Shimano buys Pearl Izumi

by Clydesdale on Feb 19, 2008 9:33 AM EST

Bike Biz is reporting that Shimano has acquired Pearl Izumi and will continue to operate it as a separate entity. this should allow Pearl to swing a pretty big bat with research and development and marketing. Article Here.

Interesting the number of buyouts in the cycling world. Is this the start of a business change for cycling? Maybe the larger companies are seeing opportunities in the growing market of cycling?

Thoughts?

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Crap

now they'll make things needlessly complicated to button or snap closed.

by Sui Juris on Feb 19, 2008 10:13 AM EST reply actions

the one thing

I can't figure for the life of me is why, in all of this complexity, that Shimano hasn't added things like powermeters and GPS units to their drivetrains. Can you imagine buying a Ford Mustang with a Cateye odometer...?

...and now they're buying clothing companies...?

by orangekick on Feb 19, 2008 11:17 AM EST reply actions

same thoughts here

If they bought a power meter company, they could make a killing by integrating it directly into a factory crankset, undercutting the price of the other power meters, and still getting a huge margin.

I've also wondered for quite a while, why nobody has a better solution for sensing wheel revolutions than a stupid little magnet and sensor that's wrapped to a carbon fork with rubber bands. Build it into the wheel already!

-K-

by KevinK on Feb 19, 2008 11:30 AM EST up reply actions

Mavic

Mavic Wintech computer uses the front skewer as the pickup. Very cool.

At the end of the day you need some sort of sensor to detect the rotation. A reed or hall effect sensor is very low-tech, but very reliable. You could integrate the magnet into the hub, but then you have a specialized hub that limits customer choice.

by johnw on Feb 19, 2008 11:54 AM EST up reply actions

Although

Although a DA hub is a nice choice if you have to limit the choices...

by johnw on Feb 19, 2008 12:04 PM EST up reply actions

the best way

is the Garmin way with their GPS units -- I was a Mavic Wintech user until I bought a Garmin 205 a couple of years ago.

...and having software like "Ascent" (mapping program) which works with my Garmin, loaded on my iMac, certainly helped me to develop some great cycling training routes here locally.

...especially important for my cyclocross bike where I venture down sidewalks, bike paths and dirt roads-- and being able to analyze and adjust the route just by looking at the trackpoints afterwards.

The other thing I like is how portable it is. I own 6 bikes and the unit follows me around without having to rewire all the time.

I must have for anyone into adventure/performance cycling.

by orangekick on Feb 19, 2008 12:15 PM EST up reply actions

GPS is the the way to go

Yes, a GPS unit is the best way, IMO. I was limiting my comments to traditional cyclo-computers. (Cateye, etc) Even with GPS, if you want cadence you will still need some sort of sensor arrangement on your crank.

by johnw on Feb 19, 2008 12:46 PM EST up reply actions