the most interesting bike trends of 2022

In the bike industry, new products and trends come and go. Some are truly innovative, while others go the way of 26” wheels. Here at Verde, our clients are on the forefront of the industry - they are in the trenches manufacturing technical and stylish apparel in the United States, promoting gravel races, and creating the best waterproof technologies. Not only are there innovations in gear and manufacturing, but also in the way that bike companies are making gear for riders of all levels. We mentioned in our last Bike Month blog post that there are a large number of new cyclists. This means a whole new group of readers and riders looking for these stories on the forefront of the sport.

Want to share these stories? The Verde team and our network of brands are happy to provide expert sources and sample gear. Reach out and let us know. 

creating a narrative for US professional cycling 

One of the issues that professional cycling has faced is creating a cohesive narrative around the season. There are a lot of important races, but there is no clear storyline for fans to follow throughout the year. Take the MLB for example. The regular season builds to the postseason and eventually the World Series. The same is not true for cycling. 

Life Time has set out to solve this problem with the creation of the Life Time Grand Prix presented by Mazda. Sixty top male and female riders will compete across six races for a total prize purse of $250,000. 

The first race of the season debuted at the Sea Otter Classic, where Keegan Swenson and Moriah Wilson placed their names atop the leaderboards, and the next round at Unbound Gravel is quickly approaching. The battle will go on right up until the final race at Big Sugar Gravel in Arkansas. 

Life Time is seeking to create a storyline throughout the series that fans can latch onto, similar to sports like F1. For more information about the revolutionary Life Time Grand Prix, get in touch.

a new format for gravel cycling

The folks at TransRockies are well-versed in organizing multi-day bike races, such as the Singletrack 6 and Moab Rocks stage races. However, up until this year they had never run a gravel stage race. 

This August, the TransRockies Gravel Royale will set off from Panorama Mountain Resort to tackle British Columbia’s best backroads. After a few days of riding and a few nights of camping, riders will finish the route in Fernie. 

TransRockies are known for their first-rate levels of logistics support. The race will take care of transporting your gear between stages and providing meals. All you have to do is ride, and everything will be set up for you when you arrive at camp. 

To learn more about TransRockies Gravel Royale and why TransRockies events are different from any other bike race, send us an email. 

skin care for cyclists 

Our favorite chamois cream for cycling is Chamois Butt’r. Most people know about the benefits of Chamois Butt’r for treating and preventing uncomfortable chafing and saddle sores, but Chamois Butt’r is also designed to keep your skin healthy even if there is no discomfort. 

Chamois Butt’r Coconut is the first chamois cream to use organic coconut oil, organic shea butter, Vitamins A & E, aloe vera, and tea tree oil. In addition to protecting against friction, the coconut oil and shea butter will deeply moisturize your skin so you can rest assured that your skin will be healthy, despite long hours in the saddle. 

Chamois Butt’r also offers a Skin Wash Cleanser to get the grime and grit off of your skin when showering immediately after a ride is not an option. Chamois Butt’r Kit Wash Cleanser will properly clean the delicate fabrics found in technical cycling apparel.

Contact us to get in touch with a representative from Chamois Butt’r who can speak more about the importance of skin care for cyclists. 

pioneering domestic manufacturing

The majority of the apparel sold in the United States is made offshores. The problem that this creates is that brands need to guess which styles, sizes, and fits will be popular long before the clothes hit the shelves. If they guess wrong, then the unsold clothes end up in the landfill. 

Kitsbow Cycling Apparel is solving this problem by making all of its apparel items in Old Fort, North Carolina. Each item is made using a one-piece-flow process, also called lean manufacturing or the “Toyota Way.” When a customer orders a piece of apparel from Kitsbow, the brand makes the precise style, fit, size, and color that the customer orders. This cuts down on unwanted items and waste. 

Kitsbow also uses compostable packaging and has worked with organizations like the G5 Trail Collective to revitalize Old Fort into the next popular outdoors destination. The brand has also worked to train the next generation of artisan apparel makers with the Old Fort Industrial Sewing Academy. 

Kitsbow would love to discuss their approach to making the apparel industry more sustainable. Contact us to set up an interview. 

essential gear for the new bike enthusiast

We all witnessed how the COVID-19 pandemic created a global bike and outdoor boom - bikes were the hottest thing in 2020-21, and it didn’t take long for stores to completely sell out of their bike inventory and stock pile orders when parts and supply chain complications interrupted production to meet this increased demand. 

The bike boom of the past couple of years is well-documented at this point, and preliminary data shows that people who started biking during the pandemic are still participating in the sport. As cyclists continue to hone their skills and increase the time spent in the saddle, education around the gear you need to stay safe and dry– cue the GORE-TEX brand–is extremely important. 

Andre Tiffany, Account Marketing Specialist for global accounts, Fabrics Division of W. L. Gore & Associates, an avid cyclist himself, has a few GORE-TEX technologies recommendations that cyclists should look for when shopping for protective gear:

“It’s simple. The one thing that will end your bike ride early is being cold and wet. If you’re running, you can start walking if you’re cold or wet. In cycling, with just a few miles per hour of wind against wet skin, your body temperature can drop FAST. You really need three things to work - your feet to pedal, your hands to steer and brake and your head to make good decisions. Things can go south really quickly if you get cold and wet on a bike, and that’s why water and wind protection is so important for cyclists.” 

Some of Andre’s top suggestions for cyclists are GORE-TEX INFINIUM WINDSTOPPER®, a totally windproof, highly breathable, and water-resistant technology available in cycling jackets, jerseys, tights, gloves, arm warmers, hats, and more. GORE-TEX Active Garment technology is the most breathable option that the GORE-TEX brand makes and is a softer, quieter, and more stretchy membrane than other options, great for high aerobic activities like cycling. 

Even during the summer, sudden thunderstorms can turn otherwise pleasant rides wet in a hurry. The GORE-TEX brand works closely with a range of cycling companies to help construct lightweight jackets and other protective equipment that is perfect to stow in your pack, even in summer, just in case. 

Anything with the GORE-TEX brand’s black diamond label comes with the GUARANTEED TO KEEP YOU DRYTMpromise and can be trusted to ensure you will stay dry, whether it be on a casual weekend ride with the family, commute to work, or a long training ride in the mountains.

 Let us know if you’d like to learn more about GORE-TEX product technologies or set up an interview with Andre.

the rise of ebikes

We probably don’t have to tell you about how the popularity of ebikes has transformed the bike industry. In the span of a few years, ebikes have gone from a foreign concept to an everyday thing in the United States. 

We love ebikes because they lessen the physical burden that regular bikes can have and increase accessibility. Another benefit of electric bikes is to replace trips you would normally take in a car, which reduces our toll on the Earth. Whether it’s commuting or taking a ride to the grocery store, e-bikes are eco-friendly. 

Diamondback launched ebikes into its line last spring, and they’ve been wildly successful. The Union family offers superior commuting and adventuring performance, while the Current’s drop bars and capable tires can handle being ridden off the beaten path, and the Response’s extra traction and 120mm RockShox fork makes for an incredibly versatile bike.

IZIP has a fantastic collection of ebikes, and has been in the e-bike market for over 15 years! The Vida is the perfect class 1 commuter and cruiser bike. 

Want to talk ebikes? Shoot us an email and we’d love to chat!