LONGMONT, Colo. (BRAIN) — Global Fat Bike Day, Saturday, Dec. 5, is being marked with events, demos and product introductions from Estonia to Vermont, Australia to Colorado.

According to Fat-Bike.com, the day was designated by some British fat bike enthusiasts several years ago. This year, many ski touring centers with fat bike trails are planning demo events around the occasion. In Vermont, for example, the Catamount Outdoor Family Center is holding its second annual Global Fat Bike Day celebration.  Local bike shops will have fat bikes available from several brands for demos. Group rides will provide explore the Center's fat bike trail network.

Century Cycles in Ohio is planning a ride to explore fat-bike options near Peninsula, including the new East Rim Trail in the Cuyahoga Valley National Park. In Wyoming, the Grand Targhee Resort is planning a free demo day. In Northern Idaho, Greasy Fingers Bikes is planning events for Sunday, since many folks have to work on Saturday.

In Colorado, Reeb Cycles is introducing a new fat bike model, the TyREEBdonkadonk, on Saturday. The new model features a titanium frame with a Lauf fork and a Pinion 12-speed gearbox paired with Gates Carbon belt drivetrain.

WASHINGTON (BRAIN) — The five-year, $305 billion tranportation bill passed by Congress Thursday contains increased funding for bike-related projects, totaling $835 million annually for the first two years and $850 million annually for the last three years, according to PeopleForBikes. 

"Cities big and small, from coast to coast, recognize the economic benefits of adding bike infrastructure," said PeopleForBikes president Tim Blumenthal. "We thank Congress for approving a multi-year transportation bill that will support thousands of these cost-effective bike projects to improve mobility, attract and retain businesses, and boost recreation and tourism."

President Obama is expected to sign the bill, which cleared the Senate 83-16 after a 359-65 vote in the House earlier in the day.

It's the first long-term transportation bill passed in 10 years.

Most of the bike funding is in the Transportation Alternatives Program, which survived several attempts at cutting it. Lobbying by bike groups, including a letter-writing campaign organized by PeopleForBikes, helped preserve that program, the organization said.

SAN JUAN CAPISTRANO, Calif. (BRAIN) — With one major success under its belt, the BPSA's E-Bike Committee is well on its way to reaching its $320,000 fundraising goal for its 2016 legislative initiatives.

Larry Pizzi, who heads the committee, said bike brands, component suppliers and retailers have pledged some $230,000, or 72 percent, towards the goal as of Thursday afternoon. Pizzi spoke after Thursday's E-bike Summit, which attracted 50 participants from around the country.

"I think by the end of the year we should be at our goal," he said. Pizzi is also a senior vice president for Accell North America.

The E-bike Summit attracted 50 participants from around the country. Interbike hosted the meeting at its southern California offices.

Pizzi and others outlined the committee's 2016 goals for changing state laws. At the top of the list is New York, where e-bikes are technically illegal under outdated state laws.

The campaign got a boost this year when the California legislature passed the BPSA's model legislation, which creates three e-bike classifications for pedal-assist e-bikes, throttle-equipped e-bikes, and "speed pedelecs," or pedal-assist bikes that can reach higher speeds.

The classification system goes into effect on Jan. 1.

An e-bike bill has passed one house of the New York legislature every year, but political infighting has prevented the measure from becoming law.

To bypass the legislature, advocates instead are appealing to Gov. Andrew Cuomo (D-N.Y.) to include an e-bike legalization measure in his annual budget proposal, said Morgan Lommele, the e-bike campaign manager for PeopleForBikes, which is working with the BPSA on the campaign.

Lommele said advocates, led by the New York Bicycling Coalition and its lobbyists in Albany, N.Y., are promoting e-bike legalization as a way of boosting economic development and tourism in the state.

See the Jan. 1 issue of Bicycle Retailer and Industry News for more coverage of the E-bike Summit.

TAIPEI, Taiwan (BRAIN) — Tern and Xtracycle have succesfully completed a Kickstarter campaign that raised more than $150,000 to produce a folding cargo bike. Unlike many such campaigns, which ship the product directly to the consumers who support it, Tern and Xtracycle will fulfill its orders via retailers who will receive a margin for assembling and delivering them.

The Cargo Node bike was developed for city dwellers and city businesses who want to use the bikes for medium distance errands and deliveries, but who lack space to store a traditional cargo bike. 

"In high-density cities, the value of cargo-bikes multiplies," said Xtracycle founder Ross Evans. "Cargo-bikes are optimal for medium-distance errands, and they let you cut through traffic. Unfortunately, in dense cities, space is at a premium, and cargo-bikes are big." The Cargo Node folds to one-third of its total volume in 10 seconds.

Josh Hon, the founder of Tern said the folding cargo bike seems like a "niche-within-a-niche product," which made investing in bringing it to market was a risk. Thus, the collaborators chose a crowd-funding campaign. 

"Traditional distribution models force distributors and dealers to assume significant risk in the sales-cycle of bicycles," Hon said. "We realized Kickstarter could help us remove risk for dealers and distributors, while reaching the vanguard global audience who see the significant potential of a folding cargo-bike."

Over the course of the one-month campaign more than 20,000 people visited the Cargo Node Kickstarter page. The campaign reached over 100,000 potential customers through Facebook, Instagram and Twitter, and received support from 168 backers in seven different countries. By proving the potential global consumer demand for the product on Kickstarter, Tern built confidence with its distributor and dealer network, with several distributors adding the bike to their product lines after seeing the success of the Kickstarter campaign.

The campaign's goal was $60,000. It actually raised $154,000. Supporters were able to reserve some of the first bikes produced with pledges starting at $1,500.

Steve Boyd, the general managher of Tern North America, said, "We're delivering bikes to the Tern dealer closest to the consumer. Local dealers will assemble and tune bikes, and receive a margin, just like we've been doing on our web store all year."

By fulfilling through dealers, Tern can give consumers service and support throughout the lifetime of their bikes, he said. The company said several dealers have added the Cargo Node to their product selection as a result of the campaign. The Cargo Node will retail for about $1,800 when it becomes available.  

BOULDER, Colo. (BRAIN) — A new cycling history book, Shoulder to Shoulder, presents more than 100 newly restored vintage cycling photographs from The Horton Collection that showcase cycling's first superstar, Jacques Anquetil, and other riders of the 1960s. Shoulder to Shoulder: Bicycle Racing in the Age of Anquetil is now available in bookstores, bike shops, and online.

You can preview a selection of the book's photographs at velopress.com/shoulder.

Shoulder to Shoulder ushers readers into the zenith of Anquetil's career with a fully restored collection of rare and valuable photographs. 

The book includes more than 100 images-most unseen since their original publication in the magazines and newspapers of the day. Great names in these photos include Rik van Looy, Tom Simpson, Raymond Poulidor, Jan Janssen, Miguel Poblet, Rudi Altig, Federico Bahamontes, Jean Stablinski, Gastone Nencini, Jean Graczyk, and many more.

The book includes an appendix of explanatory notes for each photo, a sewn, lay-flat binding, and premium acid-free paper.

The hardcover retails for $16.95.

Media, marketing, and sales contact: Dave Trendler, VeloPress, dtrendler@competitorgroup.com

MUKLTEO, Wash. (BRAIN) —FSA and Gravity Components are sponsoring Ray’s Indoor Bike Parks for the 2016 season. Ray’s will feature Gravity branding on obstacles in the parks and will also display Gravity components and provide the opportunity for an exclusive dealer riding and appreciation event.  

Gravity brand manager Joel Richardson said the agreement will help Gravity expand beyond its Pacific Northwest roots: “Gravity has always been a Pacific Northwest brand.  Partnering with Ray’s gives us the opportunity to not only become stronger in the Midwest, but globally.”  

Jeff Dowhen of Ray’s Indoor Bike Parks says, “We strongly believe in the people, the brands, and the lifestyle that Ray’s represents to our friends, our customers, and ourselves – and Gravity makes us damn proud.”

Gravity-sponsored rider Andrew Taylor has teamed up with Jeremy Ball and Purple Films to win the 2015 Ray’s Odd Couple Video Contest. The win will boost Gravity’s presence at Ray's by earning another logo on a third high-visibility obstacle at the Cleveland park.

The video can be seen on PinkBike.com.

DENVER (BRAIN) — Custom bike maker Alchemy Bicycles is now offering painting services to the public via its Ethic Paint Works studio.

Ethic Paint Works will service private customers with non-Alchemy frames as well as other custom builders.

Lead painter Shane Haberland and graphic designer Nick Hemendinger head the Ethic Paint Works team. Both are former Serotta employees. Phil Harwood joined Ethic Paint Works last month after spending nearly five years at Independent Fabrication.

"Alchemy cuts all of its own carbon and makes its own tubing, so for me, it's fresh and new to be involved in that part of the manufacturing process," said Harwood about joining the Alchemy and Ethic family, "I've been doing a lot more of that than just painting which is exciting, but I'm thrilled about being back in the paint booth."

Ethic Paint Works has been painting for several builders around the world for years, including several NAHBS exhibitors. At the upcoming NAHBS Sacramento show, Ethic will be competing in their own right, displaying the creativity and craftsmanship of the Ethic team in their own booth to better present themselves to the handbuilt builders.

"Painting is an immersive process that I love, whether it's a car, bike or a motorcycle," said Haberland, "Nick's graphic talent and the experience that both Phil and I bring make our customers' dream possible. The three of us are very excited about the Ethic Paint Works projects headed our way."

ANAHEIM, Calif. (BRAIN) — Triathlon Business International has added Multisport Research founder and CEO Gary Roethenbaugh and Challenge Family CEO Zibi Szlufcik to the lineup of speakers for TBI’s sixth annual conference, running Jan. 24-26 in Marina del Rey, California. 

Roethenbaugh and Szlufcik join USA Triathlon board president Barry Siff, Ironman CEO Andrew Messick, U.S. Rep. Kyrsten Sinema (D-Ariz.) and Strava vice president David Lorsch as keynote speakers, sharing their insights into the changing times in triathlon.

Roethenbaugh will provide a statistical picture of the U.S. triathlon community and industry as it relates to triathlon globally, using new international research data his firm gathered during the past year and TBI’s MultiSport Athlete Survey data released in April 2015. 

Szlufcik will discuss Challenge Family’s growth plans, the unique nature of a global family business — Challenge Family oversees a network of 47 long-distance tri events around the world — and his perspective on the sport now and for the future.

For registration and program information on the 2016 Triathlon Business International Conference, visit TBI’s website.

SCOTTS VALLEY, Calif. (BRAIN) — Bell Helmets has named six female mountain bike ambassadors for its new Joy Ride grass-roots women’s program. The Joy Ride ambassadors will work to inspire and enable female mountain bikers with structured fun and social rides for all skill levels in a non-racing environment.

“I’m thrilled to have these six ladies representing our brand and helping us bring more women in to mountain biking. They are all involved in their local communities, incredibly passionate about mountain biking and empowering women to enjoy the sport,” said Jessica Klodnicki, executive vice president and general manager of Bell.

“I’ve cultivated a local women’s mountain bike group that has blossomed to more than 300 women and have seen firsthand the power of women coming together to create riding communities. I can’t wait to see the enthusiasm for mountain biking that our Joy Ride ambassadors will create next year.”

Bell received almost 200 applications for five ambassador spots in cities with growing mountain biking scenes. After long deliberations, Bell added a sixth location and ambassador position.

The 2016 Joy Ride Ambassadors are:

• Karina Magrath, Coeur d’Alene, Idaho: Magrath is a recipient of a PMBI Level 1 coaching certification who has recently starting hosting local women’s rides.
• Veronique Pardee, Tucson, Arizona: Pardee coaches a youth cycling program called El Grupo and started the women’s InSession riding program.
• Samantha Jones, Kansas City, Missouri: Jones is a park ranger and the newly elected president of the Lawrence Mountain Bike Club.
• Amber Krueger, Madison, Wisconsin: Krueger is a member of Revolution Cycles Cycling Club and founder of a women's mountain bike forum and biweekly ride in conjunction with IMBA and its local chapter, CORP.
• Missy Petty, Knoxville, Tennessee: Petty is a women’s ride leader for the Easy Rider MTB Ride with TN Valley Bikes and no-drop women's MTB rides with Harper's Bike Shop. She is also an active member of Appalachian Mountain Bike Club
• Kendell Ryan, Richmond, Virginia: Ryan is a member of River City Women’s Racing, which has strong connections in the community for bike advocacy, and is a former member of local Team LUNA Chix.

In March, the ambassadors will visit Santa Cruz, California, where they will be indoctrinated into the program, meet the team and experience a Girls Rock ride, which inspired the Joy Ride program.

When the ambassadors return to their local communities, they will be charged with starting monthly women’s mountain bike riding programs that capture the spirit of Joy Ride. Bell will provide field support including a guidebook, digital tool kits, promotional gear and budget to quickly cultivate these riding programs in their communities.

Because Bell received so many applications from women who are already building or running women’s programs in their local areas, the company will build a comprehensive map to connect existing women’s riding groups across the country. Bell welcomes all women’s groups that want to be listed on the map. Visit Bell’s website to learn more.

In addition to the grass-roots program, Bell has also launched an all-new 2016 Joy Ride collection, inspired and designed by women. The line consists of eight women’s helmets for all-mountain/trail riders, active lifestyle riders, plus performance and sport road female cyclists. 

OLDSMAR, Fla. (BRAIN) — Bill Austin, whose role in the bicycle industry spanned more than 30 years, died Sunday after a long illness. He was 78.

Many in the industry perhaps best remember Austin for his keen focus on developing reliable industry statistics during his many years serving on the board of the Bicycle Products Suppliers Association.

His career spanned executive leadership positions at Schwinn, Giant USA and Raleigh Bicycles. “He was passionate for the industry and the dealer,” recalled Steve Meineke, former president and CEO at Raleigh USA.

“That passion was translated in many forms as both an industry advocate and how he ran the industry’s statistical committee. He grabbed that (statistics) and embraced it,” Meineke said. “It was during an era (the 1990s) when the industry really needed it. Still, he always kept his eye on the dealer,” he added.

Austin joined the industry after leaving General Electric to join Schwinn Bicycles as an executive vice president reporting to Ed Schwinn. He joined the company in 1979.

“Bill was unique. He came to Schwinn at a critical time and his expertise was really needed,” recalled Jay Townley, a Schwinn executive who reported to Austin at the time. “I am always saddened when I learn that someone in the industry has passed away,” he added.

Skip Hess, who first joined Giant USA in 1987 as its product manager, said Austin brought a “lot of business knowledge” to the industry. “We didn’t really want to talk about business. It was always product- and sales-centric. Bill always loved the numbers. He was one of those guys who could always find that bad number in a stack of reports and he was always right,” Hess said.

Pat Cunnane, president and CEO of Advanced Sports International, said he first worked with Austin in 1988. Austin had just been named president of Giant USA and he was putting a team together in New Jersey. “I had talked with him after Interbike and he told me that he had been sick. Even though I had some warning, I couldn’t believe it. I’m still sort of in shock,” Cunnane said.

“He was such a vibrant person and he was so important to me and my career. I can’t imagine how Jean (Austin’s wife) and his kids and grandkids are feeling,” Cunnane added.

No matter what the industry function, Jean would always be close at hand, many recalled. “She was the consummate hostess,” said Meineke, who traveled with the couple when sponsoring dealers who were members of the Heron Council, a group of high-achieving Raleigh dealers. “There are dealers who will never forget those trips with Jean and Bill,” he added.

Hess described the couple as being very close. “Bill could be pretty direct and he was a great administrator. But Jean tempered that with a little sensitivity. They pretty well complemented each other,” he said.

Austin was also a football fan. He played for Rutgers from 1956 to 1958 and was selected by the Associated Press as a first-team player on the 1958 College Football All America Team. He finished sixth in voting for the Heisman Trophy.

Information on services was unavailable Tuesday. This article will be updated as more information becomes available.

SCOTTS VALLEY, Calif. (BRAIN) — The Wayside Backpack Pannier features backpack straps that fold into a hidden zippered pouch so the bag can be attached to a rack with hook-and-loop webbing —no hardware required.

The bag is impregnated with wax to add extra water resistance and durability. A laptop sleeve and two external pockets house organizers, pen/pencil sleeves and more.

The Wayside is also expandable to tailor the bag for small or large payloads.

Suggested retail: $79.99.

More information is available on Blackburn’s website.

NILES, Ill. (BRAIN) — Joe Reichert, owner of Amling’s Cycle Shop and a longtime proponent of recumbents and trikes, suffered a brain aneurysm in mid-November. Reichert was in a coma for two weeks following the aneurysm and remains in the hospital on what is expected to be a long and difficult road to recovery.

Reichert’s family has set up a campaign through fundraising site Red Basket to pay for his recovery. About $20,000 is needed to cover medical bills and living expenses while he recovers.

“Joe is in one of the best facilities in the country to deal with this sort of ailment, but his recovery is going to be very expensive,” wrote Reichert’s niece,

Sara Bennett, on the family’s fundraising page.

“We have started this Red Basket fundraiser because Joe is always there for us and others when needed. Now it’s our turn to be there for him with as much support, prayers and love as possible. Now we are asking everyone who knows and cares for Joe to give as little or as much as you have to give.”

An engineer by trade, Reichert bought Amling’s Cycle Shop in northeastern Illinois in 1999 to follow his dream of owning a bike shop. With a focus on the recumbent and tricycle market, Reichert has helped people in his community improve their health through cycling.

“Joe is very involved in many parts of cycling including CABDA and Toys for Tots and has many friends in the cycling community,” David Hoss, owner of Barr Bike in Des Moines, Iowa, said in an email. “As a bike shop owner myself I would like to get the word out to other folks in our industry to offer prayers and support for Joe.”

To support Reichert and his family, visit the Red Basket fundraising page. 

DECATUR, Ga. (BRAIN) — Fred Boykin, founder and owner of Bicycle South outside of Atlanta, has announced that he is selling his shop to manager Brian Dunne and will retire at the end of the year.

After 43 years in bike retail, Boykin, 64, said he is ready to turn over promoting the joys of cycling to the next generation.

“It’s a good time in my life to do it and move on to other things,” said Boykin, who opened the shop in 1972 when he was a junior at Emory University. “It just makes sense to do it now. I’ve been doing retail forever and I need to step back from that.

“I love the industry and I’ll definitely miss parts of it,” he added.

The cycling bug first bit Boykin in the early 1970s when he visited his then-girlfriend’s family in Iowa. “They were from France and very into bicycles,” Boykin said. “Her father got me a Peugeot road bike and I joined their Sunday morning rides out in the countryside.”

Boykin and Bicycle South have won numerous awards for their support of local cycling, including Bicycle Retailer’s BRAINy Award for retail advocate of the year in 2005, QBP’s Clay Mankin Award in 2007 and Boykin’s namesake award, the Atlanta Bicycle Coalition’s Fred Boykin Lifetime Achievement Award, in 2014.

Boykin said he is most proud of the work he has done with the Safe Routes to School program and the positive impacts it has made on Decatur. He plans to stay involved with the program and is currently serving his fourth four-year term on the Decatur city commission.

Dunne has worked at Bicycle South for more than 20 years and plans to continue the store’s dedication to supporting the local cycling community. He was a 5 percent owner for a number of years, and Boykin said that not much will change in the day-to-day store operations following the transition.

Bicycle South occupies a 4,500-square-foot space and employs about eight people year-round. It was one of the first Giant dealers in the U.S., and also carries Raleigh, Diamondback and Brompton.

CHICOUTIMI, Quebec (BRAIN) — Canadian bike brand Devinci has promoted David Régnier-Bourque to director of marketing and Jean-Philippe Tremblay to artistic director. The company also hired Julien Boulais as marketing coordinator.

Régnier-Bourque has been at Devinci for a decade, first as a rep in Quebec, then as marketing manager.

Boulais, who has collaborated closely with the company for more than four years, recently moved to the Saguenay region full time. He’s responsible for social media, specialized media and he will participate in a number of cycling events.

Tremblay started at Devinci in 2008 as a graphic designer. “Jean-Philippe handles his key position extremely well. He has a natural aesthetic taste and knows how to apply it down to the smallest detail, both in developing our portfolio and with our various marketing tools,” said Yvan Rodrigue, managing director.  

OGDEN, Utah (BRAIN) — As QBP opens its new distribution center in Reno, Nevada, today, the company has announced that it is relocating its Q-West operation in Ogden, Utah, to the Denver area. The move will significantly improve service to customers by reducing ground service transit times, QBP said in a statement.

“With the Dec. 9 opening of our Reno location, we’re now able to get to all of the major metro West Coast locations in one day,” said Kim Brown, QBP’s director of distribution. “And by moving operations from Ogden to the Denver area, QBP will be able to reach the entire state of Colorado in one day.” Colorado is QBP’s second largest market in the U.S., behind only California.

“When we put Ogden into place, it was perfectly situated between California and Colorado. They were two days away each. But with the way the market is going — the way the bicycle industry is going — one day away is more important than it was back when we put in the facility. That’s the driving force,” Brown told BRAIN.

In Texas, another important market for QBP, customers will see shipping time decrease from three days to two once the Denver facility is on line. “The footprint of all of our distribution centers now puts us in a better position to deliver one- and two-day coverage to a larger percentage of our customers than ever,” Brown said.

The Denver facility will also serve New Mexico, while Q-Reno will serve the entire West Coast, Arizona, Utah and Idaho. Brown said retailers should see no disruption to delivery or service during the transition.

Operations from the Ogden location will move to Denver around April or May 2016. QBP is in the final stages of finding a new warehouse to lease. “We’re looking in the Denver area and we’re down to a narrow list of buildings we’re looking at,” Brown said.

The company also has distribution centers in Lancaster, Pennsylvania, and the company’s hometown of Bloomington, Minnesota. It opened the 85,000-square-foot Ogden facility in 2010.

QBP acquired an 8-acre parcel to build the Q-West facility in a $1.366 million deal with the city of Ogden as the town 40 miles north of Salt Lake City accelerated its efforts to become a hub for the outdoor sports industry. Ogden is also home to such bicycle brands as Enve Composites, TRP, Volagi, Mavic and Scott Sports SA.

“QBP has had a significant impact on the community of Ogden,” the company stated. “In five short years, its bike community has undergone an amazing transformation. QBP is proud of their involvement in those changes and would like to thank Ogden for its partnership in growing cycling in the region.”

Company representatives informed city officials about the relocation on Tuesday. QBP will put the property up for sale, said Brown, who could not comment on QBP’s financial investment in the facility.

The company notified its 73 Ogden employees of the change on Tuesday, and all are being offered to continue in their positions in Denver. QBP is also offering relocation assistance to workers who choose to follow their jobs, Brown said.

ST-AUGUSTIN-DE-DESMAURES, Quebec (BRAIN) – Outdoor retailer Torpedo 7 will sell Louis Garneau’s stock line of cycling and triathlon apparel and hardgoods in New Zealand, the French company announced.

During December, Torpedo 7’s brick-and-mortar and online stores, owned by The Warehouse Group, will gradually receive its stock to carry on existing and new business.

“Garneau offers technically-advanced, finely crafted, and great fitting products. We can’t wait to present the lineup to our customers,” said Wayne Mason, T7’s bike category manager/buyer. “Garneau is top-of-the game with clothing as well as shoes and helmets and we know New Zealand athletes are going to love the collection.” 

For its custom cycling and triathlon clothing, Louis Garneau has signed on Cyclewerks Distribution Ltd as a dedicated sales agent. Garneau previously worked with Alastair Woodfield and Cycletech NZ for distribution. Woodfield is retiring.

Questions about the changes in sales and distribution can be directed to export@louisgarneau.com.

SAN JUAN CAPISTRANO, Calif. (BRAIN) — Interbike announced that SRAM, Cannondale, Santa Cruz, Fox Racing, Pivot and KHS are among the brands that have committed to exhibiting at its new event next fall called CycloFest.

Fall Cyclofest, set for next October 20-23 in Charlotte, N.C., will offer dealers the chance to see and demo 2017 products, attend tech clinics and participate in retail education seminars over two trade-only days.

Slated to take place at the U.S. National Whitewater Center, the festival will also offer brands two consumer days that will include racing, demos, music, skills clinics and more.

Other brands set to exhibit include Niner, Campagnolo, 100%, Giordana, Pinarello and Devinci.

“We knew that we needed our partner brands to come on board early for this event to get the traction we anticipate,” said Pat Hus, vice president of Interbike. “With this stable of committed companies we know we can deliver the audience and the experience that we have always envisioned for this event. Our goal has always been to find ways to help the retailer, and these brands agree that more attention needs to be given to the regions east of the Mississippi. This is going to be a first-class event that makes the trip to North Carolina productive and fun for both retailers and consumers alike.”

SRAM, Fox Racing, Campagnolo and others are planning tech sessions to bring mechanics up to speed on their latest offerings, Interbike said in a press release.

“We see value in the opportunity to connect with East Coast retailers and consumers in their home region at the first annual Fall CycloFest next year,” said Mario Galasso, president of Fox. “We're looking forward to a strong turnout so attendees can learn about our latest products, get their suspension set up by our experts and participate in one of our hosted technical seminars.”

The U.S. National Whitewater Center is minutes from the Charlotte Douglas International Airport and offers more than 25 miles of groomed mountain bike trails, zip lining, stand-up paddleboarding, rock climbing, whitewater rafting and extensive road riding in the surrounding area.

Fall CycloFest will start out with two days open to retailers, distributors and media only. In addition to demos and technical education, the event will also offer educational sessions for retailers from Mann U, the NBDA and Interbike University.

“The Mann Group is very excited to be a part of CycloFest here in our backyard next fall,” said Dan Mann, founder and president of The Mann Group. “We will bring dynamic content designed to help all employees at the retail level enhance their performance — in turn, enhancing the performance of their business.”

WILTON, Ct. (BRAIN) — Morgan Meredith has joined Dorel Sports as global mountain bike marketing manager for Cannondale. The bike division of Dorel Industries has also promoted Jonathan Geran to global director, sports marketing, for Cannondale. 

Meredith will head the global marketing strategy and communication plan for the Cannondale mountain bike segment and Cannondale suspension technology. Geran will lead the sports marketing strategy globally for Cannondale, working with regional marketing teams to activate Cannondale teams and athletes in support of the brand. These changes are in addition to the recent hiring of James LaLonde as global marketing manager for Cannondale Road. 

 Meredith comes to Dorel Sports from Mission Workshop where he was marketing director. He previously was general manager for Bike Magazine and Paved Magazine and public relations and media manager at SRAM MTB.

Geran has been with Dorel Sports since 2012, when he started in the role of global marketing manager for road at Cannondale. He has more than 15 years of experience in the bike industry working in marketing and sales for brands that include Reynolds Cycles and Parlee Cycles.

Prior to working on the Cannondale brand he was deployed to Afghanistan as a Unit Commander in the 438th Military Police Detachment, United States Army. 

SEATTLE, Wash. (BRAIN) — The boards of directors of the Cascade Bicycle Club and Washington Bikes approved the merger of the two organizations. The merger will create the nation’s largest statewide bicycle nonprofit, the groups said in a press release.

“We received feedback from each of our organization’s constituents and the majority was overwhelmingly supportive and excited about what opportunities and resources the merger will create,” said Catherine Hennings, board president of the Cascade Bicycle Club.

As of Jan. 1, 2016, Cascade Bicycle Club will be the name of the 501(c)(3) tax-deductible wing, focused on education, diversity and inclusion programs, most of the signature events and advocacy work. The organization’s 501(c)(4) arm, to be called Washington Bikes, will address statewide policy and outreach, selected statewide events and activities, and candidate endorsements.

“This merger will enhance both organizations and increase the reach and effectiveness of bike advocacy and education in a state that is already No. 1 in the U.S. for bicycling,” said Brian Foley, board chair of Washington Bikes.

The Cascade Bicycle Club is the nation’s largest locally based bicycle organization, with 15,000 members and 36 staff. The club organizes the popular Seattle to Portland ride, which draws thousands, as well as several other well-attended rides in the Pacific Northwest. Washington Bikes advocates for bicyclists through lobbying for better laws and more funding to grow cycling statewide.

The merger will unify bicycle education curriculum and resources across the state and in the Puget Sound region. Advocacy work will also be strengthened. The merger will result in saved overhead costs and more money directly funding current work and new programs, like Cascade's Major Taylor Project and Washington Bikes' state bike tourism initiative. Washington Bikes' grassroots successes across the state will also be a great partner for Cascade's statewide tours, events and rides.

“The merger will result in more reach, effectiveness and efficiency than either organization alone, and we’ll work with all the advocacy groups and clubs in the state,” said Barb Chamberlain, executive director of Washington Bikes.

A joint board committee developed short-term transition plans and conducted due diligence to fully understand what the merger entails and how the organizational missions will continue to ensure an effective strategic merger plan is in place.

"From bicycle advocacy in Seattle and statewide, to partnerships that support local bike clubs and groups, to continuing the growth of bike tourism, this merger is a big win for people who strive to make bicycling accessible to everyone and to improve lives through bicycling," said Elizabeth Kiker, executive director of the Cascade Bicycle Club.

MUMBAI, India (BRAIN) — Ash Jaising, a consultant who did market research for many of the industry’s biggest companies, has died in his hometown of Mumbai.

Jaising was 64 and died from complications after suffering a fall at his home in India. His longtime business partner and former wife, Rachel Carlson, announced his passing.

“As everyone knows, Ash was a heavy smoker and last February he had been hospitalized and almost died, but he never really bounced back because of the COPD (chronic obstructive pulmonary disease),” she said. “He returned to India in late August and later fell, cutting his leg. And that led to a fatal blood infection,” she explained.

“I do want to mention one thing, though,” Carlson said. “Before he discovered cigarettes, he was an avid hiker and mountain climber. He climbed part of Everest, and in France he climbed Mont Blanc. It’s hard to believe,” she added.

Jaising did market research for the National Bicycle Dealers Association, Huffy, Schwinn, Trek, Giant, Cannondale, Bell Sports and many others. He began his a work in the bicycle industry in 1989 when he and Carlson incorporated Sports Marketing Research and its subsidiary Bicycle Market Research.

“Ash Jaising was a true entrepreneur who brought the knowledge of market research that he had learned in Europe to the American sporting goods business, including the bicycle business,” said Jay Townley, a friend and former Schwinn executive who had worked for Jaising at one time.

“Ash showed the industry the kind of high-quality and accurate consumer research that it had seldom seen before he came on the scene. The annual BMRI U.S. Bicycle Market Report became the authoritative source for market research and intelligence for almost two decades,” Townley said.

The NBDA’s Fred Clements said Jaising was a colorful and interesting character. “He had a great sense of humor,” recalled Clements, who retained Jaising to do several market studies for the association. “He brought a lot of high-level research to the industry at a time when there wasn’t much. Now there are a lot of people doing it.”

Carlson recalled that at one point Jaising had been retained by SRAM’s Stan Day to do research on the market. “Stan was in a hurry to get Ash’s findings. I can still remember scribbling numbers on pages and putting the report in FedEX to get it to Stan on time,” she said.

Jaising was born in Mumbai (called Bombay at the time) to a well-off family and graduated from college there with a degree in English literature and aesthetics. He then left India to backpack across Europe with friends. While in Brussels he saw an ad for an MBA offered by Boston University.

He applied and was accepted. After a year of study in Europe he moved to Boston, where he finished his course work. It was at a Boston disco that he met Carlson, who at the time was a senior at Boston University. The couple married, but later divorced while still remaining business partners.

Jaising soon went to work for a consultant group in Cambridge, Massachusetts, with a focus on international marketing. He was assigned clients in Sweden and Finland. It was a Swedish client who asked him to do research for a bicycle accessory he had invented. But Jaising soon found there was a dearth of market research available on the industry.

“He decided he would start his own business and do market research. He started with bicycles but then expanded into fitness, team sports, golf, inline skating and golf,” Carlson said.

The rise of the Internet began to undercut the costly mass-audience consumer research that Jaising was best known for. “Younger people didn’t want to spend the money and didn’t see the value in the kind of research we did,” said Carlson. That led to Jaising’s retirement and the move back to India.

Carlson said that Jaising, a Hindu, was cremated in accordance with Hindu customs and his ashes were spread in a Mumbai river that flows into the Ganges. “He was an interesting and worldly man, and his passing has been really sad and difficult,” she said.