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NORCO NEWS
MARCH 2007
MARCH 2007
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The Norco Team DH has been a bike that has grown with the demands of this sport. Each passing season uncovers new demands and challenges that bikes have to adapt to if they are going to compete amongst the best. The Team DH is an example of a constant work in progress, where the design has been modified to meet riders' demands year in and year out.
The 2006 bike was dialled. We spent considerable time on it here and the review scored well. As good as it was, there was room for some changes, and little seems to have been overlooked for the 2007 offering.
The Full Review on NSMB.com...
The 2006 bike was dialled. We spent considerable time on it here and the review scored well. As good as it was, there was room for some changes, and little seems to have been overlooked for the 2007 offering.
The Full Review on NSMB.com...
An exciting five kilometre prologue kicked off the 2007 Redlands Bicycle Classic and riders remained indecisive about which bike better suited the grueling circuit. (Tuft rode to the win on a 2008 prototype Norco carbon-fibre time trials frame & fork) Symmetrics' Canadian talent Svein Tuft raced to the top of the climb in a time of 9'29 over Priority Health's recently unbeatable time trialist Ben Jacques-Maynes. Climbing into third place was Jittery Joe's Cesar Grajales.
Tuft made no mistake when he rolled to the starting ramp in full-fledged time trailing gear. The Canadian arrived in Redlands fresh from an overall win at the Tour of Cuba, a 13-day stage race in February. He was also a three-time Canadian National time trial champion and placed second overall in the Tour de Beauce. "The course was the last thing I thought I'd be able to win," said Tuft. "I usually ride a flat prologue and this was hard with lots of climbing. I think it was better to conserve as much as possible until the last kilometre for the steep climb. I had a lot of energy toward the end and that was enough to do the trick. I also decided to use a time trial bike as of yesterday because I think you have to stick with whatever you feel fastest on."
Source: cyclingnews.com
Tuft made no mistake when he rolled to the starting ramp in full-fledged time trailing gear. The Canadian arrived in Redlands fresh from an overall win at the Tour of Cuba, a 13-day stage race in February. He was also a three-time Canadian National time trial champion and placed second overall in the Tour de Beauce. "The course was the last thing I thought I'd be able to win," said Tuft. "I usually ride a flat prologue and this was hard with lots of climbing. I think it was better to conserve as much as possible until the last kilometre for the steep climb. I had a lot of energy toward the end and that was enough to do the trick. I also decided to use a time trial bike as of yesterday because I think you have to stick with whatever you feel fastest on."
Source: cyclingnews.com
My coworker gets back from NZ tomorrow so it's back to three days a week. This couldn't come sooner as I've been feeling run down and training is starting to suffer. I work until May and then it's full time focus on riding. A good thing too with all the trips planned for this year.
Source: Bike Tales & Other Stuff: Kika\'s Blog
Source: Bike Tales & Other Stuff: Kika\'s Blog
Norco is big out here on the west coast of British Columbia, partly because it's a homegrown company but also because its bikes have generally proven to be solid rides that give great value to consumers. And, while the company doesn't introduce re-vamped models every year or two like many of the other manufacturers in the industry, Norco spends a good amount of time tweaking and revising its bikes each season. For 2007, Norco continues down a well trodden path, cranking out a bike lineup that looks set to give fans plenty of ways to make it up and down the mountain (and to rip along the road, if that suits your fancy).
Now that I've got the cheesy introduction out of the way, let's have a look at some of the Norco bikes that'll be out there next year.
MORE...
Now that I've got the cheesy introduction out of the way, let's have a look at some of the Norco bikes that'll be out there next year.
MORE...
Tour of Cuba....\"Why not?\" I said when I got the call from Kevin Cunningham. Kevin is the head of the Symmetrics Road Cycling Team which I have joined up with for 2007 for a little part time work. Thirteen days, 14 stages, 1850km+ of bike practice down in the sun, a unique chance to get to see Cuba while under Castro. Little did I know what was in store for me at my first banana tour experience. It was definitely like going to another world and it was my biggest break from the internet since the internet; my only communications were a few 3min calls to my wife Keri.
I think I am pretty much ready for any trip this year after just surviving the journey to the start of Tour; 3 full days travel capped off by a 15hr, 4:30am start, day just to get from one end of the island to the other. This included a flight on one very old aging Russian prop plane which had everyone just a little nervous and maybe praying a bit. We figured this was just part of the Cubans shock and awe plan to mess up and disorientate the gringos. Now give credit to the Cubans; they know how to stack the cards in there favor. First they enter about ten provincial teams, then a Cuba A squad and a Cuba B squad. And as we soon figured out these seventy or so riders are all riding for one man Pedro Pablo or \"El Diablo\". What was most impressive was the bikes a lot of these provincial guys were rolling; some of them were thrift store style, down tube shifters, hoopdy wheels, plastic BMX saddles, and even one guy was rolling with half his helmet missing. We got to know these guys well as they fought for their lives all week hacking and slashing their way to the front; it was a bit of a war.
So I can\'t really give a play by play of fourteen stages but I can kind of split the race into three parts. First there were stages that were hard because the profile was difficult. Stage one was hot as balls and hit out hard with a couple mountains after about 20km; a nice way to gently roll into the tour. Stage eight was another doozy though and maybe a bit of a disgrace at times. Very steep, very hard hills...that was unless you were Cuban. Normally you get a bit of a charity push if you are getting dropped or near the back; however in Cuba these guys had locals launching them off the front into the KOM jersey, and the yellow jersey, \"El Diablo\", had people running into the middle of the pack to launch him up, up, and away. To put it lightly I started getting a little pissed about this so whenever I saw a guy beside me getting launched I just hooked on to his jersey for a little ride. Oooh boy, they didn\'t like that too much so they started swinging at me; and then to top it off guys would come up to fake a push and then steal a water bottle off my bike and hand it to a Cuban. Real classy.
Secondly there were stages that were difficult and I suffered because I was sick. It is really amazing what the body can endure; I was in a bit of a body bag after stage 5 with a fever/cold and thought it might be all over. Somehow I continued to race and improve as the race went on; it really kind of blows the mind.
Thirdly, there were stages that were immensely painful because we were at the front flogging ourselves trying to protect Svein\'s chances for the overall. Day four was one that was clutch; a break had gotten away with \"El Diablo\" and our man Pinner who eventually got second on the stage. The break went up to 3:30 or so and probably much to the surprise of many we got on the front and throttled ourselves over the last 45km to get the gap down close to a minute. This chase revealled itself to be critical when Svein rode an absolutely incredible TT to snag the lead from \"El Diablo\" by 33 seconds on Stage 11A; which was a really ridiculous day. It was 30K TT in the morning followed by 150km stage in the afternoon which was absolutely full throttle; then just to top it off was a nice long bus ride to the hotel. We did manage to hold on to the yellow jersey over the last couple of very difficult days for what was a huge victory for Svein and Symmetrics. Everyone on the team and the staff did a great to hold things together under trying conditions at times.
My impressions of Cuba were that you could really see how beautiful the country would be with a good coat of paint; especially Habana. Cuba is much more relaxed than other Latin countries I have seen; and cleaner. They are pretty restricted with their resources and you can tell they make the most of everything. They don\'t have access to a lot of food and the rate of obesity is probably the lowest I have ever seen. The traffic is pretty minimal and moves fairly slow; probably because of an interesting law where you have to pick up people on the side of the road if you are driving a car. Imagine if it was the same everywhere and each car, pedal carriage, or horse carriage in the world was full of people; goodbye global warming.
Anyway, I am still in a bit of a cocoon trying to get healthy because I only have about a week before I head off for Argentina and the Pan Am MTB Championships. Time will tell in the bike practice in the sun paid off. Would I go again next year? You would have to ask me again next January.
Over and out,
Geoff
Source: Symmetrics Cycling
I think I am pretty much ready for any trip this year after just surviving the journey to the start of Tour; 3 full days travel capped off by a 15hr, 4:30am start, day just to get from one end of the island to the other. This included a flight on one very old aging Russian prop plane which had everyone just a little nervous and maybe praying a bit. We figured this was just part of the Cubans shock and awe plan to mess up and disorientate the gringos. Now give credit to the Cubans; they know how to stack the cards in there favor. First they enter about ten provincial teams, then a Cuba A squad and a Cuba B squad. And as we soon figured out these seventy or so riders are all riding for one man Pedro Pablo or \"El Diablo\". What was most impressive was the bikes a lot of these provincial guys were rolling; some of them were thrift store style, down tube shifters, hoopdy wheels, plastic BMX saddles, and even one guy was rolling with half his helmet missing. We got to know these guys well as they fought for their lives all week hacking and slashing their way to the front; it was a bit of a war.
So I can\'t really give a play by play of fourteen stages but I can kind of split the race into three parts. First there were stages that were hard because the profile was difficult. Stage one was hot as balls and hit out hard with a couple mountains after about 20km; a nice way to gently roll into the tour. Stage eight was another doozy though and maybe a bit of a disgrace at times. Very steep, very hard hills...that was unless you were Cuban. Normally you get a bit of a charity push if you are getting dropped or near the back; however in Cuba these guys had locals launching them off the front into the KOM jersey, and the yellow jersey, \"El Diablo\", had people running into the middle of the pack to launch him up, up, and away. To put it lightly I started getting a little pissed about this so whenever I saw a guy beside me getting launched I just hooked on to his jersey for a little ride. Oooh boy, they didn\'t like that too much so they started swinging at me; and then to top it off guys would come up to fake a push and then steal a water bottle off my bike and hand it to a Cuban. Real classy.
Secondly there were stages that were difficult and I suffered because I was sick. It is really amazing what the body can endure; I was in a bit of a body bag after stage 5 with a fever/cold and thought it might be all over. Somehow I continued to race and improve as the race went on; it really kind of blows the mind.
Thirdly, there were stages that were immensely painful because we were at the front flogging ourselves trying to protect Svein\'s chances for the overall. Day four was one that was clutch; a break had gotten away with \"El Diablo\" and our man Pinner who eventually got second on the stage. The break went up to 3:30 or so and probably much to the surprise of many we got on the front and throttled ourselves over the last 45km to get the gap down close to a minute. This chase revealled itself to be critical when Svein rode an absolutely incredible TT to snag the lead from \"El Diablo\" by 33 seconds on Stage 11A; which was a really ridiculous day. It was 30K TT in the morning followed by 150km stage in the afternoon which was absolutely full throttle; then just to top it off was a nice long bus ride to the hotel. We did manage to hold on to the yellow jersey over the last couple of very difficult days for what was a huge victory for Svein and Symmetrics. Everyone on the team and the staff did a great to hold things together under trying conditions at times.
My impressions of Cuba were that you could really see how beautiful the country would be with a good coat of paint; especially Habana. Cuba is much more relaxed than other Latin countries I have seen; and cleaner. They are pretty restricted with their resources and you can tell they make the most of everything. They don\'t have access to a lot of food and the rate of obesity is probably the lowest I have ever seen. The traffic is pretty minimal and moves fairly slow; probably because of an interesting law where you have to pick up people on the side of the road if you are driving a car. Imagine if it was the same everywhere and each car, pedal carriage, or horse carriage in the world was full of people; goodbye global warming.
Anyway, I am still in a bit of a cocoon trying to get healthy because I only have about a week before I head off for Argentina and the Pan Am MTB Championships. Time will tell in the bike practice in the sun paid off. Would I go again next year? You would have to ask me again next January.
Over and out,
Geoff
Source: Symmetrics Cycling
"I compiled this list of songs as my favourite list of warm up songs for the crew at CharityMix.com," wrote Fionn in her fionngriffiths.com blog, "I never realised this before, but have a read through all the song titles in the list below and see if you notice how relevant all of these songs are to the race run I am warming up for!"
You can purchase Fee's Warm-Up Mix and help out some great causes at the same time at: charitymix.com
Paul Oakenfold: You're Not Alone
Sarah McLaughlin: Delirium
Paul Oakenfold: Faster Kill Pussycat
Lee Cabrera: Shake It (Move a Little Closer)
Paul Oakenfold: Hypnotised
Love Inc: Broken Bones
Paul Oakenfold: Time of Your Life
Prodigy: Breathe
Nelly: Number 1
Orbital: Spin Spin Sugar
BodyRockers: I like the way you move
New Order: Confusion
Stereophonics: Superman
Paul Oakenfold: Ready Steady Go
You can purchase Fee's Warm-Up Mix and help out some great causes at the same time at: charitymix.com
Paul Oakenfold: You're Not Alone
Sarah McLaughlin: Delirium
Paul Oakenfold: Faster Kill Pussycat
Lee Cabrera: Shake It (Move a Little Closer)
Paul Oakenfold: Hypnotised
Love Inc: Broken Bones
Paul Oakenfold: Time of Your Life
Prodigy: Breathe
Nelly: Number 1
Orbital: Spin Spin Sugar
BodyRockers: I like the way you move
New Order: Confusion
Stereophonics: Superman
Paul Oakenfold: Ready Steady Go
What a great way to start the season with an historial win at the International Tour of Cuba! Svein has really made a mark for both Canada and Symmetrics Cycling with the first International Cycling Union Stage race win for a Canadian in years!
The team rode exceptionally well in Cuba and already has received many kudos from the Canadian cycling community, the Canadian Cycling Federation, and media. But before we get to that, let's see what else Canada's number one pro team has been up to!
LA Track World Cup
Symmetrics Debuts as International Track Trade Team!
In mid-January Symmetrics Cycling began its season extra early by taking five riders to Los Angeles to contest the third round of the Track World Cup. Track racing, which is a discipline of cycling that is now contested in the winter for road cyclists, has usually been reserved for specialists of the sport. But the S-Team headed down to LA with hopes of getting some international experience that will help riders try and qualify for the Olympic Games or Commonwealth Games. Half the team made its debut in international competition, and despite a few wrinkles in the racing, things look good for future events at top-level track racing.
More...
The team rode exceptionally well in Cuba and already has received many kudos from the Canadian cycling community, the Canadian Cycling Federation, and media. But before we get to that, let's see what else Canada's number one pro team has been up to!
LA Track World Cup
Symmetrics Debuts as International Track Trade Team!
In mid-January Symmetrics Cycling began its season extra early by taking five riders to Los Angeles to contest the third round of the Track World Cup. Track racing, which is a discipline of cycling that is now contested in the winter for road cyclists, has usually been reserved for specialists of the sport. But the S-Team headed down to LA with hopes of getting some international experience that will help riders try and qualify for the Olympic Games or Commonwealth Games. Half the team made its debut in international competition, and despite a few wrinkles in the racing, things look good for future events at top-level track racing.
More...
Back on the plane! Had an awesome last show today, everything clicked, my riding, announcing, and the audience; great way to finish the weekend! Thanks to both my sponsors Norco Bikes and Shimano Components who had booths beside me for all their help!
I had a chance to watch some bmx flatlanding today (on the flat ground spinning and twisting with the bike), these riders are true artists. Got me thinking about art, and how these days anyone can claim to be an artists, especially with modern art. You just need to slap some paint on canvas, use your awesome marketing skills, and be super social by mingling with the right people, and boom, you’re a sought after artist.
Not with flatlanding! Like art back in the day, when you had to apprentice for 10 years, full time, before you could even display something. With flatland, it’s similar, you have to put in your practice, more than you can imagine (I tried for a while!) no faking it!! The commitment and patience it takes to dial in these fluid flatland runs is incredible. Beautiful artwork in motion. Props.
Anyway, now I’m going to talk about planes again. On the flight from Van to ...well Ottawa, I had the very back row seat. No reclining, and a lot of flushing sounds. Now on my way home from Toronto to, well hopefully Van, I’m sitting in the very front row, kinda funny! No seat in front of you to put your feet under, so you can’t really stretch out. No seat back tray either, it’s an ‘in arm’ tray that folds out and sits at about a 15 degree angle to one side making typing this a little bit of a challenge!
So I pick up a new tow vehicle tomorrow. My VW Touareg is gone, and I’m getting a Chev Silverado Diesel pick up truck. I did a lot of research to find out which vehicle would be the most efficient and stable for towing. This seemed to be the one. Diesel engines actually emit approx. 30% less CO2 than an equivalently gas powered rig, this being the most harmful greenhouse gas. Don’t get me started on plane emission, it’s bad news.
I’ve got another corporate gig next week for the Young Presidents Organisation, then I’m off to Seattle next weekend for their Bike Expo.
Hope everyone has a fabulous week!!!
Peace,
Ryan
Source: ryanleech.com
I had a chance to watch some bmx flatlanding today (on the flat ground spinning and twisting with the bike), these riders are true artists. Got me thinking about art, and how these days anyone can claim to be an artists, especially with modern art. You just need to slap some paint on canvas, use your awesome marketing skills, and be super social by mingling with the right people, and boom, you’re a sought after artist.
Not with flatlanding! Like art back in the day, when you had to apprentice for 10 years, full time, before you could even display something. With flatland, it’s similar, you have to put in your practice, more than you can imagine (I tried for a while!) no faking it!! The commitment and patience it takes to dial in these fluid flatland runs is incredible. Beautiful artwork in motion. Props.
Anyway, now I’m going to talk about planes again. On the flight from Van to ...well Ottawa, I had the very back row seat. No reclining, and a lot of flushing sounds. Now on my way home from Toronto to, well hopefully Van, I’m sitting in the very front row, kinda funny! No seat in front of you to put your feet under, so you can’t really stretch out. No seat back tray either, it’s an ‘in arm’ tray that folds out and sits at about a 15 degree angle to one side making typing this a little bit of a challenge!
So I pick up a new tow vehicle tomorrow. My VW Touareg is gone, and I’m getting a Chev Silverado Diesel pick up truck. I did a lot of research to find out which vehicle would be the most efficient and stable for towing. This seemed to be the one. Diesel engines actually emit approx. 30% less CO2 than an equivalently gas powered rig, this being the most harmful greenhouse gas. Don’t get me started on plane emission, it’s bad news.
I’ve got another corporate gig next week for the Young Presidents Organisation, then I’m off to Seattle next weekend for their Bike Expo.
Hope everyone has a fabulous week!!!
Peace,
Ryan
Source: ryanleech.com
So my travel saga continued, but as I write this, all is good!!!
Got to the airport in Ottawa plenty early for a 10 am departure. Actually sat down in the plane at about 12:15. Took off at about 3:30. Part way through the short flight, I see a bright flash and the loudest explosion ever. Either we broke the sound barrier or something very wrong just happened! The flight attendant walked down the aisle and I stared at his eyes to see if I could see any fear. I figured we'd blown an engine or something. Couple minutes later the pilot came on and said that due to the stormy weather we'd experienced a 'static discharge', or in other words, I think we were hit by lightening.
That was a first for me, what wasn't a first was having my baggage lost. Yup. The whole plane ride I was thinking that I'll probably be able to perform at least my last scheduled show for Friday evening. But with no bike and no clothes I was out of luck. Just signed some posters instead.
Then at around 10:45 that night in the hotel room, I got a phone call from some random dude named Andrew telling me he was looking at my bike box at the airport. He'd dialed the number on the tag because he was a biking fan!!! This guy took the bike home, and delivered it to the show the next morning for me!!! Thanks buddy!!!
So I was all set, well almost all set thanks to my friend Andrew! I of course still didn't have any clothes. So I felt like a bmx'er doing my first show in jeans! My jersey was borrowed, and since it was too small, I felt like a roadie. Then since I didn't have my wireless mike (in my luggage), I felt disconected. So it was a weird day of shows for me, no announcing, show times were the same time as the biker cross right next to me, and well, it was just odd.
So back at the hotel room tonight, hung out for a while, ordered some food, dialed air canada to find out where my bag was when I noticed something I'd walked past a few times since I got back to the room, it was my bag. Sitting there with a smile. Clean underwear, a toothbrush, a fresh shirt!!! Awesome!!
So I'm looking forward to a couple good shows tomorrow!!!
Got to the airport in Ottawa plenty early for a 10 am departure. Actually sat down in the plane at about 12:15. Took off at about 3:30. Part way through the short flight, I see a bright flash and the loudest explosion ever. Either we broke the sound barrier or something very wrong just happened! The flight attendant walked down the aisle and I stared at his eyes to see if I could see any fear. I figured we'd blown an engine or something. Couple minutes later the pilot came on and said that due to the stormy weather we'd experienced a 'static discharge', or in other words, I think we were hit by lightening.
That was a first for me, what wasn't a first was having my baggage lost. Yup. The whole plane ride I was thinking that I'll probably be able to perform at least my last scheduled show for Friday evening. But with no bike and no clothes I was out of luck. Just signed some posters instead.
Then at around 10:45 that night in the hotel room, I got a phone call from some random dude named Andrew telling me he was looking at my bike box at the airport. He'd dialed the number on the tag because he was a biking fan!!! This guy took the bike home, and delivered it to the show the next morning for me!!! Thanks buddy!!!
So I was all set, well almost all set thanks to my friend Andrew! I of course still didn't have any clothes. So I felt like a bmx'er doing my first show in jeans! My jersey was borrowed, and since it was too small, I felt like a roadie. Then since I didn't have my wireless mike (in my luggage), I felt disconected. So it was a weird day of shows for me, no announcing, show times were the same time as the biker cross right next to me, and well, it was just odd.
So back at the hotel room tonight, hung out for a while, ordered some food, dialed air canada to find out where my bag was when I noticed something I'd walked past a few times since I got back to the room, it was my bag. Sitting there with a smile. Clean underwear, a toothbrush, a fresh shirt!!! Awesome!!
So I'm looking forward to a couple good shows tomorrow!!!
I’m currently trying to get to Toronto for the International Bike Show. Not having much luck though. After a 2 1/2 hour delay in the plane before taking off in Vancouver, we have just been informed that the snow conditions are so bad in Toronto that we’ve been diverted to Ottawa!! So much for setting up for my show today!
I had a great week though, had three Trials of Life school presentations around the Vancouver area, they all went really well! Combined with some local and national media coverage this week on my presentation, it gives me a lot of excitement and momentum for my Canadian tour coming up later this spring.
Just had the number 3000 opt in subscriber to my web site newsletter, thanks everyone for signing up!! I enjoy sharing my adventures and stories!!
...Sitting in a hotel room in Ottawa now, managed to get a flight to Toronto in the morning, but with 20-30 cm of snow expected here overnight, things might be a bit dicey once again!
Source: ryanleech.com
I had a great week though, had three Trials of Life school presentations around the Vancouver area, they all went really well! Combined with some local and national media coverage this week on my presentation, it gives me a lot of excitement and momentum for my Canadian tour coming up later this spring.
Just had the number 3000 opt in subscriber to my web site newsletter, thanks everyone for signing up!! I enjoy sharing my adventures and stories!!
...Sitting in a hotel room in Ottawa now, managed to get a flight to Toronto in the morning, but with 20-30 cm of snow expected here overnight, things might be a bit dicey once again!
Source: ryanleech.com