- Company-vehicle privilege for bikes becoming more popular in Europe – German companies are reporting expansions in their national company-vehicle privileges that started to include bikes back in 2012, giving tax benefits for employers providing workers with company bikes just like cars. With special bike leasing providers like JobRad or Mein Dienstrad, it has been easy to run such programs, just like you would with cars. Now after more than 3500 employers work with just JobRad alone more are getting access to these company bike services. Cities like Munich & Vienna have even added company bonuses to buy e-bikes (500€ back) and especially e-cargo bikes (1000€ back) for their employees to make switching to company bikes instead of company cars a real option. It seems that the city-run grant program in Munich even applies to private individuals buying these e-bikes.
Check out other industry tidbits of the week after the break…
Contest
- Win the ultimate Dolomiti Superbike Prize with Fi’zi:k – One of the biggest races in the mountain biking calendar, the Dolomiti Superbike, celebrates its 22th anniversary this year. And as the race’s big sponsor, Fizik are offering up flights, accommodation, entry tickets & a VIP gift package for a pair of riders to head into the Italian Alps to enjoy it. As well as supplying shoes and saddles, they’ve partnered with Canyon to also offer bikes for the rider for the weekend. All you’ll have to do is show up with a helmet and the cloths on your back. Register to win over at Fizik’s Quizr.cc page. Be quick entry closes tomorrow evening! Fi’zi:k.com
Race news
- The Daily Mail reports that Omerta has undermined the British Cycling inquiry – Clearly this hasn’t gone away as the recent independent review of the medical and operational dealings of British Cycling has had to fight the historical code of silence in the sport. In their exclusive report The Daily Mail is saying that some pretty damning findings are expected, and the key big name riders that are pretty much at the heart of the matter have decided not to speak on the issue, presumably out of fear of pissing off the higher ups and specifically Sir Dave Brailsford at the top. DailyMail.co.uk
Gear & Industry news
- Patagonia Goes ‘All In’ On Bears Ears – After taking a stand and starting the cascade of industry action by pulling out of Outdoor Retailer because of the public policy moves in Utah recently, Patagonia has now bumped up its support of the Bears Ears National Monument to reinforce how important a topic this land policy shift is. Their awareness campaign titled “This is Bears Ears National Monument” centers on 10 short films that “create an experience of total immersion” into the contentious national monument in southern Utah. Get a sense of the place (with autoplaying but beautiful video) at: BearsEars.Patagonia.com
- Ruckus expands with new bigger Portland manufacturing facility – Ruckus Composites is continuing its growth trend and expanding into a new, larger facility in SE Portland. The move boosts their workspace, capacity, and room to grow. It also gives them a new & improved structural repair area so they an really begin to fully utilize their investment in NDT (non-destructive testing) tech with ultrasound, infrared & fluorescing penetrant dye to form a more complete image of how and why carbon frames get damaged. RuckusComp.com
- SH+ has a new e-shop, and is sharing a 20% off coupon to celebrate – Italian helmet and glasses maker SH+ has just finishes an overhaul of their online shop, and to celebrate what is always more of a daunting task than is expected they are offering out readers a discount code. The new site gets more tech details and easier to use navigation, so give it a look and get a 20% discount. The offer is good until the end of March, use coupon code: Y6JG4NDW at checkout to get the deal. SHplus.shop
Where to race & ride
- Sun and Stars for the opening of the PARTS 8.3 Enduro Series / FFC French Cup this weekend – The French trail season opens early this year, with spring weather for the weekend in Levens with no less than 5 stages Enduro stages in store. Many of the top French riders will be there both on the women’s and men’s sides, so it’ll be a good chance to rub elbows with the best. There’s also the third year of the E-MTB Enduro Trophy with some suitably big names as well like Sabrina Jonnier & Nicolas Vouilloz. There’s only a very few number of entries remaining, but there are plenty of opportunities to spectate as well. Get a start to your Enduro season and find out quickly how you rank against the best. Tribe-Events.com
