CLEARFIELD, Utah (BRAIN) — Bollé has promoted Greg Kottenstette to North American sales manager for outdoor & specialty business. Kottenstette has worked in various capacities for the brand for 31 years, most recently as national accounts manager. His experience includes 20 years owning and operating a sales agency in Colorado.

Kottenstette's promotion coincides with the announcement that Bollé will be introducing a new line of bicycle helmet.

"In his time with the organization, Greg has taken an active role in nearly every major marketing initiative," said Bill Yerby the director of sales & marketing for North America. "That sort of experience, commitment and leadership is invaluable to the successful implementation of our long-term strategies."

Bollé is owned by Vista Outdoor Inc., which also owns CamelBak.

NEW YORK (BRAIN) — Priority Bicycles, a consumer-direct bike brand that launched with a crowdfunding campaign in 2014, is releasing its second model, the Priority Eight.

The new model offers an aluminum frame, 8-speed internal Shimano hub, a Gates CDN belt drive and dual-piston Tektro hydraulic disc brakes. It comes with alloy fenders, Continental tires and is available in three sizes. The company  is taking orders for the new model at $799. The Gates CDN is the company's new lower-priced belt drive, which uses a lower-tension belt and a reinforced composite chainring combined with a steel rear cog.

"The endless requests that we received for this bike had been overwhelming. We couldn't ignore the call," said Priority Bicycles co-founder and CEO David Weiner. "The Priority community received first crack at our limited availability and pre-order pricing, with a small second run now being opened up to the public. With competitive products featuring similar components being sold for well over $1,400, we know we have the best value for a commuter of this caliber that will sell out quickly."

More information at Priority Bicycles.

PLEASANT VALLEY, Mo. (BRAIN) — Chamois Butt'r maker Paceline Products has announced a new minimum advertised price policy for all its dealers and distributors in North America, which took effect Jan. 1.

The policy applies to all Chamois Butt'r products and extends to both distributors and dealers selling in both brick-and-mortar and online channels.

"To demonstrate our support for our resellers, encourage them to effectively promote our products and to preserve the image and value offered by the Chamois Butt'r brand, Paceline Products Inc. has unilaterally adopted a MAP policy of Chamois Butt'r products for all resellers, including brick-and-mortar and online," said Steve Mathews, CEO of Paceline Products Inc.

For more information on the policy, dealers may contact Paceline Products at info@pacelineproducts.com or view the policy online at pacelineproducts.com.

OGDEN, Utah (BRAIN) — Mavic has appointed Denise Landy as its national account manager and Mark Niemiec as community marketing manager.

Landy will work on growing national key accounts and e-commerce sales throughout the United States by educating retailers and consumers on the full range of the Mavic product line. She has more than 10 years of experience in sales in and out of the cycling industry. Most recently, Landy served as the national account manager at Amoena, a company that produces and develops women's wellness products. Previous to that, she spent five years managing and building national accounts at Cannondale Bicycles.

"I'm excited to be working with Mavic's national accounts, some of whom I've worked with in the past. I have a great respect for these retailers and look forward to helping them grow their business and service their customers," said Landy. "I'm especially thrilled to be representing Mavic and all that the brand offers the biking industry."

Niemiec rejoins Mavic in a new role as community marketing manager. He will be in charge of the creation, implementation and growth of the neutral support program, athlete team and events for the Americas. Niemiec is a former member of the Mavic team with seven years as a direct employee working races and events and more than five years as a volunteer.

"I'm excited to again be a part of the Amer Sports family and especially the Mavic team," said Niemiec. "I'm looking forward to the challenges ahead and getting back out on the race courses where Mavic has a long history of servicing."

Mike Wilson, Mavic's North American brand manager, said, "Both Denise and Mark bring valuable expertise to Mavic in their respective roles. Each role is critical to meeting the goals we have set for 2016 and we couldn't be more honored by their joining the Mavic team."

WASHINGTON (BRAIN) — QBP is recalling about 1,000 Stolen BMX bikes because the front wheel can detach due to improperly fitting retention washers. Because of the improper washers, the bikes do not meet federal bicycle standards.

QBP has received one report of an incident involving the front wheel; no injuries were reported.

The recall involves Stolen series BMX bicycles, including Stolen Agent 16CB and 16FW, Stolen Compact, Stolen Casino and Stolen Stereo models. "Stolen" and the model name are printed on the frame. The Agent 16-inch bikes were sold in dark blue, the Compact 20-inch bikes were sold in neon orange and satin white, the Casino 20-inch bikes were sold in phosphate raw (gray), with highlight yellow and electric red, and the Stereo 20-inch bikes were sold in satin black and electric green.

Consumers are being told to stop using the bikes and return them to the store where purchased for a free inspection and free replacement wheel retention washers. Consumers can contact QBP toll-free at (844) 610-7484 from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. CT Monday through Friday or online at qbpbmx.com and click on the Recall Information tab for more information.

The bikes were sold from September 2015 through October 2015 for between $230 and $350.

More information: CPSC recall notice | QBPBMX recall page.

FORT COLLINS, Colo. (BRAIN) — Cantitoe Road is now offering a new ergonomic cork grip called Primergo, made by Herrmans OY AB, a European OEM supplier of lights and grips.

The company said the ergonomic shape is optimized for the palm to prevent Carpal Tunnel Syndrome by releasing pressure from the ulnar nerve. The Primergo Jet Cork grip is secured to the handlebar by a single lock.

This dual density locking grip employs an eco-friendly cork mixture, which is 25 percent lighter than traditional grips. Unlike conventional rubber grips, cork grips never feel sticky in the summer and don't suck heat from your hands in the winter.

Cantitoe Road is the US distributor of the Primergo Jet Cork and many other Herrmans grips and lights.

MSRP is $24.95. More information at cantitoeroad.com.

Editor's note: Steven W. Hansen an attorney who defends product manufacturers, distributors and retailers in product liability lawsuits and provides consultation on all matters related to the manufacture and distribution of consumer products. For further questions visit swhlaw.com.

How the problem arises

We receive lots of inquiries each year from both clients and their insurance brokers about how to handle additional insured certificates issued to U.S.-based companies from their key Asian based manufacturing suppliers, who almost without exception, use policies issued by  Asian based non U.S. admitted/regulated insurers. If you are not closely monitoring and vetting all your suppliers additional insured certificates each year then you better go back to square one, read our article on audits, then read this article. This article does not address EU (European) or Japan based non-U.S. insurers. That is a separate future article. 

 This article is an attempt to outline some of the many issues with coverage provided by Asian based insurers ("AI's" for purposes of this article) and how to begin to spot these issues and develop strategies to overcome them. This article has been assembled from our first hand experience in claims with Asian based insurers and dealing directly with our client's coverage problems arising therefrom. Your first hand experience and opinion may vary, but we feel that these issues at least need to be identified and addressed by those companies least familiar with them.

Why the coverage exists 

You need to understand there is a reason for insurance issued by AIs. First of all there is a need as Asian based manufacturers are usually asked about this coverage by the U.S. companies they supply (or it is required to close the deal). Secondly, AI's are utilized as their coverage is usually much cheaper than U.S.-based coverage, even for the same limits of coverage. There is a good reason for this; in most cases the AI coverage is more limited in scope than most U.S. policies issued to the U.S. companies buying products from Asia and also because the AI's "loss ratio" tends to be lower. This means that the ratio of dollars paid out on claims to dollars of premiums collected is better than comparable U.S. insurers loss ratios. This may be partly due to the fact that the AI's can freely deny so many U.S. claims using their restrictive policies and their is no recourse by U.S. additional insureds in U.S. courts against the AI's directly.

Questions that have to be asked when vetting such coverage

The first question of course is the experience of your insurance broker and in house attorney in dealing with such AI's and their claims process. If you/they don't know the right questions to ask then seek outside expertise.

Unknown Ratings

One problem with AI's is they tend to not be rated by U.S. insurer rating agencies with respect to their financial strength. The reasons for this are varied but can be due to the fact that the AI's will not submit to regular audits by the U.S. rating agencies. The lack of a U.S.-based rating can seriously limit the use of AI's coverage when your company is trying to sell items to large companies like Walmart or Amazon.

Restrictive policies

AI's also tend to issue very restrictive policies when compared to U.S. policies. One way they do this is by only offering "claims made" (versus "occurrence") coverage which creates a whole host of issues as to how claims need to be timely handled. If you have never heard these phrases, again go back to square one. AI's also tend to use manuscripted or non standard policy provisions unlike those issued by most U.S. insurers. This unique policy terminology becomes a bigger problem as U.S. courts never get the opportunity to interpret it as they do U.S.- based policies. U.S. policies also tend to use very standard (copyrighted) policy language not used by their Asian counterparts. The reason this language is used by U.S. insurers of course is so that there is some degree of predictability when courts interpret the language.

Inexperienced claims staff

Not only are the policies a problem but the claims staff (internal and third party) can be inexperienced (or in some cases untrained) and are usually totally unfamiliar with the U.S. legal process and case law as it respects the claim process, coverage and liability. Or sometimes what knowledge they do have is used against the U.S. additional insureds. In our experience most AI staff routinely confuse coverage and liability. In some instances claims are never even opened as legitimate claims are "denied" (or more likely "ignored") before they ever reach the AI, or are denied for reasons that would receive much higher scrutiny in the U.S.

Limited policies

The AI policies are usually financially restrictive as well when compared to U.S.- issued policies. There are often large self insured retention amounts (SIR's) on these policies, in addition to low per claim and aggregate limits as well as limits on total defense costs that erode the available limits of the policy even further (so called "burning limits" policies). The Asian suppliers (with the blessing of the AI and the AI broker) also tend to issue too many additional insured certificates to too many U.S. companies which further erodes the viability of the policies. This creates a very murky situation should multiple claims later arise.

Limited usefulness

Due to these issues above many U.S.-based insurers will not give U.S.-based certificate holders any "credit" for these AI issued certificates. What this means is that these AI certificates are not worth the paper they are written on (at least insofar as U.S. insurers are concerned). Thus U.S. insureds won't get any rate reductions on their own U.S. coverage due to the fact that U.S. insurers are betting on the AI's not coming through for the U.S. additional insureds when needed.

Risky strategy

At the end of the day what this really means is that whether or not your U.S.-based company gets a defense and indemnification in a U.S. suit (or other country other than the AI's home country) from an AI comes down to how much pressure can be applied by your company to the Asian supplier, to its Asian based broker and ultimately the AI. That's a very risky strategy which can drastically change from one year to the next as players in the game change, let alone the viability of your long term business relationship with the Asian supplier.

Looking Forward

Again this all comes down to due diligence, experience in the AI market, timing and relative bargaining power. If your company is not getting the right advice from the insurance brokers and attorneys consulting with it, asking the right questions and offering solutions at the right time in the process, you will not get anywhere and may end up being counterproductive. Trying to retroactively work around or safeguard against these issues/pitfalls can be frustrating as you are not negotiating directly with the AI, nor are you on equal footing with them as compared to your Asian supplier. Many "contractual workarounds" attempted with the Asian insured supplier will not yield results for the simple reason that the AI is not a party to the contract and its insured has no power to bind it. The biggest problem with insurance is that you don't know you have a problem usually until years after the coverage was placed. At that point its too late to try to "fix" it.

Evolving picture

There are a lot more legal and underwriting issues and strategies involved than just the few mentioned in this article. Its never too late to start fixing these potential gaps in coverage. But they generally take a few policy renewals to iron out. And even then its an ongoing yearly battle as the players and policies in the shell game often change.

ANAHEIM, Calif. (BRAIN) — Triathlon Business International is conducting its second annual Industry Confidence Survey, which the trade group said will serve as "a barometer to multisport industry sentiment on key issues ranging from perspectives on retail prices to the general outlook for growth of triathlon in the U.S."

The online survey opened Wednesday and concludes at the end of January following the sixth annual TBI Conference from Jan. 24-26 in Marina del Rey, California. Early summary findings from the survey will be shared during the conference.

 The full Industry Confidence Index will be completed by Feb. 12; everyone who completes the survey will receive the full findings report. The survey results will also be available for purchase for a nominal fee.

The survey is commissioned by TBI and being conducted by MultiSport Research. It will build on the initial survey done in early 2015. The 2015 confidence survey established a baseline to which the 2016 data will be compared. The initial Index was completed by 125 industry executives. The 2016 poll will include these individuals as well as the wider TBI membership.

More information: The online survey.

BIEL, Switzerland (BRAIN) — As announced last year, DT Swiss is changing its ownership structure as longstanding CEO and chairman Marco Zingg has sold his shares to his two business partners, Frank Böckmann and Maurizio D'Alberto.

"Thus, after successfully building up the group together for over 20 years, its three founders have now constructed an ideal solution for the next chapter of its history, ensuring the group's continuation as an independent entity," the company announced Wednesday.

Zingg will continue to serve as chairman of the board until the group's general meeting in May and will remain available to the company on a consultancy basis for special tasks.

Following the general meeting, Böckmann will replace Zingg as chairman of the board.

The company said that despite the euro crisis, it has maintained its market position over the last business year and even managed to record a slight increase in sales. The group operates four production sites — in Biel, Poland, Taiwan and the U.S. — and employs more than 600 people worldwide, including 180 at its head office in Biel.

BOULDER, Colo. (BRAIN) — As of Jan. 1, Full Cycle Bikes, one of Boulder's oldest bike shops, has changed hands. Russ Chandler and business partners Ed Kuh and Adam Brodnicki bought the business from Kaj and Karli Gronholm, who owned it for 10 years.

Tom Morris opened the original Full Cycle store on University Hill in 1982. The Gronholms purchased the business in 2005 and added a location on Pearl Street in downtown Boulder. They opened a third shop in Fort Collins in 2006, which shuttered in 2014.

Chandler, an avid cyclist and computer programmer and software developer, met the Gronholms two years ago through Cyclists for Community, the non-profit organization he founded in Boulder.

"When the opportunity came along to buy the stores, we acted quickly," said Chandler, who also worked with Catalyst Communications to launch the Bike Life Cities program. "Our goal as investors is to take a well-established but underperforming business and free it of financial constraints.

"We're starting with a clean slate, including working out vendor relationships with Giant and others."

Full Cycle will continue to carry Giant, Kona, Ibis, Felt and Eddy Merckx at its 6,000 square-foot Pearl Street and 2,500 square-foot University Hill locations.

Chandler said no staffing changes were made, and all employees will stay on board. Chad Taylor, Full Cycle operations manager for the past four years, will continue to run both stores, which employ around 15 people.

"We don't see the need to make any big changes at this point, other than to market more than what has been done in the past and improve the services we offer based on the improved financial footing we are on," Chandler said. "I'll work more in the back office, helping with marketing and finding the financing we need."

Minority owner Kuh is a former bike retailer who owned several Cycle Logic stores in the 1980s, and worked for Avid and Maverick Bikes. He currently owns a kitchen and bath retail showroom in Boulder. Brodnicki works in the financial industry.

Chandler said Kaj Gronholm plans to return to his former career in the software industry, but that Karli would continue to run Full Cycle's very successful Venus de Miles women's cycling club.

TEMPE, Ariz. (BRAIN) — Motorcycle industry experts offered a glimpse of the challenges and opportunities in their market to a crowd of 250 bike industry members attending the IBD Summit this week in Tempe, Ariz.

The powersports/motorcycle market shares several similarities with the bike industry. Chief among them:

• A reliance on the race/enthusiast customer for growth.
• Decline in sales and motorcycle dealerships following the 2008 recession
• Both are recreational: Want-based versus need-based industries
• An aging, mostly white, male customer base
• Category intimidation: It's easy to scare away newbies due to tech language, sexist and classist attitudes, style, and fear of looking stupid.
• Opportunity to reach new audiences including more women, more non-whites, and younger men (under 35)
• Fairly fractured OE market with various brands battling for marketshare
• Growing online marketplace for used motorycles, growing consumer-direct sales

And like the bike industry, "growing the pie is the biggest challenge we have in powersports," said Robert Pandya, one of the panelists and a 20-year moto veteran who's worked at the retail, supply and media side of the industry and is also a lifelong enthusiast. He estimates household penetration to be 2 percent for the motorcycle industry.

But panelists noted ways the industry is combating each of these challenges. Scot Begovich, director of data solutions for Experian Marketing Services, said the industry has come together to promote and market the moto lifestyle with campaigns that promote adventure and fun to larger audiences.

Retailer George Gatto left the bike industry and invested in the motorcycle business nine years ago. He still owns a small bike shop, but the moto business has been his focus. He owns two Harley-Davidson dealerships in Pittsburgh and is a member of the Harley-Davidson dealer advisory group.

"I hated getting squeezed all the time," Gatto said about his relationships with suppliers when he ran a multi-store bike business. "When Pat [Hus] asked me to talk on this panel, I got the same knot in my stomach that I would get when I was in the bike business," he added.

Gatto noted that several of the imported moto brands operate much like the majority of suppliers do in the bike business, "shoving inventory" down dealers' throats and not offering dealer support. "The [import] business is tough and a lot like bicycles," he added, noting how Kawasaki recently announced that it's selling P&A online to consumers.

But that's made his decision to align closely with Harley-Davidson, which holds the largest marketshare at 34 percent of the industry, an easy one. He describes Harley as a customer-led business that strives to know what happens at its franchises.

Gatto said he works closely with Harley-Davidson on inventory control, and the company closely polices MAP and fines dealers who violate its policy. It also offers extensive training. Top company executives are accessible — "they listen and talk to me," Gatto said. "They know what I'm selling as I'm selling it and adjust their production, so there's no discounting."

"Vote with your dollars," he advised bike dealers. "Some vendors' business plans don't match yours. Deal with guys that give you what you want when you want it."

Eric Anderson, who's worked in retail, wholesale and the distribution of aftermarket apparel, helmets and products in moto for nearly three decades, served as a moderator for the panel. But he offered tips based on what he's seen work in motorcycle retail.

He stressed keeping lean inventory selection on the show floor and being a showroom rather than a storeroom to avoid discounting; relying on statistics and numbers that can serve as benchmarks for conversion rates, sales and profit by product category, and profit per square foot, among other key metrics (the motorcycle industry has a top 20 club that shares P&L data — a model taken from the automotive industry); selling packages rather than individual products; engaging with female customers more; and experimenting with new marketing strategies, like having a bike display and contest at a local movie theater.

Turn to the Feb. 1 issue of Bicycle Retailer for more coverage of the conference.

CHICOUTIMI, Quebec (BRAIN) — Devinci has named former pro road racer David Veilleux as  its new  R&D/road brand manager. The company has also hired Christophe Riopel-Benoit as a project leader in frames, suspension and composite materials, and has hired Mikhaël Simard as its project leader in the self-service bikes & e-bikes.

Riopel-Benoit comes with experience from LM Wind Power and Bombardier Aerospace, where he gained experience with carbon fiber as well as suspension design. Simard previously worked for Bombardier Recreational Product on the CanAm Defender, a side-by-side offroad vehicle.

As for Veilleux, the first Quebecer to complete the Tour de France, Devinci general manager Yvan Rodrigue said, "David brings to the team a vision of the road bike that is both vast and very specific. It's clear that his contribution will improve our upcoming models."

Bruno Gauthier,the director of the R&D department, said “it was essential that we mobilize a resource for these extremely promising segments. With these new appointments, we can remain on the cutting edge in terms of research and development, while maintaining our high standards for performance and quality.”

BOULDER, Colo. (BRAIN) — The Outdoor Industries Women's Coalition, in collaboration with the Bicycle Product Suppliers Association, has announced a new scholarship program that will bring three women from the bike industry to this spring's Bicycle Leadership Conference in Monterey, California.

The Cycling's Women to Watch scholarship will accept applications from Jan. 25 – Feb. 1. Applicants must currently work in the cycling industry in a manager or higher role, have at least three years experience in the cycling industry, be a current OIWC member, and have a willingness to assess areas for personal and professional development. Recipients will receiver conference registration, three nights' hotel accommodations at the Monterey Plaza Hotel and Spa, and round-trip airfare.

"The increasing influence and participation of women as both consumers and industry leaders is one of the most positive trends of the past couple decades," said Roger Gierhart, the BPSA's president. "We are doing all we can to encourage that trend by sponsoring this innovative scholarship program."


"OIWC is proud to partner with BPSA to offer this scholarship to women in the cycling industry to increase the number of women in leadership positions, while increasing the visibility of top-tier female talent for a stronger, more sustainable outdoor community," said Deanne Buck, the executive director of OIWC.

Scholarship recipients will be announced February 19. To learn more or to apply for the Cycling's Women to Watch scholarship, visit oiwc.org/BLCScholarship.

BOULDER, Colo. (BRAIN) — Suspension service center Dirtlabs is now offering a new suspension seal driver tool for shop or home use. The company developed its own tool after years of using tools provided by other manufacturers.

"Our Seal Driver is both durable and precise and alleviates the need for a million tools to do the same job," Dirtlabs said. The tool is made in the same Boulder building where Dirtlabs prvides suspension service. The set works with all major manufacturers' wiper seals, including flangeless seals.

The kit includes an aluminum ergonomic driver handle, one 32mm cup, one 35/36mm cup, one 40mm cup, plus replaceable attachments. 

The tool retails for $115 and is available for shop purchase. Dirtlabs is offering free shipping on orders placed before Feb. 1.

To order contact service@dirtlabs.com or (720) 213-4742.

SAN DIEGO (BRAIN) — De Soto Sport has reached an agreement with Aqua Lung that allows Aqua Lung to continue marketing Michael Phelps Xpresso swimwear. De Soto will stop using the Espresso name on its wetsuits after selling off its remaining stock.

De Soto said that according to the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office, both names are classified as apparel in USPTO Class 25. The names may be found to be confusingly similar by the average person, regardless of the spelling, the company said.

"We own a number of trademarks and patents, all of which we consider to be valuable assets to our company," said company founder Emilio De Soto. "So when someone called us to state they are not happy with Phelps' transgressions, wondering if their T1 Espresso was related somehow to Phelps, we said no and immediately contacted Aqua Lung. Preferring to proceed in a non-litigious way, we quickly negotiated an agreement resolving all possible infringement issues."

De Soto is selling off its remaining stock of T1 Espresso Wetsuits for 60 pecent below MSRP.

BOULDER, Colo. (BRAIN) — PeopleForBikes has announced the recipients of its most recent cycle of Community Grants, with eight awards totaling $51,750.

The PeopleForBikes Community Grants Program has funded more than 350 advocacy and infrastructure initiatives since 1999, including bike lanes, paths, parks and advocacy programs. With this round of grants, PeopleForBikes has now funded at least one project in every U.S. state. Grant recipients this round include:

Bike Friendly Oroville: Routes, Riding and Repairs (Oroville, Wash.): The Borderland Historical Society will encourage bicycle tours and other recreational riders to experience Oroville and the greater North Okanogan County by adding to the bicycle amenities at their tourism center. This grant of $1,250 will help purchase and install a bicycle repair station and make more copies of the local trail map available to visitors.

Central Falls Protected Bike Lane (Central Falls, R.I.): Students at The Learning Community Charter School evaluated how easy it was to bike to school and came to a conclusion: they needed protected bike lanes! PeopleForBikes' grant of $7,500 will help the school, with city and community partners, build 1.5 miles of protected bike lanes that will link seven schools, a park and a playground.

Chestnut Ridge Ride Center (Canal Winchester, Ohio): With PeopleForBikes funding, the Central Ohio Mountain Bike Organization will complete the pump track, skills park, and a 2-mile beginner loop at Chestnut Ridge. Added to the 8 miles of existing single track, these new facilities will greatly improve the only ride center in Central Ohio.

Equitable Bike Parking (Baltimore, Md.): Bikemore will use PeopleForBikes' $7,500 grant to create and manage a community outreach initiative and online bike rack request system to add an additional 100 bike racks in Baltimore City. Baltimore City Department of Transportation will provide the racks, and Bikemore will work to ensure timely installation.

Kickapoo Rail Trail (Mahomet, Ill.): The Kickapoo Rail Trail will offer a key off-road connection between Urbana and Danville, extending 24.5 miles once completed. PeopleForBikes' $10,000 grant to the Forest Preserve Friends Foundation will help fund the ten miles of Phase 1, joining more than $5 million in local, state, and federal dollars.

The Underline (Miami, Fla.): Miami-Dade County's newest multi-use trail will use land running beneath the MetroRail Line for this 10-mile path from the Miami River to Dadeland South Station. With design completed, PeopleForBikes' grant of $10,000 will help Friends of the Underline begin construction of Phase 1 in the Brickell area, Miami's Financial District.

Kalamazoo River Valley Trail – Downtown Connection (Kalamazoo, Mich.): Parks Foundation of Kalamazoo County, in partnership with the City of Kalamazoo, will finally connect two halves of the 22-mile Kalamazoo River Valley Trail with one mile of protected bike lane through the city itself. Using surveys and resident responses to a demonstration project in June 2015, local planners created an on-street link designed to be safe and appealing for all.

Santa Cruz Coastal Rail Trail (Santa Cruz, Calif.): When complete, the Santa Cruz Coastal Rail Trail will extend 32 miles from Davenport to Watsonville. PeopleForBikes' $4,000 grant to Friends of the Rail Trail/Ecology Action will help advance their fundraising efforts and develop community and business support for this transformative project.

GLENWOOD SPRINGS, Colo. (BRAIN) — Event Gear, a Colorado-based custom product company, has released its new Colorado messenger bag.

The bag is produced with a soft-touch outer fabric that is laminated to a fully coated vinyl type underlayer. The new bag features detachable shoulder and waist straps.

The new bag was designed for bike commuting and mass transit use, providing both security and high visibility while riding or walking. The bag has a fully padded computer compartment that protects up to a 15.6-inch laptop. Secondary compartments accept files, and other items. Under the front flap are two large zippered pockets, one with a headphone port. All the pockets and zippers are secured under the top cover for added protection against the elements, and prying fingers on trains and buses.

The top flap on the bag is T-shaped, closing like a dry bag to keep rain and snow from entering the bag. 

The big Colorado flag graphic is decorative and functional as it is produced with a highly reflective material. The large graphic provides 42 square inches of reflective surface area. Customization with shop or business logos is also available.

MSRP is $119. The bag is available for pre-order on Event-Gear.com. Interested dealers can contact info@event-gear.com for pricing. 

SAN MATEO, Calif. (BRAIN) — GoPro says it expects a 16 percent increase in revenue for 2015. However, weak sales of its newest model, the Hero4 Session contributed to a decision to cut about 7 percent of its workforce, or about 105 employees. 

GoPro said the workforce reduction will better align its resources to its growth plans. The company said that it will incur $5 million to $10 million in restructuring expenses in the first quarter, with almost the entire expense related to severance costs.

The company's expected revenue for the fourth quarter of last year was about $435 million, which is lower than the anticipated $500 million to $550 million. GoPro launched the Hero4 Session in July, but cut its price twice later in the year, from $400 down to $200.

The company also said it will incur costs of $30 million to $35 million related to surplus inventory and parts and obsolete tools for camera production.

WHITEFISH, Mont. (BRAIN) — Hammer Nutrition says it is streamlining  its distribution by eliminating two of its distributors. The company said it is retaining seven other distributors and said it expects product availability to improve at the remaining distributors. The company said it would continue to actively defend its minimum advertised price policy. It did not name the distributors.

"As one of the few nutritional companies to actively defend MAP and refuse to sell our products at major grocery chains, it is imperative that we continually improve control of our supply chain," owner Brian Frank said. 

Hammer said it would maintain its wholesale and retail prices this year, despite increased manufacturing costs.

"These actions are in line with Hammer's core values and long-standing history of supporting IBDs," the company said.