Industry News
BOULDER, Colo. (BRAIN) — Has your company been negatively affected by the 25 percent tariff increase on e-bikes and e-bike motors imported from China? If so, PeopleForBikes and the Bicycle Product Suppliers Association invite you to submit comments to the U.S.
SHANGHAI (BRAIN) — Multiple Asian news sites are reporting that bike share giant Ofo has dissolved its overseas business unit, retreating from operating in the U.S., Hong Kong, Singapore and France.

LAS VEGAS, Nev. (BRAIN) — Panasonic is working with Kent International to launch three models of e-bikes that will be sold under Kent's Univega USA and Van Dessel brands. All the bikes will be powered by Panasonic batteries and motors and all models are being designed and assembled in the U.S.

COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. (BRAIN) — USA Cycling has named Rob DeMartini as its president and chief executive officer. DeMartini joins the organization from New Balance Athletics Inc., where he spent the past 12 years as president and CEO. He will begin his new position in February.
TAMPA, Fla. (BRAIN) — American Classic founder Bill Shook has launched a new mechanical design consulting business, Bill Shook Engineering LLC, serving clients both inside and outside the bike industry.
PITTSBURGH (BRAIN) — Close to two years after suspending its print edition and moving exclusively online, Bicycle Times’ website is winding down, with content migrating over to the website and print magazine of fellow Rotating Mass Media title Dirt Rag.

SAN MARCOS, Calif. (BRAIN) — Mountain bike brand Eminent Cycles, sold largely consumer direct on the internet, is looking to expand its hybrid sales model and will attend this month's CABDA West show to meet with prospective dealers.
BIG BEAR LAKE, Calif. (BRAIN) — Daniel Ellis Hanebrink died Saturday due to natural causes, his family announced.
Hanebrink was an innovator in BMX, downhill mountain and fat tire bikes, among other areas.
CHICAGO (BRAIN) — SRAM co-founder and longtime CEO Stan Day is transitioning to a new role as chairman of the company's board of directors as Ken Lousberg takes over as CEO. The change, announced to SRAM staff this fall, became effective Tuesday, Jan. 1.
LONGMONT, Colo. (BRAIN) — 2018 started out with news of Niner Bikes' bankruptcy, which ended with the company being acquired by Huffy Bicycle's owner.
BOULDER, Colo. (BRAIN) — While year to date figure are mixed, wholesale bike sales dipped in November, down 14 percent over the same month last year in dollars and down 26 percent in units.
BEIJING (BRAIN) — Ofo, the world's largest and best known dockless bike share operator, is struggling financially, in part due to demands for deposit refunds from customers in markets where Ofo has stopped operating.

VASHON, Wash. (BRAIN) — Charles "Chuck" Ivan Wurster, Jr., whose products helped create the current indoor cycling boom, has died at age 86 at his home here.
DURHAM, N.C. (BRAIN) — A U.S. bankruptcy judge has approved Advanced Sports Enterprises' motion to cancel its licensing and manufacturing contracts with Ideal Bike Corporation, a Taiwan-based manufacturer that has been a backer and manufacturer for ASE and its ASI division.
WASHINGTON (BRAIN) — PeopleForBikes and the Bicycle Product Suppliers Association have submitted requests on the industry's behalf for exemption from the 25 percent tariff on Chinese-made e-bikes that took effect last summer. The deadline was Thursday for submitting the requests to the U.S. Trade Representative.
HELSINKI (BRAIN) — The investor group acquiring Amer Sports has begun to buy up the company's outstanding and issued shares through a voluntary recommended public cash tender.
KENT, Wash. (BRAIN) — The CEO of Accell North America says he is feeling "very good" about where the business is and he's expecting a lot of improvement in 2019.

MADISON, Wis. — Almost three decades after acquiring Graber Products and renaming it Saris, co-founder Chris Fortune is stepping down as president and handing the reins to COO Jeff Frehner. Fortune becomes Saris’ CEO effective Jan. 1, 2019.
STOCKHOLM (BRAIN) — Thule Group announced this week that it has acquired car rooftop tent maker Tepui Outdoors Inc. for $9.5 million.
DURHAM, N.C. (BRAIN) — Advanced Sports Enterprises wants to end its licensing agreement with Specialized for the Roubaix trademark. The bankrupt company also is asking the court for permission to abandon inventory worth about a third of a million dollars wholesale, currently held by a broker.