Val is BRAIN’s newest staff writer. She comes to the magazine with a varied background including stints as a bike shop manager, bicycle tour guide, and race and event director. She also worked as a freelance writer in the outdoor and travel industries. Most recently, she taught women’s clinics and drove a demo van, working with Giant retailers all over the west. An Idaho native who has lived all over the northwest, Val is excited about her recent relocation to sunny southern California, where she can mountain bike, trail run, and garden year round. She lives in Silverado canyon with her boyfriend Brian and their two dogs.
Val Vanderpool
All articles by Val Vanderpool
MONTARGIS, France (BRAIN) — After more than three years in development, Hutchinson Tires has launched its ElevenStorm compound, which the company is now using for its Fusion 5 tubeless-ready Galactik race, Performance and All Season road models.
DÜSSELDORF, Germany (BRAIN) — On the heels of launching the second model in its Turbo pedal-assist line, the urban-focused Vado, Specialized has opened a pop-up store here.
MONTEREY, Calif. (BRAIN) — It had been a number of years since renowned Bay Area chef Chris Cosentino attended Sea Otter. But as a former pro 24-hour mountain biker who raced in the singlespeed category at events all over the U.S. and the world, Cosentino is no stranger to the bike industry.
MONTEREY, Calif. (BRAIN) — One dominant "brutal truth" that emerged at this year's Bicycle Leadership Conference, which wrapped up Thursday in Monterey, was this: The industry is struggling to keep up with, adapt to and embrace changing consumer behaviors.
BALTIMORE (BRAIN) — After working on the project for more than two years, renowned mountain bike champion Marla Streb has opened HandleBar Cafe and Bike Shop with her husband, Mark Fitzgerald.
LONGMONT, Colo. (BRAIN) — Bike-n-Hike, a Trek dealer in this Front Range city, will close its doors after 44 years in business. Current owners Rick and Jill Emerson bought the shop in 2007 from its second owner, Dave Swenson.
CARY, N.C. (BRAIN) — Retailer Matt Lodder operated a small home-based shop offering mobile repair services for eight years, and as his business grew he realized he needed a larger space. Lodder recently moved his repair and bike fit operation into a 1,400-square-foot space here.
BLOOMINGTON, Minn. (BRAIN) — According to QBP founder Steve Flagg, the first winter gathering at QBP's headquarters, at the time a much more modest facility, took place in 1988.
POMONA, Calif. (BRAIN) — Coates Cyclery, one of Southern California's oldest bike shops, will close its doors by the end of February.
SAN FRANCISCO (BRAIN) — When American Cyclery Too's lease expired earlier this year, owner Bradley Woehl decided not to renew.