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Mountain Biking News
Mountain Biking News - October 2009
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Tuesday, 27 October 2009Las Vegas, NV - Recreational Equipment, Inc. (REI), announced its 2010 line of Novara-brand bicycles during the Interbike International Bike Expo, the largest bicycle tradeshow in North America. The new line includes a variety of pavement and mountain bicycles targeted to all types of riders from beginner to advanced, and for almost any terrain from rails-to-trails to city streets.
Th e award-winning Novara brand, exclusive to REI, is adding new comfort, road, mountain and women-specific bicycles to round out its collection. Its overall fit system has also been updated to make it easier for people to find the correctly sized bicycle, based on their height. Novara products will be available starting in spring 2010 on www.rei.com and in all REI stores.
"More people are riding bicycles to work, around town, and even for the first time," says Steve Gluckman, Novara brand manager. "To ensure we meet those customers' needs, Novara has dedicated its focus to offering a rich mix of bicycles ideal for recreational riders and families of all skill levels."
Novara is making sizing easier for customers to understand through the introduction of a new size system for Novara called N-Fit, or "Novara-fit." N-Fit helps riders determine if they need a small, medium, large or x-large bicycle frame, based on their height.
Women will have more options from Novara than ever before. Novara now offers a full continuum with frames and key components meticulously fitted for a women's physique including comfort (new Jaunt xx, updated Mia, new Fiona); road (new Express xx, updated Carema and updated Carema Pro); and mountain (new Pika and updated Bonita).
2010 Highlights
Comfort:
• The new Jaunt ($429) and Jaunt xx (womens: $429) are focused on comfort and engineering. These "beyond the beach" cruisers are ideal for short cruises or commutes. Novara's confidence-inspiring "best foot forward" design lets you easily drop your feet to the ground without compromising pedaling efficiency.
• The updated Corsa ($449) and updated Mia (womens: $449) offer upright cruising comfort, 700c wheels for increased speed and a less "laid back" approach compared to the Jaunt series.
• The new Fiona (womens: $549) with its step-through design and flat handlebars is a sporty, all-purpose hybrid bicycle that transitions from urban commuting to bike path joyrides with ease.
Road:
• The new flatbar Express xx (womens: $799) joins the updated Express ($799) with its light carbon fork, SRAM X.7 drivetrain and extended gearing. These bikes help riders go farther and faster whether it’s a community or century ride.
• The updated Divano ($849) and Carema (womens: $849) offer an aerodynamic drop bar option; while the Strada ($1,149) and Carema Pro (womens: $1,149) have also been updated for 2010, and provide extra gearing for long, fast road rides.
Urban/Commuting and Touring:
• The updated Buzz V ($449), now with larger 700c wheels, gives city-cyclists a value-choice with a stout frame, tenacious tires, and fenders to keep water and mud on the streets.
• Novara's award-winning Transfer ($649) is tough on commuting with its fuss-free internal gearing and hub-powered front lighting. Updated for 2010, it offers a solid ride on rough roads or with heavy loads. The Randonee ($999) has been updated for size and accessory compatibility for long trips.
Mountain:
• The new Portal ($399) and new Pika (womens: $399) are ideal for beginning mountain or gravel path cyclists. The rest of the mountain series for men and women has also been updated and includes the Bonanza ($599) and Bonita (womens: $599), and the Ponderosa ($849) and Ponderosa 29er ($899).
Apparel/Accessories:
• In addition to its selection of rain resistant and ecoSensitive™ commuter panniers and backpacks, Novara introduces new jerseys, capris, knickers, jackets and wool-knit tops to help riders gear up for a comfortable ride. Also, Novara’s ecoSensitive™ collection continues to expand as materials and products meet the co-op's criteria for improved environmental performance compared to their conventionally manufactured counterparts.
For additional information on Novara's bikes, gear and apparel, visit Novara's newsroom at: www.novarabike.com/media. To view Novara’s youth bicycle offerings, visit: www.rei.com.
Source: www.outdoorindustry.org
Monday, 26 October 2009A tight finish in the inaugural 8hrs @ Jacks mountain bike multi-lap rely event saw top honours in the open individual section go to Andrew Ballantyne from Invercargill who completed 15 laps just 1min 30 seconds ahead of leading Queenstown multisporter Jim Hawkridge.
The pair were tied after eight hours racing on the challenging and diverse Jack's Point Straggler's Loop Trail which was used for the first time to launch the new multisport relay event.
The new event designed by Southern Traverse was aimed at individuals and teams of two, three and four and was inspired by demand from both elite and recreational bikers for a fresh event in the Queenstown area.
The 6.9km trail started at a paddock at Jack's Point above the golf course's number fourteen tee and followed a lakeview track on a high terrace, before cutting across paddocks following old sheep tracks. Once at the high point of the track the downhill was fast and exciting and included rutted tracks, potholes, grass descents and matagouri lanes. Competitors had to negotiate two stiles en route before making the final haul up a gravel road to the base paddock.
Race Director Geoff Hunt was pleased with the response to the event. "It was a stunning day and there was a great atmosphere at the base. This sort of event creates a lot of camaraderie and friendly rivalry and everyone who competed finished safely."
The fastest lap of the day was recorded by the Rouge Mantis Team who were consistently lapping the course in the 23min range.
"The lap times I predicted were pretty much on target and there were some very fast laps across the board," says Hunt.
Ballantyne praised Hunt for the "great new event" and he predicted interest would grow significantly next year. Hawkridge, who was the only competitor on a single speed bike endorsed his comments noting there were definitely some "gnarly bits" which kept riders alert.
Sponsor Hamish Cochran of Patagonia Clothing, who competed in a team which included his wife Jenny, was excited about the location for 8hrs@Jacks. "It's a beautiful area for a course like this and some of the views over Lake Wakatipu from the high points are incredible."
The race began with a Le Mans start and the hotly contested Open Men's section was won by the two man team of Ryan Cull and Scott Hodges racing as Rouge Mantis. The pair completed 18 laps to win the title from second placed Vital Signs in 17 laps and CBR finished third after completing 16 laps.
The Open Mixed title went to the Funksters who recorded 15 laps while Funky Frogs headed off Adventure Skope to take second place. Both teams clocked 13 laps with Funky Frogs fastest overall.
The Veteran Mixed Team DieHard clocked 16 laps, the Veteran Men's section was won by Terrace Junction on 14 laps and The Veteran women's team section was won by The Rural Rockets after completing 10 laps.
The fastest veteran individual was prominent Southern Traverse competitor Ken Scott ( where from?) who finished after eight hours with a total of 13 laps.
The Open Female team winner was Girls Just Wanna Have Fun after 11 laps.
Hunt says the Straggler's Loop will be upgraded before next year's 8 hrs@Jacks.
"We are working with Jack's Point and there will be some changes to fine tune the course a bit more. For example the stiles will be replaced by cattle stops which will make a difference and there will be other modifications. I expect we could attract up to 500 people next year."
Jack's Point spokesperson Sara Roy was delighted with the new event which put the spotlight on the resort.
"It is fantastic to have another community event at Jack's. It was great to have the mountain biking fraternity out here to let them see first hand the range of amenities and facilities we have. We are excited that we have created a trail like the Straggler's Loop for the 8hrs@Jacks which will undoubtedly become an established event on the mountain biking calendar."
Monday, 26 October 2009CHAPEL HILL, N.C. - Parents on the hunt for kids bikes this holiday season will have a fast and easy way to find the bike they want and have it shipped, fully assembled, to their doorstep.
Performance Bicycle announced the introduction of Kids Bike in a Box, a new offering that lets parents go online to shop for boys and girls bikes and take one less worry away from their busy schedul es. The Performance-branded kids bikes provide great value for parents, and are shipped fully assembled without additional surcharges for weight or size - a first in cycling retail.
"Our new Kids Bike in a Box offering is designed to offer convenience and excellent value to Mom and Dad, especially during the holidays," said Jim Thompson, chief executive of Performance Inc. "Bike in a Box is a new way for parents to choose the best bike at the best price, and make sure that it’s ready to ride as soon as it’s delivered, with the assurance that every bike is assembled for quality and safety."
Performance's Kids Bikes in a Box offers youth bikes for ages 3 to 12, professionally assembled and ready to ride. The bikes come in five different sizes: 12 inch, 16 inch and 20 inch for path and pavement bikes, and 20 inch and 24 inch for mountain bikes. The kids bikes also come in an assortment of colors for boys and girls. Prices for Performance’s youth bikes range from $89 to $220.
Kids Bike Growth Guarantee®
As part of its mission to help parents select the right bike for their child, Performance offers the Kids Bike Growth Guarantee®, a program that allows families to trade in bikes as their children grow to receive discounts on new bikes. Every bike sold comes with Performance's 100 percent satisfaction guarantee and 90-day low-price promise: any customer not completely satisfied can return their bike for a replacement or full refund; and Performance will match any advertised price on the same item within 90 days of purchase.
Performance Makes Choosing, Buying Kids Bikes Easier
Performance's Web site and 86 retail store locations are designed to appeal to families looking for great value in the right bicycle - whether it be a road bike for Dad, a mountain bike for Mom or a balance bike for junior. Performance offers families:
• Easier bike selection - Every bike is clearly defined and placed into one of five major categories to help Mom, Dad and the kids choose the bike that's right for each of them: Road, Mountain, Path & Pavement, Women's and Kids.
• Top cycling brands at a great price - Performance offers trusted, world-renowned brands such as Fuji, Pearl Izumi, Louis Garneau, GT, Mongoose and Schwinn.
• Wide apparel and gear selection - Mom and Dad have a wide range of bike apparel and accessories to choose from to outfit the whole family.
Performance Bicycle offers three great ways to shop: by store, by catalog and through its website at PerformanceBike.com.
For more details on this news, please visit www.businesswire.com.
Thursday, 22 October 2009Chapel Hill, NC - Performance Bicycle, the nation's largest specialty bike retailer, announced that it has selected 3point5.com to provide online training for Performance's retail salespeople.
3point5.com specializes in developing online education, training and incentive programs for leading brands in sporting goods and related consumer product industries. 3point5.com's services will c omplement Performance’s in-person, hands-on retail training, especially as the company continues to expand its retail presence.
"As a regular part of our training regimen, 3point5.com will make sure that our retail Sales Associates' product knowledge remains current, consistent and accurate," said Tom Cross, vice president of stores for Performance Bicycle. "Many of our vendors already offer their online training through 3point5.com, and Sales Associates who have used 3point5.com in the past have enjoyed the content. We hope our decision to embrace this proven method will encourage other brands to offer their online training through 3point5.com, as well."
Added Cross, "This proven training method makes our retail employees more comfortable having sales conversations with customers. It's also a big reason our vendors are generating more product sales."
3point5.com has over 165,000 registered retail salespeople and just eclipsed 6 million "Edu-Games," fast-paced online quizzes that test retail sales knowledge. The company hosts training sites for more than 140 manufacturers across several markets, including Bike, Snowsports, Outdoor, Hunt/Fish, Action Sports, Golf, Tennis and Footwear.
"We are thrilled to partner with the nation’s leading bike retailer," said 3point5.com CEO Duncan Robins. "We believe this relationship will quickly increase our growing stable of bike-related manufacturers while simultaneously improving retail sales employee knowledge on the Performance sales floor."
Source: www.outdoorindustry.org
Wednesday, 21 October 2009Ramona, CA - Ellsworth Handcrafted Bikes, a market leader in technology innovation and sustainable business practices, was named "Best 2009 All-Mountain Bike" for its critically acclaimed "Moment" by www.singletracks.com. The site, which offers a user network for mountain bike trail reviews and gear evaluations, boasts over 100,000 subscribers and culled the award based on readers' feedback.
One Singletracks review briefly stated that the Moment was "American handcrafted quality in a solid and burly bike that can handle just about anything. All-round great bike for XC and Downhill."
Because of its versatility, The Moment is loosely known as the "sport utility bike" in the Ellsworth Bikes lineup. It's light enough to be a standalone trail bike with 6"’ of forgiving travel and it’s perfectly adept at multi-day endurance events or long all-mountain tours. The Moment serves as an alternative to the Ellsworth "Epiphany" but comes packaged with the same swaged, shaped, and tapered (SST) tubeset and ICT technology suspension, at a lower price point. In international competition, the Moment has taken Ellsworth athletes to endurance and 4x slopestyle podium finishes.
"Many thanks to Singletracks.com for this acknowledgement. We're especially happy this award was given on behalf of the site's readers, proving our motto 'those who ride, know,'" said Tony Ellsworth, founder. "We're looking forward to releasing the latest incarnation of the Moment in spring 2010 along with a lineup of freshly made SST versions of our classics plus our new, Rare Earth Carbon collection," Ellsworth added.
Look for a full-blown 2010 Ellsworth review from Singletracks' editors Syd Patrico and Jeff Barber in the coming months.
Source: www.outdoorindustry.org
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