Shimano’s cycling sales continue to show improvement, up 20 percent over the first three quarters of the year. The Japanese retailing giant’s other divisions weren’t so successful, casting some doubt on any economic rebound. But at least the bike figures are promising.

The striking new film “Life Cycles” is starting the make the local premiere rounds after its world premiere at Interbike in Las Vegas in September. Here’s a nice perspective from Pinkbike on the film’s production.

And the trailer —

The root of all Evil.

Full results from PinkBike.

On the print side, Mountain BIKE magazine’s April issue features the killer new black-white frame in a spread beginning on p. 75.

Rack o' Revolts at Fluidride (now Big Tree Bikes)

In Seattle you can find Revolts, when they’re not completely sold out, at Big Tree Bikes on Stone Way N. in Wallingford. Jerry or Zeb can give you the full rundown.

Ooof…bike sales down 5 percent in October, shipments down 11 percent. It’s gonna be awhile before we dig out of this hole, folks.

On the brighter side, Mountain Bike Action‘s resident Everyman, Jimmy Mac, looks back on 2009. Great stuff, but Jimmy, I haveta speak up. That photo of the guy going over the rock: As a faithful MBA reader, I recall a letter you printed whose author claimed the photo was faked. And MBA said, as I recall, Hey, we DO NOT FAKE photos. So which is it? Your faithful fan, Paul.

We luv Evil cuz they’re based in our home town of Seattle and have one of the coolest bike names, slotting in at No. 4 on our Top 10 Bike Names Of All Time list. So by extension we have to luv Steve Smith.

Happy 2010 everyone! Now get out ‘n RIDE!!!

More coasting backwards: Easton Bell, joining Shimano, SRAM and Mavic, says sales are in the tank, down 11.3 percent for 3Q.

“On the Bell side, preseason orders increased in the low single digits in part due to demand for the new Variant mountain bike helmet. At $80 retail, the helmet fills a desirable pricepoint and allows for increased presence in the important mountain bike crategory, Harrington said.”

Right on. Mountain biking will save the bike industry yet!

Local boyz do good: EVIL, FSA headline Bike Magazine’s “10 promising new products.”

Just when you think cyclists are making some headway in the political-justice system, the surreal, goofy, bizarre, inexplicable 3-year-old injunction against the SF Bicycle Plan rears its antediluvian head. And here’s the list of what the injunction is holding up.

Cyclelicio.us: Analysis of bike accidents show t-bone is most prevalent (not right hook). Like Yokota, I’m a bit surprised. You certainly read more about “hooks” causing fatalities. Studies like these are important, though, for establishing baseline data from which to make policy. Numbers work wonders for getting legislators to move. (The riding against traffic one hurts, though.)

Seattle-based Evil’s Steve Smith finished 10th and the pride of Issaquah, Luke Strobel, wound up a respectable 39th.

Full results here.

Cyclelicio.us already has his tongue hanging out over Interbike ’09: “Cyclelicious will be at Interbike 2009 in Las Vegas posting daily from the show floor September 23 – 25…” Yeah I’m getting stoked too Richard…

Mavic sales were down 15 percent over the first six months of 2009, and as Mavic goes, so goes the bike industry. The high-end stuff particularly is soft, although niche bling is still selling. I’m thinking Evil Bikes, for one…an Intense rep told me last week, “Evil has really cut into our sales.” Intense is on the rebound, though, with the 951…both of these are soooo purty…

Neither will Andy Schleck, my man in this year’s Tour and the one guy willing to try to hunt down The Pistol. Schleck’s great new slogan: “Try till we die.” Keep that figurative, Andy, but go, bro, go!

One thing can be put to rest, though: Incessant babble about Lance’s chances for another Tour title. Finally, after today’s respectable but flagging finish in the first real test of the 2009 Tour, we will no longer have to hear about how strong Lance is looking and what an amazing comeback he has accomplished and blah blah. Yes, his reappearance has been great for cycling, for his foundation, and for his Texas-sized ego. It will pay dividends in years to come for American participation in the sport. But hype from Bicycling magazine, The New York Times and just about every paid common tater that Lance could get an 8th was pipe-dreaming from the get-go. Only we, as Lance’s unofficial hype degreaser, were willing to call it from the start: No Giro, no Tour, no kidding.

Now we can turn our collective attention to the Leadville 100, where Lance has vowed to avenge his butt-kicking at the hands of perennial winner Dave Wiens, a humble, charming guy who is everything in character Lance is not. With Armstrong as fit as could be expected from a season of racing, it should be a fantastic showdown.

Biking Bis: Ragbrai, the venerable ride across Iowa, has launched again.

Tyler Morland, who launches from just about anything, has signed with Seattle’s Evil Bikes, adding to its stable of world-class talent.

Seattle’s Jan Heine’s bike books get reviewed by Michael Upchurch in The Seattle Times: “While Heine and Pradères are clearly aiming these volumes at ardent bicycling enthusiasts, amateur riders should find them informative, too. They may even be prompted to go down to the basement — as I just did — to see what kind of bicycle they have … and whether, perhaps, they should give it to the pope.”

More on Jill’s blog… Full race results on Live-Timing.

New Evils galore at Fluidride in Seattle

A bevy of new Evil Revolts came in yesterday at Fluidride’s shop on south Lake Union. The shop is putting in a white-on-black showroom to highlight the new frames with the revolutionary pivot design from Dave Weagle of DW-link fame. Here’s a closeup (note the logo detail at the bottom bracket).

Evil is as Evil does

There’s tons of buzz about the Seattle-based company’s new bike, which Jerry Knight predicts will “just kill on the circuit this year.” The big kickoff is this weekend in Port Angeles — reminder that the Hood Canal Bridge will close on Friday. Lots of folks going over Thursday to beat the closure. Otherwise the plan is to drive around through Gig Harbor.

Evil pro Steve Smith is expected to ride at Port Angeles, joining 50-plus other pros from around the world. This is the biggest race in years in Washington, head on over and cheer ‘em on!