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Outdoors Inc Commemorates its 50th Year

Outdoors Inc at 5245 Poplar Ave. (Photo: Shelby Scott)

Celebrating its remarkable journey since its inception in 1974, Outdoors In. commemorates its 50th year as a beacon for outdoor enthusiasts and adventurers alike. The origins of Outdoors Inc trace back to when co-founders Joe Royer and Lawrence Migliara merged their passion and entrepreneurial spirit by uniting their paddling companies, West Tennessee White Water Supply and South Central Canoe Base, into what was initially known as a store called The Great Outdoors. This venture was born out of necessity; as avid paddlers and racers, Joe and Lawrence could not find performance outdoor equipment in Memphis. Their first retail outpost was established in spring 1974, marking the beginning of a new era in outdoor retail.

In the early days, the focus was squarely on performance paddling equipment, catering to a niche yet passionate demographic. The founders’ trip to Rainier Mountaineering School was a pivotal moment, broadening their horizon and subsequently the store’s inventory to include climbing and camping gear. It wasn’t long before the brand underwent a significant transformation, adopting the name Outdoors Inc and expanding its product line further to encompass snow ski equipment and apparel. This expansion was timely, coinciding with a period of unusual regional snowfall, allowing Outdoors Inc to sponsor the first-ever Cross Country Ski races in Memphis’ Audubon Park.

The 1980s saw further diversification with the addition of cycling gear to their repertoire, underscoring Outdoors Inc’s commitment to catering to a broad spectrum of outdoor activities. The subsequent years witnessed physical and geographical growth, solidifying Outdoors Inc’s presence as the go-to retailer for skiing and snowboarding in West Tennessee.

Today, Outdoors Inc prides itself on being more than just a retail outlet; it is a cornerstone of the Memphis community, offering not just high-quality gear for a variety of outdoor activities, but also fostering long-term relationships with customers through exceptional service. The commitment to durability and sustainability is evident in the selection of products that promise longevity over disposability, reflecting an environmentally responsible ethos. Outdoors has continued to carry gear and apparel from industry-leading outdoor brands such as Patagonia, Arc’teryx, prAna, Cannondale, Hoka, Teva, Chaco, and more.

The company’s commitment to the community and the environment remains unwavering, as evidenced by its longstanding tradition of hosting events like the Outdoors Inc Canoe and Kayak Race on the Mississippi River that took place for 38 years until the pandemic struck, and the Outdoors Inc Gravel Race that happens every November at Big River Crossing. Outdoors has also partnered with and supported local nonprofit organizations such as Wolf River Conservancy, Overton Park Conservancy, and Shelby Farms Park Conservancy.

As Outdoors Inc marks its 50th year, it reflects on a legacy of innovation, community engagement, and environmental stewardship. It stands as a testament to the vision of its founders and the dedication of its team, promising to continue serving and inspiring outdoor enthusiasts for years to come.

The 50th anniversary of Outdoors Inc is more than just a celebration of its past achievements; it’s a pivotal moment that highlights the company’s role in the outdoor industry and its vision for the future. As Outdoors Inc continues to adapt, innovate, and inspire, it remains a testament to the enduring appeal of the great outdoors and the human spirit’s desire to explore it. Here’s to the next 50 years of adventure, stewardship, and community.

Photo: Shelby Scott
Participants in Outdoors Inc Annual Gravel Race at Big River Crossing

This article is sponsored by Outdoors Inc.

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News News Blog

Report Ranks Memphis Fifth in Efforts to Improve Biking Experience

CREDIT: Facebook/BikePed Memphis

Facebook/BikePed Memphis

Memphis has shown a strong commitment to improving its bike network and encouraging residents to ride, according to a report released this week.

PeopleForBikes evaluated 550 U.S. and Canadian cities for the report. Memphis ranked 60th overall with a score of 2.5 out of 5.

However, in the acceleration category Memphis snagged fifth place. The acceleration score assesses how quickly a city is improving its biking infrastructure and how successful it is at encouraging residents to ride bikes. Memphis scored 4.2 in this category.

In the other four categories, Memphis’ scored significantly lower. The city’s next highest score, 1.7, was in the reach category. This was determined by how well and equally the city’s bike network serves the community.


Memphis scored 1.5 in the ridership category, which is based on how many people are using bikes here for both transportation and recreation.

Memphis’ bike network scored 1.4. The network score evaluates the quality of the city’s bike network and how well it connects people to each other and with destinations in the city.

Finally, in the safety category, Memphis earned its lowest score of 1.3. This score is based on fatalities and injuries of cyclists, as well as pedestrians and drivers. It’s also based on how safe people perceive biking to be in the city.

Of the four major cities in Tennessee, Memphis earned the highest overall score. Nashville’s overall score was 1.3, Chattanooga’s was 1.6, and Knoxville’s was 2.2.

The organization ranked San Luis Obispo, California, as the no. 1 city for biking in the country, followed by Madison, Wisconsin; Santa Barbara, California; and Washington, D.C.

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News News Blog

City Expects to Collect $500K from Scooter, Bike Operators Over Next Year

CREDIT: Facebook

Facebook

Three little Birds


Memphis officials project that the city will collect about a half a million dollars from scooter and bike operators during the first year of its Shared Mobility Program.

The program officially launched here last week at the same time the dockless scooter company Spin, joining two other operators here, Bird and Lime, brought 150 scooters to Memphis.

Spin is slated to increase its fleet to 500 scooters over the next few weeks. Also, this month under the shared-mobility program, another company, Bolt, is expected to add its scooters to the city’s fleet. Early next year, Explore Bike Share is planning to roll out a new fleet of e-bicycles.

Together, Spin, Bolt, Bird, Lime, and Explore Bike Share are slated to operate 3,300 shared-mobility devices in the city once the program is fully in place.

Dan Springer, the city’s deputy director of media affairs said the city anticipates collecting about $500,000 from the operators during the first year of the program.

Per the companies’ agreements with the city, the for-profit operators are required to pay the city an initial permit application fee of $10,000 and then an annual renewal fee of $1,000.

Additionally, each year for-profit companies must pay $50 for every non-electric shared-mobility device they have in the city and $365 for every electronic device.

Non-profit operators, like Explore Bike Share, are required to pay $1 per non-electric device and $10 for every electric device each year.

Officials said that the fees collected from each operator will be used to support targeted safety and educational programs. Nicholas Oyler, the city’s bikeway and pedestrian program manager, said the content and structure of those programs is yet to be determined.

Generally, he said the programs will target all users of the street in an effort to improve the safety of walking, as well as riding a bike or scooter. Oyler said this will include instructions on safe riding and walking, as well as a focus on the laws applicable to drivers as it relates to sharing the street with other users, such as the requirement for drivers to stop at crosswalks.

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The fees collected from the operators will also go toward improving and expanding the city’s bikeway network. Oyler said with the increase in shared-mobility options, there will be an increased use of bike lanes.

“Providing separate space on the street where people can comfortably operate these vehicles, without vying for room on the sidewalk or in travel lanes, enhances everyone’s safety,” Oyler said. “Widespread adoption of these new mobility technologies will depend on a safe and connected network of on- and off-street spaces to ride and reach destinations.”

Specifically, Oyler said improvements could mean installing new bike lanes entirely or upgrading the physical separation from automobile lanes along existing bike lanes. Additionally, Oyler said the city will likely install scooter parking spaces and racks in high-density areas.

Oyler said as the program continues, the city will determine where to make these infrastructure improvements based on data collected from the shared-mobility operators.

Per the city’s agreement with the operators, the companies are required to submit real-time usage data to the city. Oyler said if the data shows that certain streets are commonly used for routes, then that might justify infrastructure improvements on those streets.

To ensure the program is equitable, the city is also requiring each operator to do the following:

• Provide a service area that includes low-income communities

• Implement marketing and targeted community outreach plans to promote the use of shared-mobility devices in low-income communities

• Offer cash payment options or other strategies to ensure equitable payment options

• Provide options for Spanish-speaking users and those with special needs to access the programs and memberships

• Redistribute and re-balance devices daily and in order to not “discriminate against communities of low and moderate income” and to help promote equitable access to and from these communities

For riders, the city encourages:

• Wearing a helmet. (It’s required for users under 16 years old)

• Riding scooters on the street, bike lanes, when available, and on bike paths

• Yielding to pedestrians on crosswalks and sidewalks and to bicycles on the street or in bike lanes

• Parking devices upright on hard surfaces in the furniture zone of the sidewalk, in a bike rack, or in another area designated to bike parking.

Categories
Film Features Film/TV

Bikesploitation Returns For More Cycle Films at the Metal Museum

CREDIT: valibus.com

The fourth annual Bikesploitation film festival is about more than just film. “I think a lot of communities that are embracing the bicycle are having film festivals. We’re seeing them pop up all over the place,” Christopher Reyes says. Reyes and his partner Sarah Fleming have been putting on the festival since their days as co-creators of the music, art, film, and culture website Live From Memphis.

The goal of the event is to both entertain and educate the public about the world’s most efficient mode of transportation. “It’s really popular, the bicycle genre, among filmmakers,” says Fleming, whose bicycle-themed short documentary Training Wheels was a hit on the indie festival circuit in 2011. “If you’re looking for feature films, it’s kind of hard, but if you’re looking for good, short bicycle films, there are lots to choose from.”

valibus.com

Art, music, races, and more at this year’s Bikesploitation

Curated by Memphis filmmaker Edward Valibus, the film competition includes selections from all over the world. “We try to have a really good collection, so there’s BMX stuff, and there’s mountain bike stuff, road bike stuff, fixes, you name it,” Fleming says. “And there are all different genres, like narrative films and documentaries, so you can get a great overview of films from around the world and locally.”

Films from as far away as Australia and Israel will screen at the festival. Walnut documents craftsman Geoffrey Franklin’s process of making bike accessories from wood by hand. The spectacular Dust in the Chain from Germany follows a daring stunt rider’s trick-filled trip through an abandoned industrial building. Canadian director David Phu’s six-part film on Vancouver’s bike culture is an inspiration to those trying to make Memphis more bike-friendly.

“Most of the films are geared to inspire,” Reyes says. “That’s what we want the whole festival to be. We want people to approach biking with creativity, with film, music, and art, so it’s easy for people to tap into the scene and find something that interests them.”

Live From Memphis’ multimedia approach will be alive and well at the Metal Museum during the all-day festival. Events include a massive bike-related art show, a number of races and time trials, and interactive sculptures. “If you’re an artist and you have something that is somehow bicycle-related that you want to be in the show, we wanted to include it in the show,” Fleming says.

The location is new this year. “We’ve been wanting to do it at the Metal Museum for a long time, but part of the issue was getting there safely on bikes,” Fleming says. A series of group rides (“slow jams,” as Reyes calls them) has been organized from all over the city to help riders find the best route to the bluff-side festival.

“The ride leaders are stoked,” Fleming says. “There’s one is South Memphis, one in East Memphis, one in the University of Memphis area, one in Midtown, and one in downtown. It’s not about, ‘Oh, I ride a fixie’ or ‘I like to race.’ It’s about the bicycle in general. We want all kinds of people who ride bicycles to get together.”

Bikesploitation 4

Saturday, May 17th

National Ornamental Metal Museum

Free

bikesploitation.com

Categories
Opinion

Weekend Report: Harahan Bridge, Contract Bridge, Good Signs, Hamer, and Big Money

CREDIT: JB

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A Bridge Too Far? I think so. The Harahan Project is exciting, sure, if wishing could make it so, but that estimated $30 million price turns me off, along with the estimated 18-month waiting time. And both estimates could be optimistic. Connecting Main Street to Broadway in West Memphis is aimed, let’s face it, at enlisting a second city and state in the cause. And I say that as someone who used to freelance for the Crittenden County Chamber of Commerce and write glowing magazine copy about Broadway. And as someone who has enjoyed walking or biking over the Brooklyn Bridge, Golden Gate Bridge, Walnut Street Bridge in Chattanooga, Eads Bridge in St. Louis, and Mackinac Bridge in upper Michigan. There are simply too many needy projects — the Overton Park Conservancy to name one — with more modest fundraising goals, and too many alternative ways to increase bike traffic along the river and through downtown without spending a lot of time and money. A “Five Parks Bike Tour” modeled after the “Five Boro Bike Tour” in New York City in May is one of them. Include Greenbelt Park, Overton Park, Tom Lee Park, Mud Island Park, and Martyr’s Park, with Court Square and AutoZone Park as throw-ins. Last week the city and Parks Department put up a temporary sign on North Parkway. It was made out of plywood by an art student and probably cost a few hundred bucks. But it brands the boulevard, which has been nicely planted in buttercups and flowering trees, and draws favorable attention to Midtown. Grooming our showcase streets and gateways has an immedediate payoff at a reasonable price. I’m reserving judgment on the North Parkway bikes lanes, but note that with excellent weather and near-$4 a gallon gas, there are very, very few weekday riders.

Deputy Superintendent Irving Hamer had to go. But I would not count out Superintendent Kriner Cash as a possible choice for the future consolidated school system. He has friends in high places, knows the Memphis system, there are no unanimously popular superintendents, and I can’t see candidates lining up for the job in 2013. Personally, I think Cash should be counted out for several reasons including making it as hard as possible for reporters covering education to do their jobs. ON a related note, I see where Nashville Mayor Karl Dean wants Metro Schools Superintendent Jesse Register to disclose more financial information in the wake of a newspaper investigation of consulting contracts and payments. Excellent idea for Memphis and Shelby County to imitate with all the outside money being thrown at schools. Register, previously superintendent of the consolidated Chattanooga and Hamilton County school system, visited Memphis a few months ago at the invitation of the Transition Planning Commission.

Thousands of bridge players are in town for a big national convention. Good for them, nice boost for downtown. I practically majored in bridge in college, and there are ways to make it entertaining that involve cold beer, music, and penny-a-point scoring. Great game, struggling to become more popular with “younger” people, whatever that means. But a spectator sport it ain’t. Of course, I would have said the same thing about poker 25 years ago. And earlier this week I wrote 1000 words about the obscure sport of squash. To each his own.

Page One, Top of the Fold in Thursday’s Wall Street Journal: “SEC Cracks Down On Pre-IPO Trading.” The SEC is the Securities and Exchange Commission, and it’s about time. Ten years ago, New York Times reporter Gretchen Morgenson, who ought to be running the SEC, was writing about abuses of insider trading in private shares of companies about to go public in IPOs, or initial public offerings of stock. Then and now, as I wrote in a Memphis magazine article several years ago, I firmly believed that Morgan Keegan dodged a bullet. Or should I say, the SEC failed to pull the trigger on the kind of investigation it is now undertaking. The case in point was a company called Crossroads Systems, which was a hot IPO. Morgan Keegan insiders got some private shares, the house analyst plugged the stock, and away it went. Except a company sorehead who didn’t get any private stock thought it stunk and became my secret whistleblower. Harbinger of things to come with the Kelsoe funds. If President Obama is smart, he’ll keep the dogs of the SEC on a long leash and keep generating headlines in the wake of that tell-all op-ed column in the New York Times from the insider at Goldman Sachs this week.

Categories
Opinion

Things I Learned (Again) in 2011

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The novelist Philip Roth was right. Old age is not a battle, it’s a massacre. Caring for aging parents or visiting a nursing home will convince you.

Parenting never ends. Especially when employer-provided health insurance is scarce.

Teaching in public schools has gotten harder because of all the attention. A lot of the help isn’t helping.

Millions of human roaches are trying to hack your computer, email, and online information every minute. The question is not if but when one of them will succeed.

Don’t divulge any more personal information to anyone than you have to.

Good Mexican restaurants are plentiful and cheap in Memphis.

People with mechanical, carpentry, or house-painting skills will be fine in the new economy.

College liberal arts degrees are overpriced if the measure is landing a job in a lasting career.

If you eat real food you lose weight. Even if you only do it two or three days a week. Shop the perimeter of the grocery stores.

A package of 100 cable channels is worse than ten channels. If only we could pay only for the channels we want. The cable creed is “Do not let customers do this.”

If you insist on lending a book to someone “that you simply must read” you should not expect to get it back.

There is no celebrity too old, over the hill, obnoxious or dead that someone doesn’t believe that what America needs is a book about them. See the new releases at the library and the rekindling of “the enduring mystery of the death of Natalie Wood” in 1981.

Hit overheads hard. Don’t short-arm them or let them drop.

The preservationists were right about the CVS drug store on Union and the compromisers, including me, were wrong.

College football is indestructible. Scandals, soaring salaries, the glut of bowl games, coaching changes, 1-11 seasons, no playoffs, tiny crowds, nothing can kill it.

Patagonia shoes are also indestructible, but in a good way, and really comfortable.

Online bill payments with automatic renewal are an overcharge waiting to happen. A customer service call to Bangalore is a threat to your domestic tranquility, sanity, and the structural integrity of your calling devices.

Those who have been saying illegitimacy is our biggest social problem, most recently outgoing Mississippi Gov. Haley Barbour, are right.

Bike riders have their own brand of road rage.

Really good neighborhoods get better in hard times. So do good schools because there is a flight to stability and quality.

Mega-churches may be the most important social glue in Greater Memphis.

Privacy will be The Next Big Thing because there are so many intrusions on it, from the Internet to airport pat-downs.

Learning is not the same as retaining.