From a backyard chicken coop to a global powerhouse: B.C.’s Norco bikes turns 60

It was 60 years agone erstwhile Norco laminitis Bert Lewis launched his caller institution retired of a makeshift storage successful a Burnaby chickenhearted coop.

“He wanted to bring much affordable cycles and better-designed bikes than what was presently disposable to nan Canadian market,” said longtime Norco worker Peter Stace-Smith.

The institution grew done nan 1970s pinch immoderate classical styles earlier a roar arsenic nan 1980s approached.

“We started getting into BMX and that was spirited much disconnected a motorcycle wherever it was benignant of for illustration a clone motorbike for kids,” said Norco Product Manager Jim Jamieson.

Norco produced immoderate iconic models during that era and became a family sanction successful Canada.

“I deliberation each kid talks astir nan 80s, ripping astir nan neighbourhood connected a BMX and building jumps successful nan quiet lot,” said Jamieson.

But it was nan mid-80s erstwhile things really started to return disconnected pinch nan caller athletics of upland biking.

“That changed everything very quickly,” said Stace-Smith.

“Homegrown successful B.C. No amended spot connected this satellite to person a upland biking brand,” said Gwen van Lingen pinch Norco Brand and Product.

The North Shore trails provided a world-class testing ground.

“That was a immense activity because Norco was a large portion of that. We were correct location and we were building bikes made for that,” said Jamieson.  “It moved nan institution extracurricular of Canada.”

Over nan years, they’ve had winning designs and podium finishes pinch immoderate of nan champion mill teams connected nan planet.

“If thing it’s gone amended and amended and better. Our existent World Cup squad is astir apt nan champion squad we’ve ever had,” said Stace-Smith.

The Lewis family still owns Norco six decades later – a long-running occurrence communicative that started pinch a large dream successful a mini chickenhearted coop.

“It takes a village, arsenic you know, truthful group are highly proud of nan history astatine Norco,” said van Lingen.

“This is conscionable nan beginning. So bent connected and buckle up for nan adjacent 60 years.”