Just Riding Along

Soma Fab buys ad on blog directory

Just noticed that Soma Fabrications is the first bike company to purchase ad space on this popular bike blog directory.  Currently, the "Bicycle Blogs" directory lists 168 blogs, making it the most comprehensive directory on the web (although a new one has recently sprouted up).

Is this the first ad buy from a bike industry manufacturer on a blog-related site?  If it is, kudos go to Soma for leading the charge.  This trend will continue as more of the industry realizes that blogs are reaching an ever-increasing number of their potential customers.

Interbike blogger meet-up

I wanted to have a blogging/tech panel discussion at this year's Interbike trade show...but they were booked up a long time ago.  So instead, I'd like to invite all bike industry bloggers to an informal meet-up in Vegas.  I'm not sure how structured it will be, but at the very least it will be a chance to put a face to a name, share a drink (or two), exchange ideas, and perhaps hatch our plans to take over the industry ;-).

I'd also like to extend the invitation to anyone who'd like to learn more about blogs.  If you're on the fence about this whole blogging thing, we'll help you get down on the right side.  Bring your questions, curiousities, and concerns and feel free to pick our brains clean. 

If you're interested, just stay tuned to this space for updates and more details.  Any questions or feedback, just leave a comment or drop me an email.

Kerkove suspended for forum comments

Wow.  This one is hard to believe.  Authors of PR textbooks, get ready to add to your "Bad PR Case Studies" chapter.

Stuart Dorland, founder of 24 Hours of Adrenaline, a race promotion company, has decided to suspend professional endurance racer Jeff Kerkove for one year.  The reason?  Jeff expressed his opinions about the high-price of Stuart's events in an MTBR forum.  Dorland, afraid Jeff's comments would hurt his company's image, engaged Jeff in series of personal emails that ended up in Jeff being suspended immediately...just days before the 24 hour world championships.  (Read more on Kerkove's blog).

Given what I've heard and read, this is a bad decision by Dorland. Kerkove is influential and respected in the endurance racing community.  Along with being one of the top racers in the country and a true evangelist for 24 hour racing, he has a popular blog, he's a shop mechanic, he's active in Internet forums and he's a race promoter.  Kerkove is the archetypal opinion leader, an influencer, a network hub, he's all the marketing buzzwords rolled up into one.  He is the LAST guy any company should alienate.

The painful irony for Dorland is that he suspended Kerkove out of fear that his comments would influence a lot of people...but now it's that same influence that will damage the brand and bottom line of Dorland's company.   Just read the posts to the MTBR thread...the dog-pile has already begun. 

Note to Dorland and others:

There is a new reality in the marketplace.  It's called a conversation and you don't own it any longer.  Your customers are not just passive recipients of your goods and services.  They have a voice that is more powerful than ever because of blogs, forums and the rise of consumer generated media.  You have the choice to either engage, respect and listen to your customers, or ignore them and treat them like dirt.  If you want to make money and be successful, I strongly recommend the former.

My advice to Dorland.  If you think your decision is justified, explain it to the community, but if you think you made a bad decision, it's not too late to change it.  If I were you I'd apologize to Jeff then send him a first class plane ticket to Worlds and buy him a few pints when he gets there.

SRAM stressing Shimano?

Tim over at Masiguy offers his take of the new SRAM road shifters.  In his opinion, they pose a more significant threat to Shimano than Campy does.

"as a Product Manager for a bike brand, it gives me another option for road parts, which is always good. Also, it creates more "pressure" for Shimano...Maybe it is just me, but this could prove to be some of the biggest news in road componentry of the past few years."

SRAM - who also owns Truvativ, Rock Shox and Avid - is already much better positioned to offer the elusive "complete drivetrain" than Shimano is.  More info on SRAM's road stuff from Cyclingnews.com.

Fisher 29ers at SSWC05

Apparently Fisher's commitment to the 29" wheel platform is paying off.  According to Michael Browne over at Dirt Rag Magazine, Fisher's  "Rig" 29er model was by far the most popular bike at the recent Single Speed World Championships last weekend in Pennsylvania.

In fact, the bikes were so ubiquitous that riders had a tough time finding their own bikes after the Le Mans-style running start.  One poor soul even ended up doing the entire race on someone elses "Rig".

According to Browne:

"The Rig is the only production 29” bike available around the country. Sure, smaller builders make them and have fueled the passion for the movement, but this bike has brought it to the people, for a very reasonable price."

I expect to see all the major brands at Interbike showing new 29" models and I'm sure there will be a slew of new 29" compatible parts.  Will it be the shot in the arm that the XC-MTB market has been waiting for?  I sure hope so. 

SSWC05

Danica Agnes Maus

Thanks to everyone for the kind emails and comments on the birth of my daughter.  Several folks have asked for photos and more details...so here goes:

Danica Agnes Maus (we call her Dani)
9lbs. 5oz. and 21" long

It was by far the most intense experience of my life.  The only thing I can even compare it to is the final laps of a long, hard crit...with a lap counter that seemed to never budge.

... and like racing, the reward far outweighs the effort...don't you think?

Trek dealer show in the books

Wondering how Trek's dealer show went?  Here's what one attendee thought:

"Do we really need a 30 minute fashion show to introduce the '06 Nike line?

Klein......yeah, ummm.....there over there, somewhere in an alleyway all by themselves.......mumble.....couple a models......OKAY! Let's move on, shall we?"

Read more of "Guitar Ted's" report and see a bunch of photos on his blog.

 

The Interbike Question

Since my first trip to Interbike back in 1997 I have always looked forward to the Big Show.  I have been as a manufacturer's rep (with Chris King), as a marketing director (with Old Man Mountain) and most recently as a consultant.  My fondest memories in this industry are still from standing on my feet all day and talking with dealers, the media and anyone that cared to listen about products and ideas I believe in.

To me, there's just something special about the all the best and brightest bicycle minds all under one roof at the same time.  To me, it's an essential place for our industry to come together once a year.   

But maybe I'm lost in some idealized version of bicycle solidarity utopia that simply doesn't exist.  The reality is that there are some companies who choose not to attend at all.  Notably absent from this year's show is Trek Bicycle Corp; they've decided on a "dealer-only" event at their HQ in Wisconsin instead.

Trek's decision makes me wonder about the future of the show...

• Do well-known suppliers with an established dealer networks still need Interbike?
• Will more suppliers start doing their own, dealer-only events?
• If suppliers aren't happy with the show, who's to blame?  Is it the Sands Convention Center and those crazy unions and fees?  Or is it the folks that run Interbike?
• A perfect trade show will never exist, but are there some fundamental changes that could make the show better for everyone?

I think Trek (and other suppliers) will regret not showing up in force to Vegas.  I understand all about taking care of existing dealers and saving the cash, but I think the branding, PR and networking opportunities are too important to ignore. 

What do you think? 

New Maus baby has arrived...

...posting will be scarce for the next few days.  Thanks.

--Jonathan

Wald profiled on NPR

National Public Radio's "Day to Day" show recently featured an interesting profile on Wald.  Wald manufactures the ubiquitous metal baskets seen in thousands of bike shops around the country.

A brief summary:

"Most bicycle accessories are now manufactured in China, but one family-owned American company is determined to stay in the business. Noah Adams talks with Madeleine Brand about his visit to the Wald company in the rural Kentucky town of Maysville, where workers still make and ship bicycle baskets all over the world."

Interesting factoids about Wald:

• Been in the same family for 100 years.
• They still make everything in the U.S.
• They've survived by diversifying and they now make parts for GM trucks, among others.
• They sell 250,000 bike baskets per year.

Full story:   U.S. Firm Keeps Toehold in Bike Basket Business