(Newbury Park, CA) - - Giant Bicycle has signed a two year agreement to be the first-ever bicycle sponsor of the Hi-Tec Adventure Racing Series, one of the fastest growing sporting events in America.

Operating for 7 years, the Hi-Tec Adventure Racing Series will have hosted more than 26,400 adventurers by the end of the 2002 series. The Hi-Tec Adventure Racing Series will be televised nationally on the Outdoor Life Network (OLN), which is now available to over 36 million subscribers on a variety of cable systems, as well as on DIRECTV and The Dish Network.

"We are excited to have Giant Bicycle as the official bike of Hi-Tec Adventure Racing," states Michael Epstein, founder of the series. "A lot of the competitors have been using Giants for the mountain bike segment already, and it's great that Giant is seizing the opportunity to participate in this growing sport."

Giant representatives will conduct mountain bike skills clinics and bike safety checks, and one Giant NRS 3 full-suspension mountain bike will be given away and at each of the eight rounds of the series. The first event will be held Sunday, May 19 in Orchard Beach, New York. Go to the website of the Hi-Tec Series to see the complete 2002 schedule.

"We always want to be involved with sporting events that are breaking new ground and bringing in new cyclists," states Russ Okawa, Marketing Manager for Giant. "We have an interest in the adventure segment of mountain biking, and the Hi-Tec Series is the premier venue for this racing format."

Look for a feature photo of a conceptual Giant NRS Adventure Bicycle in the June issue of Mt. Bike magazine. The concept bike was built for the Shimano Bicycle Showcase at the Interbike Industry show last October and was named one of the top designs of the event.

Giant Bicycles are ridden and proven by US and Canadian National Downhill and Cross-Country Champions, the National Amateur 24 Hour Adventure Race Team Champions, the World Class ONCE Road Racing Team, former World Champion Downhill Racer Myles Rockwell, European Mountain Bike Champion Bart Brentjens, and the World Cup Winning Cross-Country Mountain Bike Team.

Check out the Giant website at www.giantbicycle.com, and contact Giant Bicycle USA at 1-800-US-GIANT.

— Posted by Ari Cheren, MountainZone.com Staff