More than 30 Canadian bike dealers were treated to VIP ride-alongs in SRAM’s Neutral Race Support vehicles at the Montreal and Quebec City ProTour circuit races during Canada’s recent ProTour visit. SRAM Neutral Race Support (NRS) served the peloton fresh Zipp wheels and SRAM RED equipped Specialized bikes when team cars were not available
SRAM’s Dealer Service crew organized the rides weeks ago and dealers were excited for the once in a lifetime ride-along, they had mere seconds to jump in and out of the vehicles, and everybody was grinning ear to ear after their lap amongst the ProTour peloton. Laps were taken in any of the three SRAM NRS vehicles at the front or rear of the peloton, all offering a unique vantage point of one of the greatest pro fields ever assembled in North America.
The NRS cars are driven with incredible precision, mere feet from fans, riders and other cars in the caravan by experienced drivers who reach speeds of 100+ kph in chasing back to the peloton. Few people get the chance to ride inside a ProTour field and this was simply one way to express SRAM’s gratitude to its great dealer and distributor base in Canada.
Some of the guests included Jesse London and Pierre-Paul Schiltz of Martin Swiss Cycles, Michael Cranwell from Duke’s on Queens, Toronto area TREK dealer John Rinkerink, Pascal Deslaurier et Bob Huges de Vélozone St-Jean, Eric Moody et Catherine Goulet Cycle Gervais Rioux, Steve Dennis of Martin Swiss Cycles and Phil Head of Brodie Bikes, who sent a text afterwards stating, “This was an experience I’ll never forget!” Thanks to all of our special guests, Ed, as well as our incredible NRS crew for helping to make this experience possible.
Watch the exchange sequence:
SRAM NRS car pulls into the pre designated pick-up point seconds ahead of the field (this is car 1, which was following the breakaway)
Car gets into position for passenger exchange, notice our Dealer on the farside of the car starts to move
Canadian Dealers are quick on their feet
Passenger in, passenger out, all inside of 10 seconds
Doors close…
Safety first…seatbelt on!
Back into the field they go go go!
NRS cars will reach speeds of 70+ mph while professionally navigating mere feet from riders, spectators and other cars in the caravan to resume their respective place in the race caravan. The course in Quebec had plenty of hills, twists and turns, but no air sickness bags were required…lets wait for this car to return…
And he’s back after one extremely fast 18 minute lap of the course behind the breakaway, exit stage right…
Is it another perfect exchange?
Yes, exchange complete!
SRAM Dealer VIP’s were all smiles after their NRS ride amidst the quality ProTour field
SRAM VIP dealers wait patiently for their chance to ride in the SRAM NRS cars
…and moments later the peloton rolls by, SRAM RED rider Dominique Rollin in Canadian National Team kit