BOULDER, Colo. (BRAIN) — Two well-known U.S. cycling journalists are joining CyclingTips.com, an Australia-based cycling website that will launch North American coverage on Jan. 1.
CyclingTips, founded by Wade Wallace, has recently merged with BikeExchange, which operates websites that match consumers with nearby retailers stocking specific products. CyclingTips and BikeExchange will work together but remain separate sites.
CyclingTips has hired Neal Rogers to lead its U.S. editorial team, and James Huang as technical editor. Both are based in Boulder, Colorado, where CyclingTips' U.S. editorial offices will be based. CyclingTips plans to hire several other U.S. staffers including an ad sales director.
Rogers is the former editor in chief at Velo magazine and has been the North American contributor to the Global Cycling Network for the last year, while continuing to contribute to Velo and VeloNews.com. He said he will continue to occasionally contribute to GCN on a freelance basis in 2016.
Huang has been a technical editor at CyclingNews.com and BikeRadar.com for 11 years. Both sites are owned by Immediate Media.
Wallace said, "The U.S. market is an exciting prospect for us. We see the U.S. cycling community doing some awesome things. It's a fantastic scene which we know we can contribute to. With so much innovation coming out of the industry in the U.S., we look forward to being part of it."
BikeExchange is owned by marketplacer.com, which operates similar sites in several industries worldwide. BikeExchange currently has offices in Australia, Germany, and United States with plans for expansion into the U.K. and other markets.
Wallace said the merger offers benefits for both businesses, allowing each to expand further into global markets, as well as offering improved services for their customers, readers, and commercial partners.
"With BikeExchange's solid foundation as a business, their help will allow CyclingTips to expand into new markets, produce outstanding content for the cycling community, and provide more avenues for the cycling industry to promote their brands and make their businesses more successful.
"With the rapid disruptions in the publishing world, we've never been in a stronger position for the future. With a solid business model behind us, we'll not only weather the storm that's been building, we'll be able to thrive in it."
More information: cyclingtips.com | bikeexchange.com.