Industry News

Mass brand makes major investments amid market disruption — and wants to bring the IBD along for the ride.
Huffy's Bill Smith

DAYTON, Ohio (BRAIN) — In its 126-year history, Huffy Bicycles has proved time and again that the ability to adapt is embedded in its DNA. From world wars and the slow death of American manufacturing to the rise of mass retailing and the current retail apocalypse, the company, which got its start when founder George Huffman purchased manufacturer Davis Sewing Machine in 1891, has endured just about every market disruption of the modern era.

Weather was perfect. Bike racks were empty. Lift lines were long. Vendors were happy with dealer turnout. But consumers were lacking.

TRUCKEE, Calif. (BRAIN) — While the Northstar Free-Ride Festival got off to a slow start on Saturday morning with clouds, sprinkles and strong winds, by Sunday consumer traffic had gone up, and more dealers trickled in. Monday was "crazy busy" with vendors sending out dozens of demos.

Tagged Interbike
The tariffs will start at 10% and affect most bike goods from China — but not helmets or lights. On Jan. 1, they will increase to 25 percent.
The news came as Interbike's indoor expo prepared to open.

RENO, Nev. (BRAIN) — President Donald Trump on Monday said he had approved tariffs on roughly $200 billion of imports from China, including about $1 billion in bicycle products.

Tagged Tariffs

GUILFORD, Vt. (BRAIN) — Neil Quinn, who founded West Hill Shop in Putney, an epicenter of the cycling community, died Thursday at age 78 after a short bout with cancer.

The founders, left to right: Hap Seliga, Dave Weagle and Jason Schiers

SALT LAKE CITY (BRAIN) — Bicycle industry veterans Dave Weagle, Jason Schiers and Hap Seliga have launched a new company, Trust Performance. Although the company already has 15 employees and headquarters in Salt Lake City, it is not ready to announce details of its upcoming product line.

Bravo will relaunch its SixSixOne brand at Interbike.

SAN DIEGO (BRAIN) — Former Interbike show director Pat Hus has joined Bravo Sports Corp. as senior vice president of Bravo's specialty bike division. Hus will oversee Nutcase Helmets, SixSixOne and Pro-Tec bike.

Tagged Interbike
Settlement includes $125,000 to be spent to improve cycling safety in Philadelphia in the name of Emily Fredricks.

PHILADELPHIA (BRAIN) — The family of 24-year-old Emily Fredricks, who died after being struck by a privately owned trash truck as she biked to work last November, has announced a $6.1 million settlement agreement with the truck's owner, Gold Medal Environmental. 

HELSINKI (BRAIN) — Amer Sports, the owner of Mavic, Enve and other brands, has told its shareholders that Anta Sports Products has made a bid to buy Amer.

Don DiConstanzo

FOUNTAIN VALLEY, Calif. (BRAIN) — In May, more than a month before the Trump administration proposed a 25 percent tariff on China-made e-bikes, Pedego co-founder and CEO Don DiCostanzo went to Vietnam to look for factories to make e-bikes.

Tagged Tariffs / Electric bike

BOULDER, Colo. (BRAIN) — CyclingTips has promoted Caley Fretz to the position of editor-in-chief as Neal Rogers, who previously held the position, becomes the media company's editor at large.

Tagged Media/Publishing

BOULDER, Colo. (BRAIN) —  Andrew Pemberton, a former publisher of VeloNews and executive at Panache Cyclewear, has returned to publishing as the CEO of Pocket Outdoor Media, the holding company that publishes VeloNews, Triathlete, Women's Running, Competitor, and VeloPress books.

Tagged Media/Publishing

NEWBURY PARK, Calif. (BRAIN) — Dana DeLaRosa, a Giant Bicycles account executive who had worked for the company since August 2007, passed away on Aug, 25 at his home in Housatonic, Massachusetts, after a yearlong battle with pancreatic cancer. He was 58 years old.

Greg Webber of Jamis

The BRAIN staff asked executives at Huffy, Jamis, QBP, Light & Motion, and WTB how they are dealing with current and proposed tariffs.

Tagged Tariffs

LITTLE ROCK, Ark. — Orbea has hired Parker DeGray to be the brand's U.S. marketing coordinator.

BLOOMINGTON, Minn. — QBP has hired Mountain Exposure Agency and Active Agency Sales to expand its service to the Canadian market, effective Sept. 1.

BOULDER, Colo. (BRAIN) — The four-session Supplier Seminar Series presented by the Bicycle Product Suppliers Association at Interbike features a new focus on three industry hot-button issues: the 25 percent additional tariffs on Chinese-made bikes and bike-related products, the U.S.

Tagged Tariffs / Electric bike / Interbike
Bill Duehring

ST. JEAN DE MOIRANS, France (BRAIN) — Bill Duehring, the co-founder and president of Felt Inc., has left the company, effective Sept. 7.

With more than 25 years of experience in the cycling industry in product development and business management, Grim will lead the LEM team in operations and product innovation and design.

MORGAN HILL, Calif. (Sept. 10, 2018) – LEM Helmets, a new, inclusive cycling helmet brand whose mission is to inspire the fun in biking by focusing on safety, style and performance in all its innovative head protection, has named industry veteran Michael Grim general manager.

The new Osprey Raptor.

CHICAGO (BRAIN) — With a president who is a former longtime leader of CamelBak, and a bike industry veteran brought on as a new bike-specific sales manager, Osprey Packs isn't shy about its ambitions.

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