October 20, 2012 (Maple Ridge, B.C.) – Novice and youth riders will benefit from reduced insurance fees for Local Ride Bike Shop’s Pumpkin Cross cycling race, scheduled for October 28 in Maple Ridge, thanks to the support of North Vancouver based Giant Bicycle Canada, plus race organizer Barry Lyster will offer first-time women racers a discounted entry.

“It is great to have a company like Giant Canada that is eager not only to get involved with racing, but also willing to help support and grow youth and women’s cycling,” said Lyster.

Most novice and youth racers do not hold a race license that covers insurance, so they are required to buy a mandatory single-event license for each race on top of the race entry. This insurance fee can be as high as $30, which makes the cost prohibitive for many riders wanting to try racing for the first time.

Giant Bicycle Canada’s financial support has enabled Lyster to offer the single-event licensing fee at a reduced price of $10 for Senior-category and $5 for Youth-category riders.

In keeping with Lyster’s ongoing passion to get more women riding bikes, he is also inviting first-time women racers an entry fee of only $10.

“Women are underrepresented in cycling and I want to change that,” said Lyster. “Let’s get more women out there experiencing the fun of riding a bike. I want Pumpkin Cross to have the largest Beginner women’s turnout in the province.”

In the beginner categories, riders may use any type of bicycle they have, such as a mountain bike.

Lyster is not alone in his enthusiasm for promoting women’s cycling. Liv/giant, Giant’s women’s specific brand of bicycles, is all about getting more women pedaling.  Liv/giant will be generously providing prizing for the women’s categories and Pumpkin Cross.