BERGAMO, Italy (BRAIN) — Early Monday morning a group of masked robbers entered the 3T headquarters building here and stole all of the brand's display and demo bikes, including an Exploro frame painted by the late Dario Pegoretti.

"He painted this bike as a gift to us for launching our first bike ever," said 3T CEO Rene Wiertz in an email Monday. 

He said thieves drilled a hole through a one meter thick wall to enter the warehouse, then broke the warehouse door, cut the fence surrounding the office and moved more than 20 bikes into their van. The police arrived within 10 minutes, but they already had left.

Wiertz asked members of the industry keep an eye out for the bikes, especially the custom Pegoretti paint job. 

By Don DiConstanzo

Editor's note: DiConstanzo is the founder and CEO of Pedego, which sells franchise locations that sell Pedego e-bikes. The brand has more than 140 location in the U.S.

The recent Chapter 11 bankruptcy filing by the owners of Performance Bicycle should make it clear to anyone who is paying attention: the future of bicycle retail is in single-branded stores. It's more evident if you look at other recent retail failures — Brookstone, Circuit City, Radio Shack, ToysRUs, Sports Authority, Sports Chalet, and Sears. The decline of multibrand retailers is undeniable. In contrast, look at the successful single-branded retail concepts like Apple, Nike, Tesla, Victoria's Secret, Starbucks, Prada, Tiffany and Tommy Bahama.

Shopping today is all about the experience. It has to be a pleasure for the consumer. Multibrand retail stores make it a nightmare for the consumer and the retailer. Varying colors, styles, sizes, components and warranties among different brands make it a challenge for everyone. The multibrand stores also have to go it alone without the genuine support of the brands they stock.

One of the most successful ongoing retail business models is the car dealership. How many brands do they carry in a single location? General Motors used to have Buick, Cadillac, Chevrolet, GMC, Oldsmobile, Pontiac and Saturn with many of them in a single location. The survivors: Buick, Cadillac and Chevrolet, are almost all now housed in individual rooftops. The are no more Ford-Lincoln-Mercury dealerships.

If we relate this to the bicycle retail business, successful tier one brands that have their own single-branded stores are clearly performing better than the rest of the industry. Giant, Pedego, Specialized and Trek are winning because they are focused on single-brand locations and offer a tier 1 brand. Performance carries multiple tier 2 brands that need to be discounted to be sold. Tier 2 customers are bargain hunters. They will search everywhere and anywhere for a discount. Discounts are the death of proper retailers.

Do you think Apple, Nike, Tesla, Victoria's Secret, Starbucks, Prada, Tiffany and Tommy Bahama customers are bargain hunters? Their customers are trained to know that they won't find these brands on Amazon and won't find discounts online. As Performance proved, discounting is the wrong answer for brick and mortar. Online shoppers are typically discount seekers and will showroom shop and then likely buy online if they can find some at a lower price elsewhere. Tier 2 brands typically sell online because they have to in order to survive.

Top tier brands typically do not spend their marketing dollars to drive prospects to multibrand stores. Why should they? The risk of sending a customer to a store to buy their brand only to have the customer leave with another is real.

While there are some tier one brands that sell through multibrand retailers, the trend is obvious. Keep in mind that Performance is failing in good economic conditions. When we have a downturn, who do you think is going to survive?

It is becoming more about survival of the fittest and those brands, in any industry, that have invested in grabbing the mindshare of the consumer, will most likely be here in 5 years and all others, more likely not.

As ARG Sports enters its 8th year it is with great pleasure we announce 4 new brands being added to the portfolio, along with Ceramic Speed and Astute saddle that were introduced in Spring 2018.

ARG is Canada's leading premium cycling distributor, working with product lines that are innovators, segment leaders and strong global brands. Alongside some of our top tier brands like Wilier, Corima, Cinelli, Motorex etc we could not be happier in our newly acquired relationships.

New Brands are as follows:

SRM Power from Germany created and leads the power meter marketplace. More World Tour pro riders use SRM than any other power meter. Their innovation continues to push them to the front of the segment and their unsurpassed accuracy in measurement makes them the all out leader, we are very happy to build a strong market for them in Canada. We are super excited to work with SRM Founder Uli and USA Manager Jeff to spread the SRM brand coast to coast.

Silca is a legendary brand born from the best floor pumps in cycling. Now they have expanded into tools, bags, cages and accessories that dominate the marketplace for premium products with a distinct edge in terms of quality. ARG Sports will cover the Eastern part of Canada, specifically the Province of Quebec and all territories East. Working with Silca CEO Joshua, David, Brandon and the rest of the Silca team will be a fantastic opportunity to grow the Silca brand in Canada

Peaty's was born from the World Cup Downhill racer Steve Peat. Looking to create the worlds first Biodegradable tire sealant that won't dry or ball up. They are quickly making a strong name for themselves working with Dimension Data World Tour team, Rocky Mountain bikes Enduro team and Dozens of downhill MTB pros. They have expanded their line to include super smooth chain lube, "Loam Foam" bike cleaners and degreasers. Having a great relationship with Bryn, Tom and of course Steve himself is such an honor.

O'Neal mountain bike is known for the partnership with Greg Minaar the multiple Downhill world champion and together they have created a world class line up of Mountain bike open face and full face helmets, clipless and flat pedal shoes, innovative goggles and cutting edge protection and apparel. Their patented IPX technology helps prevent rotation impacts in their helmets and also is utilized in much of the knee and body armour to mitigate impacts. We look forward to launching a very successful campaign. Getting to launch at Crankworx this past month with O'Neal Global sales manager Marco, Marketing Director Steve and the team has been a fantastic start to our roll out.

Joystick has been pushing the limits of control components for years and with athletes like Dimension Data World Tour road team, Loic Bruni 3X World DH Champ and the IBIS Enduro World Series team they are a force to be reckoned with. Handlebars, stems, pedals and bar tape are just a few items that offer class leading technology and in house R&D such as the Binary Carbon bars that allow Enduro level strength but XC level weight. We look forward to working with Chris Glew and his team to push Joyride far and wide.

More information: www.arg-sports.com

FRIEDRICHSHAFEN, Germany (BRAIN) — Eurobike has set the dates for the fifth edition of its Media Days event, which will be held July 2-4, 2019, at Kronplatz Mountain in South Tyrol, a region in the Dolomite Mountains in Northern Italy. As part of a new destination and tourism partnership between Eurobike and South Tyrol, the Hero Dolomites mountain bike marathon will also take place in the region on June 15, 2019.

Eurobike held its Media Days event at the popular cycling destination in 2017.

"Our idea of providing the industry with an exclusive, targeted platform for presenting the latest models of the coming year to a select group of press representatives ahead of the actual exhibition has blossomed into an absolutely obligatory event," said Eurobike head Stefan Reisinger. "We're very pleased to be cooperating with our South Tyrolean partners to shake up the region again in 2019 and to be extending those partnerships with custom-tailored events both in the southern Alps and at the Eurobike on the shores of Lake Constance."

Media Days connects manufacturers with media representatives from around the world in advance of the Eurobike show. Attendees will have the opportunity to see and test 2020 bikes and gear on Kronplatz Mountain's challenging trails and diverse terrain. The media event that took place here in 2017 drew a total of 24 manufacturers and 217 media representatives from 18 countries.

Eurobike will move back to its original early September time frame after being held in early July in 2018. Organizers settled on Sept.4-7, 2019, after first announcing dates in early August. A one-day consumer festival also returns in 2019.

SAN LUIS OBISPO, Calif. (BRAIN) — Lezyne’s Mega XL GPS is now available in five new limited-edition colors for riders seeking that matchy-match look on the road or trail.

The device has a large 200-by-400-pixel high-resolution screen and can be oriented either vertically or horizontally. The screen displays up to 10 data fields across five pages.

Maps from anywhere in the world can be downloaded and transferred to the Mega XL using the Lezyne GPS Root website or Lezyne GPS Ally phone app. Once users save and load an area, they can create routes, search for destinations, or find their way home without a data connection. The battery has a run time up to 48 hours.

The Ally phone app makes setup quick and simple, while also allowing riders to receive incoming phone calls, text messages and notifications from social media platforms. In addition to alerts, our GPS platforms sync with Strava, TrainingPeaks, or Today’s Plan to follow Strava Live Segments and custom, structured workouts.

Suggested retail: $199.

The Professional Bicycle Mechanics Association today announced the schedule for hands-on certification at CABDA West.

PBMA's Bicycle Mechanic Certification was initially rolled out in September at Interbike with about half the participants achieving a passing mark. PBMA's President James Stanfill said, "Our team had to sit down and debate whether the process was too hard. At the end of the day, and with input from education professionals, we agreed that our certification is based on process and safety and we are happy with where we are today."

The in-person testing involves essentially the mechanic demonstrating their proficiency at safely assembling a bicycle. They are given a bare frame (custom-built compact units by United Bicycle Institute), a SRAM group, and all the Park Tools necessary to build up the frame with the main components of a road bicycle. Each element of proper installation, torque spec, and attention to detail are scored individually, with a particular emphasis on safety. A 90-minute time limit is given to complete the build, with a 92.5% or better required score to pass.

Overall, PBMA Bicycle Mechanic Certification is a two-part process. Members and Non-Members alike must complete an online exam with a passing score of 90% or better. The online exam is then followed up with an in-person practical exam conducted in front of PBMA instructors.

To start the certification process, interested mechanics should visit: probma.org/store/p49/PBMA_Certification.

PBMA Members receive $150 off the $200 cost to become certified

PBMA is also hosting an educational summit during CABDA West with the goal to unite educators within the cycling industry and create a leadership platform focused on how technical education can be delivered and tie into generalized standards industry wide. Part of this summit is focused on training others on the PBMA Bicycle Mechanic Certification process. Details on the summit will be available next week for parties interested in attending.

Certification at CABDA is limited to 6 people per session with sessions being available:
Monday January 14th (9a, 12:30p, 3:30p), Tuesday January 15th (2p), Wednesday January 16th (6:30p), Thursday January 17th (10a, 1p, 4p), Friday January 18th (9a, 12:30p, 3:30p), and Saturday January 19th (9:30a). Future dates and times will be announced soon for PBMA's Philadelphia Technical Workshop and CABDA Chicago.

CABDA is free to attend for dealers (brick and mortar, mobile and service-only alike). To register for CABDA, please visit events.american-tradeshow.com/CABDA

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WILTON, Conn. (BRAIN) — Cannondale has released two new modern carbon hardtail framesets with retro color schemes, paying tributes to the brand's team bikes from decades past.

The new F-Si Hi-MOD framesets, with matching Lefty Ocho forks, are available in Viper Red or Team Blue Gloss.

The Viper Red version is a nod to the HeadShok-equipped hardtails ridden by Cannondale's MTB race team from 1994 through 1997, while the Team Blue color, with Yellow "quad-wrap" decals, recalls the CAAD3, CAAD4 and CAAD5 framesets raced from 1998 through 2002.

During its eight-year run, the Cannondale team racked up victories including 11 World Championships, 17 World Cup titles, 16 National Championships, 33 NORBA wins, two Olympic medals (Silver and Bronze), and two Pan-Am Games Gold medals. 

"It's been a fun 25 years. It's rad to see Cannondale remember the good old days with these frames. They bring back a ton of good memories," said Tinker Juarez, a long-time Cannondale mountain bike athlete. "I'm lucky to still be part of the Cannondale family. It was a dream then to get the support to do something I loved doing, and it's a dream now to still be doing it."

Peter Vallance, Cannondale's director of product management, said, "Like a lot of people, I was crazy about these bikes," said "These tribute framesets are basically a gift to my 15-year-old self."

The frames have the same features as the current F-Si, including OutFront geometry, the Ai rear triangle, Speed Release dropouts, and the Lefty Ocho, the world's first single-crown, single-sided suspension fork. The F-Si throwback frames will be available in sizes S – XL and will only 129 will be produced. They will retail for $4,500.

More information: cannondale.com.

WASHINGTON—Rails-to-Trails Conservancy has hired Ryan Chao, currently the vice president of the Center for Civic Sites and Community Change at the Annie E. Casey Foundation, will become the organization's third president. Chao will join RTC on Jan. 28.

"The board is incredibly enthusiastic about the rich perspective that Ryan will bring to Rails-to-Trails Conservancy and the entire trails movement," said Kate Kraft, RTC's board chair and executive director of America Walks. "At RTC, we have long believed in the power of trails — especially connected trail networks — to deliver far-reaching benefits to communities. Ryan's leadership will be powerful in engaging new sectors in the work to connect the nation by trail."

As vice president of the Center for Civic Sites and Community Change, Chao oversaw the Casey Foundation's multisector place-based strategies. Two projects of note for the trails movement include significant neighborhood transformation initiatives in Atlanta and Baltimore intended to link economic, educational and housing programs with outcomes focused on strengthening families and communities — communities that are also home to emerging trail networks, the Atlanta Beltline and the Baltimore Greenway Trails Network, an RTC TrailNation project.

Chao said, "Across the spectrum of my work in community change, access to safe places to walk and bike has proven to be a common need in all types of neighborhoods. I am inspired by the opportunity to connect my passion for social impact, my expertise in community reinvestment, and the promise trails hold as critical civic infrastructure.

"In its 32 years, RTC has made an invaluable impact on the country, making possible more than 34,000 miles of trail nationwide. I'm humbled and honored to lead the organization into its next chapter and to bring to this work a strong, diverse base of partnerships that can solidify trails as necessary infrastructure and vital community assets."

In May, RTC announced the retirement of the organization's long-time president, Keith Laughlin. 

LONGMONT, Colo. (BRAIN) — You may have noticed a new section at the top of our homepage: "For the Record." We added the section a few months ago and it was called "Announcements" until recently; consider that a soft opening. Now it's been renamed and moved up higher on the page to be more visible. This is the Grand Opening announcement. 

We created the section so we could post press releases that in our judgment would be valuable to our readers, while freeing up editorial staff time to report and write stories that merit more attention. In the past, BRAIN staffers have spent considerable time rewriting, fact checking and following up on some press releases of minimal news value, keeping us from working on more important stories. 

The press releases in For the Record are not edited, endorsed, or fact-checked by BRAIN editors, as we point out with a disclaimer at the top of each one. There is some editorial involvement, however: we review press releases as they arrive to make sure they are relevant for our audience and have some news value beyond being simple promotions like, "Big Widget Company announces free shipping this month."

Of course editors also look for press releases that contain significant news requiring reporting. Those might result in stories that post in our regular "Latest News" section of the website or elsewhere. Articles posted outside the "For the Record" section have a dateline and what we call the BRAIN Bug, like: "LONGMONT, Colo. (BRAIN) —." If someone is quoted or significant reporting and/or analysis was done, the article will also have the author's byline.

Now you are asking, "how do I get MY press release into your For the Record section or into the Latest News?"

There are more details on our Contact Us page, but the short answer is you can always email news tips or press releases to BRAIN. 

That link creates an email addressed to our editor-in-chief and managing editor. Also, there is contact information, including email and direct phone numbers, for our staff at bicycleretailer.com/staff-directory.

We look forward to hearing from you. 

HOUSTON (BRAIN) — Retailer Blue Line Bicycle Lab has moved out of its original Houston location, which it had leased for more than a decade, and has purchased a new space that more than doubles its previous footprint.

"It gives us a bigger, nicer service area and will allow us to carry close to double the inventory of the old store," said Fred Zapalac, who co-owns Blue Line with his brother, David.

Blue Line opened in 2005 in a storefront in the Houston Heights area that the brothers discovered during a road ride. They opened a second location six years ago that still operates in Houston's East End.

The brothers purchased the new Heights building, a former photography studio with high ceilings and 7,500 square feet of retail space, in July. It opened on Halloween following an extensive renovation that included removing tons of plaster lath and concrete, pouring a new slab inside, and installing new retail glass on the front of the building.

"We must have taken 20 Dumpsters of broken concrete out of here," Zapalac said.

Blue Line carries Jamis, Kona, Norco, Pivot, Pashley, Linus, Sunday and Tribe. It also brought on Cervélo just before the move. Zapalac credits the brand mix with enabling Blue Line to grow and become a property owner with the new location.

"We don't have any of the major Big Four brands, which I believe has allowed us to be more flexible and profitable over the years. Having midtier brands like Jamis and Kona — we've been loyal to them and they've been really loyal to us. Those companies really helped us be in a position where we can buy our own building and keep profiting and growing," he said.

WASHINGTON (BRAIN) — Öhlins and Specialized are working with the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission to recall about 6,000 Öhlins suspension forks that were included on some Specialized mountain bikes and sold in the aftermarket. 

The forks' air cartridges can come unthreaded and abruptly spring out of the stanchion tube, posing fall and injury risks. The companies have received four incident reports, including one that involved some injuries.

Consumers are being told to stop using bikes with the affected forks and contact an Öhlins or Specialized dealer for a free repair. 

About 5,400 of the forks were sold in the U.S. and 550 were sold in Canada.

Consumers can contact Öhlins at 877-922-3877 from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. ET Monday through Friday or online at www.ohlins.com and click on "Recall" for more information. They can contact Specialized Bicycle at 800-722-4423 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. ET Monday through Friday or online at www.specialized.com and click on "SAFETY NOTICES" for more information.

This recall involves Öhlins branded RXF36 Air and RXF34 Air suspension forks. They were original equipment on Specialized-branded Enduro, Stumpjumper, Fuse, and Levo mountain bikes. The recalled forks are black with "ÖHLINS" written in gold on each of the fork lowers. They have "RXF36" or "RXF34" printed across the fork arch. RXF36 Coil Forks (no air valve on the right-side top cap and "TTX" and "Coil" written on the back of the left fork lowers) are NOT included in this recall.

The bikes were sold from January 2016 through September 2018. The forks also sold as aftermarket products by Specialized retailers and other independent retailers including Jenson USA, Fanatik Bike Co. and backcountry.com. They were manufactured by A-pro Tech Co., Ltd, of Taiwan. 

More information: CPSC recall page | Canada recall page | Öhlins recall page | Specialized recall page.

Velotooler has announced that Terence Finn, an advisor and software industry executive, has been named CEO of the bike mechanic software platform. Terence is an experienced executive with prior success leading enterprise software businesses, and in running technology and product. He currently advises multiple startups in the software industry.

Yahor Buben, Velotooler's founder says "Our goal is to improves sales and service efficiency in the bicycle ecosystem through software and data. If you look at premium bicycles, there are a lot of parties involved in delivering a bike to a customer. And that means complexities in logistics and the end service providing to the bike user. That's why we are very exciting to have Terence as the new CEO of Velotooler. I couldn't be more excited about the plans and direction Terence is setting for the company."

Velotooler has over 140 certified and insured mobile mechanics nation-wide. These mechanics set their own prices for direct to consumer services and the company charges a transaction fee to facilitate operations and customer service. Enterprise customers receive fixed nationwide pricing, software integration and reporting for a subscription fee.

Terence Finn states that "Velotooler was started to get more people on bikes and to elevate the mechanic. According to research funded by People for Bikes, 47% of households don't have a working bike. While bike mechanics, a highly skilled job, get paid on average as much as a fast food worker."

In the last several months Velotooler has continued to improve their software by adding Shopify integration and will soon introduce an app marketplace that will include integration with products such as Lightspeed, Strava and others.

"My priorities include continuing to expand our coverage and quality across the US. To become the preferred platform for both independent mechanics and bike shops to manage service requests efficiently. Finally, to move to a SaaS business model where revenue generated from services is used to pay mechanics and to deliver exceptional customer service.", said Finn.

Petaluma, Calif, Nov 27, 2018 - Marin Mountain Bikes Inc. is pleased to announce a collaboration with the NorCal High School Cycling League with the new Team Marin model, oriented towards up-and-coming racers.

To launch the partnership, Marin will donate ten bikes to the League. Additionally, Marin will donate one bike to the League for every four that are sold at retail, with a goal of providing 50 bikes this season. All donated bikes will be used by the League to help give underprivileged student-athletes a start with the program. The Team Marin 29er hardtail is built to offer the most performance-to-value for up-and-coming cross-country racers. Built around a Series 3 aluminum frame, RockShox suspension and wide-range 11-speed SRAM drivetrain, the Team Marin is built with Marin's long racing heritage to make sure aspiring athletes have what they need to experience the joys of cross country racing.

"We are thrilled to partner with Marin Bikes for the 2019 NorCal High School Cycling League season," said Vanessa Hauswald, Executive Director of the NorCal League. "In addition to financial support that will benefit the continued growth and development of the League, the bikes that Marin is donating to us will go directly to our deserving, underprivileged student- athletes. We have already selected three students, who recently lost everything in the Camp Fire, to receive the first three bikes. We look forward to this partnership with Marin, and to the ways it will support our mission of growing the sport of high school cycling."

"This program helps get more kids on bikes, especially deserving ones," says Chris Holmes, Brand Director at Marin. "We love what Vanessa and the NorCal League have built in our backyard, and are very happy to help give back to the local mountain biking scene, especially high school racing."

The Team Marin will be available at Marin retailers starting in December 2018, with an MSRP of $1299. Marin Bikes, founded in 1986, believes that life is better with bikes. We are dedicated to improving the lives of our customers with fun, high caliber bicycles, which provide years of enjoyment. We operate a business based on passion, fueled by hard work, and fulfilled by the satisfaction of bringing the joy of cycling to our riders.

Learn more about Marin's critically acclaimed models at marinbikes.com.

Beresini Will Direct the Vision for Women's Running, Competitor Running, and VeloNews

Boulder, Colorado, USA — November 28, 2018 — Erin Beresini, Editor-in-Chief of Triathlete, has been promoted to Editorial Director of Magazine & Digital Media for Women's Running, Competitor Running, and VeloNews in addition to her current duties. In her new role, Beresini will coach the editorial vision for each brand, guide their editorial mix in relation to the marketplace, help develop their magazines and websites, and help launch new streaming video shows and podcasts.

Before becoming Triathlete's Editor-in-Chief in 2016, Beresini held positions as a fitness editor, online staff writer, and health and fitness columnist at Outside magazine. She has written for Outside, Men's Journal, Men's Health, Entrepreneur, Inspirato, espnW, and The New York Times. She published her first book, Off Course: Inside the Mad, Muddy World of Obstacle Course Racing with Houghton Mifflin Harcourt in 2014 and is a graduate of Stanford University's graduate program in journalism. Beresini is an accomplished endurance athlete, too, with 5 Ironman® finishes and an XTERRA® World Champion title in her age group. She has also raced an ÖtillÖ swim-run, the Zion 100 Mile Trail Run, the California Triple Crown, Spartan Ultra Beast, a solo 24-hour mountain bike race, and the Boston Marathon after qualifying.

"Erin's track record of success and leadership at the helm of Triathlete plus her entrepreneurial approach to media will enable our growth strategy for these brands," said Andrew Pemberton, CEO of Pocket Outdoor Media. "Erin's sense of what readers want and her eye for presenting that content will improve the audience we deliver for our partner brands."

"Working with all four of these top sports brands—several of which I grew up reading—is a dream come true," said Beresini. "I am thrilled to support them and their editorial missions heading into 2019 and beyond. Each brand has a unique, dedicated audience, and I look forward to working with our expert editorial teams to deepen our connection with those audiences through smart, editorially-driven products."

About Pocket Outdoor Media
Pocket Outdoor Media is the leading publisher in endurance sports. Pocket Outdoor Media brands influence and engage more athletes than any other through a combined print, online, and social audience of 44 million runners, cyclists, triathletes, and swimmers. Our brands include VeloNews, the authoritative voice of cycling; Triathlete, the world's #1 triathlon resource; Women's Running, the world's largest running magazine for women; Competitor.com, the most trusted website for runners; and VeloPress, the world's leading publisher of books on endurance sports. Pocket Outdoor Media is headquartered in Boulder, Colorado and has an office in San Diego, California. See more at pocketoutdoormedia.com.

By Colin Ross

Editor's note: Colin Ross is the global sales manager for Linus Bikes. This guest editorial is in response to the ASE bankruptcy and the guest editorial from Don DiCostanzo that BRAIN published earlier this week. 

The recent Chapter 11 bankruptcy filing by the owners of Performance Bicycle should be a wake-up call for every bike brand who thinks that a vertically integrated delivery process is the answer to their market struggles. Even with the competitive advantage of an established retail network, the manufacturing group with the 11th largest U.S. bike brand (as measured by IBD penetration) wasn't able to overcome the baggage that came along with the Performance stores and develop a successful retail strategy.

While I agree that shoppers are looking for a pleasurable shopping experience (and the data certainly supports that idea), consumers are also looking for confidence in their decisions. This confidence can come from being able to compare the options and choose the item that fits best. That's a sentiment that hasn't been lost on the most successful car dealerships. Even a cursory exploration of the top-volume auto groups in the U.S. shows that each auto group owns multiple dealerships representing a wide range of tier-one and tier-two brands, often clustered next to one another so that their customers can comparison shop without losing the sale. This is even more evident when you look at the struggles that single-branded stores have had in other retail areas. For every successful retail concept like Apple, you have a Samsung Experience Store, a concept that has evolved multiple times since its launch in 2013, but one that has still failed to grab consumers' attention in the same way that Apple has.

For single-branded retail to be successful, a consumer needs to either be nearly certain of their choice before they enter a store (like they are with Apple) or the perceived risk in choosing wrong needs to be low enough that they aren't worried about the consequences. I haven't lost sleep over my choice of coffee, and if Starbucks is wrong I can generally afford to buy a second cup of coffee. Neither of these conditions is true for the average bicycle buyer, which is why Apple can command 44 percent of the U.S. cellphone market, and by best estimates no major bike brand accounts for more than 25 percent of the U.S. IBD market.

What does this mean for the bicycle industry? Even if we accept Don's premise that " ... successful tier-one brands that have their own single-branded stores are clearly performing better than the rest of the industry," it's unclear that the causality runs the direction he claims. Does the ability to leverage brand size to take over more floor space in an existing successful retail store show that the brand is providing the success? That seems doubtful.

The strength of the bike industry is the "I" in IBD. By maintaining their independence, each retailer has the freedom to customize his or her selection to the local market in a way that a centrally run chain cannot. By evaluating your market you have the opportunity to build an appropriate portfolio composed of the right selection of tier-one and tier-two products, including product that focuses on categories that are overlooked by major brands. If you can accurately satisfy your niche, or attract a traditionally overlooked audience, you can ensure your consumers will pay the premium associated with immediate gratification.

If a so-called "top-tier" brand isn't spending its marketing dollars to drive prospects to your store, the answer isn't to realign yourself under their brand name but to find a partner that's willing to support you. Which is not to say that this is an easy decision for a brand. At Linus, we have spent a significant amount of time evaluating the trade-offs associated with driving consumers into multibrand IBD's. Even with the downsides Don cites, we have decided to forgo the revenue from online sales that is supposedly "necessary to survive," and realigned ourselves behind our multibrand IBD partners. Given the current evidence available, we have very little reason to believe that there is a sustainable future for the bike industry outside of the existing IBD channel.

As the bicycle market changes, it has evolved to survival of the fittest. When we have an economic downturn, who do you think will be best positioned to adapt? A retailer who has tied their success entirely to the decisions of one large brand, or one who has the flexibility of multiple brands, and the depth of product to survive the failure of any one partner? I think any dealer who was a Schwinn Total Concept Store would be happy to tell you the answer.

ASSOS of Switzerland has entered into a three-year partnership with Team Dimension Data as the team's technical cycling apparel supplier.

Effective from 1st January 2019, ASSOS will out t both Team Dimension Data for Qhubeka WorldTour licensed team and Team Dimension Data for Qhubeka Continental team, assisting them in winning the world's most important races.

ASSOS will be working closely alongside the riders to gather technical feedback on the products as they are raced in the most testing of environments. The riders will also be collaborating with ASSOS to assist in R&D for product innovation at the most elite level and to promote the #EquipmentNotClothing and #SponsorYourself brand ethos. Team Dimension Data for Qhubeka Continental team will form an extension of the ASSOS Werksmannschaft—the ASSOS internal test team—and through collating product feedback, ASSOS will continue to push the limits of cycling apparel.

Douglas Ryder, Team Dimension Data for Qhubeka Team Principal said:

"To have ASSOS partner with Team Dimension Data is a major coup for our organisation. The quality of their products is without peer and means that our riders will be kitted in the most technologically advanced products in the peloton.
Our partnership will go beyond just the supply of apparel though; as we will work closely with ASSOS in the research and development of new items while they deeply share our teams values through the association we have with the Qhubeka charity, in changing lives through bicycles.

The passion which the ASSOS team have already displayed with us is infectious and this mix will undoubtedly see us share many successes in the years to come."

Phil Duff, ASSOS Chairman and CEO said:

"The mission and ethos of Team Dimension Data pairs exceptionally well with our "Sponsor Yourself" revolution and the spirit within the team is outstanding. Of course, ASSOS will use all its resources to support the athletic goals of Team Dimension Data—we want to win races—but, in addition, our missions are aligned with regards to making the world a better place by getting more people on bikes."

Roche Maier, Créateur, Brand and Product Chief at ASSOS said:

"Racing at the top level has been in our DNA since the birth of the brand in the late '70s and is our raison d'être. Our main reason to partner with Data Dimension is not primarily the marketing exposure but the opportunity to integrate ASSOS Werksmannschaft test protocols inside the team and provide us with an ideal platform to stress test new technology & components.

With Team Dimension Data we have a WorldTour partner who not only shares an appetite for winning but developing future cycling technology."

ASSOS will produce both authentic and replica Team Dimension Data apparel kits based on the brand new S9 shorts platform. ASSOS will also produce products to support the mission of Qhubeka. Available from 2019.

PITTSBURGH (BRAIN) — Dick's Sporting Goods has reported an increased consolidated net income of $37.8 million for the third quarter ended Nov. 3, compared with $36.9 million during the same period in 2017. The company also reported a 16 percent increase in e-commerce sales for the quarter, with e-commerce sales accounting for about 12 percent of the company's total net sales, up 10 percent over the third quarter of 2017.

However, the company's third-quarter net sales were down 4.5 percent to approximately $1.86 billion, with consolidated same-store sales down 3.9 percent on a 13-week to 13-week comparable basis when adjusted for the calendar shift to account for the 53rd week in 2017. Third-quarter consolidated same-store sales decreased 0.9 percent in 2017.

But Dick's raised its 2018 earnings per diluted share guidance to $3.15 to $3.25, up from the previous range of $3.02 to $3.20.

"We are pleased to deliver another quarter of strong earnings. Our continued improvements in gross margin and disciplined expense management more than offset our strategic investments, and contributed to increased profitability compared to last year," said Edward W. Stack, Dick's chairman and CEO. "Comparable sales were within our range of expectations, including continued headwinds in the hunt and electronics categories. Our efforts have been focused on driving profitable sales and managing our business to deliver higher earnings. As a result, we are pleased to increase our fiscal 2018 earnings guidance for a third consecutive quarter."

Dick's opened six new stores during the third quarter, upping its count to 732 locations in 47 states, with about 33.8 million square feet.

For the year, Dick's reported slight 0.3 percent increase in net sales to approximately $5.94 billion, but consolidated same-store sales decreased 3.5 percent. The retailer sells bikes from GT, Schwinn, Mongoose, Strider, Pacific Cycles and others, as well as cycling parts, apparel and accessories.

Ketchum, Idaho (Nov., 27th, 2018) CrankTank is announcing June 18-23rd as the dates for the 2019 Sun Valley Media Summit, and it will be held in conjunction with Outerbike Sun Valley the same week.

This marks a larger partnership between CrankTank, a digital marketing and e-commerce agency with roots in the cycling industry, which also has a track record of producing successful media facing events, and Western Spirit, the team that produces Outerbike, the best rider focused outdoor consumer demo series held in iconic riding destination. By adding a consumer element to the media event, Impact Sun Valley can now offer more value to attending brands.

The appeal of introducing editors to new products is a draw in itself, but the bonus of then being able to unveil these same products for the buying public at the same venue only days apart creates a great one-two punch. This is especially crucial in our current ‘buy now’ direct-to-consumer economy that is driven by nearly instantaneous digital journalism and crowd sourced reviews.

“We received a lot of feedback from brands during our 2018 event,” said Adrian Montgomery, CrankTank vice president. “From the beginning, Impact Sun Valley was meant to serve as an omni-channel solution to the bike industry’s ‘go-to-market’ quandary as retailers and brands manage the DTC Shift that’s clearly underway in our business. The 2018 event was largely tailored to the media-focused touchpoints for attending brands. Given we have a strong communications business at CrankTank, this was a natural starting point, but to truly address the needs of brands that choose to offer their products directly or on consumer marketplaces, we have to bring the customer into that equation and allow them access to experience the product. Outerbike is the perfect venue for this, and since Western Spirit is also our preferred logistics partner, it all falls into place.”

“Western Spirit provides experiences for riders of all types, both at our Outerbike events and on our weekly trips in 15 states across the country from March to November, 2019. CrankTank’s media capabilities bring an additional dimension—a win win for both companies,” said Western Spirit CEO and Outerbike founder Ashley Korenblat. “Joining CrankTank and Outerbike in Sun Valley next summer will bring more values to our exhibitors and our participants.”

The National Interscholastic Cycling Association, NICA, will hold their annual directors’ meeting in Sun Valley during the same week as Impact and Outerbike. Having these grassroots cycling advocates convening at the same time will further elevate the networking opportunities and fuel conversations about growing cycling.

Bike industry veteran will create and oversee LEM's omnichannel sales approach, with a focus on specialty retail and ecomm as helmet brand continues its growth in North American market.

MORGAN HILL, Calif. (Nov. 28, 2018) – LEM Helmets, manufacturer of safe, stylish, and performance-driven cycling helmets for road, mountain biking, commute, and kids, welcomes Sam Whitley to the team as National Sales Manager. With a decade of sales and marketing experience in the cycling industry, Whitley will lead LEM's retail and sales program creation with Independent Bicycle Dealers (IBDs) and specialty shops, support ecomm and digital marketing, and oversee sales rep management.

"Sam's level of work experience and knowledge of sales and business in the cycling industry will be an asset to LEM as we continue to launch our brand and grow across numerous markets and sales channels," said Michael Grim, LEM Helmet's General Manager. "His proven track record in retail, product, ecomm, and marketing will help drive brand awareness across numerous touchpoints that support our mission of bringing fun and inclusiveness to cyclists who are passionate about life on two wheels."

Over the last 10 years, Whitley has held positions throughout the bike industry ranging from mechanic to product inventory manager and marketing director. Most recently, Whitley was the North American Aftermarket Sales Manager and Digital Marketing Manager at Kenda Tires, where he helped expand the brand's reach and acquire new customers across multiple sales channels. His diverse skillset and knowledge across all subsets of the cycling industry gives Whitley a uniquely broad perspective across brand and business operations that will support LEM's growth and awareness with consumers and brand fans.

"I am beyond excited to be joining the team at LEM. It's exceedingly rare to have an opportunity like this that blends great product, a knowledgable and qualified team, and the chance to grow from the ground up," said Whitley. "I'm looking forward to building greater awareness and community around LEM through sales and marketing as it aligns with the brand's mission."

LEM officially launched its design-forward bike helmet collection globally this past summer, gaining exposure and building momentum at both the Eurobike and Interbike tradeshows. The flagship family of products includes seven distinct helmets and 50 colorways in the road, mountain bike, commuter, and kids categories.

Helmets are currently available at lemhelmets.com, and additional retail sales channels will open nationwide in 2019.