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Muc-Off launches $150 Nanotube treated chain

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POOLE, United Kingdom (BRAIN) — Muc-Off has released a specially treated Shimano Dura-Ace chain that it says offers reduced friction in race conditions and distances.

The British brand said its treatment results in a chain that is more than 10 watts more efficient than Ceramic Speed's UFO chain, which is treated with Ceramic Speed's wax-based formula.

Muc-Off's chain is sonic cleaned and then lubritcated with a "carbon nanotube formulation" that the company said is based on graphene technology.

The lube is also available seperately.

Muc-Off said Chris Froome and the rest of Team Sky used the chains during his 2017 Tour de France and Vuelta a Espana victories. 

Alex Trimnell, Muc-Off's managing director, said, "The NTC is what we've been dreaming about ever since we launched our first ever bicycle chain lubricant in 2005. We've come a long way since then, working with some of the world's top athletes and teams to push drivetrain optimisation to its absolute limit, and we're happy to say that we can offer the fastest treatment we've ever developed. Critically, our nanotube formula lasts for hundreds of miles in all weathers without the risk of a severe performance drop off, which can easily happen with a wax-based treated chain after a very short period of use. This means you are then running on metal-to-metal, which could destroy your race times, not to mention potentially wrecking your components! The proof is all in the data."

The chain will be available in the U.S. starting Oct. 9. It will retail for $150. The Nanolube will retail for $64.99. 

Previously, Muc-Off offered the NTOC chain, which retailed for $200. The company said the new chain is lower friction due to the nanotubes, and also less expensive because it is not pre-ridden for 4 hours like the NTOC. 

"As the NTC is not run-in under load, unlike the NTOC, the total production time is shortened and allows for the cost savings to be passed on to the end customer. The NTC will then reach its optimum state after 4 hours of riding at 250+ watts. The NTC chain will then be at the same performance as the NTOC chain for many hundreds of miles of all-weather riding," the company said.

More information: muc-off.com/products/ntc.


Colorado bike shops host off-season cycling board game tournament

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Shops are hosting a "state championship tournament" with the Glory Gears board game.

GOLDEN, Colo. (BRAIN) — More than two-dozen Front Range bike shops are hosting a cycling board game competition this fall, using the Glory Gears game. 

The series winner will take home a Colnago road bike worth $9,000.

Glory Gears was launched on Kickstarter last year by retail manager Alex Bishop. The game is based on the Little 500 race featured in the movie Breaking Away. Bishop was a Little 500 winner in 2007.

The Colorado tournament will have events at shops every night for 25 days, starting with a qualifier at Boulder's Full Cycle on Nov. 1 and extending until the championships event at Blake Street Tavern in Denver on Dec. 6.

Besides the bike shop participants, the series has prizes and other support from dozens of industry partners. Bishop said he plans to organize a similar series in Indiana next spring and eventually multiple regional events around the country.

The events are "all done in a way to seamlessly intertwine bike shops, customers, and manufacturers in the slow months to increase exposure and revenues for all, in a fun, all-inclusive friendly competition atmosphere. I think this could get incredibly big over the next few years as everyone is super excited about the idea and participating," he said.

Registration for the Colorado events is at Eventbrite

 

Zoot Sports relaunches under new ownership, returns focus to triathletes

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CARLSBAD, Calif. (BRAIN) — Triathlon apparel brand Zoot Sport has new ownership. Industry veterans and former Zoot Sports employees Shawn O'Shea and Dan Weatherford have purchased the brand back from Newell Brands and have moved the brand back to Carlsbad. Zoot Sports is now under the umbrella of Zoot Squad, Inc.

Zoot began on the Big Island of Hawaii in 1983 and has gone through several ownership changes over the years. The brand has expanded into footwear and other categories but O'Shea said the relaunched brand will keep its focus on athletes — triathletes especially.

"Next year we will be celebrating the 35th anniversary of Zoot and none of that would be possible without the support of triathletes all over the world. We want to honor that in everything we do," said O'Shea. "We own and control every aspect of the business now. Being able to manage the process from conceptualization to production to shipping allows us to best serve the athletes. We are able to really listen to what our customers are saying and can respond to needs; turning around products faster than ever."

O'Shea has worked at Under Armour and Pearl Izumi. He has a master's degree in design and an athletic resume that boasts three Ironman finishes and 13 marathons. O'Shea said Zoot will focus on best in class seasonal and custom triathlon apparel for training and race day. "Too many brands see triathlon only as a springboard or stepping stone. We see triathlon as our family," said O'Shea. "Instead of looking for the next great thing, we are committed to our singular goal of being the best triathlon brand in the world."

The brand will also expand its Team Zoot program, which currently includes more than 300 athletes.

"The brand was born in Kona and the idea of family, or Ohana, is woven into our DNA," said O'Shea. "While we have a lot of top age groupers on Team Zoot, you don't have to podium to be on the team. You just have to be passionate, love the sport and support your fellow athletes."

Everysight Raptor sponsors triathlete Chris McCormack

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HAIFA, Israel (BRAIN) — Everysight, the maker of the Raptor smart sunglass, has announced its first "brand athlete," Chris McCormack. 

Everysight has been developing, and teasing, the Raptor for several years and attended this year's summer PressCamp in Utah. The company plans to announce the Raptor's availability and pricing soon.

"Everysight Raptor is a monumental leap forward that will revolutionize the way we consume and interact with information while training and racing. Once you've experienced Raptors, there's no turning back - you'll never want to ride without them. They are amazing, an absolute game-changer," said McCormack, AKA Macca.

"Macca's passion for excellence and his relentless drive to be the best in his field is in sync with Everysight's brand DNA. Our first product, the Raptor AR Smartglasses, is all about harnessing and improving your strength, power, and endurance to gain the hard-earned ability to overcome obstacles and achieve personal greatness. And nobody embodies those traits like Macca," said Asaf Ashkenazi, the CEO of Everysight.

McCormack is a two-time winner of the Ironman World Championship. He was inducted into the Triathlon Hall of Fame in 2013. 

QBP Women's Bike Mechanic Scholarship returns; applications accepted until Oct. 31

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Previous scholarship recipients at UBI.

BLOOMINGTON, Minn. (BRAIN) — For the fifth year, QBP and other sponsors are offering scholarships for women to attend the two-week Professional Repair and Shop Operations class at United Bicycle Institute. This year the scholarship will be offered to 32 women. 

Program sponsors include Michelin, Park Tool, SRAM, United Bicycle Institute, Jagwire, Ergon, Saris, Finish Line, Kryptonite, DT Swiss, Surly, Swiftwick, Dero and Stan's NoTubes.

The program's organizers said the industry needs to reach out to more women and serve them more effectively. The scholarship is intended to increase the gender diversity of people on bikes by supporting the development of women working in bike shops.

"It's no secret that women have been historically unrepresented in cycling. Increasing accessibility for these individuals leads to a diverse future for our industry. Scholarship recipients gain a wealth of knowledge that helps them serve their communities better and helps them to create a more inclusive environment," said Kaitlin Johnson, the Women's Bike Mechanic Scholarship Program Director at QBP.

Recipients will receive a full tuition scholarship to attend UBI's Professional Shop Repair and Operations Workshop in Ashland, Oregon. Additionally, lodging at the Ashland campus will be paid for and provided and recipients will receive a small stipend upon completion of the class to help offset travel and meal expenses. 

Scholarship recipients must be available to attend one of two classes: either Jan. 29-Feb. 9, 2018, or Oct. 15-26, 2018.

QBP said applicants must be "women, trans, non-binary, gender non-conforming, or intersex U.S. residents who are currently employed at a bike shop in the U.S."

Interested parties can apply at qbp.com/womensscholarship. Applications will be accepted from Oct. 2-31, 2017. Winners will be announced on or before Jan. 5, 2018.

Time bringing out enduro and aero pedals

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VOREPPE, France (BRAIN) — Time Sport is bringing out two new pedal designs this fall: The XPRO road pedal and the Speciale 12 enduro pedal. 

The XPRO is built off Time's Xpresso pedal design, with a wider platform and lightweight aerodynamic design.

It will be available in three versions:

  • The XPRO 15, retailing for $600, has a carbon body, hollow titanium spindle and CeramicSpeed bearings. Weight is 88 grams per pedal.
  • The XPRO 12, $400, has a carbon body and titanium spindle and standard bearings. It weighs 94 grams per pedal.
  • The XPRO 10, $250, has a carbon body and hollow stainless-steel spindle. It weighs 113 grams per pedal.

The Speciale 12 pedal is built on the foundation of Time's ATAC offroad pedals. It has a new platform shape with a longer, thinner profile for stability and comfort. The thinner body profile reduces weight as well as exposure to rock and root pedal strikes.

The Speciale 12 will retail for $350 and be available in three anodized colors: red, blue, and gray. It has a hollow steel spindle; weight is 202 grams per pedal

All the new models are said to be available this fall. 

Now that Time is part of Group Rossignol, in North America pedals are available directly from the Time offices in Park City, Utah and Montreal. Time also works with QBP and BTI in the United States for additional distribution.

Cyclists already know: AAA study calls vehicle ’infotainment’ systems dangerous

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WASHINGTON (BRAIN) — Confirming what many cyclists already know, a new study by the American Automobile Association found that new vehicle "infotainment" systems cause drivers to take their eyes and attention off the road for potentially dangerous periods of time. 

Drivers using voice-based and touch screen features were visually and mentally distracted sometimes for more than 40 seconds when completing tasks like programming navigation or sending a text message.

AAA said it conducted the research, which was done with the University of Utah, to help automakers and system designers improve the systems.

"Some in-vehicle technology can create unsafe situations for drivers on the road by increasing the time they spend with their eyes and attention off the road and hands off the wheel," said Dr. David Yang, executive director of the AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety. "When an in-vehicle technology is not properly designed, simple tasks for drivers can become complicated and require more effort from drivers to complete."

The study looked at the visual (eyes off road) and cognitive (mental) demands and the time it took drivers to complete a task using the infotainment systems in 30 model year 2017 vehicles. Study participants were required to use voice command, touch screen and other interactive technologies to make a call, send a text message, tune the radio or program navigation, all while driving down the road.

Programming navigation was the most distracting task, taking an average of 40 seconds for drivers to complete.

The study ranked the 30 vehicles by the demand on a driver's attention by their infotainment system. It rated 12 vehicles as "very high demand," 11 vehicles as "high demand," and 7 as "moderate demand." It found none that merited a "low demand" rating. 

AAA said that most systems tested could easily be made safer by following federal recommendations such as locking out text messaging, social media and programming navigation while the car is in motion. 

"These are solvable problems," said Jake Nelson, AAA's director of Traffic Safety Advocacy & Research. "AAA cautions drivers that just because a technology is available while driving does not mean it is safe or easy to use when behind the wheel. Drivers should only use these technologies for legitimate emergencies or urgent, driving related purposes."

Selle Royal Group hires retail and marketing specialist

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LAGUNA BEACH, Calif. (BRAIN) — Selle Royal Group has hired Priscilla Savord as retail sales and marketing specialist for Fizik and Crankbrothers in North America.

Based out of the company's headquarters in Laguna Beach, California, Savord will support sales and marketing initiatives with IBDs. She will also work alongside and support the efforts of the distribution company Highway Two.

"To be given the chance to represent these two amazing brands that offer market-leading products is truly a dream come true," Savord said.

A passionate cyclist, Savord has held multiple positions in bike shops and most recently worked for Cycling Sports Group as West Coast apparel coordinator.

Selle Royal Group vice president Gaspare Licata said, "We've desired a strong female ambassador in the U.S. for a few years now, and after a lot of searching we have found someone experienced, motivated and, best of all, passionate. We are very excited to have Priscilla bring her knowledge and enthusiasm to help educate our dealers on exciting new products from Fizik and Crankbrothers."


Vista Outdoor names new CEO

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FARMINGTON, Utah (BRAIN) — Vista Outdoor Inc. has named Christopher T. Metz as the company's new CEO, effective Oct. 9. Metz also will serve as a member of the board of directors.

During the company's second quarter board meeting, the board will appoint a permanent chairman of the board and until that date Michael Callahan will continue to serve as interim chairman.

"The board couldn't be more pleased that Chris is joining Vista Outdoor," said Callahan, who has served as interim CEO since the departure of Michael DeYoung in July.  "(Metz) has over 25 years of experience leading consumer and industrial-based global businesses. Chris is highly strategic, operationally savvy, and has experience improving the performance of leading organizations. He is a motivational leader with broad experience in sales, marketing and operations. His capabilities will benefit Vista Outdoor as we continue our focus on building our brands, expanding our e-commerce presence, reducing inventory, and driving continuous improvement."

Metz was most recently the president and CEO of Arctic Cat from 2014 to 2017. From 2005 to 2014, he served as a managing director of Sun Capital Partners, Inc., a leading private equity firm. Prior to Sun Capital, Metz worked for Black & Decker from 1992 to 2005. During his tenure with the company, he was president of the hardware and home improvement group from 1999 to 2005, and held various leadership positions including president of Kwikset Corporation, president of Price Pfister, president of Baldwin Hardware, and general manager of European Professional Power Tools and Accessories, during which time he lived in Frankfurt, Germany.

Metz holds a bachelor's degree in finance and marketing from the University of Delaware and earned a master of business administration degree from the Kenan Flagler School of Business, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. He is an avid hunter, angler and cyclist.

"I am thrilled to join the Vista Outdoor team," said Metz. "The company is a leader in outdoor sports and recreation products, with a unique and well-positioned portfolio of brands. I look forward to working with the talented employees as we leverage Vista Outdoor's capabilities to deliver innovative products, build upon strategic partnerships, improve performance, and drive shareholder value."

Vista's brands include Bell, Giro, CamelBak and Bollé.

 

BikeFlights adds new booking interface to ship e-bikes

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The company is now offering e-bike shipping certification for retailers.

PORTLAND, Ore. (BRAIN) — BikeFlights has adjusted its website to make it easier for people to ship bikes with batteries, including pedal assist e-bikes.

Cyclists are now prompted when booking to indicate whether their shipment does or doesn't include batteries and if so, whether those batteries are contained within components and gear, are part of an e-bike or are standalone. The answers let BikeFlights.com better direct its customers to appropriate shipping options that are in compliance with U.S. Department of Transportation regulations.

Effectively immediately, certified e-bike shippers now get their labels for e-bike shipments within a few minutes, just as they would for shipments of bikes without motors and batteries. BikeFlights.com does not assess a Hazmat fee for shipping complete e-bikes; however, a $40 Hazmat fee does apply for standalone battery shipments.

"The demand for shipping e-bikes is only going to keep increasing, and this is great news for our e-bike shipping partners," said BikeFlights.com's owner, William Alcorn. "They can now ship more efficiently and save money."

BikeFlights.com customers who ship complete e-bikes or batteries must be certified e-bike shippers. Customers may contact BikeFlights.com Support to get certified. Certification is open to businesses and individuals, costs $150 and takes a few hours to complete.

Cyclists who do not have e-bike shipping certification may still ship e-bikes with BikeFlights.com; however, they must do so through a certified e-bike shipper. They may contact BikeFlights.com Support to be connected with certified partner shops.

 

 

ABG invests in paint and assembly capability at its factory; offers custom paint and components on Quintana Roo bikes

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CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. (BRAIN) — American Bicycle Group, the parent of Quintana Roo and Litespeed, has expanded its paint and bike assembly capabilities at its factory here. 

The new resources will allow Quintana Roo cyclists to order custom paint and component packages with a 3- to 5-day turnaround. The company said it also will make it easier to deliver bikes to dealer as needed, instead of through large pre-season orders. 

"The paint and assembly line investment supports ABG's on-going move toward a made-in-America philosophy and the made-to-order requests we're receiving daily from athletes," said ABG president and CEO Peter Hurley.

"Athletes have told us they want more flexibility in paint schemes and the ability to fine-tune specifications to fit their needs, and they don't want to wait weeks or months for it. We listened and then invested."

The paint and assembly line has been added to the 40,000-square-foot facility ABG moved into one year ago. Located minutes from downtown Chattanooga, the facility houses operations for manufacturing, assembly and corporate offices for both bike brands.

PeopleForBikes expands DRAFT Meetups with new locations and website

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BOULDER, Colo. (BRAIN) — PeopleForBikes is expanding its calendar of DRAFT Meetup events, which bring together people from across the bike industry, including product developers, event planners, tech innovators, advocates, artists and others. Beer is also involved.

The meetups began in Denver in 2014 and expanded nationally last year. Now 17 cities have participated and eight new cities will host events next year.

This fall there are three new locations: Raleigh, North Carolina; St. Augustine, Florida; and Brooklyn, New York. In July and August, DRAFT added Summit County, Colorado, and Wixom, Michigan as hosts.

"All different aspects of the bike community and bike ecosystem come alive at DRAFT," said Jenn Dice, PeopleForBikes' business network VP, who crafted the meetup series concept. "It's exciting to see more communities organize DRAFT meetups and tease out all the new and innovative things happening for bikes."

PeopleForBikes has redesigned the DRAFT webpage to explain the meetup's concept and to make it easier to host, speak and attend events.

Upcoming DRAFT Meetups: 

  • 10/25 DRAFT: Brooklyn (New York)
  • 10/26 DRAFT: Duluth (Duluth, Minn.)
  • 10/26 DRAFT: LA (Los Angeles)
  • 11/14 DRAFT: Florida (St. Augustine, Fla.)
  • 12/7 DRAFT: CO (Boulder, Colo.)

To get involved with DRAFT, visit the new website at peopleforbikes.org/DRAFT or contact Lander Karath at lander@peopleforbikes.org.

Raleigh Electric and IZIP join battery recycling program

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SIMI VALLEY, Calif. (BRAIN) — Accell Group's Raleigh Electric and IZIP brands are both joining the Call2Recycle program to dispose of old e-bike batteries in a sustainable, environmentally-friendly manner.

"As a leading premier North American electric bicycle company, we feel that it is our responsibility, and are fully committed to support safe disposal of end-of-life lithium battery packs and to promote battery stewardship throughout the North American bicycle industry," said Larry Pizzi, president of Raleigh Electric. "And, we expect that we are leading the way for many others in our space to join us in doing the right thing for our environment."

When disposed of incorrectly, harmful elements from batteries can find their way into water sources.

The Call2Recycle program, run by a non-profit organization founded in 1994, has battery recycling collection sites located throughout the U.S. and Canada.

After collecting and sorting, the batteries are processed and turned into new batteries, stainless steel products, and more.

The program is funded by the two brands and the Accell Group through their Corporate Social Responsibility programs.

For more information visit call2recycle.org.

New site includes calendar of bike demo events, resources for retailers, brands and event organizers

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BROOMFIELD, Colo. (BRAIN) — As most parts of the bike industry struggle to provide consumers with experiences they can't get on their smart phones, bike demo events are becoming increasingly important. One problem, though, is that there is not a single directory of events that would allow consumers to find one that fit their needs, or allow brands, retailers and event organizers to plan and promote their event.

Eric Butler thinks he has the solution. The bike industry veteran, who has worked in retail and on the supply side at Foes Racing, has launched a site that he says will "close the circle" and connect the various stake holders in the demo world.

DemoDays.com— which also has sections for other industries, including electronics and outdoor gear — includes searchable event calendars, as well as a listing of venues that can host events and content with tips for consumers on how to get the most out of demo events. The site makes money by selling monthly and annual memberships to event organizers and by selling display ads. Members who list events are also promoted through the site's social media. Event listings include contact info and other critical information, while the venue listings include information like the availability of restrooms and the proximity of airports.

While consumer festivals and demo events have become very popular with brands the sell exclusively online, Butler said brick-and-mortar retailers could benefit from hosting more demo events and promoting them better.

"We really want to get bike shops on board," he said. "All we hear about is low foot traffic in stores and online competition. But bike shops have the resources to hold great events — they've got the inventory and relationships with brands and they've got good people and locations."

Butler is hoping to build the most comprehensive calendar of events, searchable by brand, date or location. Such a calendar would also be invaluable to brands planning their schedule of demo events and deciding how to get their demo vans out to far flung events, which sometimes overlap or are not scheduled in an efficient circuit for the van operators, in part because there is no comprehensive listing.

Showers Pass' new waterproof knit gloves and socks available this month

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PORTLAND, Ore. (BRAIN) — Showers Pass has released a new line of Crosspoint waterproof gloves and socks, which will begin shipping Oct. 14.

The company said the Crosspoint gloves and socks are fully waterproof. They are made with three bonded layers:  A wear-resistant knit exterior that feels like a regular knit glove, a seamless waterproof/breathable Artex membrane, and a Coolmax FX moisture-wicking antibacterial knit lining. The gloves have an integrated silicone layer on the palm to add grip.

"We are committed to providing advanced design, materials, and construction whenever we develop a new product. Our Crosspoint Waterproof Socks offer a practical cross-category solution to cold, wet feet. We have seen an incredible adoption of our waterproof socks and rapid growth in this category over the last two years and we are excited to provide another product to enhance outdoor enthusiast experience in foul weather." says Kyle Ranson, the president of Showers Pass. "The new Lightweight socks are 9 percent lighter than the original but still maintain a durable reinforced toe and heel for maximum comfort. They effectively turn any athletic shoe into a rainproof solution."

The gloves and socks will be available in Neon Pink, Forest Camo, Grey Camo, Black, and Gray, in sizes S/M, M/L, L/XL, and XXL. The socks' MSRP is $36 for the Camo colors or $34 for the other colors. 

The gloves retail for $45. They are available in S/M, M/L, and L/XL, in Black, Neon Green and Safety Orange. 


Trek to stream more European cyclocross live in the US and Canada

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WATERLOO, Wis. (BRAIN) — Trek Bicycle has renewed its broadcast agreement to stream the DVV Verzekeringen Trofee and Soudal Classics cyclocross series, Europe's premier cyclocross series, live on the brand's website, trekbikes.com.

This will be the second year that the brand has hosted the series on its sit.

Trek said the live free stream is an alternative to paid subscription services, tunneling VPNs, or gray-market websites that North American cyclocross fans have used to watch races in the past. 

The free streams began Sunday, Oct. 8 with the DVV GP Mario de Clercq.

The rest of the schedule:

DVV Koppenbergcross, Nov. 1, 2017
Women's Elite - 7:45am CST
Men's Elite - 9:00am CST

Soudal Jaarmarktcross Niel, Nov. 11, 2017
Women's Elite - 6:45am CST
Men's Elite - 8:00am CST

DVV Flandriencross Hamme, Nov. 26, 2017
Women's Elite - 6:45am CST
Men's Elite - 8:00am CST

DVV Cyclocross Essen, Dec. 9, 2017
Women's Elite - 6:45am CST
Men's Elite - 8:00am CST

DVV Scheldecross Antwerpen, Dec. 16, 2017
Women's Elite - 6:45am CST
Men's Elite - 8:00am CST

Soudal Waaslandcross Sint-Niklaas, Dec. 23, 2017
Women's Elite - 6:45am CST
Men's Elite - 8:00am CST

Azencross Loenhout, Dec. 28, 2017
Women's Elite - 6:45am CST
Men's Elite - 8:00am CST

DVV GP Sven Nys Baal, Jan. 1, 2018
Women's Elite - 6.45am CST
Men's Elite - 8:00am CST

Soudalcross Leuven, Jan. 7, 2018
Women's Elite - 6:45am CST
Men's Elite - 8:00am CST

DVV Krawatencross, Feb. 10, 2018
Women's Elite - 6:45am CST
Men's Elite - 8:00am CST

NRG Enterprises distributing Benno Bikes in Canada

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NELSON, British Columbia (BRAIN0 — NRG Enterprises will take over Canadian distribution of Benno Bikes, effective immediately.

NRG's network of sales reps will start selling Benno with Canadian price lists, booking programs, and demo bikes.

Benno Baenziger, who was one of the creators of the Electra bike brand, founded Benno Bikes in 2015. "It's not an Electra 'replay,' but about stylish cargo an urban bikes," said Baenziger. The line also includes the Benno Boost E is e-cargo bike. 

In June 2017, Raymond Lanctôt Ltd. acquired NRG.

"It now makes more sense to have Benno Bikes together with NRG powerful group of brands," said Lanctot's VP of operations, Jean Cloutier.

 

Endura offers overshoe for flat-pedal shoes

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PLAINFIELD, Ind. (BRAIN) — Endura's MT500 Plus Overshoe was designed for cold, wet and muddy conditions.

The overshoe has an open sole made from hardwearing rubber for flat or clipless pedals. The upper is made from nylon-faced neoprene rubber, with highly durable overlays.

Endura said the molded rubber sole hits "the sweet spot between structural rigidity and an 'open' area large enough to maximize contact between shoe and pedal."

The overshoes have a velcro closure and a wide toe that allows them to fit a large variety of mountain bike shoes, whether designed for use with flat pedals or clipless. They come in the MT500 collection's signature black with yellow detailing, and are available in sizes S-M, M-L, and L-XL.

MSRP is $64.99. More information at endurasport.com/product/mt500-plus-overshoe.

Partners from diverse backgrounds open new Giant Las Vegas store

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LAS VEGAS (BRAIN) — Giant Las Vegas held its grand opening last weekend at its store just off Highway 160, which serves as the southern entrance to Red Rock Canyon and Cottonwood Canyon, two of the most popular riding areas in the Las Vegas region.

The store has three owners, all of whom are experienced businessmen and cycling enthusiasts, although none of the three have a background in bike retail.

Barry Winter is a casino executive. His partners are Tim Foley, an operations director for a Las Vegas CBS television station, and Dennis Leffler, owner of an automobile reconditioning business. The three became friends on local group rides and decided to open a store together.

"When we decided to open a store, it became very apparent that Giant was who we wanted to partner with based on what they offered through their retail services team," said Winter in a press release provided by Giant. "The services that Giant provides have been invaluable considering our ownership is made up of three individuals who have never had any retail or bike shop experience."

Giant's retail services team led the design and layout of the 3,000-square-foot space, which offers Giant, Liv and Momentum bikes and gear. "Everyone has been great to work with at Giant," Winter said. "The store turned out beyond our expectations."

Last year the three partners launched a mobile bike repair business together, and that experience revealed a clear need for a full retail shop in a specific area of Las Vegas. They assembled an experienced staff that includes general manager Carol Vails, who has more than 20 years of bike industry experience, and service manager Steven Zellers, a mechanic with roots in the Las Vegas cycling scene.

"When the owners Barry, Dennis and Tim came to us about a year ago, they brought a diverse and compelling background," said Eric Woods, Giant's regional sales manager for the Southwest. "They had already launched a successful mobile bicycle repair business, and because of this they had a very strong understanding of the market. They realized the importance of establishing a brick-and-mortar location to provide their customers with a place to gather, shop and learn. Further, they had made a very clear decision before even coming to us that Giant and Liv were the brands they wanted to partner with."

Winter said the location off Highway 160 is ideal. "It's an extremely busy link between the master planned communities of Mountain's Edge and Rhodes Ranch with the rest of Las Vegas. The city has spent a considerable amount of money improving the roads to include large shoulders and bike lanes. Group rides originating from our shop can enjoy dedicated bike lanes in almost every direction of travel."

Last week's grand opening drew more than 150 attendees for a host of activities including demo rides on Giant and Liv bikes, a trials stunt show by Giant ambassador Jeff Lenosky, a barbecue, and a raffle.

"On the Saturday of our grand opening weekend, foot traffic was extremely busy and we experienced our highest number of transactions in a day," Winter says. "And Sunday turned out to be our best day in terms of sales since we opened. Customers are extremely happy to have a bike shop in the neighborhood. Previously, the closest shop was 12 miles away. Most of the comments we've received are on how well the space is utilized, the organization of the store, and how nice it looks."

Giant Las Vegas is hosting weekly road and mountain bike rides and supporting advocacy efforts. Regular group road rides leave from the shop, while mountain bike rides venture into Cottonwood Canyon. The shop is also working to develop a mountain bike racing program in local schools with hopes of competing against teams in Utah and California.

More information at GiantLasVegas.com.

Hed releases new tubeless-ready carbon road wheel, the Vanquish 6

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ROSEVILLE, Minn. (BRAIN) — Hed Cycling's new Vanquish 6 wheel feature an all-new tubeless-ready carbon rim.

The rim has an external width of 30 millimeters, an internal 21 millimeter width, and 60mm depth. Hed said the disc-brake-specific rim profile optimizes tire shape and performance with modern tires – inlcuding large sizes used for gravel and cyclocross events.

Like other Hed carbon wheels, the Vanquish 6 rim is made fully in-house at Hed's Minnesota factory. The wheel is also hand finished and assembled there, with Hed's 545 Disc hub set – featuring compatibility with all major drivetrains and axle options.

Anne Hed, the CEO of Hed Cycling, said, "We couldn't be more excited about the Vanquish 6 launch. It's a great addition to our product line, and we're proud to have another revolutionary carbon rim made in our own factory. Our whole team is proud to see this wheel make it out on to customers' bikes!"

The wheel set retails for $2,500 and is available this month. 

More information at hedcycling.com.

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