This video represents the beginning of a couple of things: the start of Spring here on the North Shore, and also my first foray into the world of video. Shot over the course of about four hours one Sunday in March, on classic ‘Shore trail, “Ladies Only”
Dan
Dan, Sporting some serious style with Darcy
Enjoy,
MBUK Superbike Feature
One of the original North Shore Machines
Words by Doddy/MBUK
Norco Bikes are a born-and-bred Vancouver company, dating back to 1964. They have very strong roots within the local riding scene, and the North Shore that it revolves around. The Shore boasts the wildest, most technical and punishing mountain bike trails on earth so bikes built to ride it need to be up to the challenge.
Early on, Norco supported the Horst Link design, rolling out their first Horst-equipped model – the FTS-1 – in 1995. This helped them gain notoriety on the North Shore, but it was the VPS 1 in 1998 that really put them on the map. This 100 to 140mm (3.9 to 5.5in) adjustable travel, box framed beast paved way for the VPS Shore, which was released in 2000, and is what you see here – a bike designed to take on the toughest trails on the planet. Based around the Specialized FSR licensed rear end, it was an efficient at pedaling as it was at taking drops.
The formidable riding around North Vancouver means long climbs to get to the top of the runs, so a speed-sapping design wasn’t an option. The FSR linkage rear end is incredibly plus, doesn’t react to braking forces and is resistant to pedal-induced bobbing.
Norco have used the design from the start and, aside from refinements to the pivot position and bearing types, they still use it today.
Built to drop
The Shore had Norco’s own VPS system at the rear end, which allowed for adjustable travel by altering the shock position without affecting ride quality. Huge drops and increased leverage from the development of twin crown forks saw riders constantly ripping head tubes off their bikes; with their rear end sorted, Norco set out to make the front end bombproof.
A huge box-section 6061 aluminium front triangle with a reinforcing boom down tub provided extra strength for hard landings. The seat mast allowed the seat to be will positioned for climbing, combined with a double-drop extendable seatpost so riders could get full saddle height without fouling the frame by lowering a full-length post.
The front end certainly had a ‘love-or-hate’ look but it won over all those who climbed aboard, and impressed anyone who dared to take it to the limits.
Versatile Steed
The North Shore movement quickly developed with companies like Norco at the forefront, but riders from other countries often didn’t get it.
In particular, many downhill riders would look at bikes like the BPS Shore and see the high bottom brackets, fairly steep head angles and short wheelbase, and dismiss them as poor downhill bikes. They were missing the point. Riding on the North Shore then was all about tackling ultra-technical trails on really steep terrain. Trail builders were building ladders over gullies and were incorporating fallen trees into trail features. The steeper head angle and shorter wheelbase of the VPS Shore allowed riders to tackle these features slowly and surely, even on seriously difficult obstacles – these machines stayed stable even when the riders weren’t.
The tight geometry kept the bike feeling nimble too, despite its fairly hefty weight. The VPS Shore could move with surprising agility, get airborne off drops that would make most riders shrink, and survive the landing again and again. Norco are still making incredibly good bikes today, and they’re not a million miles away from the VPS Shore – but then great design lasts…
To read more great articles like this head over to bikeradar.com or check out your local newsstand to get your own copy of the issue.
Norco’s roots are in British Columbia Canada at the base of Vancouver’s North Shore. In fact, a large part of Norco’s continued success can be attributed to the iconic “Shore” model that evolved from 2001 to 2011. The successor of the Shore is the Norco Truax and it seems only fitting that NSMB have a kick at reviewing this evolution in Norco’s interpretation of freeride.
The Truax spent a good bit of the summer on Vancouver’s North Shore mountains, performing ‘self-access gravity riding’ (Norco’s term) duties, as well as punching out Whistler bikepark laps. The ‘freeride’ label fits the bike, though that moniker seems to be of fading relevance. Perhaps ‘big hit trailbike with bike park inclinations’ is an effective descriptor, if a bit cumbersome. Regardless, this is a long travel bike of burly build, with perfectly capable climbing abilities despite its not so svelte girth. Speaking of which, listed weight is 36.3lbs; my scale indicates 37.5lbs for my medium example. Unfortunately, optimistic weight claims are not unexpected in this industry, but I like to be pleasantly surprised by accuracy occasionally.
A Shore Boy at Heart
Words by Jay Hoots. Photos by Margus Riga.
The North Shore is my home with the epic 3 mountains – Seymour, Fromme, Cypress – as my riding backyard! Two months a year now I live on the Sunshine Coast for the Mountain Bike Operations Course and then I spend 6 to 8 months of traveling for filming and building.
Jay Hoots honed his skills on the Shore, and now spends fair chunk of time on the Coast.
For years I have been riding for Norco working on and riding different platforms searching for the best mix between up and down, skinny riding, jumps and drops, steep rock faces with slippery roots, speed and braking… Being from the Shore I learned all the technical aspects of riding in sloppy wet, ultra slippery conditions but found that the Sunshine Coast offered fast, flowy trail with banger turns and different styles of zones, from jumps to pumps to epic XC the sunshine Coast offers an amazing array of riding opportunity with only a fraction of the rain the Shore gets.
The dark, dank Shore is a different place, but Jay seems to have found the one bike for both spots.
2012 is the best year ever for me as my new 7” Truax bicycle is the best combination of all platforms of bike allowing me to travel with only one steed that does everything! 2012 is also the year that the Shore is recognizably smoother and flowier and the Sunshine Coast now has technical rooty steep gnarly trail!
Can’t say where this film was made but if you find it it’s worth it!
Thank you to NSMBA, and all of the dedicated builders that are out there who put the hours in the dirt and have the vision and stay power to follow through with it.
I love my Bike!
Ride ON!
Jay Hoots
The April issue of Mountain Bike Action Magazine is on the shelves. This latest issue features the first ever review of the flagship Norco model, the 2011 Range SE. Additionally, this issue is the Freeride/DH buyers guide with mention of the Team DH, DH and Shore 3 models.
As a bonus, Norco Factory Team rider Sam Dueck has a spot in the mag talking about his past season and goals for 2011. Have a read through the article below for the full scoop or download the PDF Here. Or, even better yet – head over to your local newsstand and pick up a copy for yourself.
If you have taken a moment to peruse the 2011 Norco Lineup you may have thought that the intelligent people of Norco forgot how to count? How can there be a model called the Shore 2 and Shore 3 without a number 1 sitting next to it. Well, that position has been taken by the all-new Norco Truax.
Two models of the Truax are being launched and will be available as early as June 2011. The Truax Team takes top spot and the Truax 1 will sit right next to it for those a little skinnier in green. The first person to be riding the all new Truax platform is the one and only Norco Factory Team rider Jay Hoots. Jay has worked closely with Norco over his past 10 years to get the Shore line to where it is and this is the next step in its evolution.
The 2011 Norco Truax takes on the new Norco look and key functionality features such as A.R.T. suspension design, Syntace rear-axle system, tapered headtube, asymmetric stays and much more. The package is the most complete, versatile and technologically advanced freeride bike Norco has ever manufactured.
Here are a few close-up shots of the all-new frame, keep your eyes peeled though for more photos, videos and testimonials coming soon. Hoots will be the first to offer his opinion on the matter and that is only hours away so check back soon! In the meantime, check out the Truax Tech Page and the Bike Pages to learn the full scoop.
It seems that every year I purchase a new bike, that bike is faster, lighter and better looking a mere 12 months later. For 2009 I rode a Norco Fluid 1 which was probably the best All Mountain Bike I have ever owned. The bike is fast, light, versatile and can really take me down whatever I throw in its way. My fluid has seen everything from XC racing to epic enduros and even a Super D. But… Now that I have seen the 2010 models, I am like a child on Christmas Eve awaiting the arrival of the 2010 Faze SL. That will be my personal bike for 2010 as soon as it is available.
The 2010 bikes are showing clean, sleek graphics and sporting lower pricing in conjunction with CNN’s financial apocalypse coverage. Looking through the 2009 lineup you will notice a few highlights such as the integration of Carbon into the XC lineup, larger diameter seatposts for use of a Joplin and the specing products such as the Hammerschmidt, 2010 Boxxer and even the Gates Belt Drive. Here are a few highlights from the new lineup:
The 2010 Norco Team DH Features a new front triangle Sram Drivetrain, Saint Cranks and the 2010 Rockshox Boxxer Team fork. This bike is faster than ever and priced at $5780 CAN or $4750 US the bike is much more affordable than 2009. The Team DH also has a younger brother the DH coming in White and retailing at a modest $3699 CAN or $2630 US.
The Empire for 2010 comes in two different price points as well. The Empire SE is spec’d with A Marzocchi 55 TST 2, FSA Gravity Lite Bar, Stem and Crankset and Avid Elixer brakes. When it comes to a full-on slopestyle rig, the Empire is it. The SE retails for $4075 CAN or $3399 US while the Empire 5 comes in a$t 2675 CAN or $2295 US.
The Faze SE is the Pereguin Falcon of marathon bikes. 120mm of travel with a Fox 32 FRLC fork, XTR drivetrain, Raceface cranks and DT wheelset will keep you rolling for hours. Built for speed, distance and any hurdle along the way the Faze is versatile, light and most importantly fast. $5695 CAN $4825 US
The Team Carbon is a brand new carbon mold for 2010. Using HTR and EPS Technology in conjunction with Thermoplastic Mesh have come together to create Norco’s lightest mountain bike ever. Tipping the scale at 19lbs, the team carbon is outfitted with a full Sram XX groupo and Eason XC-1 wheels. The lightest and fastest Norco cross country race bike ever. If you want to know the price then you probably don’t want the bike. . .
The CRR SL brings the same Carbon technology from the Team Carbon into road world. Utilizing BB30, an integrated seat-mast and a tapered steertube, the CRR-SL is a race ready rig straight out of the box. A Sram Red drivetrain with Mavic wheels and a Ritchey cockpit keep the bike light, fast and ahead of the pack. $5695 CAN $4795 US
There are some big changes for 2010; new technology, improved parts and a few dollars saved. Prices are down and Bikes are up, check out the full lineup on the 2010 Norco website which launches Sept. 1!
The 2010 Norco product launch took place this year in our own backyard, Vancouver BC. This stellar location boasted some of the best riding in the world but also showcased Vancouver, the 2010 Olympic City!
The Launch started off at the Sheraton Wall Center where retailers, distributors and media from around the world assembled to see the new lineup for 2010. The evening kicked off with a Ryan Leech Demo. Ryan never dissapoints and with a little bit of improv-trials he even used some of the local art in the show. That was not planned . . . .
Day two of the launch involved bike presentations and a ride on Vancouver’s North Shore. Riding some of the classic trails was a real eye opener as there are not many places around the world where the riding is this good.
The third day of the launch was busy on bikes. Starting off with an Urban ride around Downtown Vancouver lead by Ryan Leech and Dylan Korba kicked it off. The bikes on the ride ranged from hybrid commuters to fixies, electric bikes to trials bikes. There was a taste of everything along the ride. Riding through the false creek area, Ryan and Dylan were on entertainment duty while the rest of us enjoyed the scenery and experienced the Cycling lanes on the Burrard St. Bridge. Way to go Vancouver on opening this up to cyclists!.
After the Urban ride and a quick lunch we headed off to Burnaby Mountain, home of Simon Fraser University for a taste of All Mountain terrain. Burnaby is a great area to ride offering a little bit of everything. It was a beautiful day, great trails, and a BBQ waiting at the end. The perfect end to a great launch.
Check out more photos of the Launch at flickr.com
See coverage of the 2010 launch and the new bikes at:
What is a better way to ring in the July 4th long weekend than by trying out some bikes? This year, after celebrating Canada day the Norco crew headed south to Blackrock Oregon for a demo day sponsored by the BRMBA. We started this demo last year and there was such a great response that not only did we return, we were joined by Giant, Kona, Felt, Diamondback, Transition, Cove, Evil, Brodie and 5-Ten. What a turnout!
The morning started out at about 9:30AM with a lineup 20 deep. By 10:00 the bikes were all out and people were smiling. The day started off in a flury and as people relayed in and out trying new bikes the general feeling was one of excitement and drooling over the bikes being ridden. With a selection of bikes featuring the Fluid LT, Empire, Vixa, Six, Shore and Aline the trails had met their match. Whether you were riding up and screaming down on the LT or hitting the gaps on the Shore, there was a bike for every person and a bike for every trail.
All day there were three trucks shuttling bikes and people up the mountain. Anyone who has ridden in Blackrock before knows that usually you are hoofing it to the top. What is usually a 1 or 2 run hill was for some people a 5 or 6 run day. Not taking advantage of the bikes, the shuttle and the company would be a mistake for anyone who could have come out but didn’t.
The day at Blackrock was probably the largest western Demo in a mountain biking environment. 2010 will undoubtedly be even bigger so mark your calender and will will we waiting for you next year.
See more photos on the Norco Bikes Flickr Page
Happy Trails,
Dustan