OFF THE RECORD
OFF THE RECORD Clarks moves house then gains chickens… The locals are friendly – but only if you feed them...
CLARKS product designer, Paul Toon, told BikeBiz: “We have changed the business significantly, investing in new product design and development strategies. Our long established company is still working hard to succeed, winning business awards earlier this year. We only moved very recently, so we are still settling in. But the natives seem friendly – as you can see from the photos.”
Clarks Cycle Systems has moved its Head Office to the new address below: Head Office Unit 1, The Old Dairy, Pessall Lane, Edingale, Nr Tamworth, Stafford B79 9JL
Send your pictures to mark.sutton@intentmedia.co.uk
Rouleur exhibition review THROUGH December Rouleur set up camp next door to Condor Cycles in London to put on an exhibition showing off the work of nine of the magazine’s contributing photographers. The results could be viewed by the public up to December 23rd when the exhibition on Gray’s Inn Road closed. The results have been prolific, and the images are some of the finest taken since Rouleur began. The photographs give a glimpse into a multitude of cycling’s many facets: the riders, the people by the road, the anonymous officials, and the different landscapes that form the backdrop to the races – from the northern Essex marshes of Dengie to the Italian Dolomites. There were nine very
different, yet all deeply personal views on show, as well as a few custom bicycles dressed in the Rouleur colours.
Whyte signs Olympic hopeful WHYTE RACING has signed Billy Whenman on a four-year contract that will take him up to the next Olympics. The 19-year-old – currently the National under-23 75km enduro champion – will be riding a Whyte 19 Race hardtail from January. Billy’s contract is the first one that pays him a salary. He has secured many product deals over the years as he has risen through the junior ranks and since he was
a young teenager has been a supported rider with Marin. As an English rider on the exclusive British Whyte bikes, the company is keen to stress the synergy of the deal. Brand manager Justin Stevenson said: “Without a doubt Billy is the most exciting rider to come up through the ranks for years. We are looking forward to seeing if he can win a place at the 2012 games.”
quote unquote “The bicycle is one of the world's great examples of good design: utilitarian, refined, efficient and available in mind-blowing variety, from the $60 Kmart kid’s bike to the $6,000 carbon fibre bike, and everything in between.” Core77.com, an industrial design website, December 1st
“The investment going in at the elite end [of British Cycling] isn’t about improving training or preparation – they’re good at that – it’s about getting our best riders into the public eye to inspire people to get out on their bikes.” Ian Drake, British Cycling's CEO, The Independent, November 1st
“Beijing has sparked a surge in popularity across the sport. Tills are ringing at bike shops and ‘have-a-go’ sessions at the Manchester track are booked up right until February.” The Independent, November 1st
“Right now, the US consumes about 10 per cent of the world’s oil just to get back and forth to work. If we are able to reintroduce the bicycle into our communities, we are going to make it easier for people to break our oil
BIKEBIZ.COM
Sponsored by the brands of Moore Large 01332 274252 addiction. I have cycled to work in Washington for 12 years. I’ve burned over 300,000 calories and saved $94,000 in car costs, 206 gallons of fuel, and 4,800 pounds of carbon dioxide.” Congressman Earl Blumenauer, Oregon, in Parade magazine, November 23rd
Ian Drake
“Halfords is putting more emphasis on bicycles as high fuel prices and the economic downturn drive hordes of commuters to the saddle. The number of commuters cycling to work has increased by 3.3 million since the start of the credit crunch, according to one survey.” The Times, November 21st “One of the world industries seemingly not suffering in the current worldwide recession, if we can agree that the embargo over calling it that has now expired, is the bike trade. Top bicycle makers in Taiwan and Japan are reporting steadily increasing
revenues, despite the falling popularity around the world of the bicycle’s four-wheeled cousin. Bicycles, then, seem to share an exalted status, along with certain foodstuffs, pharmaceuticals and precious few others, as recession-proof commodities that investors can count as far-sighted picks.” Ron Goodden, JournalConstitution, USA, November 26th
BIKEBIZ JANUARY 77