TUCSON, ARIZONA
MARCH 18-20, 2025
Presented by PeopleForBikes

2025 SESSIONS

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KEYNOTES
The Intersection of Cycling, Food, and Sustainability
Chris Cosentino is a renowned chef, author, cyclist, and philanthropist celebrated for his innovative cuisine and commitment to exploring the intersection of food, cycling, and sustainability. A James Beard Award nominee, he regularly contributes to Peloton magazine, blending his culinary expertise with his passion for cycling. Seeking a deeper connection to the landscapes that inspire his craft both in the kitchen and on the bike, Chef Cosentino studies the origins of foods at local markets while riding on the world's finest roads and trails, allowing him to personally experience the climates that shape his ingredients.
SPEAKER:
Chris Cosentino, Chef, Author + Philanthropist
Transforming a Struggling Brand Into a Global Leader
As CEO of Brooks Running from 2001 to 2024, Jim Weber led the Seattle-based company's remarkable turnaround from a struggling brand to the global leader in performance running shoes. Under Weber’s leadership, Brooks became a standalone Berkshire Hathaway subsidiary in 2012, earning praise from Warren Buffett. This transformation was led by narrowing the company’s focus to running, investing in performance and innovation, and building a strong community to drive financial success. During his career, Weber received numerous accolades, including Ernst and Young’s Pacific Northwest Entrepreneur of the Year, Runner’s World Innovator, and induction into the Running Industry Association Hall of Fame. Brooks experienced record-breaking growth, maintained the top position in market share in the specialty retail adult performance running footwear segment, and reported more than $1 billion in sales in the first three quarters of 2024, including a 15% year-over-year increase in global revenue in both wholesale and direct-to-consumer channels. Weber will share keys to retail success and business growth with the customer at the center.
SPEAKER:
Jim Weber, Former CEO, Brooks Running
Unleash Your Leadership Potential
How is running an ultramarathon similar to running a business? Anchoring yourself in the present is the only way to move forward. At age 40, Rich Roll dedicated his life to purposeful action and became a high performing ultra-endurance athlete, clocking top finishes at Ultraman World Championships — considered by many to be one of the world’s most daunting and grueling endurance races. The plant-based nutrition advocate, best-selling author, and top-rated podcast host is now a leading example for people across the world on the power of courageous and healthy living. Learn from Roll’s inspiring story of personal transformation and how his core tenants of resilience, perseverance, and the potential of human capability can translate from crossing the finish line to confidently leading your business.
SPEAKER:
Rich Roll, Ultra-Endurance Athlete and Best-Selling Author

Industry Research, Data, and Insights: What to Expect in 2025

While early 2024 forecasts suggested the bike industry was at the bottom of the pandemic curve and would see year-over-year growth, that didn’t happen and may not happen until 2026. What does that mean for 2025? Learn from data experts from PeopleForBikes’ Nerd Collective on what signs may suggest the industry is getting back on track. Gain insights into sales, inventory, supply and demand, and consumer spending trends. Plus, data from the used bike market, e-commerce, and new for 2025, the direct-to-consumer market.
SPEAKER:
Jeff Nitta, President, Feedback Sports
Dr. Jennifer Boldry, Senior Group Director, NAXION
Ryan Atkinson, President + Co-Owner, Workstand
Peter Woolery, Managing Member, Bicycle Market Research
Matt Tucker, Executive Director of Client Development, Circana
Liam Donoghue, Bicycle Industry Senior Research Manager, PeopleForBikes
Followed by an interactive audience Q+A

Beyond the Bike: Leadership, Mentorship, and the Future of BMX Culture

One of the top BMX riders in the world, Omari Hashim Cato is an elementary school teacher based in Houston, Texas, who changes his students’ lives by teaching them how to ride and care for bikes. Cato uses two wheels to make the world a better place while attempting to bring his beloved sport of BMX flatland back from the brink of extinction in the United States. Grow Cycling Foundation Founder Eliot Jackson will join Cato for a discussion on their respective efforts to get more kids on bikes and foster the next generation of riders.
SPEAKER:
Omari Cato, Athlete and Teacher
Eliot Jackson, Founder, Grow Cycling Foundation
Followed by an interactive audience Q+A

Outside Industry Investment: Private Equity Outlook for 2025 and Beyond

As consolidations, acquisitions, and bankruptcies continue to make headlines, what does the near-term global financial landscape look like for the bike industry? Hear from investment experts on how the business model for bike companies is changing, what brands can do to attract outside investors, and how developments in the private equity sector in North America and abroad will affect bike businesses in 2025 and beyond.
SPEAKER:
Nathan Pund, Managing Director, Houlihan Lokey
Matt Tarver, Partner, RZC Investments
Ryan Craig, Partner, Bertram Capital
Followed by an interactive audience Q+A

Positioning Bicycling in the New Era of Adventure Travel and Health and Wellness

As newer generations prioritize experiences and personal well-being, capitalizing on bicycling’s role in the future of outdoor-focused lifestyles presents a tremendous opportunity to drive growth in sales and participation for the bike industry. Learn from Outside Interactive Founder and CEO Robin Thurston on how immersive events, experiential travel, and welcoming digital communities can support bicycling as a key part of healthy and adventurous live
SPEAKER:
Robin Thurston, Founder + CEO, Outside Interactive
Followed by an interactive audience Q+A

The 2025 Regulatory Landscape in the U.S. and Abroad

The regulatory environment for bicycles and e-bikes is rapidly evolving in Europe and Asia and these changes will impact future regulations in the United States as the Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) looks to ensure that safe, certified bicycle products can continue to be sold in the U.S. Hear from global industry experts on how your business can navigate regulations affecting current inventory sales and future product development in Europe, Asia, and the U.S.
SPEAKER:
Matt Moore, Policy Counsel, PeopleForBikes
Larry Pizzi, CEO, Pedego Electric Bikes
Claus Fleischer, Board Member, ZIV (German Bicycle Industry)
Raymond Gense, Board Member, Cycling Industries Europe
Followed by an interactive audience Q+A

The New Political Landscape and Trade Policy Risks to the Bike Business

As policymakers view the impacts of tariffs and other trade regulations through the lens of bicycle manufacturers and local bike shops, your voice as a bike business leader is critical in engaging in federal trade conversations. Washington, D.C., insider and PeopleForBikes lobbyist Charles Cooper leads a discussion on where current trade policies stand, where they are headed, what we can learn from adjacent industries, and how you can take action for better policies that benefit your businesses.
SPEAKER:
Charles Cooper, Managing Partner and Founder, Brumidi Group
Followed by an interactive audience Q+A

The One Question That Matters Most in Leading Your Business

In today's era, being an effective leader means more than simply achieving financial success. Current and prospective employees are looking for supportive workplace environments that prioritize transparency, mental health, and professional satisfaction. Learn the one question that matters and how answering it can transform your approach to managing your business.
SPEAKER:
Brendan Quirk, CEO, USA Cycling
Followed by an interactive audience Q+A

The Untapped Potential of the Second-Hand E-Bike Market

The e-bike revolution isn’t just about new sales — it’s about building a complete and sustainable ecosystem. A robust and trustworthy second-hand e-bike market is the next frontier of a circular economy, offering brands, retailers, and manufacturers a powerful way to drive consumer confidence, increase brand loyalty, and unlock long-term market expansion. Stéphane Ficaja, co-founder of Upway, breaks down the business case for e-bike resale, using Germany’s thriving second-hand e-bike market as a model for how U.S. brands can create new revenue streams and accelerate the future of e-mobility.
SPEAKER:
Stéphane Ficaja, Co-Founder, Upway
Followed by an interactive audience Q+A

Unleashing Health and Athletic Performance Through Cycling

Visionary leaders from the health and bike industries explore the powerful role bicycling plays in fostering healthier lifestyles, enhancing longevity, and addressing critical challenges in the current healthcare landscape. The engaging dialogue will unpack how bicycling intersects with physical and mental health, preventive care, sustainable well-being, active aging, accessible communities, and healthcare innovation while offering actionable insights for bike businesses to position the bike as a health and wellness solution.
SPEAKER:
Charles Aaron, Managing Director, Human Powered Health Professional Cycling Team
Dave Wichmann, Co-Founder, Jory Capital
Dan Cohen, Chief Performance Officer, Human Powered Health
John Kelly, President, Kelly Benefits Strategies
Gareth Joyce, CEO, Wahoo Fitness
Followed by an interactive audience Q+A

What LA 2028 Can Learn From London 2012

The 2012 Olympics helped transform London into a top global city for bicycling and the 2028 Games present a monumental opportunity to do the same in Los Angeles. Rapha CEO Fran Millar shares how the Olympics created a lasting legacy for bicycling as a sport, mode of transportation, and recreational activity in London and how Los Angeles can capitalize on its upcoming role as a host city to inspire a new generation of riders and position the city as a national and worldwide leader for bicycling. Millar brings years of industry and business expertise, previously representing top UK cyclists including Mark Cavendish and Geraint Thomas and leading Britain’s Team Sky to seven Tour de France victories in eight years. Prior to her role at Rapha, Millar led the remarkable turnaround of the British clothing brand Belstaff.
SPEAKER:
Fran Millar, CEO, Rapha
Followed by an interactive audience Q+A
Questions? Contact us at info@peopleforbikes.org | Visit us at peopleforbikes.org