Opus - Blog EN

IMPORTANT RECALL NOTICE

2012-01-10T16:59:00.000-08:00

January 10th, 2012 St-Laurent, QC, Canada (updated February 8, 2012)

Subject: Ora carbon forks on 2011 model year Opus Alegria, Alto, Andante and Scherzo bicycles

Opus Bikes is issuing a recall for the ORA Carbon forks found on its 2011 Scherzo, Andante, Alto, and Alegria model bicycles. It has come to our attention that some of the forks installed on these models may not meet impact test standards. Repeated or sudden impacts may cause the dropouts to separate from the carbon legs of the fork. Although there have been no reported incidents or injuries as of this date, safety is always our first concern in such circumstances.

Do not ride your bicycle until the fork has been replaced.

What Opus owners should do:

If you own a bicycle that is affected by this recall, Opus Bikes will provide you — through your Opus retailer — a free replacement of the fork on your bicycle. We are currently working to determine how quickly we can do this and will advise your Opus retailer as soon as we have this information. If you have questions, please contact your retailer, or the Opus Bicycles’ service representatives at maximel@ogc.ca or jamies@ogc.ca .

We sincerely apologize for any inconvenience this problem might have caused you. We are currently working to have replacements forks available for the end of March and will work as quickly as possible to minimize any downtime.

Opus Bikes

www.opusbike.com

All new 2012 Opus Catalogue!

2011-09-07T06:00:00.000-07:00

The all new 2012 Opus Catalogue (PDF) has arrived

And remember that Expocycle of Montreal opens its doors to the public for one day,
Saturday, September 10, 2011, 10 am- 6 pm
Palais des congrès de Montréal
1001, place Jean-Paul-Riopelle, Montréal, QC H2Z 1M2

Congratulations Stéphane LeBeau !

2011-08-15T08:42:00.000-07:00

Stéphane LeBeau won six gold medals at this week`s Canadian track championships and managed to record better times than he did at last year`s championships.

See his great photos on his Facebook page :
http://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.10150258598521519.326135.541251518

Opus in UR Mag

2011-06-02T07:40:00.001-07:00

Fhast 29er 2011

2011-05-19T06:40:00.000-07:00

Fhast 29er 2011

OK almost everyone knows Big wheels spin big benefits! Now that there are lighter wheels, tires and better suspension options for 29ers, racers are winning BIG Time on 29ers! The 29” wheels ride over obstacles more easily, generate more momentum, and deliver a more stable ride. They also lower your center of gravity due to the increased height of the axles relative to the bottom bracket height. Feels like your riding in the bike instead of sitting on top. Take those benefits and add the 2x10 drivetrains on our new carbon Fhast 29er frame and you have one really Fhast bike!

• Lightweight T-700 carbon monocoque frame
• Tapered headtube for increased stiffness
• Direct-mount rear brake mount; internal routing for shifter housing
• RockShox Reba RL with lockout and tapered steerer
• Full SRAM 2x10 X9 drivetrain, 39-26T
• Avid Elixir R brakes
• Easton EA70 cockpit
• New Easton EA70 XC wheelset
• Lightweight Maxxis Aspen tires

Solid Weekend for Opus-OGC Riders at Quebec Cup Mountain Bike Opener in Terrebonne!

2011-05-16T10:49:00.000-07:00

The Opus mountain bike team had a strong and successful showing this past weekend at the Quebec Cup season opener in Terrebonne.

Elite women's Opus rider Andréanne Pichette led the race for three out of four laps aboard her Opus Fhast, and battled cold and muddy conditions to challenge Rébecca Beaumont for victory. The Opus rider eventually finished with a very solid 2nd place podium finish in the Women's Elite category.

Difficult conditions continued in the Junior Women's race where Frédérique Larose Gingras battled to a very solid and hard fought 5th place position on her Opus Fhast.

Opus' Master's Expert 30-39 rider Alex Frappier dominated his category aboard his Opus 29er to lead the race from start to finish and convincingly win the Master's Expert 30-39 category. The 29 inch wheels have certainly helped Alex through the thick and sticky mud on the trails!

The team is looking forward to travelling to Mont Tremblant, Quebec for the Canada Cup/ Quebec Cup events May 20-22. Stop by and cheer them on!

Stephane LeBeau- Opus Road and Urbanista Brand Manager Featured in Canadian Cycling Magazine

2011-05-11T18:44:00.000-07:00

At Opus Bikes many of our employees are big cycling enthusiasts themselves. One such bike crazy individual is our Opus Road & Urbanista brand manager, Stephane LeBeau. Steph is a three time World Track Champion. He trains hard every day, rides his bicycle to the office, eats healthy and does his very best to stay in shape for something he is passionate about- riding bicycles. Check out the latest issue of Canadian Cycling magazine for an in depth interview with Stephane.

2011 Opus Fixie Bikes

2011-05-05T18:54:00.000-07:00

At Opus we value all types of bicycle riding-- from road cycling, mountain biking, urban riding and of course, the old school fixie. Opus Fixies feature simple designs, no cables, shifters or any complicated components. Just the pure and simple pleasure of riding a fixed-gear bike. Check out our line of Fixie models including the FX and the Oldie for 2011. For more detailed information, you can visit our website www.opusbike.com

2011 Opus Service Bulletin

2011-04-18T18:59:00.001-07:00

To the owners of 2011 Opus Scherzo, Andante, Alegria and Alto models:

We have found a limited number of the forks from one of our production runs that may not have had their steerer tubes hardened to our standards. A fork that has not been hardened may cause the steerer tube to bend under normal use.

While we have received no reports so far of any fork failures, it is essential that every fork from each of these Opus models be returned to us for inspection and that they not be ridden until this takes place.

Please contact your nearest authorized Opus retailer to arrange to have your fork returned to us for inspection. We apologize for any inconvenience this may cause. If you have any questions or concerns, please call our service department at: 800-363-0693.

Sincerely,

Opus Team

Refresh your wardrobe!

2011-04-11T07:00:00.000-07:00

Spring is there and nice riding days are just around the corner! Maybe you have just bought a brand new bike or will do so in the coming weeks. Or you have or will bring your bicycle to your local bike shop for a complete tuneup to ensure your bicycle will ride as well as the first time you got on it.

Enough talks about your bicycle. Now let's take a look at you and you bikewear!

The new Opus cycling clothing is available with a wide range of garments: short sleeve jerseys, Bib shorts, shorts, vest, jacket and socks. The Team Edition clothing sports the new Opus corporate look and use high-tech and high quality textiles. For those who prefer a more classic look, we still have the Red and white and Blue and white jerseys but with the new textiles and a new cut.

You can also get Opus bottles : a 24 oz Camelbak Podium bottle with Opus colors. T-shirts and cap are also avaible for sale.

You can buy all these item at you Opus dealer. If not available in store, it will be a pleasure for your dealer to order it for you, you will get it within few days.

Have a great season!

Opus Road & Urbanista Brand Manager Stephane Le Beau in VeloMag

2011-03-23T07:53:00.000-07:00

The whole team at Opus is really proud of our Road Bicycle & Urbanista brand manager, Stephane Le Beau. He holds down a full time position at Opus and still manages to win a triple world championship in track racing! Check out the story (French only) in the latest issue of VeloMag! Congrats Stephane!

Jim Cuddy talking about his Opus Vivace

2011-03-21T13:11:00.001-07:00

Be sure to pick up the latest Canadian Cyclist magazine to see Jim Cuddy
from Blue Rodeo talking about (and photographed with) his Opus Vivace.

2011 Opus Fhast 29er Mountain BIke

2011-03-09T09:51:00.000-08:00

2011 Opus Fhast 29er Mountain BIke

Setting Sag on your Opus Mountain Bike

2011-03-08T07:51:00.000-08:00

Toronto International Bicycle Show- Setting Sag on your Opus Mountain Bike

A Look at the Opus Amadeus Road Bike

2011-03-08T06:38:00.000-08:00

2011 Toronto International Bicycle Show- A Look at the Opus Amadeus Road Bike

Giro Cycling Helmets: Winter liner

2011-01-14T07:21:00.000-08:00

Did you know our friends at Giro helmets make a winter liner?

Opus Production

2011-01-12T09:19:00.001-08:00

Bicycle Gear Calculator — Bike Gears

2010-12-23T08:58:00.000-08:00

http://itunes.apple.com/us/app/id285554579?mt=8

Bicycle Gear Calculator — Bike Gears
By JPMartineau

"Designed by a cyclist, for cyclists, Bike Gears is the premier Bicycle Gear Calculator for the iPhone/iPod Touch. Calculate Gear Ratios, Gear Inches, Development and Gain Ratios using your bike's measurements. The app now has over 200 preset tire sizes and also lets you enter your own custom tire size for personalized measurements."
Source Apple iTune Store

Fast and Ingenious!

2010-12-20T09:58:00.000-08:00

Battle Mountain, Nevada. 6 miles of deserted highway...

Urban Rush’s Holiday

2010-12-20T09:52:00.000-08:00

Jared with hosts Mike and Fiona.

Jared Walker (center, Opus Vancouver Rep ) was on set of the Urban Rush TV show for their Holiday shopping guide to show off our Opus bikes + giro helmets and Blackburn accesories

AMADEUS 2011

2010-12-06T07:56:00.000-08:00

http://www.opusbike.com/fr/velos_5_7-34-amadeus.html

Integrated seat post design with T-700 and M50J carbon fibre frame
Ora AC-SL, 1-1/2” tapered steer tube monocoque carbon fork
Campagnolo Athena 11 speed with carbon crank and shifters
Mavic Ksyrium Élite wheels
Easton EA70 aero bar with EA70 stem
Selle Italia SLR XP Vanox saddle
More pictures on Facebook

Photos : Rick Katigbak rick@rksportsphoto.com

Opus Announcement

2010-11-15T08:38:00.000-08:00

I am pleased to announce that Eric Kotlarsky has been appointed General Manager of Opus with responsibility for overall management of all Opus functions excluding sales and marketing. All members of the Opus non-sales team will report to him. Mike Bajohr will be the Operations Director, responsible for purchasing and production as well as the Opus Kids Program. Stéphane Le Beau will manage the Road and Urban Programs and Alec Stephani continues as our Head Designer. Eric will continue to manager the Opus mountain bike program.

Thanks to the tremendous job that Eric, Mike, Stéphane and Alec have done, our 2011 Opus program is, by far, the strongest ever and we are seeing very substantial growth in our 2011 pre-season bookings. As well, we now have a distributor in Japan and intend to look for other international sales opportunities.

David Bowman
President
Outdoor Gear Canada - Opus

Ontario demo week

2010-05-31T08:40:00.000-07:00

The weather was on our side for a Fox suspension / Opus bike demo week in Ontario. The Opus crew had their set-up in quite a few cities considering the week's length of the tour. Visited cities were: Milton, London, Collingwood, Barrie and Ottawa/Gatineau.

Turnout was good and the bikes were ridden hard ( who can resist a free bike for an hour ? ) We noticed that much of the attention was on the Opus Clutch. People noted how good a climber the bike was thanks to the Virtual Pivot Point design even with its 6 inches of travel.

Of course our staple Stakh bikes added to a Carbon Team Edition hardtail frame where also put through their paces.

Pictured from the Barrie demo-day

CTV Canada AM : Ready to ride with Rob White

2010-05-13T08:41:00.000-07:00

Canada AM: Rob White, Opus Bikes

CTV Canada AM : Ready to ride with Rob White (Opus Vice President, Sales)
Check out the key things you should inspect on your bicycle before taking that first ride, from tires and chains to brake pads, gears and any loose parts.

http://watch.ctv.ca/news/top-picks/ready-to-ride/#clip301633

Demo day at Kamikaze in Collingwood

2009-06-19T08:46:00.000-07:00

Photos : Eric O'Brien
OGC / Opus Rep

A team of urbanistas take to the streets of Vancouver

2009-06-05T08:48:00.000-07:00

IMPACT Magazine > News > Articles A team of urbanistas take to the streets of Vancouver to celebrate Bike Month in BC

Vancouver, BC (June 4, 2009) – Dressed for downtown – no spandex here – eight urbanistas from Opus Bikes will be travelling throughout Vancouver today to celebrate Bike Month in BC and to show Vancouverites that riding the right urban bike is the new, sophisticated way to travel.

Team Opus will be riding Urbanistas, a collection of urban bikes that put a modern spin on the classic, upright bike that comes complete with lightweight fenders (keeps the dirt off this season’s latest fashions), rear rack (to secure small packages) and a kick stand (handy for that quick dash into Starbucks).

Fashion friendly and designed for the casual, city rider, the Urbanista bikes pay respectful homage to European styling. Like fashion-forward Europeans, Vancouverites are fashionistas on the go. Comfortable, stable and robust, the Urbanista bikes are perfect for riding to work, school, or around town in style!

Get a glimpse of our Urbanistas and meet Dave Cressman, urban cycling expert, who will be kicking off the tour around downtown at the corner of Robson and Burrard. Dave can speak to the emerging trends in urban cycling and how Vancouver is poised to become one of the most cycle-friendly communities in Canada.

EVENT DETAILS

What: Urbanistas Hit the Road to Celebrate Bike Month
Who: Vancouver’s own Team Opus Urbanistas
Where: Corner of Robson & Burrard
When: Thursday, June 4, 2009, 11:45 am – 12:30 pm

A full Opus podium

2009-05-25T08:49:00.000-07:00

Mitch Bailey

Impressive results from Opus XC racers this weekend at the first Nationals in Tremblant. Natasha Oldcorn form Team Jetpower got a 3rd place in Junior Women's standings.

A full Opus podium for the Junior mens with Mitch Bailey (Jetpower Team) winning followed by Antoine Carron (Genetik) and Steven Noble (Jetpower Team) rounding it out at third

Mike Garrigan, Jetpower Team manager and coach also won the special Red Bull Uphill / downhill race were a DH racer and XC racer team up.

"My favorite road bike this season"

2009-05-21T08:50:00.000-07:00

from Impact Magazine May June 2009

These new designs get around

2009-05-14T08:51:00.000-07:00

Original text from The Gazette

These new designs get around
St. Laurent firm creates bikes for city
MIKE KING, The Gazette

Published: Thursday, May 14, 2009

David Bowman is peddling two new bicycles geared to the growing number of city pedallers.

"There has been a huge change and acknowledgement that cycling has a role in urban transportation," noted the president of Outdoor Gear Canada, the St. Laurent designer and manufacturer of the Opus brand of bicycles.

"There's more urban infrastructure for cycling in the city core now and we're seeing an enormous increase in urban bikes," Bowman said from his $8-million building headquarters and main plant/warehouse. The recently rebuilt and expanded facility earned silver LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) certification in early March.

He cited an announcement last month by Montreal municipal officials about expanding the city's already extensive network of bike paths by 60 kilometres this summer, bringing the total length to 560 kilometres. The transportation plan adopted by Montreal in 2007 called for the city to double its bike path system to 800 kilometres by 2014.

This week, the city's short-term bicycle rental system, dubbed Bixi (short for "bicycle" and "taxi") got rolling. Named by Time magazine as one of the best inventions of 2008, Bixi plans to offer 3,000 bikes at 300 locations in central neighbourhoods.

Bowman called the rise in urban cycling "the most interesting and important development in the industry."

With that expanding market in mind, Opus in March launched its new Urbanista collection, made up of the Classico and Cervin models, both described by Bowman as based on a traditional Dutch design but built as "a safe, comfortable and attractive form of commuting."

So impressive is the design, he noted, Le Château stores in Montreal, Toronto and Vancouver as well as Lululemon outlets here and in Vancouver used Urbanista bikes in their clothing display windows this spring. Pistachio, an environmentally conscious stationary shop in Toronto, did the same thing and now is interested in selling the bikes.

OGC has been distributing its bikes - there now are 48 models, all but 16 of them built here, the rest outsourced to China - through nearly 300 authorized Opus dealers across the country. More than half of sales are in Quebec, with a quarter in Ontario.

The company's pre-Urbanista urban bike sales rose 31 per cent last year from 2007; sales of the Mondano and Urbano city models were up nearly 40 per cent alone.

Opus sold more bikes in the first four months of 2008 than throughout the entire previous season, for a 40-per-cent jump, and 2009 pre-season orders were up 17 per cent, compared with 2008.

The suggested retail price for Opus bikes - which include urban, road and mountain models (a children's model is planned for next year) - range from $520 to $7,400.

On the Web: www.ogc.ca

mking@thegazette.canwest.com

Silver-level LEED certification

2008-12-17T08:53:00.000-08:00

The Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design Green Building Rating System™, développé par le U.S. Green Building Council, est accordée à des bâtiments qui ont démontré un souci de la viabilité en respectant des normes de performance plus élevées en matière de responsabilité environnementale et d'efficacité énergétique. Le programme LEED® exige que les équipes de projets soumettent des documents détaillés sur les normes de performance, et ces documents font l'objet d'un examen technique avant la certification. Les conditions préalables et les crédits sont classés en cinq catégories LEED principales : l’aménagement écologique des sites, la gestion efficace de l'eau, l’énergie et l’atmosphère, les matériaux et ressources et la qualité des environnements intérieurs. (tiré du site Web USGBC)

Cyclists avoid rising gas prices

2008-07-14T08:55:00.000-07:00

By P.A. Sévigny, The Suburban

Photo by Martin Chamberland, The Suburban
Bikes have become as much an urban transport vehicle as a car or the subway, says David Bowman, president of OGC (Outdoor Gear Canada).

Some said they used their bikes because it’s healthy and it helps keep you in shape. Others said they used them because it’s “green” and it’s good for the environment.
But now they all use their bikes because they’re sick and tired of what it costs to drive a car.
Faced with the rising price of gas, people are beginning to vote with their feet and bicycle stores are reporting record sales.
Not only are commuters beginning to consider their bike as a valid and useful means of urban transportation but the city is spending millions of dollars to adapt its road infrastructure to the growing numbers of cyclists who use the streets daily.

“Bikes are no longer a toy,” says David Bowman, president of OGC (Outdoor Gear Canada), one of Quebec’s more successful bicycle manufacturers.
“The technology has changed, the cities are adapting their infrastructure and bikes have become as much an urban transport vehicle as a car or the subway.”

Bowman knows what’s driving the province’s new bicycle business.
“It’s the price of gas,” he said. “A lot of people talk about the environment and others talk about the health benefits but in the end, it all comes down to the price of gas.”

In 1978, Bowman opened his business as a distributor of high-end bike accessories.
By 2001, he knew his market and knew it was time to start making his own bikes.
From an original line of four models, he now builds and sells 41 different models of mid to high-end bikes.
While the Opus bike line is a Canadian design, the parts are manufactured in China and the bikes are assembled in St. Laurent and sold from coast to coast.
“Every bike is a combination of durability, strength and speed,” he said. “The lighter the bike, the more it will cost. In the bike business, less really does mean more.”
His entry level bikes can cost anywhere from $400 to $1,000 for a basic model. The price of a high end model can be daunting.
“Actually, a lot of people have at least two bikes,” says Patrick Fisch, an Amherst Street bike dealer who has been in business for the past 12 years.
“Business is good, very good,” says Fisch, who sells a selection that stretches from high-end road bikes to the new mid-range urban bikes that suit Montreal’s unique road and weather conditions.
While Fisch also said soaring fuel prices have a direct influence on his sales, he also said the city’s ubiquitous bike thieves are keeping more than a few second-hand stores on their feet.
“Serious bike people buy a good unit and then they’ll buy a cheap, used bike for their everyday use,” he says.
“If their bike is bound to get stolen, they don’t mind losing a ‘beater’ as much as they mind losing their good bike.”
Fisch says he noticed a distinct shift when he began to see working professionals workers use their bikes to get to the office.
Many of his clients work downtown and they all say their bike is faster than a car and often cheaper than public transportation.
Bike retailer François Sylvestre manages the Sylvestre family business at its new location on Park Avenue in Montreal’s Mile-End district.
“It’s all about health, the environment and the price of gas,” says Sylvestre.
With gas at $1.50 per liter and due for another hike, Sylvestre said it’s not long before people begin to whip out the plastic to buy a decent entry-level bike.
Even as the market for bikes is fragmenting into smaller, more highly defined segments, Sylvestre said there’s plenty of action for everybody.
While urban bikes, a hybrid between a mountain and a road, are still the store’s big seller, Sylvestre said the new collapsible bikes are becoming a popular item.
“They’re light and people can store them in the trunk of their car,” he said.
“Instead of driving into the city, they park their car in the suburbs and take their bike on the train or on the metro into the city.”
The construction of the new bike path along De Maisonneuve Blvd. was a seminal event for Montreal cyclists.
The path follows the city’s east-west axis and passes by three universities, two major libraries and two of the province’s larger CEGEPs.
Thousands of students use the bike path every day and bike stands are becoming a priority for the downtown core.
While the city is spending millions to accommodate its cyclists, cyclists say the private sector still doesn’t get it.
West Island resident Patricia Olinik recently complained to The Suburban that there are very few bike stands outside area malls and cyclists must chain their bicycles to a nearby tree or leave it outside the store and simply hope for the best.

All the more reason to have a “beater.”

Hello Opus

2008-04-27T08:56:00.000-07:00

Hello Opus,

Hope everything is going well for you in Montreal I didn’t keep in touch with you lately but I will try to keep you posted on what is going on with the European branch of Opus Bike.

We are right now in Germany preparing for the second round of the world cup on a very selective and elitist course. Things are going well and we are working a lot on Kiara’s back to make sure the pain is not coming back. A French osteopath that treat Kiara since last year gave me tips and movement to do on her to help and it seems to work.

The new Opus Fhast 1 raced is second race last week end and things are good. It took us some time to find the same position as last year because the geometry change quite a lot from Kiara’s special Fhast 1 from last year. The top tube is very long and the seat tube also, but with plumb line and good tape measure and try, we managed to find the good position for Kiara and the bike respond really well to kiara’s solicitation, and believe me, she will ask it for a lot this week end.

Since we are around since more than a year now, people and the international bike scene is used to the Opus brand and that is nice to be recognise as Team Opus. I have attached a few pictures from Germany where we are riding in vineyard to get to the race site.it’s quite a lovely area.

Keep in touch

Sylvain & Kiara

you can see the last 2 article about Kiara on Canadian websites: http://www.pedalmag.com/index.php?module=Section&action=viewdetail&item_id=12991 http://www.pedalmag.com/index.php?module=Section&action=viewdetail&item_id=13119

You can watch the race on internet , it’s in live, so probably to early on : http://www.universalbikeracing.com/
It’s a French website but you should be able to find it : retransmission de la coupe du monde XCO a Offenburg.

World Cup #1 - Houffalize

2008-04-21T08:57:00.000-07:00

Coverage brought to you with the assistance of Velirium

Houffalize, Belgium, April 19-20, 2008

In a stunning last lap display of power, defending champion Chengyuan Ren of China roared back to the front fron a minute down to win the first World Cup of the season in Houffalize, Belgium. World champion Irina Kalentieva (Topeak Ergon) took the silver medal and Canada's Marie-Helene Premont (Rocky Mountain) the bronze. Catharine Pendrel (Luna), after a fast opening lap which saw her move up as high as fourth, faded to 14th by the finish, with Kiara Bisaro (Opus) finishing one spot further back, putting three Canadians in the top 15.

The rain and fog that was forecast for today didn't materialize, with sun coming out just before the start of the women's 4.5 lap race and gradually drying up the circuit as the race progressed. However, in the woods there were still lots of dicey mud holes, as the muddy outfits of many riders bore witness to.

Marga Fullana (Massi) had her usual blazing fast start, finishing the opening loop 15 seconds in front of Premont, with a chase group of Gunn-Rita Dahle Flesjaa (Multivan Merida), Kalentieva, Pendrel, Georgia Gould (Luna) and Ren forming a further 15 seconds back.

By the middle of the first full lap of the course, Fullana was being reeled in by Premont, with the chasers stuck at 30-40 seconds. Then disaster for Premont when she flatted in the second lap, too far from the tech zone to get a wheel swap.

"It was a slow leak, but I could not make it to the zone, so I decided to stop and fix it," Premont explained. "That let the others catch me and I rode with them for a few laps after that."

Kalentieva and Premont gradually distanced themselves from Gould, Dahle and Ren in the second and third laps, and were steadily catching Fullana. Kalentieva began the last lap almost on Fullana's wheel, and it looked like the world champion would take the lead.

However, to the surprise of everyone in the finish area, it was Ren who came rolling in first, with a substantial 15 second gap on Kalentieva. The Chinese rider gave her usual shy smile and little wave to the crowd.

Premont, in her first race of the season, was well pleased with third. "It has been a hard winter with a lot of snow, and because it ws my first race I didn't know how I would go. But I knew on the first lap that my legs were good, and that I could have a strong ride, so I am pleased that this is a good start to my season."

Pendrel was also satisfied with her race, despite losing 7 spots on the final lap. "I just died," she said simply. "It was one lap too long for me at this time of the year. But I felt really good, really strong on the first lap, so I was riding at the front group and pushing hard. Maybe that was my downfall, that I didn't pace myself more, but I'm confident after this race that it will come."

Final

1 Ren Chengyuan (Chn)                                       2.11.06
2 Irina Kalentieva (Rus) Topeak Ergon Racing Team              0.35
3 Marie-Helene Premont (Can) Rocky Mountain                    1.08
...
14 Kiara Bisaro (Can)                                          6.57

Canada's Bisaro 2nd

2008-04-17T08:58:00.000-07:00

Photos : Sylvain Badia

Superprestigio Massi CC
by pedalmag.com

April 14, 2008 - Canada's Kiara Bisaro (Can) Opus finished second yesterday in the Elite Women's race at the Massi International yesterday in Barcelona, Spain. Cecile Ravanel (Fra) Lapierre International won the race 51s ahead of Bisaro. Spain's Anna Villar (Spa) Massi finished third.

In the Elite Men's competition, it was Spain's Ivan Alvarez (Spa) Giant Italia who took the win, crossing the line 23s ahead of Juan Pedro Trujillo (Spa) Cemelorca-Seguros. Alejandro Diaz de la Pena (Spa) C.C.Tierra was third. Canada's Seamus McGrath (Can) Fuji placed sixth.

Elite Women
1. Cecile Ravanel (Fra) Lapierre International 1:08:04
2. Kiara Bisaro (Can) Opus at 0:51
3. Anna Villar (Spa) Massi 1:11
4. Francisca Campos (Chi) Massi 2:27
5. Sandra Santanyas (Spa) Cemelorca-Seguros 4:21
6. Maaris Meier (Est) Alexela Rademar A 6:18
7. Cristina Mascarreras (Spa) Conor-La Siesta 6:49
8. Mercé Tusell (Spa) Massi 7:14
9. Beatriz Gallego (Spa) Bicis Monje 10:42
10. Mercè Pacios (Spa) Bicisprint-Torras 11:36

Elite Men
1. Ivan Alvarez (Spa) Giant Italia 1:29:11
2. Juan Pedro Trujillo (Spa) Cemelorca-Seguros at 0:23
3. Alejandro Diaz de la Pena (Spa) was third. C.C.Tierra 0:27
4. Cedric Ravanel (Fra) Lapierre International 0:55
5. Marti Gispert (Spa) ECP-TAU Ceramica 1:17
6. Seamus McGrath (Can) Fuji 2:02
7. Carlos Coloma (Spa) ECP-TAU Ceramica 2:20
8. Oriol Morata (Spa) Inpanasa-Basoli 4:06
9. Sergio Mantecon (Spa) Cemelorca-Seguros 4:28
10. Joan Llordella (Spa) Ambisist) 5:25

Bisaro Second in Spain, again !

2008-04-17T08:57:00.000-07:00

Bisaro Second in Spanish Gran Premio
Courtesy Sylvain Badia

Photos

We were in Barcelona this weekend (April 13th) to race the Super Prestigio MassiI y Gran Premio Massi '08 in Barcelona.

The race was held in the Olympic park and around the Montjuïc Castle from where you have a great view of the Mediterranean Sea on one side and the city of Barcelona on the other side.

The multiple events have been put together by ocisport.net and you could enjoy a big bike show gathering all the bike industry, a round of the UCI MTB Trial World Cup and the Super Prestigio Massi, a class 1 UCI race counting as the third round of the Gran Premi Massi Copa Catalana International.

Two Canadians were racing on the weekend in the elite categories - Kiara Bisaro (Team Opus-OGC) and Seamus McGrath (Team Fuji).

The course was not very technical but had a lot of slippery corners that were difficult to negotiate, and by misjudging your speed or your line, you could have a bite of the Catalan dust.

The weather was great with over 23C on both days of the weekend, allowing racers to wear their short sleeves and work on their tan lines.

In the women's race, Kiara Bisaro and her Opus Fhast 1 took a strong start with Cecile Rode-Ravanel (Team Lapierre) and Anna Villar (Team Massi). These three girls stayed very close all the race, until in the third lap Cecile Ravanel opened a gap on Kiara and took the lead until she crossed the finish line. After 4 laps Cecile Rode-Ravanel crossed the line for first place, following by Kiara Bisaro and Anna Villar to complete the podium.

1 Cecile Ravanel (Fra) Team Lapierre International 1:08:04
2 Kiara Bisaro (Can) Team Opus-OGC at 0:51
3 Anna Villar (Esp) Massi 1:11
4 Francisca Campos (Esp) Massii 2:27
5 Sandra Santanyes (Esp) Cemelorca Seguros 4:21

Kiara Bisaro 2nd in Spain

2008-04-03T08:59:00.000-07:00

Kiara Bisaro in Spain
Courtesy Sylvain Badia

GP MAssi CCI BTT de Corro d'Amunt

Saturday morning (March 29th) we headed to a Massi Cup in Corro D'Amunt, Spain for the first race of the season. Kiara arrived in Europe Wednesday night and we are staying in south of France for the next few weeks before the world cups. It was a short travel to the race site, only 300 km and it was nice to find some warm weather.

All the team of ocisport (the organisation committee that will be in charge of the world cup in Vallnord) did a great job in organising the race. Special thanks to Albert.

Kiara: "We started behind over 100 guys and ended up catching them on the first climb where everyone was walking. That broke up the women's race because it was really hard to pass. The course was super fast and not very technical which is just what I have not been doing all winter so it was perfect practice.

We headed back to France right after the race. I am now looking forward to 2 weeks of solid training, hopefully with the sun!"

Elite Women
1. Margarita Fullana (Massi)	1:19:55
2. Kiara Bisaro (Opus Bikes)	at 2:31
3. Rosara Joseph (Pegasus Cycling)	3:19
4. Anna Villar (Massi)	4:01
5. Sandra Santanyes (Cemelorca-Seguros)	8:22
6. Neus Parcerisas (Ambisist)	9:15
7. Merce Tusell (Massi)	11:26
8. Cristina Mascarreras (Conor-La Siesta)	12:15
9. Mariona Catedra (Cicles Ayats-Guix)	19:05
10. Nuria Lauco (Alpcross-Bp'S)	20:04

The results of the first 5 world cups plus the results at the world championships will determine who gets to represent Canada at the Beijing Olympics this summer. World cup season opener is in Belgium on April 19th.
Lets all wish her luck!

Kiara Bisaro: in her own words

2008-01-17T09:00:00.000-08:00

Kiara Bisaro (Opus team) : in her own words

http://youtube.com/watch?v=if2WGSHizvA&feature=related

An Opus Vivace Enthousiast!

2007-12-17T09:01:00.000-08:00

Hey there.

I made a cool video about my Opus that I wanted to share with you!
It can be found here http://ca.youtube.com/watch?v=AAOyxM5Ow2M

Thanks!

Evan MacKinon