May 27, 2009

RIDE GUIDE NOW AVAILABLE FREE THROUGH SHAW VIDEO ON DEMAND

'Ride Guide', North America's premier ski, snowboard and mountain bike television series, is now available free of charge on Shaw Video On Demand, into 950,000 VOD enabled digital households across Western Canada.

Ride Guide content is available to view through Shaw Video On Demand, free of charge, at any time of the day. It’s as simple as hitting the Shaw On Demand button on your remote, or Menu, then VOD. The Ride Guide channel is listed under the 'FREEZONE' section off the Shaw Video On Demand Main Screen.

'Ride Guide' is a mountain travel TV series, where the hosts and guest pros, share their travels of skiing, snowboarding and mountain biking from locations throughout the world.

'Ride Guide' is also available on OLN Canada, every Sunday at 12:30 pm Eastern, as well as Rush HD on Sundays at 8:30 pm and 11:30 pm Eastern. Ride Guide can also be seen on Men TV, Rogers On Demand and Dose.Ca. Ride Guide is broadcast exclusively throughout the USA on The Ski Channel. Check out details on the Ride Guide schedule at rideguide.ca and Shaw Video On Demand at shawondemand.ca .

Throughout Spring / Summer 2009, Ride Guide fans can see fresh content on Shaw VOD, from Season 12 for Ride Guide Snow and Ride Guide Bike. Watch for these great Ride Guide episodes on Shaw VOD:

Ride Guide Bike Episode 144 – 'BC Bike Race'

Ride Guide Bike Episode 145 – 'Whistler Crankworx'

Ride Guide Bike Episode 146 – 'Vermont'

Ride Guide Bike Episode 147 – 'Bike Parks BC'

Ride Guide Bike Episode 148 – 'Utah'

Ride Guide Bike Episode 149 – 'Nevada'

Ride Guide Bike Episode 150 – 'BC Chilcotins'

Ride Guide Bike Episode 151 – 'Maui'

Ride Guide Bike Episode 152 – 'Arizona'

Ride Guide Bike Episode 153 – 'Norco Factory Team'

Ride Guide Bike Episode 154 – 'Croatia'

Ride Guide Bike Episode 155 – 'Sun Valley'

Ride Guide Bike Episode 156 – 'BC Kootenays'

Norco Grassroots Riders Steve Quesnell and Dexter Robson riding Mach Chicken on the Sunshine Coast in British Columbia, Canada. Watch the video and you too will want to ride this amazing trail.


Click here to watch the video!

Video footage courtesy of Eric Peterson @ Faultline.
For more information or to see other great video’s, please go to their website at www.faultline.tv

Norco Factory Team rider Darcy Turenne has traveled around the world in search for the perfect trail. Talking to her about her travels causes the realization that she has found this several times.

One of Darcy's most recent media hits has been in the Indonesian magazine MTB. Check out the magazine online at issuu.com

May 24, 2009
This past weekend turned out to be a great time for racing on North America’s Eastern courses. Mount Tremblant, QC was home to the 2nd XC Canada Cup and the 1st Downhill of the season.

Elite Women - 5 laps - 31km



1. Emily Batty (Can) Trek Store Race Team 2:01:47
2. Karine Travaillaud (Can) Cycles des Monts 4:10
3. Caroline Villeneuve (Can) Norco Factory Team 5:33
4. Catherine Vipond (Can) Norco Factory Team 5:37



Elite Men - 6 laps - 37.2km



1. Derek Zandstra (Can) 3 Rox Racing 2:00:34
2. Matthew Hadley (Can) Xprezo 3:50
3. Andrew Watson (Can) Norco Factory Team 5:25



XC Photos from Marek Lazarski / Pedalmag

After the XC racing on Saturday, the focus changed to the DH on Sunday were Hans had a great start to the season on his new Team DH.



1. Hans Lambert (Norco) 4:03
2. Andrew Mitchell (Devinci) 4:07
3. Jurgen Beneke (Ind) 4:11


Photos from Martin Moreau / Pedalmag

Across the border it was time for the US Open. Diablo Freeride park hosted the event while the worlds best showed up to compete in the Downhill and Giant Slalom. Fionn had an impressive day of qualifying finishing in 1st with a commanding lead over the field.


1 154 GRIFFITHS Fionn Norco World Team Gr 3:05.06
2 142 MCQUEEN Rebecca Race Face Tld 3:13.48
3 151 STRAND Katrina Oakley Shimano 3:13.92


Photo – David T/Pinkbike

When it came time for the finals a storm rolled in causing a course hold while lightning and heavy rain poured down. Over an hour later the clouds moved and the course reopened with extremely slick conditions.

1 Miranda MILLER Santa Cruz Pro Women 3:05.47
2 Kathy PRUITT Jamis Bike Pro Women 3:05.56
3 Fionn GRIFFITHS Norco Worl Pro Women 3:05.96


Photo – Karl Burkat/Pinkbike

After the DH, the organizers put on a Slalom course for the riders. No contact, just them vs the clock.

1 KINTNER Jill Red Bull Pro Women 43.15
2 BUHL Melissa Khs Bicycl Pro Women 45.05
3 PRUITT Kathy Jamis Bike Pro Women 45.10
4 GRIFFITHS Fionn Norco Worl Pro Women 45.44


Photo – Tyler/Pinkbike

It's no wonder that everyone and their cat has owned an aloha shirt at one point in their life. The aloha spirit of Hawaii seems to follow its visitors far after they leave the islands...even if it is in the form of a really bad shirt that makes your kids cringe.

Read The Full Article at nsmb.com

With the introduction of the Fluid LT (long travel) in 2008, Norco expanded their Fluid line of all-mountain bikes as well as their presence in the growing all-mountain genre. Since the bike’s inception, Norco has tweaked and refined the platform, culminating in the new and improved 2009 Fluid LT. Have changes been made for the better? Read on to find out.

Read the full article at: nsmb.com

Norco World Team rider Fionn Griffiths has climbed atop the podium at World Cup 4X #3 in Andorra

Congratulations Fionn on a great Race!

Read more at: mbaction.com

or watch the video at dirtmag.com

Hi Ride Guide fans!

Just a heads up to let you know that the Whistler/Crankworx episode airs this Sunday on OLN (Canada) on Sunday, May 17, 2009 at 12:30 pm Eastern (9:30 am Pacific).

The “Ride Guide - Whistler” Episode, will also premiere on Rush HD (Canada), also on Sunday, May 17, 2009 at 8:30 pm Eastern (5:30 pm Pacific) and again at 11:30 pm Eastern (8:30 pm Pacific), with a repeat on Saturday, May 23 at 9:00 pm Eastern (6:00 pm Pacific).

Enjoy the show and we hope to see you on the trails!

-the Ride Guide crew

May 11th-17th is Bike to Work Week! Norco is supporting Bike to work week with prizing for commuters, a bike giveaway and tech support. Located at six different locations around Greater Vancouver watch for the Norco rig helping out. If you are riding to or from work and you see the Norco Rig, stop and say hello. Be sure to have a rest and drink a coffee while your bike is fixed.






See you out there!

The June Issue of Mountain Bike Magazine features Norco Factory Team rider Darcy Turenne on the cover.

Inside you will also find a great article on Ryan Leech. Covering Ryan through his riding and rise to stardom, the article is definitely worth a read.

The June issue of Mountain bike can be found on the shelves now.

It's no wonder that everyone and their cat has owned an aloha shirt at one point in their life. The aloha spirit of Hawaii seems to follow its visitors far after they leave the islands...even if it is in the form of a really bad shirt that your kids cringe at every time you put it on.

The Ride Guide crew was lucky enough to be able to explore the island of Maui recently (sans flower shirts), and we quickly found out that world class surf is not the only thing the island has going for it. Rolling up to the Maui baggage drop with bike bags is not what people expect to see when you are paradise bound, but to us, the insinuating stares of 'what's wrong with the beach?' are common place. Although we later traded wheels for surfboards, the trails on the island were well worth looking forward to.

I had spent some time riding in Maui a few years back and was blown away by the trails I saw. Through correspondence with my friend Juli, I had learned that what I rode the first time was only the tip of the iceberg.
She was right. Our first ride we went to the Makawao forest that has in my opinion, one of the most fun non-bike park trails in the world. We got lucky and the red clay dirt, otherwise known as 'Hawaiian ice'. Unlike the other Hawaiian ice that seems to be a problem in the jungles of Hawaii, the deadly mud was nowhere to be found on our ride, and we only had brief encounters with the infamous slip on the occasional flat corner. Like the guava trees in the area, the trails are exploding with the fruits of the hard work from local trail builders, and with better-than-normal traction we were free to hit up all the jumps we could possibly handle.
Makawao is just one of the few mountain biker's paradises in paradise.



Over the course of our trip we rode four distinctly different types of terrain on different sections of the island. Lava rock, Utah-esq desert formations, dry dusty pine forest, the jungle loam of Makawao, and fast red dirt through shoaling cane fields are just a few of the treats a mountain biker can expect in Maui. To our delight, most of the places were shuttleable! If it wasn't for some serious local knowledge we probably wouldn't have found any of them though. One thing about the people in Hawaii is that they will do anything you need to make sure you have a good time and aren't territorial over their local gems (although, the surf breaks are a bit of a different story). Thanks to Juli, Eric, Paul from Crater Cycles, and Moose from West Maui Cycles we were shown the goods. Many Mahalos to you guys!

Although the mountain biking in Maui is as good as it gets, we would be crazy to not concede to the 'what's wrong with the beach?' looks and spend some time shore side. Not being much of a lie-on-the-beach-and-get-dark type girl, we decided that surfing was the best way to spend our ocean time and catch some rays. Jay didn't need to tan after all, because he put in some time at the tanning salon before the trip. That's right Jay, you're secret is out! Next time you look at Hoots and wonder where he got his golden glow don't feel bad...he probably paid for it!

We stayed at the Aina Nalu in Lahaina Town which was beautiful and nice and close to the surf. Tim from Goofy Foot surf school hooked us up with a lesson (much needed) and board rentals for the rest of the week, so every morning I would wake up at 6am and paddle out before starting my day. It takes a pretty spectacular reward for me to wake up that early in the morning, and surfing was so much fun that I would have even woken up at 5am. Jumping into the water and paddling into a glassy set of waves is a better way to wake up than the most potent double shot of espresso you could find in Italy...the locals though often opted for both the double shot and the paddle out.

In a place like Maui there is so much beauty and recreation that it can sometimes seem overwhelming. Our trip was the perfect balance of play and rest and we all came back as bronzed beauties thanks to the sun that shone on us everyday. I guess Lahaina is known as the land of 'relentless sun', but to a Canadian who hasn't seen the big ball of fire consistently for months, it was heaven.

My short list of things to do for any biker who goes to Maui is this: 1) fly Air Canada and bring your mountain bike (they have the cheapest rates for bikes). 2) Don't go home before riding Makawao. Both DH riders and weekend warriors on XC bikes will go away happy. 3) Take a surf lesson from Goofy Foot. Tim will push you into overhead waves that you thought were reserved for surly locals. 4) Go to a luau. We went to the Old Lahaina Luau and it was fantastic! If you like pigs that are cooked in the ground you'll be in luck. Good food for vegetarians too. 5) SPF 30. 6) Go say 'aloha' and ask to ride with the local riders. We all ride bikes and they are some of the most enthusiastic and stoked people out there (talented riders to).

Living in paradise makes people really friendly so put your tourist hat to the side and have fun like the locals do!


You can share our Maui travels, on an upcoming Ride Guide episode, broadcast throughout Canada on OLN, Rush HD, Shaw Video On Demand, Rogers On Demand and Men TV, and for our US viewers, The Ski Channel. Check Ride Guide out on-line at Dose.ca and BikeMag.Com

Now that spring is finally here and we are seeing some great biking weather, it is time to claw your way off the couch, head outside and hop on your two wheels. The key to making that first ride and many to follow a success is being prepared. There are 3 things (well, really 4) that will make all your rides WAY more fun and enjoyable.

First: is your bike ready? Bikes tend to hibernate over the winter, as yours comes out of its winter slumber, take a few minutes check it over. A few quick steps will make your first ride exponentially better. Oil your chain, and do a quick clean-up and lube of all moving points on your bike. This can be done easy enough with a spray can of light lube and a few rags. Using the rags to control excess, lubricate all the moving parts on your bike. Places like; brake lever pivots, derailleur linkages, your seat post and quick release skewer etc. Be generous with this lube but wipe up any and all excess and please don’t get any spray on brake rotors or the rims of your bikes (basically any braking surface). Note: If you don’t have one, a good floor pump will be a good investment and last you for years. Go see your local bike shop, you will thank me later.

Second, is your gear ready? Open up your gear back and ensure it has a tube (yes, correct size is important), tire levers, allen keys and a working pump. Even a small first aid kit is nice to have in your pack. Lastly don’t forget to bring some extra food and water for the long haul. Get used to carrying this gear on every ride. Check out this month’s Decline Magazine for a great article on what to carry on your ride. Thank you to Decline for providing the PDF.

Third, are you ready? If you took the black bear (get fat and hibernate) approach the darkness of winter, start easy. Don’t assume you can ride at the same level as you exited last season. It takes a few rides to get back up to speed both physically and mentally. Many injuries happen on the first ride or two so ramp it up slowly and enjoy the spring riding.

Oh yeah, and my forth point is your riding buddies. Good riding partners will make your fun exponentially better. Pick them well… Then with your posse, start with the shorter easier routes but don’t forget to throw in your old favorite rides from last year. Intermix these with new and bigger rides and even day or road trips.

A bicycle is an amazing thing… it can open new territory will brighten any day. Good friends to share this with only make a day on your bike even better.

So…. Bike? – check. Gear? – check. Friends? – check. You are ready, now go play!

Sunny skies and tailwinds to you all, see you out there.

Steak Sauce.

The Norco Blog has a new home!

After 4 months in the blog-o-sphere, the Norco blog has jumped ship. Abandoning its domicile of norco.wordpress.com the newly renovated norco.com/blog can be called home.

Check out the blog for events, tech, team and other interesting updates. Leave your comments on what you would like to see posted next.

May 7-10th marks the 17th annual John Henry Days. At this event Norco will be present with new product and the team rig. Come on by to check out the bikes while getting a great deal on anything in the store.

Bring your bike and ride in Jay Hoots' Dreaded 150 Dual Stunt Relay.

Check out full event details at: johnhenrybikes.com

With winter fading fast and the trails drying we’re getting geared up for a summer of riding!

I will be riding and reviewing the Norco A-line this year while I volunteer in the Whistler Mountain Bike Park and for some of the more gnarly rides on the North Shore of North Vancouver.

Read the full article at mtbr.com

The GST might soon be removed from bicycles and cycling related goods if a bill tabled recently in the house on Commons is approved. Joyce Murray, Liberal MP for Vancouver Quadra, said the idea is to give people more incentive to choose greener and healthier transportation and recreation options.

If you feel strongly that the GST should be removed from bikes in Canada make your voice heared and notify your local MP.

May 24th, 2009 marks the 14th annual Skiis and Biikes Customer Appreciation Day at the Kelso Conservation area in Milton Ontario.

Tickets are $10 and include entrance to the park, demo bikes, lunch, and prizes - All proceeds go to The Ride to Conquer Cancer

Get your tickets at all Skiis&Biikes locations