PORTLAND, Ore. (BRAIN) — Portland Design Works' new bike storage hook, the Hooptie Hook, is made from sturdy hardened steel with a powder-coated finish and durable rubber coating for a sleek and modern design.

"We wanted to create a simple storage hook with an iconic design. A hook that fits into a modern home, or shop. I'm very happy with how the Hooptie Hook turned out," PDW general manager Erik Olson said.

The Hooptie hook fits up to a 2.5-inch-wide tire and can support up to 33 pounds of weight. It comes with or without an additional wheel tray.

Suggested retail: $24 (hook only) or $35 (hook with wheel tray)

More information: ridepdw.com.

ASHLAND, Ore. (BRAIN) — QBP's Women's Bike Mechanic Scholarship, now in its 6th year, has had many success stories. To find one, you don't need to look far: B Vivit, an instructor at United Bicycle Institute. Vivit earned a scholarship to attend a 2-week class at UBI last year.

At the time, Vivit was floor manager at Huckleberry Bicycles in San Francisco.

"After the class was over, I was giving feedback to some of the instructors over text since they had my phone number. They recommended I apply to teach here because they had seen and overheard me helping other students and teaching during class. It all happened very quickly, and I've been here for 18 months now," said Vivit.

Vivit assists with UBI's Pro course, and in the framebuilding shop and also manages the social media account for UBIs Ashland, Oregon, campus.

Registration is now open, through Nov. 2, for the next round of 32 scholarships, which will be awarded to 32 women, trans, nonbinary, gender nonconforming and intersex individuals, allowing them to attend UBI's Professional Repair and Shop Operation course at either the Ashland or Portland, Oregon, campus in February 2019.

Over the years the scholarship has helped more than 75 individuals strengthen their bike mechanic skills and broaden their career horizons.

Starting in 2016, all scholarship winners attended UBI for the same 2-week class. In 2017, the scholarship was granted to 32 people, filling two courses in the spring and the fall.

Vivit said, "I think every woman and every WTF (woman/trans/femme-identifying) working in the industry should apply even if they think they won't get it the scholarship. A lot of folks are reluctant to apply, and don't think they can do it, but they can."

This year the scholarship classes are being held at both campuses, said QBP's Kaitlin Johnson, who is the director of the women's scholarship and previously worked as a mechanic.

"We've always held it at the Ashland campus, but this year we are changing it up and the first course will be held in Ashland and the second in Portland. They'll overlap by a week," she said.

"It's really incredible to have a class full of women. About 300 people usually apply, and I wish we had 300 scholarships to give out because everyone who applies would be incredible recipients. It's so tough to narrow it down."

To qualify, applicants must currently be employed at a bike shop in the U.S. or U.S. territory, although women in volunteer, intern and trainee positions are also eligible. UBI covers the cost of lodging, and small stipend for food and other costs is awarded upon completion of the course, but scholarship winners are responsible for transportation costs to and from Oregon.

Winners will be announced in early December.

Scholarship sponsors include Dero Racks, Spank, Maxxis, WTB, DT Swiss, Problem Solvers, and title sponsors SRAM, UBI and Park Tool, which supplies each participant with a travel tool kit to take home after the course.

To apply, visit qbp.com/womensscholarship.

OGDEN, Utah (BRAIN) — Enve's Jake Pantone swears that the Amer Sports-owned brand does not require VO2 max results on its job applications. Nevertheless, the brand does have a way of attracting some of the fastest riders in the sport to its staff. 

That includes the company's latest hire, Neil Shirley. Shirley is the former editor of Road Bike Action and most recently worked for the Lyman Agency, a PR firm. Before that he was a top domestic road pro for the Kelly Benefit Strategies and Jittery Joe's teams. He's got the professional credentials and aptitude for his new position as Enve's influence marketing manager, where he will manage the brand's sponsorships, including teams, athletes and ambassadors. He also will help athletes communicate with the brand's R&D staff and produce content for Enve's marketing. 

"Of course, we would have hired Neil regardless of how fast he is," Pantone told BRAIN. "But it is important to us. We have a building full of really strong cyclists. It keeps us motivated because you either ride hard or you ride alone here. The day we stop riding a lot is the day we stop being relevant."

Lots of bike companies have staffs packed with former bike racers. Enve's staff is a little different because of how many still-active racers it has. Shirley, for example, continues to finish near the top of the men's fields at gravel grinder events around the country: he was 13th at the Dirty Kanza 200 this year, and won the men's open race at Gravel Worlds in 2015. 

Pantone, Enve's vice president of product and consumer experience, is no slouch himself — he was 30th overall at Kanza this year and loves the longer and tougher solo events, like 24-hour races and the 206-mile Logan to Jackson Hole road race, which he's done 10 times.

Other Enve staffers include AJ Turner, a member of Team Clif Bar (an Enve product manager) and Johnny Hintze (Enve's creative director), a top finisher at long-distance events. 

Given the staff's interest in gravel racing, it makes sense that Enve has devoted considerable R&D to developing gravel product in the last couple of years. It introduced its G Series gravel wheels at Dirty Kanza this summer and several other G Series components are in the pipeline. 

"A lot of our ideas come on the bike," Pantone said. 

Many folks on the Enve staff also have a penchant for skiing, something that Shirley, a Southern California boy who recently moved to Utah to take this position, hasn't tried yet. "We'll have to introduce him to that slowly," Pantone said.

AIGLE, Switzerland (BRAIN) — Before preteen BMX racers head to the gate at tracks around the world next year, they may hear a new command from the starter: "Show us your feet!"

Under a recently announced UCI rule that takes effect Jan. 1, all racers under 13 are banned from using clipless pedals in BMX races.

For the industry and retailers, it means that the niche market for kid-sized clipless shoes may all but disappear. On the other hand, it may lead to some new sales of platform pedals and flat shoes to the 12-and-under set.

The UCI had previously allowed national federations to develop their own rules for clipless pedals. In 2013 the U.S.'s sanctioning body, USA BMX, banned clipless pedals for all Novice racers, regardless of age. Riders who moved up to Intermediate and Expert racers have been allowed to use the pedals.

While the UCI reportedly discussed the rule change with national federation representatives in June at the BMX world championships in Azerbaijan, the change in late September took many by surprise. With the long lead times typical of shoe manufacturing, some brands may have small clipless BMX shoes in production or on the water. Some dealers who are active in the BMX race market have already committed to preseason orders for those shoes. Those sizes may be difficult to sell next year.

"Nobody wants to get stuck with product that is no longer viable," said Jason Kilroy at Ciclista-America, the distributor of Sidi shoes in the U.S. Although Sidi doesn't make BMX-specific shoe models, it does make its mountain bike shoes available in small sizes that are used by many BMXers. Kilroy said it is a very small part of the company's business.

Idaho's Fly Racing likely is the most popular brand of clipless BMX shoes, with several models offered in sizes down to Youth 13. Representatives from the company weren't immediately available this week to discuss the issue with BRAIN.

The UCI's decision was apparently driven by safety concerns, although it's not clear that the organization has date showing the frequency of injuries caused by clipless pedals. Anecdotally some BMX fans have seen small riders stuck in their pedals.

"I think many of us have seen those kids that were started on clipless pedals too young," said Dan Maier, QBP's BMX product manager. "I don't see it as much anymore but have seen more than a few younger racers fall at the track and still be completely stuck to their bikes. They were either not strong enough to unclip or their pedals were way too tight. Both are safety issues."

Maier said learning to ride and race on flats could be valuable.

"I do think this new rule will encourage better fundamentals for younger riders, which in turn should make them better riders and racers. Hopefully this keeps them racing for much longer and if anything it should give them better skills for any other type of riding they end up doing later on in life," he said.

Some in the BMX world say the ruling may reduce the cost for new entrants to the sport. Although clipless pedals have never been required, their widespread use may create the impression that they are necessary to be competitive.

Maier said the rule will help sell more mid- to high-end platform pedals and quality flat shoes.

"I would also expect to see an uptick in a smaller platform pedal that has a higher quality to it," he said. "Currently platform pedal trends are for large platforms but this rule affects younger riders who will have smaller feet and won't need an extra-large platform pedal. They will still want the traction of modern pedals so I would expect to see a few size options there."

Maier noted that most BMXers use mountain bike clipless pedals, but that HT Components is one brand that markets clipless models specifically for BMX use.

The North American Handmade Show & The Outspoken Cyclist Podcast are joining together to deliver a powerful, positive, and important symposium on "Safety for Cyclists".

The one-day conference will take place on Friday, March 15, 2019 in Sacramento at the 2019 North American Handmade Show. Stakeholders include bicycle and component manufacturers, The Institute for Highway Safety, The Police Mountain Bike Association, Bike Law, Advocacy organizations, prosecutors, city planners, and more.

The mission of the symposium is to identify and begin to resolve the issues that result in the injury and deaths of cyclists on the road, inform and educate police, law enforcement and the public at large, and explore ways in which planners look at transportation as it pertains to cyclists and pedestrians. To that end, we are seeking industry support in the form of sponsorship to offset costs of speakers and expenses, breakfast and lunch, collateral, and monitoring and recording of the individual sessions.

For more information, please contact Diane Jenks, host and producer of The Outspoken Cyclist Podcast at outspokencyclist@gmail.com or call (216) 310-4482.

NORTH VANCOUVER, British Columbia (BRAIN) — Rocky Mountain Bicycles is hoping dealers can help recover 160 bikes stolen from a shipping container that was on the grounds of the company's warehouse here. 

The bikes were all 2019 models that were set to be received into the warehouse. The theft happened during the night of Monday, Sept. 24.

"We are very disappointed with this situation, and the impact that it has on our IBD network. We have dealers across Canada that were expecting to receive their order from us in the coming weeks," said Raymond Dutil, the CEO of Rocky Mountain.

The bikes were mostly full-suspension mountain bikes with carbon and aluminum frames, including Altitude, Instinct, Pipeline, Slayer, Thunderbolt, Element and Reaper models. The full list of bikes and their serial codes is available on the company's website. 

"We are urging any dealers that come across any of these bikes with matching serial numbers (or serial numbers removed), to contact us at info@bikes.com so that we can transmit the information to the Vancouver Police Department, who are handling the investigation," the company said. 

BEND, Ore. (BRAIN) — Many consumers and even bike retailers may not have heard of the Project321 brand before last week. But the Bend, Oregon-based component maker got a shot of name recognition when Crankbrothers announced at the start of October that its new Synthesis line of front- and rear-tuned carbon wheels wheels would include Project321 hub internals.

The collaboration was an unexpected one for Project321 co-owner and product designer Jake Liles. Up to that point, his company, which also makes automotive accessories, had been focused only on aftermarket hubs, hub parts, Lefty fork adapters and custom wheels for the bike market.

Founded in Fresno, California, Project321 has its roots in the moto/ATV market. Around 2007, Liles wanted to put a Cannondale Lefty fork on his Giant mountain bike. “Cannondale has its own headtube, so so I made this adapter. Then I made another five or 10 and posted them on MTBR,” Liles said.

He sold those adapters direct to consumers, “then the calls kept coming in on that.”

Liles soon expanded to Lefty hubs and started opening dealers sales. Then he found that those Lefty hub customers wanted matching rear hubs, which he produced using Industry Nine drivers. Traditional non-Lefty front hubs soon followed.

In January 2017, Project321 introduced its own hub drive design — a low-drag magnetic ratchet pawl system.

“We didn’t invent the magnet concept. That’s been around. But we put the magnets on top of the pawl so it’s a pulling force, as opposed to a pushing force, and that’s how we really get the lower drag numbers than other pawl systems,” Liles said.

“Then early this year Crankbrothers made contact about this new wheel and we collaborated on that. And that’s where we’re at now.”

The timing was serendipitous. In October 2017, Project321 relocated from Fresno to Bend, outfitting its new shop with equipment that was faster and more versatile than the company previously had. 

“We expanded our capacity in the move automatically, before we ever had any conversation with Crankbrothers. Ww were ready for an OE job even though it wasn’t part of our plan,” Liles said.

He also brought in new machinery that allowed Project321 to produce its own pawls and drive rings in-house — work that had previously been farmed out and put the company at the mercy of the vendor’s production schedule. “Now we can produce many times more parts over any given period of time,” Liles said.

The Crankbrothers partnership has significantly increased Project321’s production, making all the front and rear hubs for the brand’s top-end Synthesis enduro (E 11), cross-country/trail (XCT 11)  and downhill (DH 11) tuned carbon wheels. And Liles sees the collaboration going a long way toward raising awareness about his brand. 

“We’re so product oriented — we’re not a marketing company by any means. We’re just not good at that. We accept that. We let the product drive the interest,” he said. “Crankbrothers is pretty huge. They have international distribution and advertising. I think people are going to go, ‘Who is Project321?’ and look us up. They’ll see they can get the same thing in different colors and hole counts and they can put their rims on it. 

“I think we have a lot to benefit from on that front. I think Crankbrothers realizes they’re doing that for us just having the product out and about.”

More information: project321.com | Crankbrothers Synthesis wheels.

Chiuduno, Italy: KASK America – the North American subsidiary of leading sports helmet brand, KASK – appointed Brendan Gecik as North America Cycling Sales Manager of its Cycling Division, as of September.

With retail and wholesale sales experience spanning more than 15 years and an extensive cycling brand portfolio under his belt, Gecik brings a wealth of industry expertise. Having spent seven years representing major brands such as Lazer Helmets, Quality Bicycle Products (QBP), Pivot and GORE Bike Wear, Gecik now joins KASK America following his most recent role as North American Sales Manager for bicycle distributor, Highway Two (H2).

Gecik said: "I'm honored to be a part of the company's expansion. KASK is a brand that has been growing exponentially and doing that on the merit of its product quality. I believe in focus, and by having a team dedicated to our efforts, I know we will be successful in taking the next steps to elevate our brand in the marketplace."

The new appointment coincides with a phase of major investments for the KASK Charlotte office in North Carolina, which opened in 2010. This year will not only see the inauguration of a new office location at W Summit Avenue, Charlotte, but also a new team of Brand Specialists who will serve the West, East and Midwest areas for all of KASK's Sports Divisions.

Three key Brand Specialists stepping onboard KASK America are Scott Carlile, Ryan Hiscoe and Tony Francione.

Scott Carlile, West Coast Brand Specialist
Scott Carlile will join KASK America as the new West Coast Brand Specialist, based in Portland, Oregon. He brings over a decade of bicycle industry experience, most recently as a Product Education and Visual Merchandising Specialist for Specialized Bicycle Components University (SBCU), Specialized Bicycles' retail education program.

Carlile said: "KASK and KOO Eyewear have made the commitment to engineering the highest quality and innovative Italian products, and I am pleased that they have made that same commitment to the US marketplace. I am thrilled to join the team at KASK America and look forward to continuing to improve our support for both retailers and riders."

Ryan Hiscoe, East Coast Cycling Brand Specialist
Ryan Hiscoe joins KASK America with over 10 years' worth of experience in the cycling, running and triathlon industries in multiple countries. Having grown up racing bikes in South Africa as well as competing in triathlon and running, he now focuses his attention on road and mountain bike riding. Most recently, Hiscoe has worked with Velocio Apparel, and prior to that, with Cycling Sports Group (CSG), representing the likes of Cannondale, Fabric, Sugoi and Sombrio. Since relocating from the UK to the USA, Hiscoe has spent the past four years serving the New England IBD region.

Hiscoe said: "I have been lucky to have always worked with some of the best brands in the industry. KASK is no exception to this. I have always loved the look and fit of their products. The reviews speak for themselves. In my opinion, they are the best in the industry."

Tony Francione, Midwest Cycling Brand Specialist
Tony Francione joins the KASK America team after cutting his teeth with global component company, SRAM, based in Chicago, and more recently with CeramicSpeed, a top tier ceramic bearing supplier based in Denmark. Born into road cycling, Francione enjoys the many cycling disciplines that suit Midwest riding. With Italian roots, he is excited to be connected to a brand with such strong Italian heritage as KASK, and looks forward to engaging Midwest dealers with products that stem from that tradition. Based in West Michigan, Francione will support KASK America in the Midwest, as far south as Texas and extending west into Colorado.

Ylenia Battistello, Cycling Brand Manager at KASK, said: "This is an exciting time for KASK America. I am absolutely thrilled to have Brendan Gecik on board as the new Sales Manager for KASK America's Cycling Division, as well as three incredibly well-placed Brand Specialists. Their appointment within the Charlotte team is an essential step towards the goal of bringing new opportunities and challenges to the ambitious North American market and I look forward to seeing how their respective industry insights will enrich the future success of KASK America."

CHICO, Calif. (BRAIN) — Paul Component Engineering is now offering its Klamper cable-pull disc brake calipers in a flat mount version.

"It took three years of in-house development before the Klamper met all of our extremely high goals. We wanted absolute reliability, easy adjustability, and field serviceability. We wanted super strong stopping power but without hydraulic fluid and fussy bleed kits. After countless drawing revisions, fine tuning of piston design and bearing ramp profiles, and probably 20 prototypes, we nailed it, and the Klamper has quickly become a cult classic," the company said. 

The brakes have oversized ball bearings, pistons are machined from heat treated 12L14 steel. The brakes are popular for deep wilderness bike touring, cyclocross and other bikes. As with Paul's I.S. Mount Klamper, the new Flat-Mount version features interchangeable actuator arms. Since most flat-mount bikes use drop bars, these are currently only available in Short-Pull and Campagnolo Pull. For riders using a flat or riser bar on a flat-mount bike, Paul makes short-pull brake levers.

Paul also is now offering Flat Mount Front Adapters.

The calipers are available in All-Black, All-Silver, Silver with Orange Pad Adjusters, Black with Orange Pad Adjusters, Polished and Limited-Edition Colors. MSRP is $208.

More information: paulcomp.com/shop/components/flat-mount-klamper.

(BRAIN) – Bicycle Retailer & Industry News and PeopleForBikes are collecting new listings and updates for the 2019 Industry Directory.

There is no cost to be included in the Industry Directory, but companies are responsible for supplying updates and additions no later than Nov. 10, 2018. For anyone listed in last year's 2018 Industry Directory, a request for verification will be emailed directly to your organization. All 2018 listings must be verified or updated to be included in the 2019 Industry Directory. For all new directory listings, fill out this online form to be included.

The Industry Directory is the most complete listing of more than 2,500 North American organizations serving the bicycle industry and its retailers. It will be emailed to BRAIN subscribers in January.

Inclusion in the industry directory also means your business can be called upon when PeopleForBikes advocates for more and better biking. PeopleForBikes uses the directory to mobilize retailers and suppliers to help pass legislation related to bike riding in cities and states across the nation.

Please contact JJ Trout at JJ@peopleforbikes.org with any questions regarding a listing or update. For any companies interested in advertising in the 2019 Industry Directory, please contact Marc Sani at msani@bicycleretailer.com.

MINNEAPOLIS (BRAIN) — Kinetic has announced a new line of Kinetic Control interactive smart trainers with hardware and technology updates, including dual ANT+ and Bluetooth wireless communication protocols.

The lineup includes the Rock and Roll—Control, Road Machine—Control, and the Kinetic Control Power Unit, a stand-alone resistance unit upgrade available for most current and older Kinetic trainer frames.

The updated Control interactive-trainer lineup features a dual-band chip with ANT+ and Bluetooth, allowing it to pair with training software on phones and tablets, cycling computer head units, and software run on a PC or a Mac.

"Customers expect flexibility and device compatibility," said Kinetic's sales manager, Jason Overman. "A customer might use a computer or smartphone with a popular app and simultaneously collect data with a Garmin cycling computer. The new Control trainers are totally standards compliant which means you download your favorite app and your trainer works."

Control trainers, formerly called "Smart Control," also offer a lighter flywheel, which the company said provides better responsiveness in training apps and minimizes tire slip. Other internal updates include improved power-curve accuracy and a retooled speed sensor for greater accuracy.

"With more cyclists opting to ride virtual races in apps like Zwift, we found that a lighter flywheel made our trainers more responsive to accelerations and decelerations in the game," said Kinetic's marketing manager, David Simpson. "Zwift racing is quite similar to outdoor group riding in that small speed adjustments help riders maintain pack position. Nobody likes getting dropped, virtually or otherwise, and the flywheel change helps with game control."

Kinetic provides a free 6-month Smart subscription for the Kinetic Fit power-training app with any Control Power Unit or Control trainer purchase. Each new model also works with virtually any bike, including those with thru-axles, internally-geared hubs and wheels as small as 16 inches with an adapter kit. Kinetic Control models include a lifetime frame warranty and a two-year warranty on electronics.

Kinetic is also working out details on a Smart Control upgrade program that will roll out next month. The upgrade program will allow owners of older interactive Smart Control trainer models to upgrade their resistance units to the new Control trainer dual chip design and smaller flywheel.

The new Control trainers are available now through Kinetic retailers in the U.S. and Canada.

HAMPSTEAD, Md. (BRAIN) — Maryland fire investigators say a 25-year-old man assembling a do-it-yourself e-bike caused a fire that destroyed a house.

No one was injured in the fire, which started Sunday afternoon. 

According to the Maryland State Fire Marshal, Robert Floto was loading lithium-ion batteries into the bike's battery pack when two of the lithium battery terminals touched, creating an explosion that caused other batteries to explode and ignite nearby combustibles.

"Robert Floto was able to push the bike out the rear door to the exterior. Floto and his father attempted to extinguish the fire with multiple fire extinguishers; however the fire quickly spread throughout the room and into the house. Investigators consider the home a total loss," investigators said.

They said the three-level single-family home structure was valued at $175,000 and the home's contents were worth $50,000.

The two-alarm fire took firefighters about 50 minutes to control.

WASHINGTON (BRAIN) — The latest figures from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration show a 8.1 percent decline in cyclist deaths due to motor vehicle-related incidents last year, compared to the prior year. 

Experts in the bike community point out that the findings, while welcome, don't indicate a trend.

LOS ANGELES (BRAIN) — No Vet Alone, a peer support network for military veterans and first responders, is planning group rides and other events at bike shops and other venues for Veterans Day weekend. The group is hoping to enlist more bike shops to host events, which mark the 100th anniversary of the holiday.

Performance Bicycle plans events at all 105 of its stores and also is offering participants a store discount and a chance to win a new Fuji bike. ISM Raceway, a NASCAR track near Phoenix, Arizona, also will host an event, with No Vet Alone veteran cyclists leading drivers on a lap before the start of the Can-Am 500 on Sunday, Nov. 11.

Other events are being planned with the Veterans Administration and at community, school and corporate partner locations throughout the nation. Primal Wear will be the official technical apparel partner for the events.

"The No Vet Alone program is a unique and important program connecting our veterans and first responders," said John Wordin, the group's founder. "Any community can be involved on the 100th Veterans Day weekend."

More information about No Vet Alone and creating and signing up for No Vet Alone events is at novetalone.org.

HELSINKI (BRAIN) — Amer Sports on Thursday confirmed that it's continuing to explore a sale to a Chinese sports company and an Asian private equity firm.

Amer said Nasdaq Helsinki, the public market where its stock is traded, requested it to make a public statement confirming the negotiations after Bloomberg reported that the suitor, Anta Sports Products, was making progress in its bid.

Amer said there have been "certain discussions" between Amer and the consortium of Anta and Fountainvest Partners and their advisers, "intended to ascertain whether there is a basis to commence a more formal process to facilitate a possible recommended transaction."

Amer is the owner of Mavic and Enve; separately from the Anta bid, Amer has said it is considering whether to sell off the two bike brands. Amer's other brands include Salomon, Arc'teryx, Peak Performance, Atomic, Suunto, Louisville Slugger, Wilson and Precor.

In its statement Thursday, Amer Sports reminded shareholders of a long list of steps that would have to be taken before a sale could be completed, including approval from respective boards of directors, available financing, approval by 90 percent of Amer's shareholders and regulatory approvals.

COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. – USA Cycling announced today the 2019 USA Cycling National Championships schedule. With races from coast-to-coast, the country's best riders will compete across each discipline to win the U.S. title. The 2019 National Championship schedule begins in March, and continues with at least one championship nearly every month, including races at the junior, collegiate, amateur, elite and masters levels.

"The USA Cycling National Championships bring together the top racers in the U.S. who are all racing for the honor of wearing the Stars and Stripes jersey and being crowned national champion," said so many riders at every level to realize their dreams of competing on the national stage," said Derek Bouchard-Hall, USA Cycling President & CEO. "The races are guaranteed to be thrilling and rewarding to watch. And, for the elite-level riders, the 2019 National Championships will be key with the Tokyo 2020 Summer Olympics one year away."

The first National Championship of 2019 – the USA Cycling Elite BMX Nationals – will be held in March at the Rock Hill BMX Supercross Track in Rock Hill, S.C. The Mountain Bike National Championships move out west and take over the Winter Park Resort in Colorado in July. Riders across multiple age groups will be racing in the home of USA Cycling, Colorado Springs, Colo., on parts of the 1986 UCI Road World Championships course in August. The junior, elite and masters level track National Championships return to the VELO Sports Center in Carson, Calif., and the US PRO Road Championships are back on the hills of Knoxville, Tenn., next summer. The year closes with the December's USA Cycling Cyclocross Nationals in Tacoma, Wash.

"The USA Cycling National Championships are an incredible opportunity for so many riders at every level to realize their dreams of competing on the national stage," said Chuck Hodge, USA Cycling Vice President of Operations. "The races are also a chance for cities and cycling communities around the country to come together and watch America's best riding at their best. The National Championships are not to be missed, and we are continuing to work to make each of the events bigger and better."

For more information on the events, visit https://legacy.usacycling.org/national-championships/2019. Follow @USACycling throughout the year for updates and results from all of the National Championships.

2019 USA Cycling National Championships Schedule

• March 29-31 USA Cycling Elite BMX Nationals Rock Hill, S.C.
• April 4-5 USA Cycling Collegiate BMX Nationals DeSoto, Tex.
• May 10-12 USA Cycling Collegiate Road Championships Augusta, Ga.
• June 20-23 USA Cycling Amateur Road Championships Hagerstown, Md.
• June 27-30 USA Cycling US PRO Road Championships Knoxville, Tenn.
• July 2-7 USA Cycling Junior/Elite Track Championships Carson, Calif.
• July 23-28 USA Cycling Mountain Bike Nationals Winter Park, Colo.
• August 8-11 USA Cycling Masters Road Nationals Colorado Springs, Colo.
• Aug. 27- Sept. 1 USA Cycling Masters Track Nationals Carson, Calif.
• September 12-15 USA Cycling Collegiate Track Championships Rock Hill, S.C.
• October 18-20 USA Cycling Collegiate MTB Nationals Durango, Colo.
• December 10-15 USA Cycling Cyclocross Nationals Tacoma, Wash.

To Be Announced:

USA Cycling Marathon MTB Nationals
USA Cycling Para Road Race & Time Trial National Championships

MIAMI (BRAIN) — ProViz's new Reflect360 Dry Bag features 360-degree reflectivity and a durable, waterproof construction of 500D PVC material. It includes padded shoulder straps with a breathable mesh lining, plus waist and chest straps. There is also a top carrier handle and an internal zipped pocket  for storing your phone, wallet, keys and tablet.

It retails for $120. ProViz's U.S. distributors include J&B, BTI and KHS. 

More information: provizsports.com.

MADISON, WIS.— Trek Travel, born out of award-winning Trek Bikes, believes that riding a great bike on a cycling vacation is as important as awe-inspiring scenery or a glass of fine wine. To this end, the 16-year-old bicycle touring company is pleased to announce an entire fleet of new bicycles in 2019 offering superior braking performance, unsurpassed safety, and unrivaled comfort.

All Trek Travel guests who book trips in 2019 will be cycling on the latest Trek Domane SL 7 Disc with hydraulic disc brakes. This latest upgrade once again puts Trek Travel at the forefront of cycling tour operators by offering their guests the most refined cycling experience available. These new road bikes compliment Trek Travel's awesomely popular pedal-assist electric bike, the XM700+ from Trek Bicycles. Whereas several tour operators charge an upgrade fee on top of the trip price, Trek Travel's high-quality bikes are always included in the price of their trips.

"Every two years or so we upgrade our bikes to reflect new technologies in safety and comfort," says Tania Burke, President of Trek Travel. "We're delighted to be offering Trek's newest Domane SL 7 Disc with hydraulic disc brakes as we think the superior stopping power and safety of this bicycle is a game changer. Guests now have the ability to slow the bike with a single finger which greatly reduces hand fatigue and brings greater enjoyment to long descents."

The Trek Domane SL 7 Disc has a lightweight carbon frame with built-in technology, called IsoSpeed) that smooths rough roads around the world. Traditionally bikes have been equipped with a caliper brake which slows the wheel by applying pressure from a soft rubber pad directly to the rim, but with the Shimano disc brakes, rotors (like on a motorcycle) are attached to the wheel hubs, which are slowed by calipers attached directly to the frame. This design allows more consistent and precise braking. Not to mention are safer in a variety of weather conditions. This new road bike is truly the perfect way to see the world by bike.

BRUSSELS (BRAIN) — The European Bicycle Manufacturers' Association has withdrawn its request to the European Commission to begin registering the imports of e-bikes into the EU. The registration made it possible for the EC to collect retroactive anti-dumping duties on e-bikes brought in from China earlier this year. 

The Collective of European Importers of Electric Bicycles, which has been lobbying the Commission on behalf of importers, said the EBMA's move was a great relief.

Registration would have allowed collection of stiff anti-dumping duties on e-bikes that were brought in between May and July this year. "Quite a number of European companies still had containers on the water" during that time period, the Collective said in a statement Friday. "To them, the potential retroactive collection of duties hung like a sword of Damocles over their head."

To officially end the registration, the Commission must publish a new regulation. 

The Collective has met with the Commission three times now to lobby against the duties. In a recent meeting, they presented data indicating that the anti-dumping proceedings would cost importers an average of 605,000 euros ($701,000) per company, or a total cost to the industry of more than 90 million euros. 

"It is unclear whether there is a link between the Collective's statements on injury at the hearing and EBMA's decision to withdraw the request for registration. It will, in any case, come as a great relief for many companies," the Collective said.