by Joe
Ringer
The Little 500 bike race will have a new bicycle brand ripping around the track of Bill Armstrong Stadium this year.
State
Bicycle Co., based out of Phoenix, AZ, had their bid selected to become the new
official supplier of Little 500 bicycle until 2025.
State Bicycle Co. specializes in practical, and performance-engineered bicycles that are geared toward new riders in the sport, with fixed-geared bicycles being a mainstay in the brand's product line.
Co-founder of State Bicycle Co., Mehdi Farsi, explained that an email was sent to State Bicycle Co. from the IU Student Foundation looking for a bid to become the new supplier of Little 500, and that the bid from State Bicycle Co. was selected.
With State's mission of attracting new riders to the sport of cycling and their specialization in making fixed-geared bicycles, the Little 500 and State Bicycle Co. make a great pair. "We feel that we’re bringing an authentic perspective that students can really relate to," said Farsi.
"The Little 500 is very much in line with what we find to be exiting, interesting, and fun about cycling. We're honored that we’re able to partner with the IU Student Foundation and the Little 500 for this race," Farsi said.
An estimated 205 Little 500 bikes from State Bicycle Co. were shipped to IU to be provided for teams in this year's race. Farsi hopes that a limited number of Little 500 bicycles can be purchased by the public in future years as a fundraising opportunity for the Little 500.
"We posted a teaser of the bike on our end, and we had tons of folks wanting to get the bikes; that could be a fundraising avenue for IUSF," he said. "Being able to provide top-quality bikes for very affordable prices for the race is our main role for the race this year, and in the future, hopefully we can be more involved."
The new Little 500 race director, Emily Carrico, is also excited about the new partnership with State Bicycle Co. and the new bicycles. "The new bikes are beautiful," said Carrico. "We have some fun changes to them, like the sealed cartridge bearings in the bottom bracket. It makes it a lot easier for riders to maintain their bikes throughout the season."
The stock componentry is also easily interchangeable with many other name-brand parts on the cycling market.
The new framesets are made from high-tensile steel, with the main new features being the three-piece bottom bracket with sealed cartridge bearings, two-piece crank, and the deep-dish aluminum wheels with high-flanged hubs.
The new frame and fork paint designs by the Little 500 Riders' Council present a retro-like feel. The off-white color frame pairs nicely with the red script accents and red candy stripe accents on the chainstays and seatstays. The majority of the components on the bike, such as the handlebars, stem, seatpost, and crankset, are all chrome color, which tie the retro look together.
Carrico also pointed out her favorite paint design feature: the small, yet significant IUSF logo on the down tube, near the bottom bracket.
The peloton of candy stripe bicycles can be seen ripping around the turns at Bill Armstrong Stadium on April 21st and 22nd at the women's and men's Little 500 races.
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