DaytonDailyNews.com

Six locally owned outdoor specialty shops have joined to launch a slick Web site to help people find ways to get out.

The group of businesses, who will be familiar to outdoor gearheads, have formed the Dayton Outdoor Recreation Retailers Association, and put up go4theoutdoors.com that is a resource for many of the groups and activities in the region.

The initial six members cover most of the outdoor recreation bases:

• Great Miami Outfitters: backpacking, canoeing and kayaking.

• K&G Bike Center: bicycling.

• Up and Running: running, walking, triathlons.

• Urban Krag: climbing.

• Valleywood Ski and Snowboard Shop: snow sports.

• Whitewater Warehouse: paddlesport equipment and rentals.

The site was designed by Dan Schlegel, owner of Schlegel Creative Resources and the group's acting spokesman. It features links to the six founding members, many outdoor associations and clubs and a calendar of events open to any local outdoor recreation group.

Schlegel, who in 2007 opened Great Miami Outfitters in Miamisburg with his son Andrew, said the owners had met informally and started talking about pooling resources to get their message out.

"Each one of us as separate retailers have our own events or programming that probably a lot of people don't know about," Schlegel said. "So if you're interested in bicycling or climbing or skiing or backpacking or paddling, you'd be able to go to one place and see what is happening, in our stores as well as in other clubs."

The group's main message: Buy local.

All the local independent specialty retailers are competing against big box and online stores, Schlegel said, and the group wants people to realize they get more from their stores.

Schlegel said he and his son often see people who come into Great Miami Outfitters aiming to get info and buy online, but discover the prices are competitive and the gear and service is better.

For example, his store has an oven to custom mold backpacks. And they help customers get the correct fit for shoes and gear you can't get online.

"What we're really trying to promote is buy local, because of what that does from an economic standpoint," he said. "You know, we live here. We pay taxes here. We hire local people."

Susie Stein, owner of Up and Running in Washington Twp., said she hopes people get the message.

"All of this is about building the community," said Stein, who is expanding her store in Washington Square Plaza. "We're going to help our community, and we want our community to help us and know we're the experts in our business and come to us for that."

Contact this reporter at (937) 225-2393 or kmccall@Dayton

DailyNews.com.