BikeBiz Bicycle and cycling retail news
Phil Liggett is a superstar in America, mobbed when he signs autographs on the booths paying for him to be here at the show.
On Sunday night he was MCing the Bicycle Industry Awards Celebration, organised by Bicycle Retailer magazine, and was given a surprise Lifetime Achievement awards at the posh dinner which honoured industry members in a variety of categories.
Proceeds from the $100-a-plate awards do went to the 2004 National Bike Summit in Washington, D.C.
The other results were:
Best trade ad campaign: Todson
Best consumer ad campaign: Cervelo
Best island exhibit: Crank Bros
Best linear exhibit: Nalgene
Component/accessory (bike): Shimano PD-7750 SPD Sl pedals
Component/accessory manufacturer (body): Trek Interval Sport Helmet
Component/accessory manufacturer (garage): Ultimate Pro bicycle Repair stand
Individual advocate of the year: Joe Breeze, Breezer Bikes
Retailer advocate of the year: Jay Graves, The Bike Gallery, Portland, OR
Supplier advocate of the year: Kona See text below
Favourite bike brand: Serotta Ottrott
Best 2004 Product of the Show/Demo: Mavic
Industry woman of the year: tie between Lisa Robinson, Sportworks, and Matha Roskowski, America Bikes
Industry man of the year: Skip Hess, Giant Bicycles
Lifetime achievement: Phil Liggett
Retailer of the year, single location: Liberty Bicycles, Ashevill, NC
Retailer of the year, multi-location: Wheel & Sprocket, Hales Corner, WI
Female athlete of the year: Marla Streb
Male athlete of the year:Tyler Hamilton
WIN A DVD GIFTSET:
Following last year’s Interbike, BikeBiz.com raffled a Trek jersey signed by Lance Armstrong. This year we’ve got some DVDs to give away. The DVDs are of the – now legendary – 2003 Tour de France and feature commentary from Phil Liggett. Produced by Tim Grady’s World Cycling Productions of the US, the DVDs will be distributed in the UK by IPC, publisher of Cycling Weekly/Cycle Sport.
There’s a four-hour DVD and a mammoth 12-hour DVD giftset. Both packs were signed at Interbike by Phil Liggett.
To be in with a chance of winning one of these DVD giftsets, answer the following question:
Which rider in the 2003 Tour de France came to a sticky end, leading to Lance Armstrong taking a cyclo-cross type detour into a wheat field?
Send your answer – on or before 20th November – to liggettcomp@transfer.bikebiz.com
TEXT SUPPLIED BY KONA
Kona won the BRAINy "Supplier Advocate of the
Year" for 2003 during the Interbike show. Receiving this award provided
vindication to our company after the attacks that we were not supporting
Bikes Belong. It shows that work in the trenches is more effective than
slinging mud. Congratulations to our advocacy director Mark Peterson and
the entire Kona crew for helping to support the sport that supports us.
A story accompanying this photograph of Bikes Belong director Mike
Greehan presenting the award to Mark will be on KonaWorld website later
this week. Here also is the nomination for the 2003 award. =================================================In its 16 years, the Kona Bicycle
Company has been a pioneer in
identifying new trends in cycling and developing innovative performance
bikes to meet the unique demands of those emerging styles. In the same
pioneering spirit, Kona has always recognized the important and
difficult work that advocacy organizations undertake and has developed
many of their own unique programs to provide financial and in-kind
support to visionary advocates. Since KonaÂ’s inception, they have contributed close to $200,000 to
national and local organizations dedicated to preserving road and trail
access for cyclists. In terms of percentage of sales, Kona has dedicated
more resources to advocacy than any other company in the industry. This
dedication has led to strong relationships with the IBDs, advocacy
organizations and Kona employees. Support of advocacy is big part of
KonaÂ’s long, colorful history and an important part of their future. KonaÂ’s full-time National Advocacy Director Creation and funding of position responsible for managing relationships
with local and national advocacy organizations as well as tracking hot
spot problem areas in which Kona can lend a hand to help groups achieve
their goals, such as: Donating money and resources to NEMBAÂ’s Land Preservation Fund to set
aside some of New EnglandÂ’s best mountain biking terrain. Bellingham/Whatcom County’s 3-time ranking as a top ten place to ride in
the nation is directly related to the successful local involvement
allowed by the position. Approaching the city of Bellingham, WA about developing a municipal dirt
jump park. The idea was approved by the City council, but there were no
funds available to complete the project. Kona saw the need for a funding
source for such progressive ideas, which led toÂ… New Kona Clump grant program…Recognizing the need for a dedicated
funding source for the leading edge of cycling, Kona, in cooperation
with IMBA, has established the Kona Clump grant program. The program
will providing funding for groups and projects for Downhill, Dirt Jump
and Out-of-Bounds trail construction. Kona – IMBA Buck a Bowl Fun Raiser
The annual InterBike event has raised more than $45,000 for IMBAÂ’s
operating expenses. Additionally, Kona picks up the cost of all lanes
and shoe rental, to the tune of $3,250 a year. Kona Bear Bell Program
A year ago, mountain bike riders in the Santa Barbara area were in
danger of having their local trails closed to bikes because of user
conflicts: other trail users were being spooked by the sudden appearance
of downhill riders. Kona’s Southern California sales rep came up with
the Kona Bear Bell. The bells, which are about ¼ the size of a regular
cow bell and strapped to the handlebars, were an instant success. Within
two weeks of distributing the first bells the SBMBTV started hearing
positive reviews from local hikers, horse riders and National Forest
staff. So, Kona started selling the bells to shops Helping to keep
trails open. IMBA Bro Deal program
Initiated in 1999, the Bro Deal Program was the first of its kind to
require industry members, dealers and dealer employees be IMBA members
before they qualify for a Kona Bro Deal. The program has led to more
than 350 new IMBA members a year. By increasing IMBA membership, the
program has also increased awareness among key industry representatives
of IMBAÂ’s goals and activities. “Buck A Bike” – A pioneering Kona program for Kona dealers in which they
collected $1 for every Kona sold, and Kona matched those funds. Kona
dealers selected the organizations who received the funds. More than
$30,000 was disbursed to IMBA, Rails to Trails, NORBA and a wide variety
of regional organizations around the USA. The program started many
productive relationships between IBDs and their local advocacy
organizations. Kona Collegiate Scholarship – The first and only program of its kind,
the Collegiate Scholarship provided cash and equipment to the collegiate
cyclists that best qualified. Qualifications included participation in
advocacy, race results, grades and financial need. Applicants had to be
IMBA members. Cyclo-Cross Team – Want to race on the Kona-Kenwood professional
cyclo-cross team, featuring U.S. national champion Ann Grande? Then you
better get your work gloves and check book warmed up, because advocacy
activities are a requirement for racing on the team.
Staff member involvement – Mark Peterson, President of WHIMPs, Member of
Bellingham Parks and Rec advisory committee. Kelly Steelman (Warriors)
Bear Bell Program, Woody Keen-Now on IMBA Board-Long time trail builder
and advocate, James Smith now working with Back Country Trails Coalition
(Seattle), PUMP-Portland Urban Mountain Pedalers.
