WORLD CHAMPION MOUNTAIN BIKER TINKER JUAREZ TIES THE KNOT AT ANSE CHASTANET IN ST. LUCIA

ST. LUCIA, July 6, 2006Š Mountain biking champion rider Tinker Juarez married micro-biologist Terry Slifko on July 6 at Anse Chastanet Resort in St. Lucia.

The ceremony was attended by close family and friends and took place in the Resort's Treehouse Restaurant overlooking the Anse Chastanet beach and the Caribbean Sea. The wedding cake sported 2 miniature bikes. After the ceremony, the wedding party sailed into the sunset on the resort yacht Serenity.

Tinker Juarez who is also referred to as "Cannondale's mountain bike icon" is the 4 time US 24 Hour Solo Champion, 3 time NORBA XC Champion, 2 time Olympian, Gold Medalist- Pan Am Games, and just finished third in the 2006 RAAM Race Across America.Tinker's long standing involvement with BIKE ST.LUCIA, ANSE CHASTANET's mountain biking facility on St.Lucia's Caribbean west coast, made the island and the resort the perfect location for this event, Tinker said. "I have always felt very comfortable in St.Lucia, and now Terri has come to love the island and its people as much as I have. We feel very at home here and Anse Chastanet is one of the most romantic places I have ever been to." The couple will continue their honeymoon at ANSE CHASTANET before returning to their Winter Park, Florida home where they will be busy making preparations for the birth of their twins!

ANSE CHASTANET RESORT which has been voted to be "One of the World's Top Ten Most Romantic Resorts" by A&E television is set amidst a 600 acre lush tropical estate with 2 soft sand beaches, 8000 feet of Caribbean coastline and breathtaking views of St. Lucia's twin Piton mountains rising out of the calm Caribbean Sea. Aside from catering to escapists and honeymooners like Tinker, ANSE CHASTANET has developed a very successful soft adventure program, including a professional scuba centre, miles of biking and hiking trails, a mountain bike facility with 50 Cannondale bikes for rental, as well as a specialty kayak division for coastal kayaking. Visit Tinker's website at www.tinkerjuarez.com and visit ANSE CHASTANET at www.ansechastanet.com.

Bike St. Lucia...Leaders in biking adventure!

The new F800 2003 Cannondales are a quantum step up from our previous F800 2000 Cannondales. They have Shimano/Hayes hydraulic disc brakes, a new lighter and stronger CAAD 5 frame, and feature Cannondale's patented titanium Lefty front fork. Our serious commitment to providing the best equipment, trails and bike adventure remains as strong as ever.
Unlike all other bikes with a double fork in the front, there is just one fork on the left. No other bike manufacturer in the world makes a bike with this amazing feature. They handle superbly and provide an incredible ride. You are sure to be talking about your adventure riding a "one forked bike" to anyone who asks how your ride was. It is an experience that you can get on no other bike adventure, at any other resort, on any other Caribbean island. It's unique. This, combined with our personalized service and great riding trails, makes Anse Chastanet the place to stay for those who enjoy biking.
Plus we've added two new trails recently, the Creeping Fig Loop and Sawe Trail, that take you even farther into the jungle. Sawe Trail crosses the river and winds around, under a fallen palm tree at one point, and brings you to a secluded, quiet glen by the river.

Creeping Fig Loop - New Single Track for 2002

A brand new single track, Creeping Fig Loop, was completed on January 1, 2002. The new loop will be rated Yellow or lower intermediate. The other three single tracks, Banja, French Wall and Bamboo Rock Loops, are rated red or intermediate. Tinker’s Trail is rated Black or expert.

For those riders who want to have a slight more challenge and a lot more fun than the entry level trails, the Creeping Fig Loop will be a great next step up. The trail starts just past the swimming hole and follows the course of the river. The trail then turns back to the right and heads straight for the rocky cliff face covered in tropical ferns and roots from trees growing on the cliff. With the rocky cliff at your elbow, the trail winds its way up and down, between rocks and trees until you exit down a short hill adjacent to the entrance of the loop. Had a great time? Go right back and ride it again!

As you ride the Creeping Fig Loop, you will see several different types of citrus trees growing there. In season, help yourself to a fresh orange, grapefruit or tangerine.

The Old Reservoir

In the Works! Currently, we are in the process of revitalizing the old reservoir built in the 1700's into an old fashioned swimming hole. (See photo) We hope that by December (rain permitting) we can have it available for use, with full operation by January. There will be inner tubes, rafts, and rope swings as part of the finished product. The nice thing about the site, about the size of three Olympic swimming pools, is that it sits in the middle of the lush tropical environment nearly hidden from view until you are right up on it. It will be another one of its kind only available at Bike St. Lucia. Don't miss it!

Cannondale Technical Course at Bike St. Lucia

Derrick Miller, Cannondale's chief technician at their Bedford, PA factory, made a visit to Bike St. Lucia's facility in August. He trained Bike St. Lucia's three mechanic/trail patrol staff in the finer points of Headshok maintenance and repair, as well as hubs, rim truing and other important maintenance items. The three staff members were presented certificates of completion at the end of the course.  

By the end of the 5 day course, Jungle Biking's(tm) Marvin Andrew, Joevan Gabriel and Nial Symphorien, were well versed in completely taking apart and putting back together the Cannondale Headshoks.

Riders will appreciate the smoothness of well-maintained shocks while Jungle Biking™ on the super bike trails found at Bike St. Lucia's facility.   Derrick Miller, himself an experienced rider and veteran of races, found that even the first level trails were very exciting and great fun to ride, be it at a faster pace than the average rider, however. Although time didn't permit a ride on Tinker's Trail, Derrick is looking forward to coming back and giving it a go.   Cannondale graciously loaned Derrick to Bike St. Lucia for the course and both parties got great benefit from the time spent together. And riders benefit from having great bikes to ride that are maintained to their intended level of performance.

Tinker Wins Again…3rd Straight Victory Brings National Title

Tinker won the 24 Hours of Adrenalin race in Winter Park, Colorado on August 4-5, 2001 on his Cannondale team bike. That victory won him the US National title to go along with his 3 previous national Norba mountain biking titles.

As happened in the previous race, Tinker won the race and was two laps, or more than 2 hours ahead of the second place finisher, Nat Ross in the Norba Solo category. In fact, Tinker’s number of laps and time was better than the 2 man team winners in the 2 Person category.
To top off the race weekend for Tinker, there was the announcement of his selection into the Mountain Bike Hall of Fame in the racer category. Congratulations Tinker, a well-deserved honor and one Cannondale should be very pleased with as well. The induction ceremony takes place during Interbike 2001 in Las Vegas.
Tinker’s next 24 hour endurance race will be the World Championship in September in Idyllwild, California.

If you have any encouraging emails you’d like forwarded to Tinker, especially you 40-somethings, send them to us and we’ll make sure Tinker gets them. Our email address is bikestlucia@candw.lc

Scuba Biking Anyone?

ANSE CHASTANET, St. Lucia's premier scuba hideaway, recently added to its facilities 10 miles of private mountain biking trails through lush tropical forests and a biking facility with no less than 50 CANNONDALE F800 suspension bikes! While the Resort has not yet perfected its plans to offer scuba biking safaris, you can in the meantime enjoy these 2 great activities separately.
A 7-night SCUBA BIKING package including accommodation, 6 days of diving or biking, airport transfers, breakfast, lunch, dinner, all tax and service, a welcome cocktail, snorkelling and other watersports is available from US 1475 per person July 14 - Sept 17, 2001. Divers must be certified.

Contact 888- GO LUCIA ( 465-8242 ) or the Resort at 758-459-7000 (Fax 758-459-7700), email ansechastanet@candw.lc for further details.