SANTA CRUZ, Calif. (BRAIN) —Santa Cruz Bicycles, Fox, Shimano, White Industries and WTB have donated a pair of custom-painted Santa Cruz Hightower LTs that are being raffled to support the "Back On Trail" campaign, which will fund trail reconstruction projects in the wake of recent wildfires in California.
The monthlong fundraising campaign will benefit the Redwood Empire Mountain Bike Alliance and the Santa Barbara Mountain Bike Trail Volunteers, who will each spearhead reconstruction efforts in their respective regions.
Santa Cruz Bicycles graphic designer Campbell Steers said he drew inspiration from CalFire firefighting equipment for the custom graphics and build spec on the bikes. One of the bikes is red and one is white.
"We talked to our shops, reps and customers in the areas affected by the fires and above all they expressed a real desire for a return to normalcy," said Santa Cruz CEO Joe Graney. "We all know how a good bike ride makes you feel, and we want to help people get back to that."
Entries to win the bikes are available by making donations at backontrail.org — with one raffle entry for every $5 donated. The campaign runs the entire month of February, with the two winners chosen on March 1.
The bikes are valued at $10,000 each and feature not only custom graphics, but a custom parts spec from California-based companies.
Petaluma-based White Industries is located closest to the Northern California fire zone and supplied the cranks, bottom bracket, hubs and headsets for the bikes; Scotts Valley-based Fox supplied forks, shocks and dropper posts; Irvine-based Shimano supplied brakes, shifters, derailleurs and cassettes; and Mill Valley-based WTB supplied tires and saddles. The parts will be mounted to Santa Cruz Hightower LT frames and the wheels built up using Santa Cruz Reserve carbon rims.
Sample bikes will be on display at Santa Rosa's Trailhouse for two weeks, then will move to the Topa Topa Brewery in Santa Barbara on Feb. 18. The actual prize bikes will be made in the winners' chosen size.
More information and ticket sales at backontrail.org.
