Archive for the ‘Events’ Category

Thursday at Crankworx up in Whistler entailed two main events. Slopestyle Qualification/Best Trick and the Pumptrack challenge. First off was Norco Factory Team Rider Sam Dueck at the Slopestyle. On Sam’s second run he pulled a massive backflip off the whale-Tale then a Superflip on the next booter. Making his way down the course, he then Tail-Whipped off the final step-down and caught a gust of wind bringing him down. Sam was okay, a little swore but pleased with the run besides the small tumble. Plus, the run was enough to bring him through to Saturday’s Semi-Final. 16 riders move on to Saturday where the field will again be reduced down to a total of 8 riders for the final. Way to go Sam!

After the slopestyle qualification, The Pumptrack Challenge kicked off. Pumptrack is a bit of a newer competition but it is a lot of fun to watch. The corners are tight, the speeds high and the energy is awesome. For the event Bernard, Fionn, Nick and Angie were all representing Norco on the course. The field of riders was about 50 deep and Norco’s top finisher was Fionn Griffiths in 4th for the women.

Today was technically day 4 of the 2010 Crankworx Mountain Bike Festival, but it was also day one for the Ryan Leech Trials Shows. With a dozen or so shows happening this week, the first two were today. With an all-new setup for the demo, check out some photos from today. If you are coming out for any of the festivals check out the show, Ryan is an acrobat on a bike. See more photos at flickr.com/norcobikes

When thinking ‘vacation’, the mind automatically starts drooling over white-sand beaches, palm trees and margaritas right? Well, what if I told you that there was another option where the days are long, the beer is cold and the mountain biking is out of this world? The place is the Yukon Territory. Following the 2011 Norco Product Launch, I managed to sneak away for about a week and visit the midnight sun of the Yukon. Let’s start off by saying that I had a blast!

The Yukon has about 30,000 people that call it home and nearly 25,000 of them reside in the Capital of Whitehorse. Another town that you may have heard of in the Yukon is Dawson City. Situated about 500km northwest of Whitehorse, Dawson City was first settled back to the Gold Rush Days and is now home to about 1300 people. Once a year, the town doubles in size as the Dawson City Music Festival draws people from afar to enjoy some beer, bands and perpetual light. Bringing in artists such as Dan Mangan, Fred Penner, Elliott Brood and more, this is the largest music festival in Northern Canada. The thing about the Yukon that caught me off guard was the people. Living in the city you forget about the aspect of community, and neighborly kindness that is so important to a smaller town’s vibe. Well, it seemed to me that no matter where in the Yukon I was, the people were willing to go the extra mile to make sure I was having a blast. This closeness of the people is one aspect that makes me want to return time and time again. The music festival was really a gathering of people in a celebration of sorts. It is a celebration of the North, the people and the music. This is more than your typical festival.

After spending three days at the Dawson City Music Festival, the time to ride was upon me. Driving back to Whitehorse meant that I could meet up with my friends at Boreal Mountain Biking an the local bike shop Icycle Sports. There is nothing quite like local knowledge when on vacation to find the best spots to spend limited time.

Mountain biking in the Yukon is totally different from anywhere I have ever ridden before. The diversity of the terrain runs from open rock to dense forest, lush meadows to near desert conditions. One minute you may be riding at tight forested singletrack and the next riding a ridge above the beautiful Yukon River. Regardless the trail, somewhere along the way, there will undoubtedly be a stunning vista, a vivid glacial lake or the sight of a winding river. The views are even more spectacular than the best-in-class trails. When you are planning your vacation to Whitehorse, plan to ride the Yukon River Trail, Money Shot, Mountain Hero and more, much more!

At the end of any ride, a bevy is in order and in the Yukon this is no exception. The Yukon Brewery makes some of the best beer around. From the Gold to the Amber, IPA to the Stout, there really is no bad choice… Not only is the beer awesome but the brewery is also a big supporter of the local mountain biking community and the Dawson City Music Festival. When you head up to Whitehorse, check out the brewery, they do daily tours and make a beer that is ‘worth freezing for’. So, the Yukon in a nutshell is pretty straight forward. Good riding, great people, spectacular views, and you can enjoy it all with a cold beer.

Now, just to find my way back to the Yukon soon…

Dustan

For 2011 there are some big changes to the Norco lineup. One of the most exciting bikes for next year is the 2011 Norco Range. With 160mm of travel, a tapered headtube, Syntace rear axle and derailleur hanger system, post mount brakes and the new Advanced Ride Technology (A.R.T.) suspension design, the Range is a ride anywhere, all mountain machine. A.R.T. is a new suspension design which  has been integrated into the 2011 Range as well as 3 additional models of Norco full suspension bikes. A.R.T. is an optimization of the patented FSR Suspension System.  The FSR patent describes a four-bar bicycle suspension system with the rear wheel mounted to the seatstay.  The rear pivot is located on the chainstay, both in front of and below the rear axle.  The all-new A.R.T. suspension design is classified as FSR, but moves this rear pivot further forward and lower compared to previous models.  This optimized positioning delivers a ride which is more efficient while pedaling and more reactive to hits while descending.  Increased levels of chain growth results in higher anti-squat characteristics which reduces suspension bob, making the bike pedal more efficiently.  Additionally a more rearward axle path allows the rear wheel move back at the same time as it moves up to get out of the way of large, square-edge bumps more effectively, resulting in smoother and faster descents over rough terrain.

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The real story about the Norco Range is in the ride. We can describe how it feels but without getting on and giving it a try, you will never really appreciate the versatility and adaptability of the bike. Recently, while the Range was still hidden under a blanket of secrecy, Norco’s Engineering Manager P.J. Hunton took on the challenge of racing DH, and XC on the same bike. The venue was the Sunshine Coaster and the bike was the Range.

Day 1 of P.J.’s racing was the XC, a 3-lap course totaling 24kms of steep climbs, fast descents and a whole lot of fun. Taking off in a hurry, PJ started out close to the front and spent the next two hours picking off the competition one by one. Taking on a field of XC racers on 23lb race bikes P.J. was riding his range at 28lbs and 160mm of travel. Steady climbing and fast descents brought P.J. a 4th place finish in the field.

The second day of racing entailed dropping the saddle and ripping the DH. This second part of the challenge also added a side-pot with a small group pitching in a 20 each. As a pedaling course, the Sunshine Coaster was a great track to test out the Range. Still, on one of the smallest bikes racing, P.J. would have is work cut out to keep up in the rough, all while dealing with the fatigue of yesterday’s XC. Out of the gate the strategy was to keep pedaling, brake late and stay on the bike. The top section was fast through a clear cut then moving into some tight corners before the forest. Once into the trees the flat pedaling section played to P.J.’s favour before a steeper rougher bit moving onto the finish. With a time of 3:08, six seconds off the lead left P.J. just off the podium in 4th place. The important part though was that the Range won the side-pot taking home the cash.

Both races came down to the wire and P.J. was up at the front in both disciplines. Riding the same bike for XC and DH takes guts, it takes lungs and it takes a true rider. As Norco’s Engineering Manager and an avid cyclist, P.J. has seen the design of the Range from start to finish and touched every detail along the way. Racing the Sunshine Coaster was a challenge put out to him, but it was also a personal test of what his brainchild is capable of. The idea of a bike to do-it-all has been a dream since the start of mountain biking and through A.R.T. suspension, sophisticated design and thoughtful spec the Range really is the bike for any trail.

Whistler is home to a whole lot of great things. Whether you are looking at skiing, boarding, golfing, eating, lift-access mountain biking or even cross country – Whistler is the place to be. On this note, one of the local weekly events around the city is the Thursday Night Twoonie Race. Located at various locations around Whistler, every week anywhere from 100 – 250 riders will show up ready to race. The best part – it only costs a Twoonie ($2 if you aren’t Canadian).

This past Thursday, The Norco Van was packed up with some new 2011 product and we headed out to take part. For the race, Norco set up a tent showing off some new bikes while Norco Engineer PJ, Factory Team rider Nick Geddes and myself (marketing)  put some coin down – literally, to take part in the race. With 150 participants on the start line the theme seemed to be a bike in the 100-120mm range. These were XC bikes.

With this in mind, us three were mounted upon two Ranges (160mm) and one Shinobi (120mm 29er). Compared to the competition we seemed a little over-biked; but, with the new A.R.T suspension platform and sub 30lb bikes we were up for the challenge.  Off the start line, the course took the pack 150 strong up a gravel road that never seemed to end… For this, I stepped down the Range’s Fox 36 Talus to 120mm, flicked on the pro-pedal and set off. The first kilometer or so I spent reeling in the riders ahead trying to gain some places before the top of the climb. Nick was already ahead of me on a range but at around the 2/3 mark up the hill PJ caught up and passed me with the big-wheeled Shinobi. Once we reached the top of the climb, it was time to cut across the ridge through a rolling trail before dropping down. The descent was actually one of two choices, there was an easier – longer route, or a steeper – faster route. Seeing as how I was riding a 160mm bike, when it was time to start down the fork went back to full travel, the shock was opened up and down went. The descent was steep, rocky and loose but the bike soaked it up and allowed for a few more places gained. After a time of 42 minutes I came across the line in 12th place. PJ was a couple ahead in 10th and Nick broke the top 10 in 9th place.

As everyone was rolling in, the best part of the weekly event started up. At the finish was Burritos courtesy of Dups Burritos and pints from Fanatyk Co Bike Shop. Thanks to both for putting on an awesome event!