WILMINGTON, Mass. (Jan. 9, 2007) - America’s journal of record for the bicycle business, Bicycle Retailer and Industry News issued its “Fab Five” for companies dedicated to environmental principles. The first company listed in the Jan. 1, 2007 issue was Pedro’s.

"We really appreciate this recognition,” said General Manager Christopher Zigmont. “We feel as if we’re just getting started here. Honestly, we would be thrilled to have others in the bike industry knock us off this list." Zigmont took over as general manager of Pedro’s one year ago after spending several years as marketing director of Mavic USA.

Drawing inspiration from the book and the film "An Inconvenient Truth," Zigmont has forced the company to re-examine every product in the Pedro’s line. How a product is made, how it is packaged, how it is used, and how it is disposed of all comes under his scrutiny. "He’s amazing. Every weekly meeting starts with Zigmont showing us this bag, that box, this article, or that book,” said Richard Fries, marketing and communications manager. “He’s jogged the minds of everybody in the company, top to bottom.”

The other four companies listed in the Fab Five for being Green Giants were: Clif Bar, Outdoor Gear Canada, Chris King Precision Components, and Ellsworth Handcrafted Bicycles.

"When I see somebody such as Gary Erickson of Clif Bar, I am humbled,” said Zigmont. “We have a different product but a mutual goal.”

Many places will claim to have a strong cyclo-cross culture or to be a hotbed for this wonderful winter discipline. But to me no place says ‘cross like Belgium. The 2007 World Championships will be held in Hooglede-Gits, Belgium, in a few weeks time, External Link and I have been honored with an invitation to join the U.S. National Team once again as a mechanic.

I was lucky to be with the US team the last time the UCI brought this circus to Belgium, at Zolder in 2002. The atmosphere was like no-other cycling event I’ve experienced. I’ve been to world championships in all of the other disciplines (except cycle-ball External Link), the Tour, and many road and MTB races, but nothing has the rabid enthusiasm laced into the very fabric of the crowd that cyclo-cross does. And the Belgians add 10 percent more.

I’ll bring you tales from the pit box and from the team house as the US team prepares to take on the World’s finest ‘crossers. Look for our Euro cross reports beginning January 20. Until then, have a great new year!

Christopher Zigmont
Pedro’s General Manager

WILMINGTON, Mass. (Dec. 21, 2006) - The first batches of CHAINj, Pedro’s new biodegradable chain lubricant made from 100 percent renewable resources, are being boxed for shipment today. The demand for the earth-friendly lubricant is an impressive reminder of the bike industry’s commitment to the environment.

“Everybody has to take care of business,” said Christopher Zigmont, general manager of Pedro’s USA. “But to us, taking care of the environment means taking care of business. We’re glad to see that a product like CHAINj could also be commercially successful.”

Hundreds of retailers were given flowers at both the Eurobike and Interbike trade shows, which they in turn exchanged for a free sample of CHAINj. This promotion sparked an unexpected high demand for the renewable product.

“We started to take orders immediately after the shows,” said Richard Fries, marketing and communications director. “We expected some demand, but this blew us away. We’re looking at moving 20,000 bottles in the first wave.”

The lubricant received diligent testing by Pedro’s USA Research and Development Engineer Alex Vaivars who then distributed unlabeled samples to several pro team mechanics.

Team Navigators scored the first victories with this lubricant, scoring wins in humid conditions at the Tour de Beauce in Quebec with Valeriy Kobzarenko, the Saturn Rochester Twilight Criterium in Rochester with Hilton Clark, and then through some rain to win the Fitchburg-Longsjo Classic with Shawn Milne. Perhaps the biggest trophy came when Georgia Gould of Team Luna scored the pro women’s U.S. national cross-country title in the dust of Sonoma, Calif. at the Cougar Mountain Classic.

“I was pretty impressed. Normally the best stuff is the most toxic stuff,” said Ryan Palmer, the Team Specialized mechanic who personally put the lube through the paces in dusty conditions on Mt. Hood, where he completed 7,000 feet of climbing in one ride...

WILMINGTON, Mass. (Dec. 18, 2006) – The popularity of Mavic wheels is undeniable. A mishap on a ride is inevitable. So when a cyclist needs to fix those Crossmax or Ksyrium wheelsets, who you going to call?

Now those riders can call on Pedro’s.

That’s because bike shops all around the world will soon be able to carry the new RxM and ICM multi-tools which both feature a Mavic M7 compatible spoke wrench. This is the first such multi-tool to hit the market.

“There are literally millions and millions of Mavic customers out there who have some of the sturdiest wheel sets ever made,” said Christopher Zigmont, Pedro’s general manager. “But even the best bike handler has a dog in their path. We saw a real need for that rider to be able to make wheel repairs on the ride.”

Pedro’s took its existing multi-tools, the Rx and the ICU, and added the M7 wrench for 2007 with a re-branded name, RxM and ICM. The RxM features 12 tools, weighs in at 163 grams, and has a suggested retail price of $19.99. The ICM features 17 tools, including a T25 Torx tool, weighs in at 235 grams, and has a suggested retail price of $24.95.

The first shipments of these tools went out this past week. “We’ve seen a solid response for this product,” said Richard Fries, marketing and communications manager. “We understood the need to create a solid, dependable tool that would get a customer home. And that’s where we stake our reputation.”

WILMINGTON, Mass. (Nov. 14, 2006) We were thrilled to see a report on CNN about the Tour of the Karakurrams, a three-day mountain bike stage race held this past September in Northern Pakistan to raise funds and awareness for the Kaghan Memorial Trust. While one of our favorite riders, Roz Puleo of the New England chapter of the Luna Womens Mountain Bike Team, enjoyed the ride her efforts also helped make a difference. The event finished in the earthquake ravaged town of Balakot. The entire region of Pakistan suffered enormously when an earthquake struck on Oct. 8, 2005. More than 77,000 people died as a result.

The Kaghan Memorial Trust was developed to help construct a school as an anchor to rebuild this entire community.

For more on this event, including the CNN clip, visit External Link

DENVER (Oct. 30, 2006) - The Denver Post paid tribute to one of Pedro's favorite teams, TIAA Cref, for something more than just their pedaling prowess.

The team, overseen by Tour de France veteran Jonathan Vaughters and directed by New England native Ben Turner, has devoted itself to spreading the "Global Cooling" message spawned by its sponsor, Clif Bar.

The team's entire focus for cyclo-cross is to spread awareness of ways to mitigate global warming. Likewise, the team is a loyal user of Pedro's total bicycle care products, and played a key role in testing our environmentally sensitive lube CHAINj.

"We've always been big fans of Gary Erickson and his Clif Bar brand," said Christopher Zigmont, general manager of Pedro's. "We embraced his global cooling initiative towards our entire trade show effort this year and we expect to do more. It's great to see young racers at an age when most guys are self centered using their sport to help the planet. These are the athletes and mechanics we love to support."

To read more, click here: External Link

WILMINGTON, Mass. (Oct. 24, 2006) – Several years ago Pedro’s led the way in using postconsumer recycled products to manufacture cycling accessories. Tire levers and bottle cages were novel success stories.

The company’s “Blowout Bags”, initially made from post-consumer recycled inner tubes, were popular with both consumers, who wanted to support recycling, and retailers, who wanted a repository for the cases of inner tubes amassed in their shops.

But being environmentally aware requires an examination of the bigger picture. “You can’t just look at material used,” said Christopher Zigmont, general manager of Pedro’s. “You also have to look at energy used. You have to look at the net impact.” The inner tube recycling program required the burning of fossil fuels to ship the rubber to Pedro’s. The company would then ship them to its plant, which in turn would ship them back to Pedro’s as finished bags, In turn, Pedro’s would ship the same material to a distributor and/or retailer. That’s four trips made supposedly to help the environment.

“We did some research and learned that those manufacturers of inner tubes, who happen to be..."

WILMINGTON, Mass. (Oct. 23, 2006) – Pedro’s USA has received Mountain Bike Magazine’s "Best of 2006” award for its Rockstand, which is available in a single, double and portable version.

“We’re flattered that the editors of Mountain Bike took the time to even consider repairstands as a thing of excellence. Too often, people overlook how much passion and precision goes into tools and repair stands,” said Christopher Zigmont, general manager of Pedro’s.

“We like it enough to call out at the end of the year. It’s something special; it stood out,” said Matt Phillips, test director for Mountain Bike Magazine. He noted the editorial staff did not even have a repair stand category in its Editor’s Choice assignments. “This is just a product we used..."

LAS VEGAS, Nev. (Sept. 27, 2006) – To help develop and test new products, Pedro’s USA has turned to Richie Schley, the godfather of freeriding. The fearless rider who fostered much of British Columbia’s freeride culture will work closely with Pedro’s to develop bike care products.

Schley will be at the Pedro’s booth (No. 3915) on Thursday, Sept. 29, from 4 p.m. on to talk about the mechanical elements and bike preparation for freeriding.

“We ride. Our staff rides every day in all sorts of conditions,” said Christopher Zigmont, general manager of Pedro’s. “We push stuff pretty hard. But Richie Schley torques things to extremes we could never imagine. He knows how important it is to have your bike ready before the ride, get it home from the ride, and then restore a bike to good order.”

Schley is famous for rocketing through trails on the North Shore which feature teeter-totters, roller-coaster ramps, and big air jumps. Although he makes it look easy, Schley stresses the importance of bike preparation. “If you make a mistake in my game, the consequences could be substantial,” said Schley. “I have a ton of great ideas on what free-rider and DH bike pilots need out on the trail and I will push my hardest to come up with solutions for all those times that you wish you had”

“Our goal is to partner Richie Schley with Alex Vaivars, our R&D guy, and figure out the best way to develop products for the free-ride community needs,” said Zigmont.

“I think the bike industry has evolved tremendously over the past few years and it is difficult to keep up in every segment,” said Schley. “I am doing my part to help my segment stay current all the way down to your trail side mechanical and shop tool needs.”

LAS VEGAS, Nev. (Sept. 26, 2006) – Most businesses come to Interbike with a singular focus: create commerce. But Pedro’s USA added another criterion to its mission by creating a sustainable booth and making its entire trade show endeavor “carbon neutral.”

“We’re veterans of the Interbike trade show and we know full well how much waste is involved,” said Christopher Zigmont, general manager of Pedro’s USA. “We were at a point where we needed a new booth. So we saw an opportunity to create a commercially viable booth that was sustainable.”

Zigmont emphasized that the efforts Pedro’s is making at Interbike, which mirror the initiatives taken by the company in the creation, packaging, and use of its entire product line of bicycle care products. “Look, we’re not close to being where we want to be or where we need to be,” said Zigmont. “We hope other companies in the bike industry challenge us. This is one race we’re happy to lose.” He noted that Pedro’s set a lofty goal of 90 percent sustainable/renewable/recyclable for the construction and transportation of the company’s booth and staff for Interbike.The means to achieve that goal included the following:

Flooring: Flor carpet tiles are made from recycled or renewable polypropylene in an efficient process. Tiles were chosen over rolled carpet, as tiles reduce remnant waste by nearly 50 percent. The company states that if you can't find a repurpose or recycling option yourself, you can send it back to them for recycling.

Office structure: Reusable Bosch Rexroth aluminum structural framing served as the skeleton for the private office space in the Pedro’s booth. Designed for engineering projects, these bones will see many trade shows, before their reuse in many future R&D projects. Aluminum is a recyclable industrial nutrient.

LAS VEGAS (Sept. 26, 2006) – In an effort to showcase the political leverage developed by Bikes Belong, Pedro’s USA has donated a specially designed blue tire lever to the industry’s leading advocacy group.

The tire levers will be available at the Bikes Belong booth throughout the three-day trade show.

“In business we have to spend a lot of time working to getting a bigger piece of the pie. But when we support Bikes Belong, we’re helping to grow the entire pie. We don’t view this as charity but as an investment,” said Christopher Zigmont, general manager of Pedro’s. “We encourage others to view it in the same light.”

“We were happy to work with Pedro’s on this project,” said Tim Blumenthal, executive director of Bikes Belong. “Once we developed the ‘leverage’ idea, they were eager to help.”

Pedro’s USA is working with Bikes Belong to develop a long term campaign with the blue tire levers to raise both awareness and funds for the group.“The tire lever is a great metaphor for what Bikes Belong does. What seems like an impossible task becomes very simple when you apply leverage. When you support Bikes Belong, your money is like a tire lever that activates literally millions of dollars in state and federal funds to improve conditions for our customers,” said Richard Fries, marketing and communications manager of Pedro’s.

External Link

Pedro’s newest chain lube, this product made from renewable materials is safe for people and the planet. During testing with top pro teams, this lube, perfect for mixed to wet conditions, won the Tour de Beauce in the humidity of Quebec, the Fitchburg-Longsjo Classic in New England rain, and the U.S. National Cross Country Championships in the dust of Northern California. This natural lube is eco-effective, requires no drilling in sensitive areas, or involvement with politically sensitive nations. Available in 4 oz. and 12 oz. bottles.

LANESBOROUGH, Mass. (July 28-30, 2006) - When two Boston-area college students founded Pedro’s in the 1980s, they endeavored to make environmentally friendly bike lubes and products. Since then the company has grown and changed dramatically with much attention given to its annual mountain bike festival in the Berkshires.

“Change is good,” said Christopher Zigmont, named general manager of Pedro’s in February. “But I feel we need to remind ourselves and our customers of those founding principles. We are doubling our efforts in our product research, our manufacturing, our packaging, and our promotions to create a sustainable company that is eco-effective.”

For starters the 12th Annual Pedrosfest will work to become a “Global Cooling” event.“We’re working with Clif Bar, who has done this to great effect in other events, to soften our impact of our event,” said Richard Fries, marketing and communications director. “Through planting of seedlings at the festival site, purchasing sustainable energy credits, and fostering other initiatives, the festival will work to actually have a negative energy impact on the planet.”

“We believe one of the best things you can do to give our species a chance on this planet is to ride a bike,” said Zigmont, who turned down a cash-paying sponsorship from an SUV manufacturer for the festival. “But we also have to look at what impact we make.”

Pedro’s will showcase a sampling of some of its new products for 2007 at the festival.

The 12th annual Pedro’s Mountain Bike Festival will be held June 28-30, 2006, in Lanesborough, Mass. Set in the Berkshire Mountains, this non-competitive cycling event offers three days of camping and outdoor activities for cyclists of all ages, skill levels, and styles. The festival also features music, outdoor movies, a kid’s carnival, food, a massive bike expo, and family fun. For more information, visit www.pedrosfest.com or call518.641.9110.

When two Boston-area college students founded Pedro’s in the 1980s, they endeavored to make environmentally friendly bike lubes and products. Since then...