June 17, 2008 (Dieppe, NB) – The National Cycling Centre in Atlantic Canada is pleased to announce its newest cycling partner: Subway Restaurants. This partnership will now link the Dieppe Subway Restaurants to the newly built BMX track. The Subway BMX track, completed last fall, in partnership with the City of Dieppe and the government of New Brunswick, greatly welcomes such support over the next five years. “Such partnership will enable us to build BMX within the community. It’s the next big sport, and we are proud to be able to count on Subway restaurants in Dieppe to help us build it;” says Cycling Centre’s head coach, Luc Arseneau.

Starting Sunday June 22 at 6:00 PM, the Subway BMX track will be fully opened to public with its first open time of the season. The public is invited to come out and try the sport for free on every Sunday evening.

Riders are permitted to ride mountain bikes or BMX bikes on the track and an approved full face helmet must also be worn. A limited number of BMX bikes and helmets are available for rent at the track — rental fees are $5.00 per bike or helmet for the session. Riders are also required to wear long pants, long sleeved shirts and fully enclosed footwear and full fingered gloves.

In order to access the Subway BMX Track at other times, yearly membership will be required. Such memberships will be available at the Sunday evening open track times or from the National Cycling Centre’s office during business hours (8:30-4:30 weekdays). Membership is $50 for the year.

For the moment, the open times for members will be Monday (6 to 8 pm), Tuesday (2 to 4 pm), and Friday (2 to 4 pm). Wednesday evening (6 to 8 pm) will include coaching and fun racing for all members.

The Subway BMX track will also be opened at other specific times for specific training groups such as Sprockids and Peter Wedge Programs.

In July, we will also be hosting a weekly racing series on Saturday mornings. This series will culminate with the first ever Atlantic BMX Open on August 2nd.

BMX is the newest Olympic Sport and will premiere in Beijing this summer. For aspiring BMX riders in NB the Subway BMX Track in the Rotary Park in Dieppe is the route to Olympic glory.

Sheila Colbourne, Technical Director of the National Cycling Centre – Atlantic Canada says that BMX racing is really going to take off. “Everyone is excited about BMX becoming an Olympic event and some of our younger riders from other disciplines are looking to go far in BMX. What’s also nice with BMX is you can get the kids going at a very young age, as low as five years old! Plus, it’s more accessible then other cycling disciplines. BMX offers an opportunity for these young New Brunswickers to compete but we need to provide the basic training and local racing to develop the skills needed to ride in the big leagues.”

Colbourne goes on to state, “We are behind some of the bigger provinces, BMX is up and running strongly in Ontario, Alberta and BC but the support we have had from the City of Dieppe and the Province of New Brunswick in the building of this facility and the backing of Subway should allow us to catch up rapidly. I anticipate phenomenal growth and am looking for volunteers to form the backbone to develop a club and a race calendar for our riders. The fun of BMX is that is all right in front of you. Unlike road and mountain bike races where spectators see only a small segment of the race, BMX happens right in front of the stands from start to finish. It’s fast paced and exciting.”

Information regarding registration, equipment needs or volunteer opportunities should be directed to Sheila Colbourne at the Atlantic Cycling Centre 877-7809 or by email at sheila@atlanticcyclingcentre.com.