News Roundup - Week of July 14th

VIMFF Launches New Voices Grant to Promote BIPOC Filmmakers

VIMFF, in partnership with Colour the Trails and with the financial support of the BC Arts Council, are proud to announce two new adventure film grants for emerging BIPOC filmmakers.

These two grants have been created to help amplify underrepresented stories within our community and to give new opportunities to up and coming BIPOC creatives to help kickstart a successful career in adventure filmmaking.

Successful recipients will receive mentorship throughout the process from experienced VIMFF alumni filmmakers. They will help guide and support the project through to completion and the film will premiere on the big screen at the VIMFF!

Details:

• The New Voices Grant will award two BIPOC adventure filmmakers $10,000 each to create their dream film.
• The proposed film must focus on outdoor adventure, mountain sports and/or mountain culture.
• Applications will be accepted from July 11th to August 31st 2022.
• Grant recipients will have until November 2023 to produce their film, where it will premiere at the VIMFF Fall Series.

Eligibility:

• The New Voices Grant program has been established to support emerging BIPOC filmmakers (Black, Indigenous, and People of Colour).
• Applicants must reside in British Columbia, Canada.

How to Apply:

• Applications should be emailed to [email protected] by August 31st 2022 with the subject title: “Application to New Voices Film Grant”.

Applications should include the following:

• Full bio and details of filmmaking experiences – including links to previous films, show reels and any other applicable projects.
• Proposed film basics – name, projected length, synopsis.
• Location, timing and logistics – when? where? how?
• Detailed story line – Why do you think this story needs to be told? Why does this narrative appeal to you as a filmmaker?
• Detailed budget breakdown of all costs involved

Please direct any enquiries to [email protected]

Autoliv and POC Join Forces to Reduce Cyclist Head Injuries

Autoliv, Inc., the worldwide leader in automotive safety systems, and POC, a global leader in snow sports and cycling protection, have joined forces to study and develop bicycle and e-bike helmets equipped with airbag technology to improve head protection and reduce the consequences of an impact.

Head injuries alone account for half of the deadly cyclist injuries. Although it is established that helmets are beneficial to head safety, the latest Bicycle Safety report by Swedish insurance company Folksam makes the case that helmet absorption efficiency could still be greatly improved, especially when collisions occur with a car at speeds above 20 km/h (12 mph).

POC and Autoliv have been working together to assess the potential of using airbag technology in helmets. The airbag would act as the initial energy absorber while the underlying helmet would be the following energy absorber.

Afterr conducting a pre-study, the conclusion from the Autoliv research team is that a cycle helmet with an integrated airbag can significantly improve protection and reduce the consequences of impacts to cyclists. The combination of both absorbing technologies enables a reduction of the peak linear head acceleration and significantly reduced head injury risk in impact tests. The pre-study also showed that the protection improvements could be reached without critically compromising the design, weight, or comfort of a helmet designed with integrated airbag technology.

“Autoliv is committed to the vision of Saving More Lives and to providing world class life-saving solutions for mobility and society. The safety of vulnerable road users, such as bicyclists and e-bike riders, is high on our agenda. Therefore, it was natural to collaborate on this initiative with POC, a leader in bicyclist safety, to explore how to improve helmet protection in current standard testing and more challenging scenarios, such as higher impact speeds.” says Dr. Cecilia Sunnevång, Vice President Research, Autoliv.

The pre-study showed that the addition of airbag technology on top of the helmet can significantly contribute to enhanced safety performance, especially in linear impacts. It is estimated that the risk for a cyclist to sustain moderate (e.g. mild concussion) to fatal head injuries is reduced from 80% to 30% in a 20 km/h (12 mph) impact.

“Our safety mission drives everything we do, and we always challenge conventional thinking in order to improve protection. Helmets are tested and certified in a laboratory setting and can never fully address all the real-world variables of bike crashes. Together with Autoliv, who are world-renowned and have some of the most advanced testing and research facilities in the field, we have embarked on a development journey with airbag technology, asking ourselves what could be done to excel in current test scenarios and push the envelope towards even more shock absorbing capacity” says Oscar Huss, Chief Product Officer at POC.

Boosted by the increased environmental consciousness and the emergence of e-bike commuting, the number of bicycle riders worldwide is increasing rapidly. This growth needs to be supported by an improved helmet protection, especially at higher speeds enabled by e-biking. During the pre-study, Autoliv and POC developed the initial concepts by advanced simulation tools and conducted correlated physical crash tests. The successful outcome of the pre-study will now lead to further testing and refinement with the objective of developing the concept further and potentially bringing a product to the market.

Autoliv has formed Mobility Safety Solutions (MSS) to extend its business into new market areas beyond light vehicles and occupant safety. By combining our core competence and industry experience, MSS develops and manufactures mobility safety solutions such as pedestrian protection, battery cut-off switches, connected safety services, and safety solutions for riders of powered two-wheelers.

The Nicolai Nucleon 16 Has Landed

The Nucleon 16 is a high-pivot 29er enduro bike with a mullet option in the 160 to 180 mm travel category that uses a new type of shifting technology: the Supre Drivetrain from Cedric Eveleigh's Canada-based development company LAL BIKES. Our earlier Nucleon models, such as the Nucleon DH or the Nucleon Evo, also utilized alternative shifting concepts and combined them with a high-pivot suspension design. These bikes used a modified 14-speed ROHLOFF gearbox with the axle positioned at the level of the swingarm pivot point well above the bottom bracket. A primary drive to the gearbox and a secondary drive from the gearbox to the rear wheel were required. Suspension and shifting performance, robustness and durability of the early Nucleon bikes were excellent. However, the gearbox, including the housing and design-related additional components, caused a weight disadvantage. And even the precise, high-quality ROHLOFF transmissions never quite matched the efficiency of a derailleur system when shifted under load.

Anyone who has followed our brand over the past 25 years has probably come to a certain conclusion over time: You can recognize a Nicolai at first glance. Machine aesthetics. Form follows function. Brutal design. – So shaped one probably rubs one’s eyes at first sight of the new Nucleon 16: Extruded tube cross-sections, a head tube gusset with ports for internally routed cables, an integrated bash guard and a stylish seat tube brace with an integrated clamp. Design also seems to have played a role alongside engineering in the voluminous rear end with its wide phases and dynamic lines. Kalle Nicolai provides the following explanation: ”Life is change. Regardless of our traditions, with the Nucleon 16 we have constructed a completely new bike for a wide audience.”

The Nucleon 16 is designed as a 29er, but can also be ridden as a mullet with a 29er wheel in front and a 27.5er in the rear. The geometry is based on our Geolution Trail concept: a relatively long reach, 490 mm in size M, combined with a 78.3 ° steep seat angle provides a sporty, central riding position and an optimal load distribution between front and rear wheel. The chainstay length grows with the different frame sizes and thus ensures a good balance. The head angle of 64 ° is slightly more moderate than on the extremely flat race enduros of the NICOLAI G series. This allows for more agile handling without significantly compromising running stability and high-speed behavior. The Nucleon wants to be fun, fast and agile. Whips and scrubs are part of that. The extremely low top tube provides plenty of clearance with a standover height of 668 mm and encourages an all-action riding style. Whether enduro, all-rounder or freerider depends finally on the riders. With the Nucleon 16 in any case all gravity and speed fans will have a exceptionally potent base.

With the Supre Drive, NICOLAI can now for the first time optimally use the performance advantages of a high-pivot suspension in a long-travel enduro bike, with 1×12 setup and 510% total gear ratio. To better understand what is so ingenious about this, it is first necessary to take a look at the two key technologies in detail as well as their specific details and features.

The Nucleon 16 is available in a wide variety of color, decals and finish options. And a large “Extra Love” palette of anodized colors allows even to customize mounted milled parts of the frame, such as rocker link, shock mount or bearing caps, to be color-matched with the anodized finish of a HOPE brake, for example.

The Nucleon 16 is available in five frame sizes from S to XXL, covering a wide range in linear, small increments. Riders between 1.64 m and 2.10 m will find a perfectly fitting frame. The extensive Tech Sheet tables in the appendix provide plenty of detailed information on this.

As usual with NICOLAI, the Nucleon 16 is available as a frameset with shock and in this case with the complete Supre Drive or as a complete bike. Using the online configurator on the NICOLAI homepage, customers can customize their desired bike or frame and choose from a wide range of options and equipment. For this purpose, NICOLAI offers exclusively high-quality components from the brands EXT, FOX, INTEND, HOPE, MAGURA, TUNE, CONTINENTAL, SCHWALBE, SHIMANO and LEVELNINE that have been tested for the particular model. On the way to your personal custom bike, our Sales Team is available to all interested riders. – With an open mind and in-depth advice.

The bike can be ordered from now on. The first series models will then be delivered from December 2022. The price for the frame without Supre Drive and without shock is € 3099. Complete bikes are available from € 7499.

Vista Outdoor Agrees to Buy Fox Racing for $540M

Vista Outdoor Inc. announced that it has entered into a definitive agreement to acquire Irvine, Calif.-based Fox Racing, a global icon in performance motocross, mountain bike and lifestyle gear for adventure seekers. The purchase price is $540 million, with the potential for an additional $50 million earnout based on Fox Racing's financial performance.

For 50 years, Fox Racing has been a leading voice in the motocross and adventure community, with a dedicated consumer following and talented group of employees that embody the brand's mission to "honor yesterday, conquer today, and invent tomorrow." Fox Racing's deep history of producing innovative gear that enables racers and explorers to reach new heights aligns perfectly with Vista Outdoor's existing portfolio of leading outdoor brands. Fox Racing grew net sales by a compound annual growth rate of approximately 20% from calendar year 2019 to 2021 and is expected to grow in excess of that in calendar year 2022.

"Over the last four years, we have built a diversified portfolio of iconic outdoor brands led by a proven leadership team that continues to execute well and drive strong results for our shareholders," said Chris Metz, Vista Outdoor CEO. "With the acquisition of Fox Racing, we are continuing the successful implementation of our strategy to use accretive acquisitions to expand our leadership position and ability to capitalize on long-term growth opportunities in outdoor recreation. The Fox Racing acquisition meets all of our financial and strategic acquisition criteria, even before taking into account potential benefits from combining Fox Racing with our existing business. I am pleased that we have been able to continue to add category-leading brands like Fox Racing to our portfolio while maintaining a strong balance sheet and reinvesting in our existing business to drive organic growth.

"Fox Racing is an ideal fit for our portfolio with a reputation for high quality helmets, protective gear and apparel for motocross and mountain biking. Motocross and mountain biking are growing and familiar categories for Vista Outdoor. Fox Racing is synergistic to our existing action sports business unit, which includes Bell Helmets, Giro, Blackburn, Krash, Copilot and Raskullz. The addition of Fox Racing to our portfolio will allow us to target multiple consumer demographics across mountain and road biking, skiing/snowboarding, and powersports. We expect that Fox Racing and our legacy teams will find multiple opportunities to leverage core competencies, enhance supply chain efficiency and resiliency, and better serve our customers and consumers to drive future growth. We believe that the combined platform will make each business stronger and more profitable tomorrow than they are today, while allowing us to continue to deliver long-term returns for shareholders. Following our separation, which was previously announced on May 5th, we expect to be one of the largest outdoor recreation companies in the industry," concluded Metz.

Jeffrey McGuane, CEO of Fox Racing, will continue to lead the company following the closing of the acquisition, as will all of Fox Racing's leadership team.

"We're excited to join the Vista Outdoor family," McGuane said. "Together we can leverage the heritage of our leading brands, enjoy new supply chain synergies, expand our deep and established channels and target an expanded customer base. Combined with enhanced access to capital for innovation and scale, we believe this transaction is a win-win for all involved. Vista Outdoor's leadership team has proven they have an effective, repeatable acquisition model, making Vista Outdoor the clear acquirer of choice for Fox Racing. It is not often that an acquired company can remain true to its culture and customer base, while also tapping into the benefits of Vista Outdoor's Centers of Excellence, vast retail partnerships, innovation engines and a leadership team that enables a founder's mentality and results-driven culture. Needless to say, we are thrilled about this next chapter for Fox Racing."

Fox Racing will be part of Vista Outdoor's Outdoor Products segment and will be included in the new Outdoor Products Company upon the completion of the previously announced separation.

American Classic Launches Mountain Bike Tire Collection

American Classic is proud to announce its re-entrance into mountain biking with a collection of enduro, trail, and downcountry tires. With four different tread patterns and three different construction technologies, the all-new American Classic mountain bike range offers a variety of options for performance-minded riders.

Each of the three construction designs is optimized for the intended usage. The Mauka downcountry tire uses Stage TR-L Armor, which is a lighter-weight version of the TR (trail) construction, and is intended for aggressive cross-country riding. Stage TR-L Armor is a 1.5-ply 60 TPI casing topped with American Classic’s Rubberforce G compound.

The Stage EN Armor (enduro) and Stage TR Armor (trail) constructions are available on the three tires intended for more aggressive riding – Vulcanite, Tectonite, and Basanite. Stage EN Armor and TR Armor each use its own specially-formulated tread compound that is optimized for the intended use. Stage EN Armor uses a 2-ply 120 TPI casing with a triple tread compound, while Stage TR Armor uses a 2-ply 60 TPI casing with a dual tread compound.

Offered in both 27.5” and 29” diameters (except Mauka), each model is offered in an optimized width, thus best serving the intended use without adding perplexity or increased costs to the end consumer.

Mauka

Mauka is Hawaiian for ‘toward the mountain,’ and that’s where this tire excels. This all-condition tire climbs like a cross-country tire and descends like a trail tire. We've engineered a downcountry tire that rips up long climbs and provides grip and confidence on descents by combining a fastrolling center tread with sturdy side lugs, and our lightweight Stage TR-L construction. This is topped off with our signature Rubberforce G tread compound for impressive grip in off-road conditions.

• Downcounty
• $45
• 29 x 2.4”
• Stage TR-L Armor construction
• Rubberforce G Compound
• 60 TPI casing

Tectonite

As a front-specific tire, the Tectonite relies on a directional tread that includes ramped center knobs, angled shoulder lugs, and alternating transition knobs delivering numerous angles of traction in high-speed cornering. Engineered tread block positioning and varying sizes provide consistent and reliable cornering no matter how hard you push into the turn. The Tectonite is available in both Stage TR Armor and Stage EN Armor constructions and both are Tubeless Ready.

• TR Armor-$48 or EN Armor-$50
• 29 x 2.5
• 27.5 x 2.5
• Front intended

Vulcanite

What goes up must come down – and the Vulcanite is ready to tackle both. The Vulcanite is a goanywhere tire, featuring tall knobs for traction in loose terrain with hatch marks and siping for additional traction in hard-packed conditions, and ramped center knobs for straight-line speed. And its semi-open tread block layout reduces debris build-up, thus increasing bite on rocky terrain and roots. The Vulcanite is available in both Stage TR Armor and Stage EN Armor constructions and both are Tubeless Ready

• TR Armor-$48 or EN Armor-$50
• 29 x 2.5
• 27.5 x 2.5

Basanite

Loose berms, choppy trails, and rugged rock gardens stand no chance against the Basanite. The Basanite is specifically designed as a rear tire with ramped knobs for improved rolling speed that alternate in shape and size for braking control. Alternating shoulder lugs and central knobs provide grip at any angle. And the large knobs all include hatch marks, or cupped profiles, improving grip on harder-packed terrain. The Basanite is available in both Stage TR Armor and Stage EN Armor constructions and both are Tubeless Ready.

• TR Armor $48 or EN Armor $50
• 29 x 2.4
• 27.5 x 2.4
• Rear intended

Introducing the MX Mount for Altitude and Altitude Powerplay

The Altitude combines decades of racing experience with our latest technology innovations that allow you to ride harder and faster than ever before. With the new Altitude MX Mount installed, you’ll be able to use a 27.5” rear wheel to help corner faster and ride more playfully, all while giving you a bit more clearance when you’re behind the saddle on a steep, technical line.

The Altitude MX Mount is easy to install and maintains similar geometry to the regular Altitude 29. The Altitude MX mount is designed to be compatible with Positions 1-5 of our RIDE-9 adjustment system only. Position 5 is the “Neutral” position, and the bike becomes incrementally slacker and more progressive as you move towards Position 1, the slackest position. Positions 6-9 have less clearance between the back of the seat stay brace and the seat tube and are incompatible with the use of the Altitude MX Mount. When you install the Altitude MX Mount on your Altitude 29, you will increase the travel of your Altitude while also lowering the rate curve. This means you might have to increase shock pressure or go up in spring rate to achieve proper sag and suspension feel.

The Altitude MX Mount also maintains similar geometry to the regular Altitude Powerplay. The Altitude MX mount is designed to be compatible with Positions 1-4 of our RIDE-4 adjustment system only. Position 4 is the steepest position, and the bike will become incrementally slacker and more progressive as you move towards Position 1, the slackest position. When you install the Altitude MX Mount on the Altitude Powerplay, you will increase the travel of your Altitude while also lowering the rate curve. This means you might have to increase shock pressure or go up in spring rate to achieve proper sag and suspension feel.

The MX Mount is available for purchase on www.bikes.com and is compatible with all Altitude Carbon 29" models, and Altitude Powerplay Carbon 29" models.