The ZOIC 2011 Collection came together quite nicely and when we haven't been on the road selling it, we've been riding and taking some photos. Here's a quick peek at some of the looks and colors you can expect from ZOIC in 2011. We'd love to hear what you think!

A few weeks ago we spread some ZOIC love with a warehouse sale that sold off last season's samples and old inventory. Local riders got great deals on sharp threads and we donated 10% of the proceeds to Outdoor Outreach (link). We also poured FREE BEER for anyone who bought an SDMBA (link) pint glass, funding trail advocacy and development in San Diego County. And as a topper, all of the quarters from playing our arcade table went to SDMBA as well! I could say more, but sometimes others say it best:

A great big thank you to ZOIC! You and Eric really did a great job with the sale event and promoting
good causes. I saw many SDMBA members shopping there, and this past weekend I saw several people out riding in their new ZOIC Clothing. SDMBA appreciates your support and certainly the donated funds help
our organization do what it takes to open more trails in San Diego.

Thank you!
Minette Ozaki
San Diego Mountain Biking Association

If you have a cycling event that you think ZOIC should be involved in, please contact us (link). Just know what you want and be ready to tell us how your event promotes trail advocacy and having fun on bikes!

For those of you who caught Part I of this post, you know that at ZOIC we're very proud of our liners and the great job they do "covering your ass" while you're riding. In that post I mentioned that we're so confident that we asked a customer who purchased our Assault liners for a 9 week riding trip through India to give us feedback throughout his travels. I'll call this customer Chris (cuz that's his name). Well, Chris managed to get word to us a few weeks back and here finally are his comments:

"We are having a wonderful tour of India and I must say the liner shorts have far exceeded our expectations. Fit, comfort, and breath ability are outstanding even with an average day of 6 hours riding. Even the socks are just right. The outer shorts are a bit heavy but hey, it's nearly 100 degrees here. I will order up a pair of lighter shorts when I return for the hot Idaho summer coming up. I thank you daily for creating these wonderful liner shorts." - Chris

"15 long days in the saddle and no signs of wear and just as comfortable as day one.." - Chris

ZOIC exhibited at the 2010 Sea Otter Classic in Monterey, CA last weekend and man was it a fantastic event for cyclists! If you enjoy riding in any of its forms, this is *the* place to be every April. We were thrilled to have riders from all over California and the country seek us out to talk about ZOIC product, take advantage of our expo steals and deals, and most importantly recount the experiences we've all shared over 15 years of coming to Sea Otter and wearing ZOIC.

It was a perfect weekend with gorgeous weather, but we remember the bitter cold and rain 3 years ago when Eric's hot toddies saved countless souls, including the couple who now return each year with a flask of Jameson to repay the kindness and relive the misery of the 2007 Classic.

We enjoyed seeing the rider from North Carolina who comes every year or two, spots a killer expo deal and convinces his 3 buddies it's a must purchase. A few years back it was a longsleeve SportWool jersey, this time around it was the few '09 Ether shorts still on hand. You know you're treating the customer right when they become your #1 salesman!

There were jogs down memory lane with friends and business partners we've worked with over the years. We got the chance to say hi to ZOIC dealers who were scouting the expo for product information and soaking up the vibe; the CEO of one of our national retailers even took advantage of a bargain from our expo bins.

At ZOIC we pride ourselves on quality and value in everything we make. When it comes to our shorts, that means creating both outstanding functional outer shorts AND well constructed comfortable liners. In cycling short product pitches, reviews and photo ops, the outer short gets all the press while the liner rarely gets a mention. But the liner is a critical piece in determining how you feel during and after your ride. You're packing some pretty sensitive stuff into that liner, so it's imperative that the liner lives up to the quality of the short and the needs of your cycling.

We're SO confident in how ZOIC liners fit and perform, we sell them as a separate product. And given that they've been a steady seller for us, obviously our customers agree. In fact, a customer who recently purchased ASSault liners from us is putting them through a pretty rigorous test:

"Just got the assault liner, tried it on realized I have found the replacement liner short I have been looking for for years. I will be off shortly for a 9 week bike tour in India. I will give my feedback later upon my return. Happy trails, Chris"

Now we've never road-tested our products for NINE WEEKS STRAIGHT, but we're feeling up to the challenge. So I've asked Chris to keep us posted on his experiences during his trip and the performance of his new liners. Whatever he has to say, I'll be sure to share with you. And if he finds fault or suggests ways to make a great product even better, we'll certainly take notice. Because at ZOIC we're looking out for your ass.

Enjoy the ride!
Paul

A few images from our recent season ending ride on the famous Gooseberry Mesa.

A few weeks back on National Trails Day, we hosted a ride and sponsored raffle to raise money for our local non-profit we support, Outdoor Outreach.

What an amazing turnout! Through the support of industry sponsors that donated to our raffle and the friends and family who came out to support, we were able to raise over $1200. Thank you Bike Magazine, BOB Trailers, Carve, Clif Bar, Dakine, Electra Bicycles, GIRO, Gregory Mountain Products, and Niterider for donating such wonderful prizes!

“By having ZOIC put their energy and resources into this event, it allows Outdoor Outreach a venue to create local community awareness for the youth we serve as well as an opportunity to raise donations. All donations will allow us to grow capacity throughout our organization and help us continue to transform the lives of at-risk youth through comprehensive outdoor programming," said Chris Rutgers, executive director of Outdoor Outreach.

When: Saturday, June 6th, 2009
What: National Trails Day, 9-11 a.m. trail work with SDMBA, REI and SD County, 11-2 p.m. music, lunch, and pony rides, Outdoor Outreach/ZOIC ride will begin at 11:30, followed by the giveaway, around 1 p.m.
Where: Los Pensaquitos Adobe Ranch House on Canyonside Park Drive (12122 Canyonside Park Drive)
More information: www.zoic.com/ntd

Every year in the spring, we host a ZOIC and Outdoor Outreach trail ride in San Diego. It's a great way to get everyone together, raffle off some prizes, and ride some trails! Support Outdoor Outreach by purchasing your raffle ticket ahead of time.

Yesterday marked the first day of the Sea Otter Classic! Located in Monterey, CA, the event takes place from Wednesday, April 16th to Sunday, April 20th. Good luck to all the racers!

We're really excited to launch the new website. Spring 2009 products are arriving soon, so check out the new line.

We've added this blog in order to connect with our consumers directly. So we encourage you to add comments to the blog, review a product, and JOIN THE CONVERSATION. Connect with us via Facebook, Myspace and our new favorite tool, Twitter!

Keep Riding
~ZOIC Crew