Toby Hill

Toby Hill

A writer and editor with more than 20 years of publishing experience, Toby is one of the newest members of the BRAIN editorial team. His resume includes several years on the news and business copy desk at Southern California's Orange County Register before moving on to edit several entertainment and business trade publications, including Showbiz Daily and The Hollywood Reporter. As a longtime, though still woefully unskilled mountain biker, he is a frequent patron of the emergency rooms and urgent care facilities near BRAIN’s home base of Laguna Hills. And while his medical payments have helped adorn the schooners and yachts of several prominent orthopedic surgeons in the community, Toby has never been invited for so much as a harbor cruise. He lives in the mountain bike mecca of Fullerton—home of the famed and deadly Fullerton Loop—with his wife, daughter and two dogs.

All articles by Toby Hill

February 5, 2014
Joseph Robinson, 21, was struck by a hit-and-run driver Sunday.

IRVINE, Calif. (BRAIN) — Some 200 to 250 cyclists and Southern California industry representatives turned out early Wednesday for a memorial ride and ceremony to honor Joseph Robinson, a local bike shop employee who was killed by a hit-and-run driver during a morning ride Sunday. He was 21.

Posted in Industry News
January 31, 2014
Boardman’s new SLS endurance road platform

PALOS VERDES, Calif. (BRAIN) — Highlights from our final day of visits with suppliers at Winter PressCamp. Look for additional coverage in the March 1 issue of Bicycle Retailer:

Posted in Product/Tech
January 30, 2014
Campagnolo's Daniel Large shows how to install a Campy power unit.

PALOS VERDES, Calif. (BRAIN) — Industry chatter mixed with Hollywood dreams Wednesday as the inaugural winter edition of Lifeboat Events’ PressCamp event got under way sharing the grounds of swank Southern California resort Terranea with the celebrity hosts and aspiring divas of TV’s “American Idol,” filming on location.

Posted in Industry News
December 30, 2013
Brett Walquist

SAN JUAN, PUERTO RICO (BRAIN) – Brett Walquist, a longtime Midwest rep for J&B Importers and a former retailer, was stabbed to death by an intruder early Monday while vacationing with family in the beach town of Rincon, Puerto Rico. He was 41.

Posted in Industry News
December 2, 2013

NORTH VANCOUVER, British Columbia (BRAIN) — Apparel brand Sombrio announced it has suspended business, citing financial difficulties stemming from a failed retail expansion plan in which Sombrio would have opened its own branded stores.

Posted in Industry News
August 29, 2013
Continental’s compact e-bike motor integrates into the frame around the bottom bracket.

FRIEDRICHSHAFEN, Germany (BRAIN) — Continental has unveiled a new e-bike drive system, developed in partnership with Benchmark Drives, that drive specialty division ContiTech Power Transmission Group says is smaller, more powerful and lighter than other systems currently available.

Posted in Product/Tech
August 29, 2013
The Trail RS helmet

FRIEDRICHSHAFEN, Germany (BRAIN) — Swiss gravity brand iXS is at Eurobike showing off its innovative line of protective gear, helmets and apparel for trail riding and enduro and downhill racing—all of which it will showcase next month at Interbike as iXS enters the U.S.

Posted in Product/Tech
August 28, 2013

FRIEDRICHSHAFEN, Germany (BRAIN) — For 2014, it’s no mere rebadge job at Rotor.

Posted in Product/Tech
August 28, 2013

FRIEDRICHSHAFEN, Germany (BRAIN) — Joe Breeze embraces the latest mountain biking trends—enduro racing and 27.5-inch wheels—while at the same time evoking the sport’s roots in introducing the new Breezer Repack all-mountain rig.

Posted in Product/Tech
August 27, 2013
The Lev Carbon. BRAIN photo.

ARGENBÜHL, Germany (BRAIN) — Building on the stellar reviews and difficult-to-keep-up-with aftermarket and OE demand for its Lev dropper, Taiwanese supplier KS Suspension is set to bring to market an expanded line of the seatposts at a host of price points.

Posted in Product/Tech

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