WASHINGTON, DC (BRAIN) — The League of American Bicyclists has announced a slate of speakers for its Women Mean Business event, which will be held March 4 during the League's National Bike Summit in Washington, D.C.

Georgena Terry will give the keynote address at the women's event. Other speakers at the full-day gathering include mountain biker Jacquie Phelan, Alta Bicycle Share president Alison Cohen and Team Estrogen founder Susan Octenas.

More information: www.bikeleague.org/programs/women/events.

BRUSSELS, Belgium (BRAIN) — The European Cyclists’ Federation scored a big win Tuesday when the European Parliament opened the door to billions of euros for investments in cycling projects. 

The Parliament’s tourism and transport committee voted on guidelines for EU transport infrastructure, and for the first time included cycling in the Trans-European Transport Network. 

The committee added an amendment to the text stating that “synergies with other policies should be exploited, for instance with tourism aspects by including civil engineering structures such as bridges or tunnels bicycle infrastructure for long distance cycling paths like the EuroVelo routes.”

EuroVelo is an ECF initiative to develop a network of 14 long-distance routes crossing Europe totaling 70,000 kilometers, more than half of which is already in place. 

The new text could give cycling access tens of billions of euros in funding, according to the ECF, which spent the past year campaigning Parliament members for inclusion in the text. Its member groups and industry allies sent thousands of emails lobbying in the lead-up to the vote.

“Our voice was heard,” Bernhard Ensink, secretary general of ECF, said in a press release. “If the cycling world hadn’t mobilized, then cycling and EuroVelo would have been sidelined by other forms of transport. Even worse, large-scale transport infrastructure projects would have ignored the needs of cyclists.” 

The vote will now go to the Parliament’s full plenary before final details are negotiated with EU member states at the Council of the European Union next year. 

 If the ECF wins more money for cycling, it will mark a huge step forward in Europe, where the industry has often been absent in the fight for transportation dollars. Between 2007 and 2013, cycling was allocated only 0.7 percent of EU funding available for transportation. For the 2014-2020 financial period, ECF has identified 10 percent, or 6 billion euros, that should be dedicated to cycling. 

CHULA VISTA, CA — Bicycle Warehouse, a seven-store chain in San Diego County, is replacing one of its locations with a new one that was merchandised in cooperation with Giant USA.

The Giant Partner Store is in Chula Vista at 3513 Main Street, about two miles from its previous South Bay location. The new store has 3,645 square feet of showroom space. The Giant Partner Store designation means the business worked with Giant's merchandising team in developing the new store's presentation, layout, messaging, and color scheme.

"It's a great opportunity to work with Giant, who's been a terrific partner of ours for 20 years," said Debbe Simmons., who owns Bicycle Warehouse with husband Mike. "To collaborate with the creative design and merchandising teams made this process a great success. This allows us to carry the latest and greatest in Giant's technology in bikes and gear."

Reuben Hernandez, Giant USA's merchandising manager, said the team "wanted to bring a fresh approach to the store presentation and the wide open floor plan.

"The new warm colors and textures create a comfortable and inviting retail environment that's easy to shop."

All Bicycle Warehouse stores carry Giant. The new location has the Giant brand as the main focus with Giant bikes and gear making up 80 percent of the merchandise. 

"Working with Debbe and Mike and their team at Bicycle Warehouse reinforces the strong partnership between our two brands," said Gregg Frederick, director of retail services for Giant USA. "That partnership grows each year. Their Chula Vista GPS store is another example of our commitment to growing our market share in San Diego and elevating cycling retail in the area."

WASHINGTON, DC (BRAIN) — Norco and Wilier Triestina each separately issued bike recall notices Tuesday in cooperation with the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission. Norco is recalling some 24- and 26-inch-wheeled dirt jumping bikes because the frames can break. Wilier is recalling about 200 road bikes because the fork steerer tubes can break.

Norco recalls Havoc bicycles

Norco is recalling about 90 2011-model Havoc 24- and 26-inch bikes. The frames can break were the toptube meets the downtube. The company has received three reports of cracked frames, with no reported injuries.

Frames included in this recall have serial numbers that begin with K10DQ, K10FQ, K10IQ, K10KQ P10K, P10F or P11B. The serial number is stamped on the underside of the bottom bracket, below the word "Havoc."  The 24-inch bikes were sold with semi-matte gray paint and the 26-inch model had semi-matte red. Both frames were made in China. The bikes were sold from November 2010 to September 2011 for about $600.

Consumers should immediately stop using the recalled bike and return it an authorized Norco dealer for a replacement. They can call Norco Bicycles at (800) 227-5579, from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. PT Monday through Friday. Consumers can also visit www.norco.com and click on "Recall" for more information.

Wilier recalls Izoard XP Bicycles

Wilier Triestina USA LLC of Atlanta, Georgia, is recalling about 200 Izoard XP bicycles because the aluminum steerer tubes on the bikes' forks can break while in use. There have been no reported incidents or injuries. 

The recall involves Izoard XP bikes or framesets that were sold with carbon/alloy forks with serial numbers between LH0001 and LH4000. The serial number is located on the steerer tube of the fork about 6 inches from the crown. Bicycles purchased before January 2012 are not included in this recall.

The bikes, made in China, were sold at bike shops from January 2012 through October 2012 for about $2,600 for the bicycle.

Consumers should stop using the recalled bicycles immediately and have an authorized Wilier bicycle dealer check for the serial number on the fork. If the fork is included in the recall, the dealer will install a new Izoard replacement fork at no charge.

Consumers can contact Wilier USA toll-free at (888) 849-7779 from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. ET Monday through Friday, or online at www.wilier-usa.com.

LANCASTER, NY (BRAIN) — Tom’s Pro Bike Shop recently reopened as a Specialized Elite Shop in an expanded space four times the size of its previous store. 

In its current stand-alone building since 1997, Tom’s Pro Bike Shop had a central location but was limited by space. Owner Tom Lonzi turned to Specialized Retail Services to help him design a new store around his existing building.

Despite construction dust and no parking during the six-month build-out, his sales are up 10 percent this year. He attributed that sales increase to the support he receives from Specialized.

“Once we brought the Specialized brand in, our numbers started soaring. We were selling a lot more bikes, a lot more accessories, and Specialized has been a great partner to deal with,” said Lonzi.

Building the new structure around the old concrete block building allowed Tom’s Pro Bike Shop to retain parts of the old space and foster a sense of history and continuity. The basic shell of the old building is still in place, with the new, modern building surrounding it. The mezzanine overlooking the main sales floor was built directly on top of the old building, which has one wall opened up to the new sales area. The original service space is largely intact, though renovated, and a side room used for fittings and power training sessions now also includes a customer lounge.

Lonzi said community response to the new store has been very positive. 

“My vision of this is that I want this to be a destination, where people want to come, and not only do they want to come, they want to stay,” he said.

Nichole Perrin, retail services director for Specialized USA, said: “With 20-foot ceilings, an atrium design, and a huge expanse of windows, this new Specialized Elite Shop is a fitting showroom for Tom’s streamlined assortment of bikes and equipment.”

PALO ALTO, CA (BRAIN) — Shimano is making available several new wheel display options for retailers, including one that the company calls a wheel "playground." The displays were designed by Palo Alto-based Concept Designs.

The playground can mount to slat wall or be used on countertop. Separate modules on the display incorporate actual wheel sections and bullet-point graphics that explain the products. The modules are easily interchanged. The displays can accommodate three or four modules, depending on the retailer's inventory.

Other displays include wheel bracket, which is a simple, powder-coated steel bracket that mounts to slat wall at an angle. The angled presentation allows multiple wheels to be repeated and overlapped on a retailer’s slat wall to save space. Another new display is the floorstanding Tower.

More information: Nolan Moser, Shimano American retail marketing manager, nmoser@shimano.com.

SCHWEINFURT, Germany (BRAIN) — SRAM has established a new management structure at SRAM Deutschland GmbH as the company transitions its facility here from manufacturing to a development and training center.

The three-man management team "will jointly lead the location to become a world-class representation of SRAM’s engineering and training skills and evolve the deep technical connection with customers," the company said in a statement Wednesday.

ASPEN, CO (BRAIN) — Organizers of the USA Pro Challenge stage race on Wednesday unveiled the route for its 2013 race, the third edition of the event. Next year's race will start with a circuit race near Aspen and conclude with a circuit in Denver.

Organizers kept the route more compact that prior editions, with the first five days sticking close to the central mountains region. The race will not visit the Four Corners region, as it did last year with a stage in Durango. And for the first time it will not pass through the Crested Butte/Gunnison region. However, the race is making its first visit to the Front Range communities of Fort Collins and Loveland.

Organizers did not release specific routes for the stages, just start and finish host communities:

Monday, Aug. 19, Stage 1 Aspen/Snowmass Circuit
Tuesday, Aug. 20, Stage 2 Aspen/Snowmass – Breckenridge
Wednesday, Aug. 21, Stage 3 Breckenridge – Steamboat Springs
Thursday, Aug. 22, Stage 4 Steamboat Springs – Beaver Creek
Friday, Aug. 23, Stage 5/ITT Vail Time Trial
Saturday, Aug. 24, Stage 6 Loveland – Fort Collins
Sunday, Aug. 25, Stage 7 Denver Circuit

"Riders now know that there is no race in America like the USA Pro Challenge, and these host cities help ensure cycling's world stage returns to Colorado for seven days of grueling competition," said Shawn Hunter, CEO and co-chairman of the USA Pro Challenge. "With the addition of Loveland and Fort Collins we are adding two cities that have built a community around the cycling culture," Hunter said. "We are thrilled to incorporate their enthusiasm as we continue to showcase Colorado as the center of the nation's cycling spirit."

TEMECULA, CA (BRAIN) — A non-profit devoted to helping injured extreme sports athletes is launching a campaign to inform BMX riders about the difference between BMX and skateboarding helmets.

While U.S. standards prohibit the sale of non-certified bicycle helmets, many riders choose to use some helmets marketed for skateboarding that are not required to be certified.

"There have been several professional riders wearing non-certified helmets, even in competition," according to the Athlete Recovery Fund, which launched its campaign this week with a new video filmed at Bell Sports' helmet testing labatory.   

As the video points out, bike helmets are certified to pass tests for maximum forces measured inside the helmet when dropped onto a test surface. There are no such standards for skateboarding helmets.

The ARF was started in February 2008 to assist injured professionals from BMX, FMX and skateboarding with the costs that insurance didn’t cover after a severe injury.  The group has distributed more than $700,000 to injured athletes and families.

The ARF has met with organizers of the Dew Tour, X Games and ASA to discuss helmet safety. All three have changed rules on what is allowed during competition.

The organizers of Interbike are hosting electric bike manufacturers and journalists at an event that will showcase pedal-assist bikes.

VICTOR, ID (BRAIN) — QBP brand Salsa Cycles will be the presenting sponsor of the Fat Bike Summit and Festival Event, slated for January 25-28 in Island Park, Idaho.

Organizers said the event will be "politically oriented" with a focus on gaining fat bike access to national parks and forestest. The festival will include product clinics, demo rides, and races.

The event is hosted and organized by Fitzgerald's Bicycles and QBP. Registration is now open via fatbikesummit.com.

"Salsa is pleased to be involved with the fat bike summit because land access is an important issue," said Salsa Cycles brand manager Jason Boucher, who will attend the Summit and Festival.

"Fat bikes make it possible to ride places that people couldn't ride before. Therefore we need to do our part as good stewards to help generate positive outcomes before problems develop."

During the Summit portion of the event, land managers from national parks and forests will discuss the barriers to fat bike riding on public lands. 

PENTICON, British Columbia (BRAIN) — Podium Imports has been appointed Canadian distributor for Swiss-based Suplest cycling shoes, the company announced this week.

Podium said the first delivery of 2013 Suplest shoes is expected to be ready for shipment to dealers in mid-February. 

“Suplest fits in very well with our current brands and dealer cross-section," said Podium owner Brian McCoy. The focus will be on the high-end road and triathlon models, but Podium will also support some of Suplest’s off-road product in the Canadian market, he said.

Suplest shoes sell for between $250 and $350 retail. The comany has been manufacturing cycling shoes for four years, with sales limited to Europe until now. Serfas announced in September that it would be distributing the line to U.S. retailers in 2013.

More information: sales@podiumimports.ca or www.suplest.ch.

MIAMI, FL (BRAIN) — A major shipping logistics firm says that "the likelihood of a strike is high" after contract negotiations broke down this week between the longshoremen's union and East Coast port operators.

This fall both sides agreed to extend their contract 90 days, until Dec. 29. A strike would affect 15 ports from Gulf of Mexico up the East Coast to Massachusetts and shippers in the rest of the country have said they will increase fees during a strike.

"This is truly a ‘container cliff’ in the making."— National Retail Federation

Federal mediators had proposed another contract extension, which the ports operators, the United States Maritime Alliance, agreed to, but the union rejected on Tuesday.

"There is still time for an agreement to be reached between the parties ... however as of right now the likelihood of a strike is high," the shipping firm OEC Group told its members Thursday.

The OEC recommended that importers make every effort to get their products out of port before the 29th, noting that the Christmas holiday will increase the urgency.

"Most terminals will be closed on the 24th and 25th, which means that terminals will be congested even under normal circumstances. Therefore time is of the essence," the OEC said.

Florida-based American Classic is watching the situation closely, the company's Ellen Kast told BRAIN Thursday. However, Kast said the company "has full stock on hand."

"We received all early season shipments already in anticipation of this strike. The last shipment arrived on Dec. 18," Kast said.

The National Retail Federation wrote to President Obama this week, asking him to use "all means necessary" to prevent a strike.

"The last thing the economy needs right now is another strike, which would impact all international trade and commerce at the nation’s East and Gulf Coast container ports. This is truly a ‘container cliff’ in the making," said Jonathan Gold, the NRF's vice president of supply chain and customs policy.

Earlier this month a port strike on the West Coast was ended after a weeklong slowdown.

BAD NAUHEIM, Germany (BRAIN) — Arno Raaijmakers has joined JD Group as Benelux service manager for the company's TransX electric bike drive systems.

Raaijmakers will be the company's prime contact person for the markets in the Netherlands, Belgium and Luxembourg. His duties will be primarily in customer service and sales, including technical customer service and OEM training for partners.

JD also is now investing in a new service point in the Netherlands, which will be opened next year.

"With this step, we want to further expand our European TranzX customer service" said Johnson Cho, CEO of the JD Group. "Due to the proximity of the new service point to our business partners resident in these countries, we will be able to react and respond to service concerns quicker and in more detail in the future."

EDINBURGH, United Kingdom (BRAIN) — Nukeproof mountain bike products will once again be available in North and South America next season, available from the Scottish distributor Hotlines via Vancouver, Canada-based Stuart Kerr.

Nukeproof was launched in 1989 in Michigan by John Muezenmeyer, who sold the brand to a U.K. distributor in 2000. Since soon after the sale, the brand has not been available in the U.S.

Not Kerr, a Scot who lives in Vancouver, will be the exclsusive agent for the brand. The 2013 model line includes complete bikes, frame, and components. Kerr can be reached at stuart@hotlines-uk.com.

DENVER, CO (BRAIN) — Clothing maker Primal is supporting the 2013 National Bike Summit with a sponsorship package the company said is worth $50,000. The package includes financial support for the event as well as custom jerseys for all attendees. Primal will be the exclusive sponsor of the event's keynote address, given by Yolanda Cade of the American Automobile Association.

The summit, organized by the League of American Bicyclists, is scheduled for March 4-7 in Washington, D.C. and includes seminars and meetings with legislators. Last year's summit drew more than 800 people.

"The National Bike Summit is the single most important thing we do at the federal level and we wanted to do more than be there, we wanted to really support it in a meaningful way," said Primal founder Dave Edwards. "Everyone who loves cycling should take a hard look at making it to the summit and supporting the League of American Bicyclists."

Primal is also a sponsor of the Alliance for Biking & Walking's Leadership Retreat, the Bicycle Leadership Conference and the IMBA World Summit. The company also supports Bikes Belong, League of American Bicyclists and Adventure Cycling Association.