Early Christmas presents are on sale at Ric Hjertberg’s Wheel Fanatyk, especially Ghisallo wood rims!

We repeat: Brandon Semenuk is redefining the expression, “Go Big!”

Shimano sales down 21 percent in 3rd quarter. Mavic sales down 14 percent. Dismal as both sound, read the links. The issue appears to be margins. The mid-range and high-end stuff isn’t moving. That’s where the fat profits are. Otherwise, the bike business is doing better than most in this Redepression or whatever you want to call it.

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…