We hope you take the time to enjoy some Halloween treats today, and how about treating your bike to some love? We can get your two-wheeled baby all tuned up and ready to face those long winter training rides or commutes. We also have other bike goodies like cyclo-computers, lights and anything else you need to spiff up your bike! 

The Pumpkin ‘Cross Women’s B Podium: Stania Juriga (Chicks Cycling Club) 3rd, Liz Chamberlain (Local Ride) 1st, Jeanine Ball (Local Ride) 2nd.

Local Ride Racing Team 

The Local Ride Racing Team’s season is winding down. Thanks to all our dedicated racers who have made 2007 the team’s best season! The racers showed great sportsmanship and gave their all to reach their goals. We’ve seen huge improvement from our riders, plus they’ve benefited the community by acting as role models and ambassadors for the sport we love so much!  If you’re interested in racing for Local Ride in 2008, we’d love to hear from you. Please send us your cycling CV with some info on your cycling background, results, goals and how you would be an asset to our team. 

For 2008 we’d like to go bigger and better, but that naturally requires a larger budget. We’re in the process of preparing a sponsorship package and proposal that we’ll be bringing to businesses in the community. We’d love to have the local business community involved in our team and we think a partnership with Local Ride Racing would be a benefit to any business. With the huge amount of positive exposure our riders have in the community, be it on the bicycle or in the press, backing the Local Ride Racing Team is a smart choice. 

Featured Product 

This week we’re featuring LAKEN aluminum water bottles. If you’re looking for an alternative to those unhealthy plastic bottles, we have a great one! LAKEN is a Spanish company that makes aluminum water bottles in lots of sizes and with fun graphics. They’re made from extruded aluminum and the inside is coated with a food safe lining. We just got some new styles in, plus we’ll be doing a 2008 order soon. They’re great gift ideas and range from $21.50 and up. 

Weekly Specials 

This week, all of our in-stock Specialized folding MTB tires are 20% off. Come get a fresh set of knobbies for the winter, because the trails are getting slick and you want all the help you can get! 

Sunday Ride 

This week will be the first Sunday Morning Ride back on the regular schedule! The BC Cup Cyclocross race series wraps up in Coquitlam on Saturday, so it’s back to some serious winter riding.  To celebrate the return of the Sunday Morning Ride and the close of the Cyclocross season, we’re going have a rippin’ Sunday Morning ‘Cross Ride. We’re thinking of heading into Golden Ears Park and back along the Alouette River.  If you’re interested in coming on this special ride, just show up with your cyclocross bike and a sense of adventure. 

If you don’t have a cyclocross bike, but would still like to ride, show up anyway. Hopefully there will be some other roadies on hand, so you can join a group that will stick to the asphalt. We look forward seeing you! 

- Helmets and road bikes with fenders and fender extenders are mandatory.
- Make sure you have appropriate clothing.
- Also note that we sometimes get adventurous and stray from paved roads for some
cyclocross-style fun.
- Please call or come by the shop for a pre-ride briefing. 

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

Women’s Ride – NEW Day! 

Okay, now we’ve gone and done it. We are officially moving the Saturday Women’s Ride to SUNDAY. Those of you who are still riding Saturdays, that’s great! Keep it up! Just make sure you join us on Sundays too! All groups will meet for the rides at the same time and place and then re-group accordingly. See the Sunday Morning Ride info above for meeting details and recommendations.  

Women A

1. Sarah Stewart (Wedgewood)
2. Jean Ann McKirdy (Local Ride)
3. Christy Love (Ambleside)
4. Trish Sinclair (Kona)
5. Melanie Vaughn (Steed Cycles)
6. Sandra Walter (X.O-Felt)
DNF Joele Guynup (Straight Up Cycles)

Men A

1. Drew Mackenzie (Giant Bicycles Canada)
2. Tyler Trace
3. Craig Richey (Aviawest)
4. Kevin Noiles (Norco)
5. Sven Sturm (Trek-Red Truck)
6. Rob Gosselin (Mighty Riders)
7. Pascal Wehr (Treng DE)
8. Rick Rodland (FloraGLO-Norco)
9. Scott McGregor (Steed Cycles-SRAM)
10. Carsten Ivany (Natural Earth)
11. Roy McBeth (Local Ride) -1 lap
12. Jason Fluckiger (Coastal) -1 lap
DNF Joe Wessel (KC-Cobra-Opus-OGC)
DNF Tom Skinner
DNF Kevin Calhoun (Rocky Mountain)
DNF Jason Thompson (Escape Velocity)

Men B

1. Trevor Hopkins (Team Whistler)
2. Brian Griffin (Experience Cycling)
3. Patrick Backstead (Ambleside-Scott Bikes)
4. Matt Law
5. Brian Postlewaite (Escape Velocity)
6. Jeff Hanninen
7. Steve Devantier (Local Ride)
8. Ben Jackson (Escape Velocity)
9. Ryan Newsome
10. Rob Bitz (Local Ride)
11. Byron Enns (Steed Cycles)
12. Mike Berkenpas (Local Ride)
13. Nobuo Shoji
14. Ray Lachance
15. Anselmo Rossiello
16. Trevor Connor (Chris Cookies-Swan Cycles)
17. Axel Bergman (Escape Velocity)
18. Russell Stend (Escape Velocity)
19. Darrin Grund (Coastal)
20. Ryan Cousineau (Escape Velocity)
21. J.P. Baron
22. Paul Craig (Natural Earth)
23. Meshkat Javid (Mighty Riders)
24. Nicholas Cowan -1 lap
DNF Jak New
DNF Jason Lebner (Steed Cycles)

Women B

1. Liz Chamberlain (Local Ride)
2. Jeanine Ball (Local Ride)
3. Stania Juriga (Chicks Cycling Club)
4. Shera Clement (Wedgewood)
5. Sue Weston (Natural Earth)

Men C

1. Dave Chamberlain (Local Ride)
2. Dimitri Pavlakos (Edmonds Cycles)
3. Rob Kipps (Local Ride)
4. Mac McDell (Wedgewood)
5. Ian Beveridge
6. Craig Fabsiche (Overtime Sports-Bayview Apartments)
7. Andrew Kerr (Local Ride)
8. Chris Hennessey
9. Joe Purves-Smith
10. Jeff Burton
11. Ken Alger
12. Brian Wong (CVC Racing)
DNF Alan Young (Local Ride)

Kid’s Race (Alphabetical Order)

Carter Kipps
Kaelen Lyster
Maggie Lyster
Pete Whalen
Xavier Bitz

BC Cup Cyclocross #6 – Pumpkin ‘Cross presented by Local Ride Bike Shop attracted cyclists and spectators from across the province to Maple Ridge yesterday, despite the poor weather. 

Racers gave rave reviews to the 2.5km course in Maple Ridge Park that featured slick grassy sections, twisty, rooty trails, barriers, a steep run-up, off camber corners and ditch crossings.  “Now that’s ‘cross racing!” said one satisfied finisher, who couldn’t be identified because of all the mud caking his face. 

Jean Ann and Sandra with muddy smiles after the race. Photo: Dave

The event had a festival atmosphere and was geared for young and old, featuring a free kid’s race, prizes for best costumes and several categories to suit all levels of riders. The Halloween-themed race saw many participants get into the seasonal spirit by wearing silly costumes. Pumpkins adorned the course and race winners were awarded pumpkin pies. An MC was on hand, giving race commentary and dishing up some very appropriate music, like “Monster Mash” and “Thriller.” Seagulls hunting spawning salmon in the Alouette River added some extra spooky ambiance with their haunting shrieks. 

The Men’s A podium: Craig Richey (AviaWest) 3rd, Drew Mackenzie (Argon 18) 1st, Tyler Trace (La-Z-Boy) 2nd.

Some famous faces were on hand, including Austin Powers, Elvis, Batman and the Tooth Fairy. Drew Mackenzie of Victoria won the Men’s A race in which racers had to power around the course for 60 minutes. Local Ride Racing’s Roy was the top Local Ride finisher in 11^th place. Sarah Stewart, also of Victoria, won the Women’s A race. Local Ride Racing’s Jean Ann placed second. 

Check out photos from Pumpkin ‘Cross ‘07 courtesy of Alan.

In the Men’s C and Women’s B races, husband and wife Dave and Liz of Local Ride Racing, both took victory in their respective categories.  The Men’s B race was a heartbreaker for Local Ride when team rider Steve lost his solid 20-second lead due to a flat tire. Trevor Hopkins of Pemberton won the race. Steve was Local Ride’s top finisher with seventh place. Brian Griffin of Maple Ridge placed second. 

“Cross rocks!” said Steve after his race. Looks like even a downpour and a flat tire couldn’t put a damper on Pumpkin ‘Cross 2007.  Local Ride would like to thank the Municipality of Maple Ridge, Specialized Bicycles Canada, Kicking Horse Coffee, Giant Bicycles Canada, FloraGLO and the volunteers, spectators and racers who made the event possible.

The Local Ride Racing Team rolled back into town last night, after an eventful, race-filled weekend in Kamloops at the B.C. and National Cyclocross Championships. Team rider Jean Ann finished fourth in the B.C. Championships on Saturday and sixth at the National Championships on Sunday in the Elite Women’s Category. Steve pulled off some personal best results in the races, riding for the first time in the Elite Men’s field. He finished an impressive 10th in the Provincial Championship and 20th in the Nationals. He’s now more motivated than ever for the rest of his season. 

Roy was ninth in Kamloops on Saturday in the Master 30+ Men’s category, while teammate Robbie finished 18th in the race. In the National Championship race on Sunday, Roy finished 12th with Robbie 22nd.  

Graham (Natural Earth) finished 17th in the 30+ category in the provincial race and 15th in the Master Men’s 40-49 category at Nationals on Sunday. Congrats to all of you!  Thanks to all the supporters and fans who came out and cheered us on. Special thanks to Dave for the impeccable mechanical and logistical support under the Giant and Shimano tents.