Rank-and-file riders of stock suspension bikes have not had tons of options when it comes to boingers. On the front end, you’ve got your Big Three: Fox, Manitou, Rock Shox (whither Marzocchi?)

Choices are even fewer in the rear: Fox (and development partner Specialized) and Rock Shox together have pretty much cornered the market, unless you go hunting for exotica or Brand X.

So it can only be a good thing to have Canadian manufacturer Elka enter the market. The new Elka mountain bike line will roll out at Sea Otter. Elka is new to bicycling, but they’ve been building hefty suspensions for the motorbike and ATV world for years. Unless you’re winning every race this year, you’re bound to be drafting behind a few of these on the trail.

Not to knock the established brands — personally, I love my triad Fox Pro-Pedal and lowly Manitou Black (!) — but competition has a way of making everyone pull through harder, build better stuff, and offer it at better prices.

The folks at Rocky Mountain Bicycles, have packed a Dodge Sprinter full of Rocky Mountain demo bikes, and have embarked on a 75-stop tour of the western USA, with a few “right-coast” events mixed in for full flavor. The demo tour driver/mechanic Thane Hall is scheduled to roll into top events including Sea Otter, Fruita Fat Tires Festival, Downieville and Crankworx Colorado—and will also be making stops at local trailheads and independent bicycle shops throughout the Western US. Be sure to bring your helmet, driver’s license, credit card (no charge will be made) and special pedals, if you prefer them. Riders must sign a waiver. If you are under 18 years of age, then you’ll need a parent’s signature to demo a bike.

Check out www.RockyDemoTour.com for the demo tour schedule and more information.

I’ve mentioned a couple of times how healthy the bike industry appears to be… Retail sales up in 2007, average selling price up, Shimano setting all-time sales records, Fox Forx trading on the stock market, and so on.

Still, we are likely in a recession, and a deep one at that. Not to mention the weakening of the dollar, the rise in energy prices, and the run on raw materials. The grand conclusion? You might want to buy that new bike yesterday. Word from the Taipai International Cycling Show is that bike prices are likely to rise 8 to 10 percent next year. Steel is in short supply, China will be shutting down their bike factories during the Olympics (trying to avoid the bad international PR of how frighteningly bad the air quality is in Beijing), and the cost of butyl used to make tubes and tires, is up almost 50 percent.

Me? I’m stocking up on 700c tubes and patch kits, and planning to prove to my wife that one man can ride seven bikes.

The International Mountain Bicycling Association (IMBA) seeks a Database Administrator and Manager of Interactive Marketing to work as part of the management team at its Boulder, CO, offices. This position is housed in the Membership and Development Department, and reports to the Director of Development. Duties include managing and implementing IMBA’s in-house database (currently File Maker Pro), constituent interactions and acquisition via its CRM application (currently powered by Convio). Online interactions will include grassroots advocacy/action alerts, e-newsletter subscriptions, membership renewals and acquisition, donations, event registration, e-commerce/online store, constituent profile/contact information and support of affiliate data management services. Continued….

Trek founder Richard Burke has passed away. The company reported today that Burke died
last night after having heart surgery. He was 73 years young.

Dick founded Trek in 1976, and shortly thereafter built this bike –

And my brother bought one. Which I wish to God I hadn’t sold years ago to buy some dogstained sofa or the OED or something.

Great old feature in Inc magazine: Richard Burke, “How I Did It.”

Looking for something to do on a Monday evening? Live in the Boston area? Then check out this enticing offer from the Boston LUNA Chix:

The Boston LUNA Chix welcome LUNAFEST(R), the fundraising film festival dedicated to promoting awareness about women’s issues, highlighting women filmmakers, and bringing women together in their communities, to the historic Coolidge Corner Theatre on Monday, March 10. The film festival features women as leaders in society, illustrated through nine short films by women filmmakers. The films range from animation to fictional drama, and cover topics such as women’s health, motherhood, body image, sexuality, cultural diversity, and breaking barriers.

To enhance the experience, members of the Boston LUNA Chix running and cycling teams have collected a rich variety of prizes to be raffled off during intermission. Spa gift certificates, performance clothing, restaurant gifts certificates, movie passes, gift baskets, and handcrafted silver jewelry count among some of the items generously donated by local and national businesses.

Each participant will receive a raffle ticket with a film festival ticket purchase. Additional raffle tickets are available for $5 each or three for $10.

All proceeds from LUNAFEST will benefit the Breast Cancer Fund, a national organization that identifies and advocates for the elimination of environmental causes of the disease. The BCF is the only national breast cancer organization focused solely on prevention. Thus far, LUNAFEST, which is created and funded by LUNA, The Whole Nutrition Bar for Women, has raised more than $150,000 for the BCF and more than $300,000 for other women’s non-profit organizations.

WHEN: Monday, March 10

TIME: 7:00 p.m.

WHERE: Coolidge Corner Theatre, 290 Harvard Street, Brookline, Mass. (Free parking behind the theatre.)

TICKETS: $12 at the door