Lost Coast Ride For The Redwoods

Take A Ride And Help Restore Our Working Community Forest

2012-03-18T09:02:00.000-07:00

Registration Is Closed For The 2010 Ride!

General Information
The Lost Coast Ride For The Redwoods is a unique one-day mountain-bike benefit ride in the Usal Redwood Forest and features lush redwood forests, coastal beaches, spectacular vistas and rugged cliffs. The Ride begins at at our M&M Camp facility in the Usal Redwood Forest, 6 miles west of Legget at milemarker 98.5 on Highway 1. High energy snacks and liquids are furnished along the bike routes during the event and SAG support is also available. Finish the day with a hearty Dinner prepared by local chefs.

How To Participate
To participate in the ride, each rider must collect a minimum of pledges:

Individual Rider: $200 in pledges, minimum $25 to register ($15 before May 1) Join as an individual participant, not linked to a Group, and help collect donations from friends and family.
Organize A New Group: $1,000 in pledges, minimum $25 to register ($15 before May 1) Start a Group, become a Group Leader and help collect donations from friends and family.
Join An Existing Group: $25 minimum to join. Join an existing Group and help collect donations from friends and family.

Non-riders can also help in a variety of ways:

Pledge A Rider: $25 minimum. Help Riders achieve their $200 pledge goals
Sponsor a Group: $1,000 minimum in matching pledges. Sponsors receive special consideration in our ads and special promotions as well as recognition on our website
Become An Event Sponsor: $1,000 minimum. Event Sponsors recieve special consideration in our ads and special promotion material and recognition on our website

You can also register by mail or fax. Click here to get forms.

The Rides
There are two rides of varying lengths and difficulty. The shorter, easier route is the Usal Beach Ride. It descends down the road along Usal Creek to Usal Beach and then returns to the finish area. This ride covers 14 miles. The longer route is the Chimney Rock Loop, traversing 27 miles. It begins in the same location as the Usal Beach Ride, veers to the northwest, loops and then returns to the starting point. The longer route is very challenging and offers steep, gravelly downhill runs. Skill and endurance is required if you choose this ride.

Both rides offer opportunities to explore lush, riparian areas, coastal beaches, spectacular vista points and rugged, rocky cliffs. Wildlife abounds in this remote redwood forest that has been in private ownership for over 150 years.

Riders collecting the most pledges have an opportunity to win great prizes. We will begin posting prize information soon and will continually add to our prize list. Check back often for updates.

Nearby Lodging, Dining And Activities
This unique location is a great jumping off point for a vacation on the Mendocino Coast. Pamper yourself with Mendocino Wine Country tours, Lake Mendocino camping or head off into the magnificent National and State Parks. There are a variety of activities available in the nearby communities and parks for all riders, their families and friends. Check out our Rider Support page for discounts on lodging, dinners, activities and a variety of other useful topics.

I Live In The Usal Forest

2010-04-11T11:37:00.000-07:00

This list represents trees and plants that live in the Usal Redwood Forest. The list includes their common names and also their formal latin name.

Usal Forest Flora

Why We Ride

2010-03-23T12:59:00.000-07:00

The Purpose: This unique and memorable mountain-bike experience is being organized to help restore and conserve one of the spectacular redwood forests of northern California. The funds raised will go to support the Redwood Forest Foundation, Inc. a non profit organization whose mission is to acquire, protect, restore, and manage forestlands and other related resources in the Redwood Region for the long-term benefit of the communities located there. They are establishing community-based forests that provide both critical habitat for increased biodiversity and improved regional economic vitality. The Usal Redwood Forest - the location of this ride - is their first acquisition. To date they have conducted over $2,000,000 in restoration work on this forest. Your hard work will raise funds to help them revitalize the ecology and the economy of California's redwood region. Learn more about this unique and important organization at http://www.rffi.org/.

Contact Us

2010-03-23T12:43:00.000-07:00

FormSpring - Web Form Builder

Redwood Forest Foundation, Inc

PO Box 12 Mendocino, CA 95460

Phone:(707) 937-4808 Fax: (707) 937-2660

Website: www.rffi.org

About The Rides

2010-03-23T12:41:00.000-07:00

The Lost Coast Ride For The Redwoods

Saturday, June 19, 2010
Usal Redwood Forest

Benefit Mountain Bike Ride for the Redwood Forest Foundation.

Minimum Pledge requirement $200 per rider,
$1,000 per team or group.
See below for details.

The Lost Coast Ride for the Redwoods is a one-day mountain-bike benefit ride in Mendocino county's remote Usal Redwood Forest - an adventure that will give you lush redwood forests, coastal beaches, spectacular vistas and rugged rocky cliffs.

Choose between two rides:

14-mile Usal Beach Ride

or

27-mile Chimney Rock Ride

Location: The Redwood Forest Foundation proudly presents the Lost Coast Ride for the Redwoods, a one-day mountain-bike benefit ride in the remote Usal Redwood Forest, a 50,000 acre community forest in Mendocino County.

The Lost Coast Ride for the Redwoods adventure will give you lush redwood forest, coastal beaches, spectacular vistas and rugged rocky cliffs. It starts and finishes at a remote forest retreat on a ridge on Highway 1, six miles west of Highway 101 and descends to Usal Creek, a freshly restored salmon habitat where refreshments will be served. From there you can ride Usal Creek to Usal Beach or hike 1 mile to see the Enchanted Forest and return to the finish area covering 14 miles.

Those who want a more challenging experience and a longer 27-mile route will leave Usal Beach, climb north up the next ridge for a loop around to the beach where you will be treated to breathtaking ocean views, grueling climbs and some very steep gravely downhills that require skill to negotiate. Wildlife abounds in this remote redwood forest that has been in private ownership for over 150 years. Lost Coast Ride for the Redwoods finishes with a delicious meal served by local chefs. The ride location is a great jumping off point for a vacation on the Mendocino Coast or northward into the redwood parks.

Date and Time: The Redwood Forest Foundation's Lost Coast Ride for the Redwoods will start at 9:00 AM and end by 5:00 PM on Saturday, June 19, 2010, when you will be honored for your commitment to restoring redwood forests. Riders are welcome to start as late as 10:30 AM but must complete the ride by 5:00 PM of the same day.

The Event: The Lost Coast Ride for the Redwoods will be a spectacular ride in stunning scenery in a privately-owned, little known redwood forest. Because of the care that must be taken to reduce the environmental impact involved in providing this ride in this unique location and terrain, the number of riders is limited to 500. Carpooling is encouraged. The Redwood Forest Foundation is partnering with Fogspinner Productions, a premier north coast bicycle event and course developer that has over twenty years of organizing and operating mountain-bike tours in Mendocino's rugged terrain. Their services and expertise will provide you with a well-designed course that includes unmatched scenery and scenic forest and ocean-side rest-stops. Memorable opening and closing ceremonies , nutritious snacks and beverages and a delicious hearty meal at the rider's finish are among a few of the amenities. Mechanical and technical support and sag wagons for the tired rider will be available. Riders receive a specially designed Lost Coast Compass to memorialize the experience. All riders who raise $225 or more will receive a free event T-Shirt. T-shirts are available by pre-order for $15.00. Prizes will be awarded to the top fundraisers.

Registration: Sign-up now. You can register online or request a registration form and fax or mail it in. You can pay by check or credit card. The First 500 riders to register will be admitted. A non-refundable registration fee is required to secure your spot. Early bird registration fee of $15 for registering by May 1, 2010. All others $25.00. Your registration fee will count toward satisfying the minimum pledge requirement of $200.00. Teams or groups of up to 10 individuals can enter with a $1,000 pledge. All pledges must be satisfied and submitted to the Redwood Forest Foundation by June 10, 2010 in order to ride.

Paying the Pledge: Satisfy your pledge the easy way - have supporters pay their pledge on-line with a credit card. They will be able to visit www.rffi.org and go to the link for the Lost Coast Ride for the Redwoods. Just follow the directions on that site. If your sponsors prefer, they can give you or mail check to RFFI. Make out and mail the checks to:

RFFI

PO Box 12

Mendocino, CA 95460

Be sure to put the full name of the rider on the memo. Pledge payments and registration fees are tax-deductible contributions to the full extent allowed by law. RFFI will provide you with fundraising ideas and support, like the online payment option.

Email morgan@rffi.org or call Lin Morgan Barrett at 707-937-4808 for more information.

Shop Ride For The Redwoods Gear

2010-03-23T12:35:00.000-07:00

We'll have some great gear and gifts for sale here soon!

Rider Support And FAQ's

2010-03-23T12:22:00.000-07:00

Welcome to our Rider Support center.

We are continually updating our center with valuable information about the race and other related matters. We provide high energy refreshments and liquids throughout each of the Rides and a hearty dinner for participants after the ride.

You can direct your sponsors and pledgors to the Registration Section on the righthand Sidebar for help with fundraising support.

Weather

Riders in our event should consider wearing the following items:

Helmet (Helmets are mandatory)

Gloves.

Mirror (either on helmet, glasses or handlebar).

T-Shirt,

Windbreaker or raingear

Bike shorts

Sturdy shoes.

When you cycle, we recommend you carry at least the following items on your bike:

Spare tube.

Tire levers.

Patch kit.

Water bottles.

Basic hex wrench set (adjusting seat, etc).

A handlebar bag or trunk bag on rear rack.

Some extra money and identification.

Rain gear if the weather threatens.

Maps And Photos

2010-03-23T12:19:00.000-07:00

The Joys Of Mountain Biking

Chimney Rock Loop (27 miles) Click Image To Enlarge

Usal Beach Ride (14 miles) Click image to enlarge

Mountain Biking In Our Working Community Forest

2010-03-05T09:40:00.000-08:00

Welcome to the official blog of the "Lost Coast Ride For The Redwoods" hosted by the Redwood Forest Foundation. Our Rides are geared to mountain bikers and offer routes for recreational bikers as well as more experienced riders.

2009-10-24T08:59:00.000-07:00

Registration Closed For The 2010 Ride

2009-06-13T10:13:00.000-07:00

Thanks for your interest in the Lost Coast Ride For The Redwoods. Registration is closed for the 2010 Ride. Check back for information about the 2011 Ride.