NOVATO, Calif. (BRAIN) — Marin Mountain Bikes Inc. has added cycling industry veterans Jeff Haase, Justin Dittmer, and Ed Tyler to its sales team.

Haase will be servicing North Carolina, South Carolina, Georgia and Tennessee as a factory sales rep., while independent territory manager Justin Dittmer will handle Utah, Wyoming, Montana and Idaho, and Ed Tyler represents Marin in Florida.

Haase started his career in the industry as an events promoter in Portland, Ore., in the late 80's. In 1995, he became a sales rep for Gary Fisher/Trek in North Carolina. After a 16-year stint representing Trek in the Southeast, he switched gears to work for Raleigh USA, where he was promoted to director of sales for the Eastern half of the U.S.

"Marin offers high quality products and margin to dealers and that is what I need to be a good sales representative," said Haase. "I always try to be a business consultant to the dealers, listen to their issues, and try to help find solutions. Making strong margins is always a solution and Marin provides them in spades. I am also looking forward to riding my new Marin 'cross bike in the upcoming cross races in Tennessee and North Carolina, having been a long time 'crosser from the early 80's in Portland." He can be reached at Jeffrey.haase@marinbikes.com

Dittmer has spent most of the last 20 years in the bicycle industry, starting in a small shop in Logan, Utah, and later working as a customer service representative with Raleigh in Seattle. Making the move to territory manager, he spent ten years covering the upper Midwest for Raleigh before settling in Utah where he has been based for the last four years. An avid endurance athlete and outdoor enthusiast, he enjoys participating in 24 hour mountain bike races, 100 mile gravel/road races such as the Alamanzo and the like.

"I have been able to work around Marin in different marketplaces for years and it has always carried a premium reputation," said Dittmer. "I am excited to be on the team and the new line up looks fantastic. I'm also looking forward to taking out a new Mount Vision out on the flowy trails of Utah." He can be reached at dittmersales@gmail.com

Ed Tyler had his start in the bicycle industry over 39 years ago with Trailmate in Sarasota, Fla. He then moved on to working for West Coast Cycle and spent years in both Florida and Marin County independently working with Shimano, NiteRider, ProFlex, Gita Sporting Goods and others. Based again in Florida for the past 10 years, he now represents Marin Bikes, NiteRider, Pure Fix Cycles, BikeSmart, Kali Protectives, Rolf Prima and Logica Sport. "I am very excited to represent Marin Bikes in Florida," he said. "This was third time that I tried to join the company since 1995 and I am excited to finally have the opportunity. The best part of all of this is the fact that I really enjoy my dealers and the manufacturers I represent, and plan to continue doing so for many years to come." In his spare time, you can find Ed riding Florida trails, fly fishing, antiquing, gardening or aboard his fixie. He can be reached at tylercyclesport@gmail.

"Talent of this kind doesn't come around often, so we're extremely pleased to hire Jeff, and join forces with Justin and Ed. I expect big things for our enhanced sales team, and am sure our customers will appreciate the diligence, great service, and strong relationships they will bring to our mutual business," said Marin CEO Matt VanEnkevort.

COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. (BRAIN) — USA Cycling is now offering a $50 annual Ride Membership, which offers recreational cyclists benefits including event accident medical coverage and a subscription to Bicycling.

"The 12-month Ride Membership allows cyclists to support Team USA Cycling and enjoy USA Cycling benefits, including: $25,000 of accident medical coverage at fun rides and gran fondos; a year-long Bicycling Magazine subscription; Team USA t-shirt, phone pouch and sticker; one-day racing license; insider tips and advice from Team USA Cycling coaches and athletes; and discounts with USA Cycling partners," the organization said.

The Ride Membership package is also available as an add-on for existing members for $30.

"USA Cycling as an organization is about more than just traditional racing. We want to support the growth of cycling more broadly," said USA Cycling CEO Derek Bouchard-Hall. "Gran fondos and fun rides are growing in popularity, and this is a fantastic trend we want to continue by supporting these events in the same way we do traditional bike races. Racing is at the core of what we do, and we are committed to improving our racing members' experience, but broadening our membership is the right thing to do to support the growth of our sport. This inclusive membership reflects how millions of Americans ride."

More information at usacycling.org/ride.

WOLVERHAMPTON, U.K. (BRAIN) — E-commerce retailer Wiggle is officially opening its distribution center with a short ceremony on Friday. The company moved its center about 150 miles from Portsmouth, settling in to a distribution space that is 30,000 square meters (323,000 square feet), about three times the size of its previous facility and roughly three times the size of a rugby pitch.

The new facility is two miles from the M6 highway and six miles from the M5; it boasts 95 lorry parking spaces and 32 loading bays. The company said the relocation to the West Midlands created 150 local jobs.

Wiggle's headquarters remains in Portsmouth.

Stefan Barden, Wiggle's CEO, said, "We are very proud to officially open our new distribution service and would like to thank everybody who has been involved in making the move happen over the past two years. This opening also sees the beginning of a new chapter for Wiggle, as we focus on expanding the brand internationally whilst maintaining our excellent service and technical knowledge in our home territory. This site enables us to use our scale to lower our costs which we will in turn invest in ever improving market leading service for our customers."

The company said it has enjoyed 15-20 percent growth in each of the last three or four years.

WILTON, Conn. (BRAIN) — Dorel Sports has named Jeff Spotts its new director of operations for North America. Spotts will be responsible for warehousing and logistics in North America.

Dorel also officially announced that it had appointed Alfred Chan as chief operating officer, which had been reported earlier this month.

Chan comes to Dorel Sports with 30 years of global operations and management experience across manufacturing and consumer packaged goods in the U.S., Hong Kong, China, Japan and Southeast Asia. He was most recently with Marshell International, a leading manufacturer and exporter of electric vehicles and automobile electronics. Prior to that he was at the Jarden Corp., where he was the managing director/COO for Asia supply chain operations. Earlier in his career, he spent many years at Mattel and General Mills.

At Dorel Sports, Chan will have global leadership responsibility across all areas of operations for the business.  "Dorel Sports is continually focused on finding improvements in operations and our supply chain to make it easier for our customers to do business with us," said Peter Woods, president and CEO of Dorel Sports. "Improving operations is one of my top priorities for the business and we will continue to invest in people and processes to make it happen."

Spotts most recently worked for National Business Furniture LLC in Milwaukee, where he was director of logistics and distribution center operations for 10 years. Prior to NBF, Spotts worked for 10 years at Perry-Judd's Inc., where he was the freight services and distribution manager responsible for three distribution centers and freight procurement.

MANNING, S.C. (BRAIN) — South Carolina Gov. Nikki Haley warmly greeted a gathering of Chinese manufacturers on Tuesday promising them her support to do whatever it takes to interest them in setting up a factory in South Carolina.

It was probably the first time a leading group of Chinese bicycle suppliers was greeted by a state governor.

"If you plan to set up a company here we can get a workforce for you and make sure they are trained for the tasks you need," Haley said. "And I and my staff will work hard to overcome any issues that may arise."

Thirty representatives from 23 Chinese and Taiwanese suppliers were attending Kent International's open house at its BCA bike factory in Manning.

Arnold Kamler, Kent's CEO, told the gathering it was Haley's quick support of Kent's plans to build a bike factory that led them to locate in South Carolina after visiting other state locations. And Kamler spelled out examples of how the governor and her staff have helped the company, like running a natural gas pipeline five miles to the factory location, and training employees at local technical colleges in the skills they would need at BCA.

"The plant is not even a year old so I know it is too early to get any supplier to commit to setting up a factory here; that was not my intention. I did want them to see that we are making mass market bikes here, it can be done in the U.S. and the business is growing," Kamler said.

"I want to increase the U.S. content of these bikes and I cannot do that unless a few component companies start to produce here or somewhere else in the U.S. And I hope after visiting they at least consider the possiblility of a U.S. factory," he added.

About 800 bikes a day roll off BCA's assembly lines — the first mass-produced bikes made in the U.S. since the late-'90s. Currently BCA imports frames and parts from Asia for assembly.

In early spring BCA will increase to 1,000 bikes a day. The company is in the process of adding a painting facility, with robotic welders getting set up later in the year so it can start frame production.

PHILADELPHIA (BRAIN) — Pope Francis will be given a custom Breezer bike when he arrives in the City of Brotherly Love this weekend.

Advanced Sports International, which produces Breezer bikes, is based in Philadelphia.  Mayor Michael Nutter and the Philadelphia Bicycling Advocacy Board presented the gift to Archbishop Charles Chaput in a ceremony held at the Philadelphia Convention Center on Tuesday; in connection with the gift, they announced that 100 bicycles are being donated to bicycle-based community programs in Philadelphia.

"We are humbled to have this opportunity to honor Pope Francis and his work on behalf of livable cities and his appreciation of the bicycle as a means to create a better, more sustainable environment," said Karen Bliss, chair of the Philadelphia Bicycling Advocacy Board and VP of marketing at ASI.

The bike is a Breezer Downtown 8 with a custom paint job and chain guard.

The bike features graphics by Amanda Dirksen Catanzaro, head of ASI's graphic design team. Catanzaro started with a clean, "papal white" frame and added elements to honor the Pope, including his name in his native Spanish language, Papa Francisco, on the top tube. She chose the Pope's crest for the head badge, fabricated in brass by Toronto-based artists Carl & Rose.

Other symbols she placed on the bike include a Cross, a Holy Candle, a Peace Dove, and the colors of the Swiss Guard. As a tribute to Philadelphia, Catanzaro placed a Liberty Bell and a "PHL Made" logo on the seat tube.

One of the most distinguishing details is the chain guard. Custom designed and fabricated by Carl & Rose, the metal chain guard takes the shape of an angel's wing.

"I wanted an element on the bike that represented a spiritual aspect central to the Pope's life and career," said Catanzaro. "It is my hope for him that as he continues to travel and teach that he will be bolstered by his faith, that he will experience the security and strength that comes from leaning on God," she added.

The bicycle was hand-painted by Toronto-based design company VéloColour.

SEATTLE (BRAIN) — The partners behind Herriott Sports Performance are opening a "new athletic training and lifestyle destination" in Seattle's Capitol Hill neighborhood next month.

Métier Racing & Coffee will offer a gym, locker rooms, a bicycle service center, a retail space and a cafe, all in a 12,500-square-foot space on Union Street. 

HSP partners Todd Herriott and David Richter said they have been envisioning a facility like this since starting HSP in 2006. "We've aligned all of the right pieces — the team members, the space, the resources — to develop the concept that we've long wanted to create," Herriott said. "We have a team with skills that transcend cycling. It just so happens that cycling is our heartbeat. We want people of all interests to find something they can dig at Métier.

"We hope that people of all interests and abilities can use Métier as a place they want to hang out – train in the gym with top-notch consultants, take a yoga class, check out new bikes and equipment, have a drink or watch a game or a race on the big screen," Herriott added.

Métier Racing & Coffee is at 1017 East Union St. and is slated for a soft opening in mid-October, with a grand opening on Saturday, Nov. 7. More information at www.metierseattle.com.

Related: BRAIN visited HSP on our 2013 Seattle Dealer Tour.

BALDWIN, Calif. (BRAIN) — Benny Joseph Sr., a former owner of Crupi Parts, died Saturday at 79.

"Benny was instrumental in making Crupi the company that it is today," said Greg Swingrover, Crupi's current owner.

"When Don Crupi decided to start a BMX racing component company in the early '80s, he went straight to Benny Joseph and his machine shop in Arcadia, Calif., to have the parts made. Not only was Benny the original shop to make all of the Crupi CNC-machined parts in the '80s and '90s, but it was Benny's engineering influence that made the parts as good as they were."

Joseph took over the company from Crupi in the mid-'90s and then hired Swingover to run it for him in the late '90s.

"Many of you may remember Benny at the races as one of the nicest company owners anyone could meet. Benny and I traveled the USA in his favorite toy, his 40-foot Freightliner truck with the big Crupi on the side, as we would take it to many Nationals all over the country in the late '90s and early into the 2000s. Benny loved being at the races, meeting all of the BMX community, handing out stickers to the kids and showing off his great BMX parts on the custom displays he made for the races."

Swingrover bought the company from Joseph in 2006. Joseph is survived by five children, 15 grandchildren and five great-grandchildren.

WHITEFISH, Mont. (BRAIN) — Hammer Nutrition is offering a whey protein supplement made with hormone- and antibiotic-free whey protein isolate from 100 percent grass-fed cows.

The drink is made with whey protein isolate, not the more commonly sold whey concentrate. The company said this provides a higher percentage of useful protein per serving, without the lactose and fat.

It is Glutamine fortified, which is said to provide immune system support and enhance recovery. It has no added sugars or fillers and is sweetened with stevia.

More information at hammernutrition.com. 

ASPEN, Colo. (BRAIN) — Melon Helmets of Germany has hired Backbone Media to manage its North American public relations. Meanwhile, ZG Collective, the exclusive U.S. distributor for Melon, is actively seeking independent sales representatives and new retailers in the United States.

"Melon has experienced tremendous growth and success in Europe, winning a prestigious Red Dot Product Design Award in 2014 and is adding new markets every year," said Josh Fonner, the chief operating officer of ZG Collective. "We believe the design and value that Melon delivers creates huge opportunity for the brand in the U.S."

Backbone Media PR director Ian Anderson said, "As bike commuting continues to grow exponentially in the U.S., Melon offers helmets for riders who don't want to look like they're about to line up for a race. ... Melon helmets are some of the most protective and stylish helmets available and we're excited to introduce them to the domestic market."

To inquire regarding retail accounts and independent sales opportunities, email Fonner at josh@zgcollective.com. 

LAS VEGAS (BRAIN) — Blackburn Design lost five display bikes as well as assorted gear and merchandise after thieves broke into its rental van early Saturday morning at the Mandalay Bay Convention Center following last week's Interbike expo in Las Vegas.  

"The vehicle was parked in a well-lit garage near the main elevators. We have filed reports with Mandalay Bay and the Las Vegas Metro Police, who will be investigating via video footage, etc. If you are in the Southwest, please see the details and photos of each bike and please let us know if you run across any of them," Blackburn said in a press release this week.

The stolen bikes are:

• Niner ROS 9 Plus with SRAM 1-by, aqua/tan custom paint, custom rack, custom multi-cam bikepacking bags, Patagonia wetsuit.
• Volagi Liscio with SRAM CX1, carbon wheel set, chocolate/blue custom paint, Blackburn rack and fenders.
• Santa Cruz 5010, SRAM 1-by, Fox suspension, tan custom paint.
• Kona Major Jake, SRAM Force 22, black and green.
• Niner RLT 9, Shimano Ultegra/105, teal and white.

Anyone with information about the stolen bikes can contact Blackburn's Robin Sansom at rlsansom@blackburndesign.com.

LAS VEGAS (BRAIN) — Zurich, Switzerland-based TSG International AG has set up a U.S. office in Carlsbad, Calif., to support their operations here. The company displayed its U.S. line at the recent Interbike show in Las Vegas.

TSG USA Inc. distributes the brand's bike and snow program, including helmets and protectors. Founded in 1988, TSG is today one of the world's largest suppliers of safety products for action sports such as skateboarding, mountain biking, BMX, snowboarding and wakeboarding.

TSG supports riders including Sam Pilgrim (MTB), Thomas Genon (MTB), Timo Pritzel (MTB), Angie Marino (BMX), and Daniel Wedemeijer (BMX).

"We are happy to finally increase availability of our helmets and pads and offer professional service for our U.S. mountain bike customers," said Ruedi Herger, CEO of TSG International AG. 

More information at ridetsg.com.

LAS VEGAS (BRAIN) — About 4 percent more retail locations were represented at last week's Interbike show, while retail buyer attendance was down slightly, show organizers announced Wednesday.

"Exhibitors, retailers and media expressed positive commentary, noting that feedback from the show floor and at OutDoor Demo was favorable and complimentary," the show said.

Organizers said they expected a minor dip in retailer attendance after eliminating the Health+Fitness Business Expo. The reduction in the number of attendees per store reflects a trend across many tradeshows, they said.

The overall footprint at Interbike was approximately 328,000 square feet, representing the largest show to date. Friday's Customer Appreciation Day netted almost the exact same attendance as the 2014 edition, but an increase in retailer attendance for that day helped bolster overall traffic. Attendance at the OutDoor Demo was flat.

Organizers will release more attendance details in mid-October.

"As Interbike continues to evolve as a show, I'm so grateful for the support our industry showed this year, as the passion and excitement from our tribe was stronger than ever," said Pat Hus, the vice president of Interbike. "When racks are empty at OutDoor Demo and booths are packed during Interbike, I know the magic of the show (the connection and interaction between retailer and exhibitor) is happening. The fact that we were able to increase the number of stores that attended this year gives me confidence that we are on the right track. We also heard from some non-participating brands that plan to be back at the show for next year based on what they saw and heard in the aisles – this is great news," Hus added.

Next year's show will return to the Mandalay Bay Convention Center beginning with OutDoor Demo in Boulder City, Nev., Sept. 19-20, 2016, followed by the Interbike Expo Sept. 21-23, 2016. 

BOULDER, Colo. (BRAIN) — The National Bike Challenge, an online ride tracking competition sponsored by PeopleForBikes and Kimberly-Clark, reached its 35 million mile goal this week, 10 days ahead of the five-month competition's end. Since the Challenge began May 1, 92,057 riders have recorded 35,081,343 miles. That's a 50 percent increase from the 2014 Challenge, which ended with 23 million miles ridden.

Riders burned approximately 1,181,036,278 calories, saved 4,587,939 million dollars in reduced driving costs, and reduced CO2 emissions by 7,551,829 million pounds.

"We set a high bar for this year's National Bike Challenge," said PeopleForBikes' president, Tim Blumenthal. "People responded coast to coast, got their friends and co-workers involved, and had lots of fun along the way."

Launched in 2009 as a bike riding campaign for Kimberly-Clark's 42,500 employees, the Challenge went national in 2012. In 2014, more than 47,000 riders participated.

PeopleForBikes partnered with Kimberly-Clark Corporation this year to recruit more major companies to participate in this free program, which boosts employee health and wellness and reduces road congestion and air pollution by encouraging clean, healthy bicycle trips. Some of the corporations that participated in the Challenge this year include: 3M, Amway, AT&T, Best Buy, Eli Lilly and Company, Google, Hewlett-Packard, IBM, Lockheed Martin, Northwest Mutual and Texas Instruments.

In addition to Kimberly-Clark, 2015 National Bike Challenge sponsors include: 3M, Strava, Thrivent Financial, Volkswagen and Wells Fargo.

More information at nationalbikechallenge.org.

LOUISVILLE, Ky. (BRAIN) — Owner Ross Horsley has re-opened an expanded Middletown Cycling as a Giant Partner Store.

The new store is nearly triple the size, at nearly 4,000 square feet.

Middletown Cycling's manager/buyer Elena Jones said, "It makes it easier for customers to browse and leisurely self-shop. Ordering and stocking is also effortless in our fast-paced environment because of the new wide double-sided displays."

"I believe Ross and his team are seeing how tripling his space is allowing customers to better browse his store and see more of what he offers," said James Yao, Giant retail services executive for the East. "He'll see a nice increase in business – particularly in gear sales – because of it."

Horsley first opened Middletown Cycling in May 2012. From the beginning, his philosophy has been to support cycling around the River City. "As a small business, we think it's very important to give back to the cycling community and the people who show us support. This year we will continue to sponsor several cycling clubs and teams around Louisville. Whether it be through racing or charity riding, the cycling community continues to expand and we are excited to see what the future holds."

Horsley held a  grand opening celebration on Aug. 15, featuring performances by mountain bike trials stunt pro Jeff Lenosky. 

The store is at 11519 Shelbyville Road in Louisville.

LAGUNA HILLS, Calif. (BRAIN) — Bicycle Retailer is now accepting applications from retailers interested in participating in our second Retail Remodel Project, in which the magazine and several partners provide a store remodel using current best practices.

3 Dots Design, a leading retail design firm, will execute the retail remodel. Bicycle Retailer and Industry News will document the store transformation. We will cover all costs but we do will require you and your staff to actively participate in the process and provide labor during the buildout and merchandising. The buildout may require you to close your store for 1-3 days in February.

We will select a store based on editorial and design criteria including willingness to share sales figures, ability to supply blue prints and retail square footage. 

The deadline to apply has been extended to Oct. 1. To apply, visit goo.gl/forms/IgC7r3zc1S.

Related: BRAIN reveals Retail Remodel of NOW Bikes.

LAS VEGAS (BRAIN) — The electronic editions of BRAIN's 2015 Interbike Show Daily are still available at the following links:

2015 Interbike Show Daily electronic editions:

Day 3

Day 2

Day 1

SCOTTS VALLEY, Calif. (BRAIN) — Giro has updated its Privateer mountain bike shoe with a new nylon and rubber co-molded outsole and a reinforced toe box.

The Privateer R outsole was modified for durability and improved grip on rocks and roots. The shoe retains a microfiber upper, two straps and a replaceable micro-ratcheting buckle.  Other highlights include aggressive lugs for improved traction, toe spike compatibility and a supportive EVA footbed with Aegis anti-microbial treatment.

The Privateer R retails for $150. It's available with a black upper and gum rubber-colored sole, or a "Dark Shadow"-colored upper and "Flame"-colored sole. 

More information at giro.com.

LOS ANGELES (BRAIN) — The 2016 Amgen Tour of California will stage a 4-day/4-stage women's race May 19-22. The race will be part of the first-ever UCI Women's WorldTour, a global series announced this week at the World Championships in Richmond, Va.

The WWT will be a combination of one-day and multi-day stage races and will run for 30 days from March to October across Europe, China and the United States including the recently formed one-day races La Course by Le Tour de France and La Madrid Challenge by La Vuelta. Multi-day events will include the Aviva Women's Tour of Great-Britain and the historical Giro d'Italia Internazionale Femminile. The Amgen Tour of California Women's Race, sponsored by SRAM, will be the first WWT event held on U.S. soil and one of only two U.S. races included in the WWT's inaugural year (the Philadelphia International Cycling Classic being the other).