Media Room
Welcome to the John Henry Media Room
Thanks for dropping by the John Henry Media/Press room. Cycling, with its many angles and story lines, is a fantastic media subject and the experts at John Henry Bikes want to help you deliver exciting, information packed and different content for your media choices.
Using this area of our website is easy. On the right hand side of the page you will find a few major links that can help you start your search and as always you can call at 604.986.5534 or drop Willie a line and just talk about your thoughts on story lines.
Be sure to take a look at some of John Henry Bikes' previous media exposure so we don't have to convince you of just how professional the experts at John Henry Bikes are to deal with.
Thanks and good luck with making a great story.
How We Can Help The Media
Dear Media Member:
John Henry Bikes ownership are here to provide assistance for journalists. Explore our web site and read news releases or search the past media exposure to assure yourself that you have the exact right people to help make your stories unbelievable.
John Henry Bikes can help you explore the world of cycling and its many fruitful angles. Angles such as:
- Low impact fitness
- Spinning
- Cycling, the new golf for baby boomers
- Childhood obesity and the varying fitness concepts that cycling can cure
- The North Shore: Cycling's mecca
- How to start cycling
- Cycling events and the best places to ride
- Cycling: British Columbia's secret tourist nugget
- The battle for land usage
- Saddles: impotence vs fitness. Is there really an issue.
- How to commute by bike
- How to buy a new bike and not get ripped off
- and so many more...
John Henry Bikes can provide you with places to stay, help build itineraries on the North Shore for you, lead tours and make sure you build the most exceptional stories.
We can help organize your visit for media interested in North Shore or anything cycling. John Henry Bikes will happily help with:
* Itinerary planning
* Story ideas
* Editorial content
* Fact-checking
* Images
* Arranging interview subjects
* Film and television crew arrangements
* Advice on permits and insurance
Feel free to contact us throughout the year if you need additional assistance.
We will help you continue to expose your publications so please forward us information on when your media will be aired or published and we would appreciate receiving a copy of your article or project by mail or email when it's published.
What We Need From You
To tailor your visit and suit the specific needs of your assignment, please contact Willie with your Media Request and try to give us as much notice as possible so your visit will exceed your expectations. Phone is 604.986.5534.
***Visiting media may be subject to certain conditions, charges, fees and/or their own travel insurance requirements.
Let us know how John Henry bikes can make your stories and research the most complete and best they can possibly be.
Willie Henry Bio
Biography & Fact Sheet
William Cromack is the owner of John Henry Bikes on the famous cycling hotbed of the North Shore of Vancouver, British Columbia. John Henry Bikes has been voted by customers and readers of Canada's #1 community newspaper, The North Shore News, the best bike shop for eleven years in a row.
Willie, as he known, has a vast experience and knowledge of many of the foundations of cycling and has done hundreds of interviews on topics of his expertise including:
- Hundreds of professional bicycle fits for all ages and styles of cycling
- Organized all styles of bicycle competitions and shows including jump shows, road races, mountain bike events, adventure races, group rides and charity events
- Competed and participated in all types of cycling events including riding for 24hours straight indoors to support Crohn's Disease Research
- Podium finisher in 2 Adventure Races
- A member of the now historic Team H2V road racing team that set a Guinness Record for relaying across Canada in aid of Juvenile Diabetes.
- Has been instrumental in nearly $2,000,000.00 in charitable donations and the numbers keep growing.
- has owned a major event compnay and now is the owner of a new cycling specific events based company that caters to new users getting out and enjoying being active.
- Is the owner of a publishing company, Mountain Top Publishing, and the author of three books including Hire Me, The Principles of the Ride and Swim Upstream, books for helping people live their best lives.
- Spoken about saddle discomfort, fitting and proactive solutions for maximizing your bicycle with comfort
- The use of a bicycle as a vehicle and as a way to maintain fitness for both adults and especially children
Willie is a major advocate of using the low impact of cycling to maintain and improve fitness and is active with youth groups and clubs all over including starting and growing British Columbia’s largest active riding club for adults, John Henry Bikes "Pedals and Pints". Willie also founded a local youth mountain biking club called John Henry Bikes Alien Adventures to help young teenagers find an outlet through cycling.
Active in all sides of cycling but particularly passionate about helping others discover that cycling is for everyone and a means for activity in what is becoming a very sedentary world Willie is adept at any cycling related topics. Interviews can range from basic necessities for starting cycling to what the veteran athlete should do to become stronger. Anything to do with cycling can be covered off when talking to Willie and his experience and passion always move audiences.
Willie Cromack has been featured in over 30 newspapers and magazines and has been seen on both local and national television broadcasts. Willie Cromack is a veteran of radio interviews and is a thoroughly engaging interview that is not shy of the tough questions. Willie is skilled at on air interviews and call-in shows where his lively and inspiring personality has audiences filling up talk show airwaves and phone lines from start to finish. Radio and TV stations include: The CBC, Global TV, CTV, CKNW, and almost all Vancouver radio stations. Newspaper and magazines include: The Province, The Vancouver Sun, Impact Magazine, and The North Shore News.
In addition to the media that he has been involved in Willie has also written a multitude of articles related to cycling, physical empowerment, written a book and curriculum in the field of employment, and is also a marketing consultant.
John Henry Bikes Fact Sheet
- John Henry Bikes was established in 1991 and opened with only 800 square feet of space and NO BICYCLES!
- The shop currently sits at just over 11,000 square feet and has over 500 built bikes on the floor.
- John Henry Bikes is located on the fabled North Shore of Vancouver.
- John Henry Bikes is a family owned and operated full service cycling shop. Owners are John Henry, Sylvia and Willie Cromack and they have a combined 90 years of retail and customer service experience.
- John Henry bikes is managed by Larry Ruble, one of only 25 people to ever be inducted into the Mountain Bike Hall of Fame. Larry brings and additional 43 years of retail & bicycle industry experience to the shop floor.
- All bike styles are represented including mountain bikes of all styles, road bikes, children's bikes and all varieties of commuter bikes.
- John Henry Bikes has been voted the best bike shop on the North Shore 11 years in a row by the customers of the North Shore News.
- The store has been voted the most outstanding Youth friendly business, best service shop and the past trade publication VeloBusiness voted John Henry Bikes the best bike shop in Canada.
- Willie Cromack has been a finalists for Entrepreneur of the Year for both the North Shore and British Columbia.
- John Henry Days, the annual cycling festival at the store, is considered a local event after having 14 years of fun in front of John Henrys itself.
- The store is one of very few in the Lower Mainland that has a professional fitting centre within its walls and several fit experts on staff.
- John Henry Bikes has been involved in over 80 trail days as a sponsor and supporter.
Fro more information on John Henry Bikes and any of the characters within the walls please contact Willie at 604.986.5534 or willie@johnhenrybikes.com.
News Releases
- Vehicle discovery to completely eliminate green house gasses and emissions. Planet saved!
- Baby Boomers turn to bicyles for fitness boost
- Parents trample the video games and get kids energized with new bikes for Christmas
For Further Information Contact:
Willie Cromack (604) 808 8547
Environmentalists having long been aware of the gradually and deadly effects of Global Warming. The recent escapades of weather and disaster have definitely hit home with most people locally as snow, freezing rain and wind storms have swept the Vancouver area. Willie Cromack, owner of the Lower Mainland’s premier bike shop, John Henry Bikes on the North Shore, has uncovered a secret to reducing green house gasses and car emissions.
1. The Bicycle
Cromack, an avid supporter of commuting by bicycle and public transport, states:
"Commuting by bicycle offers so many benefits to the environment, the
Human body, and people's spirit that is just crazy we, as a population,
are not using an age old solution to many of our problems that sits right
under our nose."
Cromack, a 15 year veteran of the cycling industry and a fitness and wellness advocate, goes on to say:
"Like most things people who prepare for success will succeed and it is
no different with commuting. At John Henry Bikes we help people understand
how they can go about maximizing bike routes, proper riding etiquette,
public transport and the ins and outs of necessary equipment to help them
become a part of the solution to global warming or even personal fitness."
Weather be damned! There is a widening gap between those that do understand that there are solutions and those that just choose to ignore basic things they can do to help. Cromack, who has been featured in over 30 print publications, been heard on numerous radio stations and who has also been seen on both local and national television, also suggests that most families just don’t know what they can do or how they can get started. He offers the complete ability to help educate your audience about how commuting can both benefit the world and them physically with easy to understand and engaging information. Riding a bicycle is the answer to reducing the environmental footprint we are all leaving on the planet.
Willie Cromack is a fantastic interview, very professional and will captivate your audience with solid information, a free consultation and/or mechanical inspection for your audience, and he is an advocate of the media engaging their audiences in a commuter challenge [ask how!]. Willie has a fresh, passionate and energetic attitude that is very infectious.
To schedule and interview - or get more information - call (604) 808-8547.
For Further Information Contact:
Willie Cromack (604) 808 8547
As the most powerful spending generation, the baby boomers are slowly passing into retirement age and their health and wellness is increasingly taking centre stage. As the body ages they are more and more giving up their favourite impact sports and turning to low impact adventure fitness like cycling.
Willie Cromack, owner of John Henry Bikes for the past 15 years, states,
"In the last two years sales of hybrid and touring bikes has gone up an incredible 300% plus we have seen an increase in the mean age of our customers. We are really seeing the impact of cycling as a great fitness choice for many people that can't and shouldn't be pounding their bodies daily. Most customers are adding bicycle usage to their fitness routine so that they can continue to participate in their golf, tennis or even running exercises."
Cromack, an adventure cyclist and advocate of bicycle touring, also notes;
"What seems to happen is that they find a real passion for the riding and begin using their increased free time to take grand trips around the world with their bikes. It really is great to see that their passion for fitness isn't being crushed by age but rather re-focused and in many cases even increased; sometimes to the level of obsession. Some of our best customers over the last few seasons are retirees that just can’t get enough riding time...and they don't work anymore!"
Baby boomers are providing a welcome economic boost to the bicycling industry as it tries to discover increasingly positive ways to keep an aging customer both comfortable and active. Cromack, who has been featured in over 30 print publications, been heard on numerous radio stations and who has also been seen on both local and national television, offers the complete insight on this issue to help educate your audience. He is very capable of talking about how to get started in cycling, no matter what age you are, how to improve your cycling, safety issues, comfort or performance products, or how you can find places to ride around the world.
Willie Cromack is a fantastic interview, very professional and will captivate your audience with solid information. In addition your audience will be provided a free bike fit consultation, a free mechanical inspection, or Willie can help you engage your audiences in a commuter challenge [ask how!]. Willie has a fresh, passionate and energetic attitude that is sure to inspire your audience.
To schedule and interview - or get more information - call (604) 808-8547.
During Christmas Season
For Further Information contact:
Willie Cromack (604) 808 8547
Bicycles fly off the racks as parents buy fitness for their children.
Parents are beginning to fight back against electronics...and they are doing it with their spending. Video games and electronics are wreaking havoc on our youth as more and more children sit around literally doing nothing. Parents are worried about the problems such as joy-stick tendentious, blackberry thumb, mp3 ear ache, attention deficit disorder and especially obesity.
It appears parents do not want to be a part of the problem and are fighting back through their Christmas Gifts. As Willie Cromack, owner of John Henry Bikes in North Vancouver for 15 years explains:
"We are seeing a major backlash from parents with regard to electronics
and in particular video games. They are coming in a buying their children,
and often their spouses or partners, bicycles so the family can go outside
and either get fit or get some exercise. Most are interested in spending time
together rather than just being in the same room but never talking. It has
been a banner season for family bikes and children's bikes in particular. We
just can't keep enough built."
According to Cromack this has been building for the last year as more and more people become chained to their technology and parents begin to fear that their children and in particular their family life is being affected. Cromack, who has been featured in over 30 print publications, been heard on numerous radio stations and who has also been seen on both local and national television, also offers that most families just don't know what they can do with their time and think that every activity will cost them money. He calls it 'green-fee-itis' and states that the bicycle which has been around for over two hundred years is offering people a chance connect with some real world issues without being overly political. Staying fit, which is a really big hot-button among parents this Christmas is just one reason he sees bicycles selling well and why parents are saying 'NO' to electronics this year.
Willie Cromack is a fantastic interview, very professional and will captivate your audience with solid information, a free consultation and/or mechanical inspection for your audience, and a fresh and passionate attitude.
To schedule and interview - or get more information - call (604) 808-8547.
Story Ideas
There are countless stroy ideas that can help you bring a great piece to your medium of choice. John Henry bikes is happy to facilitate and explore any cycling, health and wellness, business or tourism angle that you feel is worth a story line.
Note: If you need anything that is pre-produced contact Willie as John Henry Bikes has many pre-written stories that can help you meet a deadline and add wow factor to your publications.
John Henry bikes is happy to provide some cycling inspiration to trigger your creativity. Story Lines could include:
Cycling Gear & Product Knowledge
- How to buy a bicycle.
- Helmet fitting
- Bicycle Fitting
- Choosing the right saddle
- Clipless pedals: the art of riding
- The gear you need for winter riding / mountain biking / road riding / triathlon
- The value of a bike [vs home electronics or other outdoor sports]
- Safety equipment made easy
- How to start riding
- My first triathlon
- Cycle touring a to z
- The lost values of riding to school
- The connection between childhood obesity and the loss of a child's freedom to ride their bike
- School age riding programs
- Where do I find a cycling club / program / people to ride with?
- Where are the best places to ride?
- Spinning: off-season cycling done right.
- Trail Advocacy Issues
- Learning the rules of the road
- Why riding a bike can save the planet
- Learn to commute
- Families and bicycle commuting
- North Shore Mountain Bike culture
- Racing culture
- Commuters unite.
JH Professionals In the News
Your story is an important part of your job, your personality and your life. Having the wrong people being interviewed or featured can affect your credibility.
Take a good look at some of the past features from the John Henry "News" section so you can know that the professionals at John Henry will help make your story.
Click here to take a look at John Henry Bikes employees in the media.
Media & Image Requests
If you are looking for story angles, need images or are interested in talking to any John Henry professionals please contact Willie, one of John Henry Bikes' owners, with your requests.
Contact information:
- email: willie@johnhenrybikes.com
- store phone: 604.986.5534
- mobile phone: 604.808.8547
Live to ride.
