MOUNTAIN BIKING — The annual 24 Hours Round the Clock mountain bike race is gearing up for another extravaganza of solo and team efforts supported by one of the biggest campouts of friends and dirtbaggers of the season May 25-26 at Riverside State Park.

The Seven Mile airtrip area of the park fills on the eve of the race with hundreds of bikes along with tents, RV’s, trailers and cyclists from around the country.  The event begins with a La Mans start at noon May 25. Riders complete as many 15-mile dirt-trail laps before the event  24 hours later.

Read on for details from the sponsor, Round and Round Productions.

BICYCLING — The Art of Wheel Building will be discussed in a free program on Monday (May 13), 6:30 p.m., Riverview Retirement Center Community Building, 1801 E. Upriver Dr., in Spokane.

The program will be presented by Matthew Larsen, who builds custom wheels for each rider's size, riding style, and function. Learn about custom wheel building with this hands-on look at improving your ride with today's fine hubs, rim materials, disk brakes and spokes.

The program is sponsored by the Spokane Bicycle Club.

BICYCLING — Bicycle commuting — and all of its benefits in terms of health, environment and money savings — will be celebrated in Spokane and Coeur d'Alene with activities during Bike to Work Week, May 13-18.

• Pre-register to get the most out of each city's offerings.

Spokane's Bike to Work Week riders will kick off with what's become a traditional free pancake breakfast Monday (May 13) in Riverfront Park, 7 a.m. at  Riverfront Park.  Riders can log their mileage online for neat comparisons, enjoy “energizer stations” supported by local businesses on Wednesday (May 15), and enjoy a wrap-up celebration with prizes and refreshments at NoLi Brewery on Friday (May 17).

Coeur d'Alene's Bike to Work Week starts with a kickk-off ride from Silver Lake Mall to the Coeur d'Alene Library for coffee and doughnuts.

Read on for other events through the week in Coeur d'Alene including safety classes, moonlight ride, movies, beer tasging, repair clinic, scavenger hunt and more.

BICYCLING — The 2013 Wednesday Night Mountain Bike Racing Series kicks off May 8 at Riverside State Park.

It's the most current in a long, long list of bicycle rides, events and races scheduled through October.

See the complete list for events throughout Northwest in The Spokesman-Review's  2013 Bicycling Events Calendar. 

CYCLING — Montana's capital city is cashing in on it's surrounding wildness to create attractions for mountain bikers.

The Helena National Forest and South Hills Trail System reaches into Helena with a trailhead in the city limits.

The South Hills Trail System is an extensive mountain biking trail system known for its single track and long descents. Specialty bike shops provide advice on trails, equipment and rentals to ensure riders get the most out of the area.

Soon biking enthusiasts will have another reason to love Helena, the Vigilante Bike Park, which is being built near the town's center to offer terrain features in a safe riding environment. Construction of the park begins this summer on two acres of reclaimed land and will integrate pieces of old Helena buildings from the Urban Renewal Project. Park features for pros and beginners will include pump tracks, dirt jumps for beginners, intermediate and advanced riders as well as a skills trail and dual slalom course.

Meantime, Helena has more than 500 miles of world class mountain biking trails in its area.

• See map here.

These trail systems have groomed the way for several events on the spring-fall cycling schedule:

• May 12 - Unravel the Scratch Gravel
• June 15 - Helena Dirt Divas
• July 21 - State Criterion
• Aug. 24- York 38 Special
• Sept. 8- W.E.R.K.S Mountain Bike Race
• Oct. 6- Last Chance Cyclocross

PUBLIC LANDS — Volunteers are planning to pick up and spruce up a couple of prized outdoors recreation features in the Spokane area this weekend.

Unveil the (Centennial) Trail, Saturday (April 20), 9 a.m.-noon

About 350 volunteers have pre-registered for the annual clean-up, working in sections to cover the entire 37.5-mile Centennial Trail from the stateline to Nine Mile Falls. The trail attracts two million visits a year.

Dishman Hills Service Day, Sunday (April 21), 9 a.m.-noon

OUTPEDAL – Last Sunday’s Outdoors feature on regional bicycling events included a list of regional bicycling groups.

Unfortunately, an editing error omitted the venerable Spokane Bicycle Club, which was at the top of the list.

“We've been an active biking club for over 35 years with a membership of around 200,” said Don Carlton, club president.  The group has adopted mile 31 of the Centennial Trail and provide reliable support for all things related to bikes in the area.

“We offer seven rides a week in various skill levels. We host the bike coral for Bloomsday, bike sitting for over 200 bikers, as well as the registration for SpokeFest.”

• See a full list of 16 top regional bicycling groups and more than 100 cycling events througout the region in The Spokesman-Review's 2013 Northwest Bicycling Events: Expanded List.

BICYCLING — The second annual Spokane Bike Swap — a one-stop shop for people interested in buying or selling a bicycle — is set for April 13-14, from 9 a.m.-3 p.m both days, at Spokane County Fair & Expo Center.

There's no better time or place to make a deal on a bike, and the 5 percent consignment fee supports a cycling gem — the Spokane River Centennial Trail.

The event will feature a wide range of used bikes in the bike corral and seven local bike shops with new bikes and accessories.

Admission: $5 or kids under 13 free.

Sellers: check in bikes April 12 from 3 p.m. to 8 p.m.  Sellers are urged to pre-register online.

“The goal of the Bike Swap is to enhance Spokane County's biking community by providing affordable bikes for transportation, recreation and fitness,” said LeAnn Yamamoto, event director.

DONATIONS AND FREEBIES

Free bike helmets:  a limit number will be available April 13 for kids ages 3-16 in families of financial hardship through the Kiwanis Paint-A-Helmet program.

 Donate a bike: You can donate a bike to sell for the total benefit of the Centennial Trail.  The Friends of the Centennial Trail will store the bike if you want to bring it in days before the event.  Call (509) 624-7188. 

BICYCLING — Bicyclists are in that brief once-a-year window of opportunity when the North Cascades Highway west of Winthrop is all theirs — save fore a few snow plows and Washington Department of Transportation vehicles plowing the pass.

• Click here to follow the work to clear the road up and over Washington and Rainy passes.

And if you miss this opportunity, there's always the premier chance to ride behind the plows on the Going to the Sun Road in Glacier National Park starting in late April and sometimes running into June.

BICYCLING — As I compile bicycling events for The Spokesman-Review's 2013 Cycling Events Calendar, I came across this troubling message from  Lorne Westnedge, organizer for the venerable Pedal Around a Glacier, Eh! bicycle tour, sponsored by the First Baptist Church of Nelson, British Columbia.

We are hoping to host another Pedal Around a Glacier, Eh! (P.A.G.E.) ride on June 1 & 2, 2013.  However, we need a minimum number of riders to sign up by April 1st in order for us to continue.  The minimum number is 20, and we are not there yet.

PAGE starts in Nelson for a two-day,140-mile ride along Kokanee and Slocan Lakes and twice across the spine of the Selkirk Mountains to loop around Kokanee Glacier Provincial Park. Overnight in New Denver along Slocan Lake.  Cost: $95.

Here's a rundown on some of the recent outdoors stories in The  Spokesman-Review:

Inland Northwest trail groups unite

Field Reports: Idaho cutthroats need cool support

Big Horn Show reels in wide range of outdoor interests

Out & About: State lawmakers mad about bikes

State plans makeover for Tucannon River, lakes

Fishing-Hunting — weekly report for the Inland Northwest

Landers: Prescribed burns becoming hot topic

• Wildlife benefits of prescribed fires easy to see

Owls, wilderness topics in news

Gear Junkie: LuminAID provides portable light source

Shooters built skeet range for Commander in Chief

Glacier Peak Wilderness access will be limited from Hoden Village

Out & About: Trail volunteers have big plans

OUTDOOR TRAVEL — Two premier outdoor recreation areas within a day’s access from Spokane are listed among the Lonely Planet's Top 10 U.S. Destinations for 2013.

The San Juan Islands are No. 3 on the list and dubbed “The Gourmet Archipelago.” The writer notes the three main islands – San Juan, Orcas and Lopez – support two vineyards, a lavender farm, an alpaca ranch and weekend farmers’ markets that ply everything from artichokes to marionberries.”

From the outdoor recreation angle, the islands are standouts for bicycling, sailing and sea kayaking. “Hop on a bike, explore the beaches and enjoy the scenery, but be sure to eat!” the author says, noting several fine restaurants.

Glacier National Park is ranked No. 10 — perhaps a little low from a outdoor enthusiast's point of view, but that’s just as well, considering the Lonely Planet’s top 10 list is viewed by 12 million people a year.

“A relatively new shuttle system offers an eco-friendly alternative. But go soon,” the author warns. “The park’s 25 glaciers are melting – and could be gone altogether by 2030 if current climate changes continue!”

Here's full list of Lonely Planet's Top 10 U.S. Destinations for 2013:

1. Louisville, KY
2. Fairbanks, AK
3. San Juan Islands, WA
4. Philadelphia, PA
5. American Samoa
6. Eastern Sierras, CA
7. Northern Maine, ME
8. Twin Cities, MN (Minneapolis and St. Paul)
9. Verde Valley, AZ
10. Glacier National Park, MT

WINTER SPORTS — Fat bikes, snow bikes…. whatever you call them, they're catching on year-round with a niche of the cycling community that's mobilizing on ballooned out tires.  Get a glimpse of from the saddle in this video: What's Up With Fat Bikes?

Here are some of the top outdoors stories published recently in The Spokesman-Review:

Landers: spring has already sprung for wildlife

Skiing museum planned at Snoqualmie Pass

Field Reports: Montana kills more wolves…

Out & About: Boosting odds for drawing river permits

Pioneering cyclists float into new openings on balloon-tired bikes

• Spokane fat tire cyclists spinning their niche

Hunting and Fishing report for the Inland Northwest

WINTER SPORTS — Special events, such as guided snowshoe hike and ski touring, are planned for Saturday's Park-n-Ski day at winter hot spots such as Priest Lake State Park and Fourth of July Pass while fees are being waived for parking.

A winter fat-biking demostration is being planned by Greasy Fingers Bikes at the Indian Creek Unit of Priest Lake State Park from 10 a.m.-2 p.m.   Info: (208) 443-2200.

The 20th annual Best Hand Fun Ski/Snowshoe is being sponsored with prizes and trail grooming by the Panhandle Nordic Club at Fourth of July Pass from 11 a.m.-1:30 p.m.

Look for updates here.  The Idaho Parks and Recreation Department website appears to be down. I'll be looking for more infor about activities at Farragut State Park.

HUNTING — Three of my friends this season showed how muscle power can be a workable alternative to horsepower when it's time to pack out big game from the  mountains. 

• Click continue reading to check out all three photos:

Kyle Hanson and his father, Dan, use a canoe to paddle out a whitetail buck they bagged along a northeastern Washington stream.

Jim Kujala uses a game cart to help me haul out the elk I shot in early November in the Blue Mountains. We boned out the meat and loaded it into four bags along with the hide, proof of sex and spike antlers. We pulled the cart briefly cross-country to closed logging roads for two miles out to a main road.

Pat Behm has a new twist on a “bicycle rack” as he pedals out of the mountains on his  mountain bike.  Behm and his hunting partner, John Karpenko, boned out the meat, stuffed it into their packs and carried it all out down a gated road to a main road.

“The hunting area was open to all, you just have to work a little smarter to get there,” Karpenko said.

CYCLING — Spokane's venerable Two Wheel Transit bicycle shop has moved to the South Perry Neighborhood from its former location on First Avenue at the west end of downtown.

See the S-R story.

TRAILS — The Spokane River Centennial Trail is closed between miles 7 and 9 through Nov. 24 as workers  repair the erosion damage to the trail west of Barker, reports Kaye Turner of the Friends of the Centennial Trail.

The detour flows from the Walt Worthy building bollards (near the basalt water fountain; east of Sullivan and Krispy Kreme) out onto Indiana Parkway.

Progress east through the new round-about onto Flora going north until it curves right, east, onto Montgomery. 

At the “T” intersection of Montgomery and Riverway, turn right heading slightly south then east to the “T” intersection with Barker. 

Turn left, north, onto Barker. The Barker Trail Head is on the right before the bridge.

TRAIL MAPPING — Soon you'll be able to look intimately at a trail on your computer or smartphone before launching out to hike, bike or ride a horse on it.

Google has begun applying it's Street View technology to the backcountry.

In its first official outing, the Street View team is using the Trekker—a wearable backpack with a camera system on top (see video above)—to traverse the Grand Canyon and capture 360-degree images of the breathtaking natural landscapes.

Google staffers have been hiking with the Trekker to capture portions of the South Rim at Grand Canyon National Park, as well as the famous Bright Angel Trail, and South Kaibab Trail.”

Google said the new imagery would soon be making its way to Google Maps.

See details on the project in this report from the Associated Press. 

BICYCLING — Daniel D. Abbott, 62, of Spokane died while participating in a mountain bike race northeast of Helena on Saturday.

According to Lewis and Clark County Coroner Mickey Nelson, Abbott collapsed Saturday afternoon while participating in the York 38 Special bike ride. He was pronounced dead at the hospital in Helena.

A medical condition apparently led to Abbott’s death, Nelson told the Helena Independent Record.