Soil Saloon

editors note: Now that you may know about these fine trails, howsabout you find some groups that take care of them, work to preserve and gain trails for multi-use access, and lend a shovel, a hand, a word and a thought to creating more legitimate space for us mountain bikers to share with the rest of the outdoor community?

thanks to xpmultimedia for showing up and making that killer vid.

“100. I’m planning for 100 people.  I doubt there will be more than that.”  We said that more than a few times.  That was before We ran out the 100 maps and 100 number plates.  Before I had to borrow a bystanders sharpie, and ruin it on the sweaty arm of another 40 riders, and before I gave up trying to give any other numbers out.   The cross was brimming with more mountain bikers than I’ve ever seen in one place in San Francisco, with all elements of the cult streaming from the four corners of the old cross.

After months of planning, with the help of an amazing team of friends (welders, screen printers, map makers, promoters, cooks, checkpoint volunteers, artists, friend at WTB, you all know who you are…) the most ambitious Soil Saloon to date went off without a hitch.  Except for Nate’s hitch… that messed up elbow 20 feet into the adventure.  But I trust he got good and saloon’d with the rest of the hooligans after.

Wide eyed and exhausted, participants who finished yesterdays soil saloon were quick to grab a beer, quick to lie down on the grass.  They were also quick to thank the organizer, or at least the one who was a total loudass (there are several more people credited with this adventure’s success that were not as loudassed during the event).  Compliment upon compliment, hyberbole upon hyperbole, it was certainly a satisfied crowd that finished the event.  And who wouldn’t be satisfied after being routed through 30 miles of quality singletrack within a supposed urban jungle, only to be greeted with a flowing keg and warm grill full of burgers both veggie and meatie?  All for free. Donations optional.  And a big thanks to those donors- your fiscal support means the likelyhood of another one of these races is very, very likely.

“When is the next one?” Common question.  No current answer.  But that’s what I want to tell all y’all right now.  You too, can organize a bicycle fiesta and adventure.  Here’s how:

Figure out somewhere you like to ride.

Figure out a nice route through that somewhere.

Set a date.

Make a flyer.  Show it to some people.

Do some planning.  Planning involves drinking beer with friends and dreaming and taking notes.

Make it unique.  Again, the drinking of beer is oft involved.  We have our cowboys, dinosaurs, slingshots, and booze requirements. I’m sure you’ll come up with something even better.

Tell a plethora of your closest friends.

Ask nicely of bicycle industry people.  Sometimes they’ll give you prizes to give away.

and that’s all it really takes.

See y’all trailside.