Saturday saw Local Ride Racing’s Steve and Robbie on the start line of the BC Cyclocross Championhips/BC Cup Cyclocross Series Finals. Steve placed 13th in the Men’s B race and top 20 overall in the series after completing only three of six events. When asked if he’s planning on racing more ‘cross next year, he replied: “Oh yeah, definitely. I want to get myself a Giant TCX ‘cross bike!” He’ll be raring to go at Local Ride’s inaugeral ‘cross race in October 2007. Stay tuned for more news in the upcoming months. Sandra delivered when it counted most. She raced somethin’ fierce, passing two women on the last lap and securing fourth place in a competitive Women’s A field at the Provincial Championships and third overall in the BC Cup Series.

Seven riders showed up on Sunday morning at the Valley Fair Mall Starbucks to take part in a solid road ride before the rain rolled in. The A Group hammered on the flats of Pitt Meadows and topped it all off with a leg-tearing assault of the Gun Club Climb near Golden Eagle Golf Club, which has grades of up to 26%. The B Group took things a little easier, cruising at a more leisurely pace and taking time to enjoy the scenery.

Weekly Specials
We’re extending our sale on Blackburn pumps this week. That’s 20% off the regular price of all in-stock AirStik, Shorty Comp and frame pump models. Our in-stock Maxxis XC tires are still 60% off , in-stock Fox and Sombio items are 70% off, and the 15% discount on all in-stock Bell and Giro helmets (excluding Bellistic model) still stands. That’s just spooky!

Featured Products
“It’s so pretty,” said Sandra when she first laid eyes on Specialized’s new Air Tool Pro floor pump. At $103.95, it’s the chrome Cadillac of floor pumps, and reaches top pressures of 160 psi. Its sleek cast aluminum base and barrel and Body Geometry inspired handle allow you to easily pump tire after tire without irritating that Carpal Tunnel Syndrome. You’re welcome to come by and have an ogle this beauty.

If the Air Tool Pro is a little more luxury than you’re looking for, check out the Air Tool Comp for $79.95. We have the aluminum barrelled Comp in stock with two colours to choose from: red and silver. Its oversized gauge (for easy viewing) will also take your tires up to 160 psi.

Local Ride Racing Team
Local Ride’s racing team will take a break from competing this weekend, to train and focus for the National Cyclocross Championships in Nanaimo, November 11. Canada’s top ‘cross racers will duke it out for the title, the jersey and the glory in the birthplace of the ever-so-tasty Nanaimo bar. Racers will be treated to one heck of a course, which includes a gallop through a barn and jaunt on a BMX course. Robbie and Sandra are the only Local Riders able to compete, as it’s a Championship category only event. The following day, however, hosts a Vancouver Island Cyclocross Series event in nearby Parksville, which is open to all categories. Are the rest of you coming or what?

Look for the Local Ride Racing Team at these upcoming events:
* Northwest ‘Cross Series, Bellingham, WA, November 5
* Canadian National Cyclocross Championships, Nanaimo, November 11
* Vancouver Island Cyclocross Series #3, Parksville, November 12
* Northwest ‘Cross Series, Bellingham, WA, November 25

Sunday Rides
Join us for a great group road ride every Sunday with a cool band of cyclists. Sandra’s planning on coming out this weekend, so be nice! Depending on numbers, we’ll try to split into an “A” and “B” group. The “A” Group normally averages around 30kph for 3+ hours, while the “B” Group hovers around 25kph for 2+ hours. If you’re unsure whether you fit into one of our groups, come along for a flat, half-hour warm-up. Road bikes are highly recommended and as the rain rolls in, we’re making fenders mandatory, unless you’re content to ride at the back of the pack. Feel free to call us if you have any questions. Make sure you join us for coffee before we head off:

Where: Starbuck’s at Valley Fair Mall, Lougheed Hwy., Maple Ridge
When: Sundays @ 8:30 a.m. for coffee; ETD @ 9:00 a.m.

Fall Hours
10-6 Monday-Thursday
10-7 Friday
10-6 Saturday
CLOSED Sunday

Happy Halloween and be safe out there!

This weekend, Maple Ridge cyclists proved themselves to be a goldmine of hidden riding talent at the Vanier Park Cyclocross Race, Kona IronMan Triathlon and the famous Sunday Morning Ride. Barry threw it down at Vanier Park on Saturday, placing third in the Men’s C race of the Giant Cyclocross Series, event #5, while new Local Ride Racing team member Jeanine Ball (honourary Maple Ridger) finished fourth in the Women’s B category.

We’re also very proud of resident triathletes Liz Hatch and Sue Akenhead, who hammered out some solid times in Kona, Hawaii’s IronMan World Championships on Saturday. Congrats! Plus, our Sunday Morning Ride drew eight cyclists out of their beds on a beautiful autumn day, with first-time participants Mark Bunce and Greg Elias showing some prowess on two wheels. Kudos also to Local Ride’s Robbie, Paul and Sandra, who fought hard in Saturday’s challenging ‘cross race.

Weekly Specials
Blackburn mini pumps are the special of the week at 20% off the regular price of all in-stock models. We’re also extending our sale on in-stock Maxxis XC tires at 60% off and all in-stock Fox or Sombio items at a whopping 70% off. Plus, the 15% discount on all in-stock Bell and Giro helmets (excluding Bellistic model) still applies!

Featured Products
We’ll help you keep your fingers warm this rainy season with BBB’s AquaShield winter gloves. These babies feature a Eurotex layer made of tough polyeurethane that stops cold air and water, but still lets your hands breathe. They’re lightweight, all-condition gloves that perform under extreme conditions, and we have them in-stock for $62.95 in a range of sizes from small to x-large.

Local Ride Racing Team
Local Ride’s racing team is getting primed for next weekend’s double points BC Cyclocross Championships at Jericho Beach in Vancouver. Steve is shooting to conserve his top-15 series placing in the Men’s B Category and beat his PB fourth-place result from the West Point Grey event last month, Robbie’s eyeing the podium too, while Barry’s aiming for top honours in the Men’s C race. Sandra has a good chance for a top-three placing overall in the Women’s A series. Come on out and join us as we get dirty at Jericho. We need all the help we can get!

Look for the Local Ride Racing Team at these upcoming events:
* Giant Cyclocross Series, event #6, B.C. Championships, Vancouver, October 28
* Canadian National Cyclocross Championships, Nanaimo, November 11
* Northwest ‘Cross Series, Bellingham, WA, November 5
* Northwest ‘Cross Series, Bellingham, WA, November 25

Sunday Rides
Join us for a quality group road ride every Sunday with a great group of cyclists. Depending on numbers, we’ll try to split into an “A” and “B” group. The “A” Group normally averages around 30kph for 3+ hours, while the “B” Group averages around 25kph for 2+ hours. If you’re unsure whether you fit into one of our groups, tag along for a flat, half-hour warm-up. Road bikes are highly recommended and as the rain rolls in, we’re making fenders mandatory, unless you’re content to ride at the back of the group. Make sure you join us for coffee before we head off:

Where: Starbuck’s at Valley Fair Mall, Lougheed Hwy., Maple Ridge
When: Sundays @ 8:30 a.m. for coffee; ETD @ 9:00 a.m.

Fall Hours
10-6 Monday-Thursday
10-7 Friday
10-6 Saturday
CLOSED Sunday

Happy Biking,

Barry, Dave, Steve, Brian, Sandra and Tanya! And you may see a new face around the shop. That’d be Andrew, who’s picking up some of the slack around here. Glad to have you on board, buddy!

The rain put a little bit of a damper on things for the Sunday Morning Ride, but Steve was out there and ready to pedal. Miserable weather doesn’t stop us from riding and it shouldn’t stop you. Luckily, the sun is expected to shine strong this coming weekend, so no excuses! There’s another cyclocross race in Vancouver this Saturday. Look for Local Ride Racing team members, Robbie and Barry (for his inaugeral ‘cross race), staffer Sandra and Local Ride buddies Paul and Sue will be on course too.

Weekly Specials
It almost seems like everything’s on sale! We’re extending last week’s blow-out prices on in-stock Maxxis XC tires at 60% off and all in-stock Fox or Sombio items at a whopping 70% off. Plus, we’re marking down all in-stock Bell and Giro helmets excluding Bellistic model) by 15%!

Featured Products
Looking for a solution for the days you want a great workout, but you just can’t force yourself out into the wet, cold and dark. We have the solution! This week, we’re featuring Giant stationary trainers, including the rock-solid Cyclotron Mag and the new Cyclotron Auto. Stationary trainers allow you to turn almost any standard bicycle into a stationary bicycle.

The Cyclotron Mag features magnetic resistance with six levels and a handlebar-mounted remote adjuster. It folds for easy storage and in-stock at Local Ride for $230.95. The Cyclotron Auto is the latest addition to the Giant stationary trainer line. It features state-of-the-art magnetic resistance to provide the most realistic training experience available. The durable Cyclotron Auto is designed to provide season after season of automatic resistance workouts. We have it in-stock for $299.95.

Local Ride Racing Team
Local Ride’s racing team was pretty quiet last weekend, resting up for the many ‘cross-filled weekends to come. Sandra was ripping it up in Delta, however, finishing fourth in the Women’s A category of the Giant Cyclocross Series Race #4. Paul and Sue were also exhibiting their die-hard spirit, finishing 29th and fourth in the Men’s and Women’s B races, respectively.

Look for the Local Ride Racing Team at these upcoming events:
* Giant Cyclocross Series, event #5, Vanier Park, October 21
* Giant Cyclocross Series, event #6, B.C. Championships, Vancouver, October 28
* Canadian National Cyclocross Championships, Nanaimo, November 11

Sunday Rides
Come on out for a quality group road ride every Sunday with a bunch of fun folks. Depending on numbers, we’ll try to split into an “A” and “B” group. The “A” Group normally averages around 30kph for 3+ hours, while the “B” Group averages around 25kph for 2+ hours. If you’re unsure whether you fit into one of our groups, join us for our flat, half-hour warm-up. Road bikes are highly recommended and as the rain rolls in, we’re making fenders mandatory, unless you’re content to ride at the back of the group. Make sure you come for coffee before we head off:

Where: Starbuck’s at Valley Fair Mall, Lougheed Hwy., Maple Ridge
When: Sundays @ 8:30 a.m. for coffee; ETD @ 9:00 a.m.

Fall Hours
10-6 Monday-Thursday
10-7 Friday
10-6 Saturday
CLOSED Sunday

Barry, Dave, Steve, Brian, Sandra and Tanya!

We hope you had a fantastic, sunny Thanksgiving long weekend. We’re also hoping you were able to get out for a good bike ride or two. Once again, the Local Ride colours were flying proudly on the shoulders of our team at Saturday’s Giant Cyclocross Series Race #3 in White Rock. The following day, three brave souls faced a rainy Sunday morning ride. Barry, Roy and Mark (Our most consistent rider — he should receive an award for attendance!) made it a social ride on the dikes and worked up their appetites for turkey dinner.

Brad’s goin’ to Cow Town
Local Ride’s mechanic extraordinaire and all-round cool guy, Brad, is leaving Maple Ridge to find his fortune in Calgary. We wish him lots of luck and offer him a standing invitation to come back and join us regularly for a ride! Thanks for your huge contribution you’ve made to Local Ride. You’ve helped make it the great shop that it is. We’ll miss ya, buddy!

Weekly Specials
We have lots of good reasons for you to stop by! All in-stock Sugoi shorts are 20% off, in-stock Maxxis XC tires are 60% off, and all in-stock Fox or Sombio items are a whopping 70% off. These smoking deals are on through Monday, October 16th only, so hurry over.

Featured Products
We’re featuring two road wheelsets this week. At a mere 1419 grams per pair, the Easton Ascent II is the wheel of choice for racers and triathletes. Elliptical profile spokes enhance the aero advantage. If climbing, sprinting and race-winning performance are your goals, then Ascent II is your weapon of choice. These speedy wheels are regularly priced at $1299.95, but we have them priced to clear for $949.95.

The Mavic Cosmic Elite road wheelset is a quality pair of hoops. At 1900 grams, they’re still great for on the race course, but also strong and durable enough to use for training. Regular $795.95, we have them on for $699.95.

Local Ride Racing Team
Local Ride’s Roy McBeth rode to victory in his first-ever cyclocross race on Saturday, when he won the Men’s C category on a fast, rolling course in White Rock’s Crescent Park. The team’s Gord Cooper finished ninth, in what was also his first cyclocross experience. Robbie Bitz and Paul Craig finished 27th and 30th respecitvely in the Men’s B event and Local Ride staffer Sandra Walter was sixth in the Women’s A competition.

Look for the Local Ride Racing Team at these upcoming events:
* Giant Cyclocross Series, event #4, Delta, October 14
* Giant Cyclocross Series, event #5, Vanier Park, October 21
* Giant Cyclocross Series, event #6, B.C. Championships, Vancouver, October 28
* Canadian National Cyclocross Championships, Nanaimo, November 11

Sunday Rides
Come on out for a quality group road ride every Sunday with a bunch of fun folks. Depending on numbers, we’ll try to split into an “A” and “B” group. The “A” Group normally averages around 30kph for 3+ hours, while the “B” Group averages around 25kph for 2+ hours. If you’re unsure whether you fit into one of our groups, join us for our flat, half-hour warm-up. Road bikes are highly recommended and as the rain rolls in, we’re making fenders mandatory, unless you’re content to ride at the back of the group. Make sure you come for coffee before we head off:

Where: Starbuck’s at Valley Fair Mall, Lougheed Hwy., Maple Ridge
When: Sundays @ 8:30 a.m. for coffee; ETD @ 9:00 a.m.

Fall Hours
10-6 Monday-Thursday
10-7 Friday
10-6 Saturday
CLOSED Sunday

Barry, Brad, Dave, Steve, Brian, Sandra and Tanya!