NEW YORK — U.K. folding bike maker Brompton Bicycle has announced that it will hold its seventh annual Brompton World Championships on April 15, 2016, in Monterey, California, in conjunction with the Sea Otter Classic at Laguna Seca Recreation Area.

Brompton, the official folding bike sponsor of Sea Otter, invites fans of its bikes to don their finest sartorial styles and participate in BWC 2016.

“We’re thrilled to bring the Brompton World Championship USA to the West Coast in 2016,” said Katharine Horsman, general manager of Brompton Inc. “Sea Otter is the perfect venue to showcase the versatility of our bikes — they’re smartly suited for cities, of course, but they feel just as at home on the open road. What better place to show off the performance element of the Brompton than the world-famous Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca?”

The race includes a Le Mans start, and participants must unfold the bike at speed before racing the course — all while dressed to impress. Racers must wear sport suit jackets, collared shirts and ties to impress the judges.

“We are honored to be hosting the U.S. event for the Brompton World Championship series,” said Frank Yohannan, founder of the Sea Otter Classic.

“Sea Otter has a commitment to promoting sustainable transportation, and folding bikes have increasingly become a transportation solution for commuters, travelers and anyone combining multiple modes of transit. The West Coast debut of the Brompton World Championship brings a new event in line with Sea Otter’s values.”

Race categories include fastest male, fastest female, fastest veteran, fastest team and best dressed. Fastest male and female will be flown to London to race the 2016 BWC Final. Qualifying events for the final race will be held in 12 countries.

Visit active.com to register for BWC 2016.

LEXINGTON, S.C. (BRAIN) — Hawley plans to open a third distribution center this spring, in Camp Hill, Pennsylvania, that will provide next-day delivery to 17 states in the Northeast.

Hawley-Lambert has also hired Jean-Marc Jahoo as director of warehouse and logistics for North America. In that role, he will manage the Camp Hill distribution center’s opening in spring 2016. He is in the process of hiring a local director for the new distribution center.

Jahoo has a background in supply chain procurement and managing global distribution centers. He is Green Belt Certified in lean manufacturing and has worked for such companies as Philips and Danaher.

“With our recent announcement of Hawley and Lambert becoming a global team a month ago and our promise to provide the best brands and unbeatable service, this new distribution center is proof of our dedication to the long-term success of both our retailers and vendors,” said Sylvain Caya, president of Hawley-Lambert.

WASHINGTON, D.C. (BRAIN) — The latest list of bike-friendly businesses from the League of American Bicyclists includes companies across 49 states and the District of Columbia. Two states made the list for the first time: Louisiana, with Great Raft Brewing in Shreveport,earning a silver designation, and Oklahoma, with Oklahoma City’s Allegiance Credit Union earning a bronze award.

“I’m excited to see businesses from so many different communities that see value in creating inviting places for people to bike,” said Alex Doty, the League’s executive director. “When we make great places for biking, we create places where people want to work and live and visit.”

Capitol Metropolitan Transportation Authority was designated a gold award for bringing bicycle-friendly transit to Austin, Texas. Over the past 12 months, more than 315,000 customers secured their bike on Capitol Metro bus racks.

For multi-modal commuters, the newest MetroBike shelters feature double-tiered bike racks and bike repair stations.

In Maryland, the Johns Hopkins University Applied Physics Lab (APL) moved from bronze to silver status this year. While doing so, they quadrupled their bike parking capacity and introduced a bike share program.

The Trek Bicycle Store of Schererville, Indiana, earned a gold designation this year by taking the lead in bike advocacy and education in northwestern Indiana.

“About 10 years ago we wanted to start encouraging the community to become more aware of cycling,” said general manager Paul Jellama.

The store worked with local governments to connect trails and created a volunteer ambassador group. Seeing the need for education to connect newer riders with bike skills and how to use local trails, they changed the focus of their shop rides.

“Now we’re up to six or seven rides a week, all geared toward the beginner. We’re aware that cycling can really change the culture of an area,” said Jellama.

More than 1,090 businesses from across the country have earned the bike-friendly business status over the past seven years. The BFB program recognizes employers for efforts to encourage an atmosphere for bicycling employees, customers and the community with bronze, silver, gold and platinum designations based on the level of bike friendliness.

Check out the League's full list. 

COON VALLEY, Wis. (BRAIN) — Custom cycling apparel company Borah Teamwear recently installed a 49-kilowatt solar array that will produce about 43 percent of the company’s annual electricity consumption. The system was installed on Borah’s south-facing roofline and utilizes 160 solar panels. 

To finance the project, Borah qualified for a Focus on Energy grant and federal tax credits. Borah paid for the remainder of the cost.

Ethos Green Power, a locally based company, assisted Borah from concept to completion, providing a turnkey solution. 

“The solar array will pay for itself in about six years, and then save Borah at least $160,000 in the next 20,” said Alicia Leinberger, owner of Ethos. “Equally important, the solar array will avoid 55 tons of carbon dioxide emissions every year.” 

“Our mission is based upon creating a positive and healthy work environment. By combining solar power with our made-in-USA commitment, we are without a doubt achieving this mission for our employees, customers and the environment,” said Chris Jackson, owner of Borah Teamwear. “Now, not only are we creating local jobs, we are also doing our part in reducing our carbon footprint." 

Borah plans to add a link to its website at www.borahteamwear.com to show real-time performance of the system, and will share any information with other businesses interested in adding solar energy. 

NEW YORK — Retailer Paul Levine, owner of three Signature Cycles locations, has announced that he will close his 900-square-foot Manhattan studio on Dec. 31. Levine moved the store from its original Upper West Side location to SoHo last year when the building sold and his lease expired.

“It is no secret that the new location has been challenging for most of our clients to visit,” Levine said in an email. “The economics of doing business in Manhattan outweigh our desire to offer the best that the bicycle industry has to offer.”

Levine will shift more of his focus toward his Greenwich, Connecticut, location, which he said is thriving. With its proximity to the Metro North line, Levine also said most NYC customers should be able to reach the Greenwich store without having to drive.

“We will combine the strengths of the NY and Greenwich businesses and consolidate to the Greenwich location, resulting in extended hours, better relationships with our clients, more time to focus on bike travel — a growing area of interest with our customers — and more group rides,” he said. “I am excited by this change and the opportunities ahead and saddened at the same time by the closing of our Manhattan location.”

Levine started Signature Cycles as a fit studio in his house in Central Valley, New York, in 1999 and opened his first brick-and-mortar in Manhattan 14 years ago. The SoHo studio carries bikes from Parlee, Seven, Passoni, Guru, Independent Fabrication and Specialized and is staffed with four full-time employees. It also features an Assos store-within-a-store.

ANN ARBOR, Mich. (BRAIN) — A new web service called PriceLocal launched this week aimed at helping local retailers match Amazon Prime prices. The service works through a browser extension the customer downloads, then whenever they shop on Amazon, they are given the opportunity to ask a local retailer for a price match for the Prime price.

PriceLocal was founded by former Borders executive Matt Chosid, who saw first-hand the impact Amazon had on the bookseller and was inspired to offer retailers another option.

The company says it levels the playing field for local retailers so they can better compete with Amazon, and it gives consumers the ability to find what they want and pick it up the same day, avoiding same-day shipping charges. The service is free for consumers and local businesses.

“Amazon is a juggernaut that impacts the ability of local retailers of all sizes to compete, while consumers have the perception that shopping locally will be more expensive,” said Chosid. “PriceLocal is a win-win for shoppers and retailers. Shoppers can find and get something right away at a fair price while supporting the local economy. And local retailers can level the playing field with Amazon by turning local online traffic into increased sales and foot traffic.”

“By helping shoppers find the products they want at a local store willing to match the Amazon price, PriceLocal turns the corrosive 'showrooming' trend on its head and drives consumers back into local stores, where retailers can capitalize on their strengths — providing great service and putting products in shoppers’ hands today,” added Chosid.

Shoppers start their search at www.getpricelocal.com. After installing PriceLocal for Chrome, Firefox or Safari on their desktop or laptop and finding a product on Amazon, users click the 'PriceLocal' button, sending a price match request to participating local stores.

If a local store has the item and is willing to match the Amazon price, shoppers get a coupon for the item at that price, which they can print out or show on their phone when they go to the store.

Retailers sign up at www.getpricelocal.com/retailers/sign_up. After signing up, PriceLocal retailers receive Amazon Prime price match requests from local shoppers, which they can turn into foot traffic with the PriceLocal mobile web app for retailers.

To avoid any confusion over comparing prices with and without shipping charges, PriceLocal works with Amazon Prime products only, where the shipping charge is free. Neither retailers nor shoppers need to be members of Amazon Prime to use PriceLocal.

After a successful pilot in Ann Arbor, Michigan, last year and expansion into Minneapolis, Charlotte and Austin last month, PriceLocal remains free for consumers and retailers nationwide.

CHICAGO (BRAIN) — The Chicagoland Area Bicycle Dealers’ Association (CABDA) on Friday announced a wave of new companies that will exhibit at the association’s trade show in February.

James Kersten, who owns Edgebrook Cycle in Chicago and serves as CABDA’s president and show director, said Cannondale, Quality Bicycle Products and Speedplay will exhibit at the show. They join returning exhibitors SRAM, Shimano, Haro, Thule, Colnago, Hawley and J&B, all of which have significantly increased their presence for the 2016 event. There will now be more than 90 brands represented at the expo, CABDA said in a release.

The show has also attracted attention from smaller brands and distributors looking to take advantage of the expo’s preseason timing, according to CABDA. “ ‘End of the world’ dating terms are not needed in February, and dealers can better forecast what they need. Most importantly, it's at a time of year when they can attend,” Kersten said.

“We’re excited about all of our exhibitors. We’re very happy that shops can see some of their favorite brands next to others that they might not have known about,” he added.

Dealer attendance is on track to double as well. “Registrations are up almost 90 percent from this time last year. We’re doing more advertising and really trying to focus on dealers that might not have heard about the event,” Kersten said.

The CABDA Expo is a trade-only event that runs February 3-4 at the Pheasant Run Resort and Convention Center outside Chicago. Registration is free to dealers until Jan. 15, and is always free to CABDA members. Dealers are encouraged to bring staff to attend clinic and seminars.

Exhibitor and dealer registration information can be found at cabdaexpo.com.

CAMARILLO, Calif. (BRAIN) — Specialized Bicycle Components has joined SmartEtailing’s Supplier Sync program. Specialized retailers can now blend their in-store inventory with real-time availability of Specialized products on their websites.

“At Specialized, we’re committed to providing greater support and resources to our retailers,” said Bill Schouman, director of market development for Specialized. “The Supplier Sync technology allows us to leverage our entire supply chain so that more of our products gain maximum exposure to our riders through the individual retailers’ websites.”

SmartEtailing launched Supplier Sync in 2012 to meet the consumer’s desire to shop through a mix of in-store and digital channels known as “omnichannel” convenience.

“Omnichannel retail only truly exists when presented by retailers who are investing to create this experience for the riders in their markets and when they’re supported by leading brands such as Specialized,” said Mark Graff, SmartEtailing co-founder. “Brands, on their own, fall short of delivering a genuine omnichannel solution because they lack the local relationships great retailers deliver on every day.”

Matthew Bigler-McCorkell, general manager of Bicycle Habitat in New York, said Supplier Sync has already made a difference in the store’s sales.

“Right off the bat we sold a bike and some aftermarket items that customers wouldn’t have normally seen on our website without the Supplier Sync service,” said Bigler-McCorkell, an early adopter of the new service.

“Customers are more willing to purchase with us, buying online and then picking up in the store because Supplier Sync makes it easy for them to see what’s available including a size, color or model we may happen to be out of when they’re ready to buy,” he added. “Thanks to Specialized and SmartEtailing, we’re giving our customers a better experience and we can already see it makes a positive difference for them.”

LAGUNA NIGUEL, Calif. (BRAIN) — CamelBak, Five Ten and Lowa Boots are among the outdoor brands that will exhibit at the inaugural Outdoor PressCamp next June at the Deer Valley Resort in Park City, Utah.

Outdoor PressCamp will bring together brands and media to unveil the latest products for the camping, hiking, backpacking and outdoor consumer. The event is limited to 20 manufacturers and 25 media outlets, largely made up of key vertical titles as well as active lifestyle category non-endemics.

Following the formula for the 7-year-old Bike PressCamp, media and brand reps will meet in condo complexes for 45-minute sessions to talk about new products.

Outdoor PressCamp will be held June 20-24 concurrently with and adjacent to Bike PressCamp. Bike PressCamp will be held at the Silver Baron Lodge, and Outdoor PressCamp at The Lodges. Organizers say the proximity of both events, and the same dates, will allow the events’ attendees to network, while still offering individual, intimate and targeted media attention at each respective event.

Both events are owned by Efficient Collaborative Retail Marketing.

Organizers said the list of media planning to attend is swelling as well.

Interested brands should contact Kenji Haroutunian at kenji@kenjiconsults.com  or (310) 489-3281.

MANHATTAN, N.Y. (BRAIN) — New York retailer NYCeWheels is distributing NOV Design, a line of custom modification parts for Brompton folding bikes.

NOV Design makes Brompton modifications ranging from $100 sets of hinge clamps to $450 chain tensioners. Its line includes more than 50 upgrade parts.

“Their meticulous CNC-machined process transforms highly engineered blocks of aluminum alloy into the lightest minimalist bits of functional beauty you'll see on a bicycle,” noted NYCEeWheels’ Eric Faris. “You may spend $50 or $500 in the process, but the result is just so satisfying.”

NOV Design is made by a custom CNC shop in Seoul, Korea.

NYCeWheels is accepting wholesale preorders by phone for existing Brompton dealers for shipping in March. The retailer said it’s offering protected territories and easy ordering.

For more information, contact NYCeWheels at (212) 737-3078 or www.NYCeWheels.com. 

RIVERSIDE, Calif. (BRAIN)  — Selected from thousands of employers in Southern California’s Inland Empire region, online and brick-and-mortar retailer Jenson USA was named a “Top Workplace” by daily newspaper the Riverside Press-Enterprise in a special business section published Dec. 11. 

Annually, the Press-Enterprise surveys employees of local companies, analyzing and quantifying more than 9,000 responses to determine which businesses are the best places to be employed. Based on those results, a list of the 35 best places to work in the Inland Empire is assembled and then published in a special business section. Jenson USA was one of only two companies in the retail category to be recognized this year.

“This is a very important and gratifying honor to receive,” said Michael Cachat, founder and CEO of Jenson USA. “We make a very conscious effort to treat all of our employees fairly and with respect. In turn, that relationship has paid us big dividends over the past 20 years as a company that has experienced sustained and healthy growth. We are very fortunate to have one of the best workforces in the Inland Empire.  Our employees are motivated, productive and loyal. We can’t ask for more than that.”

LONDONDERRY, N.H. (BRAIN) — A collaboration kit between Velocio and Australian racer Tiffany Cromwell, the Origami Kit uses the new Ultralight Jersey and RS Bib Short platform for warm-weather performance.

The Italian-made kit’s jersey features perforated stretch polyester, reflective logos and trim details for visibility, three back pockets, a low-profile collar, a tailored fit for cycling position, a silicone gripper at the waist for stability, and YKK CamLock zipper.

The Origami RS Bib Short is made from premium Italian Lycra and features an anatomical cut, silicone-print logos for refined look and durability, a high-density RS chamois developed with CyTech, and a new design with fewer seams and lighter weight.

The Origami Kit is available in men’s and women’s versions. Suggested retail: $368.

More information: velocio.cc.

BOULDER, Colo. (BRAIN) — PeopleForBikes led another "fly-in" lobbying trip to Washington last week. Members of the board of the North America Bikeshare Association met with lawmakers to discuss the transportation bill and federal policies that affect bike sharing systems across the country.

The group met with members of congress, their senior staff and federal agencies to bring several key issues confronting bike sharing to the forefront.

“NABSA represents diverse voices in the bike share industry, from operators to cities to equipment vendors. This fly-in was an important first step for NABSA, representing our 48 members by discussing federal policy that will help grow and strengthen bike sharing in the U.S.," said Elliott McFadden, executive director of Austin B-cycle and NABSA board treasurer.

Among the policy issues facing NABSA members and bike sharing across the country are the continuation and expansion of the Transportation Investment Generating Economic Recover (TIGER) Program, which includes federal funding for bicycle infrastructure, as well as the Congestion Mitigation and Air Quality Improvement (CMAQ) Program. Additionally, the passage of the Bike to Work Act, which has been introduced in the House, was key among federal priorities.

“Expanding the commuter tax credit to include bike share memberships as a pre-tax employee benefit would be a huge step towards growing bike share ridership and making bike share a normal part of the transportation mix," said Nicole Freedman, chief of active transportation for the Seattle Department of Transportation and NABSA board president. “With bipartisan support, we are hopeful we can get the Bike to Work Act passed in the new year.”

“We want to help more cities open bike sharing systems, as we see the direct link between people using bike share and improved bike infrastructure for everyone that rides a bike,” said Jenn Dice, vice president of the business network at PeopleForBikes. “We are proud to partner with NABSA and work with key federal agencies and congress to make sure their policies get more people on bikes in communities throughout the country.” 

VENTURA, Calif. (BRAIN) — Zeitbike has added Fiks: Reflective, a Pittsburgh-based maker of reflective bike safety stickers, to the distributor’s line of brands.

“In the past, we hesitated to work with the common distributors out there — they are just not who we wanted to be represented by,” said Fiks: Reflective owner Nick Drombosky. “Now, we are very happy to partner with Zeitbike.  They understand our quality, product, and brand expectations hitting the right shops.”

The brand’s products are now available for purchase at Zeitbike in all sizes, colors and forms.  The newest addition to the line is Ishidot, a round version of the frame sticker packs.

Prices start at $5.99 for the Classic sticker pack, while the Hexalate and Ishidot packs sell for $13.99 and the best-selling Wheel Stripes pack is priced at $19.99. All products are available in eight colors, and generate margins larger than keystone through Zeitbike, the distributor stated.

More information available at the Zeitbike website.

EUGENE, Ore. (BRAIN) — Rolf Prima has hired Multisport Arsenal and Jeff Winnick to expand support of the wheel maker’s dealers and bolster its outside rep force.

Multisport Arsenal covers Ohio, Kentucky, Indiana, South Michigan and Tennessee, while Winnick covers New England, consisting of Connecticut, Massachusetts, Maine, New Hampshire, Vermont and Rhode Island.

Multisport Arsenal is made up of three triathletes — Lee Sellers, Alton Alexander and Robert Alexander — who have competed at Ironman distance. Winnick has more than 20 years of bike industry experience.

“We’ve built our business with the help of our dealers, and we think having a strong outside rep force is one of the best ways to support our dealers as well as help us expand our reach,” said Matt Baumann, Rolf Prima’s U.S. sales manager.

Multisport Arsenal can be contacted at www.multisportarsenal.com/contact-us. Winnick can be reached at jeff@tcsales.com. 

MORGAN HILL, Calif. (BRAIN) — Kali Protectives has signed a new distribution partnership with Kempter Marketing, Inc. (KMI), which becomes the exclusive distributor of the brand in Canada starting Dec. 14, taking over from Passion Sports.

“KMI has a great team and shares Kali's passion for providing high-end and technically innovative cycling and snow protection to our valued customers,” said Brad Waldron, Kali’s founder and head engineer. “We look forward to building upon this foundation to expand Kali's presence throughout Canada. We would also like to thank Passion Sports for all their work over the past two years.”

Kali Protectives' sales team will work with existing retail partners to ensure a smooth transition. Dealers can contact Kali Protectives with questions at uncontrollable@kaliprotectives.com.

SANTA FE SPRINGS, Calif. (BRAIN) — Bravo Sports Corp. has acquired protective gear company Pro-Tec from Dye Precision, Inc., adding it to its portfolio of action sports brands, which include SixSixOne and ONE Industries. The purchase price was undisclosed. 

Pro-Tec’s day-to-day operations will move to Bravo Sports’ South Orange County campus from its headquarters in San Diego.

Bravo Sports said it will continue Pro-Tec’s legacy by supporting and protecting riders around the world. Pro-Tec makes helmets, pads, guards and other products for skate, bike, water and snow. The company was founded in 1973.

“When you think of action sports protection, you think of Pro-Tec,” said Leonardo Pais, CEO of Bravo Sports. “With the technology and industry recognition of Pro-Tec’s safety products, adding this iconic brand to our roster of exceptional brands and products is truly exciting for us at Bravo Sports.”

Bravo Sports is owned by Transom Capital, a Los Angeles-based private equity firm. Aside from sports brands, Transom’s investments include music merchandising and licensing, IT, vitamin products, self-help and coaching, pro audio products and software.  

“Since we acquired Bravo Sports in June of 2015, we have been excited to grow the company and move it into the future with a diverse product offering, while still speaking to the customers,” said Russ Roenick, managing director of Transom Capital. “With Pro-Tec as the first major acquisition since we’ve been at the helm of Bravo Sports, we can offer our customers protection from a name that’s trusted all over the world.”

Dye Precision, Inc. previously owned Pro-Tec. And according to Dye Precision’s president and CEO Dave DeHaan, the company improved its global distribution, product technology and branding during the three years of its ownership.

“Pro-Tec is in good hands with Bravo Sports, who will continue offering industry-leading sports protection for athletes internationally,” said DeHaan. “As the original action sports protective gear brand, we’re proud that Bravo Sports will take Pro-Tec into the future and still honor its heritage.”

TORONTO, Canada (BRAIN) — Cervélo is launching its first all-new series in a decade, and it's targeted to the endurance road rider. The first model in the series is the C5.

Cervélo said the C Series is the company’s most versatile platform, “occupying a sweet spot between aggressive racing bikes and gravel grinders.”

“With long-distance rides like gran fondos exploding in popularity, we feel there’s a great opportunity to offer true Cervélo-engineered endurance products to an expanding community,” said Phil Spearman, senior product manager. “There’s a real need for a fast, ultralight bike that’s easier to ride on a variety of road surfaces and in a broad range of conditions. There are millions of kilometres of unpaved roads just waiting to be explored, but you need the right bike. After all, the nicest roads are not always the nicest roads.”

The C5 frame weighs 850 grams. It features a Project California fork, single-piece rear triangle and curved seat-stays for lateral stiffness and vertical compliance. The bike has a lower bottom bracket for better stability and handling, longer chainstays, a shallower headtube angle and additional fork rake. It offers extra tire clearance for a wider tire and room for a fender. The bike also features a flat-mount disc-brake and through-axles.

The C5 is available with Dura-Ace Di2 9070 and Dura-Ace 9000 11-speed groupsets with Ardennes Plus LT Disc wheels and Rotor 3D+ BBright cranks. Retail price for the full-dress Dura-Ace Di2 build is $9,000, with availability in January.

The C3 with Ultegra Di2 6870, Force 1X and Ultegra 6800 builds start at $4,300. The C3 will become available next spring. 

SEATTLE (BRAIN) — Wetsuit and swimwear brand Blueseventy has entered into an exclusive distribution agreement with Germany’s CJH-Sales to grow sales in Austria, Germany, Switzerland and The Netherlands.

“I couldn't be more excited to partner with everyone at CJH-Sales,” said John Duquette, Blueseventy CEO. “Their knowledge of the market and passion for the Blueseventy brand is second to none.”

Based in Witten, Germany, CJH-Sales will work to increase Blueseventy’s traction in Europe, including forming partnerships with key triathlon events.

“We are very proud to be chosen by such a quality brand like blueseventy to bring them back to the German speaking market,” said Claudius Hoff, owner of CJH-Sales. “We are confident of setting up a great dealer structure with large market share. From the marketing side we will work with ITU Hamburg and Challenge Roth; the two biggest triathlon events in Germany.”

Blueseventy was founded in New Zealand and is headquartered in Seattle.