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6/20: Hello readers and friends. I am having my second (of two) total knee replacement surgeries today so I'll be out of commission for a bit while I recover. Please be patient while I get back to full health. I hope to be back to posting as soon as I can. I look forward to getting back out there. 🙏. - Jonathan Maus, BikePortland Publisher and Editor
About two dozen people stood on the corners of SE 26th Avenue and Powell Boulevard last night to protest plans to remove a pair of bike lanes. As big, wet snowflakes fell, people rang horns and bike bells and held signs high that read, “No backpedaling on our safety,” “It’s always biking season,” “Keep your hands off our bike lane” and “Vision Zero now”.
Bicycling friends: Did you know that @Giro, Bell, @CamelBak, Copilot and a few other bike gear brands that you may enjoy are owned by @VistaOutdoorInc, America's largest manufacturer of ammunition? https://t.co/BGXEjEvgvo
— Aaron Naparstek (@Naparstek) February 21, 2018
Last night Aaron Naparstek shared via a Twitter thread that Vista Outdoor — parent company of many well-known bicycle product brands like CamelBak, Giro, Bell, CoPilot, and Blackburn — also owns brands that sell assault weapons and ammunition. Moreover, the company is a proud supporter of the National Rifle Association (NRA).
Given the current tenor and seriousness around the gun control issue, the news has spread quickly in cycling circles with some people calling for a boycott.
And the facts check out.
Vista Outdoor owns 50 different brands. Their core business is their “shooting sports” division. Rifles, rifle accessories, and ammunition make up over 75 percent of their revenue, which is expected to reach $2.4 billion in 2018. One stock analyst said Vista is the largest seller of ammunition in America with 40 percent of the total market.
The company rode what Mother Jones referred to as “the Barack boom” in firearm sales, capitalizing on people who feared Obama and Democrats would severely restrict gun rights. And Vista’s sales soared after high-profile mass shootings with profits skyrocketing from $10 to $64 million the year after Sandy Hook.
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In early 2015 Vista was hailed as the, “biggest company in the outdoor recreation sector,” by the NRA’s American Rifleman magazine. But in the past few years they’ve purchased several non-gun-related brands in a bid to diversify their business.
In July 2015 they bought CamelBak for $412.5 million. Then in February 2016 they purchased Bell, Giro and Blackburn for $400 million. By early 2017 however, the company’s revenue began to decline. In the first quarter of that year overall sales went down 5 percent and their stock sank nearly 30 percent. Shooting division sales plunged nearly 20 percent and the company laid off 57 employees. Why? Their CEO blamed the election of Donald Trump and the lack of fear from Democratic rule.
By November of last year Vista saw a 13 percent decrease in revenue and announced plans to sell the Bollé brand, because their CEO said it was, “not core to our business.” Now Vista’s stock is in freefall with shares falling 62 percent in 2017.
With their shooting sports business hurting badly, Naparstek thinks boycotting their bike-related brands “could really hurt them.” Several of our friends on Twitter have said they will, reluctantly, stop buying Vista-owned brands completely.
“I own products from several of these brands and I’ll continue to use them,” said Portlander Andy Kutansky, “but I’ll take a hard look when it’s time to replace – and I urge everyone to do the same.”
UPDATE: Please see our follow-up post to this story where we asked local bike shops what they think about Vista Outdoor and calls for a boycott.
— Jonathan Maus: (503) 706-8804, @jonathan_maus on Twitter and jonathan@bikeportland.org
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Job Title *
Mechanic – Full Time
Company/Organization *
TriSports
Job Description *
TriSports is looking for a full time mechanic.
JOB OVERVIEW: This role is literally the barrier for many of our customers in getting back on the road, and as such must be prepared to fully investigate the customer’s needs, find efficient solutions to their problems, and own the customer experience from the moment a repair is checked-in until the moment the customer is back on the road.
ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS INCLUDE BUT ARE NOT LIMITED TO:
• Provide higher than expected (by the customer) customer service including but not limited to assisting with removal of bicycles from their vehicle, searching all possible avenues for special order or out of stock product, expediting all service and transactions as much as possible, and able to refrain from offering an opinion on the quality of the customer’s bike
• Operate store Point of Sale equipment
• Assess customer’s bikes for indicated problems and generate an accurate financial and time estimate for repairing the issue to the customer’s satisfaction
• Familiar with all aspects of bicycle technologies, including but not limited to
• Di2
• Campagnolo
• SRAM Red eTap
• Hydraulic Disk Brakes
• Front and rear suspension
• Able to troubleshoot appropriate solutions for systems that do not have readily available replacement parts
• Willing to have service quality held to a checklist of required services for completion of a given type of service
• Prepare the service area for normal operations at opening time and handle End of Day procedures including cleaning up work station and ensuring all continuing work is communicated appropriately
• Answer incoming phone calls and respond to incoming customer email
ADDITIONAL RESPONSIBILITIES/DUTIES:
• Able to assist on the sales floor when required
• Comfortable transitioning a customer to other appropriate staff members when needed
• Interested in providing gratis repair or safety checks at community-support events
MINIMUM JOB REQUIREMENTS:
• No specific formal education is required
• Two years of professional shop experience
• Must be computer literate
How to Apply *
Please apply by clicking on company post below:
The Street Trust will host a rally this snowy evening at 5:30 pm Powell Park to show support for the bike lanes on SE 26th Avenue.
The saga on this street (which we’ve been reporting on since 2015) has opened up an important debate over whether narrow bike lanes are better than no bike lanes at all — and whether having a safer bikeway two blocks away is a reasonable justification for getting rid of one. It also shows just how far the City of Portland is willing to go to stay in good graces with its powerful state partner, the Oregon Department of Transportation.
You’ve decided to start biking more with your little ones. You’ve found routes that work for you. You’ve got your bike set-up figured out.
And then you look outside and realize it’s 35 degrees.
Pedaling my heavy bike keeps me warm, but it’s a different story for my non-pedaling passengers. They need at least one extra layer when it’s cold outside. That’s one of the many things I’ve learned over the years.
As we get our first major snow storm of the year, this week’s post is all about how to stay warm and dry while biking with kids. First, I’ll go over the things you can put on your bike, then I’ll share the things you can (hopefully) put on your kids.
A two-year project to repair and upgrade the Burnside Bridge has started and it’s having an impact on everyone who uses it.
For bicycle users, the changes are mixed: In one direction conditions are much more cramped, in the other, some say it’s actually better than before.
61-year-old Forest Grove resident Chris Billman got a new lease on life when he discovered cycling.
He was born with scoliosis and suffers from a litany of degenerative issues including spinal stenosis and liver disease. He needs a cane to walk, and when he does, his legs can go numb.
But put his feet on pedals and everything changes.
Billman started riding years ago by putting upright “chopper” handlebars on a Schwinn 10-speed — a fine set-up for cruising around the neighborhood. Then in 2015 he invested in a recumbent and everything changed. “I was off and flying!” he told me during a phone call earlier this week in the voice of someone decades younger.
“They wanted to give me drugs, but the bicycle is better than opiates!”
— Chris Billman
“When I get on the bike I’m bent over like a pretzel,” he said. “But after I get on it my back is straight. If I can do that twice a week I’m in good shape. They wanted to give me drugs, but the bicycle is better than opiates!”
In fact they’re not just bicycles, they’re his personal mobility devices as defined by the federal Americans with Disabilities Act. Billman is currently the only Oregon resident with a disabled permit decal for his bicycle.
This post is written by Kiel Johnson, owner of the Go By Bike bike valet in South Waterfront.
The Oregon Department of Transportation, under the leadership of Rian Windsheimer, is trying to remove a bike lane on SE 26th without providing any satisfying reasons as to why this is a good idea. This should alarm anyone who thinks that Portland should be safer for bikes and that our transportation system should be designed around evidence. From favoring auto capacity over transit, to spending $450 million to widen a freeway while many of the most dangerous streets that are under state control lack safe crossings, ODOT has repeatedly proven they are not acting in the best interests of the people of Portland. If ODOT is going to regain the trust of the community they serve, there needs to be a cultural change at ODOT that starts at the top. The director of ODOT who oversees Portland, Rian Windsheimer, must go.
Job Title *
Finance Manager
Company/Organization *
Cycle Oregon
Job Description *
Finance Manager
Position Type: Part-time, 20-25 hours per week. Requires flexibility season to season to accommodate the needs of Cycle Oregon events.
Cycle Oregon is a leading nonprofit organization in Oregon. Its vision is to promote the vitality of rural Oregon and its mission is to transform individuals and communities through bicycling. It accomplishes this by promoting bicycle tourism, including organizing the “best bike ride(s) in America,” partnering with organizations with shared goals and advocating for safety and infrastructure. In addition, Cycle Oregon strategically invests in rural communities through The Cycle Oregon Fund held at the Oregon Community Foundation, and annually grants an average of $125K to Oregon communities.
Cycle Oregon depends on confident, creative, collaborative and knowledgeable staff who are passionate about Cycle Oregon’s mission. The team is small but mighty and relies on their ability to leverage resources, as well as volunteer and partner support to amplify its mission and outcomes
Our small team needs a new Finance Manager who will support the financial and administrative operations. We offer a comfortable, casual work environment with a dedicated team of staff and volunteers. Everyone who works at Cycle Oregon has the opportunity to work on a variety of projects.
Our Finance Manager reports to the Executive Director and has primary responsibility for the accounting function. The position also provides administrative support and works on special projects.
Finance responsibilities include:
• Accounting duties to ensure accurate processing of accounts payable and accounts receivable
• Preparation of financial statements, using generally accepted accounting practices, and reports of financial results to the Executive Director including explanation and analysis
• Review and reconciliation of credit card expenses and bank accounts
• Preparation of the annual budget
• Compilation and organization of information for the annual audit
• Management of vendor contracts including customer service and issue resolution
• Assistance with inventory management; purchase and replacement of inventory under the supervision of the Executive Director
Administrative responsibilities include:
• Support and general clerical duties for Cycle Oregon team
• Maintenance of human resources records; orientation for new hires; training staff on office protocols and procedures
• Benefits administration in the areas of open enrollment, employee eligibility, etc.
• Technology improvements that will increase efficiency; implementation of approved procedures
• Support the resolution to technology-related issues and serve as point of contact for IT vendor
• Implementation of records retention and destruction to comply with legal requirements
Qualifications:
• Formal accounting and/or bookkeeping training
• Experience in a non-profit accounting, bookkeeping/finance environment (3-year minimum)
• Computer skills with proficiency in Microsoft Office software
• Exceptional written and oral communication skills to interact with staff and external partners
• Availability to travel and provide on-site support at events
Preferred by not required:
• BS in accounting, business or finance
• Proficiency with QuickBooks Online
Qualities:
• Commitment to the Cycle Oregon mission
• Organized, analytical and highly detail-oriented
• Demonstrate grace and humor under pressure
• Personal qualities of integrity and resourcefulness
• Ability to work independently and collaboratively to meet deadlines
• Comfortable working in a varied and fast-paced environment
Salary and Benefits:
Salary and Status: This is a non-exempt, part-time position. Hourly rate: $20 – $25 DOE.
How to Apply *
To apply please send your cover letter, resume and three references in PDF format via email to: Steve Schulz – steve@cycleoregon.com
Welcome to the week.
We have just recovered from a pretty nasty battle with server bots and gremlins that took the site down last week. I apologize for the temporary lack of site access and then the lack of a comment section on many posts. Thankfully we appear to be past the problems (knocking on my wooden desk). Please let me know if you see something strange, and it don’t look good. One more thing… As part of those server issues, we’ve had to ditch our old “Related Posts” tool. We hope to find a replacement shortly.
Here are the most notable stories we came across in the past seven days…
This past weekend was the annual Mini Bike Winter hosted by Zoobomb.
One of the many events participants competed in was the Ben Hurt Chariot Wars. The Chariot Wars have a long and glorious legacy and are the showcase event of the three-day Olympics. The winners get an iconic trophy and major bragging rights. They also get to make up the rules.
Speaking of which, here are the official 2018 rules:
