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

January 26, 2022

GARDENA, Calif. (BRAIN) — After 50 years of selling and preaching the benefits of wool cycling clothing, John Kucharik Jr. is leaving the industry.

Kucharik Bicycle Clothing will close on Thursday, 88 years after his dad, John Kucharik Sr., began the business. Kucharik Sr. died in 2008 at age 93.

Posted in Industry News
January 25, 2022

VENICE BEACH, Calif. (BRAIN) — Alec Wilimovsky, Andy Lau, and Jake Durrant created Ocean and San cycling apparel to manufacture casual but functional tops sized for all body types.

And to do it all in the U.S.

Posted in Industry News
January 20, 2022
Ellsworth will take an active role in design and development of his namesake brand after a four-year absence.
Rudi Pienaar, left, and Tony Ellsworth.

SAN DIEGO (BRAIN) — Tony Ellsworth is returning to his namesake mountain bike brand after a four-year absence to become chief development/design officer.

Posted in Industry News
January 4, 2022

SAN FRANCISCO (BRAIN) — While many shops and individuals who have had bikes stolen theorized they end up south of the border, nobody actually knew for sure or could quantify to what degree.

Until now.

Posted in Industry News
December 30, 2021
From left, Michael Roberts of Epic Cycles, Allan Hightower, and Kent Cranford.

BLACK MOUNTAIN, N.C. (BRAIN) — The bike has long been a symbol of freedom, so it's appropriate it played a key part in this small town near Asheville pulling together to help Afghanistan evacuees seek independence.

Posted in Retail News
November 24, 2021
The Sea Otter e-bikes for veterans program provides transportation and self-sufficiency for those in need.
The Sea Otter Classic Foundation is growing its e-bikes for veterans program.

MONTEREY, Calif. (BRAIN) — E-bikes and the Sea Otter Classic have had a long relationship dating back to the first e-MTB race held here in 2016. Five years later, while e-bike racing continues to grow, the event is also featuring e-bikes for a greater good.

Posted in Industry News
November 9, 2021
Shop safety and education are key for success.

BOULDER, Colo. (BRAIN) — Now that PeopleForBikes and Call2Recycle have established the industry's first e-bike battery recycling program for U.S. retailers, proper training and equipment will be mandatory to ensure safe storage of expired packs returned to shops, according to a micromobility consulting group.

Posted in Industry News
October 26, 2021

WILTON, Conn. (BRAIN) — Dorel Sports General Manager Nick Hage said plans to bring Cannondale assembly back to the U.S. actually began a couple of years ago, and with supply-chain constraints currently hampering the industry, the timing of the announcement couldn't be better.

Posted in Industry News
October 21, 2021
Bernstein in September 2021.

BOULDER, Colo. (BRAIN) — The driver involved in the hit-and-run collision that seriously injured an industry veteran while cycling is expected to receive a stipulated sentence of two years in prison, mandatory parole, and restitution when he is arraigned Friday.

Posted in Industry News
October 14, 2021

MONTEREY, Calif. (BRAIN) — As a small Tampa, Florida, shop that opened a year ago, Blacklist Bike and Action Sports quickly understood how a tightening supply chain could affect other similar shops.

Posted in Retail News

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