BEDFORD, Pa. (BRAIN) — Fat Jimmy’s Outfitters and Olde Bedford Brewing Company are teaming up to offer bikes, boats and beer to customers in the Bedford County area. Olde Bedford Brewing Company, a startup micro-brewery will occupy 1,500 square feet of the 10,000-square-foot store, which sells kayaks, bikes and other outdoor gear.

Jim Fungaroli, owner of Fat Jimmy’s Outfitters, is an industry veteran who worked for Cannondale, REI and started his own bike brand — Speedhouse Bicycles — with frames designed by David Earle. Four years ago he purchased Fat Jimmy’s in Bedford, Pennsylvania.

Jim and Perci Fungaroli of Fat Jimmy's and Dave and Mary Heller of Olde Bedford Brewing Company believe their separate companies are perfect complements to one another. They hope to create a destination shop for both tourists and locals.

Fat Jimmy's product lines include bicycles, kayaks and a host of other outdoor equipment for the active lifestyle, the adventurous and the family-focused lovers of the outdoors. Bike brands include Cannondale, GT, Scott and Schwinn. Olde Bedford Brewery will serve locally crafted beers that are enhanced by their deep connection to the history of Bedford and surrounding counties, particularly focused on the Whiskey Rebellion in which Bedford played a key role. Patrons will be immersed with the sights, sounds and smells emanating from the open brewing area.

“We believe that bikes, boats and beers go together,” said Fungaroli. “After a day out on the lake or river, or after a ride or hike, a family can relax at Olde Bedford Brewing with a local beer brewed on site. The new brew pub is located in a modest, yet comfortable, section of Fat Jimmy's retail space."

“We really like this hybrid model of complementary businesses,” added Heller. "Our interests are aligned.”

Heller said his interest in brewing began five years ago when his wife gave him a beer-making kit. The kit led him to grow hops on their Bedford County ranch. Some specialty beers will include water from a spring on their property.

“We will try to capture the essence of the way they brewed in colonial times. We are the first brewery to be licensed to operate in Bedford County,” Heller said. “We hope to make this brew pub a destination, a place that people will visit as part of their time in Bedford County. We plan to market to a 75-mile area. We are not a bar, we are a place for families to come to have a nice evening. They can have food delivered here for a meal.”

The brewery will officially open for business March 6 with a ribbon cutting and grand opening party. 

DUBAI (BRAIN) — Despite the ongoing turmoil throughout the Middle East, where arms sales generate conventions and attention, there is also interest in generating attention for bicycle and accessory sales. At least that was the goal with the launch of the Dubai International Bicycle Exhibition. Data recently released by trade show organizers said the trade and consumer event attracted 6,000 visitors who came to see some 40 brands from 15 exhibiting countries.

The mid-January show — held during Dubai’s cooler winter weather — also attracted about 175 dealers from the region’s energy-rich monarchies: Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates. In a statement, organizers declared their first attempt at a bicycle-only trade show a success and have scheduled next year’s show for Jan. 11-12, 2019 — to be held again in the Dubai World Trade Centre.

Key international brands like Campagnolo, Cervélo, Scott, Lezyne, Santa Cruz and others were represented on the floor.

WBS Sports Trading, a leading Middle East distributor with more than 50 major brands in its portfolio, was a key show backer.

“The exhibition was a success for the cycling industry in UAE,” said Robert Dielh, the company’s general manager. “It was great to see new products and technologies from overseas at the exhibition and we look forward to being at the next edition and seeing the show continue to grow,” Dielh added.

CANBERRA, Australia (BRAIN) — The notification that specific e-bike imports into Australia must pay a 5 percent surcharge took the nation’s bicycle industry by surprise. And no wonder. The official notification, issued Feb. 14, was buried at the bottom of the last page of a 14-page government document — underneath new tariff considerations for tools used in the slaughter of goats.

Most of the nation’s bicycle industry only learned about the additional tariff Monday in an article posted by Australia’s cyclingtips.com.

The tariff will mean a price increase on e-bikes made in Taiwan, Europe and India. Countries with existing free-trade agreements with Australia — China, Cambodia, Indonesia and the U.S. — would be exempt from the additional tax.

An unknown company has also filed a request to slap the 5 percent tariff on regular bicycle imports, including frames and framesets, but it has yet to take effect. If the government approves that request, it will have an additional impact on pricing on regular bikes made primarily in Taiwan.

Larry Pizzi, president of Raleigh Electric, said the surcharge was a surprise, but he predicts it will have little impact on the sale of Haibikes and Yuba e-cargo bikes among dealers. “As far as we can tell it will have little or no impact on sales, at least as far as we can see in the forecast,” Pizzi said.

“I think there’s significant enough demand at the moment and that the increase will be built into the pricing,” he added. Both Haibike and Yuba bikes are built and exported to Australia from Taiwan.

According to documents filed with the Australian Department of Home Affairs, Stealth, a boutique maker of high-wattage e-mountain bikes, sought reinstatement of the tariff in late December 2016. Stealth’s bikes, like its B52, sport a powerful hub motor that will propel it to a top speed of 50 mph. It retails for more than $10,000. The F-37, another e-mountain bike, generates 3,700 watts of power.

Stealth is a relatively small company and sells its bikes in the U.S. through several dealers in California, Utah and Texas. It also sells them online.

Pizzi said that for some manufacturers of Taiwan-made e-bikes it may make sense to transfer production to a free-trade country. “Bikes are moveable and manufacturing moves around,” he said.

Still, for Australian dealers it’s unclear whether the supply chain would “eat” the 5 percent tax or build it into future pricing. The new pricing is retroactive to sales made after Jan. 9.

The government is under no requirement to publicly notify an industry of changes in tariff charges. Bicycle imports have enjoyed a respite from the 5 percent tax since 2001 because there was no significant local manufacturing infrastructure for bicycles or e-bikes.

Peter Bourke of Bicycle Industries Australia told cyclingtips.com, “The industry is disappointed and we believe it’s the wrong decision. We will have to deal with it. It will affect business and it will affect consumers."

OLYMPIA, Wash. (BRAIN) — The Washington state Legislature passed a three-class e-bike bill (SB 6434) last night with an 86-12 vote (House), following a 44-2 vote out of the Senate. It defines Class 1, 2 and 3 e-bikes as bicycles with many of the same rights to the road, in particular bike path access for Class 1 and 2 e-bikes.

The bill (SB 6434) is very similar to bills passed in Arkansas, California, Colorado, Illinois, Michigan, Tennessee and Utah and it's expected to be signed into law by Gov. Jay Inslee in March.

“We worked closely with Washington Bikes on this bill and have an ally in the governor’s office,” said Morgan Lommele, e-bike campaigns manager for PeopleForBikes.

Lommele said PeopleForBikes is pursuing e-bike bills in Alabama, Arizona, Connecticut, New Jersey, Ohio, Pennsylvania and Wisconsin this year. 

“And we are building a coalition towards passing e-bike laws in Massachusetts, Maine, Oregon and South Dakota for 2019,” she added. “This year we also attempted to run an e-bike bill in Idaho but it died in committee, so we'll work on a renewed effort for 2019.”

For the bill text, go here. 

IRVINE, Calif. (BRAIN) — Shimano went public this week with a slew of new products including more affordable wheels for road and gravel and upgraded Alivio, Acera and Altus entry-level mountain bike components.

The three new road wheelsets use trickle-down technology from the company’s flagship products.

Lower price points, versatility

The new WH-RS370-TL multi-surface wheels are optimized for wider tires ranging from 28-38mm with 19c tubeless rims. Designed for disc brakes, they feature 12mm E-Thru Axles and Centerlock rotors. The wheels are compatible with 10- and 11-speed cassettes. The wheels retail for $254.99.

Shimano says the WH-RS300 and WH-RS100 clinchers are two of its most affordable road wheelsets.

The new WH-RS300-CL clincher wheels feature fewer spokes (16H/20H) for increased aerodynamics, while the straight spoke construction provides higher torsional rigidity, delivering quick and responsive acceleration, the company said. Wider, 17c rims are optimized for wider tires. The wheels retail for $229.99.

The WH-RS100-CL is its most affordable 11-speed road wheelset. It offers trickle-down technology including a wider 17c clincher rim. The wheelset weighs 1,920 grams and sells for a suggested retail of $134.99. 

9-speed MTB gets a face-lift and Boost

Meanwhile, Shimano’s entry-level off-road components Alivio, Acera and Altus have been upgraded, adopting race-inspired designs and more user-friendly features, the company said.  

The redesigned Acera (FC-MT300-3) crankset is now offered in anodized black with user-friendly replaceable chainrings. Together with rear derailleurs and cassettes the drivetrain offers MEGA9 LITE gearing, delivering smooth and easy shifting across the 3x9 (44-32-22T and 40-30-22T) options.

The Altus (FC-MT201) crankset also features the black anodized look in both 2x9 (36-22T) and 3x9 (44-32-22T and 40-30-22T) options.

MT-400 and MT-200 hubs have been upgraded with Boost-standard hub spacing, bringing stiffer wheels and bigger frame compatibility to entry-level mountain biking. Both offer wider front 110mm hubs, while FH-MT400-B features a rear 148mm O.L.D. hub and FH-MT200-B sticks with a 141mm QR hub.

And Alivio levers get more customization and more reach. Alivio’s lightweight, race-inspired brake lever (BL-MT400) design trickled down from XTR to XT, SLX and Deore, with a two-finger position that allows greater control on the handlebars.

A three-finger version (BL-MT200/1) is also available in steel or alloy. The levers are designed for small hands with a reach of 75mm from the handlebar and a user-friendly reach adjustment of 25mm for more customization.

Alivio’s front derailleur now gets a side-swing design for better cable routing and added tire clearance. The redesigned side-swing Alivio (FDM4020) also reduces friction, making for smoother front shifting, Shimano said.

The revamped MTB components will be available in June.

VANCOUVER, British Columbia (BRAIN) — Five days after Mountain Equipment Co-Op publicly acknowledged that thousands of members had asked it to stop selling Vista-owned outdoor and bike brands, the Canadian retailer said it is suspending further orders and selling through existing inventory. 

Vista Outdoor is the parent company of Bell, Giro, Blackburn and CamelBak. It also is a major supplier of gun and ammunition products. It owns Savage Arms, a leading manufacturer of assault-style rifles, among other brands.

In recent days, consumers and retailers had called for a boycott of Vista's bike brands as the political debate around gun control following the Parkland, Florida, high school shooting heats up. A petition asking that MEC stop carrying Vista's brands had garnered more than 50,000 signatures by Thursday. MEC carries Bollé, Bushnell, CamelBak, Camp Chef and Jimmy Styks. It does not sell Giro or Bell helmets. The Canadian co-op has more than 5 million members and operates 22 stores. 

While Vista hasn't issued a statement addressing the growing call for a boycott, Bell, Giro, Blackburn and CamelBak each posted a statement Thursday on their websites. Though individualized for every brand, the statements emphasized that each operates separately from Vista Outdoor's Shooting Sports segment and that consumers should decide what they purchase based on what they feel is important. 

David Labistour, CEO of MEC, noted in an open letter to members that the debate over gun control has involved them and the decision wasn't easy, with some members asking that they stop selling products made by these brands while others think that purchasing decisions should be left to individual consumers, not MEC.

Labistour, who noted in the letter that he served in the military and grew up in a rural area where hunting was common, said engagement on a polarizing issue like gun control is tough but a path to change. 

"From what we’ve heard, we know that no decision we make will satisfy everyone. We are in the midst of a complex and highly charged debate with as many opinions as there are people expressing them," he wrote. 

"I hope that you will see that the decision we made today is balanced and considered and positions us to inspire a wider discussion throughout our industry and North America," he added. 

Two separate petitions asking REI to stop carrying Vista's brands had drawn thousands of signatures in a week. The U.S.-based outdoor retailer has not provided a statement about Vista Outdoor or responded to BRAIN's calls or emails.

Related stories:

• Bell, Giro, Blackburn, CamelBak face backlash over parent company— Feb. 22, 2018 
• Ammo' and hunting sales dampen Vista earnings— Feb. 8, 2018 
• Mark DeYoung steps down at Vista— July 10, 2017 
• Vista Outdoor buys BRG brands for $400 million— Feb 25, 2016 

WASHINGTON (BRAIN) — Allen Sports is recalling about 150 UltraX and Ultra1 folding bikes because the frames can break. 

The company is refunding purchasers of the bikes, which were sold on Amazon.com and eBay from May 2014 through July 2017 for between $500 and $4,000.

Consumers can contact Allen Sports at 800-722-5536 between 8 a.m. and 4 p.m. ET Monday through Friday, or email customerservice@allensportsusa.com and online at allensportsusa.com and click on "Important safety notice on Allen Sports Ultra1 and UltraX Folding Bicycles" for more information.

The recall involves Allen Sports model Ultra1 and UltraX carbon fiber folding bicycles. "ULTRA X" or "ULTRA ONE" are printed on the bicycle's frame. Both bicycles were sold in black and have 20 speeds. 

The firm has received two reports of the frame breaking causing the rider to fall. No injuries have been reported.

More information: CPSC recall notice | Allensportsusa.com safety notice.

SEATTLE (BRAIN) — REI, like its Canadian co-op cohort MEC has decided to suspend orders of Vista Outdoor products because of the company's connection to the firearms industry. REI sells Vista's Giro, Bell, CamelBak, Camp Chef and Blackburn brands.

Two separate petitions asking REI to stop carrying Vista's brands had drawn thousands of signatures in a week. 

"REI does not sell guns. We believe that it is the job of companies that manufacture and sell guns and ammunition to work towards common sense solutions that prevent the type of violence that happened in Florida last month. In the last few days, we've seen such action from companies like Dick's Sporting Goods and Walmart and we applaud their leadership," the company said in a statement Thursday.

Dick's has said it will stop selling assault-style weapons like the one used in the Parkland, Florida, high school shooting. Dick's also no longer sells high-capacity magazines or guns to anyone younger than 21. Walmart said Wednesday it will not sell any gun to anyone under 21. It also said it would no longer sell items resembling assault-style rifles, including toys and air guns. Walmart ended sales of assault-style rifles in 2015, citing lagging sales.

Vista, which does about half its business in the shooting sports and ammunition market, has not made a statement about the Florida shootings or the reactions of some retailers. In its statement, REI was critical of the company's silence.

"This morning we learned that Vista does not plan to make a public statement that outlines a clear plan of action. As a result, we have decided to place a hold on future orders of products that Vista sells through REI while we assess how Vista proceeds.

"Companies are showing they can contribute if they are willing to lead. We encourage Vista to do just that," the company concluded. 

Another major retailer of Vista's bike-related brands, Performance Bicycle, said it does not plan to stop sales of those products.

"Performance and Nashbar will continue to support the Vista brands (Bell, Giro, Blackburn and CamelBak),” said Pat Cunnane, the CEO of Advanced Sports Enterprises, the owner of Performance, Nashbar and the ASI brands Fuji, Kestrel, SE Bikes and Breezer.

“Our commitment as a specialty retailer is to provide choice for our customers. We respect our customers  their thoughts and beliefs – and encourage everyone to purchase products from brands that they are comfortable with,” Cunnane said in an email to BRAIN. 

Related stories:

• MEC suspends orders from Vista Outdoor — March 1, 2018
• Bell, Giro, Blackburn, CamelBak face backlash over parent company — Feb. 22, 2018 
• Ammo' and hunting sales dampen Vista earnings — Feb. 8, 2018 
• Mark DeYoung steps down at Vista — July 10, 2017 
• Vista Outdoor buys BRG brands for $400 million — Feb 25, 2016 

STOCKHOLM (BRAIN) — POC has launched a new aero road bike helmet model, the Ventral. The Swedish brand said the Ventral is "the fastest, most aerodynamic, ventilated, lightweight and safest helmet we have ever developed."

The helmet will be used by the EF Education First - Drapac p/b Cannondale Pro Cycling Team for the first time in competition at Paris-Nice this month.

Jonas Sjögren, POC's CEO, said, "Over the years we have developed a number of advanced performance helmets. The award winning Octal is well known, but our Octal Aero, Cerebel and Tempor helmets have also been fundamental in improving aerodynamic performance and times for many track and road riders. With all our experience, we wanted to push our ideas even further and develop a ventilated aero helmet that would give significant speed gains to a rider and further improve safety."

POC said the size and angles of the helmet's front air intakes capture and lead air through the helmet, instead of around it.

"By capturing and channeling the air through specifically designed internal channels, the Ventral improves aerodynamics and reduces drag. Residual air flowing over and around the helmet is managed by an aerodynamically optimized trailing edge, which reduces turbulence and maintains a linear airflow off the helmet and rider, improving the helmet and rider's aerodynamic performance," the company said

The helmet features uni-body construction, ergonomic straps, an "eye garage" for sunglasses, and an adjustment system for individual precision and a secure fit. The Ventral uses POC's SPIN, a patent pending rotational impact protection system.

The Ventral weighs 248 grams in size CE Medium.

The Ventral will be available to buy in stores and online starting Friday. Retail pricing is $290: The Ventral will initially be available in CE and CPSC certification, the AS/NZS 2063 certification will be available at a later date.

More information: pocsports.com.

WASHINGTON (BRAIN) — The Trump administration's plans to sign sweeping tariff revisions next week could raise the price of imported steel by 25 percent and increase the cost of imported aluminum by 10 percent.

U.S. manufacturers that use steel and aluminum — both domestic and imported — are concerned the tariff could make their products less competitive. 

Paul Price, founder of Paul Component Engineering, said that since he only uses domestically produced aluminum, the boost in aluminum import tariff will not impact him directly. But he expects the cost of domestic aluminum to go up if the tariff is imposed.

"It's just capitalism: If aluminum import prices go up then domestic aluminum will go up as well. So in the end while I don't use imported aluminum my costs will probably go up," Price said.

"I understand they are trying to protect steel and aluminum producers, but it will be domestic manufacturers like me that will pay the price and as our costs rise and our business suffers," he said.

If Price's raw material costs increase, his company's products will become more expensive while foreign-made hubs remain priced the same, putting him at a disadvantage in the marketplace. 

It's still unclear what the administration considers "raw" steel and aluminum. It could mean ingot, wire, sheet and tubing products, or steel used in construction.

And the administration has not identified which steel exporting nations will see the increased tariff. The top steel exporters to the U.S. are Canada, Brazil, South Korea, Mexico and Russia. The top aluminum exporters are Canada, Russia, United Arab Emirates and China.

DT Swiss makes spokes in Grand Junction, Colorado, from imported stainless steel wire. The proposed 25 percent tariff on imported steel could have a big impact on what the company makes in Colorado. At the very least, the disruption in business caused by the new tariffs would impact pricing, the company said.

"As for our wire source, we are really hyper about making sure our wire is hitting the ingredients within the alloy with precision. Therefore, we have a few sources that we work with who can actually produce to our very strict requirements in this regard. There are currently no domestic producers of the steel alloy we use for our spokes," said Chip Barbieri, DT Swiss's CEO and general manager.

"Much of our raw materials involved in spoke production and wheel production already have high tariffs, so there are varying levels of how the new tariff would impact us. We remain committed to USA production as the costs of product — albeit higher to us than other facilities — is just one element of our supply strategy," he said.

Many in the industry do not think butted bicycle tubing will be affected by the tariff as it is not raw material, but it remains to be seen what type of steel or aluminum imports will receive the tariff.

"Everything is so speculative at this point," said Chris Vorwald, sales manager for frame tubing brand Vari-Wall. 

"We source all the steel we use in our bike tubing from domestic suppliers, so on that front we will not be impacted. And we have no plans to increase prices on our bicycle tubing due to the tariff or any other economic factors."

AURORA, Ontario (BRAIN) — BionX Canada, the maker of retrofit e-bike conversion kits, has entered into receivership. Grant Thornton, a business and advisory firm, has taken over management of the company and all business activity has been suspended.

BionX Canada has 80 employees and has temporarily shut down until a buyer is found. The company was formerly part of Magna International, a Canadian automotive supplier, but is now wholly owned by BionX International Corporation. According to court documents, BionX has been engaged in an informal attempt to find a purchaser for the assets or shares of BionX since December of 2017, but has been unable to complete a successful transaction. 

Hawley Lambert, which exclusively distributes BionX products in the U.S. and Canada, was alerted of the change two days ago.

“They’ve let all of their employees go. No one knows what’s going to happen. It’s in a holding pattern, so we are in a wait-and-see mode ourselves,” said Patrick McGinnis, vice president commercial at Hawley Lambert North America. “The goal is for them to have a package put together in 10 days where they put offers out there, and in 30 to 90 days, have a partner to sell the company to.”

Hawley Lambert sent a letter to its dealers informing them that everything at BionX is on hold. The company has distributed BionX in Canada for about five years, and in the U.S. since February of 2016.

“Our sales have been strong with them, particularly in the Canadian cities Quebec City and Montreal. The e-bike market came in a little earlier there, more on the European timeline,” McGinnis said. “But we’ve had great success recently on their programs this year and they’ve been a great partner.”

CHARLOTTE, N.C. (BRAIN) — Pinarello US is a newly formed subsidiary of Cicli Pinarello and is led by company president, David Vigil. Gita Sporting Goods, Pinarello's longtime distributor in the U.S., will be "deeply involved" with the new subsidiary, said Giordana Andretta, the vice president of Gita.

Andretta said, "Gita has joined forces with Pinarello US to partner in the distribution of its unparalleled products and to support the brand's innovative vision for growth."

Vigil said, "Giorgio, Giordana, and the entire Gita team have been an integral part of Pinarello's success in the U.S. market, and we look forward to their continued involvement as Pinarello looks to deepen its relationships with its dealers and increase its brand presence in the US market." Pinarello US will be based out of its San Diego with certain logistics continuing from Gita Sporting Goods' Charlotte, N.C. headquarters.

The company said the new subsidiary "looks to increase Pinarello's presence in the U.S. market through a host of dealer-centric and experiential initiatives while continuing to partner with Gita to provide exceptional service and logistics."

Last March, L Catterton, a U.S.-based investment firm, bought a majority interest in Pinarello. 

BLOOMINGTON, Minn. (BRAIN) — QBP is expanding its online sales training platform, called "U of Q." The platform includes video modules and short quizzes that help educate retail employees on selling a variety of brands. Current schools include: Salsa, Surly, 45NRTH, iSSi, and All-City. Employees who complete the training can earn discounts on the brands. Currently, Salsa and 45NRTH pro purchase discounts are only available to authorized retailers of those brands.

New schools will be added in the coming months, including a Jagwire School, Teravail School and a Sales School that will equip sales staff with a straightforward set of sales steps to follow that will make closing the sale easier. Existing schools will continue to add new modules.

"We are investing in U of Q because it benefits bike shops," said U of Q's program manager, Brian Hanson. "When a retail employee learns about product, who to sell the product to and how to sell it, the employee sells more product. A bike shop with employees that sell more product can be more profitable. When bike shops increase their profitability, QBP also benefits."

More information at uofqbp.com.

BOULDER, Colo. (BRAIN) — Donnelly is rolling out a 650b range of its X'PLOR tire series.

Among the first Donnelly 650b tires available in the U.S. are the X'PLOR Strada USH in a 650b x 42 size in a 60 tpi casing with wire or folding bead and tubeless ready. The Strada USH combines a fast rolling center track and scaled up herringbone tread for traction in the turns. The 650b x 42 tubeless ready retails for $67.00 and is equivalent to a 700c x 23 in diameter. Also being released is the Strada USH 650b x 50.

Also ready to roll is the X'PLOR MSO 650b x 42 tubeless ready. In the pipeline and soon to follow is its big brother, the X'PLOR MSO 650b x 50 tubeless ready, a tire that is equivalent to a 700c x 32 tire in diameter. Both of these models retail for $67.00.
The X'PLOR MSO tread is a serious adventure tire that was designed for multiple conditions. 

"With the growth of the gravel category comes an increased need for additional sizes for both our OE customers and for the aftermarket," said Donn Kellogg. "We've developed this 650b range in reaction to the market's demand for more universal platforms. Several brands have created models where one can use a 700c wheel for faster, less aggressive road riding, where a 650b wheel and larger volume tire can be used for exploring off the beaten path."

Also in stock is a 650b x 33 MXP, a tread that was originally developed specifically for cyclocross. Donnelly said the tread "is ready and able to tackle loose dirt, sand and moderate mud, hard pack and pavement — just the conditions you might find cruising out of town to a spring adventure ride."

Retailers who purchase a pair of Donnelly tires from distributor ProNet Cycling will receive a free copy of Nick Legan's book, "Gravel Cycling." More information at pronetcycling.com.

BREMBATE, Italy (BRAIN) — 3T Bike America has announced a new U.S. sales and management structure to be headquartered in Toronto. The former general manager of 3T America, Dave Koesel, will be leaving the company after a transition period.

The new structure will handle sales of 3T components and bikes as well as THM components.

3T’s Exploro allroad/gravel bike and Strada road bike were designed by company co-owner Gerard Vroomen. The bikes were designed around single-chainring drivetrains, disc brakes and wide tire clearance. 

“We’re very happy with the demand for our new bikes and have tripled production capacity,” Rene Wiertz, the president and co-owner of 3T, said in a news release Monday. “With that increase in demand comes a need for a new U.S. sales program and structure.”

Regarding Koesel, Wiertz said, “I’d like to thank Dave for the work he has done in energizing our base in the last two years. 3T started from zero in the U.S. market and Dave has done a great job to introduce our new designs to the American audience. We wish him well for the future.”

Wiertz said Koesel will be closing down 3T's California office over the next few weeks. He said Daniel Zitter, who worked in the California office, will continue with the company, joined by four new employees. "We are actually expanding the U.S. team from two people to five to better support our strong growth in the U.S.," Wiertz said.

Wiertz said 3T will now have two regional sales managers rather than a large rep force.

The new staff includes Victor Canete, who will lead 3T Bike America as president. He was most recently president of 10:10 Watches and was CFO at Cervélo for 10 years prior to that.

Jared Boudreau has been hired as Western U.S. sales manager. He was previously a regional director at Phonak and has held several senior sales positions in the bike industry.

Jon Kameen has been hired as Eastern U.S. sales manager. He was previously general manager for North America for Factor.

Ryan Pawlive has been hired in customer service and account management. He was previously with Cervélo.

Vroomen, a co-founder of Cervélo, said, “I enjoyed working with Victor, Jared and Jon in the past. They have worked together with Ryan, so they can hit the ground running. Focusing on a limited network of strong partnerships, they will be successful for 3T and our partners in these fast-changing times.”

Related stories:

• Top pro road team to race 3T's Strada — Sept. 20, 2017
• Component brand 3T launches new bike and new category: aero gravel — June 14, 2016
• 3T Cycling acquires THM Carbones— June 3, 2016
• Dave Koesel to head new 3T operations in the U.S. — Feb. 25, 2016 
• Cervelo co-founder Gerard Vroomen and Rene Wiertz buy 3T — Feb. 25, 2015

SALEM, Ore. (BRAIN) — In the name of simplification, Oregon's Legislature has passed an updated transportation bill that expands the state's $15 bicycle excise tax to include all bikes selling for $200 or more, including e-bikes. The tax, which was originally passed last year and took effect in January, originally exempted bikes with wheels smaller than 26 inches and exempted e-bikes that were sold through bike shops.

The state House passed the bill on Friday on a 45-3 vote; the Senate passed it Saturday 25-4. It now goes to Gov. Katharine Brown. The changes to the bike tax were included with a large array of amendments to a $5.3 billion ten-year transportation package. 

In a quirk of the original bill, e-bikes were hit with a 0.5 percent "vehicle privilege tax" only if they were sold at licensed auto dealerships. The modifications mean e-bikes sold at bikes shops are now subject to the same $15 tax as regular bikes. 

In a joint letter from PeopleForBikes, the National Bicycle Dealers Association and the Bicycle Product Supplier Association, the groups opposed the expansion of the tax to bikes with smaller wheels, which include some recumbents, folding bikes and other nonstandard bikes as well as kids bikes. 

"Our objection to altering the minimum wheel size requirement is premised on two issues: 1) the new bicycles that will be subject to taxation will primarily be children’s bikes; and 2) it will place an additional burden on bicycle shops that have already invested resources to comply with the tax," the groups said in the Feb. 21 letter addressed to the Joint Committee on Transporation's chairmen.

In the letter, the groups said they supported the inclusion of e-bikes, noting the exemption was "extremely confusing and does not align with how electric-assisted bicycles are regulated, sold or used."

"Treating electric-assisted bicycles identically to bicycles for the purposes of applying the excise tax is appropriate, particularly given that they are primarily sold at bicycle shops," the letter said.

In a statement Monday, PeopleForBikes' Alex Logemann said, "We are disappointed that legislators have voted for families to bear the burden of funding Oregon's transportation system when they purchase a kids' bike.

"Despite the fact that lawmakers said they did not want to tax children's bikes, were given ample notice about the problems in the current bill, and specific examples of kids' bikes that will now be taxed, legislators did not address the issue. Moving forward, we will focus on analyzing the data related to how much revenue the tax generates relative to the cost of administering the tax to assess the tax's effect and efficiency."

Logemann is PeopleForBikes' director of state and local policy. 

Under the changes approved by the Legislature, the bike tax clause was modified to clarify that the tax is due at the time of sale and that customers must be given a receipt that shows payment of the tax.

The bill is at olis.leg.state.or.us/liz/2018R1/Measures/Overview/HB4059. This image shows the amended bike tax clauses with additions in bold text and removed language bracketed and italic:

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Previous articles

• Oregon retailers are (hopefully) collecting the new bike tax— Jan. 4, 2018
• Santa Cruz's Oregon Trail Tax riffs on state's new bike tax— Sept. 7, 2017
• Inspired by Oregon, Colorado lawmaker proposes bike tax— July 19, 2017
• Oregon legislature passes $15 bike tax— July 7, 2017

LAGUNA HILLS, Calif. (BRAIN) — Bicycle Retailer and Industry News has extended the submission deadline for new product information and news to include in the annual Sea Otter Classic Festival & Gear Guide. The new deadline is this Friday, March 9.

New product information and industry news should be sent to BRAIN managing editor Toby Hill at thill@bicycleretailer.com. Product can include complete bikes and frames in addition to new accessories, components, clothing, shoes, protective equipment and nutritionals. All products must be on display at Sea Otter. Companies should send product information, high-resolution images (minimum 5-by-3-inch, 300dpi, jpg preferably), suggested retail price and Sea Otter booth number.

For news embargo purposes, exhibitors should note that this year's guide will be packaged with the April 15 issue of Bicycle Retailer, set to reach mailboxes starting the week of April 9 — before Sea Otter kicks off April 19 in Monterey, California. The stand-alone guide will also be distributed at select bike shops in California, Nevada and Arizona starting the week of March 26.

Events for the Sea Otter calendar can be submitted on the Marketing and Free Promotions page of the Sea Otter Classic website.

MONTEREY, Calif. (BRAIN) — Organizers of the Bicycle Leadership Conference have announced the agenda and speaker line up for the event, which is April 17-19 in Monterey, just before the Sea otter Classic.

Organizers say the theme for the 2018 event is: "Working to Reignite Growth in Our Industry. Breaking Traditional Models & Embracing Change."

Topics and speakers include: 

• Industry Disruption: Innovation expert Shawn Kanungo will discuss how companies need to learn to reinvent their business or risk being extinct.
• Millennial Integration: With more than 1 in 3 American workers today being millennials, generational expert Matt Beaudreau will provide strategies to improve their performance.
• Today's Leadership Formula: Designed with the goal of helping organizations thrive in today's marketplace, world-renowned keynote Robert Stephenson will identify how to start, maintain, and deepen working relationships.
• Digital Presence for Brands: How do we, as a brand and as an industry, use digital media to grow the pie? Technology-driven marketing agency Basis Worldwide will answer this and more.
• Retail Report Card: NPD's Matt Powell, a recognized research and trends expert on the sports industry will present a strategic view of retail sales & consumer trends with insights on how brands can enhance near & long-term performance.
• Redefining Urban Mobility: A panel of experts will provide a variety of perspectives on the role the bicycle and new bicycle business models will play in transforming our cities over the next decade.

"The level of energy and knowledge that our lineup will bring to the BLC this year is going to be amazing," said Adam Micklin, BPSA's president. "The BPSA encourages all brands in our industry to send a representative to the BLC, and join us for two days of high level discussions, invaluable networking with our industry's leaders and unforgettable riding on Monterey's epic 17-Mile Drive."

Rounding out the content for the event is retail expert Dan Mann, whose Modern Reality of Retail session will provide methods to learn to predict and prepare for blind spots, and dispel the myths of retail's fall from grace. Jenn Dice, PeopleForBikes' vice president of business network and government relations, returns with a new DRAFT Meetup featuring speakers and brands that break with tradition and drive new growth, including Diana Seung/Backcountry, Gloria Hwang/Thousand Helmets, Hans Jones/Patagonia and Bernie Doering/Stages Cycling.

At the conclusion of the event during the group dinner, the BPSA will present their annual Lifetime Achievement Award to Mike Mercuri (aka Merc), one of the founders of SRAM in 1987 and chairman of the PeopleForBikes board from 2013-2015.

"I'm not sure I'm deserving of this award," said Merc. "But, I am proud that SRAM and World Bicycle Relief have been a positive force in the world of bikes, and I know I'm the luckiest guy in the world to have worked in this awesome industry for the last 30 years."

More information at bicycleconference.com.

BOULDER, Colo. (BRAIN) — VeloNews will produce the Official Guide to the Giro d'Italia stage race this year and in 2019.

In an exclusive agreement finalized between Pocket Outdoor Media, the publisher of VeloNews, and RCS Sport, the race's owner and event producer, VeloNews is awarded exclusive rights to publish the official online and print editions of the guide for the U.S. and Canada markets. 

The 2018 VeloNews Official Guide to the Giro d'Italia will publish in the May issue of the magazine.

The guide will include course maps and schematics, stage-by-stage profiles, timetables, previews of all 20 teams and bios on the top contenders, overviews of their bikes and gear, tech reports on rider and team equipment choices for key stages, and prognostication from the VeloNews editorial team on the podium contenders and who will wear the coveted maglia rosa at the finish in Rome.

The Giro d'Italia begins on Friday, May 4 in Jerusalem and finishes Sunday, May 27 in Rome. In the United States, live coverage will air on the online sports broadcaster fubo.tv.

VeloNews' editor-in-chief Fred Dreier said, "The Tour de France is the biggest race, but those who recognize and appreciate the nuances of bicycle racing often say the Giro offers the best racing. The Giro's course is more varied, the weather more problematic, the roadside tifosi more passionate as fans. While the Tour reigns as cycling's most important stage race, the Giro is the showcase for Italy, which is still home to the most storied and revered brands in the sport."

RCS Sport's sales director Matteo Mursia said, "VeloNews is the world's leading bicycle racing media brand so they are a natural partner for our beloved Giro d'Italia. Considering the print and digital reach of VeloNews, the Official Guide to the Giro d'Italia is a must-buy for anyone seeking to reach the most enthusiastic cycling fans and participant."

Advertising space for the guide closes April 2. Contact VeloNews' publisher Mark Gouge for information on advertising: mgouge@pocketoutdoormedia.com, or 303-385-7755.

ASHEVILLE, N.C. (BRAIN) — Cane Creek Cycling Components has hired Ian Cross as their new director of sales. He started in the position on Monday.

Cross comes to Cane Creek with nearly 30 years of experience in the cycling industry, beginning as a bike mechanic and working his way up to become U.S. sales director of components at Hawley, where he has worked since 1997.

"We are very excited to have Ian Cross join Cane Creek Cycling Components," said Brent Graves, president and CEO of the company. "We have pivoted the company over the last 18 months to be more agile, proactive, and productive, and it is now a great time to add someone with Ian's sales experience and leadership. When I met Ian more than 15 years ago I was impressed by his professionalism and persistence, and time has only enhanced those traits."

Cross holds a BA in business administration from Covenant College and in addition to being a life-long cyclist is an avid runner, having placed in the top 1,000 at the Boston Marathon.

"Over the years I've admired Cane Creek's bold approaches to innovation, enhancing bicycle design, and ultimately improving the cycling experience," said Cross. "I'm thrilled to join the team as Cane Creek is one of those rare autonomous bike industry companies with deep investment, passion, expertise, and drive from its employees to keep making the next great component solution for riders. I'm excited about what Cane Creek is currently doing and developing on the horizon and I look forward to continuing to grow business for our retailers, our distributors, and our OEM partners. We will keep pushing into the beyond to bring something better than yesterday."