ATLANTA, Ga. (BRAIN) — Wahoo Fitness has made the Deloitte Fast 500 list, a ranking of the 500 fastest growing technology, media, telecommunications, life sciences and energy tech companies in North America. Wahoo is only one of two fitness technology device companies to be named to the list; the other is Fitbit.

According to the list, Wahoo's revenues grew 235 percent from 2013 to 2016. The company was ranked 342nd by growth on the list of 500. 

Chip Hawkins, Wahoo's founder and CEO, credits the strong growth to delivering products that resonate with fitness-conscious consumers.

"As a company, we are driven to innovate on fitness technology and leverage workout data so athletes can consistently improve the way they train and perform," said Hawkins in a press release. "We have a passion for cycling and fitness, and being recognized on the Fast 500 Company list for the first time is a tribute to the fact that following your passion can fuel strong business results. We're also honored to be one of the only fitness device technology companies on the list."

Overall, 2017 Technology Fast 500 companies achieved revenue growth ranging from 137 percent to 59,093 percent from 2013 to 2016, with median growth of 378 percent. 

BOULDER, Colo. (BRAIN) — Happi Headware is a new brand formed by 15-year-old mountain biker Alyssa Feinberg, who wanted a solution to post-ride helmet hair.

The company offers more than 20 printed designs in two models: one for summer and one for winter. 

Both models feature a wicking polyester and spandex fabric that stretches to stay on the head. The summer headbands have a mesh material for wicking and the winter headbands are wider and lined with a brushed fabric to offer more warmth.

"We feature headbands with images on them and strive to bring unique and functional headbands to each and every person," Feinberg said. 

MSRP is $15 for the summer headbands and $20 dollars for the winter. The company sells to consumers over its website and also offers wholesale pricing to retailers.

More information on ordering is available by contacting happiheadware@gmail.com. More information on the product is at happiheadware.com.

LAKE OSWEGO, Ore. (BRAIN) — Yakima Products, Inc. has promoted Joel Grabenstein to senior director of marketing. Grabenstein, who has been with Yakima since 2003, was previously category director.

In the new role Grabenstein will manage and coordinate multiple departments, including category & product management, brand & product marketing, creative, FIT development, and retail training, which includes the Road Warrior program.

"Joel has been instrumental in helping drive our current product momentum and expansion. By adding marketing and creative to his portfolio, we will be aligning our consumer-facing product and brand activities, and creating stronger synergy between the individual teams who all contribute to the consumer and customer experience," said Ryan Martin, Yakima's CEO. "During his long tenure at Yakima, Joel has held many roles, including category director and brand director. His new position brings together all that great experience and expertise, and we're excited to have him help elevate Yakima even further."

Grabenstein said, "Our focus on brand strength, core products and categorical expansion over the past several launch cycles is taking hold in the marketplace and shows in our double-digit year-over-year growth. We will continue to refine and reinvent our business to meet the expectations of the consumer, while staying true to our roots and the true essence of the brand.

"The Yakima team is packed with relentless and talented core users, and I am honored to lead the charge as we continue to execute our growth initiatives."

CORTEZ, Colo. (BRAIN) — Osprey Packs has hired outdoor industry veteran Mark Galbraith as its senior director of product. The position is new for the company, which said Galbraith will identify, develop and execute Osprey's multiyear, global product strategy.

"Mark's long-term experience as a cultural creative, progressive innovator and considered collaborator will ensure that Osprey is well-prepared to continue to thrill and delight the ever-increasing customer base Osprey has been so fortunate to enjoy," said Rob BonDurant, Osprey's VP of product and marketing. "He truly maintains a perfect balance between intellect and intuition."

Galbraith most recently served as general manager of Nau, a brand that he co-founded. Previous to that, Galbraith held leadership positions at Patagonia, POLARTEC and Lowe Alpine.

"As an Osprey product user, I've always equally admired the simple elegance of Osprey's design language and clear competence of its product solutions," said Galbraith. "I look forward to working with the immensely talented product and design teams to further these efforts and bring Osprey sensibility to a wider tribe of fans."

Galbraith will be based at Osprey's headquarters in Cortez and begins work with the brand this week.

WASHINGTON (BRAIN) — Kim Jordan, the co-founder and executive chair of New Belgium Brewing, will be the keynote speaker at the 2018 National Bike Summit.

This week the League of American Bicyclists, the summit organizer, released a preliminary list of speakers and sessions for the March 5–7 event in Washington, DC.

The first day of the session includes a workshop titled "Where Diversity and Inclusion Meet Implicit Bias," led by nationally recognized diversity and inclusion expert Cheri Wilson. Also on Monday is a workshop focusing on working with youth. 

Jordan will speak at Monday's Dinner Plenary. New Belgium Brewing is a returning sponsor of the Summit and a longtime supporter of bike programs. 

Mobile workshops are back for a third year, giving participants a chance to hop on a Capital BikeShare bike to go to tour Bicycle Friendly Businesses or Universities and experience some of D.C.'s bike infrastructure.

Early bird registration rates are available until Jan. 10. More information and registration is at bikesummitawards.secure-platform.com

KETCHUM, Idaho (BRAIN) — CrankTank has announced the dates for Impact Sun Valley, a media summit to be held in Idaho area next summer.

The event will be June 26-28. Organizers said the area offers access to ideal testing terrain for all types of bikes, including e-MTBs, mountain bikes, road bikes and gravel bikes.

"We're already seeing healthy interest in the event from both media and brands," said CrankTank's vice president, Adrian Montgomery. "The opportunity to ride trendsetting bikes and equipment in a world-class cycling destination like Sun Valley provides an attractive perk to media, and the brands value the ability to get face time and actually go out and ride with media. And because much of our singletrack is motorized legal, we can offer a unique setting for both media and brands to wrap their heads around the emerging e-MTB category, and our massive inventory of unimproved backcountry roads serves up the ultimate gravel experience."

CrankTank held an Impact "activation event" in Kona, Hawaii, during the Ironman World Championships this year. 

The company said it has begun lining up media and supplier attendees and sponsors. It will limit the number of attendees at the first summit; it plans to release a preliminary list of attending media and brands in January.

For more information, contact lars@cranktank.net. 

BLOOMINGTON, Minn. (BRAIN) — Quality Bicycle Products will host three fat bike summits in 2018 as part of a strategy to improve access and grooming techniques for fat bike trails around the country.

QBP has hosted these summits since 2012, coordinated by the distributor's senior bicycle advocate, Gary Sjoquist. Originally created for land managers to make educated decisions about fat bike access, these summits have evolved to be a place where fat bike advocates, Nordic ski associations, and the public can gather to learn about grooming techniques and equipment that will increase ridership.

New for the 2018 summits is a grooming demonstration brought by 45NRTH's Ride Groomed initiative. Demonstrations will feature the latest in motorized singletrack grooming machines and techniques, so that attendees can experience the latest technology in action.

"Especially out west, on Bureau of Land Management or Forest Service lands, fat bike trails are shifting from wide 'golf cart' type trails across open meadows to narrow singletrack through forested areas. This requires different layouts and different grooming techniques. 45NRTH's presentation will help to expose attendees to the possibilities of fat bike trail-making," said Sjoquist.

The 2018 QBP Fat Bike Summit schedule includes expos and demonstrations that will happen in conjunction with the following fat bike events:

Norpine Classic, Lutsen, Minn. Friday, Jan. 5, 2018. 1-4 pm. This event will feature examples of fat bike trail layouts, signage best practices, and a singletrack grooming demonstration before race check-in Friday evening. More information at norpinefatbikeclassic.com.

Frosty's Fat Bike Race Series Friday, Jan. 12. Time TBA. Fairmont Jasper Park Lodge, Jasper, Canada. More information at frostythefatbike.com.

Fat Bike Worlds, Crested Butte, Colo. Friday, Jan. 26, 2018. Time TBA. Will include a singletrack grooming competition featuring Best Tracksleds, TracksUSA, and the Snowdog (all self-propelled singletrack groomers with tracks 20-inches wide or less). More information at cbchamber.com.

Registration information for each summit will be updated on the above websites as the dates get closer. For more information about QBP 2018 Fat Bike Summits and 45NRTH's Groomed Singletrack initiative, contact Sjoquist at gsjoquis@qbp.com.

PORTLAND, Ore. (BRAIN) — Chrome Industries is now offering a knife roll, developed with renowned chef Chris Cosentino, who has restaurants near Chrome's operations in San Francisco with Cockscomb and now in Portland with Jackrabbit.

"Chris worked with us to hone every detail, from pockets to pen slots, of this knife roll. Built from the same 1050d nylon and heavy duty tarpaulin as our durable messenger bags, this is a chef's knife roll designed for the everyday hard use of work in a kitchen," the company said.

Cosentino said, "The patch on the roll puts it best, 'The goal is to make people comfortable, to make people familiar with the unfamiliar,' and I'm excited to introduce my friends at Chrome to my friends in the kitchen."

The bag, made in Chico, California, has three utility pockets, fits 11 knives up to 17-inches, has snap-closure flaps for safety, cinch-down clip straps, pen slots, a quick-access business card pocket, and an offset handle for blade/handle balance. Its dimensions are 9" x 10" (Rolled) / 19" x 27.25" (Open).

MSRP is $125. 

SOUTH PASADENA, Calif. (BRAIN) — With more than 31,000 Instagram followers, Team Dream Bicycling Team has garnered a global following since it began selling cycling kits, hats, water bottles, stickers and other merchandise on Etsy five years ago. This week, Team Dream launched its newest holiday line on teamdreambicyclingteam.com.

Team Dream first started as a joke. The brand's mascot, Chubby Bobcat, a husky bobcat leaping through the air, is emblazoned on stickers, water bottles, socks, cycling kits, hats and T-shirts owner Sean Talkington launches seasonally.

“I was working at Golden Saddle Cyclery and had phased out of bike racing but still wanted to have an excuse to hang out with my friends who were racing,” said Talkington, who also previously worked at L.A.'s Orange 20 Bikes, which has since closed. “So I made up a team, as a silly thing to do.”

But Team Dream’s popularity also led Talkington to open The Cub House, a retail store with the social media handle @itsnotabikeshop, first as a pop-up he planned to run for six months. Two years later, the Cub House has moved into a larger space and added bikes from Linus, Surly, All-City and Stinner to its product mix. It also has an open-air service area, which a contract mechanic operates. Similar to the barber shop model, The Cub House takes a percentage and the mechanic supplies his own tools.

“Right when we were getting ready to move, people kept asking for a local bike shop. They really make an effort to support small businesses here. I never came into this wanting to own a bike shop, but we decided to just try it,” Talkington said.

Although The Cub House has become more of a bike shop following its recent move, the focus remains on Team Dream and unique merchandise from other small brands, including apparel and accessories from Ringtail, a collaboration between Talkington and Golden Saddle Cyclery owner Kyle Kelley.

“Ringtail is the marrying of my and Kyle’s ideas. We started making things we wanted to wear that we couldn’t find, like a Member’s Only style jacket but for riding or performance-driven wool jerseys,” Talkington said. “Our shops are only eight miles apart. We’re really good friends and really supportive of each other. There is enough of all these big brands, so we thought we could work together to promote smaller brands and the fun side of cycling.”

All Team Dream and Ringtail products are made in the U.S., including Team Dream’s kits, which are manufactured locally in downtown L.A. Talkington said the goal was to not just make custom team wear but to walk the line between fashion and function and make relevant products in the U.S.

But its best-selling items are anything with a cat on them.

“Anything Chubby Bobcat is on, people seem to like. It wasn’t even our original logo, but now we sell thousands and thousands of Chubby Bobcat stickers. They’re an inexpensive way to support what we’re doing,” Talkington said. “It’s wild. People will drive here from LAX on a layover to shop, people from all over the world.

Look for more about Team Dream and The Cub House in the January 1 issue of Bicycle Retailer.

SAINT-AUGUSTIN-De-DESMAURES, Québec (BRAIN) — William Garneau has been named general manager at Louis Garneau, the company his father founded 34 years ago. 

William Garneau has previously held various roles at the company, from managing and supervising all aspects of its DreamFactory custom bike program to, most recently, leading the hardgoods division as well as overseeing the procurement and sourcing department. William Garneau also is a former national level racer who competed for Canada at the Junior World Road Championships in South Africa in 2008.

"Garneau is more than a company, it's a family," said William Garneau. "I'm grateful to my father and my brother Edouard for entrusting me with this tremendous responsibility. I will do everything I can to support and inspire the team to ensure the company's growth over the coming years. My father started a great company 34 years ago; it's now up to us to take it into its next prosperous era. "

Louis Garneau will remain the President Designer of the company.

Louis Garneau said, "It's a proud day for me. I've always wanted to see my children take an active role at the company and felt that the time was right to finish my pull and let them take the lead.

"William is a passionate, dedicated and open leader. His youth is an asset as it brings new perspective and life to the company. Of course, I am still here to give him a lead-out every now and then."

Other members of the family also are involved with the company. Edouard is director of IBD sales for the U.S. And Louis' daughter Victoria is completing her college studies in fashion design and will soon join her brothers at the company.

BRAIN wrote about Louis Garneau's generational transition plans in our 2013 package of stories about succession in the bike industry. The 2013 article is attached below. 

MORGAN HILL, Calif. (BRAIN) — On Wednesday, Specialized Bicycle Components issued a notice to riders and retailers to stop riding and stop selling the following 2018 Allez bicycle models: Allez, Allez Sport, and Allez Elite.

The company said the action is due to a potential manufacturing defect that could result in fork failure and injury to the rider. There have been no reported injuries. Worldwide, this action involves approximately 13,000 bicycles sold to riders and retailers.

Owners of affected models should stop riding immediately and take their bicycle back to any authorized Specialized Retailer in order to initiate a planned fork replacement process, and collect a $75 customer appreciation credit. Specialized said it will take until mid- to late-January to obtain necessary approvals and until late February to source a sufficient quantity of forks for the recall.

For further information and periodic updates, visit: specialized.com/safety-notices.

BOULDER, Colo. (BRAIN) — Donnelly Sports LLC, which announced its brand name change in late August, has launched a new website at donnellycycling.com. The company also said its newly branded tires are now available from its U.S. distributors and it is launching a new tire model designed for spring classic conditions.

"The website is very much a reflection of who we are today," said the company's general manager, Donn Kellogg. "Donnelly is a modern, forward-thinking company built with the direct input of racers and adventure riders steeped in the experiences of today and visions of tomorrow."

The new tire model is the CDG, named for Paris' Charles De Gaulle airport. Kellogg said the new model is an evolution of the company's USH and Strada USH models.

"CDG pays homage to the brutal cobbled roads of the Spring Classics like that little hell of the north race, Paris-Roubaix," said Kellogg. "Ultimately this tire will be the go-to for those chaotic spring conditions of melting snow, gravel, sand, salt and anything resembling wet cobbles." The CDG will be introduced in a 700 x 30 tubeless-ready version. 

SAGUACHE, Colo. (BRAIN) — A Colorado district judge has sentenced Charles M. Gonzales to two life sentences without parole for the murder of Michael Rust. Rust, was a racer and design pioneer in the early days of mountain biking in Colorado's high country. He also was once the co-owner of Colorado Cyclery, a bike shop in Salida.

Rust disappeared in 2009 after discovering his home had been burglarized. He called a friend to say he was going to follow some tracks he thought the burglar had left on his property. The case was a mystery until Rust's remains were found on a nearby ranch in January; Gonzales, who was already in jail on unrelated charges, was arrested for the murder in June. 

Judge Jane Tidball sentenced Gonzales to two life sentences without the possibility of parole for first-degree murder without deliberation and first-degree felony murder. She also sentenced him to 12 years for burglary, 18 months for tampering with evidence and 12 months for both theft and abuse of a corpse, to run concurrently.

At a sentencing hearing, Rust's sister, Mary Anne Crandall, told Tidball, "The time for regret is long past. Charles Gonzales is a gang member wannabe, an evil murderer who has never taken responsibility. My parents both died without knowing what happened to their son. Two brothers died before Mike; we are no strangers to sorrow."

Gonzales apologized to the Rust family, saying, "I didn't mean to hurt him. I am sorry for what happened to his body — that was a horrible thing to do. I will pray for the Rust family." His public defender later told reporters that an appeal is likely.

Outside Television produced a video about Rust and his disappearance in 2016 (below).

WASHINGTON (BRAIN) — The House Natural Resources Committee on Wednesday passed HR 1349, legislation that would let local land managers decide if bikes and other human-powered vehicles are allowed in Wilderness Areas. The bill, which passed the committee in a 22-18 vote, now heads to a full House vote. 

The International Mountain Bicycling Association does not support the legislation and submitted written testimony in opposition. The Sustainable Trails Coalition supports the bill, which was introduced by Rep. Tom McClintock, R-Calif.

Last year, BRAIN published opinion pieces from STC's Ted Stroll and former IMBA director Ashley Korenblat regarding similar legislation. 

In a statement last week, IMBA indicated it will continue to work for mountain bike access on public lands with other designations, and in some cases will oppose new Wilderness designations in order to preserve existing mountain bike opportunities.

"Mountain bikers and the recreation community depend on public lands and thoughtful conservation," IMBA's executive director, Dave Wiens, said in a news release. "Public lands are being threatened at an unprecedented level right now, and it's imperative that public land users come together to protect these cherished places and offer our voices in this critical dialogue.

"We know Wilderness hits some mountain bikers' back yards, and we understand why those riders support this legislation. To continue elevating mountain biking nationally, IMBA must remain focused on its long-term strategy for the bigger picture of our sport." Ackowledging that the stance was unpopular with its members, over the weekend Wiens also posted another blog post on the subject, which accepted comments.

In its testimony, IMBA also raised concerns, unrelated to HR 1349, about bike access to “recommended wilderness.” The group said rules governing lands with that designation are inconsistently applied, with bikes being banned from 800 miles of trails in the National Forest Service's Region 1, which encompasses Montana and parts of Idaho and North and South Dakota.

In a news release following the HR 1349's committee passage, McClintock emphasized that it would restore the original intent of the Wilderness Act. "When the House considered the Wilderness Act in June of 1964, the record is clear that its framers intended that the term 'mechanical transport' be applied to non-human-powered vehicles like motorcycles — not human-powered devices like bicycles. The Forest Service built this understanding into its original implementing regulations by explicitly allowing all forms of human-powered travel in Wilderness areas," McClintock said.

Bicycles were allowed in Wilderness Areas from the inception of the Act in 1964 until 1977, when the Forest Service reinterpreted the act to ban them, he said.

McClintock also emphasized that the bill would not give mountain bikes blanket access to Wilderness Areas.

"Let me make this very clear: It in no way interferes with the discretion provided in other regulations and laws that gives land managers the ability to close or restrict the use of trails according to site-specific conditions. These agencies have always had authority for example, to prohibit access if a trail is damaged or is incompatible with other uses, and that authority is undisturbed by this law," he said.

INDIANAPOLIS (BRAIN) — Silca has released a service bulletin about its SuperPista floor pumps, advising owners to remove the pump's gauge lens temporarily to avoid danger. 

"We've identified the cause of issue and have an interim solution in place that takes just a few seconds to complete. We've also developed a long-term solution in the form of a gauge replacement which we will be sending out by mail," the company said in an email to SuperPista owners on Thursday.

Company president Joshua Poertner told BRAIN that corrosion on a galvanized steel piece inside the gauge can cause pressure to build up behind the lens during pumping, potentially causing the acrylic lens to shatter. The company plans to send out replacement gauges in January but said in the meantime the pump is safe to use once the lens is removed. The company posted a service bulletin on its website, as well as a video (below) showing how to remove the lens.

Poertner said the problem involves the first 1,000 pumps produced, which can be identified by a vent hole on the base (see photos below). The company is reaching out to distributors, retailers, and consumers who bought the pumps directly from Silca. 

He told BRAIN that Silca has received two reports of broken lenses, one from a retailer and one from a consumer. Both were from coastal areas where corrosion is more common. He said no one was injured in either case. 

He said the replacement gauges use stainless steel components to eliminate any corrosion concerns. The replacement gauges also are updated with some running changes that Silca has made to improve accuracy.

More information: silca.cc/pages/superpista-support-page

ASHEVILLE, N.C. (BRAIN) — Cane Creek Cycling Components has announced a limited edition colorway for its HELM fork as well as three limited edition colorways for its 110 headset.

The limited edition HELM colorway, named the ConRad Edition, comes in the company's signature black and gold and is available in both coil and air-sprung versions. The ConRad is named after a 12-year-old boy who, in 1799, found a 17 pound gold nugget in North Carolina, where the company is headquartered, sparking the first gold rush in the United States.

The limited edition 110 headsets come in three colorways - a red, silver and blue Flag Edition; a black and silver Tuxedo Edition; and a black and gold ConRad Edition that complements the HELM ConRad fork. All three headsets come in ZS44/ZS56 SHIS configuration.

"As a small manufacturer that hand-assembles most of our products, we have the flexibility to do fun things like limited colorways," said Sam Anderson, product manager for Cane Creek. "Which is great, because we love to do it and we know our customers love the unique products and ability to really customize their bikes."

Cane Creek is accepting orders for the ConRad Edition HELM Fork through Dec. 22, with delivery in January. The limited edition 110 headsets are available while supplies last.

PORTLAND, Ore. (BRAIN) — Smith has promoted Andy McCabe to creative director, where he will lead all marketing, sales and product creative work for the brand at the Safilo Pacific Design Center in Portland.

With a decade spent as a graphic designer at Scott Sports and Ride Snowboards, McCabe joined Smith in 2011 at its then-headquarters in Ketchum, Idaho, as part of the expanding creative department. 

"Since we first started working together, Andy has elevated the brands he touches across product, merchandising, and consumer communication. His roots in snowboarding still drive a DYI attitude that will help keep Smith contemporary, evolving, and most importantly, fun," said Eric Carlson, the global brand director at Smith.

Smith has also promoted Cara Shumate to art manager. She joined the brand's creative team in June 2013 and made the transition from Ketchum to Portland alongside McCabe a few years later. Additionally, Cody Browning has been appointed to senior graphic designer after joining Smith in 2016.

"These promotions are super exciting to share but more importantly, very well deserved. Each individual is an incredible talent on their own but the way they operate as a team is incredibly inspiring. Their cohesive approach and support of one another produces world-class work, with clearly a lot of humor and fun thrown in," said Carlson.

SAN DIEGO (BRAIN) — WeeBikeShop has signed with Muna Bicycles to distribute the South African brand's premium balance bikes in the U.S. market.

"Our focus has always been to find and import the safest and most successful balance bikes to the U.S. We are excited about including Muna in the WeeBikeShop family of brands. Muna Bikes fit perfectly alongside our premium selection," WeeBikeShop CEO Ivan M Altinbasak said in a release.

WeeBikeShop is offering Muna balance bikes at two price points: the Zing and the RGB are steel-frame models (MSRP: $120) and the lighter-weight Pro-Alloy and Glo Alloy models (MSRP: $160) with internally routed brake cables. All models have inflated rubber all-terrain tires, hand-controlled rear brakes, and twin-bearing headsets. Seat heights start at a toddler-friendly 12.5 inches and extend to fit children up to age 4.

WeeBike Shop will also maintain an inventory of replacement parts, manage warranty claims and provide customer service to all Muna Bike dealers and end-users.

More information: weebikeshop.com.

BEND, Ore. (BRAIN) — Quality Bicycle Products will start distributing Zealios body and hair care products in 2018.

QBP will have the full Zealios line available. The products are marketed to endurance athletes. "Zealios is a great young company that offers high quality products not only for cyclists, but for a wide range of athletes," said Michael Pederson, a QBP category manager. "The fact that they have multiple products, all top performers in their respective categories, is something that is perfect for us. Our shops can offer one brand that they know their customers can trust to perform."

Stacey Kiefer, director of sales at Zealios, said, "We are very excited to be working with an industry leader like QBP. Zealios is quickly becoming one of the most trusted brands for athletes. Partnering with QBP allows us to reach more retailers and athletes through a proven channel, so we are looking forward to what the future holds."

BALLSTON SPA, N.Y. (BRAIN) — Unior USA is now stocking its Crank Saver kit, which was introduced at Eurobike earlier this year.

The kit (model 1695MB1-US) is designed to be an all-in-one solution for repairing pedal threads that aren't salvageable with a regular pedal thread tap. The kit includes a tap handle, reaming taps that will clear the damaged pedal threads and cut new threads for the thread inserts included with the kit. It includes 10 left and 10 right inserts, which are held in the newly cut threads with a thread locker.

The kit is organized in a custom cut-out SOS foam tray and carrying case.

MSRP is $199.00. It is available direct from uniorusa.com.