EASTON, Pa. (BRAIN) — Genesis Bicycles will, for the fourth time, close on Friday and the store's staff will once again donate its pay for the day to The Children's Home of Easton.

"We have a very close-knit group of people working here, and when I first announced an extra day off for Thanksgiving, our employees were elated to have the extra family time. When all of the Genesis employees decided to donate their pay for that day to a local charity I knew we had something going that was much more special than just another hectic sale day," said Tomias Hinchcliff, the store's owner.

Genesis has again named The Children's Home as the recipient of its annual BikesGiving charitable initiative. Genesis Bicycles will make a donation of $1,675 from its 2018 BikesGiving program. Both donations will be presented at Genesis Bicycles' annual Customer Appreciation Party on Monday, Dec. 10, bringing the total BikesGiving donations since inception to more than $7,100.

The BikesGiving program was conceived to help the community while motivating people to get out and ride their bikes. This year, nearly 600 participants of all ages and abilities logged over 167,000 miles. Genesis donates a penny for every mile a participant rides throughout the year. Longtime customer Joe Hogan made a pledge to donate one dollar for every mile he rode over 5,000. Store owner Hinchcliff agreed to match his donation, raising an additional $176 for The Children's Home of Easton. The 2019 BikesGiving program began on Nov. 1 and runs through Oct. 31. Riders can register for free and submit their miles at bikesgiving.com.

Chicago, IL – November 16, 2018 - Since 2012, SRAM's XD® and XDR® rear hub driver bodies have established a universal mounting system for cassettes that incorporate cogs with fewer than 11 teeth. The interfaces make light weight wide-range cassettes possible without requiring new rear axle standards, hub redesigns, or even new cassette tools. Nearly 90 wheel and hub manufacturers have licensed the technology, and more are added every month, making it cycling's most widely adopted 10-tooth start freehub body design.

"New wheel and hub manufacturers are adopting our platform regularly, we have nearly 90 partners now, and we hope its use continues to broaden. The goal was to provide everyone with a simple solution for adopting wide cassette ranges," said Kevin Wesling, SRAM's Director of Advanced Development.

"SRAM's XD platform is really easy to use from the retailer perspective. Most wheel brands have XD driver kits available to retrofit existing rear wheels and it makes selling SRAM simple and easy. And it's refreshing to see advancements in our sport made available to multiple vendors for the ease of dealers and customers," said Matt Adams, President of Mike's Bikes.

SRAM offers the use of XD and XDR interfaces and trademarks to companies that conform to the technical specifications of the designs and agree to abide by the terms of our license agreement. Currently, 86 companies have been granted licenses to make hubs and wheelsets that incorporate either XD or XDR drivers.

The XD interface is designed for mountain bike applications and maintains the same hub spacing and flange locations used for 8, 9, and 10-speed compatible HyperGlide® freehub bodies. The XDR interface is 1.85mm longer than XD and is designed for road hub applications. XDR maintains the same hub spacing and flange locations used for 11-speed road compatible HyperGlide freehub bodies. XDR driver bodies are compatible with all XD cassettes when the cassette is installed with a 1.85mm spacer behind it.

SRAM® is a manufacturer of innovative bicycle components that was founded in Chicago, Illinois, in September of 1987, with the invention of its first product, Grip Shift®. Throughout its 31-year history, SRAM has focused on its product development innovation expertise in all bicycling disciplines. SRAM has also acquired some of bicycling's most exciting brands. With 3000-plus employees, offices and manufacturing in 15 countries, SRAM and its brands RockShox®, TRUVATIV®, Zipp® and Quarq® is the second largest manufacturer of bike parts in the world.

(Chicago, IL) - From November 26 to December 1, thousands of cyclists from more than 100 countries will unite for the fourth annual Ride On for World Bicycle Relief virtual charity ride as part of Zwift’s month-long Ride with Reason campaign. Traditionally a 24-hour event, this year’s ride will take on a new seven-day format and will challenge participants to make their biggest impact yet. Funds raised will provide life-changing bicycles to students in rural Africa, who often walk 10 km each day in order to get to school. 

WBR and Zwift will encourage participants to do a 50 km ride, the same distance many students walk each week, and donate a minimum of $10. The Ride goal is $250,000, an amount that would empower more than 1700 students. 

Registration is free with options and incentives for fundraising and donations. Top fundraisers will have a choice from a variety of prizes from our event sponsors which include: a CycleOps H2 Smart Trainer, CycleOps M2 Smart Trainer, 2018 Limited Edition Zwift Kits from Cuore inGamba Cycling Trip to Tuscany , SRAM eTap Set, Zipp Wheels, a Saris Superclamp 2-Bike Rack and more. 

Long-time partner Trek will also match donations up to $40,000. Other supporting partners include CycleOps, SRAM, Cuore, inGamba and GU.

“With no registration costs, we are removing the barriers so that anyone can get involved,” says WBR CEO Dave Neiswander. “We encourage people to come out, ride, donate, fundraise, and join this incredible community to give hundreds of students the gift of mobility and help them change the trajectory of their lives.” 

Throughout the week, participants will get to ride alongside pro-cycling legend Jens Voigt who will be joined by additional athletes including Laurens ten Dam, Lawson Craddock, members of the Trek-Segafredo team and others. 

“We are thrilled to continue our partnership with Ride On for World Bicycle Relief for the fourth straight year and get some of our athletes involved,” said Adam Kostichka, Trek Bicycle Advocacy Manager. “We are very proud to support WBR and the amazing work that they are doing. We hope to see even more people come out over seven days to help reach the ultimate goal.”

During the week-long ride, participants will be visible throughout Zwift in a World Bicycle Relief kit while riding on the organization’s signature Buffalo Bicycle - the world’s sturdiest bicycle, specially designed for the rough terrain of rural Africa. Riders will also have the opportunity to purchase this limited edition 2018 kit 'in real life' which will be produced by CUORE of Switzerland.

Registration is now open online and will remain open throughout the event. 

Join Zwift, World Bicycle Relief, Trek Bicycles and the greater cycling community around the world to collectively celebrate The Power of Bicycles® and empower hundreds of students to reach their dreams. 

To learn more about the Ride On for World Bicycle Relief and register, go to: https://give.worldbicyclerelief.org/campaign/2018-ride-on-for-wbr-p-b-zwift/c206205

DENVER (For immediate release, Nov. 20, 2018) – Gates Corporation has hired veteran bike and outdoor industry engineer Wes Fleming as a product development engineer in its Gates Carbon Drive bicycle division.

Fleming, who previously worked for nine years at Thule Canada as a senior design engineer for bicycle trailers and jogging strollers, will work on the growing line of Gates Carbon Drive sprockets, spiders and cranksets for the company's bicycle belt systems.

"Wes is a real can-do guy and his industry knowledge will be a great asset for Gates as we continue to diversify our product range to meet growing global demand for belt drives in our core pedal, electric, stationary and bike share markets," says Todd Sellden, Global Director of Gates Carbon Drive.

Prior to Thule, Fleming worked as a test laboratory and compliance engineer for Cycling Sports Group in Longmont, Colorado, overseeing testing of GT, Schwinn and Mongoose bicycles. He previously held engineering positions at Nautilus in Louisville, Colorado, with NASA's Wylie Laboratories at the Johnson Space Center in Houston, and at the Keenan Consulting Group in Denver.

Fleming has a mechanical engineering degree from Colorado State University.

November 20, 2018 - Northvale, New Jersey : Erica Tingey has been passionate about mountain bikes for over a decade. She started out racing locally and quickly progressed to the professional ranks on the national and international level. After five years racing for the Jamis Factory team, she was eager to find an outlet to share her love of mountain bike riding while encouraging women from all walks of life to deepen their own love for the sport while honing their skills.

During a conversation with Jamis Bikes company president Carine Joannou, the idea of hosting a women's luxury mountain bike retreat in Park City, UT was hatched. The dream became a reality with the launch of Erica's, Women in the Mountains. "I've been taken with Erica's drive and passion for mountain bikes ever since she first joined the Jamis mountain bike squad. She was looking for a way to bring women together around the sport she loves and she's done a fantastic job growing Women In The Mountains." said Carine.

Women In The Mountains has grown from hosting a handful of events, to a full annual calendar with five staff members! All of the coaches are PMBIA certified (professional skills coach) and clinics are held for all riding levels around Utah, Nevada, Lake Tahoe and New Zealand. These women-focused skills clinics provide the opportunity to enhance mountain biking skills in a comfortable and relaxed atmosphere.

For 2019, Jamis is providing demo bikes for Women in the Mountains clients who are experienced mountain bikers as well as participants who are just making their way into the sport. The partnership between Women in the Mountains and Jamis Bikes has seen more women participating in cycling in a highly inclusive and inviting environment. As it states on their website, "Bring your love for bicycles, an avid appreciation for the outdoors, and a smile!"

For more information about Women In The Mountains mountain bike retreats, visit: www.womeninthemountains.com.

The world's largest online bike marketplace, BikeExchange, will launch their first global brand campaign today to unify the business across ten markets around the world.

The new campaign – Where the world rides – is led by a new brand film and has been developed in partnership with award winning creative agency Saatchi & Saatchi, Melbourne after their appointment as the global hub agency for BikeExchange. The campaign highlights the passion of cyclists from all over the world and how BikeExchange, as a marketplace, makes it easy for people to buy, sell and keep up to date with the latest cycling reviews and trends.

The new brand positioning is aimed at supporting the bike retail member base and driving consumer awareness and understanding of BikeExchange. The campaign will be launched digitally in all ten markets and in four languages – English, German, Dutch and Spanish.

The launch of 'Where the world rides' coincides with the release of new technology product innovations that are designed to better connect cycling retailers and brands with millions of bike enthusiasts from around the world. The new technology products now available on BikeExchange include webstores, enhanced data and insights on consumer usage, third party partnerships and multistore connectivity.

Mark Watkin, Global CEO of BikeExchange said: "Cycling is much more than a sport or a hobby. It's a passion shared by millions of people from all over the world. Our marketplace group already attracts 34 million users a year and drives more than $500 million in enquiries for our more than 2,000 retail customers around the world.

"With the global cycling market expected to be worth $80 billion by 2026, we've invested significantly in new technology product innovations that will help make it easier for cycling consumers and cycling retailers to connect, sell and buy. BikeExchange's success is seeing the success of our retail members and brands connecting with consumers.

"Importantly, our business model recognises that cyclists will spend significant time when researching and shortlisting bikes and new technology products on our platform, before going in-store to buy from our retail partners. We want to make the choice as easy as possible.

"Our platform gives retailers detailed insights about consumer preferences and behaviors, that allows them to provide this value-added service. For example, our research shows that someone who buys a new road bike will spend an additional thirty percent with our retail partners in the following 12-18 months," said Watkin.

Matt Gordin CEO of BikeExchange North America said: "BikeExchange is all about fuelling the passion of cycling by making it easier for people in the USA and Canada to buy and sell. The 'Where the world rides' campaign and our new technology suite are all aimed at supporting our retail partners here in North America so they can connect to millions of cycling enthusiasts and new consumers."

To view the 'Where the world rides' short film, click https://youtu.be/1QMe4gvqBlU. To visit BikeExchange, go to www.bikeexchange.com

San Francisco, CA, November 20th, 2018 - For Immediate Release

Lumos Helmet has recently been named as one of Oprah's Favorite Things and TIME's Best Inventions of 2018, catapulting its way into mainstream recognition for the category. The publications have about approximately 26 million and 16 million in readership respectively.

Oprah's Favorite Things is a holiday gift guide which O, The Oprah Magazine releases once a year as a list tested and tried by Oprah Winfrey herself. On the Lumos Helmet, Oprah says in the December issue of O, The Oprah Magazine that "You can't put a price on safety. This high-tech bike helmet is the one you want hugging a loved one's noggin." The helmet is the only 1 in 10 tech gift choices, among other popular devices such as the iPhone XR and Amazon Echo Spot.

Lumos Helmet is also 1 in 5 of the TIME's Best Inventions in the Transportation and Travel category for 2018, alongside the popular Boosted Mini electric skateboard and Gravity's Jet Suit (a real-life Iron Man suit). TIME's Sean Gregory recounts the journey of the Lumos Helmet from a crowdfunded project which raised over $800,000 USD, making it still one of the largest crowdfunded bicycle helmets ever, to being the first helmet ever in Apple Stores.

CEO and Founder Eu-wen Ding is says "We were beyond delighted and all of us here are just very grateful for this and every other opportunity."

WASHINGTON, Missouri (BRAIN) — A new center that will provide a number of services for light electric vehicles, including e-bikes, is slated to open next week just outside of St. Louis. The LEV Tech Development Center shares a building with Mac Motors, a longtime manufacturer of electric motor systems, and will offer everything from complete diagnostic capabilities on a variety of motor systems, product testing, battery service and phone support for retailers.

Ken Fagut, an industry veteran who spent 25 years as a retailer in upstate New York, several years at BionX and Dahon and currently is CEO and founder of Foldaway Solutions, a distributor for Oyama Bicycles, spearheaded the project. Other stakeholders include Fang Yunzhou of XF Cycle; Evan Ballman, owner of Mac Motor USA; Barry Reimer, CFO of Foldaway Solutions; Damon Du, co-owner of Mac Motor Shanghai; Paul Lynch of battery supplier EM3ev; and veteran bicycle engineer Mike Fritz, who sits on the board.

Fagut said LEV Tech is the first center of its kind in the U.S., and something he has wanted to develop for many years.

"There are places dabbling in service, but no one is jumping in to provide all the services and support that dealers and OEMs need in one place. This [e-bike] growth is skyrocketing, and there are more bikes, more motors, more controllers and batteries that could be problematic and need service," said Fagut, CEO of LEV Tech. "We'll also be a battery service center because we feel there is a need as battery warranties expire."

The battery service will launch early next year, providing service and support for retailers. A partnership with EM3ev will allow LEV Tech to design and build complete batteries in house.

"We can create different size modules, like we are doing for Santana tandems. Customers who want to travel with their tandems can break down the bike, but it's a challenge with electric versions because of airline battery restrictions," Fagut said. "So we can create smaller modules, and each rider can bring two battery packs in their carry on. We can build full custom systems like this, all done at the center. Some companies don't have all the technology or engineering on hand, but we have real motor and battery experts in house and are able to take care of all services in one place."

LEV Tech will also warehouse parts for various systems and can manage all aspects of service and support for partnering brands, including Santana, Birria, Ohm Cycles and others. But Fagut said it won't take in every product.

"Unless it's a known product, we'll test it and if it's not acceptable to our standards, we'll give a report telling them why. But we can help them hit our standards. We don't want to be in a situation where we've got bad product and we can't provide support — there is nothing worse," he said. "There is just too much junk out there and we can't take liability for all of it."

LEV Tech will open with one full-time customer service staff, and will share some employees with Mac Motor. Fagut said more employees will be added depending on demand, and that there is room to grow within Mac's facility.

"We are an experienced team. There is an economy of scale using us. You don't have to have a staff, you don't have to have the space. It's very costly to set up your own center," Fagut said. "We'll offer a subscription service. Quarterly, annually or per diem is fine, too."

BOULDER, Colo. (BRAIN) — U.S. wholesalers sold 7 percent fewer bikes through the first 10 months of 2018 compared with the same period last year. But the dollar value of those bikes was up nearly 6 percent, reflecting a higher average cost per bike.

This is according to the Bicycle Product Suppliers Association's monthly sell-in report from The NPD Group.

Sales of mountain bikes, still the largest bike category, were flat in dollars through October, at $335 million. The number of units sold was down 10 percent, however, reflecting an increase in average price in that category.

As has been the case for several years, the various mountain bike subcategories have been volatile. For example, sales figures for 29er full-suspension bikes and 27.5-inch full-suspension bikes have almost flip-flopped since last October. In October 2017, wholesalers shipped $10.1 million worth of 27.5-inch full-suspension models, and $5.3 million worth of 29er full-suspension bikes. This October, wholesalers sold $9.4 million in 29ers and $5.6 million in 27.5-inch bikes.

Road subcategories also have been volatile, although things are changing so quickly it's not clear that all suppliers have agreed on the definition of some drop-bar variations. A bike model considered a "Sport Men's" bike last year might be now categorized as "Other," making the subcategory variations look more volatile than they really are.

As a whole, the road category was up 7.6 percent in dollars but down 2.1 percent in units through October. The "Performance Men's" subcategory, the largest, was soft, down 4.4 percent in dollars and 12.6 percent in units. The "Other All" subcategory, which includes variations on gravel and adventure touring bikes, was up 94 percent in dollars and 53.9 percent in units.

E-bike sales totaled $10.4 million in October and $108 million year to date through that month. The YTD number is up 46 percent over the prior year.

For comparison, in dollars that puts e-bikes at about a third of the size of the mountain bike category. But e-bikes hit that dollar number thanks to a $2,000 average wholesale cost. The average wholesale cost of a mountain bike was $620.

Looking at inventory levels, the BPSA/NPD report does not reveal whether bikes on hand are leftover 2018 models or new 2019 models. In that fast-growing "Other All" road bike subcategory, suppliers had $36 million worth of bikes on hand in October — that's 195 percent more than the value of those bikes on hand at the same time last year. It's likely that reflects optimism for the subcategory's continued growth. Meanwhile, inventory of the "Performance Men's" bikes was down 22 percent.

It's a smaller subcategory, but the bulging inventory of "Performance Women's" bikes may be a concern, because it's likely not all due to optimism. Inventory was up more than 100 percent in October, to $6.6 million, while sales for the upper-end women's bikes were down 11 percent through October in dollars and off 18.4 percent in units.

NEW YORK (BRAIN) — Nearly 50 retailers have signed up to take part in the second annual Bike Shop Day, an event launched last year by Brooklyn retailer 718 Cyclery.

Bike Shop Day takes inspiration from Record Store Day, which is held every year in April to celebrate the independent record store. This year's Bike Shop Day is set for Saturday, Dec. 1.

"We specifically chose this date in order to avoid all of the Black Friday/Shop Small Saturday noise, and have a day all to ourselves," 718 owner Joe Nocella said.

Forty-three shops participated in last year's event, and 49 have signed up for the second edition, which is emphasizing inclusion of people who are under-represented in the bicycle industry.

718 Cyclery's daylong celebration will include swag bags for the first 20 people, a basic maintenance class, rock 'n' roll trivia contest, DJ, prize wheel, barbecue and special discounts.

Retailers can sign up at bikeshopday.com. Participating shops get a free sticker and postcard media pack and access to logo artwork to use for marketing.

Irvine, CA and Lexington, South Carolina – November 19, 2018 - Sena Technologies, Inc. is proud to have their state-of-the-art technology represented in North America by HLC. Sena's product line, including the X1 and R1 Bluetooth-integrated cycling helmets, will be easily accessible to IBDs.

HLC has proven industry knowledge, superior customer service, sales support and warehouses spanning the United States and Canada. Sena is confident that HLC will help get their product to consumers through HLC's network of independent bicycle retailers.

IBDs will be able to buy the latest Sena cycling products from their local HLC representative, knowing that Sena will back them with their two year warranty and technical support.

"HLC is the partner we wanted all along knowing they were committed to growing the marketplace with new technology" says Chris Clarke, Sena Director of sales. "Hawley has been around since 1964 and Lambert since 1945, the history and market knowledge the HLC team brings to the table is vast. We are confident that HLC is the best partner to bring our Bluetooth technology to the consumer."

Pat McGinnis, VP of Commercial at HLC says, "I'm really excited to work with Chris and his team in helping to expand the opportunity for customers to experience Sena technology." He added "it greatly enhances the rider experience and more importantly creates a safer ride."

ANCHORAGE, Alaska (BRAIN) — Revelate Designs' 10-Year Anniversary Campaign includes the launch of various new and/or improved products. The first is the Mag-Tank 2000, a toptube bag for bikepacking.

The Mag-Tank 2000 has 50 percent more storage volume than the standard Mag-Tank, but uses the same zipper-free magnetic access of the Mag-Tank.

"Named after its calorie-holding capacity, the Mag-Tank 2000's tapered wedge shape gives it impressive volume while still offering a lean profile at its base. A locking cam provides a secure front attachment, while the adjustable daisy chain still allows clearance from stem clamp bolts. The bag's closed cell foam padded base and stiffened side panels provide protection and structure for food and electronics with the ease of fast, one-handed access," the company said.

MSRP $65. Available in Black and Blue. Made in USA.

More information at revelatedesigns.com/index.cfm/store.catalog/cockpit/magtank2000.

Editor's note: A version of this story ran in the Nov. 1 issue of Bicycle Retailer & Industry News.

TRUCKEE, Calif. (BRAIN) — A family need inspired outdoor industry veteran Brandon Dodd to launch Ride Concepts, a new player in mountain bike shoes. Two years ago his son, age 8 at the time and to this day an avid downhill mountain biker, was damaging his feet on big jumps.

"He was landing and getting bruised toes. I was researching more and more, and we went to Whistler and saw the next generation of kids coming up in biking. We're building better bikes for them and longer-travel bikes and lighter bikes, but there really was no footwear for them. So that's how it started — as research for my kids," Dodd said.

Delving further into his research, he found shoes for women mountain bikers weren't meeting their needs either.

"So many women's shoes are just a men's size 8 that's downsized to a size 6. I found that we could offer a better product," recalled Dodd, whose 20-plus years in the sporting goods business includes time developing footwear, helmets and snowboard equipment and apparel. Dodd sold his last action and snow sports business, Access, to Intersport America, and is now funding the launch of Ride Concepts himself.

The company's first offering — the Session series of men's, women's and youth shoes for platform pedals — launches Nov. 1 consumer direct on the Ride Concepts website as well as with dealer-direct sales through IBDs. At BRAIN's press time, Dodd had nearly completed building out a rep force across the U.S.

Ride Concepts designs different lasts to fit men, women and young riders, and unique flex patterns are tailored to suit each type of rider. All shoes also incorporate D30 technology, the same as used in many protection brands' pads and armor. The D30 protection, a soft and flexible material that absorbs and dissipates energy on impact, is molded through the shoes' insoles to minimize impacts from hard landings and extended days hammering pedals. Select shoe models also use D30 to protect the medial side of riders' ankles or the outside of the foot.

"Every shoe has a D30 story in the footbed. For over a year we tested the impact on the feet for dirt riders, and also in the tongues and toe boxes throughout the shoes. Being able to offer an energy-dispersing product has been key. We believe that piece to piece, we're offering an awful lot of value for the price points," Dodd said.

Session shoes will retail for $100 to $130.

Ride Concepts sources three proprietary rubber sole compounds from Rubber Kinetics, the company behind the Goodyear premium bicycle tire line launched earlier this year.

"We have an agreement for footwear with Rubber Kinetics, and we've developed three unique rubber compounds for our footwear for grip and durability. We have a soft, a mid and a firm, which is throughout the line today. We have some additional compounds in the works too," Dodd said.

Around March 2019, the Session series will be followed by the Flow Series, consisting of both platform and clipless models, and the Men's Launch Series of platform shoes for aggressive riding. A line of synthetic and Merino socks made in Italy also launches at the same time.

Dodd also has additional shoe models in the works he plans to introduce at Sea Otter in April.

Acknowledging that it can be difficult with footwear to maintain the right amount of inventory due to the range of sizes, Dodd noted he has built his inventory to hit "aggressive" sales targets for 2019. "This means we have to take risk and have stock on hand," he said.

A three-tier dealer program starts with a $500 minimum and 12 pairs of shoes to qualify for free shipping and a free pair of socks with each pair of shoes. Retailers ordering now at that level will be provided socks once they arrive in the spring, Dodd said.

Editor's note: A version of this story ran in the November issue of Bicycle Retailer & Industry News.

(BRAIN) — When the 27.5-inch wheel took the mountain bike market by storm about five years ago, many hailed it as a magic bullet that would all but replace the other sizes because it combined the best characteristics of 26-inch and 29-inch wheels.

The industry and consumers immediately embraced the 27.5-inch wheel and sales of 26-inch models began to slide. Even downhill bikes adopted the 27.5-inch wheel and some enthusiasts also eschewed the 29er in favor of the "just right" middle wheel size, which dominated mountain bike sales at the IBD for several years.

But fast-forward to today, when progressive frame geometries have allowed brands to retain the advantages of bigger wheels — namely speed, better traction and rollover — while providing desirable ride characteristics associated with smaller wheels. This has spurred a 29er resurgence that is challenging the middle wheel size head on.

According to The NPD Group, which tracks retail sell-through data, 29er sales spiked in 2018. Full-suspension 29er sales grew 45 percent in dollars from September 2017 through the end of August 2018, while 27.5-inch mountain bike sales fell 4 percent over the same period. A recent Vital MTB reader survey also showed that an increasing number of consumers planning to buy a new mountain bike were considering a 29er in 2017 and 2018, while those looking at the 27.5-inch category decreased (see chart below). 

(Related: The latest BPSA./The NPD Group numbers show trends through October 2018)

Many retailers also said that in 2018, 29er sales have either outpaced or are on par with 27.5 sales.

"The new 29er [Specialized] Stumpjumper has sold through better than the 650b version," said Mark Smits, owner of five Incycle Bicycles stores in Southern California. "There is some upgrading happening from 650b; it's not a rapid removal. But we can also tell what people are after based on tube sales. We're seeing more 29er tubes going out the door."

Another retailer largely quit stocking 27.5-inch mountain bikes in favor of 29ers, which he said better suit his rocky Northeastern terrain.

"Ninety-eight percent of our bike sales are 29. We still have people from the gravity side who want to check out 27.5 first, but they quickly realize that 29 is faster with better rollover and more traction, as long as the geo is right," Michael Klasmeier, owner of TrailWerx Cyclery in Annapolis, Maryland, told BRAIN in an email. "That's the major issue."

Thanks to slacker head angles, short stems and steep seat tube angles, today's 29er is more flickable and nimble, appealing to more than just spandex-clad racers. Mountain bikers of all stripes, from enduro racers and casual trail riders to gravity riders, are opting for bigger wheels. Several brands, from Giant and Specialized to Pivot, Santa Cruz, Kona, Transition and Yeti, have recently launched "shreddy" 29ers.

Transition, which has had a 29er in its line since 2012, has seen its 29er sales grow the past couple of years.

"None of us here rode our Covert 29, which we launched in 2013. It had 140 millimeters of travel and a 68-degree head angle, but we didn't really market it," said Lars Sternberg, Transition's marketing director. "We went back a couple years ago and realized we had something. In 2013, its geometry was actually pretty progressive."

Transition added the Smuggler 29 in 2015. Although it had less travel, it had an aggressive 66.5-degree head angle. For 2018, Transition redesigned its entire line, making its bikes slacker with longer chassis, steeper seat tube angles, new tubing and shorter fork offsets. It also added the Sentinel, a 140-millimeter-travel 29er that is currently Transition's best-selling bike.

"Its 64-degree head angle and shorter fork offset really creates some magic in how it handles," Sternberg said. "Normally with that head angle it gets cumbersome unless you're going down steep terrain. But going slowly on the Sentinel it remains nimble, and it's a stable bike going fast. It's a lot more applicable for varying terrain."

Beyond geometry innovations, the broader availability of components has also expanded possibilities for 29ers over the years.

Lenz Sport's Devin Lenz began building 26-inch bikes in 1995, and in 2004 he welded his first 29-inch frame. There were few tire options and even fewer suspension forks on the market for anything larger than 26-inch wheels. As a small manufacturer building 80 to 100 bikes per year, Lenz said he could always find a workaround, and was able to capitalize on the 29er niche. Lenz has been making slack, short-chainstayed, longer-travel 29ers for more than a dozen years.

"We were always a little more slack than other 29ers out there. And we kept figuring out how to make the rear end shorter and shorter," said Lenz, who builds bikes at his shop in Brighton, Colorado. "Then we started playing with more travel — 6- and 7-inch downhill bikes, which was an area with no 29er forks or tires at the time. We had to make offset hubs to run a Fox 36. We were the weird kids on the trail with big wheels, but now it's not so crazy."

One-by drivetrains have opened the door to creating an even snappier 29er as space previously eaten by front derailleurs was freed up to allow for shorter chainstays. Lenz said Boost spacing has also helped things fit better in tight places.

Still, modern 29ers aren't for every rider. It comes down to personal preference, dictated by riding style, terrain and, in some cases, physical stature. Some smaller riders have not, either through personal experience or because of perception, gravitated toward 29ers.

"For riders who are 5 feet tall and shorter, the physics just get difficult," said Transition's Sternberg. "For our 27.5 bikes we make an extra-small through an extra-large, but for 29ers, we don't make an extra-small. But then we have pro rider Christina Chapetta who is 5-foot-2 and rides a small Sentinel and loves it. Part of it is riding style, but I also think it can be misconception. I've seen a varying array of successes and failures there."

Some predict 29ers will replace 27.5-inch mountain bikes and that the middle wheel size will move to the gravel, road and mountain "plus" categories.

"I know that 27.5 will go away in favor of 29/27.5-plus bikes. It's just not sustainable to have two versions [29 and 27.5] of the same bike with different travel, leverage ratio and the like," Klasmeier said. "The only bike we stock in 27.5 is an Enduro [from Specialized]."

Many agree that the current excitement around 29ers won't be just a flash in the pan — partly because 29ers aren't a new thing. They've been around long enough to earn their chops.

"The aggressive 29er is here to stay, and I think we'll see even more progression on that end," Transition's Sternberg said. "It's going to be interesting to see what happens in, say, three years to see how things splinter into their niches. But I don't think the 29-inch wheel size is a fad. I think it's finally hit its stride." 

Editor's note: A version of this story appeared in the November issue of Bicycle Retailer & Industry News.

BENTONVILLE, Ark. (BRAIN) — Attendees of the 2016 IMBA World Summit who returned to Northwest Arkansas this October for the advocacy group's Dirty 30 anniversary celebration had a nice surprise waiting for them: more than a hundred miles of new trails that weren't around when they visited just two years earlier.

It doesn't take a CPA to figure out the rate of growth.

"We've been averaging over a mile a week in [trail] construction," said Gary Vernon, program director for the Walton Family Foundation, the nonprofit whose largesse ignited and continues to fuel trail-building efforts throughout the region.

"A mile a week — that's unheard of," said Aimee Ross, a longtime IMBA staff member who moved to Northwest Arkansas this fall to take over as director of Bike Bentonville, the city's bike tourism arm housed within the Visit Bentonville visitors and convention bureau. "I've been living in Golden, Colorado, the past five years. To get a mile of trail there is a big deal, and it takes a long time through the process to get there. That's one thing that intrigued me with this job: getting a little more into how they got all the stakeholders to the table and play nicely together."

Retail giant Walmart calls Bentonville home, and founders Sam and Helen Walton founded the nonprofit Walton Family Foundation in 1987. The foundation's Home Region program is aimed at improving quality of life throughout Northwest Arkansas, and that mission includes trail building and preserving open space. (Walmart heirs Tom and Steuart Walton, grandsons of Sam Walton, are both avid mountain bikers.)

The proliferation of trails started with the 5-mile Slaughter Pen trail system near downtown Bentonville in 2007. Today, the region boasts 400 miles of paved and natural surface trails — 250 miles of the latter. Over the decade through 2017, the Walton Family Foundation contributed $74 million to those efforts.

And a series of studies conducted for the foundation concluded that bicycling contributed $137 million in economic benefits to Northwest Arkansas in 2017. That includes $51 million in direct business benefits — of which $27 million, or 52 percent, was tourism dollars.

Bike tourism is a significant economic driver for the region, the studies concluded: At least 55 percent of mountain bikers on the trails come from outside the region.

Like the growth in trail mileage, the number of bicycle events in Northwest Arkansas continues to surge. Bentonville alone will host 23 events before the year is up. The city's October calendar was so packed — events included the Epic Ride Series' Oz Trails Off-Road race, the Growler Grinder gravel event and, held in conjunction with the Outerbike Bentonville demo event, IMBA's Dirty 30 Celebration — that the city had to move an event traditionally held at Slaughter Pen to Fayetteville, 25 miles south.

"We thought it was a great event to have and we didn't want it to leave the region. So we reached out to Fayetteville because we'd love to keep it in the area, and they were on board with it," said Kalene Griffith, president of Visit Bentonville. "That's what I love about this region — we're vying for success for our entire region, not our individual cities."

That spirit of collaboration has been vital to building up Northwest Arkansas as a cycling destination. So has been promoting the region's riding opportunities over those of the individual cities, the Walton Family Foundation's Vernon noted.

"We have a region full of trails, so it makes sense to promote the region, not just Bentonville or Fayetteville or Bella Vista. That's where we worked with a branding agency and they came up with the Oz Trails with some really striking logos. And Oz is just for the Ozarks. We're part of the Ozarks, and Oz Trails has really hit the mark as far as recognition goes," he said.

"Looking at all of Oz Trails, all of us try to cooperate and help one another because it's for the benefit of all of Northwest Arkansas," Bella Vista mayor Peter Christie said. "And all of us have benefited from the funding we have received from the Walton Family Foundation to build these trails."

That Walton funding jumpstarted Bella Vista's Back Forty, a 40-mile network of singletrack on the city's east side. The foundation is also providing a $3.9 million grant for Bella Vista's next large-scale trail project: a 50-mile system in the center of the city called Eleven Under.

"It's named that because the trails will have 11 tunnels going under highways and roads," Christie said. "The reason for it is that on the eastern side you can get a clear run for 2 or 2½ miles before you hit a street. The configuration of homes in the central area is different, so in order to keep that experience at 2 miles it was decided we won't bring riders over the roads because some of them are busy. So we'll go underneath and drop in big corrugated 10-foot-high tunnels."

AIMERE, Netherlands (BRAIN) — Pon Holdings has purchased 338,121 ordinary shares in Accell Group N.V., giving it a total of 5,332,769 ordinary shares, representing 20 percent of the company's shares. 

Earlier this month Pon had said it planned to make a partial offer in cash for 20 percent of the issued and outstanding ordinary shares in Accell Group. But now that it has purchased the ordinary shares on the open market it has withdrawn its offer. 

Pon Holdings is one of the Netherlands' largest family-owned businesses, with nearly 13,000 employees. It's active in several markets, including automotive, construction vehicles and machinery, and the shipping industry. Its bike division, called Pon Bike, is the parent of Cervélo, Santa Cruz, Juliana, Focus, Univega (in some markets), Gazelle, Faraday, Kalkhoff and Union.

Accell Group's brands include Haibike, Winora, Batavus, Sparta, Koga, Lapierre, Ghost, Raleigh, Diamondback, Tunturi, Atala, Redline, Loekie and XLC. Accell Group and its subsidiaries employ approximately 3,000 people in 18 countries worldwide. In 2017, Accell Group sold about 1.3 million bicycles and recorded sales of more than 1 billion euros ($1.13 billion).

SQUAMISH, British Columbia — Pinkbike has hired Jason Lucas as its Video Production Supervisor. Lucas most recently was part of the YouTube duo IFHT, producing viral hits such as I Only Ride Park, Ferda Girls, and How To Be A Mountain Biker. Jason's experience also includes working for Rocky Mountain Bicycles and other bike industry work.

Brian Park, Pinkbike's Head of Editorial, said "We're excited to have Jason Lucas heading up our video production efforts. He's helped produce some of the industry's most iconic videos, and will help elevate Pinkbike's original productions."

Adding to its global team, Pinkbike has also hired former Dirt Magazine editor-in-chief James Smurthwaite as its News Manager. James has a long history of quality work, including some of Dirt's most well known features and stories.

"Bringing James on adds more news capabilities to our technical features," said Brian Park. "James has an established track record of quality coverage, and we are confident he will help Pinkbike continue leading the discourse in the mountain bike industry."

Pinkbike is also hiring for its product development teams to innovate and work across its existing offerings, including Trailforks, Pinkbike, and the BuySell. Open roles include mobile app developers, full stack web app developers, a UX/UI design lead, and product managers. Interested, qualified candidates can learn more here.