News Briefs, part 2

Yuba opens distributor Down Under, adds new hires • U.S. Bicycling Hall of Fame launches Legends Gran Fondo May 6 • A social network for bike shops launched

SAUSALITO, CA (BRAIN) Feb 13, 13:06 MT—Cargo bike manufacturer Yuba Bicycles has opened a distributor in Melbourne, Australia, serving Australia and New Zealand, said Benjamin Sarrazin, Yuba’s owner and founder.

The new distributor is Cargo Cycles Australia, in Collingwood, Victoria.

The company also has hired Kaytea Petro, formerly of Mike’s Bikes and Neighborhood Fruit, to spearhead marketing and public relations efforts.

The company has also recently hired Nate Ripperton for customer service, warehouse management and sales.

DAVIS, CA (BRAIN) Feb 13, 09:51 MT—Greg LeMond, Ruthie Matthes, Nelson Vails and other cycling legends will join cycling enthusiasts on May 6 for the first Legends Gran Fondo, sponsored by the U.S. Bicycling Hall of Fame.

The event will offer a "fast and rolling" 90-mile Gran Fondo or a 63-mile Medio Fondo. Both courses will spin through Northern California’s Yolo and Solano counties.

Besides LeMond, Matthes and Vails, other attendees expected include Jacquie Phelan, George Mount, Wayne Stetina, John Howard, Jeanne Golay and Stu Thomsen.

“This new Gran Fondo event headlines our efforts to connect American cycling’s history with its present,” said Joe Herget, the Hall's executive director.

The event will start and finish in Davis. The event will be limited to 1,000 cyclists, who will also have the opportunity to win a newly unveiled Fuji Gran Fondo carbon road bike.

Complete details on the Hall of Fame website.

Nitch.biz, a company that operates business-to-business social networks in a variety of industries, has launched a network for bike retailers at www.bikeshops.nitch.biz.

"The goal is to drive new forms of collaboration and costs savings for bike shops," said founder Michael Noble. Nitch networks are intended to bring together retailers and vendors.