FLETCHER, N.C. (BRAIN) — Cane Creek Cycling Components has entered a long-term agreement with eecycleworks, a California company that produces a handful of components, including a lightweight caliper road brake called the eebrake.

Cane Creek will first take over the production, marketing, sales and distribution of the eebrake line, and the companies will collaborate on future component development, they stated.

Eecycleworks co-founder Craig Edwards was originally known in the industry for his "Sweet Wings" cranks in the mid-1990s. 

"Eecycleworks is very excited to partner with Cane Creek," Edwards said. "The synergy created will be a huge plus for eecycleworks and eecycleworks customers in all areas including manufacturing, product quality, marketing, sales and service."

Edwards said he will remain intimately involved with the eebrakes series and work closely with the Cane Creek team to develop new products.

Cane Creek will kick off this partnership by introducing eebrakes in their booth (B1-202) at this week's Eurobike Show. The brakes sell for $315 each and are available in regular and direct-mount options. Cane Creek plans to start shipping eecycleworks products from its North Carolina facility in November.

SCOTTS VALLEY, Calif. (BRAIN) — Giro's new high-end road shoes — the men's Factor Techlace and women's Factress Techlace — each feature a new closure system that combines laces with a Boa dial closure.

The brand says the combination is lightweight and offers the fit advantages of laces with the on-the-fyl adjustment of the Boa dial. The company said a size 42.5 weighs 210 grams.

"Since we launched Giro footwear five years ago, riders have come to expect Giro to continually raise the bar," said Simon Fisher, Giro's senior product marketing manager. "From the original Factor, which set a new standard for fit and comfort, to the Empire, which has spawned countless imitations of its high-performance laced style, Giro has always been one step ahead of the competition. With the new Factor Techlace we've continued our tradition of innovation, replacing D-rings and other hardware with our patent-pending Techlace system with laces that are easily replaceable and provide a suppler feel across the forefoot.

"We've also partnered with Boa to achieve fast, intuitive adjustment at the top of the instep with their premium IP1 dial for loosening and tightening in 1mm increments. With classic Giro fit enabled by our adjustable SuperNatural Fit footbed, the breathable Evofiber SL Teijin microfiber upper is paired with the Easton EC90 SLX2 carbon outsole wth one of the stiffest, lightest, and thinnest pedaling platforms available. Much more than the sum of its parts, the Factor Techlace delivers the comfort of laces with the convenience of on-the-fly adjustability for a truly revolutionary cycling shoe."

The shoes are available in three color combinations: Black, white/black and vermillion/black. The are delivered with a travel bag. The Factor is available in sizes 39-50 including half-sizes from 39.5 – 46.5. The Factress Techlace is available 36-43 including half-sizes from 37.5-42.5. It will be available this fall. MSRP is $350.

PORTLAND, Ore. (BRAIN) — Chris King Precision Components has hired RecWare Northwest for sales representation in the Pacific Northwest. It's the first time in company history that it has used outside sales reps.

Kirby Bedsaul, general manager at King Cycle Group, said, "We are aware that times have changed and we need to do things a little differently to keep up with the marketing and sales side of our business. Mike (Walker, the principal at RecWare) and his group will help us better serve our dealers in product support, product knowledge, and product access."

Walker said, "To say we feel lucky to be the first group ever to represent Chris King is an understatement. The company is a perfect compliment to our portfolio and we can't wait to recharge the brand and remind people of the quality and integrity that is built into every product they build in Portland."

RecWare Northwest also represents: Santa Cruz Bicycles, Juliana Bicycles, Giro, Bell, Raceface, 360 Fly, Blackburn, CoPilot, CPreme, EASTON Cycling, and Stages.

Ft. COLLINS, Colo. (BRAIN) — Niner Bikes is rolling out a budget-friendly aluminum model of its recently-launched and redesigned RIP trail bike.

The 150mm-travel aluminum frame is offered in two complete bike builds.

"It is no secret that modern-day mountain bikes, when made with carbon fiber, cost a fortune. With our recently-launched RIP, we didn't want budget-minded customers to miss out on this amazing and capable bike, so going aluminum simply had to happen," said Niner's president, Mike Gahn.

The aluminum RIP is offered with either 29-inch or 27.5-plus wheel sizes. Both wheel option bikes are built with a Shimano SLX drivetrain and priced at either $3,500 or $3,800, respectively. The 29er version has a 160mm travel fork; the 27.5-plus iteration has a 170mm travel fork.

MURRIETA, Calif. (BRAIN) — The Turner Flux is a carbon fiber "trail ripper" with 120mm of rear travel. The company said it was designed to offer a lively and flickable ride, with 650b wheels, DW-link suspension, modern geometry and standard (142x12) rear axle spacing.

The DW-link design includes a linkage that provides a variable axle path and is position-sensitive. The company said the design does not squat under load, and delivers good power transfer while climbing and accelerating. "As the axle moves farther into its path, the DW-link works with the front suspension providing a balanced feel and lends a bottomless quality on chunky, big hit descents. It really is the best of both worlds, bringing together the finest elements of Turner and DW design in one bike," the company said.

The Flux has external cable routing for brakes and shifters, with internal dropper post routing. The shift cable routing was designed to be simple and clean without unnecessary bends for the best shifting performance. The Flux will be offered with both 2x11 and 1x11 builds. The frame is designed to work with a direct mount front derailleur and is also Di2 compatible.

The bike's brake caliper is located on the seatstay to facilitate easy adjustments and pad replacements. The mount features replaceable nuts to eliminate the possibility of stripping threads out of the frame.

The company said it chose to eschew Boost spacing for a reason.

"By taking this specific approach, we have eliminated the need to look to Boost spacing to help support multiple wheel sizes as is currently the fashion among some brands. The 142mm standard is a fantastic complement to this chassis, which is optimized to work perfectly with 27.5 inch wheels and DW-link kinematics. And as an added benefit, it allows you to continue using wheels that may already be in your quiver," Turner said.

Retail pricing starts at $4,900 with SRAM GX parts. 

More information: ride.turnerbikes.com/bikes/flux-v4-0.

AUSTIN, Texas (BRAIN) — Triathlon Business International and USA Triathlon have announced that they will collaborate to consecutively present their respective annual conferences: the TBI Conference and USA Triathlon's Annual Race Director Symposium, both presented by Active Network.

The joint endeavor eliminates the need for participants to go to two locations on different weekends, the organizations stated.

The conferences will be held Jan. 20-24, 2017, in Dallas at The Fairmont Dallas Hotel.

The annual USA Triathlon Race Director Symposium is an opportunity for race directors to gain knowledge from professionals in event planning and execution, as well as earn continuing education units to enhance their professional status. The USA Triathlon symposium will run from Jan. 20-22, with check-in/registration on Jan. 19.

The TBI Conference addresses the business aspects of the swim-bike-run industry, focusing on topics such as trends and predictions in retailing, equipment, technology applications, international expansion, new concepts, risks, legal issues, customer service and event management. Check-in/registration for the TBI Conference will be held Jan. 22, with programming through Jan. 24.

"The entire USA Triathlon staff looks forward to this inaugural collaboration and to welcoming our race director family to Dallas in January," said Kathy Matejka, USA Triathlon's event services director. "The business and industry of triathlon are evolving rapidly, and the competitive economic climate requires this type of collaboration. We feel it is important to our members and industry constituents that we provide the best opportunities for knowledge and growth. The conference partnership with TBI provides both."

TBI president Richard Adler said: "We are looking forward to this endeavor and believe it will clearly expand the breadth and depth of information sharing. On behalf of TBI, I hope this is just the first of our collaborative efforts with USA Triathlon to improve and grow the sport of triathlon."

Registration will open in September through Active Network. Companies interested in conference sponsorship or expo space can contact Matthew Stone at matthew.stone@usatriathlon.org for USA Triathlon or Jan Fambro at feedback@triathlonbusinessintl.com for TBI.

FRIEDRICHSHAFEN, Germany (BRAIN) — FSA's electronic road group has been raced for a few seasons, but the company wanted to launch the drivetrain as part of an entirely new group before riders got their hands on it. So in addition to electronic shifting, Kforce WE gets hollow carbon cranks, a titanium/steel 11-speed cassette, redesigned brakes and an Android app to tune the system.

Not being the first on the market allowed FSA to choose aspects of its competitors’ groups it liked and to avoid what it felt were missteps. The group could be spec’d on bikes as early as May, but all the company is saying about pricing is it will be at Shimano and SRAM levels.

FSA’s Kforce WE system is wireless between the levers and the derailleurs, so there are no wires to run from the handlebars to the shifters. But Kforce WE uses a large seatpost battery with wires to both derailleurs to distribute power. The levers use small coin-style batteries to power their wireless function.

“The advantage of using a big battery for shifting is its range. We estimate between 4,000 and 6,000 kilometers on a charge, depending on how the rider shifts,” said Maurizio Bellin, FSA's European sales manager. 

“The battery is charged through a wire on the rear derailleur. Just hook up the charger, nothing needs to be done with the battery. And a full charge takes an hour and a half,” he added.

The Android Kforce WE app lets riders reassign any button on either lever. For example, a rider could move front shifting to the right hand, and switch the paddle shifter assignments.

Chainring shifts and shifts under load take more power, so the app analyzes a rider's shifting style to calculate how much battery life remains. Four LEDs on top of the front derailleur show battery charge level. FSA hopes to have an iOS app shortly.

The levers communicate with the shifters over a proprietary ANT+ protocol for security reasons, though the system communicates with the app over standard ANT+.

Kforce rim brakes have been modified, in part to accommodate wider rims and larger tires used by road riders, especially in North America. Reach is 40 to 50 millimeters and the brakes work on rims with an outside width of 18 to 28 millimeters, so they will swallow some big rubber.

In a nod to North American riders, cassettes go up to 11-32T, crank lengths go from 165 to 180 millimeters, and the group includes a 50/34T chainring combo. Other chainring combos are 53/39T and 52/36T.

At a press launch Tuesday afternoon prior to Eurobike, FSA showed a disc brake-equipped Kforce WE, but given the UCI’s current ban on discs, the company is not commenting on when the disc brake version will hit the market.

FRIEDRICHSHAFEN, Germany (BRAIN) — Changing consumer behaviors are forcing the European bike industry to take a good look at its supply chain and where it can shorten lead times and respond to market demands and changes more quickly, said Jack Oortwijn, editor of Bike Europe, as he set the stage for a conference addressing the major challenges suppliers face in bringing production back to Europe. 

“The internet has brought about major shifts in almost all sectors that distribute through dealer channels,” he said, forecasting that the industry will have fewer but stronger and bigger dealers. “Speed is the tool to attract customers and buyers today.”

Oortwijn, who has been following the growth of bike production in Portugal, drew speakers from Europe’s largest suppliers and retailers to the first-time conference. He said the European bike industry has much to gain from investing in European production. Chief among them:

• Increased speed to market, with shorter lead times;

• Reduced inventory obsolescence, fewer clearance sales, more price stability;

• Faster resale

• Higher turnover rates

• Less working capital tied up in stock

Oortwijn said companies like Accell Group and Decathlon, which represent 15 percent of the bicycle market in Europe, want to reduce lead times for parts like aluminum frames from 26 to eight weeks, and that Portugal is rising up to the challenge. Triangle’s — Cycling Equipments S.A. is a new fully automated robotic frame factory coming online this fall. It was formed when partners from Portugese parts makers Rodi, Ciclo Fapril and Miranda, all with backgrounds in aluminum production, came together.

They hope to produce 150,000 alloy frames in 2017, and to scale up to 500,000 frames annually by 2019. And they’re investing upwards of 20 million euros in expanding factory capabilities. Price differences will be small for e-bike frames, and minimal on alloy mountain frames compared to Asian-produced frames. 

Oortwijn said that aside from Triangle’s, several Asian companies are setting up production in Portugal including Fritz Jou from Taiwan, whose factory will be close and will have a capacity to make 300,000 bikes, and Cronus from China.

“By 2020, Bike Valley Portugal aims to have production capacity at 3.5 million bikes and e-bikes,” he said. “The country is becoming a major production center for bicycles and e-bikes in Europe and they’re offering financial incentives for new businesses. On top of incentives for businesses from the EU, Portugal is putting up 25 billion euros for encouraging investments leading up to 2020.”

Several bike companies are already producing in Portugal, including Orbea, BH, Avantisbike, Orbita, and that number is likely to grow as more component and process suppliers relocate or open facilities there, Oortwijn said.

“The pressure is on to be able to operate faster and be more flexible,” said Accell Group’s chief supply chain officer Jeroen Both. “It’s all about the consumer. It’s the consumer who decides how to buy, where to buy and also when to buy. The internet is reinventing the way we do business.”

Both said the future of supply chain management relies on collaboration, sharing of information and being close to markets. He said long lead times are only part of the problem. The solution is having an “agile” supply chain.

“We’ve looked at cost drivers in the past, but now we’re looking for high reliability of delivery and consumer fulfillment rates,” Both said. “In the past we focused on lean manufacturing, and in an environment with low variability, that would work. But moving forward with millennium behavior, variability will be high.”

Both is referring to a buyer that demands more customized product and options.

Still, hurdles to European production remain, such as the high investment costs to set up manufacturing, higher labor rates, higher freight rates, and the possibility of Chinese anti-dumping duties expiring in March 2019, which would make competing against lower-priced Asian imports difficult.

“Bringing production back to Europe only makes sense for certain product groups, such as framesets, wheelsets, etc.,” argued Benno Messingschlager, CEO of Messingschlager Gmbh & Co.

Frederic Van Steirteghem, strategic buyer for the Decathlon retail chain, said that with more than 1,000 stores across 29 countries, the company’s philosophy is to produce the bicycle where it sells it. The company has 27 warehouses to deliver bikes daily to its stores. Its strategy is to maximize production in Europe to remain competitive with just-in-time ordering, better stock management and closer quality management.

At its factory in Northern France, for example, Decathlon takes into account all of its sales the prior day as it manages daily production. Bicycles are fully assembled there to free up time at its retail locations. “We try to deliver the bicycle at the last minute to the final user,” Steirteghem said.

“In Europe we sell 21 million bicycles and we produce 13 million bicycles,” he added. “And Romania and Portugal are two main [production] areas that are important for Decathlon.”

Decathlon, which purchases parts and does final assembly of bikes, owns certain factories and also subscontracts to others in an effort to be closer to the final customer and to offer customization of bikes including paint and decals.

“We need to increase investments in Europe,” he said. “In China costs continue to increase. There’s toxicology constraints and transportation costs. In Europe, if you’re able to use automation, you can balance the cost difference.”

FRIEDRICHSHAFEN, Germany (BRAIN) — For the first time in its 25-year history, consumers will be able to demo bikes at Eurobike. The show expects to offer roughly 3,500 bikes for demo over the weekend following the trade-only days, Aug. 31 to Sept. 2.

“We’re not giving up our strong focus on all the trade business. That’s still taking place. It will be as busy and have a strong focus on dealers and OEM business on the first three days. But, of course, we added another consumer day and now we have a full consumer festival weekend and we’ve put a lot of energy on events and different areas to experience biking in all dimensions for the weekend,” Stefan Reisinger, head of Eurobike, told BRAIN. 

The trade show, which kicks off Wednesday, will have 10 areas for demo rides, repair tips, skills demos, live music, a dedicated women’s area with product and seminars, and a travel/touring area for riders interested in bike touring. “There is now a wide range of activities and action taking place all over the show grounds,” Reisinger said.

For 2016, the Eurobike show has undergone a major face-lift as it looks to stay relevant in a changing global marketplace where more brands are holding their own private events or turning to consumer festivals and races to introduce new products.

“We’ve made a lot of changes here in the last months with regards to conception and overall layout of the show,” Reisinger said. “A lot of brands were in favor of the changes, and some have not been happy about the new plans. But that’s life. So far we managed to get more than 1,300 exhibitors located here on-site. The size of the show is the same. We’ve really rented out every square meter again. We’re fully booked. We replaced the companies leaving the show and added a lot of new companies for 2016.”

Among those exiting this year are Pinarello, Orbea and Derby Cycle, who have followed in the footsteps of Trek, Specialized, Kona and Felt in the past, opting to hold private dealer or distributor meetings in various countries instead of booking space at one international show.

Smaller startup brands are happily taking up vacated exhibit space such as Pole Bicycle from Finland, Swiss brand Bold Cycles, Monochrome Bikes from Argentina, and component maker Kappstein from Germany. Some brands, like Biomega, are returning after many years’ absence. Reisinger said he expects exhibitor numbers to exceed last year’s, “mainly because if you lose some big companies with bigger spaces, you can accommodate smaller ones and more of them. So the number will be slightly up,” he said.

For show veterans, getting around may become a bit challenging as the hall layouts were changed. Hall A1 and Zeppelin Hall now will accommodate brands exhibiting at the trade-only days, while halls B2 (accessories) and B5 (apparel) switch over to A4 and A7. “There will be more complete bike brands in the B halls with the opportunity to make use of the new testing facilities all five days close by,” Reisinger said. “Two halls are running only three days, and the rest of the fairground will be busy all five days.”

While 2016 has been a tough year for suppliers and dealers, Reisinger noted that in Europe, the e-bike business has kept the industry afloat.

“The e-bike business is really driving the market here right now,” he said. “We see a lot of e-mountain bikes around, and that’s for sure the best-selling category now in the German-speaking market. My expectation is that most of our customers showing complete bikes will have a large footprint for e-bikes, especially e-mountain bikes.”

While there’s heightened security awareness throughout Europe due to recent terrorist attacks and violence in public areas, Reisinger said that has not been a cause for concern as they prepare to host more than 40,000 trade attendees and 20,000 consumers over five days.

He said the show contracts with security guards every year and this time that number will be larger because of the additional consumer day and because, from a logistical standpoint, with an enclosed demo area more oversight is required.  

REUTLINGEN, Germany (BRAIN) — As goes the electric bike market in the Netherlands, so — eventually — will go the rest of Europe. That is the crystal ball prediction of Claus Fleischer, head of the Bosch division that produces its wildly successful mid-drive e-bike systems.

Fleischer believes that e-bikes eventually will account for one of every three bikes sold in the European Union, a ratio now achieved only in the Netherlands. “In the long run, we predict that in each country, when the markets are mature, every third bike which is sold will be an electric bicycle,” said Fleischer, senior vice president of Bosch eBike Systems.

Until then, Bosch predicts that e-bike sales will continue growing at a rate of about 15 percent a year.

As a major player in the e-bike market, Bosch has a vested interest in seeing the category grow. But Fleischer’s outlook is worth noting because the company is famously meticulous about its product development process, which includes extensive market research.

If Fleischer is correct, e-bike sales should be robust for years to come.

According to 2015 statistics, published recently by the Confederation of the European Bicycle Industry (CONEBI), e-bikes accounted for 6.5 percent of all bikes sold in the 28 EU member countries. CONEBI reported that total e-bike sales rose by 19 percent to 1.357 million from 2014 to 2015.

But the European market is far from uniform. Three countries accounted for 70 percent of all e-bike sales, with negligible sales in 16 other countries. Germany, the continent’s biggest economy, accounted for 40 percent of all e-bikes sold, followed by the Netherlands, at 20 percent, and Belgium, at 10 percent.

The trend line is a welcome counterpoint to total bicycle sales in Europe, which rose by only 2 percent from 2014 to 2015 but have been mostly flat over a longer period. Europeans bought about as many bikes in 2015 as they did in 2005.

Fleischer said the demographics of e-bike buyers are also changing. While the typical buyer remains someone who is 50 or older, “we see that we are enlarging the group of potential buyers to a younger crowd,” Fleischer said.

He refers to them as “entry-level” e-bike buyers, who he said are responding to e-mountain bikes and more stylish urban and commuting bikes.

Fleischer said there is also a notable uptick in sales of e-bikes with trailers and e-cargo bikes to young urban families who use them in lieu of a second car. “It has been on the margins, but you can see it really as an urban trend,” he said. While these types of buyers may not yet move the numbers, “it’s really visible in the bicycle shops and on the roads,” Fleischer added.

Electric mountain bikes are the fastest-growing segment of the European industry, and no company typifies that growth more than Haibike, a brand of Germany’s Winora Group. Haibike was one of the first to launch an e-mountain bike line, and it has paid off in spades: Sales of Haibike-branded bikes have grown tenfold over the past six years, according to the company.

“E-bikes are more than 70 percent of our annual turnover at the moment,” Winora CEO Susanne Puello said in an email, adding that the “numbers are constantly growing.”

Puello said Winora, which is owned by the Accell Group, is not worried about market saturation. “Parts of the European market will slow down in terms of growth within the next years, but there are new potential markets coming up,” she said.

Outside of Germany, the Netherlands and Belgium, Puello said France and the U.K. are especially promising European markets for e-bikes.

France is currently Europe’s fourth-largest e-bike market  according to CONEBI, while the U.K. is eighth. Although there are some inconsistencies concerning the U.K. market statistics, the CONEBI numbers show e-bike sales there were 35,000 to 40,000 in 2015.

Richard Peace, a British writer who covers the e-bike market, said the country’s two largest retail bike chains have embraced the category. Halfords and Evans, which together account for more than 40 percent of U.K. bike sales, carry several e-bike brands in their stores and recently introduced private-label models. “It’s quite significant that they’ve both chosen, in 2015 and 2016, to a launch their own brands of e-bikes,” Peace said.

As mainstream retailers, their embrace of e-bikes may signal a shift in the market away from online vendors or stores that only sell e-bikes, Peace said.

Their house brand bikes aren’t at the bottom of the price range, either. Evans’ new Pinnacle Lithium Ion commuter, built around a Shimano STePS drive, retails for £2,200 ($2,860).

Peace said he expects transportation-oriented bikes will be the most popular e-bike categories. Sales will probably be concentrated in urban cycling “hot spots,” such as London, Birmingham and Leeds, where governments have invested heavily in cycling infrastructure. 

FRIEDRICHSHAFEN, Germany (BRAIN) — The first half of 2016 proved to be challenging for the German bike market, according to the latest figures from Zweirad-Industrie-Verband (ZIV), the country’s bike industry association, which includes manufacturers and importers of bicycles, components, accessories and e-bikes.

ZIV, which presented the numbers during a discussion panel that kicked off Eurobike Tuesday morning, noted that bike production through the first six months of the year dipped compared to last year, with an estimated 1.6 million units produced.

Sales of bicycles and e-bikes declined 5 to 8 percent, ZIV reported. Some 2.7 million units were sold from January to June, and e-bikes once again increased their share of the overall market. “Consumers were not in any in any real mood for bikes up until June,” the association said.

Imports of bicycles and e-bikes to Germany declined 1.4 percent and e-bikes accounted for a larger share of total imports, at 19 percent of total imports.

Meanwhile, exports of bicycles and e-bikes fell 6.8 percent. E-bikes accounted for 21 percent of total exports. The association attributed the decline to poor weather in key export markets.

Despite poor weather in the first half, the association expects e-bike sales to grow 5 percent for the full year, forecasting sales to reach 560,000 units.

Mobility continues to be a driving force for sales in the market. And sporty e-bikes, including e-MTBs, are the silver lining in an otherwise down market.

OSAKA, Japan (BRAIN) — Shimano on Tuesday announced a new line of top-end road and mountain bike shoes, called S-PHYRE.

The shoes were designed for lightweight, low aerodynamic drag and refined efficiencies. The new shoes are shipped with matching socks the company said maximizes the performance of the shoes.

The one-piece outer is made from Teijin Avail microfiber synthetic leather with perforated dimple vents. The company said the upper better accommodates a wider range of foot shapes, enabling up to E+ wide widths in a standard size.

Two independent Boa IP1 dials with Powerzone wire lacing allow for quick and precise micro-adjustments. A new outsole construction technique eliminates the lasting board, reducing weight and stack height for improved stability and increased power transfer. An external heel cup suppresses foot twist and roll, which Shimano said allows for maximized power output through the carbon sole.

The S-PHYRE RC9 is the road model. It weighs 232 grams in a size 42 and is available in sizes 36, 37-47 in half sizes; and size 48. Wide sizes are available in size 40-48. Colors: blue, white, yellow and limited edition black. The MSRP is $400.

The S-PHYRE XC9 is the mountain bike shoe. It contains many of the same engineering features found in the RC9, with a new lightweight cross country/cyclocross outsole. Its proprietary outsole was designed in conjunction with Michelin, to offer increased traction off the bike while minimizing weight thanks to high traction, mud-shedding tread patterns. The outsole has a minimalist, three-section design with dual-compound rubber, a lighter triangle knob design and new anti-slip arch pattern to provide extra grip in the mid-arch section. Optional new extra-long 18mm toe spikes are accompanied by a reinforced spike mount. They weigh 325 grams in size 42, and are available in size 38, 39, 40-47 in half sizes; 48; and wide sizes 40-48. Available colors are blue, yellow, black. MSRP is $400.

Both models are sold with color-matched S-PHYRE racing socks. "By studying the shoe/sock interface and applying Shimano's Linkage Effect approach, S-PHYRE socks combine thermoregulation, comfort, ankle roll stability, and heel slip-resistance with an extra-tall cuff that does not droop. Asymmetrical structural weaving of proprietary fabrics provides guiderails for proper foot alignment through the entire 360-degree crank rotation," the company said.

OAK RIDGE, Tenn. (BRAIN) — Tour de France hero Greg LeMond is involved with a new company that is working with Oak Ridge National Laboratory to offer low-cost carbon fiber to several industries, including the transportation and renewable energy markets.

LeMond Composites has reached a licensing agreement with U.S. Department of Energy's ORNL. The agreement will make the Oak Ridge-based LeMond Composites the first company to offer this low-cost carbon to these markets.

In a press release announcing the new company, the use of carbon fiber in bicycle frames was not mentioned. Greg LeMond is chairman and co-CEO of LeMond Companies, which owns LeMond Composites, a spokesman said. According to the spokesman, LeMond learned about the ORNL technology while researching carbon fiber suppliers for bicycle products and "he quickly realized that this was much bigger than bicycles."

 "We can provide the advantages of our carbon fiber to many industries by improving strength, stiffness, and weight reduction. If you imagine replacing steel, aluminum, and fiberglass with our carbon fiber, you begin to understand the scope of the potential market," said Connie Jackson, the CEO of LeMond Composites. "Our process will have global applications and we are ready to move forward with scaling the technology."

According to the press release, Jackson and a research team at ORNL's Carbon Fiber Technology Facility invented a new production process said to reduce production costs by more than 50 percent compared to the lowest cost industrial grade carbon fiber. The company said its new carbon fiber has the mechanical properties of carbon fiber costing three times as much. Ther new manufacturing method reduces energy consumed during production by up to 60 percent.

Jackson and several of her ORNL colleagues joined LeMond Composites in 2016.

"We have assembled the only team in the world that has executed this proven technology which uniquely positions us to deliver a successful outcome for our customers and stakeholders," said Greg LeMond. "From experience, I know that having the right team is a distinct business advantage."

"We understand the growing demand from the automotive industry and we are currently in negotiations with several of the world's leading automotive brands and their suppliers," said LeMond.

Thom Mason, the director of Oak Ridge National Laboratory, said, "The development of this new process demonstrates the value of coupling basic and applied research, which is a hallmark of ORNL, and it underscores the Department of Energy's commitment to addressing our nation's most pressing energy challenges ... The Department's sustained investments in scientific research and development and in specialized facilities such as CFTF are enabling a variety of applications that will lead to improvements in fuel efficiency and position U.S. industry for global success."

ORNL's Carbon Fiber Technology Facility began operations in 2012, supported by the Department of Energy's Advanced Manufacturing and Vehicle Technologies offices, to demonstrate the possibility of low-cost carbon fiber at a semi-production scale.

Carbon fiber composites can also be used to build, reinforce, or repair bridges, tunnels, commercial and residential structures, the company said.

LeMond said, "As a result of the affordability of this carbon fiber we believe that world-wide mass adoption will be inevitable. We are positioning ourselves to grow and meet this demand by locating our company in Tennessee, a state that through Gov. Haslam and Commissioner Boyd's forward-thinking programs like Tennessee Promise, will provide a steady stream of quality employees for our company. Our close proximity to ORNL adds a value beyond measure and we are looking forward to future collaborations with them. Additionally, with the input of the University of Tennessee, The Institute for Advanced Composites Manufacturing Innovation (IACMI), and the emerging composites corridor, I believe the Knoxville area will become the world hub for carbon fiber in the future. On a personal note, the bike riding in this area is incredible."

LeMond Composites plans to expand its campus by building its first carbon fiber production line at their recently purchased facility at 103 Palladium Way in Oak Ridge. The facility is located immediately adjacent to ORNL's Carbon Fiber Technology Facility. The first commercially available product will be ready in the first quarter of 2018.

BOULDER, Colo. (BRAIN) — After 12 years at the helm, Mike Van Abel has resigned as the organization's executive director, effective Friday. The organization's board is working to select a permanent replacement for the position.

"Mike has been an outstanding steward for IMBA and its initiatives throughout his 12-year tenure," said Robert Winston, the chairman of the IMBA board of directors. "Under Mike's leadership, programs such as the IMBA Chapter Program and the Regional Director Program are great successes, and have significantly strengthened IMBA's membership. On behalf of myself and the entire board of directors, I wish Mike every success in his future endeavors."

Van Abel said, “When I was hired, IMBA’s board asked me to focus on three things: growing membership, growing industry support and helping IMBA become more professional ... I am proud to say we have done all three. I am most proud of the restructuring done that has led to what IMBA is today — a much more cohesive association of local chapters ready to be led into the next phase of growth and development by someone new.”

Dan Brillon, IMBA’s vice president of finance, administration and programs, will act as interim executive director.

“We are well poised to continue Mike’s great work transforming IMBA into a strong chapter-based association,” said Brillon. “Continued year-over-year membership growth speaks to the success of our local chapters. Those local advocates and experts are more relevant than ever in an increasingly complex world of competing interests for the use of public lands.”

FOXBORO, Mass. (BRAIN) — Delta Cycle, Inc. has hired F. Chris Nelson as the brand's first sales director.

Nelson is a 30-year veteran of the run and bike industries, having worked for Penguin Brands, Nathan, Reebok, Mizuno, Ronhill, Jogalite, and Dr. Scholl's in the past.

The company said it decided to create the new position of sales director following a recent sales surge. "Nelson will be developing Delta's strategy to expand beyond its current distribution and is looking at new opportunities for co-branding and acquisition," the company said.

Nelson can be reached at cn@deltacycle.com or 508-698-0606 xt. 6.

MORGAN HILL, Calif. (BRAIN) — Kali Protectives has added to its inside sales team, hiring Tracey Bueno as territory manager for the Pacific Northwest and the Rockies and promoting Matt Buzenes to Midwest territory manager.

Bueno has six years of industry experience, working in customer service, sales and purchasing.

"I'm super stoked to be working with the most innovative, forward-thinking protection company in the bicycle world," Bueno said. "Brad Waldron (Kali's founder) and the whole Kali team are doing big things, and I'm looking forward to being a part of it all."

Buzenes joined Kali in 2013 as a warehouse assistant. "Having started in the warehouse, I've had a chance to see how Kali works from the inside. Now I'm excited to take on a sales position and prove that I can do more," he said.

Bueno can be reached at tracey@kaliprotectives.com, and Buzenes at matt@kaliprotectives.com.

NASHVILLE , Tenn. (BRAIN) — CrossVegas organizers are working with app maker Arcivr to give race fans and sponsors mobile access to updated information before, during, and after the cyclocross race, which will be held later this month in Las Vegas.

The Arcivr app is available for iOS and Android devices. It provides event details, schedules and maps; ticket and merchandise links; exclusive interviews, content and promotions; and an interactive photo and video feed from fans, pros and the media.

CrossVegas organizer Brook Watts said, "CrossVegas is an amazing event, there's something spectacular happening event minute! I'm always looking for new ways to give fans an incredible experience and offer sponsors more value for their dollar. Arcivr offers both and is downright fun to use."

Arcivr CEO Chris Korbey said CrossVegas was the perfect partner. "As a 'cross racer myself, I'm keenly aware of fans' unending search for meaningful cycling info. I'm beyond excited that Arcivr will give fans an unprecedented, behind-the-scenes look at one of the most spectacular events of the season."

Download the app at:  Apple App store | Google Play store. 

CHICAGO (BRAIN) — The maker of Fix It Sticks, a lightweight tool launched on Kickstarter in 2013 by a former bike shop mechanic, is introducing a bracket to carry the tool. The bracket mounts beneath a waterbottle cage on frames.

Fix It Sticks simply snap into the Bracket and release quickly for quick repairs or position changes.

The Bracket holds two Original Fix It Sticks with each set weighing 55 grams and offering four tools. The sticks nest together into a T-handle wrench. The Originals sets come in a variety of configurations. Original Fix It Sticks contain bits that are permanently fixed; the company also offers a Replaceable Edition, which offer removable bits.

The Bracket will be sold along with one set of Original Fix It Sticks for $25.

FRIEDRICHSHAFEN, Germany (BRAIN) — The demise of alloy as an option for high-end mountain bike frames left suppliers looking for ways to lower entry price points but still offer carbon frames.

For 2017 Yeti is offering two levels of carbon frame spec that are identical in every way — the same geometry, strength and stiffness. The lower cost carbon frame is priced about 30 percent less than the company’s top-of-the-line effort, and weighs about 250 grams more. Both were shown at Eurobike this week. 

For example, the SB5+, Yeti's new 27.5 plus design built on its Switch Infinity translating pivot platform is available as the SB5+ Carbon or the SB5+ TURQ. Both frames forgo the toptube to seat tube bridge of last year's frame, greatly increasing stand-over. And internal cable runs have cleaned up builds. 

“Last year's SB5 Enduro frame was of the cheaper carbon construction but we only offered it in one build. This year we are offering a few SB5 Carbon builds that give us more price points below where the SB5 TURQ start,” said Chris Conroy, Yeti's CEO.

SB5+ TURQ is the company's top carbon design that receives running changes as Yeti tweaks the design. An SB5 TURQ frame sells for $4,699 and builds start at $6,499 going up to $10,499.

The SB5 Carbon has an easier carbon layup and receives at most an annual update. This saves the company money, translating into cost savings for the consumer. SB5 Carbon's start at $3,400 for a frame, and $4,600 to $7,000 for complete builds.  

The first models out with the two frame options are the SB5, SB5 Beti and SB5+, but the company will roll out the program on all its models.

“Going into enduro strong and our race team doing so well was the right move. Coupled with some great reviews the bikes have given us much better pull through at dealers,” Conroy said.

And he noted that the frame inventory problems that plagued the company over the past few years have been resolved, allowing them to focus better on dealer service. Yeti worked hard to streamline its model offerings. 

“Where sales have been slow for the big brands, we've noticed a healthy increase in our business. The high-end customer focuses on best-in-category bikes, and that's where we are now,” Conroy added.