Dean Yobbi

Dean's love of bikes bloomed after receiving a Schwinn Pea Picker Krate for Christmas 1972. After escaping serious injury despite that model having a Hurst-inspired stick shift mounted on the top tube, he moved on to BMX bikes and racing. Discovering girls in his late teens, he abandoned his bike somewhere in the front yard, probably upside down by the rake.

It wasn’t until middle age and excessive weight began to creep when Dean returned to cycling, specifically off-road riding in South Florida. As the weight came off, his love of cycling took off and soon one bike became three, one-hour rides became four and leisurely solo rides became 26-person races through the woods until somebody puked.

Dean is a 30-year veteran of the Florida newspaper wars, most recently at the Miami Herald as an editor for 16 years, where he was privileged to rub elbows with some of the country’s finest writers and fellow editors. Dean began his career as a staff writer for The Palm Beach Post, covering sports.

He still enjoys racing, particularly 12-hour solo events on a singlespeed, and participating in gran fondos on his road bike.

All articles by Dean Yobbi

November 5, 2020
The multi-sport e-commerce brand with a growing dealer network will move to a 200,000-square-foot distribution center outside of LA in early 2021.
With bike sales leading the way, Retrospec will expand footprint.

LOS ANGELES (BRAIN) — With product line and revenue growing, it was only a matter of time before Retrospec grew out of its Los Angeles home.

Posted in Retail News
November 2, 2020

GRAND JUNCTION, Colo. (BRAIN) — From serving as home of cycling companies to being amid some of the country’s best road routes and mountain bike trails, Grand Junction is considered by many as a cycling mecca.

Posted in Industry News
October 23, 2020

FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. (BRAIN) — Sam Nehme might own Broward Motorsports, but he's a mountain biker at heart.

"I've always been on a Specialized, and I really wanted to have the full line (of bikes) and be a full-on store," Nehme said.

Posted in Retail News
October 7, 2020
Swiftmile has installed 200 solar-powered stations in the U.S. and Europe.

SAN CARLOS, Calif. (BRAIN) — Winning a Christmas raffle six years ago changed Colin Roche’s life and quest.

Posted in Industry News
October 7, 2020
Erick Cedeño will contribute social media content, promote and organize cycling initiatives.
 Erick Cedeño joined Blackburn Design as a brand ambassador.

SANTA CRUZ, Calif. (BRAIN) — What began as an Instagram comment encouraging Blackburn Design to adopt a more inclusive marketing message quickly developed into a partnership between the 45-year-old company and a cycling pioneer with a far reach.

Posted in Industry News
October 2, 2020
Ridepander co-owners Chinmay Malaviya, left, and Charlie Depman.

SAN FRANCISCO (BRAIN) — Long before Chinmay Malaviya and Charlie Depman met and formed an online marketplace for electric vehicles, they worked for environmental nonprofits in India and China. Their passion to reduce pollution and slow climate change led to a partnership to create Ridepanda.

Posted in Retail News
October 1, 2020
Former LA County Bicycle Coalition director Tamika Butler addresses social injustice during the Virtual Bicycle Leadership Conference.
Tamika Butler.

BOULDER, Colo. (BRAIN) — Tamika Butler gave fair warning early to the 300-plus attendees of her Virtual Bicycle Leadership Conference address Wednesday morning.

"If you are timid about hearing about blackness and about hearing about race, this probably wasn't the morning session for you," said Butler, an avid cyclist and former executive director of the Los Angeles County Bicycle Coalition.

Posted in Industry News
September 18, 2020
Cycling apparel company opens visitor center to showcase Old Fort's outdoor potential

OLD FORT, N.C. (BRAIN) — If the town needed another sign that the Old Fort Ride House was quickly taking shape, it got one — literally — in late July when a wooden Pisgah National Forest sign arrived on loan from the Forest Service during an employee training day.

Posted in Industry News
September 17, 2020
Jeff McGuane

IRVINE, Calif. (BRAIN) — Jeff McGuane’s credentials fit Fox Racing like a pair of its gloves. From president of Cycling Sports Group to U.S. general manager at Specialized Bicycles, McGuane’s 26-year industry career seems perfectly tailored for someone wanting to restyle the iconic apparel brand upon his arrival as CEO last year.

Posted in Industry News
September 10, 2020
Black Ox tire sealant contains carbon fiber strands.

OXFORD, N.C. (BRAIN) — A company with expertise in speciality coatings containing carbon, quartz, and ceramic fibers certainly would seem to have the ideal background to formulate an effective tire sealant.

Posted in Product/Tech

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