Industry News
MADISON, WI (BRAIN)—Planet Bike president Jeff Frehner has left the company to explore new opportunities in the bicycle industry. He had been with the company since March.
WINTER GARDEN, FL (BRAIN)—Big Cat HPV, manufacturer of Catrike—makers of recumbent trikes—has been awarded Manufacturer of the Year for under 125 Employees by the Manufacturers Association of Florida.
SALT LAKE CITY, UT (BRAIN)—Specialized Bicycle Components has launched S-Tune—a new service to Specialized dealers that will help customize the performance of Specialized-Branded suspension components precisely to the demands of any rider.
BOULDER, CO (BRAIN)—A new study by Bikes Belong found that more than 1 million Americans participated in recreational road ride events in 2008.

“I’m most looking forward to meeting many of you, shaking your hands, and telling you, ‘Thanks for loving America.’”
—Sarah Palin, via Facebook yesterday, on promoting her new book “Going Rogue: An American Life" which hits bookstores tomorrow.
LEVIS, Quebec (BRAIN)—BionX, the Canadian designer and manufacturer of proportional assistance system for bicycles, has partnered with Lambert for exclusive distribution of BionX products in Canada.
WASHINGTON, DC (BRAIN)—Imports of bicycles through September total 11.624 million units, down 2.093 million units over last year, according to the U. S. Department of Commerce import data released this week. Imports of 700c road and hybrid bikes bucked the trend, increasing 10 percent.

CENTERVILLE, OH (BRAIN)—Industry veteran Reed Pike starts Wednesday as brand manager of Huffy Bicycles.
OKLAHOMA CITY, OK (BRAIN)—Geax has launched a new Web site, while offering for free for download the MTB movie "What's Next?" a film directed by the U.S. rider Aaron LaRoque,
a tribute to up and coming riders, sponsored by Geax and available in iPhone and HD versions.
MISSOULA, MT (BRAIN)—Adventure Cycling Association—North America's largest membership cycling organization—reported strong income numbers for FY09 (ending September 30) with overall growth in its membership, sales, development and tours' programs.
NEW YORK, NY (BRAIN)—A New York judge has awarded cycling author Julie Harrell more than $65,000 in attorneys' fees stemming from a copyright lawsuit she won earlier this year against Cycle Publishing.
LAGUNA HILLS, CA (BRAIN)—The founder of the leading custom framebuilding resource "Frameforum" (www.frameforum.org) has launched a new Web site focusing on the custom and handmade bike sectors of the industry, which has seen something of a revival over the past few years.

SAN RAFAEL, CA (BRAIN)—For the second year, Ellsworth Handcrafted Bicycles is sponsoring a trade-in program to help Trips for Kids (TFK) fund more mountain bike rides for disadvantaged youth around the world.
STEAMBOAT SPRINGS, CO (BRAIN)—Trek Distribution is now making available Honey Stinger products to all of its retailers.
RANCHO SANTA MARGARITA, CA (BRAIN)—The OC Bicycle Swap Meet is happening again at Serfas headquarters in Rancho Santa Margarita at 8 a.m. on Saturday, December 5.
GARDEN CITY, ID (BRAIN)—Hippie-Tech now offers full factory-authorized Fox fork service to its offerings to retailers, after a six-year absence.
MONTEREY, CA (BRAIN)—In an effort to help our nation's warriors recover from emotional and physical injuries sustained in battle, the Sea Otter Classic has partnered with the Wounded Warrior Project and the Injured Marine Semper Fi Fund.
SOQUEL, CA (BRAIN)—Steve Smith, the guy behind Swobo’s popular blog, "How to Avoid the Bummer Life," left Swobo to create his own blog and hopefully make a go of it selling ads to companies interested in his audience of culturally rich cyclists.