SNOQUALMIE – What started out as a casual group going on a weekly ride through the Valley has became a championship cycling team for a Snoqualmie bike shop owner and other local biking enthusiasts.

Loren Morris, who owns Singletrack Cycles in Snoqualmie, led a team this year that placed fourth overall in downhill racing and second overall in the cross-country races in the Washington Idaho Montana (WIM) Series race circuit.

“It was really amazing,” Morris said.

It was only the second year the team has competed in the race series, which was held in locations all over Washington and Idaho this past year.

Morris said he met most of the members of the team through a ride around Snoqualmie he set up every Thursday. Morris organized the ride not too long after moving to Snoqualmie from California and opening up Singletrack in 2000.