Rasmussen Bike Shop interviews Rick Blackford on Local Mountain Biking

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Modified: <span id="MainContent_MainColumnContentPlaceHolder_lblModifiedBy" title="3/13/2013 8:03:19 PM by BikeIowa">Mar 13, 2013 by <a id="MainContent_MainColumnContentPlaceHolder_hlModifiedBy" href="/Profile/BikeIowa">BikeIowa

Posted Mar 13, 2013
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While the weather is a little too sloppy for mountain biking, the RasmussenBike Shop Mountain Bike Team is excited to get on the trails for 2013.

RBS: What are the best trails to ride in the metro?
Rick Blackford (RB): The trails aroundGreenwood park and Waterwork known as Center Trails(Hillside, Rollercoaster, Denman's, etc) are the most popular and the easiest to access. It's less than a mile fromRasmussen's Bike Shopand we run the Wedenesday night taco ride there whenever weather is permitting for a reason.The trails are a great mix of beginner friendly and fun with challengesfor more experienced riders as well.

RBS: What events are recommended to do?
RB: I'm a bit biased on this one since the Rasmussen MTB Team puts on a race at Summerset State Park called the "Summerset Shootout". It's one of the more challenging courses with its mix of rollercoaster oftrail on the north side to screaming fast Riverside trail on the south portion of the park. We also strive to make it a fun family atmosphere where you can hang out pre and post race with good friends.

RBS: What bikes are mountain bikers rocking?
RB: TheSpecializedoffroad lineup ofbikes have been popular for a long time and have been hitting it out of the park the last couple of years, I'd look atSalsa Cycles. They continue to innovate and challenge the status quo of what people should be or want to be riding including singlespeed, hardtail, full suspension, and fatbike.