Bike Maker Offers Tech Support for Race

When Motiv Sports Inc. President Ken Calvert sends a handful of employees to staff bicycle repair stations during 50-mile fun rides this April and October from Rosarito to Ensenada, they’ll be wearing the Anaheim-based performance bike manufacturer’s colors.

But they’ll readily help race participants to repair flat tires and busted sprockets on any make or model. “We’ll have some of our best technicians stationed along the route,” Calvert said, “and any rider with mechanical problems can pull in and get some quality service.”

Why bother fixing what’s likely to be a competitor’s bike?

“It’s all part of the exposure we get from being the official bicycle sponsor for the ride,” Calvert said. “And, yes, while we want to sell product, we also want to help cater to our customers’ lifestyle. We figure that the added cost of sending technicians is worth the added exposure.”

Calvert, however, won’t be pedaling his way down the Baja coast: “I’ve got three kids, and they’re all Little League ages,” Calvert said. “It’s hard to pull a whole weekend away.”