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New York investment group buys Ibex

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Terry Precision Bicycles owner Liz Robert and partners were outbid for the assets of the Vermont-based wool clothing brand.

BURLINGTON, Vt. (BRAIN) — A New York City-based investment group, Flour Fund, has purchased the assets of the wool clothing brand Ibex. The fund outbid an offer from a Vermont group that included Liz Robert, the owner of Terry Precision Bicycles.

The purchase price was not released and the new owners did not say if they would keep the company in Vermont, which was a goal of the group Robert had joined. 

Ted Manning, the former CEO of the company, told The Burlington Free Press that he has been impressed by the new owners. Manning does not expect to remain involved with the company. "I've enjoyed getting to know these guys," Manning told the local paper. "So far they've been diligent and thoughtful."

Flour Fund also owns Skora, an athletic footwear company. Flour Fund managing partner David Hazan is also owner of Quirky.com, an online inventor community.

Flour Fund released a statement that said it would look to license the Ibex brand and invest in Ibex's consumer-direct sales. Ibex had sales of about $21 million last year. It stopped wholesale sales midyear and shut down in February. 

Robert was working with Vermont Works, a fund set up to help preserve Vermont businesses, to bid for Ibex, which she said would be complementary to Terry, a women's bike brand. She told the Free Press it would be interesting to see if the new owners keep the brand in the state.

"I'm hoping that Vermont Works and other equity financing companies here in Vermont can figure out better ways to keep more companies here in Vermont,"Robert told the paper."Because it's just another one sold up the river."


Interbike releases details of its public Free-Ride Festival at Northstar

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Interbike also released the event's new logo.
Events will include bike demos, enduro races, e-bike race and kids’ activities.

SAN JUAN CAPISTRANO, Calif. (BRAIN) — Interbike and Northstar California Resort have released details of the new consumer bike festival that will precede the Interbike trade show in the Reno-Tahoe area this September.

The Northstar Free-Ride Festival, powered by Interbike, will be held Sept. 14-16, kicking off the Interbike Marketweek. Organizers say the event will include one of the largest demo events in the world, along with mountain bike races, road bike rallies, on-bike clinics and off-bike activities for all levels of cyclists, and non-cyclists.

The resort is 35 minutes from downtown Reno and boasts the largest lift-served mountain bike park on the West Coast plus more than 100 miles of mountain bike trails for various skills. The event activities will be based in The Village at Northstar and will offer three different chairlifts and gondolas to transport riders to trails.

“I think the industry is going to be blown away by this event,” said Pat Hus, the vice president of Interbike. “Through our partnership with Northstar we will be able to produce the best outdoor event we’ve ever created. We know how to gather the tribe and produce a great demo for our industry and the Northstar team delivers impeccable guest service. We just know they are going to create an amazing experience for guests both on and off the mountain! I really hope that retailers give serious consideration to coming out early with their staff and/or families and taking part in the weekend festivities. I think it’s going to be one hell of a celebration of all things cycling.”

The Free-Ride Festival will kick off on the evening of Friday, Sept. 14, with the Village at Northstar Wine Walk Series. Participants will enjoy wine and hors d’oeuvres throughout the Village while live music is performed. The on-bike activities will be held Saturday and Sunday and will include the Northstar Enduro Race, The Boogaloo E-Bike Race, the Northstar Downhill Bike Race, bike skills clinics and the demos. The activities also will include yoga classes, bike clinics, and kids activities including a bike rodeo, a bungee trampoline, mini golf, face painting, gem panning, and more. Live music will be performed on the main stage in the heart of the Village on both days, and a Village Pub Crawl will take place on Saturday night.

“We’re thrilled to welcome bike enthusiasts and festival-goers alike,” said Nadia Guerriero, the vice president and general manager at Northstar California Resort. “Between the mountain, incredibly scenic roads and our charismatic Village, this is a perfect hub for exploration and family experiences.”

As the consumer event winds down on Sunday afternoon, Interbike’s trade-only OutDoor Demo gets underway. Buses will begin transporting retailers to Northstar from the Reno-Tahoe International Airport and host hotels. All registered Interbike retailers and media will be given free lift access with their event badge allowing them to take advantage of the various chairlifts across the Northstar property for use during the OutDoor Demo. The OutDoor Demo will run until 5 p.m. Sunday evening and will wind down with an Interbike reception that evening in the Village. On Monday the demo will run from 8 a.m. until 6 p.m. Industry participants wanting to come in early for the Festival portion of the weekend (Friday and Saturday) will be able to purchase discounted Festival tickets for Friday and Saturday.

Brands interested in obtaining exhibit space and/or sponsorship information for the Festival or OutDoor Demo are encouraged to contact their Interbike sales executive, or Andria Klinger, sales director, at 949-226-5745 (andria.klinger@interbike.com).

The Interbike Expo will be held in Reno from Sept. 18-20, Tuesday through Thursday.

 

Yuba Bikes offers Electric Boda Boda cargo e-bike

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COTATI, Calif. (BRAIN) — Yuba Bikes new Electric Boda Boda, available this week, features a Shimano STEPS motor with three pedal assist settings and is available with traditional or step-thru frame style.

The traditional-style rear cargo space has a capacity of 220 pounds, making it suitable for carrying kids, pets, groceries and more. The Electric Boda Boda is available in two colors: Aqua and Sandstone.

Standard features include fenders, wheelskirts, chain guards, and LED lights.

"We are excited to offer a more relaxed electric cargo bike option," said Benjamin Sarrazin, the founder and CEO of Yuba. "The Boda Boda was already great for daily trips or weekend long tours along the bike path, but with the new electric motor, there's nothing this bike can't do."

The Electric Boda Boda will retail for $3,399 and will be available Tuesday.

More information: yubabikes.com/cargobikestore/electric-boda-shimano.

Bike share association celebrates defeat of Florida legislation

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TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (BRAIN) — The North American Bikeshare Association said its helped defeat a Florida bill that would have replaced local control of bike share programs with a statewide policy. 

The Florida House of Representatives and Senate introduced bills in December that imposed a statewide bikeshare policy. NABSA said the bills did not account for safety, data privacy, right of way management, or the needs of communities, among other issues. The group believes the success of bikeshare, the safety of riders and the quality of the service all depend on local management and decision-making authority.

"As the bikeshare industry's leading membership organization, we worked hard to ensure this bill did not pass in Florida because we did not want it to cause a ripple effect in other states," said NABSA's executive director, Samantha Herr. "Through our advocacy efforts on the ground in Florida and our support from members across the U.S., we successfully defeated this harmful bill, allowing existing and future bikeshare systems to thrive across the state."

Herr hopes the defeat of the bill in Florida will show the importance for local decision making in other areas of the U.S. Similar legislation is pending in the Oklahoma Senate. NABSA has sent a letter to the Senate urging it to defeat the bill.

"Bikeshare has been successful in hundreds of cities and towns across the country because of strong local involvement," said Herr. "We encourage policymakers in other states to protect the safety and welfare of their citizens by keeping bikeshare implementation and decision-making at the local level."

 

Intense Cycles restructures, trims jobs as it adjusts to new sales model

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TEMECULA, Calif. (BRAIN) — Intense has restructured its sales and marketing functions, eliminating an undisclosed number of jobs in the process, as the Southern California mountain bike brand continues to pursue its hybrid consumer-direct/IBD sales model.

"We were sort of applying a blanket approach to sales and marketing for all the channels — international sales, domestic dealer sales and DTC (direct-to-consumer) sales. They're all different animals, and we needed to treat them all differently. What we've done is split the departments — so in the dealer-specific department we didn't need as many people as we had," Intense marketing manager Jennifer Gabrielli said.

In December the company launched Intense Rider Direct, in which consumers purchase bikes — at newly reduced prices — for delivery to their home with a free service contract through their local brick-and-mortar dealer. Those orders can also be shipped to authorized dealers to complete bike assembly and setup, with the ongoing service contract attached to that dealer. Intense calls it a "hybrid, IBD-centric" approach to D2C sales.

The change has been a learning process, Intense founder Jeff Steber told BRAIN.

"When we had sales guys working with the dealers and trying to juggle consumer-direct sales, it wasn't working out. There is more demand needed to maintain the Rider Direct sales than we had expected. Now we're doing retail sales and fielding more calls here, and the customers have lots of questions," said Steber, who resumed the CEO role at the company in January following the exit of industry veteran Andrew Herrick.

Intense's dealer business is now managed by Andrew Van Zuyen, a 10-year veteran of the company. Sam Wilson, whose responsibilities had included overseeing industry and VIP sales, is in charge of Intense Rider Direct sales. "He was the logical person to fill that, because everyone now is a VIP when they buy direct," Gabrielli said.

The company now employs 26 people at its Southern California headquarters, plus a team of three in Barcelona, Spain, for its European business.

Steber said rolling out Intense Rider Direct has been a dynamic process, and will continue to be. "As we grow, there are going to be more positions that create themselves to better serve the process, for sure. We're really learning a lot every day as we move forward with this process," he said.

"It's interesting that this opened up our reach, with the direct channel. Because now we are getting sales in areas where we didn't have dealer support or even brand recognition. And with our service contract with the dealer, we've created a new dealer through a direct customer," Steber added.

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Lindarets offers thru axle wheel mount for storage, display or transport

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ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. (BRAIN) — Lindarets' Thru Axle Wheel Mount was made to securely hold thru axle front wheels to a wall or other surface, for storage, display or transport. The company said it developed the product in part to hold wheels inside a Sprinter van while driving to bike rides and events. 

The Wheel Mount is CNC machined from 6061 aluminum and features a stepped stub axle and wing nut that will accommodate 12 x 100 mm (road standard), 15 x 100 mm (mountain standard), and 15 x 110 mm (Boost) front hubs.

The axle is mounted at a slight angle to allow space-saving overlap with narrower tires yet keep even 27.5 x 3.0in knobbies from contacting the mounting surface. The three-inch, four-bolt square base plate can be mounted to walls or posts at any orientation.

A limited quantity is available now for preorder now and will ship in early April.

MSRP is $39.95. Mounting holes will accept four #10 or M5 screws/bolts (not included).

More information: lindarets.com/thru-axle-wheel-mount.

DeFeet uses blockchain technology to deter counterfeiting, increase engagement

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HILDEBRAN, N.C. (BRAIN) — Sock maker DeFeet International is using blockchain technology in its packaging to allow consumers to authenticate their purchase and create a connection for warranty, repair and loyalty programs.

Blockchain is a decentralized ledger system. DeFeet is working with LuxTag.io to implement the system. Consumers will be able to scan their products with a mobile device to ensure they are not counterfeit and to register the product.

"Putting consumer goods, including high quality apparel items, onto blockchains is not only an inevitability, it's here right now." says Paul Willerton, DeFeet's VP of marketing. "What we see is a way to provide better engagement through basically one step by the consumer: scanning an item with their mobile device."

DeFeet founder Shane Cooper said, "Protecting our brand, artists and products to ensure customers are getting what they pay for has always been important ... and if we can do that economically, at scale, and provide a better customer experience at the same time, the decision is easy."

DeFeet plans to roll out LuxTag on specific products lines. The first to receive blockchain asset status will be the company's Barnstomer line products. Barnstormers.cc is the portal for the Adventure Cycling Club DeFeet introduced in 2017. DeFeet will be using the blockchain to pair club members with in-line products. Willerton said, "If history is any indication, all eyes will be on DeFeet, and much larger companies will soon follow our footsteps."

More information: luxtag.io.

Blockchain explained video: on Wired.com

SwissStop recalls some disc brake pads

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WASHINGTON (BRAIN) — SwissStop is recalling about 750 disc brake pads because the pads can separate from their backplate.

This recall involves SwissStop EXOTherm disc brake pads sold as aftermarket parts. Only disc pads with models listed below are included in the recall:

  • SwissStop EXOTherm Disc 25
  • SwissStop EXOTherm Disc 30
  • SwissStop EXOTherm Disc 26
  • SwissStop EXOTherm Disc 31
  • SwissStop EXOTherm Disc 27
  • SwissStop EXOTherm Disc 32
  • SwissStop EXOTherm Disc 28
  • SwissStop EXOTherm Disc 34

The model numbers are listed on the original packaging. 

Consumer are being told to return the recalled brake pads to the store where purchased for full refund, or contact distributor Helvetia Sports toll-free at 866-358-5218 between 8:30 a.m. and 5 p.m. ET Monday through Friday, email at steve@helvetiasports.com or go to www.helvetiasports.com for more information.

The firm has received two reports of the brake pads separating from the backplate. No injuries have been reported.

The pads were sold from October 2015 through June 2017 for between $40 and $50.

More information: cpsc.gov/Recalls/2018/Helvetia-Sports-Recalls-SwissStop-Bicycle-Disc-Brake-Pads-Due-to-Fall-Hazard.

 


Shimano or Shimona? Knock-offs spotted on bikes brought to shops for service and assembly

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Mechanics say Shinano, Shimona and SunRun components are showing up on bikes bought online.

SAN ANTONIO (BRAIN) — Mechanics across the country are reporting that bikes brought in for service or assembly are coming spec’d with knock-off components. Often, customers bring the bikes in new in the box and mechanics are having trouble setting them up to work properly. Customers also are unaware that they bought a bike with look-alike components.

“We had a customer who thought they were getting a great deal on an online bike with Shimano gear system, but a closer look shows the bike is equipped with Shinano gear system,” said Whit Snell, owner of Bike World, which has four stores in San Antonio. “We have also seen Shimona parts and instead of SunRace, they equip with SunRun,” he added.

The knock-offs use very similar fonts and logos that make it easy for them to be confused for the untrained eye.

“It’s a daily occurrence now with people buying so many bikes online and getting completely ripped off by fakes,” Snell said.

Snell noted that the bike brand that’s showing up with these look-alike components has the “Aspen” brand on the downtube. Most of them are mountain bikes.

Several mechanics in the World Bicycle Mechanic Forum, a members-only group on Facebook, also reported seeing Shimona and Shinano components on Aspen bikes brought in for service and assembly in stores in Ontario, Canada; Aurora, Illinois; and Detroit. Mechanics said they believed the bikes were promotional giveaways from purchases made at local furniture stores.

A Google search for "Aspen mountain bike for sale" turns up a bevy of websites with personal listings of owners who are selling their bikes.

A Shimano representative said the company has not heard about this recent spate of counterfeits from retailers or its sales team and did not know who could be producing the parts. “Shimano takes this very seriously because it is not good for our brand or our industry on many levels,” said Nolan Moser, assistant VP bicycle component division, Shimano American Corporation. “Historically this has not been an issue.”

“We will definitely be looking into it… We are concerned about our brand image and concerned that retailers and consumers may not be getting what they thought they were getting. We heavily invest in R&D and our manufacturing and this is not something that we take lightly.”

SunRace officials said they are aware of SunRun-branded components and have fielded some complaints and requests for warranty, specifically of SunRun freewheels, in the U.S.

SunRace said it has tried suing the company in Chinese court over intellectual property infringement. “But as outsiders we did lose the case and SunRun prevailed. Foreign companies typically do not win these cases and there are many knock-off companies in China knocking off everything from SunRace components to Apple products,” said Alan Su, CEO of SunRace Sturmey-Archer.

Su noted that SunRun only produces low-end components and the SunRace brand has moved upstream, making it harder for SunRun to copy.

“Since there is no SunRun office in the United States, if a well-known OEM customer were to use SunRun products that had a very visible logo, we would be required to take legal recourse against that OEM unless they ceased use of the product or removed any logos that were similar to ours,” he added. “We have over the years added the starburst to our logo to help this issue. SunRun has been around for over 10 years now but to date has not had any impact on our company.”

Retailers, however, wonder how many of these look-alike parts are out there. Some are starting to turn away customers who bring in bikes with these parts, which often cannot be tuned well enough to work reliably.

“The scariest thing is that you know damn well nobody just made five or six of those,” Bike World’s Snell said. “There’s got to be hundreds or thousands of them."

 

Velogicfit launches new version of its 3D Motion fit system

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CAMBRIDGE, New Zealand (BRAIN) — New Zealand-based bike fitting company Velogicfit has launched a new 3D Motion bike fitting system for bike retailer use.

The company said the new version of its system is easier to use and allows customers to see the effect of position changes in real time.

The company launched its first version in 2015 and says it offered the first cycling-specific motion capture system to use coloured passive markers, which Velogicfit says provides better accuracy and ease of use than the more common harness-based systems.

Velogicfit's technical director David Bowden said the new version is easier to use.

"Our biggest hurdle was that the system relied on being able to clearly identify colors – and that meant background color and lighting in the fitting areas had to be carefully considered. We also felt there were too many steps to collecting and collating the data.

"So, we've spent six months giving the system a major overhaul, offering a much simpler user experience, both in using the system and for setting up the fit area. The technology also provides a cutting-edge experience for the customer."

In the new version of 3D Motion, the 3D camera instantly picks up unique reflective-printed VF tape markers to deliver live rider data at 30 frames per second. Background color is no longer an issue and lighting is only relevant to the clarity of the video. With little risk of the markers peeling off during a fit, the stability of the measurements is enhanced.

"The 3D technology enables our software to provide information that the fitter may not easily see just by watching a rider," said Bowden. "We're talking movements that are millimeters either way but, added up, can impact on a rider's comfort and performance."

The system has been simplified to three main screens: initial setup, capture and report. Video and images of each capture are automatically saved to a folder specific to each fit. And the report is saved into Microsoft Word, so Fitters can modify it as required.

Existing users of 3D Motion were immediately upgraded to Version 2 as part of their service agreement.

Velogicfit 3D Motion is being used by retailers in 18 countries and has been translated into two languages. Product support (technology, tools and training) is available from Velogicfit hubs in the USA, Asia, Europe and Australasia.

More information at velogicfit.com.

GU Energy Labs headquarters and factory now 95% solar powered

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BERKELEY, Calif. (BRAIN) — GU Energy Labs has installed a 206 Kw solar system at its Berkeley headquarters and production facility, offsetting more than 95 percent of the building's energy.

"The decision to go solar was an easy one for GU, as it aligns with our long term sustainability goals and is consistent with our core values of longevity and accountability," said Dan Coyle, the company's COO. "We are committed to taking care of the planet and the places we play, and this project is a significant step in reducing our dependence on nonrenewable energy."

The installation of a solar energy system comes on the heels of GU's certification as a California Green Business in 2016. The certification requires taking steps such as purchasing post-consumer recycled paper, minimizing water use and using nontoxic cleaning products in the office. Since then, the company has also conducted a waste audit to determine its biggest contributors to the landfill, which led to initiatives such as scrap film recycling and the use of reusable pallet wraps.

Additionally, GU has several sustainability projects in motion with goals that include water and waste reduction initiatives. To date, the company has successfully reduced water usage by 20 percent and eliminated 30 percent of waste.

"GU's sustainability strategy includes investing in our community, working to build a healthy planet and creating sustainable products," said Jessica Carol, the company's sustainability manager. "This investment in renewable energy reduces our carbon footprint by taking the equivalent of 47 cars off of the road or powering 33 homes for a year."

More information at guenergy.com.

Just Ride LA reopens as a Giant Partner Store

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LOS ANGELES (BRAIN) — Just Ride LA, a store that started in a garage in 2006, has been remodeled and has reopened as a Giant Partner Store.

The store is located in a downtown LA neighborhood. Owner Danny Farahirad said, "What started as a hobby turned into one of Los Angeles' friendliest shop with a focus on all things city cycling. Our shop takes pride in carrying only products that we use and trust ourselves."

The family-run business focuses on city riding, road riding, fixed gear, women's, and kids. Farahirad said the store is always on the lookout for ways to connect with the local community. "We do workshops throughout the year that cover bike repair and tips and tricks for road cycling," he said. "We're also a proud partner of the AIDS Lifecycle ride for five years and counting."

Just Ride LA also hosts bimonthly road cycling rides all around LA. "We work closely with the Los Angeles County Bicycle Coalition for workshops and city rides with them," said Farahirad.

The Giant remodel means the store now has a fresh new layout, new fixtures, and better merchandising of products. "The end result is the store looks larger with the new layout, it's easier to shop, and elevates our entire sales floor to a higher end look and feel. With Giant's help, we've been able to create more of a community in the store and increase sales of bicycles and gear. The shop needed it and we're grateful."

The shop celebrated its remodel with a VIP party on Saturday, March 3, when 100 of the store's best customers were invited to a private reception. Giant staffers were in attendance all evening and raffles were held for Giant's Signature Short Sleeve Jersey and Bib Shorts and an Escape 2.

"Just Ride LA represents the new generation of Giant dealers," said Philip Croley, Giant's retail services executive. "The excitement and energy JRLA brings to their downtown location is the perfect match for the hustle and bustle of Los Angeles. It's an honor for Giant Bicycles to partner with such a forward-thinking store and a wise investment in the future of cycling."

Specialized works with 4iiii on new Power Crank power meters

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MORGAN HILL, Calif. (BRAIN) — Specialized Bicycle Components worked with Canada's 4iiii Innovations to develop the power meter technology used in its new line of Power Crank power meters, which was released to the public on Wednesday.

Specialized developed and tested the new power meters with its own Human Performance Lab at the Specialized Win Tunnel and the Locomotion Laboratory at the University of Colorado in Boulder. The company said the testing allows it to claim accurance of 1.5 percent under all real-world riding scenarios. 

The product line includes carbon S-Works cranks as well as Shimano Dura-Ace, Ultegra and 105 Power Cranks, all available in dual and single-side aftermarket configurations.

The dual-sided carbon S-Works Power Crank will be original equipment on the company's new S-Works Tarmac Disc road bike. “Our collaboration has led to incredible real-world accuracy and the first commercially available direct measurement dual-sided power meter on a carbon crank,” said Mark Cote, Specialized's head of marketing and innovation.

 The power meter devices manufactured by 4iiii are labeled with the Specialized logo and differ from 4iiii's own branded product. The Specialized pods are larger and the battery cap is accessed with two small hex bolts, unlike the 4iiii-branded pods, which allow battery changes without tools. Specialized says its branded units are different internally, as well. Specialized says the two-bolt battery compartment makes the unit more waterproof.

“We’re proud to be partnering with Specialized,” said 4iiii CEO Kip Fyfe. “They share our commitment to innovate and build products that grow cyclists’ passion for riding.”

 

Weldtite entering US market, hires Derek Goltz

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LINCOLNSHIRE, England (BRAIN) — British bike care brand Weldtite has hired Derek Goltz to oversee all sales and marketing activities for the brand in the U.S. The company, which offers lubes, cleaners, tools and other accessories, is entering the U.S. market for the first time this year and will display at next month's Sea Otter Classic. 

Goltz, most recently the director of marketing for Finish Line, will work from Orlando, Florida.

Paul Davis, the managing director of Weldtite, said, "As a team, Weldtite is well versed in supplying across the world with active dealer relationships in 42 different countries. We knew we needed a different model for the USA and wanted to establish a full-time member of the team to represent us. It was important for us to find someone who fitted with our style and brand ethos and we were extremely fortunate to find Derek. His in-depth knowledge of the U.S. cycle industry and maintenance category made him to go to person for this job. All our team have welcomed his enthusiasm, insight and passion for cycling."

Goltz said, "I am extremely excited to join the Weldtite team. Their passion for cycling, coupled with a rigorous program of product development and the ability to manufacture in-house puts Weldtite at the forefront of the maintenance category.

"Being one of the oldest companies within the industry means Weldtite has one of the most complete range of bicycle maintenance products available from a single supplier, making them uniquely suited to provide a boost to the service side of any bike shop."

At Sea Otter, Weldtite will be showing products including TF2 Lubricants, Dirtwash Cleaners, and PURE Eco-Friendly Cleaners & Lubes, in booths 671 and 672.

For dealer and distributor inquiries, contact Goltz at derek@weldtite.co.uk or 847-909-5202. More information on Weldtite products is at weldtite.co.uk.

Vee Tire works with Thailand group to recycle tires into key rings

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Program is intended to reduce poverty in Northern Thailand.

ATLANTA (BRAIN) — Vee Tire Co. is working with a social enterprise group to recycle tires into key rings. The program is intended to reduce waste and poverty in Northern Thailand. The company will be distributing the key rings for free at next month's Sea Otter Classic and at other bike events this year. 

The program is part of Vee Tire's new "Responsible for Recycling" program.

"It's important for us to give back," said Bike Sukanjanapong, brand director of VEE Tire Co. "In this situation, everyone wins. We've found a more responsible solution for recycling our scrap rubber, members of our Thailand community are able to provide better income for their families, and our customers can have the opportunity to give back and support them as well."

Vee is working with a group called Tube Thailand on the initiative. The group was founded to help bring the disadvantaged out of poverty in Northern Thailand, and help create a sustainable lifestyle for the tribe people of Chiang Mai. The objective is to help change their quality of life by hiring individuals to create the products. In addition to the key rings, the recycled rubber line will eventually expand to include products such as wallets, belts, messenger bags, backpacks, and more.

 

 


Restrap produces bags for Wald bike baskets, launches new Rando bags

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MAYSVILLE, Ky. (BRAIN) — British bag maker Restrap has signed a manufacturing and distribution agreement with Wald Sports to produce a collection of Basket Bags specifically made for Wald bike baskets. The company also has launched a new front bag, the Rando.

Wald, the largest manufacturer of bicycle baskets, will work with manufacturer Restrap, benefitting from their in-house fabric CNC cutting. The Basket Bags will be manufactured with one-off "RestrapXWald" branding and are being distributed by Wald. 

The collaboration sprung from last year's Eurobike show, when the two companies met and decided to join forces on the project.

"We have designed and made prototypes using the same techniques and quality as all the other innovative Restrap products," said Restrap's director, Edward Kingston. "It's a natural progression for the Restrap brand as we continue to design and produce a new generation of bags."

The collection will feature three different sizes and should be available by the end of March. It will be launched at the Berlin Bike Show later this month alongside Restrap's other new bags, the Rando and the Panniers. The Rando bag, shown below, will come in two sizes. It, and other Restrap products except the Wald Backet Bag, is being distributed in the U.S. by BTI. 

More information: restrap.co.uk.

Montana pedicab maker opens experiential marketing division

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MISSOULA, Mont. (BRAIN) — Coaster Cycles, which manufactures pedicabs and other three-wheeled vehicles in its Montana factory, is launching a new division to help brands use its customized vehicles in their marketing campaigns. 

Coaster opened its 12,000-square-foot factory in Bonner, Montana, in 2012. It makes a variety of custom trikes, including the e-assist trike that UPS is testing in Toronto. The business also owns and operates pedicab operations in multiple cities.

CEO Ben Morris said, "I am eager to get more involved in this space, offering custom bike solutions to our valued clients."

Jedd Davis will help lead the company's new Experiential Division as marketing director. Davis has a background in experiential marketing with more than ten years' experience in promotional and event marketing.

More information on Pedicab Outdoor media/sponsorship capabilities and experiential case studies is available at coastercycles.com

Todson and Hutchinson enter exclusive importer deal

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FOXBOROUGH, Mass. (BRAIN) — Todson has signed a deal to exclusively import Hutchinson bike tires and tubes. Hutchinson tires will be sold and marketed in the U.S. by Todson and its independent rep force. Todson currently sells Topeak, Elite, Velox and Onguard. The French tire brand rounds out its product assortment and is the only rubber brand carried by Todson.

Roy Hough, general manager of Hutchinson Tire North America, will continue to provide overall market guidance and direction for the French tire brand and help with the transition. Earlier this year Hutchinson closed its U.S. sales office, laying off four full time employees.

As part of the deal, Hutchinson gains 20-plus independent reps. Hough said the partnership will help Hutchinson accelerate its dealer-direct business. He said Todson has worked with Hutchinson in the past.

Rick Dyer, national sales manager for Todson, said, "We provide economy of scale and can leverage our brands ... We have a marketing agency we work with, a media agency we work with. We have more leverage with reps and more contact with individual dealers. They're not just calling us for one category; we have different categories that people want or need. That's the biggest thing. As a standalone tire brand, it's challenging for any company. The fact that we bring all these brands together will strengthen Hutchinson. We should have collectively more money to invest in the brand."

Dyer said it would supply Hutchinson product to key partners including QBP, J&B, KHS, Hawley, BTI, and Olympic, with most shipments coming from Todson's Foxborough warehouse.

Hough added, "For us it's a way of controlling distribution to prevent value and price degradation in the marketplace. It allows us to have more price integrity in the distribution channel. And it's a way for us to hit the reset the button and make sure from a market standpoint we were at value we wanted in marketplace with key product. That and having a dedicated sales force. It was difficult for me to build a sales force that was stable."

The deal will impact aftermarket sales and distribution of Hutchinson bike tires, but OE sales will continue to be handled by OE sales agent Kendall Young.

Todson will have a booth at the upcoming Sea Otter Classic where it will be showing Hutchinson's tires, including its new Eleven Storm compound.

Wolf Tooth offers RoadLink DM for direct-mount rear derailleurs, allowing wider range cassettes

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MINNEAPOLIS (BRAIN) — Wolf tooth's new RoadLink DM modifies direct mount Shimano road rear derailleurs to enable use with wider range cassettes. The product fits Shimano's current generation R8000 Ultegra and R9100 Dura-Ace rear derailleurs.

The RoadLink DM is CNC machined from 6061-T6 aluminum with stainless steel hardware and built at the company's new facility in Minneapolis.

It is compatible with standard derailleur hangers only - not direct mount hangers. It's optimized for use with 11-36t, 11-40t, 11-42t 11-speed cassettes. It also will work with 10-42t 11-speed cassettes.

It weighs 20 grams, 8 grams more than the part it replaces. MSRP is $27.95.

More information: wolftoothcomponents.com.

Myagi offers free bike retail staff training video series

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SAN FRANCISCO (BRAIN) — Myagi, which hosts video training programs for several industry suppliers and organizations, also has available 10 free bicycle retailer staff training videos.

The videos cover how to sell tires, helmets and other products.

The videos were produced in the U.K. a few years ago. The company posted a blog post about them earlier this week. The videos can be accessed at myagi.com/s/10waystosellcycleproduct. They are free but a Myagi registration is required.

The videos cover:

  • How to sell bike tires
  • How to sell bike helmets
  • How to sell cycle clothing
  • How to sell cycle lights
  • How to sell wheels and does wheel size matter?
  • How to identify different road bikes to help you sell them
  • How to identify different type of mountain bikes
  • How to sell additional products using contact points
  • How to sell add-ons by using OE bike spec
  • How to sell bike suspensions

Myagi also hosts premium video training content from ASI, Santa Cruz, The Mann Group, Growth Cycle, and the Professional Bicycle Mechanics Association, among other brands and organizations.

Related:

Previous articles about Myagi training videos.

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