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

March 26, 2020
Sycamore Cycles says it's doing what's necessary to slow spread of COVID-19.
Sycamore Cycles posted this on its Facebook page.

PISGAH FOREST, N.C. (BRAIN) — Wes Dickson and staff are taking one for the team.

That team being the small Pisgah Forest community they have served at Sycamore Cycles the past two decades.

Posted in Retail News
March 24, 2020
In the meantime, the component maker aids with PPE manufacturing.

ASHEVILLE, N.C. (BRAIN) — When trying to help during the COVID-19 pandemic, the last obstacle a company wants to encounter is red tape. Yet, that's what Industry Nine has in front of it.

Posted in Industry News
March 23, 2020
Kitsbow Cycling Apparel is manufacturing face shields and masks.

OLD FORT, N.C. (BRAIN) — Kitsbow Cycling Apparel told its employees after moving from California that job duties constantly would evolve to reflect an ever-changing product line.

Three months and one pandemic later, have they ever.

Posted in Industry News
March 19, 2020

BOULDER, Colo. (BRAIN)— A typical busy Saturday during the spring will challenge even the most organized bike retailer’s staff.

Posted in Retail News
March 18, 2020

VANCOUVER, British Columbia (BRAIN) — A bike store manager was injured a year ago in Chino, California, trying to stop two men stealing a bike, and it’s the type of story that makes Vancouver detective Rob Brunt wince.

Posted in Retail News
March 17, 2020
Part of package of stories about smash and grab break-ins.
Bike Index and 529 Garage give retailers a way to pre-register their bikes at once.

PORTLAND, Ore. (BRAIN) — The way J Allard sees it, 529 Garage is a combination of crimewatch, crime stoppers and motor vehicle registration. And it, along with Bike Index, might be the best way for retailers to protect their bikes.

Posted in Retail News
March 16, 2020
UPDATED with billboard images.
One of two Lamar Outdoor billboards James Moore will have to promote cycling.

HATTIESBURG, Miss. (BRAIN) — Much like the spread of COVID-19, psychological effects of social distancing only figure to get worse before they get better, according to James Moore.

Posted in Retail News
March 16, 2020
Aaron Goss integrated bikes into securing the windows of his shop in Seattle.

HATTIESBURG, Miss (BRAIN) — When it comes to preventing smash and grab retail theft, James Moore and Aaron Goss took matters into their own hands.

Posted in Retail News
March 15, 2020
The internet age has helped bike thieves organize networks to sell stolen goods from retailers quickly and efficiently.
 Sports Garage Cycling experienced a smash and grab last year.

VANCOUVER, British Columbia (BRAIN) — A bike store manager was injured a year ago in Chino, California, trying to stop two men stealing a bike, and it’s the type of story that makes Vancouver detective Rob Brunt wince.

Posted in Retail News
March 12, 2020
The worsening of COVID-19 has some shop owners in the hardest hit areas wondering what's next.

SYOSSET, N.Y. (BRAIN) — Italy shutting down all non-essential businesses this week in an attempt to slow the spread of COVID-19 got the attention of Howard Chung.

Chung, owner of The Bicycle Planet in Long Island, told BRAIN on Thursday about a customer he helped in the morning who is from Milan.

Posted in Retail News

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