Category Archives: Road

A Team Performance at Contrecoeur

premieretechWithout the help of the leader Sebastien Rousseau who was left behind with a broken shoulder blade at Battenkill, Norco/ Premier Tech senior team showed a great performance at Contrecoeur GP, the first race in Quebec.

The bunch had 8 laps to ride for a 107 km race. Adam Andersen, Samuel Blanchette, Marc-Antoine Boulet, Guillaume Fiset, David Fugère, Louis-Charles Lacroix, Maxime Le Pluart and Etienne Samson were really active in the field staying up front and taking part on almost every attack.

Unfortunatly for the team Remi Pelletier-Roy (Garneau Quebecor), the defending winner, and his team were on fire. A bit out of luck and out of organisation, the race took the best of the team while the pack ended sprinting for the second step of the podium.
Maxime Le Pluart and David Fugere finish respectively 6th and 9th of the sprint. Everyone else finished with the peleton.

Few hours earlier Annabelle Dumais and Marie-Hélène Carrier were representing Norco/Premier Tech at the women race. They had 4 laps to complete for a 54 km race. It was a hard day for Annabelle who was forced to abandon. Nevertheless, a great performance for Marie-Helene who stayed with the pack for it’s first race of the season.

Results Pro 1-2

Maxime Le Pluart – 6th
David Fugère – 9th
Etienne Samson – 25th
Adam Andersen – 37th
Samuel Blanchette – 42nd
Louis-Charles Lacroix – 47th
Marc-Antoine Boulet – 48th
Guillaume Fiset – 49th

Results Pro women

Marie-Helene Carrier – 11th
Annabelle Dumais – DNF

‘Norco Nails It with the Valence C2′

Review by Canadian Cyclist

In 2012 Norco introduced a new line of road bikes, called the Valence.  Consisting of 14 separate models – carbon and alloy, men’s and women’s – the Valence is Norco’s response to the growing demand for what is referred to as the ‘Endurance’ segment of the road market.  Specialized was one of the earliest brands to recognize it with their Roubaix line, but by now pretty much every manufacturer has at least a few models.

The Valence and others of its ilk are designed for the serious non-racer.  Whether they ride in organized events like GranFondos and long distance charity rides, or ride on their own, there has been an increasing recognition that bikes designed for racing are not necessarily the best for most types of riding.

Norco nailed it with the Valence C2

The 2013 Valence C2, 60 cm as tested
If you are not racing, you are likely willing to sacrifice some performance efficiency for comfort, especially on long rides.  A race bike may be the most efficient at transmitting power, but it is also more likely to beat you up on less than pristine surfaces and demand less comfortable aerodynamic positioning.  That doesn’t mean that you need to accept a bike that is a wet noodle, and won’t perform; just that there is a rational trade-off between performance and comfort.

We tested one of the carbon versions of the Valence, the C2 model, which sits squarely in the middle of the carbon range.  All five of the carbon models share the same geometry, plus there is one carbon Forma model, Forma being Norco’s women’s specific designation.  The top two models, the Di2 and C1, feature a higher quality (and slightly lighter) carbon matrix than the C2, C3 and C4 models.

If we compare the Valence to Norco’s race model, the Tactic, we can see visibly noticeable differences in the frame geometry.  The head tube on the Valence is half a degree slacker (for my 60 cm test bike), the seat tube a full degree less, the wheelbase is 13 mm longer and the head tube length is a significant 45 mm more.

photo

Read the full review at canadiancyclist.com

Enough is Enough – Fighting Mental Illness Across Canada

DSC_1428The wheels have started turning in the Enough is Enough cross Canada tour in support of mental Illness. The 8000km journey started on May 12, 2013 in Whistler BC. Day two of the epic journey brought the ride’s visionaries Ginny and Kerry Dennehy with their support crew past the Norco Bicycles head office in Port Coquitlam BC where they were greeted by Norco Staff and a fundraising BBQ.
DSC_1512

Ginny and Kerry have a goal of raising 1 Million dollars for the Kelty Patrick Dennehy Foundation in support of research towards mental illness. A mere 3 days into the journey and this ambitious duo is closing in on the half way mark at nearly $480,000. After an hour long pit stop and Lunch break with the crew at Norco the team pulled out on their Norco Valence bikes $1000 dollars closer to their ultimate 1 million dollar goal.


DSC_1435
As the Enough Is Enough team plots their ride across the country it will be a means of baby steps towards a massive achievement. With the ultimate goal of arriving ing Cape Spear – St John’s, NL on August 11th this 3 month, 9 province, 8000 km ride will not only raise the funds necessary to help cure a terrible illness but also raise the level of awareness and help save lives in other ways.

If you live somewhere along the route of this passionate and inspiring team make the time to support them along their journey!

DSC_1557

Team Norco Bicycles Premier Tech Training in Cuba

PremiereThe Norco Bicycles Premier Tech team has been busy through the winter and spring in preparation for the 2013 race season that is just around the corner. Going against the grain, the team made their way to Cuba for a training camp. Spending a week in the sun the team managed to ride more than 900 kilometers and escape the cold Canadian winter.

Enjoy this short recap video that they put together!

Jet Fuel – Joe Martin Stage Race update

Submitted by

Yuri

jetfuel

Joe Martin Stage Race day 4.

Good Morning. My legs seemed confused by this statement seeing as I had to check to make sure they were still attached. It was rough just walking over to the washroom and getting off the seat as so many of us know, can be an epic struggle; one that can require more watts than the final sprint. Lucky for me, I had been the sole competitor for the “Lantern Rouge”, so I had not had the luxury… err, chance… of sprinting.

The days have been long, and the weather great – if you happen to be a duck. With my morale waning, I keep going, rather than dropping out of the race. Coming into the race I did all my homework, I was fit. I made the people on the P90X exercise videos look like their before photos. Something just didn’t click, maybe I had gone a little too far in the fitness pool, too little in the freshness. So I paid the price. I will finish as the Lantern Rouge. It’s easy to just drop out of any race or competition. Finding the drive to actually finish – to keep going, to be able to say you finished, is hard. Finishing dead last (with a huge time gap to boot) was the hardest thing I have ever done. I will be forever remembered as “Lantern Rouge” at the Joe Martin stage race of 2013.

On a brighter note, today’s weather was beautiful. The race, however, was much shorter in length – 85 minutes. It happened to be a Criterium with a sharp hill in the middle of it. Someone dreamt up this nightmare of a course. The normal criterium format is flat with lots of tight turns. When a punchy hill is thrown in as well, it’s just plain cruel for both Crit racers and climbers alike. As soon as the race started, all hell broke loose. The crit riders moved up on the small flat portions and in the corners. The climbers would drill it on the hill. Either way, both were losing spots to one another regardless of your talent. As for me, I suffered as long as I could, and after my legs got torn off I was forced to pedal with my arms, and not long after they fell off too. It was time to pack it in and call it a day. Team mates Anton, Travis, and Luis were all going strong like diesel, but as time went on, they too faded. Anton got caught behind a crash with about 4 or 5 laps to go ending his race on a sour note.
My racing experience at Joe martin has been a big one, a life lesson that will stay with me forever. Racing strong in Ontario means just one thing; you are strong in Ontario. In the cycling world, you are basically a fetus, unable to defend yourself or prepare yourself for what is about to happen. I am glad I had this experience so that I am now able to mature as a rider. 4 days of good racing, 170km+ back to back stages. My team mates and I have learned a great deal about ourselves and each other. I thought I was going to finish this race as “Lantern Rouge,” but as fate would have it, I did not even last long enough in the crit to attain this title. I have now been shelled out of the rankings as if I was never in it. That goes to show you that in this race, even finishing dead last is difficult. I now know what to expect of the race next year, and boy do I have a lot of arm curls to do.

For more team stories visit Jetfuel-norco.com

Color Us Impressed! – The Norco Tactic Paints a Picture for Paved

2012_12_Paved_Page_1

Article by Paved Magazine

After an absence in the U.S. Road Market, Norco is back in full force for 2013. While known primarily for its mountain bike offerings, the Canada-based company offers a more-than-solid road line as well. Spearheading the company’s foray back onto American tarmac, the Tactic I, in typical Canadian understatement, offers a full fledged race package without the pomp and circumstance of a stratospheric cost of entry. An under-the-radar price tag, yet front-of-the-pack performance? We’re listening. New to Norco and worried about their carbon cred? Have no fear, the Tactic sports a frame as advanced as any. Norco’s use of ArmorLite resin and SmoothCore construction eliminates excess material, yielding a frame that remains extremely stiff, yet still tips the scales at just 900 grams in a size 56. Norco then polishes off the Tactic with a stellar build kit centered around an Ultegra groupset and an Easton Aero wheelset. Color us impressed. / norco.com

Download the PDF here

2012_12_Paved_Page_2

At Home in Halifax

If you haven’t yet, you should check out December in Halifax, it’s rad. We’ve had really good  weather so far, one day it was 15 degrees and sunny, otherwise it has been around 5 degrees. Great for training, and just being out and about.

After I got home from Canadian Cyclocross Nationals I took a couple weeks to relax. I started proper structured training at the beginning of December and it has been going really well since then. I have a lot of diversity in my training; riding, running, yoga and strength so I’m doing something different every day, it keeps things fresh.

I’ve mostly been riding my new Norco Thresold that I brought home from Vancouver. It is one sick bike, it has disc brakes! I did a local race when I got home and I wore gloves that weren’t warm enough for the conditions and my hands got super cold. My hands barely worked, but the braking was so light and powerful  that it was all good. On a cross bike braking is super important, and cantis suck in general, so I’m stoked to have the opportunity to ride and race a disc brake bike. I haven’t spent enough time on the bike on cross conditions to talk about the handling and such, but more on that in the next month or so.

Here at home I have been doing a fundraising project to help pay for my cyclocross season. I have been making granola at home, packaging it and selling it at Java Blend Coffee. The owner of the shop is an avid cyclist and has offered me incredible support. I have sold around 200 bags of granola so far. The local community has been super supportive of what I’m doing and that has been really nice.

This past weekend was the first WBL Halifax (Winter Bike League) ride of the season. The WBL is a group of riders that get together all winter long for a Sunday training ride. The weather in Nova Scotia is such that we can pretty much ride all winter long. Yesterday we did 3 hours in -5 degrees with 14 riders.  I’ll keep you updated on these rides all winter long, they just get longer, harder and better.

That’s my December so far, I’m really looking forward to the Holidays, time spent with family and friends and the time off school to train. Stay close for weekly updates on my training and living.

Andrew L’Esperance

Norco Bicycles Signs Team Norco Bicycles/Premier Tech

Norco Bicycles is thrilled to announce the addition of a Quebec City-based road racing cycling team to its roster. The squad of elite-level racers will compete on the new Norco Tactic platform as Team Norco Bicycles/Premier Tech. The signing means Norco has teams in the three most populous regions in Canada: B.C./Alberta, Ontario and now Quebec.

Current racers/managers Sébastien Rousseau and Isabelle Rodrigue formed the team in late 2010. Then as now, the goal was to develop a close-knit cycling family: one in which a healthy and competitive team spirit could be used to fuel a collective drive to race and win on both regional and national stages. “Team spirit is one of our strongest assets,” says Rousseau.

Team Norco Bicycles/Premier Tech is a co-ed squad that challenges for the podium in both male and female categories. Despite being relatively new, the team recorded a number of impressive results over their first two race seasons: 22 provincial podiums, five provincial victories and an impressive second place finish at the 2012 Quebec Championships. The team is committed to developing young athletes and preparing them to compete at the highest levels in Canada – a project Norco Bicycles has participated in via its sponsorship program for many years now.

“We’re all really excited about the latest addition to the Norco family,” says Peter Stace-Smith, PR Marketing Manager for Norco Bicycles. “To have teams across the country now – all of them racing on our new Tactic platform – is just awesome. It really speaks to the strength of Norco’s road race program, and to our company’s commitment to supporting Canadian cycling.”

For the 2013 season, Team Norco Bicycles/Premier Tech will compete primarily in regional races in and around the Quebec area, but the team also intends to make its presence felt on the national stage.

“We are really fortunate to have this opportunity to team up with Norco Bicycles,” says Rousseau. “It’s great to be working with people who are as much bike lovers as we are, and we look forward to the 2013 season on the Tactic.”

Welcome to the family, Team Norco Bicycles/Premier Tech!

Norco Riders Shine at the Canadian Cyclocross National Championships in Surrey, B.C.

This past weekend, the Canadian Cyclocross National Championships were held in Surrey, B.C. – right here in Norco Bicycles’ own backyard. Coastal B.C.’s notoriously wet fall weather made for a slick and muddy course with lots of spills and thrills, and the classic cyclocross conditions played an important role in what was a great show and demanding competition.

When the mud settled, Norco Bicycles’ team riders managed one of their strongest collective performances of the season: three top tens in the men’s elite category and a 3rd place podium finish in the men’s U23. Even more impressive, these solid results were achieved despite mechanical issues and a crash (or two) on the slippery and treacherous course.

In the elite men’s category, Norco ’cross rider Aaron Schooler took 5th place despite losing his rear wheel about halfway through the race, while Norco Factory Team rider Andrew Watson overcame a spectacular endo to finish close behind in 7th. Norco H&R Block team rider Andrew “Pinner” Pinfold ended the race in a solid 10th, while Norco grassroots rider Thomas Skinner finished his day in 14th position.

In the U23 category, up-and-coming Norco Factory Team rider Andrew L’Esperance took 3rd, catapulting himself onto the podium with one of his best races of the season.

The challenging Surrey course was physically demanding and technical, and given the muddy conditions riders needed to be both fast and in control at all times. B.C. native Geoff Kabush took top spot in the elite men’s category, while Mical Dyck was the fastest finisher among elite women.

As is usual for ’cross races, the mood among spectators and athletes was fun and relaxed. Boisterous spectators cheered passionately, rang cowbells and heckled amiably from the sidelines as mud-spattered athletes rode by. If you’ve never been to a ’cross race before, you really need to get out and witness this sport in person – it is truly a fan experience not to be missed!

Norco Bicycles congratulates all of our athletes, and we look forward to the next mud fest!

Norco Bicycles Becomes the Official Bicycle Sponsor of the Jet Fuel Road Racing Team

VANCOUVER, B.C., October 16, 2012 – Norco Bicycles is thrilled to sign on as the official bicycle sponsor of the Jet Fuel Coffee Norco Bicycles road racing team. Jet Fuel becomes the second road race team on Norco’s 2013 roster, and the signing underscores Norco Bicycles’ commitment to and increasing investment in its cutting edge road race program.

The Jet Fuel team, based in Toronto, began as a cycling club in 1993 and for the 6 years between 1999 and 2005 they competed as a UCI Pro Team. Since 2005, the team has been focused on rider development, serving as a stepping-stone between local teams and elite, UCI-level competition. The Jet Fuel team gives Canadian riders the top-level training and experience they require to develop into racers capable of competing at the highest levels of the sport. The current team is headed by retired Spider Tech racer, Andrew Randell, and features a group of talented and podium hungry young athletes – all eager to prove themselves on the world stage.

Peter Stace-Smith – Norco’s PR-Marketing Manager states “we are super excited to be partnering with Team Jet Fuel for 2013 and beyond. Now having teams riding our brand new Tactic race bikes at both ends of the country is a fantastic opportunity.”

Norco’s long history of sponsoring and supporting competitive cyclists reaches back to 1980, when the bicycle brand developed its first competition-level cycling team. Since then, Norco has invested consistently in its sponsorship program, supporting the development of talented athletes competing in a wide range disciplines: Road, Cyclocross, Cross-country, Downhill, Enduro, BMX and Slopestyle. Norco’s sponsored riders not only serve as brand ambassadors, they also provide invaluable product feedback that enables Norco’s bike design team to refine designs and create some of the best bicycles on the market.

“A partnership of this nature is just the sort that the Jet Fuel program needs in order to keep offering young riders the opportunity to develop as athletes” Team director Andrew Randall mentions, “To have Norco continuing to invest in the development of the Canadian cycling scene is very exciting. The team is looking forward to a great season on the new Tactic bikes.”

The Jet Fuel Coffee Norco Bicycles Team will be riding a custom, top-of-the-line Norco Tactic LE frame – Norco’s all-new road race platform. The Tactic is descended from the CRR, which was developed in close collaboration with Norco’s B.C.-based road race team, Team H&R Block. With the addition of Jet Fuel, Norco now proudly sponsors road race teams competing in both the east and the west.

 Welcome to the Norco Team, Jet Fuel!

   L to R: Dave Overgaard – Norco Bicycles, Andrew Randall – Jet Fuel Team Director, John Englar – Owner, Jet Fuel Coffee, Skip Swain – Norco Bicycles.