July 2/04 8:41 am - North Shore News Mountain Bike Gear Swap, World Mountain Bike Festival & Conference Update

Posted by Editoress on 07/2/04
 

North Shore News Mountain Bike Gear Swap July 18th

North Vancouver, BC - Every mountain biker has some outgrown or unused bike gear cluttering up their basement. And the cost of new bikes and equipment for growing families can be a challenge. The North Shore News Mountain Bike Gear Swap will bring buyers and sellers together to swap quality, used bikes and gear on Sunday, July 18 at Lynn Valley Centre (1199 Lynn Valley Road) in North Vancouver from 9am - 2pm.

Mirroring the popular ski and snowboard swaps, the North Shore News Mountain Bike Gear Swap will consign quality mountain bike equipment in clean, working condition with net proceeds going to the Northshore Mountainbike Events Society to assist with programs for responsible and sustainable mountain biking. The event will also feature a mountain bike expo, activities for the kids, merchandise booths, and mountain bike demos.

Sellers can bring their bikes, frames, bike accessories and tools, safety equipment, clothing, racks and bike components to the Gear Drop Off at Lynn Valley Centre on the following days:
Thursday, July 15 - 5:00pm to 9:00pm
Friday, July 16 - 3:00pm to 9:00pm
Saturday, July 17 - 12:00pm to 6:00pm

Gear will not be accepted for drop off on the day of the Swap, Sunday, July 18. A $2 registration fee will be charged per item and a 15% service charge will be applied to all items sold. Sellers get to set the price for their equipment and volunteer staff will be on hand to assist with rates and pricing. Anyone wishing to sell a bike or bike frame valued at over $500 will be required to present one picture ID and one secondary ID at the time of drop-off.

Then it's time for the buyers to cash in on the deals! The North Shore News Mountain Bike Gear Swap is ideal for someone wanting to get started in the sport, but isn't sure whether they want to spend all the money on a brand new bike. Or, the family who keeps outgrowing bikes each year! But it's not just for the novice. Bike upgrades, hard to find components, bike tools and equipment, and replacement items will all be available. Buyers should note that items can be purchased as cash sales only. Admission to the swap is $1.

Immediately following the Gear Swap on Sunday, sellers can collect their consignment earnings, or unsold gear, between 2pm and 5pm. Any gear that is not reclaimed by 5:00pm will be donated to local charities.

"This event really promotes a sense of community and the responsible re-use of mountain bike equipment," explains Malcolm McLaws, Director, Northshore Mountainbike Events Society and Gear Swap Coordinator. "We talk about taking care of our trails and outdoor spaces, but part of sustaining of our environment means recycling equipment as well. We hope it encourages people to take a look at what they might have just taking up space in their basement that someone else could still get a lot of use from."

The North Shore is home to a thriving mountain bike industry. Bike retailers and manufacturers will all be on hand at the Gear Swap to answer questions about their latest and greatest products while some of the best up and coming mountain bike talents will entertain with demos at points during the day. The festival atmosphere is topped off with a bouncy slide, Euro Bungee and a giant bouncy room for the kids.

The North Shore News Mountain Bike Gear Swap is part of The North Shore Credit Union World Mountain Bike Festival & Conference, an initiative of the North Shore Mountain Bike Events Society. NSMBES is a not-for-profit organization established to guide dialogue and solutions for responsible and sustainable mountain biking on the North Shore. The Society also works to develop and implement guidelines and procedures with municipalities outside the North Shore for sustainable management of this important resource in the world. www.nsmbfc.com


Industry Experts Come To The North Shore To Discuss Mountain Biking And Sustainability

North Vancouver, BC - When you say "The Shore" anywhere in the world these days, people know you're talking about Vancouver's North Shore∑and that you're talking about mountain biking. This summer will see the North Shore Credit Union World Mountain Bike Conference taking important steps in addressing environmental, social and economic sustainability issues of mountain biking. Registration for the Conference has already been received from across Canada and the US and from as far away as Australia.

Mountain biking has been steadily gaining popularity, sending an unprecedented number of riders into natural urban areas and the backcountry. The North Shore is known world wide as a leading region for the sport both competitively and recreationally. As such, the first annual conference will be held on the North Shore with an agenda to open dialogue. Sessions will address the opportunities and the challenges that have evolved for land managers, risk managers, planners, designers, bikers and trail users alike.

All sessions will take place at Capilano College and will be led by speakers from a wide range of backgrounds and expertise from across North America. Speakers include Rob McSkimming, Manager, Whistler Intrawest Bike Park; Donald Weir, Consultant and author of A Guide to the Impacts of Non-Motorized Trail Use; David Hay, RBS Lawyers; Doug Detwiller, Founder of Sprockids; and Terry Heslin, US Bureau of Land Management National Trails and Travel Management Team Chair. The Conference is endorsed by the City and the District of North Vancouver, the District of West Vancouver, and the GVRD.

The conference sessions are preceded on Tuesday August 17 with interpretive guided trail hikes where delegates will get the opportunity to experience first hand the legendary trails of the North Shore and the building design and techniques used.

On Wednesday, August 18, the focus will be on Environmental Sustainability with sessions on Planning; Assessing Environment Impact; Design and Planning; and Trail Stewardship, Construction and Maintenance.

Thursday, August 19 will examine Social Sustainability with delegates discussing Risk Management, Public Safety and Liability; Volunteerism and Partnerships in Community; Code of Conduct and User Conflicts as well as Youth Outreach, Skills and Development.

The final day of the Conference, Friday, August 20, will take a look at Economic Sustainability. Sessions will include Community Economic Impact; Trends, Marketing and Corporate Social Responsibility; and Financial Strategies to Fund Recreation Vision.

The North Shore Credit Union World Mountain Bike Festival & Conference is an initiative of the North Shore Mountain Bike Events Society, a not-for-profit organization established to guide dialogue and solutions for responsible and sustainable mountain biking on the North Shore. The Society also works to develop and implement guidelines and procedures with municipalities outside the North Shore for sustainable management of this important resource in the world. www.nsmbfc.com