March 11, 2012 at 8:30AM

The Path Bike Shop

We had a great time with the folks from Kona at last year's very successful demo event, we just had to do it again.

Meet at The Path Bike Shop, we'll be providing shuttle rides to Santiago Oaks and back to the shop.

• Where: The Path Bike Shop in Tustin
  
• When: Sunday March 11, 2012 
• Time: from 8:30am to 3pm
  

FREE BBQ from 11-1PM! Stick around for some grub after your demo ride.

Kona Bikes available for FREE demo rides:

• Big Kahuna - size 19"
• Hei-Hei 29er Deluxe - 16", 18", 19"
• Hei-Hei 29er Supreme - size 20"
• King Kahuna 29er - size 19"
• Operator - size meduim
• Satori - sizes 16", 18", 19", 20"

*Bring your I.D. and major credit card to take out a demo bike. Bringing your own pedals to any demo event is always a good idea. Also, be prepared to ride so you'll need all your ride essentials: helmet, gloves, water, etc.

Yes, Kona's entry into carbon fiber bikes has arrived. The 2012 Kona King Kahuna 29er is Kona's first 29er carbon fiber hardtail.

Kona has been designing and building trail-inspired, race-winning 29er mountain bikes for seven years now. The mastered geometry of the King Kahuna includes short chainstays, a low bottom bracket, a stiff 142x12 rear axle, and a great build spec package.

Now, Kona has combined that proven King Kahuna geometry with Kona's proprietary carbon fiber weave that's designed to be both tough and quick, making a great trail/race package.

MSRP is $3399, our price is $3299.

2012 KONA HONZO FRAME

New 2012 Kona Honzo 29er hardtail frames in stock! Matte blue, and we've got 16", 18" and 20" frames available.

This is a new model for Kona in 2012; an aggressive all-mountain 29er Cromoly hardtail. With a slack 68-degree headtube angle, low bottom bracket and short chainstays, it's hard to go wrong with a Honzo.

MSRP is $539.

February 25, 2012 at 8AM

Lake Elsinore, CA

We were rained out last week when we originally scheduled this ride, but we're on again for this coming weekend!

Pre-ride the Enduro Stuff Mountain Challenge course in the Cleveland National Forest. Get a jump on your competition before the race!

Meet at the gate to the Main Divide just before Blue Jay Campground.

Arrive at 7:30AM, be ready to roll at 8AM SHARP! Ride lead: Neil.

Course is based at the Blue Jay Campground off Ortega Highway in the mountains above Lake Elsinore, CA.

This is a 25-mile loop with over 5000 feet of climbing, so come prepared! Bring plenty of food and water, and be sure you're physically up for such a demanding ride.

Map to Blue Jay from San Juan Capistrano

Bluejay Campground is approximately 25 miles east of the Junction of Interstate 5 in San Juan Capistrano and Rte 74 (the Ortega Highway). Note: other than a strip mall in San Juan there will be NO services available anywhere other than in the immediate vicinity of the freeway. At mile 22 you will make the left hand turn onto what is locally known as Long Canyon Rd. There will be signs (MTB RACE). Long Canyon is narrow, winding and very steep. When you arrive at the tee turn right onto another narrower, winding, and steep asphalt road. The entrance to Bluejay will be on the left. You do not have to stop at the entrance. Continue through the campground to lower Bluejay and follow the instructions on the signs.

Rut & Pua's Benefit Birthday Ride

Saturday, February 25, 2012 

CisMontane Brewery in Rancho Santa Margarita 

Andy (Rut) and Pua will be hosting their 5th annual birthday bash and benefit raffle (great prizes) for a local cycling family. Every year, they bring the biking community together to help a group or family in need.

Several local companies (The Path Bike Shop included) donate bikes, sweet gear, and other fun toys (Go Pro, Garmin, and attire just to name a few), that are included in the raffle!  And of course, lots of good friends, good fun, and good pints to be had!

Who are we helping out?  A local cycling family who currently has two young children undergoing extensive treatments for cancer and an auto-immune disease.

Show up at 3pm for the fun mountain bike ride - it's a Pirate-themed ride, so costumes are highly encouraged!
Raffle ticket sales start at 5'ish.

Sorry, but raffle tickets will only be sold at the event, and you must be present to win! 

Raffle ticket prices:

• 1 for $10
• 5 for $40
• 15 for $100

When:
Saturday February 25th, 2012
Pirate bike ride starts at 3PM
Raffle ticket sales begin at 5PM

Where:
CisMontane Brewery in Rancho Santa Margarita
29851 Aventura Suite D
Rancho Santa Margarita, CA, 92688

After a 15-week hiatus, the Path’s Friday Dawn Patrol road ride is back!   

One might wonder why the break (well, maybe two people might wonder since that’s the usual number of folks that show up…)?  In late October, one of the ride leaders had ACL replacement and lateral meniscus repair surgery and was: 1) immobile for 5-days, 2) on crutches for 5 more weeks, 3) off the bike for an additional 4-5 weeks, and 3) continues to be embarrassingly slow as he recovers!  But we digress…

Waking up at 4:40AM I couldn’t help but think about catching the sunrise on the backside of the Santiago Canyon Road loop,  hoping to catch it as we crested the last climb before descending to Cook’s Corner.  Rolling out at 5:15AM with a little bit of trepidation to meet Brian from the Path, I wasn’t sure I was up to the normal gluteus maximus-busting “warm up” that is the 8-mile climb up Jamboree, up Santiago Canyon Road and past the toll road.

Even though the FDP was on a prolonged break, it was as if the ride had never stopped.  As usual, we were clipped in and rolling promptly.  Friendly greetings, slow rolling for about 100-yards, and off we went.  Over the entire 32-mile loop, Brian was gracious as ever and kept the conversation rolling; always backing off enough to keep from dropping the lead weight that was his ride partner.  Somewhere between Irvine Lake and Silverado Canyon, we passed one of his neighbors who embarks daily on a 30+ mile bike commute out of the Canyon.  Mutual waves and smiles always brighten rides in the early dusk light.

Sadly, all good things must come to an end.  We parted ways as I rolled into Irvine to start my work day, but it’s nice to have ridden 30+ miles and be sitting down at the desk by 7:00 am.  It’s good to enjoy the Friday Dawn Patrol again.

1.) ALL BIKES ARE DEMO BIKES!*

We will let you sign up to demo any bike in the shop! 

To play: Pay a $250 non-refundable deposit towards a future bicycle purchase TBD. 

What you get: You get to demo up to 5 bikes for up to 2 days each. Up to 2 of those bikes can be new bikes of the customer's choice from our floor.

The fine print: Demo bikes must be taken from bikes already in stock, no special orders. Customers who sign up by closing on February 29, 2012 will have 6 weeks to select and purchase a bike.

2.) TAKE 15% OFF ANY SINGLE FULL-PRICE HANDLEBAR!*

The fine print: Offer valid on full-price merchandise only, no clearance items are included. Cannot be combined with any other offer or discount. One handlebar purchase per customer.

*Offers good through February 29, 2012 

WHAT: Pre-ride the Enduro Stuff Mountain Challenge race course in the Cleveland National Forest  

WHERE: Meet at the Blue Jay Campground

WHEN: Saturday February 11th. Arrive early and be ready to roll at 8AM SHARP!

Course is based at the Blue Jay Campground off Ortega Highway in the mountains above Lake Elsinore, CA. 

This is a 25-mile loop with over 5000 feet of climbing, so come prepared! Bring plenty of food and water, and be sure you're physically up for such a demanding ride.

Map to Blue Jay from San Juan Capistrano

Bluejay Campground is approximately 25 miles east of the Junction of Interstate 5 in San Juan Capistrano and Rte 74 (the Ortega Highway). Note: other than a strip mall in San Juan there will be NO services available anywhere other than in the immediate vicinity of the freeway. At mile 22 you will make the left hand turn onto what is locally known as Long Canyon Rd. There will be signs (MTB RACE). Long Canyon is narrow, winding and very steep. When you arrive at the tee turn right onto another narrower, winding, and steep asphalt road. The entrance to Bluejay will be on the left. You do not have to stop at the entrance. Continue through the campground to lower Bluejay and follow the instructions on the signs.

Find out more about the Enduro Stuff Mountain Challenge, held on March 17th, 2012. Early Bird registration before February 19th, save $15!

March 17, 2012

Lake Elsinore, CA

Enduro Stuff and The Path Bike Shop are teaming up again to bring you the 2012 Enduro Stuff Mountain Challenge.

Race will be held in the Cleveland National Forest, based at the Blue Jay Campground off Ortega Highway in the mountains above Lake Elsinore, CA.

One 25 mile loop & over 5000 feet of climbing in the Cleveland National Forest. Race course will go out of BlueJay up the Main Divide (“The Wall”) down Trabuco Trail then up Holy Jim & back around the Main Divide to Blue Jay.

• Prizes for all categories (details coming soon).
• Lunch for all racers included.
• Early Bird discount if you register before February 19th. Price goes to $85.00 after.
• Race Shirts available for $10.00 for racers who register before March 11th.
• Camping spots are available, first come first served.

A portion of the proceeds & a raffle to benefit the Warrior's Society for maintaining the trails in the National Forest. Special raffle item details coming soon.

GPS of race course - Strava app of race course

Note: The mileage and altitude gain are a bit off on this gps. Mileage very close to 25 miles and altitude gain is about 5,000+ feet. The start on the gps is about .72 from the actual start, the finish is the correct start and finish line. Which is in the loop at the end of the Blue Jay campground.

The Strava app is a bit over on both so we put it between the two.

Have you checked out our list of 2012 rental bikes lately? Our rental fleet has become pretty huge. We've got bikes from Specialized, Santa Cruz, and Kona. Both mountain and road bikes. Hardtails and suspension mountain bikes.

Our rental bikes are a great way to try a bike out on the trail or road before you buy, because you can apply rental fees towards the purchase of a bike. Saves you money in the long run!

Visiting from out of town? Call ahead and reserve a bike for the dates you'd like to ride. Enjoy our local rides and trails on your visit! You'll be riding a top-level bike in top-notch mechanical condition.

Check out our rental program and complete list of rental bikes here at The Path. You'll love our huge selection.

Between the Enduro Stuff races, the Warrior's Society events, and the Over the Hump MTB Race Series, Orange County is becoming a hot spot for XC mountain bike racing.

Last year was the start of great things to come in the newly opened world of XC mountain bike racing in Orange County. Last year's Okole Stuff Cup at Irvine Regional Park and the Enduro Stuff Challenge in San Juan Capistrano were huge successes, and just the start of a fantastic future that's now in the works.

Watch the Enduro Stuff Events page, The Path Bike Shop Upcoming Events page, and The Path Bike Shop blog for more info. Sign up for our email list for updates.