When Mike’s Bikes the “small chain” of 12 bicycling stores in Northern California was sold to the Pon Group in August many wondered what would happen to their deal with Specialized, seeing as the Pon Group is the parent company of Santa Cruz, Cervelo, Gazelle, and Focus, among others. Well, wonder no more. In an letter to Northern California cyclists, Specialized announced today (September 7, 2021) that their product will no longer be sold at Mike’s Bikes, saying:
. . . Mike’s Bikes has provided first-rate service to Specialized riders for the past 23 years. They’ve been a great partner, but our relationship with them has ended as they undergo new ownership by a European Cycling company. . . We’re working quickly to ensure that Specialized riders in Northern California not only remain supported but that their experience is better than it’s ever been before. We’re continuing to improve on online experience so you can shop with us how you’d like.
It couldn’t have happened to a nicer brand. Kind of fun to see Specialized getting the sharp end of the business stick every once in a while. But hey, now that Specialized has done everything they can to squeeze small bike retailers out of business, they’re kinda left with selling direct online. All we can say is, welcome to Canyon country, Specialized! Hope it all goes well for you, because, like most, we absolutely love your shoes!
The best costume party mountain bike race in the west is coming back to Southern California this October as the Quick n’ Dirty Filthy 50 returns on October 30, 2021 for its seventh race at the San Dieguito River Park and Black Mountain Park. Here’s the word from the crew:
We’re bringing back everything you love in an MTB race all wrapped up in a Halloween theme that’s fun for the whole family. . . Fun, challenging endurance course – yep! We’ve even got 2 distances! . . Kids race – you bet! Bring the groms and we have a special course for all abilities. . . Big time party in our expo area all day? You know it! Prizes, give aways and all kinds of stoke from the biggest names in the industry. . . Great food, groovy tunes all day and Sierra Nevada will be on hand as the sponsor of the costume contest to honor those that are most into the Halloween vibe. Race in it or party in it after, either way we want to see your fun self in costume at the ride! . . . Oh yeah, and there’s a big fat $5K cash purse with equal pay for the men and women expert categories thanks to TEAM BOOMBABY!
If you want to ride it or race it you better sign up now because it will sell out.
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.
Registration opened today, May 4, 2021, for a unique, new, cycling, music, and food festival from the people who bring you the Belgian Waffle Ride. It’s called Blazing Saddles: Rumble at the Ranch. And it will be held October 15-17, 2021 in Escondido, California.
“The festival was conceived during the downtime of Covid, when the riddle was posed: In 2000, if Coachella and Sea Otter Bike Festival had a lovechild, what would it be like today?” says Monuments of Cycling CEO, Michael Marckx. “It will be a festival to showcase Southern California’s thriving cycling, culinary, beer and music scenes and will be presented with an appreciation for bringing the world together again in a beautiful, idyllic and rustic oasis. In addition to 6-, 12- and 24-hour racing for both mountain bikers and gravel riders (for individuals and teams), BLAZING SADDLES, not unlike Coachella, will incorporate camping options with a seamless, interactive experience for all guests and be the first festival of its kind. We love festivals, but no one has ever brought all these complementary things together in one three-day extravaganza!”
Registration is open today. Click here for all the details, of follow the jump for more of the official word from Monuments of Cycling.
Over The Hump MTB racing is back at Orange County, California’s Irvine Lake begining July 20, 2021.
Registration opens June 1, 2020. . . With the global bike community explosion this year’s race will be off the hook, and we don’t want you to be the one who missed it. . . The only thing we need is you.
The series runs every Saturday until June 26, 2021 with eight days of events. It’s better to register online, but you can register on site. Registration opens at 2 PM day of. Follow the jump for more info. [click to continue…]
Keegen Swenson gets it done on Moab’s White Rim Trail.
The White Rim Trail in Moab is a famed 100-mile loop in Canyonlands National Park. In 2019 the record was set, the “Fastest Known Time” on a bicycle was under 6hrs. This is no easy task for any human, the loop stretches across the vast canyonlands carved by the Colorado River. It’s full of a colorful landscape that has eroded into countless canyons, mesa’s, and arches. This makes for a daunting task on a self-supported bike adventure. Current US Cross Country National Champion Keegen Swenson once had the infamous FKT on the White Rim trail but recently lost it. Since losing it Keegan has made it a priority of his to return and reclaim the FKT.
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!
We know you’re clamoring to tie on a number and get dirty and on Saturday, January 30, 2021 you can. It’s race one of the Quick n’ Dirty Winter Series! at Barona Oaks MX in Lakeside, California. Q n’ D is presenting three weeks of racing on a hand built course that organizer claim will “will blow you away.” There’s even a drop-bar category for the CX/gravel types. Here’s the official word:
The Winter Series will mimic our world famous Summer Series in that the races will be about an hour long and of course we have categories for all ages and abilities. Also, we’ll kick everything off with a kids race so make sure to bring the groms so they can get in on the fun too!
Here’s all the important info!
Kids race rolls off @ 8:30am, categories racers fire out at 9am
On site registration from 7am to 8:40am
The trails are in pristine condition and we will race RAIN OR SHINE!
Food and coffee on site thanks to Conchita Bros!
$5 for parking – cash is king!
For directions, registration, and all the official details, please click the link.
