John T. Memorial Road Race

For most of us this week brings rest and relaxation – the true meaning of Summer Holidays. But while some of us are looking forward to the beach, let’s not forget those who are pushing their bodies to the ultimate in endurance. The husband & wife teams of Mike & Kristin Kopec (total time after 3 days 11:41:03) and Ronan & Sandra Garnier (13:59:57) are doing a great job in the week long BC Bike Race in Canada. They are 6^th and 17^th in the Team Mixed Category while and Mother/Son Team of Lesley and Harry Reed are in 24^th (19:09:44). St. Maarten’s fastest pharmacist, Dick Luttekes, and his team mate Gary Howkins, are also having a great race as they finished up their three days in 8^th place in a total time of 11:44:53. Angel Gioia, from the Blue Mall, is tackling the BC race as a solo rider and sits in 21^st position in his category in a total time of 14:07:40.
You can find the daily stage results at www.bcbikerace.com. Speaking of great accomplishments, our Tri-Sport Beach Volley Ball Team, consisting of Olivier Inguenaud, Romain Layour, Mel Hunt and Colette, finished in 3^rd place overall. Well done guys & gals! Thanks to Karakter Restaurant & Bar for making this event such a great success! Next year we’ll be back!Another beautiful day was had by the paddlers who took part in Sunday’s 3^rd Series Kayak Race by FIAC. The 16Km paddle to Taloula Mango in Philipsburg and back to Kim Sha was spectacular with the ocean bottom being visible all the way to the finish. Congrats to Juan Pablo Piscione and Grace Spencer who won the overall race. You can see the results at www.trisportsxm.com This weekend is relatively quiet unless you are a road cyclist, in which case you will most likely be taking part in the prestigious John T. Memorial Race in Anguilla on Saturday and Sunday. This two-day stage race attracts riders from around the Caribbean and promises a fun filled weekend with a Time Trial on Saturday and a 138Km Road Race on Sunday. More info follows below in this week’s schedule. Don’t forget these great Summer Camps to get your kids healthy and out of the house, check out a few of our favorites for all ages: · Romain & Anthony’s Kids Fitness Camps, from 9am to 12pm and from 2pm to 5pm at Kim Sha Beach in July. Costs are $20 for half days. Kids will kayak, play soccer, swim, volley ball, and a host of other great fitness activities – call Romain at 586-2825· The Tutor Room II Science Camps, July 20^th to July 24^th and July 27^th to July 31^st – Kids learn about How Things Work, conduct Hands On Experiments and Simulations as well as Make Things Fly! $100 form 1pm to 3pm – call Alison at 586-1250· Marci’s Pre Teen and Teen Fitness Program, from June 15^th to September 15^th, Dance Classes, Meal Planning, Cardio & Fitness Classes – call Marci at 545-5616

News, Race | Comments Off

ENNIA KIDS BIKE RACE A GREAT SUCCESS!

Hi Everyone,

We are so proud of all of the kids who took part in Sunday’s Ennia’s Kids Bike Race. Le Galion Beach was a hit and we hope to keep the future Kids events here as the trails were just that much more challenging for the older cyclists while being safe and easy enough for the younger competitors. We will post the results and some more photos on the site this week! Next Kids event is this Sunday after the Boardwalk Triathlon – a 2Km run for the young athletes along the Boardwalk at 10:00am after we have finished our race. Speaking of the Boardwalk Triathlon!!! Do not miss this great event. The 3^rd annual Sprint and Olympic Triathlon is sure to be a hit with a new course, incredible breakfast from Taloula Mango and wonderful prizes from Diamonds International. Read on below for more info! CONGRATS TO DICK LUTTECKES AND MARK MAIDWELL who represented Tri-Sport in the A+ category in last Sunday’s annual King of the Hill Road Race. This tough, grueling 40 something Km road bike event finished at the top of “Cake House Hill” in Colebay and it was truly a site to behold! Great job to the organizers on keeping this event alive! With so many international riders taking part in the Elite Category, it has continued to grow. Next year will be the last in this 5-year event, so start training now!

NEW AT TRI-SPORT THIS WEEK:

New Shipment of ZOOT Triathlon Shoes just in time for the Boardwalk Tri! Many new ’09 Models!

Men’s ’09 Ultra Race 2.0 $150

Men’s ’09 Ultra Tempo+ 2.0 $135
Men’s Advantage - $110
Women’s new Ultra Race 2.0 $150
Women’s Advantage $110

Hot new Zoot Triathlon & Running Clothing

UPCOMING EVENTS ON SXM:

June 12^th – Family Fun Group Run in Mullet Bay 5:30pm
June 14^th – St. Rose Kayak Race
June 21^st – Tri-Sport’s Team Time Trial – grab your partner and compete in a 25Km Road Ride
June 28^th – FIAC’s Series Kayak Race

COOL EVENTS AROUND THE CARIBBEAN

May 30^th – Toyota Rainbow Cup International Triathlon in Tobago http://www.rainbowtri.com/RAINBOWCUP/WEB/welcome.htm
June 20^th and 21^st – Two-Day Stage Road Bike Race in Grenada
August 16^th – Rainbow Duathlon & 4K Fun Run in Trinidad http://www.rainbowtri.com/web/events.htm
November 29^th – Nevis Off Road Triathlon, Sprint & Olympic

Race | Be first to Comment »

One Opening

Bicycle Mechanic:

We are looking for mechanics with shop or team experience and are used to working with hydraulic disc systems and suspension.

Great salary and benefits! Oh yeah, and you have to be a cyclist! And have a great sense of humour!

Jobs | Be first to Comment »

Important Tips for Cyclists

These are mostly old tips, but they may benefit some of the new cyclists out on St. Maarten’s streets, and we can all use a reminder from time to time.

Wax your bike a couple times a year with paste car wax. Makes it much easier to keep clean and it protects the finish. (DON’T wax the wheel rims.)

You can use your leaf blower to dry your bike after you wash it. Works especially good in those hard to get to places and on the bar tape.

You can get your bike really clean in a car wash, but the high-pressure spray can also wash all the grease out of the bearings. Even some “sealed bearings” can be damaged by car wash spray and most of them can’t be rebuilt. Better to wash the bike at home with a bucket of water and a sponge or rag. Rinse with a gentle stream from the garden hose.

Coat your tubes with baby powder by putting the tube inside a bag with some powder and shaking. Also put some inside your tire casings and turn them round and round to distribute the powder. It well worth the effort–makes changing a flat about 50 times easier and it could prolong the life of your tubes. Powder all new tubes and put them inside zip-lock bags. Then they’re ready for use or to put in your seat pack.

The links of a bike chain are exactly one inch long, but chains stretch as they wear. To determine if a chain is worn out, hold a ruler up to the chain and line up the zero mark with the center of one of the link pins. Then look down at the 12-inch mark. If the link down there is 1/8 inch or more past the 12-inch mark, it’s time to replace the chain.

If you put on a new chain and begin to experience shifting problems, drive train noise or chain skipping, it’s a sure bet your cog set is worn out. Yup, you gotta replace the cogs too.

Keep a thick, short rubber band on the bike to use as parking brake. Put the band around the left brake lever to lock the front wheel when you lean the bike against a wall or post. This is remarkably effective in keeping the bike from rolling and falling, especially in the Oklahoma wind. A cross section of mountain bike innertube makes a great rubber band and will last much longer than the office variety.

A plastic shower cap is just the thing to keep the saddle dry when your bike has to be out over night (as on a weekend camp-out tour). Want a free one? Check around the hotel room next time you spend a night away from home. They often have them in the toiletries basket. The elastic in most shower caps will even keep them in place while the bike is transported in the back of your truck or on the roof or trunk rack.

Do you hear a squeaking sound coming from the vicinity of your pedals? Try spraying the bottom of your shoes in the area around the cleats with Armor All and let it dry over night. Bonus: if some of the Armor All rubs off on the carpet, it’s actually good for it. J

. It’s much easier to get a patch to stay on the tube if you clean the area with lacquer thinner AND use the little piece of sandpaper that comes in the patch kit to rough up the surface of the tube. Then apply glue to the tube AND the patch and let it dry until it looks dull before applying the patch. Also, don’t even try to patch a tube when it’s raining or foggy out. The humidity makes it nearly impossible to get the glue to stick. CAUTION: lacquer thinner and rubber cement produce noxious fumes. ALWAYS work in a well ventilated area. Click here for more info on patching.

Bikes, Tip of the week | Be first to Comment »