Fresno State will host mountain bike event

    The Fresno State Bulldog Cycling Team will host the Western Collegiate Cycling Conference Mountain Bike Championships on Nov. 17-18 at The Ranch MTN Bike Park outside Prather.

    More than 150 cyclists from 15 universities across California and Nevada are expected to compete in both cross-country and downhill events.

    The races will be open to members of the public in non-collegiate classes. Volunteers, sponsors, vendors and spectators are also needed.

    Most college cycling teams are club sports and get little or no financial support from their respective universities.

    Fresno State's squad received official club sport status in November. Emailbulldogcyclingclub@gmail.comfor details.

     News & notes

     Doyal's Store in Piedra, a popular stop for fishermen and cyclists near Pine Flat Lake, may not be closing at the end of the month after all. Owner Mark Owens said a final decision about the store's future will be made in the coming days. "Last week I was ready to throw in the towel, but now I'm more encouraged," Owens said.

    This should go without saying, but it's dry out there. The Sierra National Forest is prohibiting open campfires below 4,000 feet elevation outside of designated recreation sites. Go to fs.usda.gov/sierra/ for a full list of restrictions.

     Need to escape the heat? The Elkhorn Slough Ecological Reserve near Watsonville hosts docent-led tours at 10 a.m. and 1 p.m. every Saturday and Sunday.