RB ATHLETE IN THE NEWS
08:10 8/28/2008
Hey people, check out this great feature on Chris Cerci, RB Athlete, and career firefighter out in McKeesport, PA. We are very honored to have Chris on our team, and thought you all may enjoy reading the story on him in the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette.
Keep up the good work, Chris! You do us proud!
Another great weekend in the Land of Cheese!
21:46 8/18/2008
RIDE BACKWARDS just returned from an excellent training weekend at the Monroe Fire School up in Wisconsin. It was fun to see some old friends and hang with the boys from G&L Fire Gifts. The weekend wrapped up with a very cool fly-over and landing of two Med Flight helicopters (a highlight for big and little kids alike). We debuted some new gear at the event, including the VES t-shirt. We heard your requests to bring this design to a lightweight tee, so now you can have it either way: on a heavyweight sweatshirt or a lightweight t-shirt. The Truck Shorts were the biggest hit, followed closely by the Truckie In Training kids tee. (You gotta get something for little Spike.)
Thanks for hosting a great event and training opportunity, Monroe!
INTO THE FIRE
19:22 8/12/2008
Going up tonight on RIDE BACKWARDS is our latest firefighter performance t-shirt, the Fire Attack Nike Dri-FIT. We felt it was due time to show some love to all the hose jockeys on engine companies out there. So, grab the nob and get to it. First in wins.
And for you truck brothers, you are not forgotten. Check out the new RB Truck Shorts. Same great Nike Dri-FIT material as the Smoke Eaters, but black and marked with the irons. Forcible entry never felt so good. Don't step on the hose team on your way by.
* Both the Fire Attack and Truck Shorts are available in 3XL.
TAKE OUR NEW PRODUCT SURVEY
Click it!
23:21 7/25/2008
Hey, we want to hear from you guys. What do you wear? What do you want to wear? Help us create the firefighter athletic wear you're looking for. Take our New Product Survey and help us decide what gear you see next at RIDE BACKWARDS! It's only 11 quick questions. Click on the button to the right to begin. Thanks!
3XL
21:05 7/22/08
Hey, we heard your call for 3XL and we're getting some. RB is happy to report that we will be offering our new RB Compression in 3XL as well as our up-and-coming Nike Dri-FIT Truck Shorts that are in production right now. As we continue to restock our inventory and develop new firefighter athletic wear, we will add 3XL whenever we can.
In other news, we've restocked the RB Irish and Team Maltese pocketed mesh shorts. We still need to get some XXLs in black, but they are coming! (Hopefully we can do these in a 3XL also.) Stay tuned and check back. We are always up to something at Ride Backwards, in our never-ending quest to bring you guys the best firefighter gear we can think up.
NEW SALE PAGE
22:11 7/11/2008
Just wanted to let you know that we have a new feature on the RIDE BACKWARDS website, it's the SALE PAGE. We decided to create a separate section that contains all the firefighter athletic wear that we're discontinuing and offering at rock-bottom prices. Check it out to find incredible deals on stuff we need to clear out.
COMPRESS THIS
19:14 6/22/2008
RIDE BACKWARDS has a brand new long sleeve, the RB Compression, and it pretty much does what it says. This base layer is engineered of body-fitting technical fabric for anti-chafing and optimal ventilation. A competitor's must have.
We are also busting out our latest RB Logo PT, the PT3. Made of the same ultra-light Nike Dri-FIT material as the Pike Sleeveless, it's a firefighter workout t-shirt perfect for any event.
FLEX IT!
23:16 6/15/2008
While you're out there flexing your muscles in the yard, at the gym or on the job, throw on the brand new RIDE BACKWARDS Flexfit firefighter baseball cap. This cap combines the classic styling you love with the latest in performance engineering that you will come to love once it is sitting on top of your head. With two hits of fire embroidery, front and back, it looks good in whatever direction you wear it.
We like it backwards.
GO AHEAD, YOU DESERVE IT
21:50 6/5/2008
Huge Father's Day savings at RIDE BACKWARDS! Go ahead and buy yourself something nice for Father's Day - it is your day after all. If you can't afford the plasma t.v., you can at least get a comfy pair of sweats to lay on the couch and watch your old set in. Better yet, why not get a pair of shorts and get those legs out in the sun? Show yourself or the father in your life some love by upgrading his wardrobe a notch. It's time those 70's-style cotton shorts hit the rag bin. Try some super lightweight Dri-FIT or mesh shorts which will keep you cool without chafing. RIDE BACKWARDS has a whole bunch of great Firefighter Dad gifts on sale now through Father's Day, as we attempt to make room for new designs this summer. Check out the shop page for quality gifts in every price range. "Happy Father's Day!"
CHAMPIONS!
10:00 5/27/2008
Congratulations to RB Athletes Chris Cerci and Keith Ashbury on their gold medal run at the Asheville Firefighter Combat Challenge this past weekend! Chris and Keith tore up the course numerous times, and took first place in the Over 40 Tandem with a time of 1:34.02. How cool is that? Chris was also the gold medal winner of the individual Over 40 division running a 1:49.50. We are very proud of them both, and could not ask for better representation.
RIDE BACKWARDS is also pleased to announce that lightning quick MacKenzie Briggs from Palm Beach County Fire Rescue in Florida has joined the RB Team. MacKenzie finished 4th in the overall standings running a 1:38.35, and teamed up with Chris in the Male Tandem Relay for a second place finish. Both of these guys finished in the Top 10. We could not be happier with the results of our athletes. All three in the top 25! It was awesome to watch.
Check out their results and other great firefighter athletes at the Scott Firefighter Combat Challenge website.
WE REMEMBER
10:40 5/25/2008
Rarely am I at a loss, but I have restarted this dispatch more than five times because I cannot find adequate words to describe the thanks and honor due to all who served and are serving right now in our armed forces. So I will stumble through this and say,
“Thank you for sacrificing your life, thank you for selflessly inviting terror, chaos, frustration, and pain into your daily life and the lives of your families as they wait, wonder, and pray you will soon return. Thank you (even though you don’t know me, and may not even like me if you did) for sacrificing your dreams, your arms and legs, your marriages, and your sanity, all so I can sit and safely write this openly and freely on my laptop. Thank you.”
We cannot let Memorial Day pass without remembering our heroes past and present. Without the sacrifices made by these brave soldiers we would not have what we do today: freedom. We’re thinking about you, brothers and sisters. We owe you big time. Thank you.
RIDE BACKWARDS IS HITTIN' THE ROAD
07:45 5/21/2008
We are psyched to be a vendor at the Firefighter Combat Challenge in Asheville, NC, this weekend. You can't ask for a more beautiful location for the FFCC. It'll be great to cheer on two of our RB Athletes, Chris Cerci and Keith Ashbury, who will be rippin' up the course in both tandem & individual races. We're also looking forward to meeting retired FDNY Captain & author Mike Stefano, one of the great leaders in firefighter fitness, who will be speaking at the event. If you're planning on attending, stop by the RB booth and check out our latest gear.
THE 2008 FF SHORTS ARE IN
20:01 5/1/2008
It was 70 degrees in Chicago today, and the warmer weather arrived just in time for the debut of our 2008 RB firefighter shorts. There's something for everyone this year: more colors, styles, mesh, poly, Dri-FIT, pockets or no pockets, long or short inseams... our goal was to put out a variety of quality materials with both new designs and traditional FD favorites. As of this dispatch we are fully stocked, so don't be last out of the barn on this call for new firefighter athletic shorts.
YEAH, SHORTS!
09:05 4/24/2008
Our new shorts are up and we are psyched! RIDE BACKWARDS is very excited to introduce our new Smoke Eater Dri-FIT performance shorts, which are without question the coolest (literally) thing we sell. Made of Nike's latest ultra-light Dri-FIT, you barely notice they're on your body when you have them on. We also now have the FD Gym Short, which is a nod in the direction of the athletic department gear you grew up wearing in school and rec league. Two new colors are on the way for our Team Maltese shorts as well. (We are all very happy the snow has finally melted in Chicago!)
NEW GEAR ON THE WAY
19:47 4/11/2008
Despite all signs to the contrary, spring has arrived. The sun may not be shining here in the Windy City, but that's no reason to sit on the couch. RIDE BACKWARDS is breaking out some great new firefighter workout apparel this spring. We have new designs on performance wear coming your way very soon. We're introducing two new pairs of shorts, another Dri-FIT sleeveless, and a new pair of embroidered lightweight training pants with pockets. The design team has done a sweet job on these. Keep checking back, because just as soon as they are out of production they will be online.
THE RB BLAZE HAS ARRIVED
18:44 3/28/2008
Our latest in lightweight moisture-wicking technology has arrived. The new RB Blaze is a Dri-release firefighter performance tee that feels like your favorite, old, soft cotton t-shirt. The bonus: it drys four times faster than cotton. Available in two different color combinations, the classic silver & red (after our favorite pick head axe) or the eye-catching red/orange flame duo.
We are also hard at work on a new little kids t-shirt for toddlers AND infants called the "Truckie In Training". Other new items to watch for this spring are a new pair of lightweight training pants and another performance golf polo. We have lots of new items and designs in the works, so check back often and see what's just arrived.
HAPPY EASTER!
photo by Tom Schaefer
07:20 3/23/2008
"My command is this: Love each other as I have loved you. Greater love has no one than this, that one lay down his life for his friends." John 15:12-13.
HAPPY EASTER!
NEW DRI-RELEASE IS ON THE WAY!
21:05 3/14/2008
RIDE BACKWARDS is psyched to announce we have a brand new Dri-release tee in production! It's the same great-fitting, moisture-wicking fabric with a sweet new design. By far a fan favorite, we are excited to bring you another firefighter performance t-shirt for your spring workouts.
Wishing you all the best on St. Patrick's Day!
SAD NEWS
11:41 3/07/2008
Our hearts and prayers go out to the family, friends, and crew of the Salisbury firefighters who died this morning at the Millwork fire. Our thoughts and prayers are with those who were injured. You gave all, brothers - rest in peace.
MFD SHORT CLOSEOUT SALE
19:38 2/24/2008
Hey all you mesh short fans, RIDE BACKWARDS has decided to discontinue the MFD Mesh Shorts. Therefore, we are holding a closeout sale on them until all sizes are gone. We will not be making any more of these because we want to make different shorts. If you have any suggestions for a certain style of firefighter shorts, drop us a note at info@ridebackwards.com. In the meantime, grab a pair of MFD shorts while they last.
Also, for those of you in the Chicagoland area on Saturday, March 1st, RIDE BACKWARDS will be on the Southside at the 1st Annual Merrionette Park Firematic Flea Market. You can find more details and the location of the event here.
PRIDE & GLORY
12:55 2/18/2008
Feel it in one of these. We've got a new long sleeve, and we decided to go with 100% combed ringspun cotton on our Truck Work Tee, making it stronger & lighter than regular cotton. This is a really great looking and feeling shirt. Athletically cut and super lightweight, you can wear it anywhere.
In other news, St. Patrick's Day is fast approaching so we thought it would be fun to honor our Irish brothers with some kelly green pride. The RB Irish Tee is a no-frills, Celtic-inspired tribute that is simple, clean, and green.
RED HOT VALENTINE'S DAY SALE
13:09 2/10/2008
T-SHIRT FOR THE NEW GUY
19:27 2/1/2008
Tell your crew's new rookie how you really feel about him with his very own Big Rookie t-shirt. Due to popular demand, we bring you a Rookie t-shirt for the big kids. Same exact design, just in larger sizes. Nothing says welcome to the firehouse better than a cold bucket of water, relentless taunting... and perhaps a t-shirt with his name on it, "ROOKIE".
TWO NEW OFFERINGS
20:02 1/27/2008
Hey, we're psyched. The brand spankin' new VES Hoodie is done and it turned out even better than we hoped. We did this up on a 12 oz. black hooded sweatshirt that is super soft, but very rugged. This could be our best design yet, you decide.
We also are test-driving the digitized art format with our Pride of the Eastside hand-drawn ladder tee. We wanted to see what would happen if you put a very cool pencil drawing on the back of a white t-shirt, as if the artist had drawn it right on there. Take a look. The graphic quality of the pencil strokes is still evident, which is a nice effect. If people dig this we will make more, but for now there are only a few to see how it goes over.
BLACK LOGO SHORTS HERE!
11:08 1/12/2008
Finally, the long-awaited RB Logo Shorts have arrived. We wanted to do a lightweight polyester workout short for a long time, but were not willing to compromise quality or sacrifice price, and we wanted them to be BLACK. Well, with these Nike 100% poly training shorts, we finally achieved our purpose. Versatile, stylish, and well-stitched. The added bonus - these come in smaller sizes, so the ladies and the kids can grab a pair, too!
MERRY CHRISTMAS
11:14 12/24/2007
MERRY CHRISTMAS! The Crew at Ride Backwards would like to wish all of you a very merry Christmas and a safe & happy New Year! Thanks for making our first Christmas a great experience for us. There is MUCH we have learned, and many friends to whom we are greatly indebted for such a successful debut. THANK YOU! We are very psyched to continue on our quest to bring you quality firefighter athletic wear with original designs at great prices in 2008. Look for some hot new items soon.
PLEASE! Keep your ideas and requests coming our way. We want your feedback, especially if you didn't like something you received. That is really key info for us to have in order to give you the best service and to keep our quality top notch. We really do care. If there's anything we could do better, change, or you just have a suggestion, let us know, and we'll do our best to make it happen. Oh, and if you just feel like telling us about something you liked, please don't hesitate. Contact us at INFO@RIDEBACKWARDS.COM
Stay safe out there! Remember, there's no place like home for the holidays. Tell your friends and family to be careful; all we did yesterday at work was go on rollovers!
Peace.
SALE! SALE! SALE!
21:06 11/21/2007
It's finally here, the Christmas sale you've been waiting for. We are here to make your Christmas shopping easy this year. Get it done. Tell your wife, your mother, your sister, and the guy on your crew that still hasn't returned your nail gun to go to ridebackwards.com and buy you some red-hot firefighter apparel. We've got smoke eatin', alarm ringin', never sleepin', deals for you from now until December 1st. So shop now, eat your turkey, then drop on your couch and get your nap on... and have a Merry Christmas.
HELMET STICKERS
19:14 11/14/2007
Yes, that's right, we got 'em. These are vinyl and UV protected so they will hold up on your car or helmet or your forehead, or wherever you stick it.
In other news, we are getting some pink (yes, it's true) pink Little Rookie t-shirts for those "must-have-pink" Moms and daughters out there. We didn't get a ton because, well, we just didn't, so get your pink on while they last.
SOUND THE ALARM!
21:35 11/5/2007
It's in, it's in! The Box Alarm Nike Dri-FIT long sleeve has finally arrived, and we are really psyched about it. I can't say for certain, but I'm pretty sure this could be a one-of-a-kind t-shirt design. It turned out really cool.
GOOD THINGS ARE HAPPENING IN FLORIDA!
20:35 10/31/2007
Hey peoples, the Public Safety Ice Hockey Tournament Charity Auction is happening NOW until November 16th. The Orlando Firefighter Hockey Club is running the auction in conjunction with their annual hockey tournament, and proceeds are going to the Muscular Dystrophy Association of Central Florida. RIDE BACKWARDS has some gear up for grabs, along with many other donors, so check out their auction here, bid on one of the many cool items that are available and help a very worthy cause. There's lots of stuff to choose from, especially if you're going to be heading down that way on vacation.
WE NEVER SLEEP
20:13 10/10/2007
Our very first long sleeve has arrived! The "We Never Sleep" long sleeve t-shirt. A departure from the lightweight moisture wicking fabrics we are used to working with, we decided to go with 100% natural cotton on this one as the style fit the design perfectly. We liked the look of this shirt, and knew it had to be the choice for our throw-back design to a firefighting era gone by. It can stand alone, or be worn as a base layer underneath another t-shirt. Stay tuned, a long sleeve Dri-FIT performance tee is coming soon.
HATS, HATS, & MORE HATS!
20:51 9/30/2007
The Beanies are in, and the RB long sleeve is in production! That is exciting stuff. We are psyched about the fleece beanies, they turned out really nice and are perfect for the cooler days to come. Check them out here. In other news, we have received some great pictures from some of you, but still need more of you in RB gear for our website. Keep them coming, especially if you have a Little Rookie. Feel free to be creative (but not naughty). Last but not least, the RB Black baseball caps will be ready next week. This hat looks and fits like a traditional style cap that you'd get at a ball game, but is made with high performance fabrics for moisture absorption and durability. That's all I got, later.
BACK AT IT
23:14 9/17/2007
Once again, we are back at our design tables and hard at work on some new RB products for you guys. We will be introducing the RB Fleece Beanie in both black and camo, and we also are adding a sweet, black, structured baseball cap. Our long sleeve t-shirt is still getting some final tweaks in the design phase and will debut very soon. Check back as we hope to get this stuff out ASAP.
9/11 TRIBUTE SALE
15:08 9/9/2007
On Tuesday September 11th, RIDE BACKWARDS will be holding a major sale in rememberance of the brave heroes who made the ultimate sacrifice. To commemorate the 6th anniversary and to honor the heroes still with us, we will be offering huge savings on all of our products. This sale will start at midnight and run a full 48 hours.
SEND US YOUR PICTURE!
23:23 8/29/2007
We want to see you in our gear. Send us a photograph of yourself or your kid in one of our products. We are collecting images to post on the RIDE BACKWARDS website, and yours could be one of them. Now's your chance for that modeling career you always dreamed of. You don't have to be David Beckham or Posh Spice, we just want a good picture. At work, play, or in the leathers, we want to see what you're up to in RB gear. (Keep it clean as this is a family site, you know!) Send your photos to info@ridebackwards.com
WE'RE BACK
23:11 8/22/2007
Our adventure at the Monroe Fire School was great fun. We met a lot of cool firefighters & their families and enjoyed our time at the Green County Fairgrounds. The weather was a bit uncooperative, but nothing a couple of tarps and several bungee cords couldn't handle. We are excited to be back in the city and hard at work on new products and ideas that we plan on bringing to you soon. Be on the lookout for the white Nike sleeveless "nozzle" performance tee. It'll be available soon. We are also finalizing our design for a long sleeve t-shirt. Thanks to all that stopped by and visited us in Monroe, and kudos to the Fire School staff.
RIDE BACKWARDS ROAD SHOW
16:04 8/5/2007
Hey, we're taking RIDE BACKWARDS on the road, and may be coming to a town near you. RIDE BACKWARDS is going to be representing at the 71st Annual
Monroe Fire School the weekend of August 17-19, at the Green County Fairgrounds in Monroe, WI. We are honored to be included at one of the best fire training events in the midwest.
Our second stop on the magical mystery tour is the Scott Air-Pak Midwest Regional Firefighter Combat Challenge in Milwaukee, WI, September 7-8. If you are going to one or both of these events, stop by and say hi. We'll be debuting some new items on the road that we're pretty excited about. Hope to see you there.
FLEECE SWEATPANTS
21:30 7/14/2007
Here's the latest and the greatest news from RIDE BACKWARDS: We now have sweatpants!
Yes we do, and they are mighty fine... They're not cheap (because they're not cheap), but well worth every penny. If you've never owned any cotton fleece before, this is the time. Not only are these suckers warm, but they are super soft as well. Besides having pockets, they also have an adjustable ankle cuff, so you can cinch or not cinch to your heart's content (depending on your mood or purpose). We fancied them up with traditional fire embroidery on the right leg to add a touch of class. Believe me, if you don't buy anything else from us, buy the RB Premier Fleece. You won't regret it.
FOURTH OF JULY FREEDOM SALE
12:01 7/4/2007
After 231 years, the United States is still going strong. And to celebrate our Declaration of Independence, we are declaring a 4th of July holiday sale. RIDE BACKWARDS is offering some major savings to our loyal returning customers and to those lucky shoppers who just happen to stumble across our site today. Consider this a big thank you and salute to all our soldiers, past and present, who have made the ultimate sacrifice for our country. Thank you, John Adams, Thomas J. and all the founding brothers. Happy 4th of July to you all!
HOT HOT HOT
12:20 6/30/2007
Fire up the barbeque and fire up your workout with style this summer. The only heat you need to fight is what's coming off your grill, so keep yourself cool & dry with a new pair of RB mesh shorts and a Smoke Eater tee. Can't beat the heat? We've recently added a super-absorbent, terry velour workout towel that's a great accessory for your gym or golf bag. And not to forget the little ones, the rookies on your crew can now strut their stuff at the 4th of July parade in their very own Little Rookie duty t-shirt. A must for any junior firefighter in training.
WHAT DO YOU THINK?
21:03 6/18/2007
Hey, we've got a cool new button for you to push. It's called "Vote", and it lets you interact with us about our future products. Click it now.
Yeah, click that.
DON'T FORGET FATHER'S DAY
21:45 6/7/2007
Try something different this year for Father's Day or graduation. Let the ones you love share your pride in the job. Get them a new firefighting t-shirt for the gym (maybe it'll psyche them up) or a pair of shorts for cutting the grass. I'm telling you, mesh shorts are the way to go, and once you go, you'll never go back. Order by June 11th to make sure it gets there in time.
SMOKE EATER HOODIES ARE IN!
17:33 6/5/2007
The long awaited Smoke Eater Hoodie has arrived, and I must say, it's pretty darn sweet... Due to the popularity of the design, we also created a Smoke Eater Performance Tee on ultrasoft dri-release. I don't think these will be around too long so you might want to act fast.
TALK TO US
23:52 5/31/2007
Hey, we want to hear from you guys. What do you think? What do you need? What do you wish you had that you can't find anywhere else? Send an email to info@ridebackwards.com and tell us what you're looking for. We heard from some folks that they wanted to see a toddler t-shirt, so even though that's not quite workout-specific, it's a cool idea and we're making it happen. Another guy said he really liked to workout in sleeveless t-shirts so we're working on that, too. Our primary goal is to supply firefighters with the best workout apparel possible, but we are open to any good product or design idea related to the job.