TAIPEI, Taiwan (BRAIN) — Tern is now distributing its non-folding bike line, Roji, to markets outside of Japan.

The line of bikes with traditional diamond frames was originally sold only in Japan, but Tern said there was global demand for the bikes, which use 650c, 700c and 451 wheels. Select models will be available starting this spring in cities including New York, Paris, Hong Kong, Singapore, Taipei and Buenos Aires, the company said.

"At Tern, we're committed to building one of the world's leading urban cycling brands," said Joshua Hon, founder and team captain of Tern. "As we develop more product offerings in folding, electric and cargo, it's a natural progression to bring our design philosophy to classic city bikes as well. The Roji collection has been a runaway success in Japan, and we can't wait to bring it to the rest of the world."

The 2017 Roji lineup builds on last year's 650c and 700c offerings with two new 451 wheel models: the Tern Crest and the hydroform-framed Tern Surge. The small-wheeled bikes, called "mini velos," are a hybrid design combining traditional road frames and compact wheels and have become popular in Asian cities where space is at a premium.

"Our new Surge and Crest bikes are optimized for urban riding," Hon said. "What makes them great for Tokyo — size, performance, maneuverability and style — makes them perfect for Paris too."

Tern also is planning small-batch productions of some Roji designs, sporting radical styling and specs. For example, the Surge LTD features tri-spoke carbon fiber wheels, custom drop bars, and a global production run of only 50 units.

"Every time we post a teaser of the Surge LTD to our Facebook or Instagram accounts, it breaks the internet," Hon said. "The showpiece tri-spoke wheels are a bit of a flourish, but they shave grams off the stock model and offer a significant improvement in overall aerodynamics. They look pretty good too."

SAN FRANCISCO (BRAIN) — Volata Cycles, which received boatloads of media attention last year with the launch of its Model 1 smart bike, is launching a second model, the Model 1c, which will be delivered to U.S. consumers by Velofix mobile repair operations, where available.

The Model 1c wil retail for $2,499 with mechanical shifting and $2,999 with Shimano Di2 electronic shifting. Volata is now taking $299 online reservation deposits, with delivery planned to start in September and the balance due upon delivery.

Velofix will assemble, deliver and service the bikes in the U.S. Customers pay $290 for the assembly and delivery, which includes a first safety check by Velofix 30 days after the bike has been delivered. If a Velofix location isn't available in the customer's region, Volata will ship the bike directly to customers.

The new model integrates a computer, lights and safety features into "an elegant, cohesive Italian design," the company says.

The Model 1c is a flat-bar road bike with 700x35 tires and flat pedals. It has a belt drive and internal gear hub. Its handlebar-mounted computer provides information including riding metrics, turn-by-turn navigation, weather forecast, music, heart rate, smartphone notifications and more. A GPS-based anti-theft system informs the owner if anyone tries to steal the bike by sending real-time notifications to the user's smartphone. The system also sounds a loud alarm if the bike is moving while it shouldn't be.

A dynamo front hub charges the bike's internal battery, and integrated front and rear lights automatically turn on when it gets dark. 

"We live in an era of connected devices with new innovations daily. For people using the bicycle to get from A to B, functionality hasn't changed in decades. The U.S. represents a market where daily bike commuting is growing at a fast pace, as the transition to sustainable transport is finally happening. We want to make bike commuter's lives better with a perfect product," said Marco Salvioli, co-founder and CEO at Volata.

The 1c will be available in four sizes, two colors, and with men's or women's saddle. The company is planning multiple pop-up demo events throughout the U.S. and Canada this year to promote the bike. 

More information: volatacycles.com.

TAIPEI, Taiwan (BRAIN) — Lintaman, a new brand based in Taichung, Taiwan, is now working with PowWord Communications, a U.S. marketing communications firm owned by industry veteran Tim Jackson. 

Lintaman's first product is a line of cycling shoes, but the brand's owner, Chris Lintaman, plans to expand into other products. Lintaman is the former vice president of ASI Asia.

"We're really happy to work with Tim, having met him years ago when he also worked with ASI, and look forward to seeing how he can help us communicate our unique brand story," Lintaman said. 

Lintaman's shoe designs feature the Adjust Pro Plus system, which allows cyclists to adjust the shoes' length and width. An adjustable side wing and heel cup can slide in or out of the shoe.

"We're really not a 'shoe company,' per se," Lintaman said. "We're only interested in bringing products to market where we can apply our relentless design philosophy to make significant improvements. Shoes were a convenient first product, but we have several other products that we're working on." 

Lintaman shoes are now available in stores across Asia and in select stores in Europe, and will at first be available consumer direct via their website in North America, the U.K. and Australia. The company is working to develop distributor and retailer partnerships in those countries. Dealer and distributor inquiries can be sent to chris@lintaman.com or sugar@powwordcommunications.com.

AUSTIN, Texas (BRAIN) — Spin, a San Francisco-based bike share company, is launching a new bike share system here that requires no kiosks, or stations. Riders — who can borrow a bike for $1 per ride — can pick up and leave a bike almost anywhere. 

Spin said the stationless system has already been proven in China, and Spin has been running a limited beta test in San Francisco. The company plans to roll out 300-500 bikes in Austin eventually.

Users can find available bikes on their phone, scan one with their phone, and receive a code to unlock the bike. When they're done, they can park it and scan it again to lock it up and save its location to the system. 

SAN FRANCISCO (BRAIN) — Spinlister, which began as an online peer-to-peer bike rental platform (something like Airbnb for bikes) has signed a long-term agreement with Blazing Saddles, which may be the country's largest bike rental operation. Blazing Saddles has 11 rental locations in San Francisco and New York City, with more than 2,000 bikes to rent across its locations.

Spinlister announced Spinlister Pro, its bike rental system for IBDs, last October. 

Blazing Saddles locations are now using Spinlister Pro technology, which includes customer-facing kiosks with iPads and an online dashboard. Consumers can rent bikes at the kiosks or ahead of time via the company's website or mobile app.

"When it comes to better serving our customers, increasing efficiency and decreasing wait times are paramount," said Bruno Wanderley, vice president of operations at Blazing Saddles. "Spinlister Pro's customer-facing kiosks have helped us reduce sign-up times by over 50 percent, and their rental management software ensures that our customers receive an optimal rental experience from start to finish."

"Spinlister is thrilled to bring our experience and expertise in the sharing economy to bike shops like Blazing Saddles," said Spinlister CEO Marcelo Loureiro. "The Spinlister Pro in-store solution continues our pursuit of making cycling more accessible around the world, and our partnership with Blazing Saddles only furthers that mission."

Spinlister Pro handles everything from payments, contracts and bike selection to theft and damage protection.

"Customer satisfaction is critical to our success," says Wanderly. "With Spinlister Pro's deposit authorization and protection features, our customers don't have to worry about large holds on their credit cards, and we can breathe easy knowing our bikes are protected."

Blazing Saddles will be installing Spinlister Pro kiosks at all of its San Francisco and New York locations.

More information: spinlister.com/bikeshops.

SAN FRANCISCO (BRAIN) — Chrome Industries' new Welterweight Collection of bags feature the brand's traditional styles made with lighter weight materials that the company says are just as durable. To save weight, the brand even developed a new aluminum version of its trademark seat buckle-style strap buckle. 

"In the world of boxing, Welterweight sits between Heavyweight and Featherweight. Not the lightest bags that Chrome makes, but certainly far lighter than their predecessors. Chrome worked tirelessly with designers and their production team to source the lightest materials they could find without sacrificing strength and durability," the company said. 

The Welterweight bags use 500 dernier nylon exterior material and 400 dernier tarpaulin lining — fabric is 50 percent lighter than that of the non-Welterweight versions of the same bags.

The Welterweight bags uses a new aluminum buckle that weighs about half of Chrome's traditional buckles. The company said extensive stress and load bearing tests have proven it can perform as well as its steel predecessor.

The new collection is guaranteed for life. More information at chromeindustries.com/blog-article-welterweight.

VENTURA, Calif. (BRAIN) — Zeitbike is now the exclusive U.S. distributor of Full Windsor, a multi-tool brand from Leeds, U.K. Full Windsor had previously been distributed by several other U.S. distributors.

The Full Windsor multi-tool offers increased leverage and sturdiness compared to most multi-tools. It has 12 hex bits, screwdrivers, tire levers, and spoke keys. It includes magnetic bits and extensions, steel core tire leavers, a small bag to mount on the top tube and a bottle opener. 

At the Yorkshire bicycle show in 2016, Full Windsor received the “Best Bicycle Accessory” award.

The Full Windsor range consists of both a chain breaker tool set called “The Breaker” and a 15mm nut wrench / box head spanner called “The Nutter.” Each retail at $59.95 and offer keystone or better dealer margin, according to Zeitbike.

The brand will release a new model this summer called “The Muncher.” It is an outdoor product multi-tool and feature a “spork,” knife, and other tools.

More information at zeitbike.com or call 877-612-2212. 

VANCOUVER, British Columbia (BRAIN) — Ventum, a high-end triathlon bike brand, is the latest bike company to join the Velofix Direct program. Velofix mobile repair operations will assembly and deliver Ventum bikes ordered online. 

"At Ventum, our number one focus is customer experience," said Ventum's director of marketing, Neville Mehra. "That includes much more than making the fastest, safest triathlon bikes. It starts during the sales process, before the customer even sits on the bike for the first time. With that in mind, we've chosen to partner with only the best bike shops in the country. However, not all our customers live near one of those shops, so we also sell our bikes direct, via our website. In the past, that has meant shipping the bike to the customer in a box, which is not a great customer experience. That's why we are thrilled to announce our new partnership with Velofix. Now, when a customer orders a bike direct from Ventum, they will have the option to have Velofix assemble, deliver, fit, and service their bike — all from the comfort of home." 

Velofix's Ward Grootjans said, "Velofix is proud to add Ventum to the Velofix Direct program. Ventum and Velofix have a very similar philosophy; putting customer satisfaction and performance as the number one focus. When you see a Ventum bike for the first time, you know that it is built for high performance. The same goes for our Velofix services: once you have tried Velofix, you understand the quality and convenience we bring to the customer. We do not only deliver the bike to the customer, but we will also make sure the bike is fitted and perfectly tuned. After 30 days Velofix provides a complimentary tune up. If a customer ever needs service, warranty support or wants to have the bike transported, we are there to support them." Grootjans is Velofix' vice president of global business development. 

Velofix' CEO and co-founder Chris Guillemet said, "Offering a full range of services for the lifecycle of each bike purchased using Velofix Direct is important to us. Customers should know the simplicity and convenience of the process and that Velofix will be there to fulfill their needs long after the delivery of the bike."

Other Velofix Direct brands include BH, Blue, Eddy Merckx Cycles, Ellsworth, Evo, Franco Pure Cycles, Simcoe, Spot, Turner and Van Dessel. Niner is part of the program in Canada.

SENNFELD, Germany (BRAIN) — Susanne Puello, a long-time managing director of the Winora Group, is leaving the company, citing "Irreconcilable differences regarding the new reorganization activities ('refined strategy') of the Dutch Accell Group." Accell Group is the parent of Winora, which manages the Haibike, Sinus, and E. Wiener Bike Parts brands. Puello is the granddaughter of the founder of Winora. 

"After an unprecedented success story, I leave the company with a heavy heart," Puello said in a statement Monday. "Until the last minute, Winora Group was characterized by the charm of a family business, of close ties to the specialist retail industry, distributors and suppliers. Starting today, however, I will look for new challenges."

WATKINSVILLE, Ga. (BRAIN) — Tifosi Optics has a new website, at tifosioptics.com, that the company said features a new user-friendly interface that retailers and consumers will appreciate.

The site offers seamless functionality on mobile or desktop browsers, the company said. It also includes social media integration, a blog section and an enhanced athlete ambassador profile page.

“We are extremely excited to roll out our new website and what it means for our continued online presence,” said Jorge Verdin, Tifosi’s marketing director. “We crafted this with our consumers in mind, ensuring that it is interactive, engaging, and responsive throughout. Tifosi makes outstanding sunglasses, and we wanted to be sure to translate the level of quality and commitment that we have to our products throughout every facet of our website.”

The company also announces a new sunglass style for the spring season, the Synapse.

The Synapse has “an open lens frame design that fuses lightweight comfort with an unparalleled field of vision. With trademark Tifosi technology and sport-focused design, Synapse will jolt both the market and athletes alike,” the company said.

The Synpapse features Tifosi’s Grilamid TR-90 frame coupled with shatter-proof, scratch-resistant, and optically de-centered polycarbonate lenses. It has adjustable ear and nose pieces, a hydrophilic rubber coating to keep the sunglasses in place, and vented lenses to increase airflow to prevent fogging.

It is offered in three colorway and two interchangable lens options. It retails for $69.95-$79.95 depending on options.

WATERLOO, Wis. (BRAIN) — Trek Bicycle has unveiled a custom paint scheme that highlights the personality and talents of Trek-Segafredo star, John Degenkolb. The company has also announced a new model, the Domane SLR Race Shop Limited Disc, which features the company's Pro Endurance geometry, which has a longer, lower position than Trek's Endurance geometry. 

Degenkolb will race his custom Domane SLR throughout the Spring Classics, the German's specialty. The paint scheme pays tribute his passion for classic café racer motorcycles. Conceptualized by Trek graphic designer Micah Moran, the design takes cues from Degenkolb's own custom motorcycles.

The John Degenkolb Café Racer Domane is available now through Trek's Project One custom shop. The paint scheme is available on the Domane SLR and SLR Disc platforms, in addition to the Domane SLR Race Shop Limited and the new Domane SLR Race Shop Limited Disc.

SEATTLE, Wash. (BRAIN) — RacerMate Inc., which announced this month that it would stop making its CompuTrainer stationary trainers, is establishing a membership program to ensure that current trainer owners will be able to get replacement parts "virtually indefinitely."

For a $100 three-year membership, owners will be able to buy replacement parts online for 50 percent off the standard retail price. The company said that, much like a crowd funding program, the proceeds from the sale of the memberships will fund the purchase and stocking of replacement parts.

"The people we will be supplying have often had a CompuTrainer for 10 or 15 years. They don't know when a part is going to be needed and neither do we, and we don't have funds to invest $100,000 in spare parts unless we are confident there is genuine interest," said Chuck Wurster, the vice president of RacerMate Inc.

He said if there is interest he expects to stock virtually all CompuTrainer parts, including load generators, cables, power supplies and handlebar controllers. 

Orders for the membership need to be placed online no later than May 31. The membership page is on the RacerMate website. Members will receive login information for the area where they can purchase their parts at the discount; they will be notified 30 days prior to their agreement expiration so they can then choose if they wish to extend the agreement for the same terms.

Wurster noted that the company continues to manufacture and sell its lab-quality Velotron stationary bike, which sells for about $12,000. The Velotron is used by sports physiology labs around the world and Wurster said the company is assessing whether there is market to sell the machine as a premium, luxury-quality consumer trainer. Besides lab-quality accuracy and durability, Wurster said the Velotron has a smooth ride feel that is distinctly better than consumer trainers, in part because of its 50-pound flywheel. 

RacerMate Inc. is a wholly owned subsidiary of FloScan Instrument Co. Inc., which makes fuel flow instruments used in boats, aircraft and other applications. Wurster said that while there were layoffs as a result of stopping CompuTrainer production, some employees who were involved with CompuTrainer are now focused on FloScan business. 

SAN FRANCISCO (BRAIN) — Echos Communications has announced that it will serve as the North American public relations agency of record for Adidas Sport Eyewear.

"Everything we do is rooted in active, outdoor lifestyle and the focus of Adidas Sport Eyewear on ski, run, bike and performance lifestyle aligns perfectly with Echos as an agency," said Echos' founder and managing director, Rob Reedy. "We are honored to be partnering with this iconic global brand."

Adidas Sport Eyewear this week also released a new model, the Horizor. The Horizor offers lifestyle styling combined with technical features that makes it applicable for sports, the company said.

"Whether running on a narrow trail through the forest, slicing the asphalt on a bike or simply strolling through town with a coffee in your hand, the Horizor will make a great impression all day long," the company said.

The model features Double-Snap Nose Pads or Traction Grip on the inside of the temples for a customized and secure fit. The lightweight, flexible, and shatterproof SPX frame provides long-lasting comfort and can take a beating during activities, Adidas said. The Quick-Release Hinge temples can snap away under load to avoid damage.

The Horizor is available with mirrored 8-base Vision Advantage PC lenses in various colors or Adidas' Light Stabilizing Technology to harmonize light fluctuations and prevent eye fatigue. Basic lens variations are also available.

The frame of the Horizor is prescription-ready, with direct in-frame glazing or clip-in inserts.

It is available in six different color and filter combinations, starting at $99. 

More information: adidassporteyewear.com.

WASHINGTON (BRAIN) — A handful of retailers joined NBDA and PeopleForBikes executives to visit a dozen congressional office here last week. The group talked to policy makers about the impact of the bike industry and about the NBDA's priorities.

"Our industry has a great story to tell about jobs, technology, and our connection to small business, the contributions we make to tax revenues and the ways we help strengthen America's economy," said Todd Grant, the NBDA's president, in a statement this week.

Joining Grant on the visit were retailers Josh Harrod of Tin Shed Sports, Steven Fluhr of M&M Cyclery, and Brandee Lepak of Global Bikes. Lepak is the chair of the NBDA board. Jennifer Dice of PeopleForBikes also joined.

Grant said the focus for the vist was preserving the debit card reforms passed six years ago.

"These debit reforms have brought competition, transparency and predictability into the market by requiring networks to compete for merchant business for the first time and placed a cap on what the largest banks could collect in interchange on debit transactions," Grant said. "In an industry like ours, where most transactions are done on a credit or debit card and for many 'swipe fees' are the 3rd or 4th greatest expense, maintaining this legislation is highly important."

The group met with Senate and House staff. Besides the debit card issue, Grant said the group talked about "e-fairness" (state sales tax collection from e-commerce retailers) and the potential impact of a Border Adjustment Tax on an industry that is almost exclusively dependent on imports.

MELBOURNE, Australia (BRAIN) — Dutch Cargo Bike, an Australian distributor of cargo and urban bikes —  has taken over all responsibility for distributing Tern bicycle in Australia, effective this month.

"At Tern, we build bikes that help people get around in cities. With the launch of our Vektron ebike, and Cargo Node cargo bike, we're serious about leading the urban cycling market, with the world's most useful folding, cargo, and electric bikes," said Joshua Hon, the founder and team captain of Tern. "Dutch Cargo Bike has built an incredible reputation for developing and supporting utility bike brands in the Australian market. We couldn't ask for a better partner."

Emmy Heikamp, the co-founder of Dutch Cargo Bike, said, "At Dutch Cargo Bike, our philosophy is to help people find the right bike to fit their life. Whether family bikes, business bikes, commuter bikes or bikes for an adventure. Different riders need different rides. Folding bikes unlock cycling for a whole new category of people — people who value a bike that you can bring anywhere. Tern strikes a ride-it-to-believe-it balance between ride quality and portability, which we believe is the winning formula for Australia. We can't wait to get them to market."

Dutch Cargo Bike plans to exhibit at the upcoming events: 

• Brisbane QLD test day, April 1
• Canberra SA test day, April 15
• Melbourne VIC showroom opening, end of April. 

CHICAGO (BRAIN) — SRAM has promoted Riki Bloomquist to the newly established technical training manager position. Bloomquist began with SRAM in 2010 as a dealer service representative and most recently served as a training specialist.

In his new role he will operate within SRAM's marketing team, in collaboration with product development, to develop technical training content and methods of delivery for education on SRAM's products and technologies. He will primarily target internal and external customers who serve the technical education, service and support roles.

Bloomquist will be based in SRAM's Chicago headquarters, reporting directly to David Zimberoff, SRAM's VP of marketing.

"Riki will be defining and delivering our technical product training messaging for global continuity, which will provide our training teams consistent and correct messaging," said Zimberoff.

Bloomquist said, "I'm excited to get people engaged, educated, and aligned." 

TAIPEI, Taiwan (BRAIN) — WTB has added a 32mm tread pattern to its family of Exposure Road TCS tires. The family combines WTB's Road TCS (Tubeless Compatible System) technology with larger-than-usual volumes.

The Exposure 32 joins the 30 and 34mm Exposure tires. 

"The Exposure 32 tread pattern compliments its 30 and 34 siblings, fitting right in between the smoother and more road-going 30 and the mixed-condition 34 tires," said Will Ritchie, WTB's OEM drop bar manager. "A progressive transition to slightly more open side tread allows for better wet weather grip and enough bite to assist in smoother dirt conditions – combined with our tubeless Supple Casing, the Exposure 32 is an excellent distance tire for pavement and broken blacktop with enough volume and tread to not be out of place seeing some dirt use too."

WTB Exposure 32 Road TCS tires feature WTB's Supple Casing and Distance+ Compound with preproduction sample weights of 315 grams. The Exposure 32 Road TCS tire retails for $79.95, as do the Exposure 30 and 34 tires. WTB recommends pairing the Exposure 32 with its Frequency CX i19 or KOM i21 rims for a complete TCS setup. 

More information at wtb.com.

WASHINGTON (BRAIN) — Look Cycle is recalling about 800 Look Cycle Aerostems sold separately or as original equipment on some road bikes from model year 2014 through 2017. The carbon fiber stems have stainless steel clamps that can corrode and break, according to the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission.

The stems were included on Look model 695 and 795 bikes. They are made of black carbon fiber material with a black steel clamp around the handlebars. Recalled models have either no number or the number 380706 printed in white on the bottom of the clamp. A complete list of photos of the recalled stems and bike models can be found on the firm's website at lookcycle.com/en/safety-notice.

The firm has received one report of the stainless steel clamp on an Aerostem breaking. No injuries have been reported. According to the company's recall notice, it is replaceing the stems with a new model.

Consumers are being told to immediately stop using bicycles with the recalled Aerostems and return them to the place of purchase for a free repair. Consumers unable to return their bicycles should contact Look Cycle for instructions on receiving a free repair.

The stems were sold from July 2013 through December 2016 for about $500 for the stems sold individually and for between $5,500 and $16,000 installed as original equipment on Look Cycle road 695 and 795 bikes.

The stems were imported by Hawley LLC and manufactured in France and Switzerland.

More information: Look Cycle Recall Notice | CPSC notice. 

TREVISO, Italy (BRAIN) — The private equity firm L Catterton has closed on the transaction to purchase a majority stake in Pinarello, an investment the companies announced last December. 

L Catterton, which claims to be the largest global consumer-focused private equity firm in the world, is headquartered in Connecticut. The luxury brand conglomerate LVMH, the owner of Louis Vuitton and other brands, is a part owner of L Catterton.

Fausto Pinarello remains CEO of Pinarello and continues to lead the business from its Treviso headquarters. He also maintains a "relevant" stake in the company. The transaction was conducted jointly by L Catterton Europe and L Catterton North American Growth funds.

"I am extremely pleased to announce the closing of the deal today: it represents a new beginning," said Pinarello. "This investment aims at reinforcing the company, supporting the development and growth of the Pinarello brand at a global level."

Pinarello was founded in 1952 by Fausto's father, Nani Pinarello.

Pinarello has revenues of 52 million euros ($56 million) in its last fiscal year. The company has more than 50 employees and produces 30,000 bikes and frames per year.

CAPE TOWN, South Africa (BRAIN) — Protective gear maker Leatt Corporation recorded sales of $16.4 million last year, down from $18.3 million the year before. The company recorded a net loss of $455,000 last year.

The company is headquartered in South Africa and its stock is traded on OTCQB market. 

Leatt CEO Sean Macdonald said the strong American dollar last year slowed European sales of Leatt's body armor and neck braces. He said sales in the U.S., Australia/Asia and the Middle East increased marginally last year and noted that revenues from helmet sales increased by 12 percent year over year. The company's new apparel and glove ranges for off-road motorcycle and mountain bikes generated $1.1 million in sales. 

He said Leatt continued to meet its working capital needs from cash on hand and cash flow from operations. At December 31, 2016, the company had cash and cash equivalents of $1.1 million and there was no long-term debt.

"As we signaled in previous quarters, we expected that our 2016 revenues would be less robust than prior period revenues due to worldwide currency fluctuations, especially the increase in the value of the U.S. dollar against the Euro, the currency of our primary international customers," said Macdonald. "While we expect these conditions to stabilize over time, we are continuously evaluating pricing and marketing strategies globally in order to remain competitive in international markets. Our strategic goal remains to create a comprehensive catalogue of uniquely engineered and designed protective gear that builds on the reputation of our life-saving and award-winning Leatt neck braces."

"We are encouraged by our 2017 performance so far," Macdonald said. "Many of our European distributors had strong sales during the Christmas period and we are now starting to see re-orders to replenish inventories. We continue to fine-tune our network and have appointed new distributors in some European areas and Central America during the first quarter of 2017. We are also aggressively building our bicycle distribution network globally as we grow our bicycle-related pipeline. Furthermore, during the period, we continued to build our sales management and in-store representation in the U.S. market. While we have a tremendous amount of work in front of us, the reception being received by our new products has made for a strong first quarter and is very encouraging for our team."

He said Leatt will begin shipping its DBX 3.0 range of bicycle helmets in the first half this year.