Industry News

The Charge comfort model.

BETHEL, Conn. (BRAIN) — Dorel Industries, which owns Cannondale, Schwinn, GT, and other brands, is re-launching its Charge brand in the U.S., with a line of affordable e-bikes to be sold online and through bike shops.

Tagged Electric bike

WINTER PARK, Colo. (BRAIN) — Evil Bikes is offering bike demos in this mountain bike destination town this summer, at an unusual but fitting venue: a craft brewery's tap room.

BRASELTON, Ga. (BRAIN) — Fox Factory Holding Corp. has priced a new common stock offering at $76 per share, which could generate as much as $182.4 million before commissions and other expenses. Fox plans to close on the offering of 2.4 million shares on June 22. 

Monthly sales totaled $1 billion in April, according to The NPD Group data.

PORT WASHINGTON, N.Y. (BRAIN) — U.S. cycling sales through all retail channels grew 75% in April to a total of about $1 billion in retail sales for the month, according to The NPD Group.

Cycling apparel brands look to catch up with outdoor industry in sustainable options. But marketing is tricky.
Rapha has increased the use of recycled materials in its apparel.

HILDEBRAN, N.C. (BRAIN) — Shane Cooper, the founder of the DeFeet cycling sock company, was visiting with George W. Bush one day when the former president took him in to meet his mother.

"He said, 'Mom! This is Shane, he started a company that makes socks out of recycled plastic. Ain't that the world's best-kept secret?" according to Cooper's recollection.

It was an epic namedrop by Cooper, a great storyteller, and we repeat it to make a point.

HEERENVEEN, Netherlands (BRAIN) — Accell Group N.V. said its bike sales rebounded in May after a steep decline in March and April. Bike shops in Germany, Accell's largest market, began to re-open at the end of April. May sales were up 23% over the same month last year.

Tagged Earnings/Financial Reports

WATERLOO, Wis. (BRAIN) — Several hours after publishing a blog post about its diversity programs, Trek Bicycle released a separate statement regarding police bikes.

Tagged DEI and Sustainability

WATERLOO, Wis. (BRAIN) — Trek Bicycle has announced an array of initiatives related to racial equity, including a commitment to creating 1,000 industry jobs for people of color, build more bike shops in underserved neighborhoods, establishing a $1 million community investment fund, a scholarship program to support NICA teams with diverse backgrounds, and create a more diverse culture within the company.

Photo from Outride.

MORGAN HILL, Calif. (BRAIN) — Specialized is pledging an additional $10 million to the Outride nonprofit organization and is increasing support of the Legion of Los Angeles Elite Cycling Team to further the team's work of increasing diversity and encouraging inclusion in cycling.

FORT WASHINGTON, Md. (BRAIN) — Safe Routes to School, a nonprofit organization that encourages the development of safe biking and walking routes to schools, is replacing the word "enforcement" with "engagement" in its framework list of 6E's.

Tagged Advocacy/Non-profits
UPDATED with company comment.

PHILADELPHIA (BRAIN) — BikeCo, the North American distributor of Fuji bikes, has suspended sales of bikes to police forces, citing recent reports of police bikes being used as weapons at protest marches. 

Tagged DEI and Sustainability
High-end road brand continues sales through IBDs as well.

LINCOLN, Neb. (BRAIN) — Factor Bikes has begun a "hybrid" model of selling direct to consumers and through bike shops in the U.S. The company's U.S. office in Nebraska is handling the direct sales.

WASHINGTON (BRAIN) — Public comment periods begin ending Monday, June 8, for the U.S. Department of Interior's policy proposal to regulate e-bikes as traditional bikes on non-motorized lands.

Tagged Electric bike / Advocacy/Non-profits

WASHINGTON (BRAIN) — The Small Business Administration announced Monday modifications to the Paycheck Protection Program to make it easier to qualify for loan forgiveness as businesses attempt to recover from the hardship of the COVID-19 pandemic.

In Seattle and elsewhere cyclists help support participants and create safe space.
Photo: Paul Tolmé

SEATTLE (BRAIN) — They call it "mirroring," creating lines of bikes that mirror the police lines and create a buffer zone.

NAHBS considering four cities for its next show, to be held in September 2021. Outerbike still plans fall events.

DALLAS (BRAIN) — Organizers of the North American Handmade Bicycle Show announced Friday that they were canceling the show, which had been scheduled for Dallas in August.

Tagged Coronavirus / Events / Consumer Expos and Rides / North American Handmade Bicycle Show

CHAVANOD, France (BRAIN) — Groupe Rossignol has announced the sale of the TIME bike and pedal business to WhaTTfornow, a four-year-old e-bike brand.

Tagged Mergers, Acquisitions & Investments
The LAB applauds the bill's safety and accessibility measures.

WASHINGTON (BRAIN) — The U.S. House Transportation Committee has released a draft of its transportation reauthorization bill, which contains $6.3 billion for biking and walking infrastructure, as well as safety and accessibility measures that cycling advocates are applauding. 

FRIEDRICHSHAFEN, Germany (BRAIN) — Organizers of the ASEANBIKE 2020 show have announced they have postponed the inaugural event until sometime next year.  Messe Friedrichshafen, the owner of the Eurobike show, had partnered with .C.C.

Tagged Tradeshows and conferences
CEO predicts health and fitness will be more important after the pandemic.
Dick's first quarter net sales decreased 30.6%.

PITTSBURGH (BRAIN) — Temporary store closures because of the COVID-19 pandemic led to Dick’s Sporting Goods’ net sales dropping 30.6% in the first quarter year-over-year for the quarter ending May 2.

Tagged Coronavirus / Earnings/Financial Reports

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