Interbike Charges Up

Charge-UpInterbike is still several months away, but the trade show’s organizers are going back east – to New Jersey specifically. Later this month the Interbike and Outdoor Retailer have signed several key brands to participate in Charged Up, a new experiential media event that will bring electric bike and portable outdoor technology brands together with non-endemic consumer and technology print, broadcast and online media. BionX, Prodeco, Pete’s Electric Bike’s, Currie Technologies (izip, eflow, Haibike, Lapierre), Leatherman, Led Lensor, Ascent Solar Technologies/EnerPlex, GoalZero, D.Light Designs, Celliant and many more, have already signed on to participate.

Charged Up is supported by PeopleForBikes, the Outdoor Industry Association and Bicycle Retailer & Industry News. PeopleForBikes and the Outdoor Industry Association will present detailed content outlining trend data as it relates to the ebike and outdoor technology categories. It is a way for the media to test products without having to head out to Las Vegas in September, and it allows them a chance to get truly charged up!

Interbike Official Website

Specialized Jumps on the Eco-Wagon

A few weeks back, we mentioned that Trek was going to be recycling carbon fiber bicycle frames as carbon fiber is not as “green” as all metal bike frames. Now it appears that Specialized, the manufacturer that created the frame that Alberto Contador just rode to victory in the Giro d’Italia, is creating their own environmental initiative. Some carbon fiber breaks can be repaired, but when is comes to the end of the line, carbon fiber is not a material that can easily be recycled.

This week Bicycle Retailer reported that Specialized has launched a comprehensive sustainability initiative by incorporating Outdoor Industry Association Eco-Index evaluation of their products during product creation, and leading a carbon fiber recycling coalition. Specialized has become the first major industry member to join the Outdoor Industry Association (OIA) Eco-Index—a comprehensive system for evaluating and improving the environmental footprint of products during the design stage. Continue reading Specialized Jumps on the Eco-Wagon