BikeRumor.com

A Black Bike, Inc., a small bike dealer in New York City, filed a lawsuit in the U.S. District Court in Southern New York this week against a clothing company, Club Monaco, and a Dutch bicycle company, Koninklijke Gazelle. The suit is centered around an advertising campaign run by Club Monaco in the Spring of 2009, which featured what A Black Bike alleges is one of it’s bicycles, without their permission.

Club Monaco, an affiliate of Ralph Lauren, partnered with Koninklijke Gazelle during the Spring to sell Gazelle bicycles in Club Monaco stores, joining the ranks of several fashion companies who joined forces with bike companies to promote the bikes in their advertising last year. However, in some Club Monaco’s promotional material for their Spring campaign, A Black Bike alleges that their bike was used instead of a Gazelle, confusing consumers.

A Black Bike and Koninklijke Gazelle are both retailers of the popular Dutch city bikes, and the only difference between the bikes appears to be the decal and logo placements.

Above are pictures of the two bicycles taken from each company’s respective website. A Black Bike’s design is on the left, and a Gazelle city bike, which was a partner in the advertising campaign, is on the right.

We were able to dig up one of the ads that ran in Club Monaco’s campaign. Click more to see one of the ads in question.

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Red Your Dead announces their all-new Satellite track bike frame and fork.

The fresh design is inspired by their Masher. The geometry is focused on the all-purpose rider, but the frame’s extremely strong for the urban trickster.

The Satellite is 100% 4130 Chro-Mo, yet super light at 4lbs, and all frames come with the integrated steer head tube. The longer chainstay provides ample clearance for a thicker tire (up to 32c). The fork features a straight blade and the new RYD logo.  Both are painted in matte black with

The low $289 MSRP (frame only) should help put it under the butts of aspiring hipsters everywhere. The matching fork is $58. Satellite is offered in sizes ranging from 46cm-54cm. Look for it to start popping up in shops soon.  RYD has also just updated their website and blog to feature customers’ bikes, and they’re launching a RYD clothing line soon, too.

More pics after the jump…

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Fyxation has answered its customers’ calls for a more durable urban tire.  The new Dual Compound Session 700 is, as the name implies, a 700×28c road tire with a new, more durable center compound.  They use the same tread pattern as their original tires, and the same compound and color options on the sides, making these perfect for the rear, uh, brake (skidding, get it?).

The DC versions are the same price, $49.95 each,  and use Fyxation’s bead-to-bead tread design and urban riding designed pinch flat protection.  Available now on their website.

Close up of the tread after the break…

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UPDATED: Bigger picture found, and price is expected to be €300.

Shimano has unveiled this 11-speed internally geared Alfine SG-S700 hub to dealers in Europe as a 2011 product.

It’s billed as part of their new technologies in internal hub gearing being developed for the entire Alfine group.  This new 11-speed model increases the gear range to 409% versus 306% on current 8-speed models.

Besides the extra range, Shimano says it’s lighter weight and has decreased rolling resistance, which would be a marked improvement on its own.

Controlling the gears are brand new Alfine Rapidfire SL-S700 shifters modeled after Shimano’s high end mountain bike shifters.  Both the hub and shifters can be used in combination with other current Alfine products and both are expected to be available in September 2010.

Via BikeEurope and EcoVelo.

This 650B All Road randonneur bike from Yipsan Bicycles is just a teaser of the fanciful two-wheeled creations we’ll be covering at the NAHBS at the end of the month.  This one’s available for custom order in either lugged or fillet brazed construction, and prices start around $1,600 for the frame.

Hit ‘more’ to see some of the other things, like a Trials Bike for Cirque du Soleil rider Lance Trappe, among others…after the break…

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Electra Bikes has just produced their own iPhone/iPod (and now iPad) app to show off their bikes and help you find a local dealer.  Looks to be a great use of the technology by featuring a full catalogue with specs, colors and photos, plus the ability to get directions and contact info for dealers near you.  Pretty slick.

Download it from iTunes here. Two more screen shots after the break…

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My Life on the Bike is a web series following Emily Beachy as she goes car-free for a year, traveling all over by bike (and just carrying on normal daily activities).  It’s got interviews with folks in various industries, including our beloved bike biz, plus people that matter in both local and international cycling culture about why things are the way they are.

Check out current full length episodes at www.mylifeonthebike.com.

The Revival is a film about fixed gear bicycles, and it’s showing in Boulder, CO, this weekend.  It debuted in November 2009, and screenings seem to pop up here and there.  Check the poster for Boulder’s screening with links and details after the break…

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The Rocky Mountain Bicycle Festival is set for August 7 and 8 at the National Western Complex in Denver, Colorado. This third-year event was formerly known as the Rocky Mountain Bicycle Show.

“Calling it a festival better describes what the weekend is all about,” said Carol Johnson, Rocky Mountain Bicycle Festival (RMBF) director. “The festival features everything from custom builders, production bikes, components and accessories, to specialty service companies and non-profits together with a wide range of other cycling-related attractions.”

For the 2010 edition, the RMBF added an Indoor/Outdoor Demo so attendees can test ride bikes, free seminars and a one-of-a-kind Graham Watson photo exhibit. The event will kick-off the weekend with a party at Boulder Indoor Cycling on Friday night. The festival adds a Bicycle Colorado’s Bike Rodeo, the Kids’ Art Corner, and companies catering to youth cycling for a family-friendly event. Attendees on Sunday will be treated to the First Annual RMBF Short-Subject Film Competition.

Exhibitors can register at www.RMBFestival.com. Advance tickets will be available for attendees both online and at local Denver businesses starting in July. For more information, or contact Carol@RMBFestival.com with any questions.

Trek Travel, typically known for upscale road bike tours through Europe, has added Trek Ride+ e-bikes to its rental fleet in hopes of drawing a wider range of participants.

“Trek’s Ride+ bike makes climbing the hills of Tuscany or riding along side your more avid partner a more enjoyable experience,” said Trek Travel president Tania Worgull.

“We want to get as many people as possible passionate about riding bikes.”

The concept came about after Trek provided one of the e-bikes to a customer that had to have reconstructive surgery a few months before a 2009 tour but didn’t want to cancel her vacation.

“With the boost our guest could still ride the mountains, while not damaging her knee. Not only did she participate in every ride, other riders were left in her dust as she rode up Ventoux.”

The Ride+ electric assist bike will be available on any Trek Travel vacation with the exception of avid and race trips.

Artist Kevin Cyr’s Camper Bike is designed as a functioning sculpture piece that’s also the subject of several paintings.

The Camper Bike project began in 2008 and is a fully functional solo camper that’s attached to a modified bicycle frame.  Inside are all the amenities one could hope to squeeze into such a miniature living space.  Check out the blueprints and some of the paintings of it after the break…

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Via Copenhagenize, Google Streetview launched in Denmark a few days ago and used this photo to hype the service.  Sent as a leak to local press, the rider is a friend of folks at Google’s Denmark office.  Apparently, he was so excited about seeing the streetview camera car, he tried to whip out his camera phone and get a picture.

The man riding thought the photo was pretty funny himself, and managed to get on the evening news because of it. Advocacy?  (too bad he wasn’t wearing a helmet)

If you only win one bike this year, you should probably go for the Organic Bikes Dylan, a street bike made with bamboo tubing and recycled aluminum lugs and chainstays.

Organic Bikes will be launching the Dylan this Spring, and to celebrate, they’re giving one away.  To enter, just become a fan of their Facebook Page and follow them on Twitter, all of which you can conveniently do from their contest web page.

About the bike:  Assuming you don’t win, you can get your own for $999 (singlespeed) to $1,099 (3-speed), for which you get the sweet earth friendly frame and your choice of colors for the bamboo handlebar (shown after the break), choice of rim colors and choice of sizes, XS through XL.

Check out some sweet frame pics after the break…

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Feetbelts and Death Pedal collaborated and your angry fixed-gear mashing feet are the better for it.  Introducing the Death Pedal Feetbelts, made from FB’s updated ‘version 2′ design with three (count ‘em) plays of material for extra strength and stiffness.

If wearing your emotions on your toe straps ain’t your thing, you can also get them in purple, turquoise, red and white.  All yours for $36 / pair.

Men’s Journal interviewed Vancouver’s mayor about what to go, see and do if you’re attending the Winter Olympics (’cause, you know, all those sports can get boring).  Sure, we’re extrapolating a bit with the headline, but click the image above to read his response about how he gets around town and where/how to party when you’re in Vancouver next month.

Hey Peter, get this man a Metropolis!  Byron, see if you can get him to go for a ride with you!