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

July 3, 2024

WATERLOO, Wis. (BRAIN) — Trek Bicycle will join other brands in offering a direct-to-consumer bike buying option after unveiling its Consumer Choice program that will provide 15% to 20% margins to the consumer's closest Partner Level retailer.

Posted in Industry News
June 21, 2024
Ryan Fishel.

SUPERIOR, Colo. (BRAIN) — With e-bikes touted as a replacement for some car trips by many U.S. retailers, Ryan Fishel said it only makes sense to offer a purchasing option like the auto industry. As CEO of The Sweet Spot Bike Leasing, Fishel is giving them one. In April, The Sweet Spot announced a partnership with its first brand, Stromer, to offer e-bikes with an e-commerce leasing option for purchases between $3,000 and $20,000.

Posted in Industry News
June 6, 2024

WASHINGTON (BRAIN) — Congressional bike advocate Earl Blumenauer's newest bill is aimed at rejuvenating U.S. bike manufacturing.

Posted in Industry News
May 20, 2024

BANNER ELK, N.C. (BRAIN) — JC Lakey didn’t hesitate when asked his reaction Monday morning to Kona Bicycles’ founders reacquiring the brand from private equity-backed Kent Outdoors. 

Posted in Retail News
May 15, 2024
Former CEO Scott Maguire to lead the brand's new innovation and technology division.

MORGAN HILL, Calif. (BRAIN) — Specialized has made another change at the top, naming former Pon.Bike and Canyon Bicycle chief Armin Landgraf its new CEO replacing Scott Maguire, who will lead the brand's new innovation and technology division.

Posted in Industry News
May 2, 2024

DENVER (BRAIN) — The Colorado General Assembly has passed an expanded Right to Repair bill, but it's unclear if it will apply to e-bikes because motor vehicles are excluded.

Posted in Industry News
April 30, 2024

WILTON, Conn. (BRAIN) — Cannondale has reduced its workforce by "less than 1%" during a company reorganization from a multi-regional to unified global structure, a company spokesperson told BRAIN.

Posted in Industry News
April 19, 2024
Bimotal founder Toby Ricco, right.

MONTEREY, Calif. (BRAIN) — Joe Gales was getting frustrated trying to stay with his e-MTB buddies on his Ibis Mojo pedal bike. A lower back injury kept him off the bike most of last year, making his climb back to keep up even more frustrating.

Posted in Product/Tech
April 19, 2024
Pat Hus, left, and Adrien De Alexandris with the new MXC.

MONTEREY, Calif. (BRAIN) — How do you sell e-MTB retailers on GASGAS and Husqvarna, two brands known more for their power bands than pedal power?

Talking face-to-face with dealers in an authentic way. And free burritos and beer doesn't hurt either.

Posted in Industry News
April 18, 2024
 ODI Vanquish grips.

MONTEREY, Calif. (BRAIN) — Impact protection company D3O arrived at the Sea Otter Classic ready to tighten its grip on the mountain bike market with an expansion into contact points like grips and anti-vibration footwear.

Posted in Industry News

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