PeopleForBikes, a national bicycling advocacy organization and the U.S. bicycle industry’s trade association, announced SHIFT‘22 will take place Oct. 18-20, in Bentonville, Ark., the self-proclaimed “Mountain Biking Capital of the World.”
Surrounded by a can’t-miss week of bicycling events, including a UCI World Cup cyclo-cross race, Outerbike Bentonville and the Life Time Big Sugar gravel race, PeopleForBikes is bringing the bike industry together in Northwest Arkansas for SHIFT‘22, a peer-to-peer gathering to share and discuss the ideas and challenges that unite the bike industry for better bicycling nationwide.
PeopleForBikes has more than 300 supplier members and 1.4 million grassroots supporters. During the three-day SHIFT‘22 conference, they will gather to collaborate, network, attend educational sessions and ride world-class mountain and gravel trails, exploring lush forests and scenic backroads across Northwest Arkansas.
“No matter what you do in the world of bicycling, your voice is crucial to the future direction and success of our industry,” said Jenn Dice, president and CEO of PeopleForBikes. “Bentonville stands as a model for what we know bicycling can look like in cities across the U.S., and we can’t wait for the entire industry to experience the magic of Northwest Arkansas — the trails, the people, the natural beauty. This conference is designed for anyone in the industry who wants to grow and make a difference in bicycling. SHIFT‘22 is not just another bike conference, it’s creating the bike industry we want to see.”
At the event, PeopleForBikes’ seven subcommittees and working groups will convene for the first time in three years in person to tackle the most important challenges and opportunities facing bicycling and the bike industry in an immersive workshop setting.
The conference will focus on leadership and development across three tracks:
Diversity, Equity and Inclusion – Building a culture within the bike industry and community and having the tough conversations that get it there.
Sustainability and Climate Initiatives – What it means for the cycling industry and the steps it needs to take to create a greener and healthier future.
In America – The post-pandemic reimagining of manufacturing and assembly based in the United States and fostering breakthrough innovation.
“We designed the conference to address the issues that are top of mind for the industry and the key to our future,” said Dice. “How do we make the bike industry an attractive and long-term career choice for our diverse colleagues? How do we support, sustain and grow meaningful and effective DEI initiatives? How do we build more sustainable products and explore manufacturing and assembly in the U.S.? Bikes are a climate solution, but our manufacturing isn’t — let’s tackle these big challenges together.”
For questions about getting involved with SHIFT‘22 or the rest of PeopleForBikes’ 2022 Bicycle Leadership Series of events, contact PeopleForBikes’ VP of Business Network Ravi Rajcoomar, at ravi@peopleforbikes.org or go to PeopleForBikes.org.
