Hey there,
2019 ended with a punch in the gut as a Twotone client with several overdue invoices declared bankruptcy on Christmas Eve. We lost our balance more than a little. Holding our line was tough to do after a blow like that. But as momentum builds in 2020, we feel the wisdom in the old saying "hold your line, you'll be fine" ringing true. With trips, projects, events, trade shows and other opportunities popping up, it was clear that all we had to do was stay on track to bounce back!
Holding your line can apply to keeping your focus as well, which can be tough to do too with a lot of time on the road: I just got back from my 10th trip to the USA to see my kids a week ago, then immediately on a quick 2 day trip to Germany by train to do a talk at Fashion Match Düsseldorf 2020 (more about that below) and I depart already again tomorrow by boat for BEAT Cycling's #BurningBrexit tour (also detailed belowO and in 2 weeks, I depart for Morocco to compete in the 1st ever Atlas Mountain Race. This all means lots of work at random hours to make the magic happen for and relying on a wonderful team that I'm so grateful for.
But I hear you saying: "that's a lot of out of office, Jon", I know. So, speaking of the Twotone office, let's talk about the action there too!
We're gearing up for events in The Netherlands with Komoot as well as Cannondale in Germany in March. Pelago went live with their USA launch in partnership with QBP. We just shipped new product from SILCA to editors across Europe, we'll be helping Spengle to announce a radical collabo project imminently and getting Berthoud products to journalists globally. I'll share more about other projects in the coming weeks here too. The buzz across all our accounts has been a breath of fresh air.
Its also trade show season with shows like Bike Motion in Utrecht right around the corner, Cycling World Düsseldorf, Kolektif Berlin and Bespoked in Bristol too!
Let me know if you'll be at any of those and let's catch up!
As always, thank you for reading!
Jon
p.s.
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Cycling
Living Car-Lite with Surly’s Big Easy Electric Cargo Bike – Morgan Taylor | The Radavist
Nesting projects. While some families go crazy building out and decorating a “nursery”, we mostly tried to figure out how to continue our bike lifestyle once our baby arrived.
Anyone that knows me, knows that I've been stoke don cycling with kids for 10 years now. This review is great and the comments so heartwarming. Worth a read! : )
Cycling Industry Pledge – WTF Bikexplorers
As leaders in the cycling industry, we are responsible for making our workplaces, communities, and world genuinely inclusive. The Cycling Industry Pledge (CIP) holds companies accountable to advance diversity, equity, and inclusion in the cycling community and includes the WTF Guiding Principles for any individual to take.
Outdoor CEO Diversity Pledge
This is the kind of initiative the cycling industry has needed for a long time. Proud to support this!
Jon’s Bilenky tandem - Evanoui
Cyril from Evanoui published some photos from last summer and a story about my Bilenky tandem. 💚
Also in French: evanoui.cc/le-tandem-bilenky-de-jon
PR
Twotone featured on Mention
Recently the team at Mention, a French startup acquired by Mynewsdesk two years ago, asked me for a quote to put on their website. I was stoked!
Twotone has used this app for years to track our PR efforts and I often speak highly of the tool!
Back when they were acquired in 2018, they boasted 750,000 users, including 4,000 customers, $6 million in annual recurring revenue and a 35 percent growth rate year-over-year. I'm guessing it is even better now!
Keep it up guys and thank you again!
1st PR & Thought Leadership Meetup of 2020
Anthony Hodge! Anthony is the Head of Marketing & Communication at TicketSwap and will be giving us insight on thought leadership.
Bikes, Journalism, and Integrity with CyclingTips' James Huang | Marginal Gains Podcast
SILCA CEO, Josh Poertner and James Huang, Global Technical Editor of CyclingTips and one of the most-trusted cycling journalists in the industry today have a great, wide-ranging conversation — from their similar histories in getting into the cycling industry, to how the cycling world has changed, to the relationship of cycling journalism and product manufacturers, and much more.
Friends
Case Study: How Spin Brands Made A UK Surf Brand £330k In 5 Days
Charlie & Max at Spin Brands recently gave Twotone a shout in their newsletter, so i'm returning the favor : )
We've worked with Spin a few times over the years and I can't recommend them enough!
Dutch cycling team to sail across the EU's newest border for ride in Brexit Britain this weekend
Tomorrow I'm crossing the English Channel with some friends and members of BEAT Cycling for a ride on the other side of the EU's newest border.
SCHICKE MÜTZE SHOP VISIT
Earlier this week, I was in Düsseldorf to present about Kindness as the Key to Networking at Fashion Match Düsseldorf 2020. (here is the presentation).
The event was organized by NRW.International (the Foreign trade office of North Rhine-Westphalia), The European Commission's Enterprise Europe Network, the Dutch Chamber of Commerce and Polish Institute of Düsseldorf with attendees hailing from 18 different countries! It was a great experience and happened because, Gregor, one of the organizers read about me in Issue 24 of Fahrstil! Danke! : )
Well, I hadn't yet spent considerable time in Düsseldorf but always had meant to finally visit my friends at Schicke Mütze. So making the time to stop by was the icing on the cake of a great trip!
Radness
GOYT // BIKEPACKING KIT & GEAR OF THE YEAR, 2019 – Pannier
Introducing the annual Pannier.cc ‘Gear of the Year’ Selection.
It's Pannier's job to get rad so this gear guide comes with some serious credibility! I can attest to Voile Straps, the Cambium of course and me spring for the Rapha shoes after all for Atlas as my Grinduro Giro mtb kicks kicked the bucket...