Staff pumped for bicycle demo event

[attach]4262[/attach]Test drives aren’t just for cars anymore.

The Skiis and Biikes store near Don Mills Road and Eglinton Avenue will be showcasing nearly 200 bicycles on May 29 at their Bike Demo Day to be held at Kelso Conservation Centre in Milton.

For $10, cyclists will get to try out a wide selection of bikes on the local trails and roads. Given the terrain, there will mostly be mountain bikes at the event but some street bikes will be shown as well. Several how-to seminars will be going on to teach riders about basic bicycle maintenance.

There will also be a barbecue lunch and even a draw for bike giveaway, according to the store’s bike manager, Gary Balmer.

“It’s an awesome day of riding where they can take out any of the bikes that they wish and ride them through the trails all day,” Balmer said.

All proceeds from the annual event will go toward the Heart and Stroke Foundation, a charity with which the store is actively engaged. Riders and mechanics from Skiis and Biikes will be at this year’s Ride for Heart on June 5.

“We’ll have a group of riders that will go and participate in the ride as well as we offer technical support on the Don Mills ramp,” Balmer said.

The store also demonstrates its philanthropic efforts by offering discounts to other good Samaritans.

“We offer our support to riders of the Conquer Cancer ride so we’ll offer anyone doing that ride a in-store discount,” Balmer said.

Skiis and Biikes’ Don Mills location has been in business for nine years. It is located just a few pedals away from the scenic Don Valley Bicycle Path which runs down to Lake Ontario. For more information about the store’s events visit their website at [url]www.skiisandbiikes.com[/url] or call 416-391-0654.