Editor’s note: This blog post was written by Fred Clements, executive director of the National Bicycle Dealers Association. Clements’ previous blog posts can be read on bikedealerblog.wordpress.com.

One of the most important metrics for bike shop success is store traffic. Living and breathing visitors are a necessary part of the retail business model for brick-and-mortar stores. Without them, retailers would be left trying to sell bikes to air, and that is very hard to do.

Getting people into the store is becoming a greater challenge, though. New research shows that consumer traffic at bike shops is declining across the board. While this is distressing news at first glance, there are also clear opportunities to reverse the trend. 

The 2014 American Bicyclist Study, conducted by the Gluskin Townley Group, examined the demographics of adults who are current owners of bicycles. The fieldwork was done in February 2014 representing the 2013 calendar year. Results were then balanced to the U.S. population based on the latest U.S. Census data.

The data shows that 26 million adults (age 18 and older) owned a bicycle in 2013, up 2.5 percent from 2011. That's the good news. The bad news is that most bike owners visited a bike shop at least once (51 percent) in 2011, but in 2013 the number fell to just 41 percent. The average number of visits fell from 3.98 in 2011 to 2.86 in 2013. 

More disturbing for the specialty industry is that the decline is not limited to one consumer segment of cyclists. It is affecting all groups, defined here in four clusters: Infrequents, Casuals, Moving Ups and Enthusiasts.

Infrequents are the least involved, representing 12.6 million people out of the 26 million adult bike owners in 2013 (ages 18 and older). In 2013, they rode an average of 7.9 miles in a warm-weather month and spent an average of $134.60 on their most recent bicycle. They visited bike shops one time in 2011 (the mean) and about the same in 2013. For the specialty industry they may be described as Wal-Mart customers. 84 percent didn’t visit a bike shop at all in 2013. 

Casuals, 5 million of them, rode an average of 19.6 miles in a warm-weather month and spent $275.07 on their last bicycle. They visited a bike shop an average of 2.16 times in 2011, but fewer than two times in 2013 (1.99).

Moving Ups, 4.3 million people, rode an average of 32.3 miles in a warm-weather month that year, and their last bike cost an average of $457.44. They visited bike shops four times in 2011 and 2.66 times in 2013. 

Enthusiasts numbered 3.8 million who rode an average 141.9 miles in a warm-weather month and spent an average of $1,231.37 on their last bicycle. They visited a shop 7.36 times in 2011 and just 5.34 times in 2013.

Store visits also declined across generations. 

The Silent Generation, approximate current ages 70 to 89, represented 5.1 million bike owners. Some 42 percent visited a bike shop at least once in 2011. In 2011, they visited a shop an average of 5.2 times; in 2013, it was just two times. 

Baby Boomers, ages 50 to 69, totaled 9.4 million bike owners, of which 47 percent visited a bike shop in 2011, but just 33 percent in 2013. The average number of visits was 4.3 in 2011 and 2.4 in 2013. 

Generation X, ages 30 to 49, was represented by 11.5 million bike owners in 2011 and 8.8 million in 2013. Sixty percent of Gen Xers visited a bike shop in 2011, an average of 4.3 times, compared with 46 percent visiting a shop in 2013 an average of 3.2 times.

Gen Y, ages 10 to 29, had 5.1 million people in 2011 and 5.3 million in 2013 (again, those 18 and older are included). Forty-two percent visited a bike shop an average of 5.2 times in 2011, compared with 52 percent visiting 2.96 times in 2013. 

Intent to buy a bike is also different by generation. Twenty-seven percent of Generation X planned to buy a new bike in 2014 (2,393,820 people), as did 29 percent of Generation Y (1,537,000 people). Only 10 percent of Baby Boomers planned to buy a new bike this year (948,700 people), and 5 percent of the Silent Generation (117,400 people). 

They’re also planning to buy used. Thirty-one percent of Gen Xers and 37 percent of Gen Y planned to buy used. The numbers for Boomers and Silents were 20 percent and 14 percent, respectively.

Gender is another area in flux. In 2011, 48 percent of bike owners were females. Females became the majority in 2013, representing 51 percent, a growth of 871,000. 

The decline in female shop visits was greater than for males though. In 2011, 57 percent of females did not visit a bike shop. In 2013, the number was 62 percent. Females averaged 3.74 bike shops visits in 2011. That number fell by a full visit to 2.7 in 2013. Male shop visits fell by about half a visit, from 3.49 to 3.01.

There is also a trend favoring females by generation. The younger the generational group of bike owners, the more female it becomes. The Silent Generation of bike owners was 29 percent female, and Baby Boomers 41.6 percent. For Generations X and Y, females are 61 percent and 60 percent of the bike-owning population, respectively. 

Race is another changing demographic. Younger groups of bike owners are much more diverse than their elders. Whites represented 93 percent of bike owners of the Silent Generation, 91 percent of Baby Boomers, 83 percent Generation X and 72 percent Generation Y. The largest growth areas are among African-American and Hispanic people. 

Years ago demographer Brad Edmonson encouraged the bicycle industry to diversify. He said there’s no reason to ignore white Boomer males as long as they were active, but pointed out that they are on a timer. He said that the alarm will one day go off and that new types of customers will have to be cultivated and served.

That alarm is now ringing. There is no snooze button. It’s time to throw off the blankets, get up and greet the future.

Information on The American Bicyclist Study, including the Metro Urban Report, Used Bike Report and Path to Purchase report, is available from the Gluskin Townley Group, www.gluskintownleygroup.com. Our thanks to Jay Townley and Elliot Gluskin for permission to cite this data.

PETALUMA, Calif. (BRAIN) — Yuba Bicycles has signed with eLastenrad, a German online seller of electric cargo bikes, as its new European distributor, selling direct to both consumers and dealers.

“Yuba has popularized cargo bikes in North America, which had no tradition of this type of bicycling when we launched in 2006, so we know that our bikes will be popular in Europe, which has a long history of using bicycles for work,” said Yuba founder Ben Sarrazin. “What sets our bikes apart from other European cargo bikes is that they ride like normal bicycles and are affordable.”

 The founders of eLastenrad, Philipp Walczak and Thilo Gauch, bought their first cargo bike in 2012 — a Yuba Mundo. Based in Heidelberger, Germany, the company has grown from a two-person operation in 2009 to more than 20 employees today.

The company started by selling e-bike conversion kits but now sells a range of pedal-powered and electric cargo bikes and accessories. Lastenrad translates as “cargo bike” in German.  

“We are excited about the potential for Yuba in Germany, the Netherlands and U.K.,” Walczak said. “Immediately after we got our Mundo in 2012 we were using it for shopping, carrying our friends and all kinds of things you can’t do on a normal bike.”

LOUISVILLE, Ky. (BRAIN) — For its 2015 edition in March, the North American Handmade Bicycle Show will introduce a new category, the Artisan Award, and a cyclocross race pitting framebuilders against one another.

The Artisan Award, one of more than 25 honors to be handed out at the 11th annual show, was created to recognize builders who fabricate as much of the bike as possible — or even the entire bike. This includes builders who make their own lugs or fittings, racks, fenders, lights and more. To be eligible, builders must provide photo or video documentation of the build and have it available to the public and the judges at the show.

The 2015 show will also mark the debut of the Framebuilders World Championships of ’Cross, which will be run alongside an additional race for others in the bike industry. Both events will be held at Eva Bandman Park and Cyclocross Venue, the site of the 2013 UCI Cyclocross World Championship. Details and registration information will be available soon, NAHBS stated.

NAHBS 2015 is set for March 6-8 at the Kentucky International Convention Center in downtown Louisville. For information on booth registration, exhibiting framebuilders, award categories, hotel reservations, sponsorship and more, visit the NAHBS website.

SAN JUAN CAPISTRANO, Calif. (BRAIN) — Interbike’s IBD Summit returns for its fourth edition in 2015 with a new Arizona locale, revamped agenda and a winter calendar date conceived to be more convenient for retailers than the event’s traditional April timing around “Monterey Week” and the Bicycle Leadership Conference and Sea Otter Classic in Northern California.

Feedback from previous and prospective attendees indicated that although there were benefits to the tie-in with the Sea Otter and the BLC, the time of year and location were difficult factors to overcome, Interbike said in a statement.

Set for Jan. 27-29, the Summit will be held at The Phoenix Marriott Tempe at the Buttes, which Interbike selected for its airport proximity, nearby road and off-road riding to be coordinated by Interbike each day, and reputation as a high-quality event venue.

“It was time we changed things up. We really struggled to get dealers out of their stores in April, and Monterey was just too difficult and too expensive to get to,” Interbike vice president Pat Hus said. “We also felt it was time to take on some bigger issues facing our industry, and that mandated a change to the format of the overall event.”

The 2015 Summit will consist of three major components: professional speakers, as in previous editions; a new retail store manager track presented by Mann University; and the development of a “Manifesto of Change” for the industry.

The Manifesto of Change will be built around sessions by industry experts addressing challenges currently affecting IBDs, including flat or declining sales and how to restart growth, plus ways the industry can work together to manage the online sales landscape. Speakers and panelists will include Bernie Doering, senior vice president of global sales at BRG Sports; Skip Hess, former CEO of Electra Bicycles and ex-general manager of Giant USA; Mark Graff, co-founder of SmartEtailing and Buy Local Now; Ronnie Bonner, owner of Sparky’s Distribution; and Tom Henry, owner of Landry’s Bicycles in Boston.

Following each presentation, retailer and supplier attendees will be able to participate in panel discussions, with their ideas incorporated into the Manifesto of Change for the industry. This document will be published by Bicycle Retailer and Industry News after the event, with the intent of being a driver of improvement in the channel.

Additional speakers at the Summit include:

• David Shing, the AOL “Digital Prophet” who received high ratings from Summit attendees at the event’s 2013 edition. In his presentation titled “Digital Convergence & Blurred Boundaries,” Shing will update retailers on how to incorporate a sound digital strategy into their business plans.
• David Mead, whose address “Start With Why” will offer an unconventional perspective that explains why some people and organizations are more innovative, more profitable, command greater loyalties from customers and employees, and are able to repeat their success over and over.
• Randi Busse, customer service expert, speaking on “Moving Employees From Compliant to Committed.” Busse will present four key traits to transform retail employees from a “renter” mentality to an “owner” mentality – ultimately setting them up to deliver a positive and powerful customer experience.

New for 2015 is an opportunity for store managers to benefit from the knowledge of retail growth strategy experts from The Mann Group. Over the course of the event, managers will break into the Mann U sessions to learn about the following topics: “What Is a Leader?”; “Motivating Staff”; and “Effective Communication.”

For the first time in the event’s history, all three major industry trade associations will be represented at the Summit. Past sponsors PeopleForBikes and the National Bicycle Dealers Association are joined by new sponsor the Bicycle Product Suppliers Association.

“The BPSA stands behind the mission of the IBD Summit and its quest to help retailers grow their businesses,” said Roger Gierhart, president of the BPSA and vice president of forecasting, distribution and logistics at Trek Bicycle Corp. “The new January dates, Phoenix location and top-notch content should convince any retailer that this is a must-attend, kick-off event for 2015.”

Additional sponsors include QBP, Pivot Cycles, 100%, Essor, MET Helmets, Accell North America and BRG Sports.

A limited number of sponsorship opportunities are available and can be purchased through Interbike sales director Andria Klinger at (949) 226-5745 and andria.klinger@emeraldexpo.com.

For additional event information, go to the IBD Summit website. 

SAN FRANCISCO — Strava, an app popular with the cycling community, has raised $18.5 million in new money to pay for future growth and expansion, reports Re/Code Daily, a website that covers the digital technology market.

“We’re now approaching the point where 75 percent of our users exist outside of the U.S.,” Mark Gainey, Strava’s CEO, told Re/Code Daily. “We’re also seeing that people are using Strava across multiple sports, so we’re exploring how to build out the service in an authentic way in all areas of sports.”

Sequoia Capital, a Menlo Park, California, venture capital firm, is leading the funding round, with current investors Sigma West and Madrone Capital Partners contributing to it. Michael Moritz, a partner with Sequoia, is now an adviser at Strava.

Strava, founded in 2009, runs on iOS and Android operating systems. Some 3 million activities are recorded on the app each week. Gainey declined to tell Re/Code Daily the percentage of paying users Strava has acquired or the total number of users registered with Strava.

The app isn’t just popular with cyclists, Gainey said. Around 30 percent of users log their runs and 10 to 15 percent record other activities including hiking, skiing, weight training, swimming and yoga. To read the entire article, go to www.recode.net.

SUWANEE, Ga. (BRAIN) — Tire maker CST is implementing a minimum advertised price (MAP) policy for all of its bicycle products effective Nov. 1.

Any CST product must be advertised at a price that meets or exceeds the product’s MAP for that product. The policy applies to all forms of media advertising, including television, radio, magazine, catalog, direct mail and online sales. The policy forbids the sale of CST products through online auction sites and third-party listing sites. Violators will be subject to a series of escalating penalties, ending in a 12-month suspension of an account for a third offense.

“We think that this policy is fair to everyone involved and will help to protect the value of our products for our customers and the CST brand,” said Hulen King, director of CST’s specialty tire division.

For a copy of the policy, email specialty@csttires.com or visit your local distributor’s dealer portal.

ELLICOTT CITY, Md. (BRAIN) — With more than 35 years of experience as a multi-store retailer, Alex Obriecht has learned a thing or two about opening new stores and moving existing ones.

Obriecht opened his first store in West Baltimore in 1978 when he was just 21. Cross Country Cycling Center was rebranded as Race Pace Bicycles with the opening of a third triathlon-oriented store in Ellicott City in 1984, and a number of expansions and moves followed throughout the ’90s. The Race Pace store count rose to four and the focus shifted from triathlon back to bikes. In 2010, a fifth store opened in downtown Baltimore, a market that Obriecht said he had looked at for years.

But despite a long history of change and growth, it was the recent move of Race Pace’s Ellicott City store that Obriecht said is his most extensive project to date.

After learning that the strip mall where Race Pace Ellicott City was housed for 30 years would be torn down, Obriecht began looking for a new building to rent. Buying property wasn’t something he had initially considered, but commercial rentals were expensive and difficult to find. So in December 2012, Obriecht purchased a 7,000-square-foot warehouse that had previously been used to store excavating equipment.

He hired an architect and the building was gutted and remodeled inside and out. An additional 4,800 square feet of space was also added to the building. The process took more than 21 months — nearly a year longer than Obriecht had anticipated.

“I learned a lot of lessons this time around,” Obriecht said. “If I ever do this kind of thing again, my expectations about the time frame will be tempered.”

Race Pace Ellicott City opened in its new location in August, and currently has a staff of about 15. It is home to Race Pace’s women’s store, Bella Bikes, which originally opened in the first Ellicott City location in 2008.

“It was the first all-women’s bicycle store in the country. In the old space, it had a separate entrance and a large selection of bikes and apparel,” Obriecht said. “In the move, we’ve doubled its size and it’s a gorgeous space, maybe even a bit over the top. But it meets women’s shopping expectations, down to benches and lots of hooks in the fitting rooms and good lighting — stuff you might see at Nordstrom.”

Obriecht also said the new store has anywhere from 80 to 110 built women’s bikes on the floor — and that between all the Race Pace locations, there are around 600 women’s models available at any given time. “We want women to come and understand that while not every woman needs a women’s-specific model, we have a good selection built and available.” All five of Obriecht’s stores have dedicated women’s departments, with apparel merchandised on white hangers to set it apart.

Although he has been a Trek dealer since 1980, Obriecht said all five of his stores also sell a number of other brands to round out offerings and add character. Each store is allowed to “cherry-pick” brands like Cervélo, Felt, Kona, Parlee, Moots and others in order to best serve their respective markets and set them apart.

“You won’t find the same product selection in all the stores. One store caters more to the urban market, another has a strong mountain clientele, and touring is big in another,” Obriecht said. “We want to avoid the white-bread, cookie-cutter approach.”

Three of Obriecht ’s stores are at least 10,000 square feet in size, and that is not an accident. While Obriecht said he realizes that the industry trend is to shrink the retail footprint, he thinks that the positives of having large stores outweigh the negatives.

“Costs are higher with a larger space, and that can be a minus,” Obriecht said. “But when you walk into a Race Pace store, you should be able to find and buy anything you are looking for and not have to go buy it elsewhere — and that makes it worth it.”

DENVER (BRAIN) — The 2014 USA Pro Challenge stage in August brought $130 million in spending to its home state of Colorado, according to a study by sports research firm Sponsorship Science. The USA Pro Challenge commissioned the study.

“The Pro Challenge delivered another strong economic performance in its fourth running, with direct spending by traveling spectators contributing a significant portion of the economic impact,” race organizers stated in a release. “Both those fans from outside the state and Coloradans traveling 50 miles or more to take in an event stage contributed $130 million on lodging, food, transportation and entertainment, an increase of 12 percent year over year. ”

The race traveled to 10 host cities for starts and finishes from Aug. 18-24. Some 56 percent of spectators surveyed indicated they would not have traveled to the state at the time if it were not for the race, and 70.9 percent of spectators stated they are likely to return to the race next year.

“Seeing the enthusiasm and passion from the fans lining the streets during the 2014 USA Pro Challenge really gave a sense of the growing support for the sport of cycling in the U.S.,” said Rick Schaden, owner of the race. “This race showcases Colorado to the world and creates an incredible economic impact locally that can be felt throughout the year. Further, it was great to see an increase in television viewership.”

The race received coverage totaling 30 hours on NBC, NBC Sports and Universal Sports in the U.S. Additionally, through 40 hours of international coverage, the race was seen in more than 175 countries and territories around the world.

RICHMOND, Victoria, Australia — Knog has enlisted Channel IQ’s services to “regain some control over the integrity of pricing” online, the Australian light and lock brand said in a release.

“Yes, we have a multi-channel strategy, but that doesn’t mean we are happy to let rogue online retailers undercut our core customers — the loyal IBDs,” Knog CEO Hugo Davidson stated. “We already have a MAP (minimum advertised price) policy in place, but it’s not being adhered to. Monitoring it effectively is near impossible on our own, so after scrutinizing a few different approaches, we were wowed with Channel IQ’s sweeping reports. They allow us to easily locate and communicate with the naughtiest kids in the playground. We can then easily run a two-strike warning, then blacklist approach.”

Channel IQ monitors unauthorized listings on third-party websites. Its industry clients include Giant, SRAM, Thule, Mavic, Park Tool and Pearl Izumi.

YPSILANTI, Mich. (BRAIN) — When Two Wheel Tango unexpectedly closed in early October, many customers who had purchased bikes from one of its three stores wondered where they would take them for service.

The same week Two Wheel Tango owner Dennis Pontius made the decision to close after the vendor agreement with his primary bike supplier ended, nearby Tree Fort Bikes stepped up and offered to extend lifetime standard tune-ups to the former Ann Arbor retailer’s clientele, for as long as Two Wheel Tango is closed.

“We heard the news that they were closing, so we talked about how we could best help out the community,” said Michael Wirth, manager of Tree Fort Bikes. “We know Dennis and Leslie (Pontius) really well and are sad to see such a fixture in the cycling community close their doors.”

Tree Fort Bikes opened in Ypsilanti, about 15 miles east of Ann Arbor, in 2003 and specializes in mountain bikes, fat bikes and cyclocross. It expanded with an online store in 2007 that operates out of an office and warehouse space two doors down from its 1,500-square-foot brick-and-mortar store. Tree Fort stocks bikes from Giant, Cannondale, Salsa, Niner, Surly, Foundry and others.

Tree Fort also hired three former Two Wheel Tango employees after the closures, which Wirth said is ultimately good for the tight-knit local cycling community. “I’d be lying if I said it was wasn’t a good move for us to honor the tune-ups, because it has driven traffic for us, but we’re not looking to make money off of it,” he said.

“We really just don’t want people to stop riding because they don’t know where to take their bike for service,” Wirth added. “It’s something that just makes sense.”

ST. CHARLES, Ill. (BRAIN) — Sigma Sport’s Buster 200 is a compact and rugged USB-rechargeable front light boasting 200 lumens of output, six modes and a host of additional features.

The light has a broad illumination pattern and small side windows to increase visibility. It comes with a silicone mount that fits handlebars of all sizes and shapes. The Buster 200 powers on with a double click to prevent the light from accidentally being turned on. The integrated lithium-ion battery can be fully charged in three hours, and the (optionally colorful) silicone bumper both protects the light from crashes and keeps dirt and water out of the micro USB charging port.

MSRP: $44.99. More information: SigmaSport.com.

SAN DIEGO (BRAIN) — The former president and CEO of Competitor Group Inc. (CGI) and the company’s current senior vice president of sales are fighting a sexual harassment suit filed by a San Diego woman who formerly worked as their executive assistant.

Scott Dickey left CGI in November 2013 to become chief executive at TEN: The Enthusiast Network, owned by Source Interlink Media, which owns Bike Magazine, Powder and Surfer. Also named was John Smith, currently CGI’s senior vice president for sales. Both have denied Leah Shearer’s claims and are now embroiled in an ongoing lawsuit.

Attorneys for Shearer filed the 35-page lawsuit earlier this year in San Diego County Superior Court. Attorneys for Dickey and Smith have filed documents in response to the suit denying Shearer’s allegations. Shearer worked for CGI from June 2009 through mid-June 2013.

Attempts to reach the attorneys for comment were unsuccessful. BRAIN also sought comment on the status of the lawsuit from a spokesperson for Calera Capital, the private equity firm that owns CGI, but the spokesperson has yet to respond.

CGI is a sports marketing and management company that organizes and operates dozens of running, cycling and triathlon events. It also publishes Competitor magazine, Velo (formerly VeloNews), Triathlete and Women’s Running. It also owns VeloPress, a book publisher.

Dickey joined CGI in 2008 and later was instrumental in selling the company to Calera Capital, a firm with more than $2.8 billion under its management. It bought the San Diego company from Falconhead Capital, another private equity firm, in December 2012.

Dickey was formerly president of Transworld Business before joining CGI. Prior to that he had worked for K2 Licensed Product and had been a chief operating officer at Sundance Entertainment, marketing director for Disney Regional Entertainment, and had worked in marketing and sales with the National Basketball Association early in his career.

Smith, who helped launch Competitor magazine in 1987, has remained with the company through its sale to Calera. He has been responsible for the company’s print products as well as advertising and sales

Shearer’s attorneys, Timothy Williams and Stephanie Reynolds, told BRAIN that a trial date has been set for May 22, 2015, and that Smith has undergone an initial deposition. Depositions have yet to be scheduled for Dickey and other witnesses in the suit, Williams said.

Besides answering phone calls and emails for Dickey and Smith, Shearer claims she also booked travel for CGI executives, assisted with event planning, arranged golf outings and helped their wives with personal matters. And in 2011, Dickey and Smith gave her access to their email accounts that, at times, contained explicit and sexually suggestive photos of women, the lawsuit claims.

According to the suit, both men engaged in “pattern of unwelcome and inappropriate” remarks that increased in frequency during her four-year tenure at the company. However, she claimed that Smith engaged in inappropriate touching as well as an attempt to massage her shoulders at work, which she resisted, the suit states.

Shearer said that in 2012 she went to Dianne St. John, CGI’s director of human resources, to report the ongoing harassment. St. John allegedly told her she was “powerless to stop” their behavior. Shearer claims in her lawsuit that St. John never conducted an investigation into her allegations nor did she take any action to stop the improper behavior.

In April or May of last year when Shearer again went to St. John with additional complaints, St. John attempted to transfer her to another position and even suggested that she look for another job, Shearer claims in her complaint. Shearer left the company that June. 

WASHINGTON (BRAIN) — When Katie Lupo went shopping for a bike after relocating to D.C. from Madison, Wisconsin, for an internship, she was shocked to discover there were no used bike shops in the city. After finishing graduate school, Lupo decided to move to D.C. permanently and open her own.

Lupo started Gearin’ Up Bicycles in late 2012 as a nonprofit community used bike shop, modeling it after a similar program in Madison called Dream Bikes.

“I saw Dream Bikes in action while in grad school studying economics and education,” said Lupo, executive director of Gearin’ Up Bicycles. “I like working with numbers and data sets and all, but I just wanted to do something that actually works — and this model does work. You can see the change immediately in the kids and the community.”

After receiving its 501 (3)(c) designation, a process that took an entire year, in April 2014, Lupo operated Gearin’ Up outdoors in a vacant lot for the summer. She used a shipping container for storage and had to pack and unpack her inventory of used bikes and new and used components morning and night, which took a lot of time and energy each day.

But halfway through the summer, Lupo received an email from a man who had just purchased a building adjacent to the Metropolitan Branch Trail, a popular D.C. bikeway. “There was no bike shop anywhere on the Met Branch Trail,” Lupo said. “The area is one of D.C.’s bike shop deserts, so it was very appealing. We just had to figure out if it was feasible for us.”

Lupo and the building’s owner eventually reached a compromise that worked for both parties, and Gearin’ Up completed the move this week. Lupo plans to open within the next week or two, once she receives the necessary permits from the city.

The new space is about 1,500 square feet, with a 600-square-foot retail area, a large room for bike storage and six workbenches outfitted with double-sided bike stands to accommodate 12 people. The store also has a large patio with tables and benches where Lupo plans to hold classes during the summer.

Lupo said that through her work with the Boys & Girls Clubs in 2013 she fostered relationships with many children and families in Gearin’ Up’s new neighborhood. In addition, a former program director for the Boys & Girls Clubs is now working as program director for Gearin’ Up, something that evolved after Lupo got him to ride a bike.

“We aren’t even open yet, but we’ve been so well received by the neighborhood so far,” Lupo said. “We had a fundraising gala last week, and neighbors came by with checks in hand to donate, excited to have a bike shop here.”

Gearin’ Up sells used bikes and new and used parts, accessories and components. It also administers earn-a-bike programs, through which more than 40 kids have already received bicycles. Lupo, her staff of three and several volunteers also teach bike safety classes at local schools. Around 300 children have participated in Gearin’ Up’s programs so far, and Lupo expects that number to grow quickly once the programs are up and running in the new space.

“Our next goal is to get 100 kids a bike,” Lupo said. “And I don’t think it will take long to reach it.”

Lupo also offers adult education classes including basic bike maintenance and a weekly BYOB (build your own bike) program where participants can purchase a frame and basic components for a reasonable fee and learn to build up their own bike.

WASHINGTON (BRAIN) — Cane Creek Cycling Components is working with the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission to recall about 5,000 DBinline rear shocks sold in the U.S. because the shocks are marked with graphics that incorrectly identify the adjustment directions for high-speed rebound damping. The recall also covers 500 units sold in Canada.

High-speed rebound on the shock is decreased by turning the adjuster counter-clockwise and increased by turning it clockwise. The incorrect graphics present the opposite  — that is, the plus(+) and minus(–) symbols are switched. The consumer can be misled or confused when adjusting high-speed rebound on these shocks.

The shocks come in black anodized aluminum with the word “inline” marked on the air can portion of the shock and are attached to a full-suspension mountain bike frame. Recalled products have a serial number on the underside of the top valve body in the following ranges: AA00002 to AA07304 and SA00077 to SA03926.

Cane Creek has received four complaints from customers, one of which involved a report of injury with bruises to the rider’s midsection. Consumers should immediately stop using the product and contact Cane Creek for a repair decal kit to correct the HSR adjustment markings on affected product.

The shocks were sold at distributors and retailers from May to September 2014 for about $495 each or included in the price of the following bikes:

• 2015 Alutech Tofane 
• 2015 Banshee Phantom and Spitfire
• 2015 Bianchi Methanol 29
• 2015 Canyon Spectral 140 27.5 and 29; and Strive CF
• 2015 Ghost AMR Riot 130
• 2015 Guerilla Gravity Megatrail
• 2015 Ibis Ripley 29
• 2015 Intense Tracer, Carbine 29 and Spyder 29 Comp
• 2015 Knolly Warden
• 2015 Nicolai Helius
• 2015 Norco Sight Carbon 7.1
• 2015 Nukeproof Mega TR
• 2015 Orange Five and Five 29
• 2015 Specialized Enduro 650b and 29

In a product safety notice on Cane Creek’s website, the company states: “At Cane Creek, we strive to make best-in-class products that provide exceptional performance and rider experience. During the initial production of the DBinline rear shock, we did not live up to this promise. We have determined that certain DBinline shocks manufactured from May 23, 2014 through September 15, 2014 have graphics that incorrectly identify the adjustment directions for High Speed Rebound (HSR) damping. We are extremely sorry for the confusion this may have caused and have corrected this mistake.”

The Cane Creek notice also includes a form for consumers to receive a replacement decal kit. Consumers are also encouraged to contact Cane Creek by emailing hsrlabel@canecreek.com or calling its recall hotline at (844) 490-3663 or (828) 209-4480 Monday through Friday 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. EST.

More information: CPSC recall notice.

ORLANDO, Fla. (BRAIN)—A recent purchase of four bike shops in a one-month period has brought the store count at David’s World Cycle to 12. The greater Orlando-area retailer also has its sights on a fifth acquisition, with a deal set to close in November.

David Sanborn has worked in bike retail since he was a teenager. At just 17, Sanborn managed World Cycle in College Park, a neighborhood in northwest Orlando. When the owners shuttered the store, Sanborn borrowed money from his grandparents so he could buy the business. The loan was contingent upon Sanborn finishing high school and repaying the money. Lacking the funds to change the name on the occupational license, Sanborn opted to put “David’s” in front of World Cycle because altering the name didn’t cost anything.

Twenty-five years later, David’s World Cycle has become a top Trek retailer with locations all over central Florida. “I don’t ever waste a moment to brag about my husband David,” said Yvette Sanborn, CEO of David’s World Cycle. “Sometimes we go into our stores now and realize that, wow, we have a lot of bikes. We’ve been extremely blessed this past year, and we’ve been looking for different ways we can expand.”

So the Sanborns approached Bike Works earlier this year and asked if it would be willing to sell three of its four stores. “We didn’t have the northeast and eastern parts of Orlando covered, and it was a good opportunity to cover all of central Florida,” Yvette said.

The fourth store the couple purchased this fall was Bicycle Emporium, a Trek dealer located on Florida’s west central coast. The fifth store the Sanborns are in the process of buying is farther east. “We joke that we’re going to have complete bike domination,” Yvette said.

But all joking aside, the Sanborns have been strong advocates for infrastructure and building a strong cycling culture in Florida since day one. “We have a strong commitment to community,” Yvette said. “We like to say that our stores provide people with the right bike, accessories and information to safely enjoy cycling right away, in all disciplines. And we connect them with events and safe social rides we sponsor and support.”

David’s World Cycle employs about 80 people, with stores ranging from 2,000 to 9,000 square feet in size. Two of the full-service stores cater to triathletes, offering gear and Vision Quest coaching and training.

All 12 stores carry only Trek bicycles, and two are Trek concept stores. The Bike Works stores the Sanborns recently purchased were Specialized and Giant dealers, but Yvette said they replaced those lines with Trek. “We wanted to stick with what we know, it’s so much easier that way,” she said.

Yvette also said she and her husband retained as many Bike Works employees as they could. Each of the four new stores were open for business under the David’s World Cycle banner after just one day of being closed to make the transition. The 13th store will open later this year.

BERN, Switzerland (BRAIN) — The World Federation of the Sporting Goods Industry (WFSGI) has elected ISM Saddles’ Dave Schindler and Selle Italia’s Piet van der Velde chairpersons of the organization’s new Bicycle Saddle Committee.

“The Saddle Committee was recently installed after a request from the UCI to provide scientific information about the development of bicycle saddles from a performance and also medical perspective,” the WFSGI said in a statement. “It goes with a great satisfaction that the WFSGI was able to gain two experts in the development of bicycle saddles as leaders of the group.”

Schindler, ISM’s “technical commander,” will lead Saddle Committee meetings as chairman, while van der Velde will serve as vice chairman, supporting Schindler with his deep industry knowledge and experience.

“I’m truly honored to have been elected as chairman,” Schindler said. “This year marks a new era of openness by the UCI, with its efforts to re-examine the regulations that govern the sport of cycling. This collaboration between the UCI, the WFSGI and its members to seek the latest saddle research and technology will lead to the advancement of the health, safety and performance of all athletes governed by the UCI.”

The Saddle Committee is currently composed of seven WFSGI member companies active in the manufacturing of bicycle saddles. Any interested company that would like to join the group can contact the WFSGI by e-mail at ymoeri@wfsgi.org.

Editor’s note: For a more in-depth look at the WFSGI Saddle Committee, look for a report in the upcoming Dec. 1 print edition of Bicycle Retailer and Industry News.

For the first-time ever, the SoCalCross Prestige Series presented by Jenson USA is coming to Riverside, California. “The Anza Crossing event is going to be huge,” commented Dorothy Wong, organizer of the Prestige Series for SoCalCross.  “We’ve been wanting to put a race on in Riverside for some time and this is it.  The Martha McLean Anza Narrows Park in Jurupa is an ideal venue to debut what cyclocross is all about.”

Anza Crossing is a joint effort between the Inland Empire Biking Alliance and SoCalCross. “We couldn’t be more pleased to be the presenting sponsor and have cyclocross come to the Inland Empire which is where our corporate headquarters is located,” said Michael Cachat, founder and CEO of retailer Jenson USA. “Not only will this be a perfect showcase for the sport of cyclocross, but will have a great family-oriented dynamic as well with a kids’ bicycle playground on-site.  This event will be all about fun and learning good bike handling skills.”

Martha McLean Anza Narrows Park encompasses 40 acres atop a shady bluff along the Santa Ana River with spectacular views of the river. 

Registration for Anza Crossing is now available online at BIKEREG.COM: www.socalcross.org/register.  Race-day registration is also available at the park starting at 7:30 a.m. and two hours prior to the start of each race.

MILAN, Italy (BRAIN) — Luxottica Group SpA, parent of optical brands including Oakley and Ray Ban, reported this week that third-quarter net income rose 10 percent to 162 million euros ($204 million) fueled in part by strong sales growth of more than 30 percent in emerging markets including China, Brazil, India and the Middle East. Overall net sales rose 5.5 percent to 5.79 billion euros.

The Wholesale Division’s net sales rose by 9.3 percent to 750 million euros, while the Retail Division sales ticked up 2.9 percent to 1.13 billion euros.

“Brand portfolio highlights include continued global success at Ray-Ban and Oakley and the overall solid performance of our licensed brands,” Luxottica stated in a press release.

The quarterly earnings report was the first since Luxottica went through a controversial management shake-up that saw two CEOs resign within six weeks of each other this fall. In the aftermath, Luxottica established a dual-CEO structure, elevating COO Massimo Vian to co-CEO alongside longtime Procter & Gamble manager Adil Mehboob-Khan.

Luxottica is publicly on the New York Stock Exchange under the symbol LUX. Its stock performance is tracked on the BRAIN stock chart.

CHARLESTON, S.C. (BRAIN) — New World Consumer Products LLC, a maker of nutritional products and supplements, has brought aboard world champion cyclist Mike King as a brand ambassador for the company’s flagship product, XRCEL sports performance fuel.

An inductee of both the U.S. Bicycling Hall of Fame and BMX Hall of Fame, King won multiple national and world championship titles before transitioning to mountain bike gravity racing, where he became downhill and dual slalom world champion. He now directs the state-of-the-art BMX facility at Rock Hill, South Carolina’s, cycling complex. King also works as head of testing and development for the mountain bike category at Vee Tire Co.

“Mike King has had tremendous success in the world of cycling, and we are thrilled to have him on board as a brand ambassador for XRCEL. As a world champion professional cyclist, Mike knows what it takes to train and compete and how important proper fueling is for optimal performance,” said Patrick Keener, chief sales and marketing officer for XRCEL. 

“After weeks of testing the product, XRCEL proved I could sustain my energy and intensity levels over and beyond three hours as a sprinter. I was blown away by the results. XRCEL is a big game changer for me,” King said.

LANSING, Mich. (BRAIN) — The League of Michigan Bicyclists (LMB) has named John Lindenmayer executive director as current leader Rich Moeller will retire after nine years with the advocacy group. Lindenmayer, LMB’s advocacy and policy director, assumes the new post Jan. 1, 2015.

“The LMB board thanks Rich for his many years of dedicated service and unanimously agreed that John Lindenmayer was the best choice to lead the organization as its next executive director,” said Steven Roach, board chairman at LMB. “John is a respected advocate for the rights of cyclists in Michigan, having built numerous coalitions to advance those rights and improve the quality of life for all of Michigan’s residents.” 

Said Lindenmayer: “I’m honored the board has selected me as LMB’s next executive director. I plan on hitting the ground running in January and picking up where Rich left off in our efforts to promote bicycling and the safety of bicyclists on Michigan roads. I look forward to leading LMB’s next chapter as we continue to be the voice for bicyclists across Michigan.”

Lindenmayer has been with LMB since 2004 and has played an essential roll in numerous policy victories, the group said in a release. In 2010, he spearheaded efforts leading to the adoption of statewide Complete Streets legislation, which ensures state road projects consider the needs of all users including bicyclists. He led LMB’s bikes-on-trains campaign, resulting in Amtrak changing their policy, which previously prohibited bikes on board their train cars in Michigan. And in 2014, he successfully advocated for the Passage of Public Act 1, altering the way bicyclists are allowed to signal turns under the Michigan Vehicle Code.

The mission of LMB, a tax-exempt nonprofit, is to promote bicycling and the safety of bicyclists on Michigan roadways. It also hosts four multi-day bicycling tours in Michigan:  Shoreline West Bicycle Tour, MUP (Michigan Upper Peninsula), Pedal & Paddle and Sunrise Bicycle Tour.

More information: LMB website.