Fix It Sticks

APPLETON, Wis. - January 16, 2013 - One of the most trusted tools in any cyclist's workshop - the three-way hex wrench - inspired a radically redesigned multitool from Fix It Sticks, a new company currently raising capital on crowdfunding site Kickstarter.com.

The campaign on Kickstarter.com begins on January 16 and runs for 30 days to raise money required for a full production run of Fix It Sticks. Backers will also be a vital source of information for product testing prior to a wider market launch in the spring of 2013.
 
"Using a three-way wrench last winter while training in my basement I was struck by the simplicity of the design and the ability to gain leverage to tackle my suddenly dislodged front derailleur," said Founder Brian Davis, a Cat 3 racer in Wisconsin. "I kept thinking I'd love to have something like that on the road with me and the idea was born."
 
Fix It Sticks' minimalist two-piece design allows cyclists to customize the tools they pack in a lightweight, compact set that contains no moving parts.
 
Fix It Sticks underwent multiple rounds of prototyping to arrive at the current version, which will closely mirror the production tool, complete with eye-catching and durable anodized finish.
 
"So far, we've built and sourced everything in the immediate area of Appleton, Wisconsin," Davis said. "We'll be keeping all the production in the U.S. so we can ensure the best quality product."
 
Keeping with a local, low-impact ethos, Fix It Sticks will be shipped with minimal packaging and a carrying case made from recycled inner tubes.
 
"We wanted to create a simple case for a simple tool," Davis said. "If you lose the case, you can make a new one in about 30 seconds from an old tube."
 
For more information about Fix It Sticks, visit www.facebook.com/fixitsticks. To visit the Kickstarter campaign, visit www.kickstarter.com/projects/fixitsticks/fix-it-sticks-a-fantastically-unique-bicycle-multi.
 
About Fix It Sticks
A new twist on a cycling multitool, Fix It Sticks gives cyclists a lightweight, high-leverage multitool without any excess. The unique design uses two different sticks that combine to form a T-handle. Similar to a three-way wrench found in every cyclist's toolbox, except compact enough to ride with. More information can be found at www.fixitsticks.com.

2013 Gravity East Series (GES) Changes

GES 2013 has gone through some minor re-organized management; the series is ready to move east coast gravity racing forward through its progressive program development

Changes:

Daniel McDonald, DHD Promotions & Gravity East Series Owner, long time gravity advocate and cycling promoter/consultant, due to the potential conflicts of interests following USA Cycling’s election of Mr. McDonald to “Gravity Race Director” position on USAC’s MTB Committee and due to his commitment to the Riders and the Committee some changes which were difficult to make, however Mr. McDonald feels the long time the series has been under his direction and the right decisions had to be made to maintain the GES rider and series integrity.

Mr. McDonald has licensed the “Gravity East Series” it’s name and logo for a minimum of two years to our very own well qualified 2012/2013 Race Director Mr. Joe Olivas of “Indie Marketing and Sales” whom will be President/Race Director and will handle ALL day to day business going into 2013/2014. Mr. McDonald remains as GES consultant and advisor to Joe Olivas.

Joe Olivas, 2012/2013/2014 President & Race Director, was also former Promotions Manager at Rollerblade USA, he has an extensive career in action sports industry category as well as experienced in grass roots events marketing and management. Long term experience in event logistics. Specializing in outside vendor management and trade show asset management. Many reasons we felt this is the best candidate, and one who will continue the GES vision.


Dieter Ward, remains GES Vice President and will continue to be available as a consultant to Race Director Joe Olivas and the GES Series as needed.
Dieter Ward who was former GES director from 2007-2008, although he will also be leaving day to day operations to participate/Support in the 2013 USABMX National and New Jersey Sate Series. He will also continue his work with Lars Tribus in creating synergy between MTB and BMX racers by hosting gated racing for mountain bikes at selected New Jersey BMX tracks and events.

Frank Endreson JR. , Assistant Race Director, Gravity East Series participant since 2008, Assistant Race Director for 2012 and will remain as Asst. Gravity Race Director for 2013, Mr. Endreson JR. is also Team Manager for “Team Femme Fatale”.

The Gravity East Series is set to charge into 2013 for its 7th downhill mountain bike race season! The series was started in 2007 to promote and showcase downhill racing, and racer talents on the east coast. Since that humble beginning it has grown to become one of the largest and longest running gravity racing series on the east coast offering riders an affordable, professionally run series with ever changing diverse competition, courses and venues.

"Maxxis is once again proud to be the Title Partner for the 2013 Gravity East Series,” said Aaron Chamberlain, Marketing Specialist at Maxxis International, USA. “We're excited to continue our partnership with the premier downhill race series on the East Coast."

Christoph Vogl, General Manager of Formula North America, says, “Formula is very excited to continue our partnership with the Gravity East Series in 2013! As the returning Presenting partner for the series, we are proud to work with such a proven and longstanding series.”

Focused on growing rider participation, with a commitment to the pro and amateur the GES offers a minimum of $1000.00 Pro purse at each race for a total of $6000 for the series, plus, a GES Finals Pro purse of $5000.00 and amateur prizing in excess of $20,000.00 for a total of over $31,000.00in cash and prizes for the series.

5/5/2013 -- Duryea Downhill, Reading, PA
6/2/2013 -- Mountain Creek Bike Park, Vernon, NJ
6/30/2013 -- Windham Mountain, Windham, NY
7/14/2013 -- Swain Resort, Swain, NY
7/28/2013 -- Oak Mountain, Speculator, NY
8/17/2013 -- Blue Mountain, Palmerton, PA
Dates TBA -- Seven Springs Resort, Seven Springs, PA

Felt Becomes Top Level Sponsor Of The SoCal High School Cycling League

TEMECULA, Calif. – The SoCal High School Cycling League is excited to announce a sponsorship agreement with Felt Bicycles, whose contribution adds significant support to the continuing growth of high school mountain biking in southern California.

Felt, which has signed as a top SoCal sponsor, has been a sponsor of cycling programs ranging from professional mens' and womens' road squads to Olympic Time Trial Gold Medalist Kristin Armstrong to X-Terra and triathlon professionals to Olympic Track Cycling Silver Medalist Sarah Hammer to mountain bike and cyclocross professionals.

SoCal’s executive director, Matt Gunnell, said, “It is very exciting that such an internationally well known southern California based cycling brand has decided to join the high school mountain biking revolution by supporting the SoCal High School Cycling League in bringing cross-country mountain biking to high school student-athletes across the region. Our mission is to put cycling on the same footing as more established high school sports like football, baseball, and basketball so that years from now kids won't have a memory of a time when mountain biking wasn't a school sport. As we are a self-sustaining organization receiving no support from the schools it's critical that companies and individuals with parallel interests get involved. We know Felt will be a great partner moving forward.”

"The enjoyment and benefits that come from cycling have long been clear, and the emergence of mountain bike racing as a high school sport is something we fully support", says Felt Bicycles' President, Bill Duehring. "Since our inception we have been an organization steeped in the culture of racing, and to this day that holds true. Many of us at Felt, myself included, have children who participated in high school sports, so the choice to support the SoCal High School Cycling League was an easy one. The League represents an introduction to the sport for many of these kids and we are privileged to be associated with such a worthy effort.”

Look for upcoming opportunities to purchase two of the highest end Feld Edict LTD mountain bikes to support the League. Additionally, Felt and the SoCal League will be running an essay contest this spring in which the SoCal League student-athlete winner receives a Felt Nine Series bike for their efforts.

Statement From 23 Degrees On Aaron Gwin Leaving Trek

The last several weeks have been a very difficult period for our company as owners of the Trek World Racing program. Despite the fact that on August 9 of last year, Aaron Gwin signed a legally binding Letter Of Intent with our team for the next three seasons, his agent wrote an email to the team in mid-December stating he had decided to race for another bike brand. Mr Gwin confirmed his agreement with our team in public statements, and he and his agent repeatedly confirmed the existence of, and commitment to, the agreement in written correspondence with us. Yet, only weeks before the team was required to submit the official team roster to UCI, Mr Gwin informed the team that he was abandoning TWR in total disregard of his contractual obligations.

The team reached out on several occasions in December in order to try and remedy whatever concerns Mr Gwin had, but these were ignored until the team received a letter from his Attorneys on December 27 stating he would not ride for our team. In the interests of the team and our sponsors, we are actively pursuing all options open to us at this point, including legal action, and remain completely surprised by Mr Gwin's unprofessional actions.

Team Director Martin Whiteley says: "This has not been an easy time for us. In the bigger picture however I find positivity in the fact that the Trek World Racing program will continue regardless of the outcome of this dispute, as no single rider is bigger than the team as a whole. Every rider who has been on our Downhill program has had the best years of their career with us, and we will continue to bring on talented riders. The team has a history of helping riders win who had not previously won, including Aaron Gwin. It's our intention t o continue that type of record with new talent. I would personally like to acknowledge the complete support and loyalty we've received from our title sponsor Trek Bikes who have been unwavering in their commitment to the program since this news broke. In the interests of the fans, we hope this matter will be resolved sooner rather than later".

Specialized Signs Aaron Gwin

The mountain bike off-season is almost as interesting as the hockey/football/basketball off-seasons, with transfers and team changes becoming as talked about as the racing itself.

It was obvious something was moving in Aaron Gwin’s camp. The rumbles and murmurs had been building. Then when it was revealed Hill was moving on from Specialized, leaving a gap in the roster of one of downhill mountain biking’s most powerful teams, speculation roared as to who would replace the man who used to be the most dominating and frightening downhill racer.

In the past two years, Gwin has grasped the crown as the most dominant downhill racer. He has trampled on the competition, becoming the most successful American downhill racer of all time, and in record time. He won the World Cup overall in 2011 and 2012, becoming the first American to ever win an overall, and being the first man to win five World Cup DH races in one season. That was in 2011, in 2012 he only won four WC races. Gwin joins Specialized riders Troy Brosnan and Mitch Ropelato.

“I’m super excited to start this new chapter in my career with Specialized bicycles,” says Gwin. “The entire Specialized staff has welcomed me with open arms and I’m blown away by the level of support they’ve shown me. This is my dream program and I can’t thank them enough for this opportunity. Bring on 2013!”

Team manager, Sean Heimdal, is equally upbeat about Gwin joining the team. “The combination of Aaron Gwin and the Specialized brand have an American storyline written all over it that was always meant to be,” explains Heimdal. “Aaron will not only bring another element to the program, but it’ll be amazing watching this trio ripping down the tracks together. We can’t wait to get started with this new exciting opportunity and look forward to the season ahead.”