How the IPMBA Product Purchase Program Can Support Your Cycling Habit

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by Greg Bowen, PCI# 1227T
Tarrant County College (TX) Police Department
IPMBA Industry Liaison

Who likes showing up for a local group ride or meeting your mountain bike friends at your favorite trail sporting the latest-and-greatest gear? I know I do. But unless you have an endless supply of money, that cool helmet, upgraded component, new saddle, etc., that you were eying at your local bike shop may be a bit out of your budget.

Did you know that as an IPMBA member, you have access to the IPMBA Product Purchase Program (PPP), through which companies in the cycling industry offer IPMBA members discounts? Now, I am all about supporting your local bike shop. They are the core of the cycling community and supply an inventory to serve an immediate need for a product or service. Give them your business when you can. At the same time, do not forget about the companies that participate in the IPMBA PPP. They support IPMBA by becoming IPMBA Corporate Members, participating in the IPMBA Annual Conference Product Expo, and offering IPMBA members discounts on their products. Without their generous discounts, support, and donations to IPMBA, we may not be as successful. In turn, public safety bike personnel might not have access to the high-quality products that they need to best serve their communities.

Readers who have been around for more than a few years may recall a couple of articles titled Dream Bike, which highlighted the savings you can realize by shopping the PPP. It was overdue for an update, so here it is.

Your annual IPMBA dues are $60.00 US. The money you save on just one purchase from the PPP can more than pay for those dues. Let’s say you covet an item that retails for $120.00 at your local bike shop; as an IPMBA member, you may be eligible to purchase that same item for 60% off retail. There you go. You have more than covered your IPMBA dues!

Let’s visit some of the companies listed in the PPP and make a purchase to see how much you can save to support your cycling habit. This is just an example of one product offered by each company.

ISM Saddles: 50% off retail; ISM Saddle PL1.0: Retail $239.88/Member Price $119.94

Volcanic Bicycles: 20% off MSRP; SERFAS Pump: Retail $70.00/Member Price $56.00

Arkel: 20% off MSRP; Seatpacer 15 Seat Bag: Retail $234.99/Member Price $188.00

Bar Mitts: 20% off MSRP; MTB/Pogies/Flat Bar: Retail $74.95/Member Price $49.96

Cane Creek: 20% off non-sale merchandise; 110 Series Headset: Retail $160.00/Member Price $128.00

Fidlock USA: 25% off retail; VACUUM Phone Mount: Retail 34.99/Member Price $26.25

Hero Kit: 40% off MSRP; EXTREEM MTB Repair Kit: Retail $74.99/Member Price $45.00

Kenda USA: 40% off MSRP; Regolith MTB Tire: Retail $64.95/Member Price $38.97

Pedaling Innovations: 30% off MSRP: Catalyst Pedals: Retail $129.00/Member Price $90.30

ProNetCycling: 30% off MSRP; GUTR Sweatband: Retail $16.99/Member Price $11.90

Rock Bar Cycling: 20% off MSRP; Gear Storage Case: Retail $19.95/Member Price $15.96

Serfas: 10% off retail; MTB Lock-On Grips: Retail 22.00/Member Price $19.78

SKS USA: 20% off retail: Explorer Seat Rail Bag: Retail $39.99/Member Price $32.00

SQLab Ergo Products: 20% off retail; 712 Handlebar Tape: Retail $29.99/Member Price $24.00

Team Cycling Fitness: 15% off MSRP; Lizard Skins Monitor SL Gloves: Retail $29.99/Member Price $24.00

Tiger Eye: 10% MSRP; Carbon Fiber Look Helmet Mirror: Retail $24.99/Member Price $22.00

TOGS: 30% off MSRP; FLEX MTB TOGS: Retail $25.00/Member Price $17.50

WTB: 30% off MSRP; MUD GUARD: Retail $14.95/Member Price $10.47

Cateye Bicycle Electronics: 60% off website prices; Quick Cyclocomputer: Retail $59.95/Member Price $23.98

Rudy Project USA: 35% off retail; Tralyx Sunglasses: Retail $244.99/Member Price $159.25

XX2i Optics: 60% off retail; US1 Performance Sunglasses: Retail $59.99/Member Price $24.00

GQ-6: 35% off online orders; RE-FUL ENERGY: Online price $20.00/Member Price $13.00 (currently unavailable due to stock)

NuGo Nutrition: 20% off MSRP; 12-count box Chocolate Protein Pretzels: Retail $19.00/Member Price $15.12

I will stop my shopping there. Before I get into other vendors on the IPMBA Product Purchase Program, let us look at how much we would have spent as a non-IPMBA member vs. a member.

Non-Member: $1711.53

IPMBA Member: $1161.37

Member Savings: $ 550.16

I know we are not going to go on a crazy shopping spree like this on the IPMBA Product Purchase Program. If I did, I think my wife would tell me and my bikes that we need to find a new place to live. Although, it is good to know that if I need a new pair of sunglasses, tires, saddle, etc., as an IPMBA Member, I can save a generous amount of money compared to my cycling friends.

Not only is there a personal benefit in receiving discounts from these vendors, there is also a benefit to your public safety organization. Do not forget the vendors on the PPP when outfitting, supplying or updating your bike unit. In addition to the previously mentioned vendors, the following vendors are available to support your bike unit:

Bikes and Patrol Supply Companies

Bicycle Patrol Outfitters: 5% off web prices

Police Bike Store: 5-10% off web prices

4Bike-Police.com: 10% or more off MSRP

American Bike Patrol Services: 10% off products; 5% off bicycles

Patrol Bike Systems: Contact for pricing

Clothing and Accessories

ARMORPUR: 10% off Retail

ArroWhere: 20% off Retail

Bern Helmets: 40% off MSRP

Bike Rags Apparel: 10% off order; free design (limits apply)

Maxit Designs: 35% off Retail

Duty Gear

R & B Fabrications: 15% off Retail

RZ Mask, LLC: 25% off online orders

Electronics and Lighting

Cygolite: 35% off Retail

C3Sports Bike Patrol Solutions: 10% off online prices

Lights & Motion: 40% off non-sale items

Night Provision: 15% off MSRP

EMS

EMS World Magazine: FREE

Stat Packs: 35% off MSRP

Maintenance & Tools

Blimp City Bike and Hike: Minimum 10% off MSRP

HGNR/Dumonde Tech: 10% off dealer pricing (customer pays shipping)

United Bicycle Supply: Wholesale Pricing to Departments

Specialty Suppliers

Earmolds Direct: 3.5 mm transducer cord (connects to shoulder mic, $25 value) at no additional charge for each custom earmold purchased.

Expert Voice: Promotional Pricing (apply to join the IPMBA team at https://www.expertvoice.com/ipmba/)

Training

American Bicycling Education Association (ABEA): 50% off case purchases of Bicycling Street Smarts booklets.

Street Crimes Training: $299 for members

Uniforms

Sound Uniform Solutions: 10% off standard list price

Bellwether: 30% off MSRP

Visit the IPMBA website at http://www.ipmba.org. ; Under MEMBERSHIP, you will find the Product Purchase Program (https://ipmba.org/membership/product-purchase-program). Take a look at all the products and services that are offered to IPMBA members by the vendors that support us. You will probably find something that you cannot live without. Happy Shopping!

Greg is a police captain for the Tarrant County College Police Department in Central Texas. He attended the IPMBA Police Cyclist Course in 2001 and started the bike unit for his department. In 2011, he attended the IPMBA Instructor Course in Richmond, Virginia. In 2019, his department and Fort Worth Police Department hosted the IPMBA Conference in downtown Fort Worth, TX. In 2020, he was elected to the IPMBA Board of Directors and appointed to the position of Industry Liaison. He can be reached at industry@ipmba.org.

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