In this issue:

1. The Rwanda Ride is this Saturday, December 29th.

To all our supporters:

We hope you have a very Merry Christmas! The Warrior’s Society thanks you for making our 2007 Trail Work and Event Season an outstanding success. With your support we hope to build on that success to make 2008 even better.

Merry Christmas!

The Warrior’s Society

1. THE RWANDA RIDE IS THIS SATURDAY, DECEMBER 29TH

The year is not yet over so why not end the year supporting a very worthy
cause:

http://projectrwanda.org/Latest/Tom-Ritchey-Pedaling-Home.php

The Warrior’s Society will providing first aid and communications support for the event.

Mountain bike enthusiasts in Orange County are a resilient bunch. Those that participated in last year’s successful 50 Mile Ride for Project Rwanda are determined to do it again this year – even if half of their intended route was nearly destroyed in the recent Santiago fires.

The second annual 50 Mile Ride for Project Rwanda will be held as planned on Saturday, December 29th. The event will again be staged at Cooks Corner in Trabuco Canyon, beginning at 7:00am. “People have been asking me if we’re still having the event, even after the recent fires”, says Doug Grant, event co-founder. “We answer them – absolutely YES. We need this event now, more than ever before.”

50 Mile Ride organizer Roger Toubeaux is excited about the newly revised route he and his team have developed. “We’ve mapped out a new route, and we think it is even better than last year’s crowd-pleaser”, says Toubeaux. “We will offer two ride options, a 50 miler and a 25 miler.” The 50 mile route will start at Cooks, enter the back side of O’Neill, proceed out of the park near the RSM lake, head to the Dove Canyon waterfall, and ride the ridge trails all the way to Caspers Wilderness Park. Then it drops down Star Rise, for a few fun loops inside Caspers to reach the outer checkpoint and refueling/aid station. From there the trail heads back and up Star Rise, tracing the original route all the way back to the waterfall at Dove Canyon.

From the Dove waterfall, riders head back out to what was basically last year’s second leg. They will pass the Coto main gate, traverse Chiquita Ridge, head down Tijeras Creek trail to Arroyo Trabuco Trail, turn back to O’Neill, through the park and back to Cooks Corner for the full 50 miles.

The 25 mile route will start at Cooks an hour after the 50 mile route commences. This shorter route will be basically the same as last year’s second leg, with some fun single-track added for this year.

Last year’s 50 Mile Ride event started out as a 50 mile mountain bike ride in honor of co-founder Doug Grant’s 50th birthday. But the event evolved into something far more significant. The results of that first year’s effort was a testimony to the positive impact an event like this can have – both for Project Rwanda and for the local community who were inspired to participate. The first-ever 50 Mile Ride ended up with 247 registered riders and raised over $30,000 for Project Rwanda.

Project Rwanda was founded by Tom Ritchey, a bike designer and a pioneer in the mountain biking industry. According to Ritchey, Project Rwanda aims to help those who are continuing to rebuild their lives following the genocide of 1994. Bicycles are the main mode of transportation and utility in Rwanda, but due to the country’s land-locked infrastructure, they are very expensive for most people. Ritchey has designed durable load-bearing bicycles that are being distributed to individual coffee growers through a unique micro-enterprise venture. One of the benefits of having a specially designed “coffee bike” for coffee farmers is the impact on their income potential. A Rwandan farmer gets paid more of a premium if they deliver fresher coffee cherries to the washing station. These specialty bikes could increase a coffee farmer’s earning potential by 30 – 40 percent annually, which benefits everyone in the community. Project Rwanda has also been working to “re-brand” Rwanda and helping to raise their national pride by developing the first-ever Rwandan National Cycling Team.

Registrations are currently being accepted for the 50 Mile Ride for Project Rwanda event. For more information, and to register for the ride, please
Visit:

www.50mileride.com

or contact Doug Grant at:

dgrant@wagraphics.com.

Shimano is the Major Component Sponsor of the Warrior’s Society

Rock N Road Bike Shops and Sho-Air Racing are Major Sponsors of the Warrior’s Society

Cytomax is the Official Fluid Replacement Drink of the Warrior’s Society

Clif Bar is the Official Energy Bar and Gel of the Warrior’s Society

The Warrior’s Society is a Blue Ribbon Coalition (BRC) affiliated organization

The Warrior’s Society is a Tax Exempt Organization under 501 (c) 4 of the IRS Code

“Far better it is to dare mighty dreams, to win glorious triumphs, even though checkered by failure, than to take the ranks with those poor spirits who neither enjoy much nor suffer much, because they live in that gray twilight that knows not victory nor defeat!”

Theodore Roosevelt

www.warriorssociety.org

In this issue:

1. The Silverado Trail work event is an outstanding success!

2. Vision Quest/Counting Coup training ride

3. The Rwanda Ride is coming up – Saturday, December 29th.

4. Warrior’s Society guided rides in the fire closure areas

5. The Warrior’s Society phone number has been changed

1. THE SILVERADO TRAIL WORK EVENT IS AN OUTSTANDING SUCCESS!

We had 62 volunteers show up and they got the work done in 3 1/2 hours!
Thanks to all our volunteers who made this trail work event such a success!

For the full story go to:

http://www.warriorssociety.org/News/silverado_rehab.html

2. VISION QUEST/ COUNTING COUP TRAINING RIDE

Hi all, Here is the last of the training rides that will be posted on STR.
After this ride, The Jan & Feb rides, you will be notified by emails and PM’s. If you invite someone, please be sure they can keep up. Although the pace will not be that fast, it’s still a training ride. Click on the link for details. Hope you can make it. Gene

http://www.socaltrailriders.org/forum/trailhead/11549-vq-cc-training-ride-up
per-holy-jim-loop.html

if the link does not activate cut and paste the whole link in your browser.

Gene “Guides New Warrior’s” Frial
Mission Viejo. CA. 92691
genus5surfrider@yahoo.com

3. THE RWANDA RIDE IS COMING UP! – SATURDAY, DECEMBER 29TH

Mountain bike enthusiasts in Orange County are a resilient bunch. Those that participated in last year’s successful 50 Mile Ride for Project Rwanda are determined to do it again this year – even if half of their intended route was nearly destroyed in the recent Santiago fires.

The second annual 50 Mile Ride for Project Rwanda will be held as planned on Saturday, December 29th. The event will again be staged at Cooks Corner in Trabuco Canyon, beginning at 7:00am. “People have been asking me if we’re still having the event, even after the recent fires”, says Doug Grant, event co-founder. “We answer them – absolutely YES. We need this event now, more than ever before.”

50 Mile Ride organizer Roger Toubeaux is excited about the newly revised route he and his team have developed. “We’ve mapped out a new route, and we think it is even better than last year’s crowd-pleaser”, says Toubeaux. “We will offer two ride options, a 50 miler and a 25 miler.” The 50 mile route will start at Cooks, enter the back side of O’Neill, proceed out of the park near the RSM lake, head to the Dove Canyon waterfall, and ride the ridge trails all the way to Caspers Wilderness Park. Then it drops down Star Rise, for a few fun loops inside Caspers to reach the outer checkpoint and refueling/aid station. From there the trail heads back and up Star Rise, tracing the original route all the way back to the waterfall at Dove Canyon.

From the Dove waterfall, riders head back out to what was basically last year’s second leg. They will pass the Coto main gate, traverse Chiquita Ridge, head down Tijeras Creek trail to Arroyo Trabuco Trail, turn back to O’Neill, through the park and back to Cooks Corner for the full 50 miles.

The 25 mile route will start at Cooks an hour after the 50 mile route commences. This shorter route will be basically the same as last year’s second leg, with some fun single-track added for this year.

Last year’s 50 Mile Ride event started out as a 50 mile mountain bike ride in honor of co-founder Doug Grant’s 50th birthday. But the event evolved into something far more significant. The results of that first year’s effort was a testimony to the positive impact an event like this can have – both for Project Rwanda and for the local community who were inspired to participate. The first-ever 50 Mile Ride ended up with 247 registered riders and raised over $30,000 for Project Rwanda.

Project Rwanda was founded by Tom Ritchey, a bike designer and a pioneer in the mountain biking industry. According to Ritchey, Project Rwanda aims to help those who are continuing to rebuild their lives following the genocide of 1994. Bicycles are the main mode of transportation and utility in Rwanda, but due to the country’s land-locked infrastructure, they are very expensive for most people. Ritchey has designed durable load-bearing bicycles that are being distributed to individual coffee growers through a unique micro-enterprise venture. One of the benefits of having a specially designed “coffee bike” for coffee farmers is the impact on their income potential. A Rwandan farmer gets paid more of a premium if they deliver fresher coffee cherries to the washing station. These specialty bikes could increase a coffee farmer’s earning potential by 30 – 40 percent annually, which benefits everyone in the community. Project Rwanda has also been working to “re-brand” Rwanda and helping to raise their national pride by developing the first-ever Rwandan National Cycling Team.

http://projectrwanda.org/Latest/Tom-Ritchey-Pedaling-Home.php

Registrations are currently being accepted for the 50 Mile Ride for Project Rwanda event. For more information, and to register for the ride, please visit www.50mileride.com, or contact Doug Grant at dgrant@wagraphics.com.

4. WARRIOR’S SOCIETY GUIDED RIDES IN THE CLOSED AREAS

The Forest Service has asked several registered volunteer organizations, including the Warrior’s Society, for proposals to lead guided rides and hikes in the areas affected by the fire closures. We will be submitting proposals for rides in late January through June and will be posting the details on the rides once they have been approved.

5. THE WARRIOR’S SOCIETY’S PHONE NUMBER HAS BEEN CHANGED

We have a new office phone number (714) 622-5241. For those who have received confirmation notices for our events please make note of it and add it to your confirmations.

Thanks,

The Warrior’s Society

Shimano is the Major Component Sponsor of the Warrior’s Society

Rock N Road Bike Shops and Sho-Air Racing are Major Sponsors of the Warrior’s Society

Cytomax is the Official Fluid Replacement Drink of the Warrior’s Society

Clif Bar is the Official Energy Bar and Gel of the Warrior’s Society

The Warrior’s Society is a Blue Ribbon Coalition (BRC) affiliated organization

The Warrior’s Society is a Tax Exempt Organization under 501 (c) 4 of the IRS Code

“Far better it is to dare mighty dreams, to win glorious triumphs, even though checkered by failure, than to take the ranks with those poor spirits who neither enjoy much nor suffer much, because they live in that gray twilight that knows not victory nor defeat!”

Theodore Roosevelt

www.warriorssociety.org

In this issue:

1. The public’s help is needed to rehabilitate the Silverado Trail.

2. Send a Christmas card to a wounded soldier

1. THE PUBLIC’S HELP IS NEEDED TO REHABILITATE THE SILVERADO TRAIL

Please join us in assisting the U.S. Forest Service in the rehabilitation of the Silverado Trail on Saturday, December 15th. The trail was graded and widened during the recent fires to act as a firebreak; we need to restore it back to a single track trail and install grade stabilizers and water bars to prevent erosion.

Volunteers must be at least 18 years of age, in good physical shape, and pre-register/RSVP to insure we have enough tools. Work will begin at 8:00 and end at 2:00 with a free lunch provided at the work site located at the end of Silverado Canyon Road. Tools will also be provided but you must supply gloves as well as water and snacks for during the work.

Do not bring your bikes as we will be carrying hand tools.

For more information and to RSVP/Register for the work email the Warrior’s Society at:

countingcoup@warriorssociety.org

2. SEND A CHRISTMAS CARD TO A WOUNDED SOLDIER

When you are making out your Christmas card list this year, please include the following:

We Support You During Your Recovery!
c/o American Red Cross
PO Box 419
Savage, MD 20763-0419

If you approve of the idea, please pass it on to others.

Manitou and Shimano are the Major Component Sponsors of the Warrior’s Society

Rock N Road Bike Shops and Sho-Air Racing are Major Sponsors of the Warrior’s Society

Cytomax is the Official Fluid Replacement Drink of the Warrior’s Society

Clif Bar is the Official Energy Bar and Gel of the Warrior’s Society

The Warrior’s Society is a Blue Ribbon Coalition (BRC) affiliated organization

The Warrior’s Society is a Tax Exempt Organization under 501 (c) 4 of the IRS Code

“Far better it is to dare mighty dreams, to win glorious triumphs, even though checkered by failure, than to take the ranks with those poor spirits who neither enjoy much nor suffer much, because they live in that gray twilight that knows not victory nor defeat!”

Theodore Roosevelt

www.warriorssociety.org