Search: pocket media

Pocket Outdoor Media Goes Outside

by editors on February 22, 2021

Pocket Outdoor Media, the umbrella company that owns VeloNews, Backpacker, SKI, Climbing, and many other media properties, (we wrote all about them here) announced today (February 22, 20121) the purchase of Outside, parent company of Outside Magazine, Outside TV, Peloton Magazine and the rest from owner Larry Burke for an undisclosed sum, according to a story on Pocket Media’s SNews.com.

“Adding these businesses to our portfolio and rebranding Pocket is a transformative moment for us,” says Robin Thurston, CEO of the all-new Outside. “Together with our other category-leading properties—SKI, Yoga Journal, Backpacker, Trail Runner, VeloNews, Climbing, Warren Miller Entertainment, Roll Massif, FinisherPix, SNEWS, and more—these brands make our new company the world’s leading creator of active living content, experiences, travel, and services. We now deliver content to almost every home in America across every platform, screen, and device.”

Is consolidation good? When it keeps your favorite brand alive it may be. And with this purchase, the newly renamed Outside seems to have saved a bundle of brands from certain death. So, yay, Outside!

[Link: SNews.com]

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Outside Adds Pinkbike To Media Quiver

by editors on July 16, 2021

It seems the BLOAT just can’t keep his hands off more cycling media brands as Outside buys mountain bike community Pinkbike (along with Cyclingtips and Trailforks). In a letter from the editor on July 16, 2021, Pinkbike’s “head of editorial” Brian Park explained exactly why selling out to Outside (formerly known as Pocket Outdoor Media) was such a great thing.

Pinkbike’s mission to be the pulse of mountain biking and to share the ride with the global mountain bike community doesn’t change, only now we have more resources and capabilities to take on even bigger and better projects. . . Our head office remains in Squamish, BC, and we’re about to move into a brand new office space with way more room to grow. We’ll also have access to new equipment and improved test facilities for more scientific, objective product evaluations.

Newly acquired media properties always seem optimistic about how “everything will stay the same, but we’ll have more opportunities to do all kinds of cool stuff” and rarely is this the case in reality. Big brands buy small brands so they can kill off competition and streamline efficiencies. But hey, let’s hope it goes well for Pinkbike et. al. Maybe the new Outside is better than all the media conglomerates that have come before. It could happen.

[Link: Pinkbike]

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Garmin Goes Solar With Edge 1040

by editors on June 8, 2022

Garmin’s big daddy, top-of-the-line cycling computer just got a solar update with the new Edge 1040 Solar.

Harnessing the power of the sun, the Edge 1040 Solar features a Power Glass™ solar charging lens, giving cyclists even more ride time between charges–up to 100 hours in battery saver mode –while multi-band GNSS technology provides more accurate GPS positioning in challenging ride environments, such as dense urban areas or under deep tree cover.

The Edge 1040 Solar is big and expensive. It retails for $749.99. This makes it a bike computer for people who really love big cycling computers. We’re still happy with our Edge 500 and a phone in our back pocket, but if you don’t mind the size and paying as much for a bike computer as you’d spend on an iPhone then the 1040 Solar might be right for you. For all the details click here, or follow the jump.

[click to continue…]

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Chrome’s Storm Salute Commute Jacket

by editors on October 27, 2020

Occasionally, we’ll see something we like. Don’t know why exactly, but we see it, read about it, and immediately start figuring out ways to add the item to our collection. That’s where Chrome’s new Storm Salute Commute jacket comes in. It has all the bells, all the whistles, and yet it still looks good, and that’s not easy to do.

Working hard to keep you dry, the new Storm Salute Commute is constructed with 2.5-layer waterproof + breathable stretch fabric, fully seam-taped to ensure waterproofness. The breathability keeps you comfortable while on the go through the city, and the adjustable Storm Hood fits your helmet without slipping off while on the bike. . . Chrome continues to balance utility and style with reflective accents on the left sleeve, cuffs and lower back to keep you visible during night rides. This ideal commuter jacket offers the perfect fit with an adjustable drop hem with drawcord, while the two-way zip and upper back yoke vent aid in keeping you cool. To stash your stuff, the Storm Salute Commute features a zippered interior phone pocket and back cargo pocket.

We get all this fit, function, and style for $185. It’s available in black and dusty olive. Want to buy one? Click the link.

[Link: Chrome Industries]

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Specialized, Lance Armstrong & VeloNews

by editors on July 21, 2020

While doing a little web cruising this morning, wondering whatever happened to some old media friends, we stumbled onto a press release from June 30, 2020 suggesting that Specialized and The Biggest Liar of All Time (aka BLOAT aka Lance Armstrong) have joined forces to possibly control the cycling narrative through media ownership.

Here’s how it goes: VeloNews (and Bicycle Retailer) owner Pocket Outdoor Media just purchased a boat load of “media” titles from another media/events company called Active Interest Media. Not that cyclists should care, but the titles Pocket purchased include: Warren Miller Entertainment, Ski Magazine, Backpacker, Climbing, Yoga Journal, Vegetarian Times, and more.

This got more interesting when Pocket Outdoor Media listed where they got the money to grab the titles. It came from a “Series A” round of funding from three different venture capital groups, namely JAZZ Venture Partners, NEXT VENTŪRES, and Zone 5 Ventures.

Who are these venture firms? Well, JAZZ is a bunch of neuroscience medical start-up brainiacs based in San Francisco, Next Ventures is the BLOAT and friends (yes, he still has some), and Zone 5 Ventures is Specialized’s early-stage investment arm which is run by former and current employees at Specialized.

We haven’t had reason to follow anyone from JAZZ, but before starting Next with the BLOAT managing partner Lionel Conacher was a senior advisor and operating partner at Altamont Capital Partners, LLC which has large stakes in the Billabong, Brixton, Fox (head), HUF, and Dakine brands. Lance’s other partner at Next is Melanie Strong, the former Nike vice president and general manager of Nike Skateboarding.

So why are all these corporate jocks suddenly interested in the action sports media world in general and cycling in particular? Is it because in these COVID times the only thing any of us can do is spend time outside? Is it because distressed action media brands are currently a bargain? Or is it because (as we suspect) The BLOAT and Specialized want to own the cycling narrative from beginning to end?

How do you feel about getting all your cycling news from Specialized and The BLOAT? It doesn’t feel all that good to us. Makes it even more difficult to know what to believe, doesn’t it? For instance, how long will this story on Specialized’s silly trademark lawsuit stay up on the VeloNews website? Click the link to see if it’s still there. 

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VeloNews & Bicycle Retailer Reunited

by editors on February 4, 2019

While we were messing around with news that Bike Magazine et. al. was being sold to American Media last Thursday we totally missed the other bicycle media story that went down on January 31, 2019. And that was this: Emerald Events, the owner of the “on hold” Interbike trade show has off-loaded Bicycle Retailer and Industry News to VeloNew’s parent company Pocket Outdoor Media, according to a story on VeloNews.

“Bringing BRAIN into Pocket Outdoor Media is a little piece of history coming full circle,” said Felix Magowan, chairman of Pocket Outdoor Media. “VeloNews helped establish BRAIN in 1992 and this acquisition means we will continue BRAIN’s legacy of authoritative industry coverage,” Magowan said.

Not exactly sure how this will go for Pocket as recent changes in the business landscape seem to suggest that there are neither bicycle retailers, nor bicycle media consumers in general, but good luck with that. Nice to know BRIAN (as they call it) will have a home with a company with at least a sentimental attachment to cycling. For the whole story, please click the link.

[Link: VeloNews]

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Why Your Next Bike Computer Should Probably Be A Garmin fenix 2 Watch

by editors on February 20, 2014

Garmin Fenix 2-1

Before you buy your next bike computer you might want to check out the new Garmin fenix 2 watch (on sale in March 2014 for $3.99.95). Why? Because it does everything the Edge 500 does and nearly everything the Edge 810 does, yet it fits on your wrist (or can be strapped to your bars). Those who run and/or swim (not sure why anyone would want to do either of those things) will discover that the fenix 2 also does everything the Forerunner 620 does and everything the Garmin Swim does including (but not limited to) counting and naming your strokes, and recording the number of pool laps.

What’s more, by pairing an iPhone 4s or newer to the fenix 2 via Bluetooth Smart the watch will reflects iOS notifications straight to your wrist so you’ll know when you get a text, email, phone call, or have a calendar event coming up without pulling your phone out of your back pocket. This thing maybe the smartest smart watch ever. Seriously. Why buy anything else?

Follow the jump for the official word from Garmin. [click to continue…]

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Incipio Has Your iPhone 5 Cased

by editors on October 2, 2012

Incipio 2
The phone has been out for a little over a week, but the case selection has been even weaker. That’s all changed now that Incipio is on the case. They’ve just announced six new iPhone 5 cases that will keep the your light, little, digital candy bar safe from your reckless life.

The new iPhone 5 cases include the best-selling feather®, CODE™ and NGP®, as well as the innovative DualPro™ SHINE , feather® SHINE and FAXION™. . . “We have been working diligently to provide consumers with an array of iPhone 5 case solutions and couldn’t be happier to announce these new additions,” said Andy Fathollahi, Chief Executive Officer of Incipio. “We will continue to unveil new cases as our design and production teams are always pushing the envelope on innovation.”

We’d been running their cases exclusively on our iPhone 4 and they were bulletproof, even surviving a road drop from the back pocket of our jersey. Follow the jump for the official word. [click to continue…]

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