This past weekend the Norco truck and trailer packed up and head down to the 21st annual Seattle Bike expo. Put on by the Cascade Bicycle Club this has become the largest bicycle consumer show in North America. With more than two hundred exhibitors and thousands of consumers showing up the weekend was a flurry of activity. Norco had some near-ceiling-high towers set up with a display of bikes alongside the latest and greatest from Axiom and Mace.
Next to the Norco setup always seemed to be a mob of people waiting to see the next Ryan Leech Trials Show or Artistic Cycling Demonstration. Having Ryan do 4 shows over the two days was a treat for everyone at the show. Having the Artistic Cycling team as well was simply icing on the cake.
If the expo, the trials demo and the artistic cycling wasn’t enough for you, Ryan was also leading a morning Yoga session both days of the show. A group of yoga enthusiasts showed up each day to partake in Ryan’s class.
With more than 200 exhibitors at the show it took a fair bit of time to see everything. That is if you could actually see everything. Three of the exhibitors present also happened to be Norco Factory Team sponsors FSA, Ergon and Nuun.
See more photos from the Seattle Bike Expo at: flickr.com
This weekend is the start of the 2010 event season for Norco at The Seattle Bike Expo. This is an annual event hosted by the Cascade Bicycle Club in Seattle, Washington. The show should draw in excess of 200 exhibitors and thousands of consumers over the course of two days.
If you are in the Seattle area over March 13th – 14th, head on down to the Seattle Cruise Ship terminal and say hello. Norco will be there showing off 2010 bikes, giving away a Norco Hades Bike and Factory Team rider Ryan Leech will be conducting Trials Demonstrations throughout the day.
If you live in BC, there is a pretty good chance you have heard about the whole HST debacle. The British Columbia Government will be charging consumers an additional 7% on bikes through the initiation of HST. There are some things that should not be taxed and Bikes are one of them. The only thing HST will do is deter people from cycling.
Come on out Wednesday March 3, 2010 to the Legislature in Victoria BC and show your support. Bring a bike, and stage at 12:00PM.
The Norco Team has some new faces these days along side some well known members. Spanning across disciplines from XC to Road, Slopestyle to DH and Track to Trials there is a Norco rider that can do just about everything.
The Newest addition for 2010 is the H&R Block Road Team. Since 2006 the team has been competing at the Elite National level and will look south in 2010 at expanding into the US. Check out more info on the team at http://www.norco.com/team or http://www.teamhrblock.ca/
The Rest of the Norco team is better than ever too, here is the roster:
Ryan Leech is starting his 15th year wearing a Norco jersey. For 2010 he will continue to amaze spectators with his amazing trials show as well as inspire youth with the Trials of Life education program
Jay hoots is starting his 10th year in the Norco family. Through freeriding and Park Building Jay will travel the world and turn it inside-out along the way.
Dylan Korba is Norco’s ‘if it has two wheels I will ride it’ team member. Dylan can be spotted riding street, freeride, slopestyle, trials or anything else that resembles a bike. Maybe next year he will launch his road career?
Mislav Mironovic a.k.a the Croatian Sensation lives on his bike. In Europe Mislav competes in slopestyle and dirtjump competitions, watch for him though in North America this summer around Crankworx time.
Darcy ’smiles’ Turenne. Between competing, filming and riding Darcy will make the rounds in 2010. Watch for her at major events such as Crankworx and Sea Otter; if you spot her come over and say hello!
National XC champion Andrew Watson is back for 2010 and will likely be ripping up the National Circuit again this year. Lets just hope that the Moustache doesn’t come back.
Catherine Vipond is racing the National XC circuit for 2010. Coming off a great season in 2009 Catherine will be fighting her way to the front of the pack all across Canada.
Young Gunner, Nick Geddes is racing the DH/4X circuit and not looking back. Keep your eyes on the Junior Podium and you may just find Nick rising to the top.
Newcomer Sam Dueck is a new addition to the team for 2010. With a 2009 season including Goatstyle, Crankworx Colorado and Crankworx Whistler, watch for Sam to make a splash in the 2010 Slopestyle circuit.
Ben Kaufmann is the first BMX rider to join the Norco Team in some time. Ben will be competing in events on the East Coast of Canada and may even come out to say hi in the West. Ben adds a new flavour to the team and will bring new energy for 2010.
Watch for more on Ben coming soon!
Fionn Griffiths is taking on the world once again with the Norco World Team, watch for her travelling the world cup circuit again for 2010.
Bernard Kerr is moving up in 2010. Coming off a recent title of British Junior Champion, Bernard will be stepping up to the plate on the Norco World team trying his hand in the pro category.
Bike commuting in the winter is something that everyone cringes even thinking about. It can be wet, cold, pretty much misreable. There are some people out there though that have picked the right clothes, the right gear and the right bikes for the job. It is incredible what a little bit of preparation and perseverance will achieve.
Over the fall edition of Vancouver’s Bike to Work Week Norco head office employees commuted nearly 1100km over a total of 60 trips. For being a week that was wet, near freezing, and extremely dark. I would say that is pretty good. In fact, it was good enough to win as the top organization of 25-100 people through the VACC.
Thank You to everyone that participated in Bike to Work Week. We’ll see you on the road leading up to the next Bike To Work Week in May 2010. It may be winter, but we all still love our bikes.
