Industry News

BENTONVILLE, Ark. (BRAIN) — The Walton Family Charitable Support Foundation has made a $1 million-plus grant to a community college here, allowing the school to launch an accredited two-semester Bicycle Assembly and Repair Technician program, with classes planned for the fall 2021 semester.

HOVE, England (BRAIN) — Software company Bike Rental Manager surpassed its crowdfunding target of £250,000 ($344,000) to launch an app that allows consumers to find and book rental bikes online.
BOULDER, Colo. (BRAIN) — SmartEtailing, a 22-year-old company known for building e-commerce websites for bike shops, has acquired Retail Toolkit, a startup that offers retailers management analytics and marketing tools.

WASHINGTON (BRAIN) — The U.S. continued to import bikes at a rapid pace in February, although the monthly import totals have been declining since a peak last September.

PROVIDENCE, R.I. (BRAIN) — Holding company Eldridge Industries announced on Friday that it acquired protective gear company G-Form and intends to expand the product line.
Statements on recent state legislation from Arkansas-based companies Rapha and Allied and other groups.

COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. (BRAIN) — USA Cycling announced will hold an Inclusion Summit in Fayetteville, Arkansas. Specialized Bicycles, Canyon Bicycles, Allied Cycle Works, and Experience Fayetteville will take part.

SAINT-AUGUSTIN-DE-DESMAURES, Québec (BRAIN) — Just a few months after emerging from Canada's equivalent to Chapter 11 bankruptcy, Louis Garneau Sports' president said his goal is to take the company public in two years. He's planning on e-bike sales providing a boost toward that goal.

MIAMI (BRAIN) — Global wholesale distributor JBI was back online in a limited capacity Wednesday after a ransomware attack last week shut down its website.
BENTONVILLE, Ark. (BRAIN) — Tom Walton, an heir to the Walmart fortune, part-owner of several bike industry companies and a promoter of cycling in Arkansas, said Tuesday he supports Arkansas Gov.

HENLEY-ON-THE-THAMES, England (BRAIN) — Endura Sales Manager Simon Richardson was killed in a bike accident here on Sunday. He was 58.

XIAMEN, China (BRAIN) — Carbon wheelset manufacturer Light Bicycle responded to increased demand in the past year by opening a warehouse in France, which will handle orders in the European Union.

PORTLAND, Ore. (BRAIN) — Cycling Industry Pledge enrollment has been extended to the end of the month for companies to advance diversity, equity, and inclusion.
SAN VENDEMIANO, Italy (BRAIN) — PM&Partners SGR, an Italian private equity company, has become the majority shareholder in Cytech, the parent company of Elastic Interface and other cycling brands.

NEW YORK (BRAIN) — Peloton has completed its $420 million purchase of the Precor fitness brand from Amer Sports. Peloton said the acquisition provides U.S. manufacturing capacity, R&D resources and access to the commercial fitness equipment market.

Mel Pinto Imports was one of the first to introduce European race bikes, including Gitane, to the American market during the 1970s bike boom.

MIAMI (BRAIN) — JBI was the victim of a ransomware attack Thursday, shutting down the global wholesale distributor's website. Customers' personal information was unaffected because it's stored off-site.

SALT LAKE CITY, Utah (BRAIN) — Utah and North Dakota became the latest states to adopt the controversial Idaho Stop law, allowing cyclists to treat a stop sign as a yield sign.

NOVATO, Calif. (BRAIN) — Veer hopes to raise as much as $1.1 million. It will use proceeds to boost production and finalize the development of a new multi-speed belt drive.

TAICHUNG, Taiwan (BRAIN) — Giant Group is reporting that its sales last year were up 10.3% over 2019, to NT$70.01 billion ($2.45 billion). Net profit was up 46.7%, to NT$4.95 billion. Earnings per share was NT$13.19.