- Major U.S. law firm Knobbe Martens gets behind cyclocross – Most cross racers recognize the names or at least the industries of most sponsors whose names they see splashed across kits and race tents – protein bars, energy drinks, components, wheels, bike, even car companies. So who and what is Knobbe Martens, and why is their name on the US Champ kits of Jeremy Power and Ellen Noble’s Aspire Racing? Well, Knobbe Martens is a California-based law firm, and its team sponsorship may be the first for a US law firm in cross. (It’s certainly the first for a large firm specializing in intellectual property (think patents, trademarks, and copyright law.) But why not? Instead of running marathons, doing triathlons, or playing golf, the attorneys and staff at Knobbe ride ‘cross. So they’ve put their money where their knobbies are and are supporting the sport they love. Kuddos, and hopefully the press will do them good in their intellectually property business. Knobbe.com…
Advocacy
- Auction off that SSCXEC 2016 Bombtrack custom for a good cause – To support education & training of young bike mechanics in Tanzania, the bike that was shown in Berlin back in the early spring will be auctioned off by Bombtrack Bicycle & the Wiener Fahrradschau (Vienna Bike Show). Proceeds go to the Velafrica organization in order to support the education and training of young, enthusiastic bicycle mechanics in Arusha, Tanzania. The Wiener Fahrradschau premieres in a month and a half in Vienna from 21-23 October. Bid on the unique singlespeed cross machine until the morning of October 24. Auction.Velafrica.ch
Where to Ride
- Join CLIF for the rowdy CykelScramble in two weeks – Clif Bar’s CykelScramble is right around the corner. It’s not our first time to mention it, but seriously… This rowdy bike-relay is set for September 24 in the San Francisco Bay Area. Honoring the fact that the Clif Bar was born on a bike, they host this annual bike relay race where teams in crazy costumes go head to head and compete for the ultimate bragging rights: be the CykelScramble champs. Teams compete on a 0.6-mile sprint course with over a dozen fast-paced obstacles to ratchet up the fun and excitement. There’ll be awards for everything from team spirit to most epic wipeout, plus food and beer trucks, a kids area, a mini pump track, and live music. To top it off, the event is free. Stop reading, put it on your calendar. CykelScramble.com
Gear & Race News
- NYCeWheels announces Freedom to Ride free financing – Midtown Manhattan bike dealer NYCeWheels knows that buying that tricked out Brompton and all the gear to go with it can strain your budget after just moving to the Big Apple, so they are trying to make it easy to get on the bike path. A no interest, low payment plan makes it easy to buy everything you need to enjoy your new bike. Pay it off within 12 months and get no interest. Available on purchases over $300 or more, you even get a Freedom to Ride Card so you can add of something that you forgot. Details at: NYCeWheels.com
- Merida is stepping away from XC team sponsorship – Race & sponsorship news really isn’t our deal, but this is probably worth sharing. After 16 years as title sponsor of the most successful cross country mountain bike team, Merida is pulling the plug on their support of the Multivan Merida team at the end of 2016. With more than 30 World Cup wins, 15 World Championship titles, 15 European and countless national titles, not to mention riders earning an Olympic Gold & a Silver, their riders have certainly delivered. Merida has a big role in pro road sponsorship these days, and promises to be back in mountain bike racing soon, but this certainly feels like a bit of an end of an era. Facebook.com/MultivanMeridaBikingTeam
- Shimano lays out Lazer distribution – Earlier this summer we heard that Shimano’s Europe branch had bought helmet maker Lazer. Shimano’s North American team has now let us know how the helmets will make their way to consumers in the US & Canada. Shimano will offer the helmets through their own dealer channels, and will also distribute them QBP in the states and still with Live To Play in Canada. What that probably means to you is that new crazy Bullet aero helmet will be easier to get ahold of through pretty much every local bike shop on the continent. LazerSport.com
