Want to know what it's like to have a borg sit on your head?

This helmet is kind of crazy. It can play music, let you talk on the phone, listens for sirens, has a gps, voice recorder, and motion activated turn signals.

Say goodbye to the mundane task of counting cracks in the road on your commute to work. This thing will even let you record a note saying "crack ahead" and play it back when you hit those GPS coordinates. The only thing it needs is a mechanism to allow the wearer to pay attention to the road while riding...

http://news.com.com/2100-1008_3-6111162.html

Biking in Mark Twain National Forest

While wading through the Forest Service site for Mark Twain National Forest, I came across a page which lists all of the trails open to hiking and biking. There were a few I didn't know about. I'm not sure what kind of shape they're all in, but it's nice to know that other options are out there.

5.17 gallons of fun

There will be a 5 gallon keg of schlafly summer kolsch 1n group campsite B, free for volunteers. Non-volunteer hangers-on can donate $$$ or be sneaky, depending on how light the keg is. Enjoy the last of the summer seasonal brew. It'll get there Friday night and last as long as it lasts. So we'll have fun rain or shine. It's not too late to come down and help us this weekend, with the trail, the food, and the beer.

Now Mesa Cycles is giving anyone who helps a discount on their entry fee to the Burnin' at the Bluff 12-hour race on Oct 7th too.

Please sign up on our forum here.
http://www.gorctrails.com/board/topic.asp?TOPIC_ID=1724

If you don't like signing up in public, you can email tom at onespeed at gmail /dot/ com too but there are no guarantees I'll get it after lunchtime friday. Or just show up. We ain't picky.

Into the Woods Again, Aug 25-27

This weekend we're heading down to Council Bluffs lake for a fun-filled weekend of riding, camping, and maybe a little work. On Saturday August 26th we'll be doing chainsaw, handsaw, lopper, and signage maintenance on the North Trace Creek section of the Ozark Trail. This is a great OT section that GORC has Adopted through the OTA's Adopt-A-Trail program. We haven't worked on it since February (at least three good windstorms) so we expect a good day's work for as many people as we can get down there. You do not need a chainsaw or chainsaw experience to help. We need helpers as much as sawyers right now. We'll split into crews (usually 2-5 people) each with a chainsaw in a bike trailer, to divide and conquer, so you get to ride your bike even during the workday.

The US Forest Service has given us free camping at council bluffs on Friday and Saturday nights (Group Campsite B). And GORC or gorc members are footing the bill for some fine quality free beer and BBQ for saturday night (disclaimer: strategic beer reserves are always recommended). We even have our favorite chaos butterfly coming down that afternoon to start the grill and tap the mini-keg.

There are four trails to ride from one place in this area: Council Bluffs, North Trace Creek, South Trace Creek, and Middle Fork. So there's plenty of riding (or working if you're so inclined) for the rest of the weekend. Ideally we'll have enough people to make the work go fast.

If you think you can make it, please let us know on the forum at http://www.gorctrails.com/board/topic.asp?TOPIC_ID=1724
There are more details there too.

Sunday Rides at Greensfelder

Steve Smith, who recently took over as the trail steward for Rockwoods Range, is going to be having regular rides at Greensfelder.
The rides will begin at the Roundhouse parking lot on the first Sunday of every month beginning at high noon, weather permitting. The next one is set for Sept. 3rd. If you haven't been out to check out the extensive rerouting that GORC has done at Greensfelder, now's your chance. The rides will cover some variation of the Dogwood and DeClue trails, plus they will also throw in bits of the existing trails in Rockwoods Range, like the Fox Run Trail. The plan is to keep this ride at a laid back pace, so if you want to find out more about the trails here, have some fun with fellow GORCers, and maybe have a few frosty beverages, then come on out.

Remember When...

Since I didn't make it out to Greensfelder today for the First Sunday ride, I decided to remember the nice, cold days of February, when it was too cold and wet to ride. Wait a minute, which is better, having it too cold and wet, or too hot and dry?.... Well, you decide for yourself. Also included is a shot of the "virtual kiosk" there which must have melted with the snow.