July 23, 2007 (Albion Hills Conservation Area, ON) – The Fly Gurlz are pleased to announce that over 100 women have registered for the inaugural 10 hour women’s only mountain bike relay scheduled for July 28th. “We are having a ton of fun organizing the event,” says Michelle Ward, Director of the program. “At the end of the day our team is going to have as much fun as our participants.”

Each rider will receive a limited edition “Peace, Love and Mountain Biking” tote filled with loot from the program sponsors. “We also custom sewed all the race bibs as 1950 style aprons, they are a riot and will become another great keepsake from the event.” Music will also work within the 1950’s theme “Music is a huge motivator so we have put together 10 amazing hours of tunes, the day will start with Rock Around the Clock by Bill Haley & The Comets because that’s just what we intend to do!”

The course will be roughly 8km long and will be a very fun mix of both double and single track. The event takes place at Lakeview Sites 1 & 2, Albion Hills Conservation Area. Many women participating have never raced before and the whole point of the event is to introduce the concept in a fun, relaxed and supportive atmosphere!

The biggest challenge for the fantastic Fly Gurlz team will be trying to get some sleep leading up to the event. “Hosting this race is a dream come true, it’s all any of us can think about this week, we have had the idea on our radar for the last few years and executing on it is so exciting.”

We want to thank Chico Racing for their generous support of this event!

Fly Gurlz work in partnership with: Devinci Bicycles, Motrin, Louis Garneau, Blue Mountain Resorts, Powerbar, Pedal Magazine, Career Joy, Running Tide Inc., and the Ontario Cycling Association.

July 3, 2007 (Collingwood, ON) – On Saturday, July 28, 2007, female mountain bike racers of all ages and ability levels will descend upon Albion Hills Conservation Area, Bolton, Ontario for 10 hours of mountain bike competition. It’s the first time in Canadian history that a relay event has been held for women only!

Mountain bike relay events are the mainstay of grassroots cycling in North America. They elevate what is traditionally an individual sport into a team building experience. The growth in the Canadian women’s mountain bike sector is significant and according to Michelle Ward, Director of Fly Gurlz, the timing is perfect for an event like this. “Our organization has seen a gap in the marketplace, we want to introduce women to mountain bike competition in a fun & supportive environment ˆ we are confident that our event will be a stepping stone for many women to try other kinds of mountain bike events.”

So far registration is reflecting 4 generations of Canadian women, many of whom have never tried mountain bike racing. “It’s fabulous to offer this new event and watch as women take flight on their bikes and discover a special part of themselves that they never knew existed.”

“It’s more than a mountain bike experience,” says Ward, “It’s both a personal and team journey, the self esteem gained in those ten hours will have a wonderful ripple effect in all the participants lives.”

Fly Gurlz is Canada’s largest women’s mountain bike community and has been in operation since 1998. The community represents women of all ages, ability levels, shapes and sizes. The nature of this model creates a unique kind of accessibility that is approachable for all involved participants. Members of the program are real women juggling families, careers and the pursuit of a healthy outdoor lifestyle! Fly Gurlz is managed by Banana Seat Productions Limited out of Collingwood, Ontario, Canada.

Banana Seat would like to thank Chico Racing for their generous support of this event.

Fly Gurlz are proudly affiliated with: Devinci Bicycles, Motrin, Louis Garneau, Blue Mountain Resorts, PowerBar, Pedal Magazine, Running Tide Inc & CareerJoy. Dealer network: Skiis and Biikes, Pedal Performance & Cyclissimo.