Biking Bis - Bicycle Touring and More

Bicycle lust at Interbike

Gene Bisbee — Wed, 24 Sep 2008 18:26:00 -0700

What happens in Vegas, stays in Vegas; but I'm sure lots of visitors to Interbike wish they could carry some stuff home with them. Here are some public pictures at flickr.com from years past with descriptions I've added. ...

Wines and bicycles come together in the courts

Gene Bisbee — Thu, 11 Mar 2010 06:00:00 -0800

Bicycles and wines don't often figure together in the news, but it happened twice recently.

The first story involves Red Bicyclette pinot noir wine sold by E&J Gallo.

The label features an evocative watercolor of a man riding his bicycle home from the boulangerie with baguettes sticking out of the front basket.

That bicycle image probably sold a lot of pinot noir wine, except for one fact, a lot of it wasn't pinot noir ....

Rack-maker scores New Belgium cruisers contract

Gene Bisbee — Tue, 09 Mar 2010 08:13:00 -0800

Two things about the front bicycle racks made in a small Fort Collins, Colorado, shop caught the eye of a New Belgium Brewing Co. designer:

-- The racks used beetle-killed wood from Colorado's forests;

-- The racks could hold a case of beer.

So the beer brewery, which supplies cruiser bicycles to charities and its new employees, ordered 2,600 front racks from the shop for its new line of New Belgium 2010 cruisers.

That's a gold strike for Carver Surf Racks owner Orlando Baker ...

Winners of 2010 North American Handmade Bicycle Show;
NAHBS headed to Austin in 2011

Gene Bisbee — Sun, 28 Feb 2010 20:42:00 -0800

The adoring crowds of bicycling enthusiasts at the North American Handmade Bicycle Show in Richmond are spent.

The lust-fest of amazing bicycles ended Sunday, leaving everyone to contemplate word that the 2011 NAHBS will be held in Austin, Texas.

Before leaving, however, the 131 exhibitors and those left at the convention center learned the winners of the 2010 NAHBS awards.

Best of Show went to Ellis Cycles, owned by Dave Wages, left. His outfit is located in Waterford, Wisconsin.

The winning bike was built for a customer in San Francisco. Wages described it as "shiny but understated" with a "classic look."

The NAHBS blog has all the other winners and details. They are:

President's Choice -- Cherubim. The Japan-based family-owned business is run by Shin-Ichi Konno ...

2010 North American Handmade Bicycle Show in Richmond VA

Gene Bisbee — Thu, 25 Feb 2010 12:25:00 -0800

The sixth annual installment of the North American Handmade Bicycle Show opens in Richmond, Virginia, on Friday and runs through Sunday.

The showcase for those wonderfully crafted hand-built bicycles will feature 131 exhibitors at the Greater Richmond Convention Center.

Show times 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Friday and Saturday and 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Sunday. The convention center is at 403 N. Third Street, Richmond, VA .

Show owner Don Walker has found success in keeping the show on the road; last year it was Indianapolis and the year before that, Portland. It enables more local bike builders to enjoy the show and new handmade bicycle enthusiasts to see it.

Indianapolis saw 115 exhibitors last year and 6,428 attendees, down about 1,000 from Portland in 2008. ...

Settlement in LeMond vs. Trek vs. LeMond

Gene Bisbee — Mon, 01 Feb 2010 19:15:00 -0800

Greg LeMond and Trek Bicycles announced Monday that they've settled their differences out of court.

The lawsuit-countersuit involved a breach of contract involving LeMond's line of bicycles marketed by Trek.

After a preliminary hearing a few months ago, it looked like the case may be headed for a high-profile trial that would involve Lance Armstrong and testimony about doping allegations.

I don't think many in the bike industry were looking forward to that, especially Trek and Armstrong. LeMond, however, has shown that he's willing to let the chips fall where they may.

Instead, Trek and LeMond agreed to end their business venture, and Trek agreed to donate $200,000 to LeMond's foundation -- 1in6.org -- which helps adult victims of childhood sexual abuse ....

Zipp expansion small bright light in bike industry

Gene Bisbee — Thu, 28 Jan 2010 07:53:00 -0800

The same day that President Obama announced his jobs programs in the State of the Union address, an Indianapolis-based bicycle components maker announced it would expand and create jobs by 2013.

Zipp Speed Weaponry, which makes wheels, aero bars and other components for road, cyclocross and triathlete bicycling events, will expand its customer service and manufacturing division in Indianapolis, adding 105 jobs.

Currently the firm, which became a subsidiary of SRAM in 2007, employs 130 people. Hiring begins in June, according to the Indianapolis Business Journal.

This $12.5 million investment is good news. Zipp is expanding and keeping its jobs in the US, not farming out to India or China. ....

Seattle Bike Supply recalls Redline cyclocross bikes

Gene Bisbee — Tue, 12 Jan 2010 10:35:00 -0800

Seattle Bike Supply is recalling 350 Redline Conquest Pro bicycles and frames because of a defective fork.

The Kent, Washington-based distributor is urging consumers to stop riding the bikes immediately as the fork legs can separate from the fork crown.

The recall involves all year 2010 Redline Conquest Pro Cyclocross bicycles and framesets. They were sold in pearl white/blue and have aluminum frames with carbon fiber forks and aluminum steerer tubes ...

Bamboo bikes take root in the US, Africa and DIYers' garages

Gene Bisbee — Sun, 20 Dec 2009 11:10:00 -0800

The first time I heard about someone making a bicycle out of bamboo -- Craig Calfee at Calfee Designs in California -- I thought it might be a joke.

But while those Calfee Design bamboo frame bikes might put smiles on their owners' faces, they're no joke. Many bicyclists prefer them because of their ride, but also because they use a sustainable frame material.

Several other bike makers have begun using bamboo for frames, and this weekend National Public Radio reported on a Brooklyn-based Bamboo Bike Studio where interested bikers can build their own bamboo bikes. Basically we're talking do-it-yourself bamboo bikes ...

24,000 Zefal brand CO2 bike tire inflators recalled

Gene Bisbee — Thu, 17 Dec 2009 16:41:00 -0800

A company that imports CO2 bicycle tire inflators is recalling about 24,000 units that were sold exclusively at WalMart stores nationwide.

The Zefal brand cartridges, containing pressurized carbon dioxide used to inflate a bicycle tire, can break at the pump head.

Although no injuries have been reported, importer Todson Inc. of North Attleboro, Mass., launched the recall with the assistance of the US Consumer Product Safety Commission ...