The makers of the iconic  Mini Cooper are releasing their own line of single speed bikes (makers of the Classic Mini not the BMW MINI) . No word on if their bicycle division is coming stateside or not but their first bicycle dubbed the T100 (the prototype is pictured above) will be go under £300 (about $475) and will be a single speed fixed gear bicycle. Their bicycle site (www.cooperbikes.com) will allow you to build your own bike just like the MINI USA site. You can choose color, frame size, seats, rims and handlebars. They claim that custom orders will be delivered within three days of building it online. You can pick between British racing green, metallic blue, silver and Gloss white or black. And of course the classic Cooper badge is included.  Here’s the perfect excuse to put a rood rack on your Mini, or MINI.

The Winterborne Bicycle Institute based out of Ontario, Canada has added more Pro Bike Mechanics classes from June 8-19. The popular course had a long waiting list and man students were eager to take the 11 day hands-on class that is held in a full shop and classroom at the Institute in Guelph. The Institute is the only one of its kind in Canada that helps aspiring bicycle mechanics.

“The manufacturing downturn is freeing up people with good mechanical skills and a strong work ethic,” said Jay Filer, WBI founder. “Some of these folks are keen cyclists and eager to retool themselves to work in bike shops. Given the shortage of good bike mechanics in the industry, this is an unexpected silver lining in these economic times.”

For more information on this exciting new course visit their website at www.WinterborneBikes.com

-Ray

The bicycle market these days aren’t looking too bright, the economy has hit many industries were hit hard with the downturn and the bicycle industry is no different. There are is some hope in this dire situation however. The Bicycle Trade Association of Canada, or the BTAC, has reported that members have shipped 14,499 more units to various shops last year which was a 6.5 percent increase over the number of bicycle and recumbent bicycles shipped last year. The BTAC claims that their members have shipped a total of 236,396 units to dealers and shops in Canada which amounted to $77.316 in sales with a 65 percent of all business in the bicycle industry being a member. Hybrid and road bikes saw the most gains at 16.6 percent and 11.4 percent respectively. Bike makers in Canada seem to be doing much better then in the US where sales actually fell 13 percent at the end of 2008, at least someone somewhere is still buying bikes and enjoying the great outdoors.

-Ray

[Source: Bicycle Retailer]