Industry News
MADISON, WI (BRAIN)—When builders from the Midwest spoke up at last October’s Philly Bike Expo, Bina Bilenky listened.
WASHINGTON, D.C. (BRAIN)—Suppliers imported 19.77 million bikes into the United States last year, worth more than $1.43 billion, a historical record value for imports. The only year with more imports was 2000, when suppliers brought in 20.28 million bikes, but their value in unadjusted dollars was $1.12 billion.
MILTON KEYNES, UK (BRAIN)—Madison’s IceBike event, February 22-24, is in its fifth year hosting UK bike retailers in a fun, informative environment.
EUGENE, OR (BRAIN)—Rolf Prima has partnered with two new distributors for South Korea and Indonesia. Neofly has signed on for South Korea and Spectrum Bikes for Indonesia.
SAN JUAN CAPISTRANO, CA (BRAIN)—Interbike has formed an exhibitor advisory panel made up of 11 executives representing a broad range of manufacturers, suppliers and distributors operating within the international bicycle community.
BLOOMINGTON, MN (BRAIN)—The focus quickly shifted from bikes to weather at Frostbike this past weekend as a harsh winter storm wreaked havoc on the roadways and canceled air travel in and out of Minnesota.
PORTLAND, OR (BRAIN)—Portland Design Works has hired Kevin Murphy as their new sales manager.
MONTREAL, Quebec (BRAIN)—Outdoor Gear Canada (OGC) will distribute GoPro products to all Canadian markets except for powersports and automotive retail.
GoPro’s HD Hero line of wearable and gear mountable cameras and accessories are sold in over 60 countries, according to a press release.
DENVER, CO (BRAIN)—The 4th annual Rocky Mountain Bicycle Festival returns, but to a different venue in Denver, Colorado on June 11 and 12. Last year's event coincided with the Leadville Trail 100 MTB race in August.

BOSTON, MA (BRAIN)—What do three guys who had worked at Independent Fabrication for almost 30 years combined do upon learning the company is moving to New Hampshire in May?
They launch a new handmade venture called Firefly Bicycles in Boston, of course.

"If you're paying less than a buck for a taco, you can't be shocked that the meat in it isn't really meat. Your meal cost less than gum. There's a reason 'taco' spelled backwards is 'O, cat.'"
—Bill Maher
BOULDER, CO (BRAIN)—Bikes Belong is delighted to award funding to five great projects for their Winter 2011 grant cycle. These grants support a wide range of bicycle projects with the common goal of putting more people on bicycles more often.
Projects include:
WESTPORT, CT (BRAIN)—Joe Massoud, the CEO of Compass Diversified Holdings—parent company of Fox Racing Shox—is taking a leave of absence to focus his attention on an informal regulatory inquiry that Massoud received on matters unrelated to the company.
PHOENIX, AZ (BRAIN)—After nearly 15 years in the industry, Adam Vincent has launched his own content and marketing venture, 3 Cross Communications.
SCOTTS VALLEY, CA (BRAIN)—Industry veteran Jeff Titone has been hired by Easton Bell Sports and will serve as brand manager for the Blackburn brand.

VANCOUVER, British Columbia (BRAIN)—Pinkbike.com has hired renowned bike photographer Ian Hylands as photo editor.
LONGMONT, CO (BRAIN)—CrossVegas uses the tagline “the international cyclocross season starts American Style in Las Vegas” and it seems more fitting each year. This year looks to be no exception with the announcement by the organizer that the fifth edition of the race will return September 14.
NORCROSS, GA (BRAIN)—In 2010 Blue Competition Cycles saw revenue grow by 38 percent, just a year after posting a 32 percent growth in revenue. Blue is expecting to build on that success in the coming year.
TAICHUNG, Taiwan (BRAIN)—Taichung Bike Week will be held a week earlier this year beginning on Nov. 29 and running through Dec. 2, organizer Steve Fenton said on Tuesday.