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NEWS & EVENTS
Sponsorship Opportunities
Aaron Hodgkin at the 2011 Sea Otter Classic Sea Otter is a big event, but it is not just the racing that makes it an enjoyable event to be part of. When you attend, you enjoy seeing the bikes being displayed, socializing with friends and riders, you enjoy the weather, you take pictures, even the drive (or flight) there is part of it. Here is a little write up one of our professional riders, Aaron Hodgkin, wrote about his experience at the 2011 Sea Otter Classic: From the moment I got the call about racing at Sea Otter, I knew it was going to be an eventful time. Unable to sleep the night before the trip, I packed my gear bag and anxiously waited for the morning to come. At 9:00 AM, Dwayne (Pricepoint Marketing Manager) pulled up with a truck jam-packed full of gear, and we headed out on our journey. After a long drive, and much conversation in between, we still managed to beat Brian and Scott who were driving the rental truck equipped with all of the supplies for the Pricepoint show booth. To make things more exciting, and to cause more attention, Dwayne busted out his DJ equipment pumping up the jams! Meanwhile, Brian and Scott were winging free Pricepoint water bottles and sette patch kits to the people passing by. As the days rolled in, I walked around the venue checking out all of the new product, and ran into old friends I had not seen in years, such as Randy Spangler, Aaron Chase, and Cameron McCaul. All the talk about riding got me anxious to go out and shred. Gearing up back at the tent it was awesome to see all the guys helping all the people interested in the Sette bike line.
On the hill- After getting a few slow practice runs in, I decided it was time to do a run with someone who knew the course well and that could help me familiarize myself with the new layout. I figured there was no one better than my good friend Elliot Jackson from the Yeti camp. Getting a little too comfortable a little too early, I lost my line, getting cross-rutted in the steep section, which caused me to high side and slammed me onto my left shoulder. After a few more solid practice runs, the pain in my arm began to grow more uncomfortable. Soon after, I called it a day and headed back to the Sette tent to clear my head. Even though Dwayne had his hands full taking home the win in dual slalom, it didn’t slow him down from getting me a fresh new sponsor from the great people at Profile racing. This was something that has been a childhood dream since I first laid my eyes on their legendary 3-piece crank set.
When Sunday morning finally came, I knew the time for my race was soon approaching. With much anticipation, I came up to the starting gate reminding myself to go out and just have fun. Hoping this would keep the nerves to a minimum and help keep my mind off the pain of my dislocated shoulder. With all the cowbells ringing on the sidelines and the high energy of all the screaming fans, it was hard not to have a great time down the hill, even though I could hardly hang on to the handlebars by the time I crossed the finish line. A sure reminder of why we all ride with the natural high of adrenaline flowing through your body!
The Sette crew, with all smiles, burned faces and chapped lips, packed up the trucks and headed for the long trip back to southern California. Exhausted, and not sure if we had enough energy to make it home, Dwayne threw out another surprising curve ball and said he wanted to meet up with an old friend for dinner along the way. After putting my name in for a table at the restaurant, in walks Dwayne with the one and only 2002 X-Games gold medalist Allan Cooke and the Haro crew. Just one last thing to make this years Sea Otter trip one we will never forget, leaving us with excitement to see if we can top it next year. Markley Anderson Finishes 1st & 2nd! One of our riders, Markley Anderson, podiums twice in a row. Here is what Markley has to say about the two endurance races: Cranky Monkey 9 Hours Endurance Race - 1st Place "Oh yeah baby, I’m back. Last week, I had a great result with Chris, but I was off big time. This week, I was on and ready to jam. EX2 puts on great races, especially the Cranky Monkey Mountain Bike Endurance Races. I just felt it on Saturday at Rocky Gap State Park in Maryland along side 350 racers. Trevor and I arrived the evening before and I pre-rode the course, feeling great. The race started with a LeMans start, which I hate. I was midway in the pack at the beginning and started making my way on the Sette through the traffic. Even with a flat on the second lap and losing 10+ minutes, I was able to bounce. Rain was predicted but it never came, thank goodness as the roughly 9 mile course was wet and slippery. It would have been a mud bog if rain would have shown. After 350 bikes ran across the course the muck began to spread creating a slip/slide affair all day. Along with the great help of Trevor in my pits, I was able to ride with pop, continuously. I built up a lead early and was able to back off and ride a safe race, while securing the win in my age group’s male solo division. The course was wet and with excess roots and rocks creating havoc on the bike’s path, I was able to navigate without having to ride over my limits. A couple of weeks ago I damaged my left thumb and some of the rocky descents were dicey. The vibration from the rock hopping took a toll on my thumb. This discomfort forced me to be slow on the descents, so I pressed the gas on the big climbs and took advantage of the very flowy sections in the big chain ring. The Sette carbon mountain bike was phenomenal and once again it made a visit to the podium. Thanks to Price Point for keeping me on the best equipment and Trevor for keeping the pits in order. 12 Hours of Lodi -2nd Place "Two races, two seconds and both races the lead was within grasp. Lodi is a great race and I have done it for the last 4 years. This year I did it with my buddy, Chris. This was our second race together and both times we have walked onto the podium for second. Both times we have competed in a competitive field that has kept us on our toes. Either I have been on or as at Lodi this year, Chris was on. If we ever show up at a race and are both on, it is ours for the taking. For some reason I was off this year at Lodi. Could be over training, type of training (Tour Divide) or simply not enough rest. However, I was sluggish and had no energy and I sensed it on the first lap. I rode a survival race and gritted it out while Chris kept our time loss at a minimum. Thank goodness Chris came ready, because as a team we rocked the course and completed 120 miles of rooty, tight and bouncy single track in 11 hours 59 minutes. The Sette bike performed brilliantly. It was fun hanging out with the guys at Blue Ridge Cyclery in between laps. Chris and I will be back together later in the year for the 18 hours on the Farm. Maybe a rematch with Scott and Geoff is in order." Jimmy Button
On February 20, 2011 former motocross champion Jimmy Button and his former trainer Cory Worf will be riding bicycles 2428 miles from San Diego CA to Daytona Beach FL. The objective is to raise money for spinal cord research.
A little history on Jimmy and Cory; In January 2000, Jimmy was a Factory Yamaha motocross racer and Cory was his personal trainer and best friend. On January 22nd of that year Jimmy suffered paralyzing injuries when he crashed during practice for the San Diego round of the AMA Supercross series. The injuries sustained was a pinched spinal cord in the C-2 to C-6 region of his neck leaving him paralyzed from the neck down, and considered an incomplete quadriplegic. After many months of rehabilitation he was able to regain movement and be one of the very fortunate few that ever recover from these types of injuries. During this time, Cory was ever present in the long rehab process
Now, ten years later Jimmy and Cory are teaming up to ride bicycles from the place of his accident which was Qualcomm Stadium to Daytona International Speedway to raise money for those people that were not so fortunate after suffering a spinal cord injury. The goal is to raise money for the very important research that is going on that could end the suffering a person goes through after having injured their spinal cord. At approximately 2428 miles and averaging 60 miles per day, the ride is expected to take nearly 2 months. 
For more information
M4M from chris sheets on Vimeo.
Price Point Sponsored Ride2Recovery Riders Complete 450-Mile Ride Having ridden through mountain passes, into cold coastal winds and in the pouring rain, over 200 injured military veterans completed more than just another ride. In this case a 450-mile ride from San Francisco to Santa Monica (just west of LA), CA. Even though these folks had already proven themselves as survivors with tenacity and the grit of perseverance, it was still great to see them as they came to the finish, some on special bikes to accommodate amputated limbs and others burdened with the mental scars of battle. Luckily they had nice sunny southern California weather when they rode in on last Saturday.  So, what exactly is the Ride2Recovery? Held in partnership with the Fitness Challenge Foundation, the R2R raises money to support Spinning Recovery Labs and outdoor cycling programs at military and Veterans Administration locations around the U.S. to help injured veterans overcome the obstacles the face. Cycling is an important part of the recovery and rehabilitation program for two reasons:
John Wordin, president and founder of Ride 2 Recovery, said he launched the program because of the benefits he knew former military officers would get from cycling. "Cycling is for anyone, anywhere, anytime," Wordin said. "It provides people with freedom and independence, which is something you lose when you're injured."  "This was a great way to end this amazing, challenging, inspiring ride," said Chatsworth resident Adam Volchok. Volchok, an Army medic who was stationed in Afghanistan from 2002 through 2003, was one of more than 200 injured military veterans who participated in the ride that took cyclists from the coast of San Francisco to Santa Monica in seven days. Volchok admitted the ride presented him with one of the biggest challenges he'd ever had, especially as he tried to make his way through the hills of Big Sur during a 93-mile leg of the ride. But the 30-year-old said as he neared the end of the ride, he felt like he could go for another 60 miles. "You just get this great feeling when you're riding with your fellow veterans, you're relaxing on your bike with the scenery ... everybody is talking and telling stories," Volchok said. But it was also the camaraderie from bonding with fellow riders that most participants called the best part of the massive ride, which raises money for other Ride 2 Recovery programs to help wounded veterans. "There were so many points where I wanted to quit, but you see the person next to you or in front of you and they are pushing you, they are handing you water ... they don't let you quit," said Percy Banks, a Van Nuys resident and Navy veteran. Cheering the riders on, and shielding them from highway traffic, were dozens of American Legion riders and United Services Organization volunteers who also made sure that all riders ate during scheduled breaks. "It just feels good to help these guys and girls who served our country," said Dave Avant, vice president for the American Legion riders chapter of Oxnard. "We're on our motorcycles, but these guys are pushing bikes ... but it's great to see these guys take this challenge the same way they took the challenge and served our country."
Check out the great deals on Price Point clothing by clicking here.
 If you'd like to ride with, donate or learn more about the Ride2Recovery program, click here.If you'd like to ride with, donate or learn more about the Ride2Recovery program, click here. This story borrows quotes from a great article on The Daily News Los Angeles. Team Crank's Markley Anderson Finishes Out His Race Season with a 1st Place Win!
Markley has had nothing but great thing to say about his Sette carbon hardtail mountain bike. It has taken him all over the eastern United States, to much of Europe during the TransAlp race, and delivered him safely home again without ever giving any signs of wanting to stop. You can check out the latest versions of Sette's bikes available through Price Point.
Team Crank also uses a ton of Sette tools and clothing to make sure everything stays in top race-ready condition. If you take a close look at the image that accompanies this story, you'll see a set of Sette Epic Shoes that have been with him through it all. Super stiff-soled, durable, and with plenty of breathability, these shoes make a great choice for racing, commuting or touring.
So congratulations to Markley and to Team Crank for a great season. Stay tuned, for 2011 there are plans for conquering the Tour Divide Race, the most epic race in the US, and maybe the world... after all, it stretches from Banff, Alberta Canada all the way to Antelope Wells, New Mexico. This is a one-stage 2745 mile/4418 km race that is totally self -supported. What does that mean? It means you're on your own. No mechanics, no sag wagons, no feed stops. Woah. Not for the faint of heart.
Save the Date - CORBA's Fat Tire Festival October 17th
It's never too early to start planning for a really good time! Price Point is proud to be a sponsor of CORBA (Concerned Off Road Bicyclists Association) and their annual Fat Tire Festival. This year it is going to be on October 17th at the beautiful Castaic Lake in Southern California. As they so eloquently put it: All year, you ride for yourself. For one day, ride for the trails. So join them for a fun-filled day of riding, exhibitions and events for mountain bikers and their families to raise much needed funds for trail maintenance and raise awareness on trail access.
So go already... you'll have a blast (and probably come home with some great free swag and prizes)! Check it out here. (Back to Top.) Price Point Sponsored Riders Complete the TransAlp Race!
It was a tough race and they were almost out of contention from shortly after the start. Markley had a bad crash that left him bloodied and pretty shaken up. He managed to hang on and ride through it for 4 hours until he finally crossed the finish line. Although they got into a rhythm after that, the nature of the course was relentless. With almost 65,000 feet of climbing over 375 miles that works out to an average of over 8,000 feet of climbing and almost 50 miles a day... off-road! The conditions were so tough that over 20% of the competitors would drop out by the end. Just to finish is a massive accomplishment. You can check out all of the details of the event itself at the Bike TransAlp website.
The guys were happy to report that all of their equipment performed far beyond their expectations. They use a lot of Sette components and accessories and the very core of their ride is a Sette full carbon mountain bike frame. And if you're wondering when you'll be able to get your hands on one of these beautiful and affordable frames, check the Price Point site , they are available now! (Back to Top.) Rider Profile - Ken Shiokari, Mountain Bike AND Road Bike Racer Ken Shiokari is always out at the races in Northern CA and splits his time between both road and mountain bike disciplines. Here's a sample of two of his race reports, and there are probably a few things we could all learn from this veteran racer: "Sea Otter XC Race - Great weather and a good turnout. Otter was your typical sprint to the single track race and then follow the trains on the climbs. I got to the the tracks in about 15th and shuffled around until about mile 5. After the neutral water, Rob Stark, Davis Curtis and I established that there were 3-4 guys that got away with Francisco Vidal off the front. Our chase group pushed nose to tail for about 10 miles catching and dropping a couple of the guys. After leading this group the whole way, I let Rob pull through so I could rest before the long climb out -- the race mistake. Soon after while passing traffic, an out of class rider endo'ed into "the mud puddle" right in front of me. This created the gap that grew on the next climb where I could not get past another train on the next single track climb - Rob got away. The climb out was typically hard and then there was a new finishing circuit that had a bunch of little leg breakers. Paul Montgomery (who nipped me at the line last year) got the win, Rob second, Francisco third, I got fourth (closing in but ran out of distance), and Dave filled the podium in 5th. The venue might have podium pictures - maybe ask them for a photo since Price Point was a sponsor. The expo park was packed and well attended.
Santa Teresa XC Race - Perfect weather for XC race. This tough, rocky course was awesome. I'd never ridden here before but others knew about it. - former World champion Ned Overend and former master's WC Rob Anderson came out to play too. My lack of course knowledge had me line up near the back of the 60 rider plus field and then there was no sorting section -- just straight onto the trail. Once we hit the rocky switchback climb, there was a 50 rider train ahead. It was steep so I was able to pass a few when they bogged on the rocks but it was a tight line. I had a few almost 'fly offs' switchback encounters but the single track is great there. Once we hit the long fire road climb, I was able to pace out and pass in bunches. Then we hit the rock garden -- wow this was nice stuff (see photo). The trails were rocky before but this trail was all rocks (I think it's called rocky ridge trail). We down hilled and wooped it back to the start finish -- now that I had the 'pre-ride' in it got really fun. Ended up taking first and riding solo for the whole race." Well then. Congratulations Ken and thanks for representin' Price Point! We appreciate the shared stories and look forward to hearing about how your season progresses. (Back to Top.) How Can You, Your Team or Your Event Get Sponsored? Over the years, Price Point has proudly sponsored various individual racers and teams, advocacy and trail-maintenance organizations, as well as multiple cycling events. We approach sponsorship on a grass-roots level by making a connection with local cycling communities all over the U.S. through our sponsor program. Our goal is to help raise the profile of the sport we love, while simultaneously spreading the word about Price Point. If you think you or your team have got what it takes to be sponsored by Price Point, please review our Sponsorship Guidelines. Then follow the instructions listed and send in your race resume to be considered for sponsorship. If you represent an advocacy or trail-maintenance organization, or you are an event promoter seeking prize or raffle sponsorship, please look at our Event/Organization Affiliation Guidelines and send us the appropriate information. Important! Please be aware that we will only contact you if you meet the required criteria and we have space available on our sponsorship roster. Also, please keep in mind that though we receive hundreds of sponsorship requests, we only have limited resources to share, so the more you can do to help us, the more likely it is that we will be able to help you. Please do not call us with sponsorship requests or questions, as this may disqualify you from the program. Use only these guidelines to apply for Price Point sponsorship. (Back to Top.) |
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SUPPORTINFORMATION
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We are extremely proud to report that Markley Anderson and Paul Loete of Team Crank have successfully completed the European TransAlp Race! This race is eight straight days of brutal climbing through the mountains of Germany, Switzerland, Austria and Italy. Although they will be posting a full race report on 
