The League of American Bicyclists Announces TriSports.com as a Silver Level Winter 2010 Bicycle Friendly Business

Washington, DC – March 9, 2010 The League of American Bicyclists is proud to announce TriSports.com as a Silver Level Bicycle Friendly Business (BFB), in an impressive group of 51 new BFBs. The official announcement was made at the 10th Anniversary National Bike Summit in Washington, D.C. on Tuesday, March 9. The announcement, the fourth time BFB winners have been named since the program’s inception in 2008, marks the ongoing success of the program and continued momentum amongst businesses to provide a more bike-friendly environment. “The League is especially excited to recognize TriSports.com as a 2010 winter BFB winner at the 10th Anniversary National Bike Summit. TriSports.com is making simple changes to their transportation policies to encourage biking to work. They are setting a community-wide example,” said Andy Clarke.

Businesses that apply for the award are contributing to a more bicycle-friendly lifestyle for their employees. TriSports.com serves as an example for best practices and innovations in bicycle friendliness at the workplace, making bicycling an easy option for transportation and providing amenities such as showers and a locker room and incentives such as credit for miles commuted.
“This Bicycle Friendly Business is making a difference for employees, customers, and communities,” said Bill Nesper, Director of the Bicycle Friendly America Program. “TriSports.com promotes bicycling as a viable form of transportation and gives their employees choices and options that make biking to work easy and fun.” The staff and management at TriSports.com were very excited to learn about their designation as a Silver Level award designee. “Being a bicycle retailer, we feel that we have even more of a responsibility to our employees and our community to be a Bicycle Friendly Business. At TriSports.com, we strive to offer our employees as many opportunities as possible to encourage them to ride their bikes to work. As a company, we commuted over 35,000 miles to work in 2009, so we will continue to develop new strategies and incentives to increase participation and grow that number,” stated Debbie Claggett, Vice President of TriSports.com.

There are a lot of very simple, effective and creative ways that companies are finding to get people back on their bikes, and the League is proud to recognize the efforts of working America to make our nation a more bike-friendly place. Companies across the country are realizing that getting their employees biking – either to or from work, in course of work, or even in their own time – is good for business. When bicycling is infused in a company’s culture, great things happen: reduced health care costs; more productive employees; improved worker and customer satisfaction; smaller carbon footprint; and increased corporate social responsibility.

Applying for BFB recognition is easy and free. Applicants receive technical assistance from the League staff as well as tools to evaluate and assess their bicycle friendliness through the application process. The BFB application is available online at www.bicyclefriendlybusiness.org.

The Bicycle Friendly Community and Bicycle Friendly Business programs are generously supported by program partners Bikes Belong and Trek Bicycle’s One World, Two Wheels Campaign.

The League of American Bicyclists promotes bicycling for fun, fitness and transportation, and works through advocacy and education for a bicycle-friendly America. The League represents the interests of America’s 57 million bicyclists, including its 300,000 members and affiliates. For more information or to support the League, visit www.bikeleague.org.

TriSports.com is an industry leader in triathlon, swim, bike and run retail, located in Tucson, AZ. TriSports.com is more than just a retail presence, however; the company is also very involved with growing the sport through partnerships with races, clubs, teams and other endeavors like spearheading the effort to declare Tucson as the “Winter Training Capital” for cycling and endurance sports. TriSports.com has been recognized by Wells Fargo with their Copper Cactus Award for Business Growth (October 2005), by Comerica Bank as one of Arizona’s “50 Companies to Watch” (October 2008), by BizAZ as a “Top 35 Entrepreneurs Under 35” (June 2008), and as one of Outside Magazine’s “Best Places to Work” (May 2009). Learn more about TriSports.com online at www.trisports.com/info.html.

VISTA, Calif. – March 3, 2010 – Aqua Sphere, the leader in high-end, innovative swim products, dares to see who will go the distance—men or women?

As the sponsors of the Swim Challenge, Aqua Sphere, the company that promotes comfort and long-lasting performance in the water has thrown down the gauntlet in an effort to raise funds and awareness for breast and prostate cancer and in the process, determine who rules the pool.

Beginning April 1 through November 30, swimmers of all abilities can sign-up and sign on to www.swimchallenge.org  each day to log their hours (not their laps) in the water.  Whether they like it smooth or rough, on their backs or their stomachs, – it’s not the stroke that matters but who will outlast their competition.

The Swim Challenge website will track the total time, men vs. women, via a “leader meter” posted on the website and created as a widget so that competitors can keep tabs on their counterparts. The site will also allow swimmers to individually track their personal progress in the pool, encouraging them to swim longer each day.

A $35,000 donation will be split between the Prostate Cancer Foundation (men) and the Breast Cancer Research Foundation (women); allocations will be determined by the cumulative hours swum by each gender.

“Regardless who wins, they both win,” says Olivier Laguette, Director of Marketing for Aqua Sphere. “We’ve all been personally affected by cancer in some way or another but instead of simply writing a check, we wanted to do something fun that would promote a healthy lifestyle as well as some healthy competition – and a little bit of gender wars seemed appropriate.”

Aqua Sphere, the originator of the “swim mask,” is widely known for their line of comfortable aquatic eyewear including the popular Seal and Vista masks and the Kaiman and Kayenne goggles.  Designed for form and function, swimmers can simply fit the frames to their face and forget about them while they enjoy swimming for time, distance, exercise or just fun.

About Aqua Sphere – Aqua Sphere is the worldwide brand of choice for swimming gear, based on the highest industry standards of design and innovation.  Launched in the mid-90s as a division of the diving industry leader Aqua Lung, Aqua Sphere is committed to supplying eye protection for dedicated or casual swimmers, enabling them to feel safe, comfortable and at home in the water.  The company’s numerous innovations include the Seal, the first swim mask featuring 180° vision and Kaiman, the first panoramic goggle.  For more information, call (800) 775-3483, or log on to www.aquasphereswim.com.

The Breast Cancer Research Foundation® (BCRF) was founded in 1993 by Evelyn H. Lauder as an independent, not-for-profit 501(c) (3) organization dedicated to funding innovative clinical and translational research. The Foundation supports scientists at top universities and academic medical centers worldwide conducting the most advanced and promising breast cancer research that will lead to prevention and a cure in our lifetime. A minimum of 85 cents of each dollar donated to the Foundation goes directly to breast cancer research and awareness programs. For more information, visit www.bcrfcure.org or call 1.866.FIND.A.CURE.

The Prostate Cancer Foundation – The Prostate Cancer Foundation (PCF) was founded in 1993 to find better treatments and a cure for prostate cancer. Through its unique model for soliciting and selecting promising research programs and rapid deployment of resources, the PCF has funded more than 1,500 programs at nearly 200 research centers in 20 countries around the world.  The PCF is a force of HOPE for more than 16 million men and their families around the world who are currently facing the disease.  For more information, visit www.prostatecancerfoundation.org.

 Scheduled to race in the women’s elite race this year are:

• Anne Curi Preisig: 2008 Elite National Duathlon Champion, 2^nd at 2009 Powerman Alabama
• Renata Bucher: 2009 XTERRA European Champion and 1^st place at 2009 XTERRA Germany
• Leanda Cave: 2009 Ironman 70.3 Florida Champion and 2 time Champion at Escape from Alcatraz
• Linsey Corbin: 15 top five IM 70.3 finishes and 2^nd place at 2009 IM Arizona
• Samantha McGlone: Olympian, 70.3 World Champion, 2009 IM Arizona Champion, 2 time champions and women’s course record holder the TriSports.com Desert Classic Duathlon.
• Michellie Jones: 2000 Olympic Silver Medalist, 1992 & 1993 ITU World Champion, 1998 & 2000  ITU World Cup Champion, 2006 Ironman World Champion

 ”This is very unique and stunning desert venue that combines smooth trail runs with a challenging road bike course through the majestic sonoran desert” said co-race director John Lierle.   “The Trisports.com Desert Classic Duathlon is a favorite of professional triathletes who use the race as an early season test of their fitness” he said. “The race also draws a very strong field of top age-group athletes from across the U.S. looking for a warm weather destination where they can race and vacation.”   

 The TriSports.com Desert Classic Duathlon raises money for education programs in the Maricopa County Parks system and is produced by the Phoenix Triathlon Club, whose members serve as the volunteers who put on the race. 

 TriSports.com, the events title sponsor, is a Tucson, AZ based company known as the online and retail triathlon shop, created for triathletes, by triathletes.  TriSports.com will be celebrating it’s 10th year in business this year on the tails of a 10,000 sqft retail/warehouse expansion project. 

For additional information on the TriSports.com Desert Classic Duathlon, contact Race Director John Lierle at RaceDirector@DesertClassicDuathlon.com  or visit the race web site at www.DesertClassicDuathlon.com 

To register for the race visit: http://desertclassicduathlon.com/registration.html

TUCSON, AZ – USA Triathlon announced Wednesday that the scenic city of Tucson, Ariz., will host the National Duathlon Festival in 2011 and 2012.

Exact race dates have not been set, but organizers expect an April event for both years. Duathlon races consist of a run-bike-run format.

“USA Triathlon is thrilled to be bringing our National Duathlon Festival to Tucson in 2011 and 2012,” said USAT executive director Skip Gilbert. “Given the tremendous reception we received from Richmond, Va., for the past two years, we are confident that our nation’s 32nd-largest city and its active community will roll out the red carpet to help support and showcase our sport.”
 
“The selection of Tucson/Oro Valley to host the 2011 and 2012 USA Triathlon National Duathlon Festival provides the perfect opportunity to prove to world-class athletes and trainers how our community lives up to the title of ‘America’s Winter Training Capital,’” said Vince Trinidad, director of the Tucson Sports division for the Metropolitan Tucson Convention & Visitors Bureau. 

“Additionally, the event will be an example of the seamless cooperation and collaboration between Tucson Sports, Oro Valley and Ventana Medical Systems, a private organization for which our destination is becoming well known.”

The 2011 and 2012 USAT National Duathlon Festival will consist of three duathlons in the Oro Valley – the Age Group National Championship, a sprint-distance Citizen’s Race and the Off-Road Championship. The 2010 event is slated for April 24-25 in Richmond, Va.

Tucson boasts an average of 350 days of sunshine annually, and event participants can expect average highs of 82 degrees and average lows of 50 degrees in April.

Set in the Sonoran Desert valley and surrounded by five mountain ranges, Tucson was ranked as the world’s No. 1 location for triathlon training by Triathlete magazine in 2009. The area is known as a hub for outdoor activities, including hiking, biking, rock climbing, golf and horseback riding. Tucson also boasts outstanding dining, museums and galleries.

The second-largest city in Arizona, Tucson has a metro population of more than one million. It is the home of the University of Arizona and ranks as one of the oldest continually inhabited areas in North America.

The area is serviced by the Tucson International Airport.  

Located in the foothills of the Santa Catalina Mountains, the Hilton El Conquistador Golf & Tennis Resort, an AAA Four Diamond property, will serve as the host hotel for the event. Packet pick up will take place at the resort, as will the event’s vendor expo.

2011-12 USAT National Duathlon Festival Race Distances (run, bike, run)*
Age Group National Championship – 5k, 40k, 5k
Citizen’s Race (sprint distance) – 2.5k, 20k, 2.5k
Off-Road Championship – 3k, 15k, 3k
*All distances are subject to change.

For more information on the Winter Training Capital, you can check out the website.

To celebrate their arrival, we are hosting a very special event on Monday, February 8th including a catered reception, rider introduction with Q&A and photographs. We are looking forward to hosting the who’s who of Tucson for this event – including the City of Tucson mayor! The mayor will be making an official announcement at our event regarding the City of Tucson. I’d highly recommend joining us if you are in the area. RSVP is required.

So welcome to Tucson UHC Cycling. We’re rolling out the red carpet, getting dressed up and having a party! Of course, you do have to get up and train the next morning

PS:  If you can’t make it to Tucson for our event, consider joining the team in Scottsdale for their offcial presentation and banquet!  We will be there, will you?

See you in March!

Our retail store will continue to be open during construction and if you get a chance to stop in and take a look around, please excuse our mess and lack of product display. The transformation is pretty crazy to watch. At the moment we look a bit like a bombed out building, with fixtures everywhere. The good news is that the retail floor is scheduled to be finished first so we can accommodate all of our winter visitors. We also still have our in-store pick-up option for local customers who prefer to order online and not incur shipping charges. Our project will wrap up just in time for the kick-off of TRIFEST! Please stay tuned for more photos and information as we continue along.

Yep, that wall is coming down. You’re looking at the future home of our new bike fit studio.

TriSports.com Desert Classic Duathlon Start

TriSports.com, the nation’s largest on-line supplier of multi-sport equipment, clothing and accessories, will serve as the title sponsor for the 2010 event continuing a partnership that goes back to 2005.  The event will also feature a Juniors Duathlon (ages 15-19) that consists of a 1.5 mile run, 11 mile bike and a 1.5 mile run as well as a Kids Duathlon (ages 7-14) consisting of a ½ mile run, 5 mile bike and ½ mile run.

Lierle described the course as “A unique duathlon venue that combines smooth trail runs with a challenging road bike course through the majestic sonoran desert.”  “The Trisports.com Desert Classic Duathlon is a favorite of many professional triathletes who use the race as an early season test of their fitness.” said Lierle. “The race also draws a very strong field of top age-group athletes from across the U.S. looking for a warm weather destination where they can race and vacation.”   Participants in the race have included IronMan 70.3 world champions Samantha McGlone & Joanna Zeiger, Olympic Gold Medalists Simon Whitfield & Kristin Armstrong & XTerra world champion Michael Tobin.

Participation in multi-sport events, like duathlon and triathlon, is booming in the United States.  U.S.A. Triathlon, the national governing body for the sports of triathlon, duathlon, winter triathlon and aquathlon reports that membership has increased an average of 20% per year since 1997 with a 46% increase in 2006 alone.

The TriSports.com Desert Classic Duathlon raises money for education programs in the Maricopa County Parks system and is produced by the Phoenix Triathlon Club, whose members serve as the volunteers who put on the race. 

TriSports.com, the events title sponsor, is a Tucson, AZ based company known as the online and retail triathlon shop, created for triathletes, by triathletes.  TriSports.com carries the highest quality triathlon equipment, triathlon gear, triathlon apparel, and all of the hard to find necessities that every triathlete needs, including triathlon wetsuits, bike travel cases, aero race wheels, hydration systems, aero bars and triathlon-specific clothing.

For additional information on the TriSports.com Desert Classic Duathlon, contact Race Director John Lierle at RaceDirector@DesertClassicDuathlon.com  or visit the race web site at www.DesertClassicDuathlon.com  
To register for the race visit: http://desertclassicduathlon.com/registration.html

The Phoenix Triathlon Club, which has produced the duathlon for ten years, is a 501(c)4 not for profit organization and one of the largest multi-sport  clubs in the United States with a membership that ranks in the top 4% of U.S. triathlon clubs.  The club is a growing community of friendly and cohesive triathletes whose members are motivated through pride and team spirit striving to provide excellence in member experience.

We will soon get more information up about each of our team members and in the meantime, be on the lookout for the red-white and blue at your next race!!

Sarah (Marketing Director), Amy (sponsored athlete) & Lisa (Sponsorship Coordinator)