With the first mountain bike races of 2013 less than a month away, I realized that a blog update was LONG overdue.  In addition to updating the 2013 roster, I think that it is appropriate for the first entry to be a HUGE thank you to our sponsors for 2013.  I was blown away by the number of local (and not so local) businesses out there who are willing to support healthy lifestyles and cycling advocacy in the Bangor area.  Let’s reciprocate and support these fantastic businesses!  Links to their websites can be found on the right hand side bar of this page.

Qualey Granite and Quartz:  Qualey Granite and Quartz is a full service provider of stone countertops and flooring.  Their 45,000 square foot facility is located in Veazie, but their customer base extends from Northern Maine to Cape Cod.  In addition to being the title sponsor for the Qualey Granite/Rose Bike Race team, Qualey Granite & Quartz operates their Rescue Dogs Rock! Charity branch to support local animal rescue groups like the Bangor Humane Society, Fast Friends Greyhound Rescue, the Conway Area Humane Society, The Hancock SPCA & the Bucksport Animal Shelter.

Rose Bike Shop:  Since opening in 1986, Rose Bike Shop has become synonymous with cycling in the Orono/Bangor area.  Ask any local or UMaine student/alum, and they’ll tell you that Rose Bike Shop is the only place to go for all of your biking and Nordic skiing needs.  So stop by the shop, so Jim and his crew can set you up on two wheels to ride the trails/road!

Verve Burritos:  Verve means vitality and enthusiasm.  The mission of Verve Burritos is to provide these qualities to the community through a fun, inviting atmosphere and quick, healthy, delicious food. This is the PERFECT place to stop after or during a big weekend trail ride.  The crew at Verve is also excited to announce that they are breaking ground on a new burrito shop in Downtown Bangor.  Our race team is  thrilled to be Fueled By Verve Burritos in 2013.

Woodman’s Bar and Grill:  There is a reason why they are THE place to go for great food and nightlife in Downtown Orono…. they have it all.  Fantastic atmosphere, great beer selection, friendly and knowledgeable staff, best drinks in the area.   Nothing tastes better after a big trail ride than one of their gourmet burgers and one of their local beers.  One of the co-owners, Abe Furth, is a fixture in the local cycling and fitness scene, and he will beat you on the trails.

United Insurance:  From loggers to lobstermen, bankers to builders, teachers to town governments, more and more Mainers are turning to United Insurance for personal, committed service that has made them one of the largest independent agencies in the state.  Qualey Granite/Rose Bike Racing is thankful to have support from United Insurance, as well as the legs and lungs of the President & CEO, Chris Condon, for the 2013 season.

Black Bear Brewery:  Black Bear Brewery is Orono’s family owned and operated microbrewery and tap room. They distribute draft beer in Maine and sell pints, tasters and growlers from the brewery.  They take pride in our hand-crafted, small-batch beers.  They use the highest quality ingredients and the greatest care to bring you the finest products. We hope you enjoy them as much as we do.

Honey Stingers:  Honey Stinger's energy and protein bars, waffles, gels and chews are all-natural foods designed for athletes and great for anyone looking for a healthy snack. Honey Stinger is pure natural energy.  We are thrilled to be part of The Hive for 2013.  This stuff rules!

Neal Dealer Services:  You probably haven’t heard of Neal Dealer Services unless you have worked on the scene of a logging operation in the Maine woods, but Jason is dedicated to providing logging crews with valuable support regarding OSHA regulations and workplace safety. 

Orono Spectral Solutions:  OSS is a Maine-based company dedicated to providing its customers with innovative solutions for the trace level detection and identification of chemical and biological targets by incorporating novel sampling methodologies with proven capabilities of optical spectroscopic techniques.  In addition to being huge nerds, OSS employees can handle their own on two wheels.