English
NORCO NEWS
MARCH 2008
MARCH 2008
Norco gains some props from an unusual source - the graphic design industry.
Check out the designers comments on the Norco Volt frame.
Check out the designers comments on the Norco Volt frame.
Darcy hosts a sucessful weekend of ladies-only riding, skills development, and brownies!
As some of you may know, I partnered with Sooke Cycles last weekend to host a beginner women's riding clinic in, you guessed it, Sooke! I can honestly say it went off without a hitch!
Before I go into details, I want to thank all the girls who came out, layered up, put on their beautiful new pink Norco t-shirts, and rode all weekend in the mud. Luckily though, despite the cold and mud, the sun gods were smiling upon us and gave us two rain-free days...and we all know that March on Vancouver Island can be nasty. You girls are awesome and I was such a proud little coach seeing you improve so much over the weekend. Pretty soon you'll be coaching me!
Our first day was mostly dedicated to building basic skills from breaking and shifting, to balancing and, everyone’s favourite, dismounting. I’m sure none of them signed up expecting to spend 30 minutes practicing how to fall! I think they were grateful for the skill though the next day when we hit the trails at Broom Hill. It was amazing to see everybody gain so much confidence by the end of the first day.
Day 2 we really put that confidence to the test! Broom Hill is a local riding area in Sooke that offers a range of highly technical trails with big jumps, and intermediate singletrack. We opted for the singletrack, but the group challenged themselves when they collectively agreed that they wanted to ride to the summit. It was a great warm-up to the decent. The girls rocked it despite wet conditions and the long climb!
I couldn't have asked for a better group and I don't think I heard one negative thing come out of their mouths all weekend. Thanks for getting me motivated and being such a positive influence on me girls! We all had a lot of fun and definitely earned all the food that Thrifty Foods provided us with...and those brownie squares that Kendall baked for us to get us through our day 2 ride. I think that was the highlight for me! Just kidding...they sure were good though.
I'll be holding more camps throughout the summer so stay tuned to the Norco site for more details.
Thanks again to the girls, Sooke Cycle, Norco, Thrifty Foods, and Sea- Parc Recreation for making this happen!
-Darcy
As some of you may know, I partnered with Sooke Cycles last weekend to host a beginner women's riding clinic in, you guessed it, Sooke! I can honestly say it went off without a hitch!
Before I go into details, I want to thank all the girls who came out, layered up, put on their beautiful new pink Norco t-shirts, and rode all weekend in the mud. Luckily though, despite the cold and mud, the sun gods were smiling upon us and gave us two rain-free days...and we all know that March on Vancouver Island can be nasty. You girls are awesome and I was such a proud little coach seeing you improve so much over the weekend. Pretty soon you'll be coaching me!
Our first day was mostly dedicated to building basic skills from breaking and shifting, to balancing and, everyone’s favourite, dismounting. I’m sure none of them signed up expecting to spend 30 minutes practicing how to fall! I think they were grateful for the skill though the next day when we hit the trails at Broom Hill. It was amazing to see everybody gain so much confidence by the end of the first day.
Day 2 we really put that confidence to the test! Broom Hill is a local riding area in Sooke that offers a range of highly technical trails with big jumps, and intermediate singletrack. We opted for the singletrack, but the group challenged themselves when they collectively agreed that they wanted to ride to the summit. It was a great warm-up to the decent. The girls rocked it despite wet conditions and the long climb!
I couldn't have asked for a better group and I don't think I heard one negative thing come out of their mouths all weekend. Thanks for getting me motivated and being such a positive influence on me girls! We all had a lot of fun and definitely earned all the food that Thrifty Foods provided us with...and those brownie squares that Kendall baked for us to get us through our day 2 ride. I think that was the highlight for me! Just kidding...they sure were good though.
I'll be holding more camps throughout the summer so stay tuned to the Norco site for more details.
Thanks again to the girls, Sooke Cycle, Norco, Thrifty Foods, and Sea- Parc Recreation for making this happen!
-Darcy
While most people use their summers for barbecues and beach days, the Teeter family will be pedalling their bicycles across Canada for ALS.
The Teeter brothers – Michael, Aaron and Adam - lost their father Steve to ALS in 1994.
The Brothers Bike for ALS is their dream to raise funds and awareness about the disease that took their father.
”As a family who has lost a loved one to ALS, our hope is to encourage others by sharing our story,” says Adam.
The brothers, along with their wives Juliet, Amy and Heather, will be on the road from May 28 to August 2, 2008. Adam and Aaron, who live in London and Hamilton, Ontario, respectively, will join Michael in Langley, British Columbia to kick off their tour. Their goal is to raise $52,000 as they bike through many communities from coast to coast.
“We want this fundraiser to celebrate our father’s life and give hope to those living with this terrible disease,” says Michael.
“Our father's life serves as a reminder that we can’t control the end of our days. What we can control is the quality of the life we live in the circumstances that we find ourselves. We decided to take control of our grief by organizing this fundraiser,” says Aaron.
For information about their tour check out: Brothers Bike 4 ASL
Source: ASL Society of Canada
The Teeter brothers – Michael, Aaron and Adam - lost their father Steve to ALS in 1994.
The Brothers Bike for ALS is their dream to raise funds and awareness about the disease that took their father.
”As a family who has lost a loved one to ALS, our hope is to encourage others by sharing our story,” says Adam.
The brothers, along with their wives Juliet, Amy and Heather, will be on the road from May 28 to August 2, 2008. Adam and Aaron, who live in London and Hamilton, Ontario, respectively, will join Michael in Langley, British Columbia to kick off their tour. Their goal is to raise $52,000 as they bike through many communities from coast to coast.
“We want this fundraiser to celebrate our father’s life and give hope to those living with this terrible disease,” says Michael.
“Our father's life serves as a reminder that we can’t control the end of our days. What we can control is the quality of the life we live in the circumstances that we find ourselves. We decided to take control of our grief by organizing this fundraiser,” says Aaron.
For information about their tour check out: Brothers Bike 4 ASL
Source: ASL Society of Canada
Norco LRT & CORSA
Ok...so there are no 'whistles', but both the Norco LRT series and Corsa series do include fenders, racks, and of course, bells!
LRT 1 Features:
~ Shimano/FSA 24 speed gearing for all types of terrain
~ Reliable Shimano hubs with double wall rims and flat protection tires
~ Lightweight Aluminium frame with Chromoly fork
~ Ritchey lightweight handebar, stem, and steapost
Norco's commuter series bikes make city riding easy and convenient. The LRT offers a 26' wheel and light aluminium frame at two affordable price points, while the Corsa series provides larger 700c wheels, comes in both a traditional and step-thru frame design, and aims to provide a bit more comfort. If you prefer even more performance but still want to stay within a reasonable budget, be sure to check out the VFR (flat-bar road bike series).
When your bike is more than just a weekend distraction . . . it's a way of life.
Ok...so there are no 'whistles', but both the Norco LRT series and Corsa series do include fenders, racks, and of course, bells!
LRT 1 Features:
~ Shimano/FSA 24 speed gearing for all types of terrain
~ Reliable Shimano hubs with double wall rims and flat protection tires
~ Lightweight Aluminium frame with Chromoly fork
~ Ritchey lightweight handebar, stem, and steapost
Norco's commuter series bikes make city riding easy and convenient. The LRT offers a 26' wheel and light aluminium frame at two affordable price points, while the Corsa series provides larger 700c wheels, comes in both a traditional and step-thru frame design, and aims to provide a bit more comfort. If you prefer even more performance but still want to stay within a reasonable budget, be sure to check out the VFR (flat-bar road bike series).
When your bike is more than just a weekend distraction . . . it's a way of life.
Hello!
Just a quick hello from the Seattle Bike Expo; thought I would leave you with this little video blog instead of writing too much, check it out....
Peace,
Ryan
Just a quick hello from the Seattle Bike Expo; thought I would leave you with this little video blog instead of writing too much, check it out....
Peace,
Ryan
One thing I love about Norco is that the company has always focused on hiring incredible riders who are also incredible people. Although I know I’m probably biased, I think Norco’s Factory Team really are some the most impressive, professional athletes in the industry.
As an insider, I get to see much more of what goes into being a pro than just the day they stand on the podium. I’ve seen the incredible effort Fionn puts into off-season training, the countless unpaid hours Hoots ungrudgingly gives to the local riding community, and the sleepless nights of stunt-building by headlamp that Ben does to complete a film or photo segment. I see riders like Darcy and Dylan juggle full-time school and part-time jobs, while still trying to find enough time to stay on their bikes.
Every year Norco receives hundreds of emails, phone calls, and letters about sponsorship. In fact I can’t think of one event I’ve attended where, at some point, a rider has walked up and asked, “How do I become a sponsored rider?”
Unfortunately, there is no set job description or easy answer to this question since every company looks for something a little bit different. However, there are a few things we all want to see, and you might be surprised that it’s more than just your ‘mad-skillz’. Of course you need to know how to ride, and to ride well, but there is so much more to being a professional rider than race results. (Once again, keep in mind, this is my opinion, and Norco does things a bit differently. There may be companies out there that only care about podiums and medals.)
However, here are a few straight-forward DOs and DON’Ts when you are looking for sponsorship:
DO. . .have a professional, up-to-date resume (yes, that means a cover letter, resume, and photos *video is always a huge bonus too*)
DON’T. . .assume being a great rider is enough. There are hundreds of great riders out there, and there is always someone better.
DO. . .follow up within a month to be sure the correct person has seen your resume.
DON’T. . .torment the team manager by calling or emailing every day. (don’t laugh, it happens!)
DO. . .take time to improve your public speaking and writing skills. Your ability to interact with the public and with the media will be just as important as your ability to ride. Plus, both of these skills will build your confidence and help you to ‘sell’ yourself when you start looking for sponsors.
DON’T. . .slag companies or products. Giving honest feedback is one thing (and companies often want that) but getting onto forums and spouting off about how ‘so and so sucks so much!’ can really come back to haunt you.
DO. . .work out something with your local shop first. Grassroots sponsorship is a great way to learn how to be a professional rider.
DON’T. . .forget that other riders, especially kids, watch you and look up to you when you are talented. Whether you are sponsored or not, other riders WILL notice how you treat your riding environment, how you dress (yes, that means wearing a helmet like your mom always wanted you to), and most of all, how you treat other people.
DO. . .realise that being a sponsored rider is a JOB. Yes, it is a dream job to get paid to ride and have people giving you free gear but there are responsibilities and expectations. A company is hiring you to be their face and voice on the mountain so don’t be shocked when they expect to have a say in what you do or say out there.
Honestly though, the best way to learn how to be a professional rider is look closely at the riders you admire. You don’t have to become a carbon-copy of Jay Hoots or Ryan Leech, but watch what they do and how they act in public and you can quickly learn about what it means to be a professional.
- Norco PR Girl (filling in for Steak-Sauce)
As an insider, I get to see much more of what goes into being a pro than just the day they stand on the podium. I’ve seen the incredible effort Fionn puts into off-season training, the countless unpaid hours Hoots ungrudgingly gives to the local riding community, and the sleepless nights of stunt-building by headlamp that Ben does to complete a film or photo segment. I see riders like Darcy and Dylan juggle full-time school and part-time jobs, while still trying to find enough time to stay on their bikes.
Every year Norco receives hundreds of emails, phone calls, and letters about sponsorship. In fact I can’t think of one event I’ve attended where, at some point, a rider has walked up and asked, “How do I become a sponsored rider?”
Unfortunately, there is no set job description or easy answer to this question since every company looks for something a little bit different. However, there are a few things we all want to see, and you might be surprised that it’s more than just your ‘mad-skillz’. Of course you need to know how to ride, and to ride well, but there is so much more to being a professional rider than race results. (Once again, keep in mind, this is my opinion, and Norco does things a bit differently. There may be companies out there that only care about podiums and medals.)
However, here are a few straight-forward DOs and DON’Ts when you are looking for sponsorship:
DO. . .have a professional, up-to-date resume (yes, that means a cover letter, resume, and photos *video is always a huge bonus too*)
DON’T. . .assume being a great rider is enough. There are hundreds of great riders out there, and there is always someone better.
DO. . .follow up within a month to be sure the correct person has seen your resume.
DON’T. . .torment the team manager by calling or emailing every day. (don’t laugh, it happens!)
DO. . .take time to improve your public speaking and writing skills. Your ability to interact with the public and with the media will be just as important as your ability to ride. Plus, both of these skills will build your confidence and help you to ‘sell’ yourself when you start looking for sponsors.
DON’T. . .slag companies or products. Giving honest feedback is one thing (and companies often want that) but getting onto forums and spouting off about how ‘so and so sucks so much!’ can really come back to haunt you.
DO. . .work out something with your local shop first. Grassroots sponsorship is a great way to learn how to be a professional rider.
DON’T. . .forget that other riders, especially kids, watch you and look up to you when you are talented. Whether you are sponsored or not, other riders WILL notice how you treat your riding environment, how you dress (yes, that means wearing a helmet like your mom always wanted you to), and most of all, how you treat other people.
DO. . .realise that being a sponsored rider is a JOB. Yes, it is a dream job to get paid to ride and have people giving you free gear but there are responsibilities and expectations. A company is hiring you to be their face and voice on the mountain so don’t be shocked when they expect to have a say in what you do or say out there.
Honestly though, the best way to learn how to be a professional rider is look closely at the riders you admire. You don’t have to become a carbon-copy of Jay Hoots or Ryan Leech, but watch what they do and how they act in public and you can quickly learn about what it means to be a professional.
- Norco PR Girl (filling in for Steak-Sauce)
Still One-Of-A-Kind
Although street and dirt specific bikes haven't really been around that long the Two50 is a bike with a surprising amount of history.
Can you give us a brief history of the Two50?
Dave (Norco Bike Division): Sure. The first Two50 came out almost 8 years ago in 2001 and was a huge departure from anything that was happening at the time. I believe the first model won 'Bike of the Year' from Mountain Biking Magazine.
Why was it so different?
Dave: Well, at the time people were starting to market 'shore' style hardtails as dirt jumping bikes, but no one really made anything specifically for street riding or dirt jumping, they all assumed kids like that would want a 'do everything' type bike. To be honest, that's what most companies still do, there are very few dedicated bikes for this niche.
You seem very excited about the 2008 version in particular, why is that?
Dave: This year's bike is FIVE pounds lighter than last years (30lbs)! We were able to find some new vendors and materials, so the frame and components are stronger and lighter than anything we've used in the past. I love riding a steel frame, for both the feel and the durability, so having a lighter bike in the material I prefer is pretty sweet. As well, we sourced some higher-end BMX components this year and used the lighter Rockshox Argyle 302 fork, while still keeping things simple with one rear mechanical disc brake and a single-speed drivetrain.
What about the graphics? They're pretty eye-catching.
Dave: The aesthetic design of the entire series is very different than anything we've done in the past. We wanted to really break away from the traditionally dark, industrial look of these types of bikes and give riders a chance to express their individuality. We don't expect everyone to love them, but we wanted to get people talking. One thing we focused on this year was really working to find exact colour matches to the frame with the bar, stem, pedals, and fork. We already spend so many hours discussing (and arguing . . .lots of arguing *laughs*) about parts and spec, so we wanted people to see that reflected in the bikes overall 'look'.
Anything else you want to add?
Dave: hmmm . . . Did you know that the Two50 is one of the only mountain bikes with a Spanish BB? I only know of one other small independant company that does it. When I said this bike really has BMX roots, I wasn't kidding.
Want to know more about the Two50? Two50 Parts & Spec
Although street and dirt specific bikes haven't really been around that long the Two50 is a bike with a surprising amount of history.
Can you give us a brief history of the Two50?
Dave (Norco Bike Division): Sure. The first Two50 came out almost 8 years ago in 2001 and was a huge departure from anything that was happening at the time. I believe the first model won 'Bike of the Year' from Mountain Biking Magazine.
Why was it so different?
Dave: Well, at the time people were starting to market 'shore' style hardtails as dirt jumping bikes, but no one really made anything specifically for street riding or dirt jumping, they all assumed kids like that would want a 'do everything' type bike. To be honest, that's what most companies still do, there are very few dedicated bikes for this niche.
You seem very excited about the 2008 version in particular, why is that?
Dave: This year's bike is FIVE pounds lighter than last years (30lbs)! We were able to find some new vendors and materials, so the frame and components are stronger and lighter than anything we've used in the past. I love riding a steel frame, for both the feel and the durability, so having a lighter bike in the material I prefer is pretty sweet. As well, we sourced some higher-end BMX components this year and used the lighter Rockshox Argyle 302 fork, while still keeping things simple with one rear mechanical disc brake and a single-speed drivetrain.
What about the graphics? They're pretty eye-catching.
Dave: The aesthetic design of the entire series is very different than anything we've done in the past. We wanted to really break away from the traditionally dark, industrial look of these types of bikes and give riders a chance to express their individuality. We don't expect everyone to love them, but we wanted to get people talking. One thing we focused on this year was really working to find exact colour matches to the frame with the bar, stem, pedals, and fork. We already spend so many hours discussing (and arguing . . .lots of arguing *laughs*) about parts and spec, so we wanted people to see that reflected in the bikes overall 'look'.
Anything else you want to add?
Dave: hmmm . . . Did you know that the Two50 is one of the only mountain bikes with a Spanish BB? I only know of one other small independant company that does it. When I said this bike really has BMX roots, I wasn't kidding.
Want to know more about the Two50? Two50 Parts & Spec
There are many young riders that come and go. One day they’re hot, then the next they’re gone. Over the last decade, I kept noticing this one local kid, Dylan; he always made me double take by pulling these amazing trials moves off out of the blue. He has exceptional and diverse riding skills (always has a new trick with style), he’s hilarious (usually by making fun of himself), and he has an great work ethic.
You can learn a lot from Dylan, his training techniques might not be too wise to emulate (ie: who needs a foam pit), but his priorities are solid. It would be easy for him to be totally romanced by all the opportunities that riding has brought and totally forget about school. He stuck to his values though and is now finishing up his fourth year Economics degree. Smart Kid! Props to you my friend, both on and off bike!!
- Ryan Leech
Read the FULL INTERVIEW on NSMB.com
You can learn a lot from Dylan, his training techniques might not be too wise to emulate (ie: who needs a foam pit), but his priorities are solid. It would be easy for him to be totally romanced by all the opportunities that riding has brought and totally forget about school. He stuck to his values though and is now finishing up his fourth year Economics degree. Smart Kid! Props to you my friend, both on and off bike!!
- Ryan Leech
Read the FULL INTERVIEW on NSMB.com