Today is day one of the 2010 BC Ride to Conquer Cancer. Starting in Surrey BC and venturing down to Seattle WA over the span of two days 2400 riders look to top last years incredible $6.4 Million Dollars raised. Norco has joined up for the 2nd year in a row to offer tech support to any and all riders along the journey. With 12 Key checkpoints over the two days Norco, along with La Bicycletta and Obsession Bikes has seen everything from derailleur adjustments to seized hubs, broken spokes to flat tires. With is many people riding bikes the worst is bound to happen. Our goal is to get each and every bike back on the road to finish the 300km trip south.
Here are a few photos from an awesome day of conquering cancer… litterally! While writing this post I have learned that the mid-event total is a whopping 9.3 Million Dollars!!!!! Even Doctor Evil would be impressed with that number. (with the pinky of course)
I hate to get political but sometimes… there is reason behind it…
March 3rd, 2010 was the day to be in Victoria BC protesting the inclusion of bikes into HST legislation on July 1st 2010. For those out there that don’t know, HST stands for Harmonized sales tax and brings the Provincial Sales Tax (PST at 7%) and Federal Sales Tax(GST at 5%) into a single harmonious chunk that is added to most retail purchases. All that HST is going to do is make cycling less affordable and less attractive to existing and potential cyclists.
As long as I can remember Bicycles, labour, safety equipment and essential parts have been exempt from the PST. As far as I know, bikes have always been PST exempt. Well, the good’ ole days are a thing of the past. When the HST comes into effect, that 7% PST will be tacked onto the GST in a silent, single tax. Prepare to make your wallet a little bit thinner…
With the HST coming into effect, the increased income from taxation is said to be offsetting the rising cost of health care. The cost of health care are rising with the aging Baby Boom and the government is looking for money from the significantly smaller X and Y generations. The costs attributed to an aging population are innevitable, it is the target of the HST that I question. Certain products have been PST exempt for a specific reason. Through tax exemption, environmental impact and low-income households were addressed. With the innitiation of HST, the Campbell Administration is taxing the people that are reducing emissions and living a healthier lifestyle. It is those who rely less on the health care system that will be paying for the gas-guzzling, artery-clogging lineup of people idling at the local McDonald’s Drive-thru.
Lastly, if you are interested in economics, Taxation can be seen as a burden on society limiting GDP and suppressing the economy. Have a quick read about the Dead-Weight-Loss theory.
Have you ever had your bike stolen? Have you ever worried about your bike getting stolen? Did you know that without a serial number the police will not even write up a report for bike theft?
So what does this tell us? Get out to the garage, look under the Bottom Bracket and write down that number. Even better, take the serial number of your Norco bike and register it at norco.com/bike-registration. After doing this you could win a BRAND NEW NORCO EMPIRE FRAME! It is that simple. register your Norco Bike and you are automatically entered to win!
But, There is More!
Tell your friends about the Norco Bike Registry on Twitter or Facebook and you will be eligable to win one of two WTB Vigo Carbon SLT saddles valued at $240!
Twitter
To be eligible on Twitter first follow NorcoBikes on Twitter then enter the following text as a status update:
@NorcoBikes I just registered my Norco online at http://norco.com/bike-registration/ so I can win a Norco Empire Frame!
Facebook
Do the same on your Facebook and you could win again! For this one you will need to become a fan of facebook.com/norcobikes then:
Update your Facebook status by typing ‘@Norco Performance Bikes’ then copy and paste:
I just registered my Norco online at http://norco.com/bike-registration/ so I can win a Norco Empire Frame!
So there you go, Register, tell your friends, then go for a ride! You could be riding a New Norco Empire before you know it!
Mandatory legal mumbo-jumbo:
The contest is open to all Norco Bike Registration Participants ONLY. Norco Products LTD employees are not eligible.
Contest is void in Quebec and where otherwise prohibited. (although we still encourage you to register your bike)
Approximate Value of Prizes are Norco Empire Frame $2200 CAN, (2) WTB Vigo Saddle $240 CAN. Contest closes at 12:00AM June 1, 2010 PST. Winners of the Norco Bike Registration Contest will be notified through provided contact information on June 3, 2010.
If any winner of the Norco Bike Registration Contest shall be under the age of majority, by the acceptance of the prize his/her parent or legal guardian agrees to hold Norco Products LTD and all affiliates, employees, advertising and promotional agencies, harmless from and against any and all claims and liability arising out of or in any way connected with the operation of this contest and use of a Prize.
Norco Products LTD. retains the right, in its absolute discretion, to make substitutions of equivalent kind or value in the event of the unavailability of any prize for any reason whatsoever. Only one (1) prize per household or bike registration will be awarded.
This promotion is in no way sponsored, endorsed or administered by, or associated with, Facebook or Twitter. The information you provide in the Norco Registration Contest may be used by Norco for web, print, safety and product based communication. Any personal information provided win registration will be used solely by Norco and will not be distributed to any 3rd party.
This contest is subject to all Federal, Provincial and Municipal laws. Decisions of Norco Products LTD are final with respect to all aspects of this contest.
In order to win any of the prizes listed above, participant must first answer a skill testing question.
Being from Canada, we do not have the nicest winter. While it is cold, dark and snowing for most of the country, the west coast experiences the doldrums of incessant rain, dampness and the occasional falling of slush. I find it pretty easy in these depressing times to jump ship to somewhere warm and dry. Under this notion, I spent the past week in Puerto Vallarta, Mexico basking on the beach, sipping margaritas and taking the occasional dip 80 degree water… not a bad gig if you ask me.
Being an active person, the beach is great; being able to run, swim, play volleyball, throw around a football or whatever else you can think of is more my style than sitting around. If you prefer to bake instead, you have more patience than I do. I will tell you this though, There is nothing like riding a bike! After a week in the sun I am proud to say that I missed BC. Although I arrived home to a blanket of snow, I was ready to climb onto my noble steed and hit the trails. As great as a tropical vacation is, it will never be perfect without a bike!
A loose headset is one of the easiest repairs that can be done to a bicycle. The only thing easier, is screwing it up.
The first step to tightening your headset is loosening the stem. This is done usually with either a 4mm or 5mm allen key. Loosen off the stem bolts until the handlebars will move relative to the front wheel.
The second step is the beginning of determining why the headset is loose. The tightening process may be as simple as tightening a bolt, but it could also be a little more complicated. What you will need to do is take a 5mm allen key and remove the top cap of the headset. This is the vertically positioned bolt on top of the stem.
Once this bolt is removed there should be a minimum of 2mm and a maximum of 5mm between the top of the stem and the steertube. The stem should extend higher than the steertube of which it attaches to. If the steertube extends beyond the top of the stem you will need to install an additional spacer above or below the stem.
Correct Headset Spacing
Incorrect Headset Spacing
Once the spacing has been corrected or confirmed, you may start tightening the headset. The next step is to tighten the topcap to the desired tension. Tightening the topcap is preloading the headset bearings and needs to be completed while the stem is loose. As you tighten this top bolt, you will find that the steering will eventually tighten up and bind. There is a happy medium between a knocking in the front end and this binding stage that needs to be achieved. If there is play in the headset moving back and forth, continue to tighten. If the steering is tight and does not move smoothly, loosen.
The last step of tightening a headset is to tighten the stem. Before doing so you must align the cockpit with the front wheels. The easiest way to do this is to straddle the bike and line up the stem with the front wheel. When this is aligned you can move on to tighten the stem bolts. Be sure to notice the torque rating for the stem as over-tightening could cause damage.
