Apr

22

Sea Otter Video - Trek’s Women Who Ride Club

Filed Under Advocacy, Blogging, Exhibitor News, Interbike, Video | Leave a Comment

More video from Sea Otter. This time I had the pleasure of sitting with Krista Rettig of Trek Bicycles. Krista is the brand manager for their women’s division and Sea Otter was her first duty back on the job following maternity leave. The tent we were sitting under was for their new “Women Who Ride” club program that they were launching in a few days time. From the jackets we’re wearing, you can see that the weather was turning a bit more Sea Otter-like on day two. Day three would bring a high of 52F.

The new club is designed to encourage women to overcome real or perceived challenges to riding by being a part of an online community of fellow women cyclists. Members can share stories and successes and follow the blogs of 5 women selected from a writing contest to describe their journeys in cycling.

Programs to encourage greater women’s participation in cycling are important to me not only as the father of a girl, but as the husband of a Cat 2 racer (semi-retired) who credits a women-only, season-long race series as getting her started in racing. If it weren’t for her racing, we never would have met on that Tuesday night training ride.

Along with their “One World, Two Wheels” advocacy program (which I called “Two Wheels, One Planet” in the interview), this new effort shows Trek’s continuing commitment to getting more people riding.

You can read more about the club here: www.trekbikes.com/women

Sep

6

Interbike Exhibitors that Blog

Filed Under Blogging, Exhibitor News, Industry News, Interbike | 5 Comments

Here’s something that I’ve been meaning to do for a while now: highlight some of the Interbike exhibitors that have official company blogs. This will be an ongoing theme as I try to catch everyone, ultimately. Feel free to comment or email with your blog if you’re an exhibitor and I haven’t posted about you yet.

This should be interesting as a study of how different companies use their blogs. Are they marketing/PR billboards? Community builders? Social commentary outlets? Crazy stream of consciousness ramblings? Brand builders? We’ll see. When I have the time, I’d like to set up a permanent page that will serve as an industry blog directory.
In the meantime, here’s the first round from what I have come across out there. There’s some good work being done out there. Give these guys a visit and sign up for the rss feeds. (Disclaimer: no guarantees that these guys have updated their blogs since the last Interbike…):

KHS Bicycles - The KHS Times - “Live the Ride, Ride the Dream”

Swobo - How to Avoid the Bummer Life

Trek Bicycles - Up the Road, Lime Life and King of the Mountain

Diamondback Bicycles -Diamondback Bicycles Blog

Masi Bicycles - MasiGuy

Surly Bikes - Surlyblog

SockGuy - The Life and Times at SockGuy

Kryptonite Locks - Unbreakable Bonds

Dirt Rag - Dirt Rag Blog

I also want to show some live to the blogging retailers out there that attend the show. I’ve got a list of a bunch them to come.