March 19/03 7:28 am - Fireman Jim, Ontario 12/24 Hour, Bicycle Exhibit, Sea Otter Freeriders

Posted by Editor on 03/19/03
 

Congratulations Jim!
Courtesy Erick Oland.

Jim Fisher, ex Kilo Champ, and Canada's rep at Olympic Games, Comonwealth Games, Pan Am Games, World Championships, World Cups, has just graduated into the Calgary Fire Department with special honors.


Ontario Museum Bicycle Exhibit

"The County Bicycle Shop" is a travelling exhibit created by the Bruce County Museum and cycling collector Glen Norcliffe. It opens at the Wellington County Museum March 31 and runs until June 15. In the exhibit are two dozen examples of bicycles and tricycles ranging in date from the 1870s to the 1950s. There is also related accessories and ephemera (bells, whistles, a bicycle camera, lanterns) dating back to when the bicycle first appeared in Canada in 1869.

The Museum is located on Wellington Road 18 between Fergus and Elora. Hours of operation: 9-4:30pm weekdays; 1-5pm on weekends. Adult admission: $3.00. Senior/student admission: $2.00.


12/24 Hours of Beachburg MTB Relay - Ontario

12/24 Hours of Beachburg MTB Relay taking place May 24th and 25th at Wilderness Tours Beachburg Ontario.

Located just 60 minutes NW of Ottawa Wilderness Tours offers one of the best venues for relay events in Canada.

Go to www.racenow.ca for information or online registration.


Broadmark Capital Cycling Team 2003 Roster

The Broadmark Capital Cycling Team has announced its new elite team roster for 2003. After developing five riders into professionals over the past two seasons, elite amateur Broadmark Capital squad is now in a true rebuilding year. Team Director Ethan Meginnes stated, "We had dreams of jumping to Division 3 status last year. With all of the new professional teams, and the slumping economy, we are surprisingly glad to continue as one of the true development teams in the nation". The team, however, is still talent driven and as young as ever with only one rider older then twenty-three.

The team expects at least two of the following members to become professionals by the end of 2003. The team is ecstatic to bring back 19-year-old Cam Evans (Delta, BC) who had a terrific 11th place finish in the toughest of the national level criteriums at the 2002 Nature Valley Grand Prix. Evan Elken (Portland, OR) who exemplified both consistency and teamwork in 2002 has been promoted from Broadmark Capital's regional club program for 2003. The team has also added three new riders to take the place of its professional alumni in 2003, Doug Ollerenshaw, Calvin Allen and Tyler Thompson.

The team is very thankful to have the continued support of all of its sponsors. Seattle based Broadmark Capital is now in its fourth year of title sponsorship.Supporting sponsors for 2003 will include Carter VW-Saab, LemonMD, BikeCafe.net and Recycled Cycles. "Carter VW-Saab has been super supportive of us with a van for the team to use throughout the season," noted Terry Buchanan, Team Manger. The team is also happy to announce continued support for 2003 from Giant Bicycles, Smith Sport Optics, Marker, Time Sports International, Squadra, Ritchey, Giro, Thule, SKS, and Sports Instruments with the addition of Enervit, Selle San Marco and Profile Design.

Terry Buchanan
President
Broadmark Capital Cycling Team


Sea Otter Builds Confidence with "MTB Ride Zone"

MONTEREY, Calif. (March 18, 2003) - The Sea Otter Classic, powered by SRAM will literally build on the success of last year's freeriding park with the creation of the MTB Ride Zone in the infield at Laguna Seca.

The most noticeable component of the MTB Ride Zone will be the massive roller coaster ramp used by Dangerous Dan and the Flowriders. But this year's MTB Ride Zone will be user-friendly. Instead of "How do they do that?", the desired response will be "Anybody can do that!"

The MTB Ride Zone is essentially a playground offering jumps, berms, a mini mountain cross course, bridges, and a multi-tiered drop that teaches riders how to jump down from heights of one to six feet.

"Freeriding means different things to a lot of different people. We see tremendous potential in applying downhill, trials, and BMX skills to general trail riding," said Frank Yohannan, president and CEO of the Sea Otter Classic. "By promoting the MTB Ride Zone, the Sea Otter is, if you'll pardon the pun, ramping up the entire skill sets of the mountain bike community."

"It's really a big skills camp," said MTB Ride Zone Director Joey Hayes, who designed and developed the Zone. "You can't ride in the North Shore or at a place like Whistler without these basic skills. It's also great for street riding."

The fenced area will feature perhaps the finest faculty of British Columbian freeriders ever assembled for clinics that can improve the skills of the most timid mountain biker. Rocky Mountain's "North Shore" pioneers Richie Schley, Wade Simmons, and their protégé, Thomas Vanderham, and other poster pros will conduct beginner clinics.

"Our supporting the Sea Otter Festival, which caters to enthusiasts of all levels, is an attempt to share this North Shore 'Everyone Can Do It' mentality. In a place where the concept is a bit new, all the folks have seen are the photos of guys like Wade (Simmons), Thomas (Vanderham) and Richie (Schley) at the very highest level," said Lesley Tomlinson, a two-time Canadian Olympian and reigning World 24-Hour Solo Champion who doubles riding with media duties for Team Rocky Mountain. "They got there by starting with basic skills being learned and a group of riders challenging themselves and each other as they pushed the bar higher and higher."

There will be three clinics offered each day during the Sea Otter. Each pro will have just five riders per session. Participation is on a first-come, first-serve basis for each day.

Registration opens at 8 a.m., with clinics held at 11 a.m., 1 p.m., and 3:30 p.m. There will be breaks in the clinics each day for Dangerous Dan and the Flow Show, an amazing demonstration of skill.

"The MTB Ride Zone gets away from the concept of freeriding, but does allow riders to work on skills that will be employed in interpretation of open terrain, which is more what freeriding is about," said Tomlinson. "The skills for jumping, wheelie dropping, flowing on terrain, working the terrain, incorporating primarily natural as opposed to man-made obstacles, can all be learned and practiced in the Zone before they are taken 'out of the box'."

The $20 fee for the park covers admission for all four days, and all pro-led clinics are free. Specialized Epic test riders may enter free of charge, but must register at the entrance to the area. Practically any bike can be used. Helmets are required. Gloves, shin guards, and body armor are suggested and available from vendors in the expo. Flat pedals are strongly recommended.