Biking Bis - Bicycle Touring and More

Performance recalls 3,000 bicycle trainers

Gene Bisbee — Wed, 23 Apr 2008 15:07:00 -0700

Performance is recalling three models of resistance bicycle trainers because springs can become unattached and fly through the air. There are 3 reports of malfunctions, but no injuries.

All three are folding stands that can be attached to the rear wheel of a bicycle. The models are: Travel Trac Inertial (catalog 40-3834), Travel Trac Force I-Wireless (40-3833) and Travel Trac Millennium ...

Trek trying to drop Greg LeMond

Gene Bisbee — Tue, 08 Apr 2008 12:14:00 -0700

Trek Bicycle has filed a lawsuit to get out of its contract to produce bicycles for LeMond Cycling.

Trek president John Burke cites a "troubling pattern of inconsistent business dealings" with Greg LeMond, the three-time Tour de France winner.

That "troubling pattern" includes LeMond's habit of speaking his mind about doping in the sport of cycling. It also probably includes the lawsuit against Trek that LeMond filed on March 20. According to the Milwaukee Business Journal, the lawsuit charges Trek with:

"...failing to adequately market the LeMond-branded bikes and accuses the company of favoring products with the Lance Armstrong brand, at the expense of LeMond's products." ...

Global report forecasts growth in bike market

Gene Bisbee — Mon, 17 Mar 2008 08:40:00 -0700

One of those reports that makes me stop and go -- huh? -- has been issued by Global Industry Analysts.

In reporting continued worldwide growth of the bicycle market, it notes that bicycling is one of the top leisure sports activities in the US "with over 451 million users active cyclists in the country."

That's an amazing statistic, considering the current US population is 301 million. Maybe the report means 451 million bicycles; I wouldn't be surprised if there were more bikes than people...

Trek Bicycle founder Richard Burke dies

Gene Bisbee — Wed, 12 Mar 2008 05:00:00 -0700

Go to most bicycling events where there are more than a couple of dozen bikes and you'll find Treks, Lemonds, Gary Fishers, and Kleins.

The bikes can range in price from about $400 to more than $7,000. What they all have in common is that they're all made by Trek Bicycle, the world's largest bike company.

The man who started it all in a red barn in Waterloo, Wisconsin, 32 years ago was Richard Burke. He died Monday from complications of heart surgery at age 73 ...

Vegan cyclists stick with bamboo bikes

Gene Bisbee — Tue, 19 Feb 2008 11:00:00 -0800

Calfee Designs is supplying its bamboo bikes to a California-based bicycle racing team composed exclusively of vegans.

OrganicAthlete launched its cycling team in 2007 and five of its athletes will be riding the bamboo bikes this year.

Although he experimented with bamboo about 10 years ago, Craig Calfee has been building the bamboo bikes at his Santa Cruz County shop for three or four years. The bamboo tubing is bound with a hemp-fiber wrap that helps create a green, renewable bicycle...

Why Indianapolis is a good choice for NAHBS

Gene Bisbee — Mon, 11 Feb 2008 12:53:00 -0800

After a very successful weekend in Portland, the North American Handmade Bicycle Show is heading out to Indianapolis for its 5th annual event next year.

Apparently show owner Don Walker likes to keep his show on the road to give more people a chance to fall in love with those beautiful hand-built bicycles. Can't argue with that.

Also, the UrbanVelo blog says that Indianapolis (home to Monon Trail, above) is within a day's drive of 100 million people out there in the Heartland. Nearby cities include Chicago and St. Louis, as well as Cincinnati, Columbus, Cleveland and Detroit...

Trek recalls 49,000 girls mountain bikes

Gene Bisbee — Thu, 07 Feb 2008 11:17:00 -0800

Trek Bicycle is recalling 49,000 girls mountain bikes after receiving 13 reports that the frames broke, resulting in four injuries.

The recall, in cooperation with the US Consumer Product Safety Commission, covers the Trek MT220 girls bicycles sold through authorized Trek dealers from April 2004 through June 2007 for about $300.

The bicycles were manufactured in China and Taiwan for the Waterloo, Wisconsin-based bike maker...

Handmade Bicycle Show in Portland this weekend

Gene Bisbee — Thu, 07 Feb 2008 10:41:00 -0800

If you're anywhere in the Pacific Northwest, you should be reminded that this weekend is the North American Handmade Bicycle Show in Portland.

This is the show's first year in Portland, where some 155 exhibitors will show their wares to the public at the Oregon Convention Center on Saturday and Sunday (Friday is industry only day).

Organized by Don Walker and in its fourth year, the handbuilt bike show has helped focus more attention on this cottage industry that not only produces unique, high-quality machines but is also an early bellwether of changes in the bike industry...

Sheldon Brown

Gene Bisbee — Mon, 04 Feb 2008 12:49:00 -0800

(The blog feeds for Sheldon Brown tributes has been moved to the upper sidebar of the Biking Bis "Feed Zone" page.)

The foremost Internet authority on bicycles and bicycle maintenance died last night of a massive heart attack.

Sheldon Brown's websites were the first place many of us bike geeks landed when we needed authoritative information about our rides. Those ending up at the Harris Cyclery web pages today saw the following message:

"Dear Harris Cyclery friends and customers, It is with heavy hearts that we convey to you the news that Sheldon Brown has passed away. Our thoughts go out to his family at this time. The cycling community has lost one of it's most passionate members."

Noah over at Blue Collar Mountain Biking notes that Sheldon, 63, posted some advice over at Bike Forums at 9:31 p.m. That might have been the last help he gave while he was alive. He'll surely continue to help many others as his words and advice live on through the Internet.

More about Sheldon Brown at wikipedia. Also, leave a comment at the Recalling Sheldon Brown blog; 293 comments last I checked.

Maker of Schwinn buys Cannondale Bicycle company

Gene Bisbee — Mon, 04 Feb 2008 10:58:00 -0800

Ownership of the Cannondale Bicycle Corp. is headed north of the border with its purchase by Montreal-based Dorel Industries.

A huge consumer products company, Dorel markets Schwinn, Mongoose, GT, Roadmaster, Murray, InSTEP and Playsafe through its Pacific Cycle division.

In announcing the $200 million purchase, company officials said Cannondale would operate as a separate group aimed at independent bicycle dealers, while the other bike brands will continue to target the mass merchandisers ...