse that will pay 10 deep, awarding $1,000 to first place.
A special addition to the 2012 Beti Bike Bash weekend is the Little Bellas National Tour, featuring girls mountain bike clinics June 9 and 10 at Bear Creek Lake Park. Founded by pro mountain biker, Lea Davison, and her sister, Sabra, the group’s mission of empowering young girls has taken off at several large national events, including the Sea Otter Classic and the Chequamegon Fat Tire Festival. The camp offers one or two days of professional mentoring for girls 7-14, and will provide skills practice and confidence-building in a fun and supportive environment.
"The Little Bellas is thrilled to be working together with the Beti Bike Bash to hold our two-day girls only camp. It's a natural collaboration since the Beti Bike Bash provides a great atmosphere to encourage women’s racing and the Little Bellas strives to get more girls riding bikes. Our missions line up perfectly and together we can build momentum to get more mothers and daughters riding single track,” says founder and Olympic hopeful Lea Davison.
“The Beti Bike Bash is a unique race event, specifically designed for women, but that ultimately brings out the whole family,” says Sarah Rawley of Bigfoot Productions. “We are thrilled to put together a race where women at all levels can meet their goals, whether that is to compete in their first ever mountain bike race, to beat last year’s time, or to make it onto the podium.”
A portion of the proceeds from this year’s event will benefit the Denver chapter of Trips for Kids.
Bigfoot Productions was established in 2006 in conjunction with Yeti Cycles to promote bike industry involvement in racing and expand and improve mountain bike racing in the Rocky Mountains. For further inquiries please contact [email protected].
Rebecca Rusch getting a high five after her race