Nick Lees: Bike Stolen As Teen Launches Edmonton Pinhead Components

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Linda Young was a 15-year-old high school student in St. Albert when her bike was stolen.

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“I used to cycle to school and couldn’t reach my parents,” she says.

« I was upset and started thinking about how I could make a lock that protects wheel components from being stolen. »

Pinhead Components, the company she founded, celebrates its 25th anniversary this year and on Saturday Young flew to Frankfurt to continue her success story.

“My company has become a world leader in bicycle safety and security, and our locks are sold by stores in major cities across North America,” she says.

“I now plan to market my locks more directly in Europe and will be exhibiting in Frankfurt July 13-17 at what is considered to be the continent’s largest bike show.

“I will then continue to visit key markets in other cities in Europe.”

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Pinhead is a world leader in bicycle locks, with a turn of key securing wheels, seat post, saddle and helmet.

And Young’s latest creation is up for a prize in Frankfurt.

“We created the Pinhead TagBox,” she says. « By using a customer’s Apple or Samsung phone and locking the TagBox to the bike, riders will be able to instantly see the location of a stolen bike. »

Apple AirTags and Galaxy SmartTags inserted into the TagBox reveal where the bike is. But without TagBox, they can be easily detected and removed.

« The lightweight, compact, and indestructible TagBox prevents that from happening, » says Young. « A casual bike thief won’t carry the tools to defeat him. »

The cost of a TagBox is just over $50 plus the cost of the tag, but Young notes that protected parts cost significantly more to replace.

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“After the pandemic, with inflation driving up gas prices, concern for the environment and fitness, and with more bike lanes in the city, there is an increased demand for bicycles” , explains Young.

“People are ready to invest a lot more now in commuter, leisure and electric bikes. And their peace of mind for safety and security is paramount.

Summer Christmas Festival?

Good news for the many supporters of the annual Tree Festival of the University Hospital Foundation (UHF).

“We are coming out of a multi-year pandemic where we have had to pivot and modify our events,” says Jodi Abbott, president and CEO of UHF.

“But this year we have some great things in store for the Festival of Trees and we’re sure we’re going to get Edmontonians excited.

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Proceeds from the Festival of Trees fund are essential to health care programs.

Last year, the Festival raised $1.75 million to advance training and education at West Edmonton Kidney Care for home therapy programs for people with end-stage kidney disease.

« We’re anticipating a spectacular summer event just around the corner, » says Abbott. “There will be shows and champagne, but please keep quiet. It’s still a secret.

You are also now in on the secret.

And it should be noted that in pre-pandemic 2019-20, the UHF distributed $15.4 million to help advance health care at the University of Alberta Hospital, with 6 million invested in critical areas of patient care and $9.4 million allocated to medical research.

I celebrate my 80th birthday on October 14th and my friends and I are planning to mark it by helping UHF buy cancer fighting gear. Tune in next week to find out how you could help.