Here`s - BikeBiz

Transcription

Here`s - BikeBiz

Issue 95 | December 2013
show
the
bike&triathlon
Manchester Central
8th-9th March 2014
www.bikeandtri.co.uk
Sponsors:
visit manchester
bikeandtriathlon
@bikeandtri
show
the
bike&triathlon
Manchester Central 8th–9th March 2014
Trade day confirmed for the Sunday 9th March
■ Trade seminars, key note speakers
■ TRADE LOUNGE - free teas and
coffees included throughout the day
for trade visitors
■ 33% more floor space on 2014 plan
■ Enhanced feature areas
■ Focus on road, triathlon, time-trial,
fixed wheel and commuter.
■ Big cycling names confirmed include
Cervelo, Rose, KTM, Starley, Matrix,
Roux, ADR Carbon and Fi’zi:k.
■ Big triathlon names include, USN,
Huub, Ceepo, Rotor, Champion
systems, Compress sport,
Blueseventy, Zoot, Lezyne, Speedfil
and Compex.
REGISTER NOW FOR FREE TRADE ENTRY AT
EDITORIAL
Issue 95 | December 2013
NEWS 4-8
Revamped trade shows, ‘Year of the IBD’, our Distribution
Round-up and an anonymous IBD speaks out...
CORE BIKE
Now a decade old, Core Bike
2014 is going to be a big
one – the biggest yet going by
the current exhibitor list.
Here’s an advance look
FOCUS ON…
15
35
REVIEW OF THE YEAR
Troubled financials, MTB wheel sizes and baristas.
And that’s just for starters. BikeBiz attempts to
make sense of the year that was ‘13...
RUTLAND CYCLING 26
THE BIKE PLACE
32
Rutland Cycling has taken to winning awards
like a duck to water. We find out why
The Silverstone trade show is expanding for
2014. We take an early look
E-BIKES
Sponsored by
Shimano steps into the e-bike
market and one retailer urges us
all to stop using the ‘c’ word...
45
OUTDOOR & FITNESS
We’ve got phone cases you can
take swimming to bottles that
filter water for you...
49
WHEELS, TYRES, TUBES
FOOTWEAR
59
DEALER PROFILE
57 COMMUNITY
Hoops Velo is one of the newest outlets from
Gary Bird of East St Cycles. We get the details
PEOPLE
65
52
71
Get our readers take on the changing bike trade
distribution model on our community page
NEW PRODUCTS
68
It’s ironic that despite pre-dating cars,
bicycles are now challenging the status
quo on the roads.
If the figures are to be believed, the level of cycling has
increased dramatically in the UK over the last decade or so.
Excellent news, but have drivers forgotten how to cope with
more vulnerable road users? It’s with no little irony that
despite being around for well over a century, cyclists are
now challenging the status quo on the roads, simply due to
the number of riders on the road increasing again. Motorists
are having to learn to cope with cyclists again (or in many
cases for the first time) and the more pragmatic are taking
the challenge in their stride. The worst are refusing to
engage common sense and there’s some that are probably
just nervous whenever they see a cyclist and wish they had
had more training about dealing with them back when they
were learner drivers.
Training motorists in dealing with cyclists on the road is
exactly what the likes of the AA and BSM driving schools are
now doing. The drivers they are producing will, hopefully, be
more considerate to riders. But that’s for the long term.
In the here and now there’s plenty that can be done, like
manufacturing HGV cabs with better visibility and getting
Bikeability on the National Curriculum – two measures that
probably few would find issue with, but require political will
to make happen.
With vitriolic comments and various media publishers
eager to cheaply cash in on that vitriol, it feels like cycle
advocates are beating their heads against a brick wall, but if
some foundations for long-term improvements can be laid
and some blinkered attitudes can be changed then it might
not be all in vain.
SPONSORED BY
Jonathon Harker, Editor
British Cycling gets a new man in charge, while
Paligap’s sales force gets some fresh faces
Cav’s latest opus, Boardman’s brand new bike
line-up and cycle glasses of the future
CYCLIST SAFETY has rarely been far
from the headlines, particularly over
the last month or two. The tragic
headline figure of six cyclists dying in
two weeks on London’s roads has
served as a spring board for debate,
which has produced responses from the
likes of Boris Johnson looking to crack
down on cyclists wearing headphones,
to cycle advocates like London Cycling
Campaign organising flash rides calling for immediate action
to make London’s roads safer.
There’s no simple solution to the cycle safety conundrum,
but if you take a long term view there’s some reason for
optimism. While it’s scant consolation for the families and
communities affected by the awful events in London and
elsewhere across the nation (where they don’t get quite so
much media coverage), the ‘critical mass’ of cyclists will
surely be one of the biggest promoters of cyclist safety.
SPOKESMAN
90
Carlton Reid gets hands-on experience with
local cycle campaigners and their successes
EVENTS 75 NUMBER CRUNCHING 86 OFF TRACK 88
NEWS
CYCLE
SHORTS
“Clothing choice
irrelevant to safe
pass distance”
A new study by the University
of Bath and Brunel University
has concluded that it makes
little difference what clothing
a cyclist may wear to boost
their visibility. The report says
between one and two per
cent of motorists will still
pass dangerously close.
Eurobike Demo
day moves to
show grounds
2014 will see Eurobike’s
Demo Day uprooted
from Argenbühl, with the bike
trials now taking place next
to the show itself. The
organiser said the move came
at the request of exhibitors
looking for ‘easier logistics’.
Bike and Tri
tickets on sale
Tickets to the Manchester
Central Bike and Tri Show are
now available via
bikeandtri.co.uk. A BikeBizbacked trade lounge will host
seminars from the likes of the
ACT, Red Cloud and many
more on Sunday March 9th.
Giant enjoys
highest ever
earnings per share
Giant has reported a net
profit of $89.1m, or earnings
per share of NT$7.05, for the
first nine months of the year,
up 13.87 per cent yearon-year.
On with the
(trade) shows
Zyro revamps trade show offering at London and
Leeds venues iceBike* 2014 registration opens By Jonathon Harker
FOLLOWING THE success of its recent road
show product launch, Zyro has shaken up its
trade show offering with a two day event split
across two locations.
Cycle Vision will take place on January 21st
at Vinopolis, London before moving to the
Royal Armouries in Leeds on January 23rd.
The revamped format is to make its house
trade show format more accessible to
independent bike retailers around the country,
the distributor said.
Instead of the seminars seen in the old
Open House format, Cycle Vision will feature
an extensive show area with brand displays,
plus ‘first look workshops’ running throughout
the days.
Product director at Zyro Simon Ellison
commented: ‘The recent success of our 2014
Product Launch events for Giro, Easton, Bell,
Blackburn and CamelBak has shown us the
“The success of our
2014 product launch
events for Giro, Easton,
Bell, Camelbak and
Blackburn has shown us
the value of taking
product on the road...”
Simon Ellison, Zyro
Cyclescheme hits 400,000
bicycles sold milestone
Cycle to work company pledges 2014 will be its ‘Year of the IBD’ as it
reveals it has now linked with a whopping 2,000 partner IBDs
Brand were well represented
at the Conference
Future reveals
digital success
Future’s preliminary results
saw digital revenues rise 38
per cent – the highest rate of
growth in recent years – with
59 per cent of advertising
revenue now digital.
Newcastle Cycle
Hub secures £25k
Cycling social enterprise
Newcastle Cycle Hub, home
to a Cycle Centre store and
holiday firm Saddle
Skedaddle, has secured a
£25,000 loan to grow cycling
in the city.
For breaking news visit:
www.bikebiz.com
4 BIKEBIZ DECEMBER
value in taking our brands ‘on the road’. With
the launch of Cycle Vision we are giving all of
our retailers the opportunity to come and see
us and our fantastic range of products. Our
invaluable first look brand workshops will
continue to run at Cycle Vision and will give
visitors the chance to gain an in depth
understanding of the brands and their 2014
product ranges."
The show will open from 9.30am with
product workshops running from 10.00am to
5.00pm and a buffet lunch will be served from
1.00pm to 2.00pm. All attendees will receive a
free goody bag and exclusive show promotions.
Brands that will be on show in January
include ABUS, Altura, Cateye, Etxeondo,
Fenwick’s, Genuine Innovations, Hamax,
Magura, Panaracer, SKS and TORQ.
Retailers should visit
www.zyrob2b.co.uk/register for further
information and registration.
CYCLESCHEME HAS revealed to BikeBiz that
it has hit a 400,000 bike milestone since it
was established in 2005.
The firm also revealed that it now
partners with a huge proportion of the
independent cycle retail market, telling
BikeBiz the partner IBD total now stands at
over 2,000 retailers.
The statistics come as the company held
its fourth supplier brand conference, at
which it declared 2014 will be its ‘year of
the independent bike dealer’.
For next year Cyclescheme is creating a
B2B web portal where retailers can access
their local employers, store profiles and get
better access to POS material. 2014 will
also see the introduction of the
Cyclescheme Academy, designed to ‘inform
and empower retail staff to the commercial
opportunity that exists through
Cyclescheme’. The C2W operator’s Retail
and Events Team is set to visit more retailers
next year offering training, advice and POS.
There will also be an enhanced programme
of retailer conferences in 2014 where stores
will be able to give Cyclescheme their
feedback and share strategy.
Cyclescheme director, Daniel Gillborn,
said: “The theme for 2014 is very much
centred around, ‘prepare, lead and unify’ –
an idea that sees us working more closely
than ever with the industry for the greater
good of our market place.”
Delegates from key cycle brands attended
the annual brand conference, with
representatives from Bicycle Association of
GB and British Cycling. Phillip Darnton OBE
led group discussions aiming to inspire ideas
debate and open discussion about the
market as a whole.
Gillborn added: “The Brand Conference is
an essential date in our diary and enables
us to work closely with the brands, gain
valuable feedback and helps form our
vision going forward for both them and
our retailers.”
Since 2009 the number of bikes sold
through Cyclescheme is 362,582 (correct at
time of press).
BIKEBIZ.COM
NEWS
SHOWS DATES
2014
COREBIKE
Jan 26th 2014 – Jan 29th 2014 in
Whittlebury Hall, Northamptonshire
THE BIKE PLACE
Jan 26th 2014 – Jan 28th 2014 in
Silverstone, Northamptonshire
ICEBIKE*
Meanwhile another key New Year trade show
– Madison’s iceBike* – is open for registration.
Now in it’s eighth year, iceBike* 2014 will
run from Tuesday February 25th to 27th, set
once again in a specially constructed twostorey expo marquee and in Madison's inhouse show rooms.
The distributor promises new products,
brand debuts and special offers as well as
seminars to learn about the brands,
merchandising and more.
By pre-registering for iceBike* 2014
dealers will receive regular email updates
about the show, with the iceBike* website
being updated as the show planning
progresses.
www.icebike.co.uk/register
For more key bike show dates, including
Core Bike, the Bike Place, the London Bike
Show and more, head to page 75.
THE LONDON BIKE SHOW
Feb 13th 2014 – Feb 16th 2014 in
ExCeL, London
ICEBIKE
Feb 25th 2014 – Feb 27th 2014 in
Milton Keynes
THE TRIATHLON SHOW
Feb 28th 2014 – Mar 2nd 2014 in
Sandown Racecourse, Surrey
TAIPEI CYCLE
Mar 5th 2014 – Mar 8th 2014 in
TWTC Nangang Exhibition Hall, Taipei
BIKE AND TRI SHOW
March 8th – 9th, 2014 in Manchester
WELSH CYCLE SHOW
Apr 4th 2014 – Apr 5th 2014 in The
Wales National Velodrome, Newport
Cyclist mag tops
7,000 subscribers
DENNIS, THE publisher of Cyclist
magazine, has revealed the title to have
doubled its anticipated subscriber levels
by the end of 2013 – with over 7,000
now signed up to receive the title.
Publisher Nicola Bates told BikeBiz:
“Our task for Cyclist in 2013 was simple,
make the core audience aware of us,
sample to them and convert them to
buying on a regular basis. We seem to be
doing this at a greater rate than expected,
plus on another positive note, we've also
had 23,699 downloads since launch and
16,634 active users of the app in of
October. A very pleasing set of numbers
all round.”
The publisher now reports an 23 per
cent jump in average sale per issue figures
year-on-year, with the biggest selling
October edition having shifted over
22,000 copies.
wwww.cyclistmag.co.uk
The October
edition sold
over 22,000
copies
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great, says us - Birzman’s lastest track pump acheives both.”
For more information, see:
Premium Brands from i-ride.co.uk
Prestige | Cycle | Brands
NEWS
IBDs get chance to live the
Tour de France, VIP-style
Bicyclebitz offering once in a lifetime experience at next year’s Yorkshire and London-set Le Tour
By Jonathon Harker
PITCHED AS ‘probably the most exciting
promotion in the UK cycle trade ever’, UK
bike dealers are getting the opportunity to
take a three-day VIP trip at the 2014 Tour
de France.
Run by French brand Velox and its
Yorkshire-based distributor Bicyclebitz, the
VIP tour includes a ride in an official car
driven by an ex-rider, who will be the
guide for the day. There’s also a lunch with
ex-riders, a helicopter ride above the race,
a ride in the official bus at the end of a
stage as well as a momento of the day in
the offing.
The promotion is aimed at Velox
customers new and old alike, who must
achieve a turnover increase over the
previous year (full details, terms and
conditions are available from Bicyclebitz).
New customers will have to achieve a set
turnover (€10,000) to participate in the
promotion. The lucky winner can either go
on the tour themself, use it as a incentive
for their sales staff or reward loyal
customers. The trip runs over the start of
the tour, on Saturday July 5th, 6th and 7th
2014.
Fancy three days tailing
the tour as it progresses?
Read on...
“The trip runs over
July 5th, 6th and 7th,
2014 and the Live
Tour Promo ends
April 30th. See
BicycleBitz.com for
more information. ”
The ‘Live the Tour’ promo has already
started and ends April 30th 2014.
bicyclebitz.com
FROM THE RETAIL FRONTLINE
How can bikes sales be booming when imports have been flat for six years?
BikeBiz peels back the PR and headlines with an anonymous IBD…
“BIKE SALES have not been static for us,
we’ve had some highs which can
primarily be attributed to cycle to work
business, but that has tailed off now
quite a bit and as we are in a relatively
rural location we don’t have lots of big
employers on our doorstep.
Some local, big employers who used
to be with Cyclescheme have now linked
with another provider so that means no
business for us. Our local Council,
thankfully, are still with Cyclescheme but
the take up rate has slowed.
In terms of sales we’ve been static the
last two years but overall basing it on a
six-year period we are down 18 per cent.
These are our year-on-year figures
(year end Aug 2013):
2009: -20%
2010: +30%
2011: +6.5%
2012: -25%
2013: static From March to August this year we
are down 25 per cent on bikes but we
compensated for this to keep it static
last year with the better September/
October 2012. I would hazard a guess
that the better weather after a very wet
BIKEBIZ.COM
summer and maybe some tail-end
London 2012 Olympics and Tour de
France-inspired sales provided us with
that uplift.
LOCAL CHALLENGES
A problem with a nearby charity
providing free bike repairs is ongoing for
us, potentially further depressing new
bike sales in our area due to customers
being aided to hold onto their current
bikes – but without us benefitting from
this with a workshop and P&A uplift
whatsoever, like most bike shops do.
Our local council has called a meeting
as they feel the situation is now harming
their Economic Development Strategy.
We will have to seriously think over
the next year, that if things do not
change, if we can continue.
It’s been suggested we have a good
business and attitude and perhaps now
due to the charity situation we are now
in the wrong location. Problem is, this
activity will only increase if it’s not
stopped, so I’m not sure where would be
a safe location these days.
In the meantime we will enjoy
helping our loyal customers, they are the
ones that keep us going... just... both in
terms of custom and cheeriness!”
“Some local, big
employers who used
to be with
Cyclescheme have
now linked with
other providers, so
that means no
business for us...”
ARE YOU AN
INDEPENDENT
BIKE DEALER...
...willing to honestly tell us how
business is on the front lines of
bicycle retail? Email us at
Jonathon.Harker@intentmedia.co.uk
BIKEBIZ DECEMBER 7
DISTRIBUTION NEWS
Raleigh adds JVC sports cameras
Scoop takes on distribution of UK designed BMX label The Make Hubjub adds retro appeal with
Tange Silverfish to stock Super Sticky Kush Adixxion GC-XA2 camera now in Raleigh’s stocks
By Mark Sutton
RALEIGH AND JVC
JAPANESE CONSUMER electronics giant
JVC has appointed Raleigh as an official
UK distributor for the JVC Adixxion
Action Camera.
The ‘quad proof and action ready outof-the-box’ JVC GC-XA2 Adixxion records
in full HD at 1080 at 50P and has an 8MP
CMOS sensor, allowing up to 16MP still
pics to be taken.
Raleigh’s well established relationship
with the independent bicycle trade and
major bicycle retailers coupled with sales
and marketing infrastructure helped lead
to the deal.
The JVC GC-XA2 Adixxion uses JVC’s
back-illuminated CMOS sensor
technology, taken from the brand’s
conventional camcorder range. The GCXA2 also has a built-in LCD Colour Screen
and Wi-Fi facilities built-in, (compatible
with both IOS Apple and Android Devices)
8 BIKEBIZ DECEMBER
to allow easy control of the camera via
Wi-Fi, with the camera view clearly
displayed on the user’s Wi-Fi enabled
device. 01773 532600
SCOOP AND THE MAKE
LETCHWORTH’S SCOOP Distribution has
added The Make to its catalogue of
brands, which currently include the likes
of Alienation, DK Bicycles and house
brand Vocal.
The Make’s brand new frame line is
now in stock with Scoop, who are
contactable on 01462 650741
HUBJUB AND TANGE
HUBJUB IS to bring steel brand Tange to
the UK bike trade.
Tange has been in business since 1920,
originally producing forks before growing
to offer steel tubing. It was responsible for
the Prestige double butted tubing which
rivaled tubes from established players like
Reynolds and Columbus in the ‘80s.
As the industry moved to aluminium
and composites, Tange fell on hard times.
But with something of a resurgence in
traditional steel bicycles the brand has
turned around and now offers a full range
of tube-sets as well as aftermarket P&A. 01597 825533
SILVERFISH AND SUPACAZ
SILVERFISH HAS signed a distribution
agreement with Antony Sinyard to bring
his Supacaz product to the UK.
With stock expected as early as this
month, SupaCaz specialises in lock on
grips for MTB, as well as a ‘high-end’
patented bar tape, dubbed Super Sticky
Kush. The label is used by the likes of
team Astana, among others.
01752 843882
BIKEBIZ.COM
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Imports in the UK
Saved by the
‘Grandma Bike’…
Ever been so focused on cycling that you’ve eventually ended up with
an inability to switch off? Ex-professional BMX rider, turned Fairdale
founder, Taj Mihelich has. Find out how a bike salvaged from a skip
has helped his rediscovery of the simple joys of pedaling along…
A new form of
integrated transport
at work...
“I was such a hardcore BMXer I was
embarrassed to even be seen on a big-wheeled
bike, let alone a rickety step-through
grandma bike.”
Taj Mihelich
BIKEBIZ.COM
I WAS A BMX pro for almost 20 years. In that
time riding bikes was absolutely everything to
me. I poured all my physical energy, creativity
and focus into it. My riding wholly consumed
my life. It was a great experience that took me
all over the world. It showed me what I could
accomplish if I focused on just one thing. It’s
strange though, I wouldn’t exactly say it was a
‘fun’ way to spend my life. Don’t get me
wrong, I loved it, but ‘riding’ had become such
an extension of me that it was way more than
‘fun’ to me. It had become everything good
and bad in my world all rolled into one. Out on my bike was the only time I really
felt like me. Calloused hands, bruises and cuts
constantly reminded me that I was a BMXer.
Almost every thought I had was focused on
somehow pushing my riding forward either on
a creative or physical level. A ride down the
street would send my mind into overdrive.
Can I manual from here to there, is that
handrail rideable, can I jump off this, is that a
new trick brewing in the back of my mind?
One day at the peak of my BMX career I
found an old 1950s grandma cruiser hanging
out of a trash dumpster. It was somehow both
repulsively dorky and magnetically beautiful
at the same time. I took it home and with a
little BMX-mechanic brute force got her going
again. Keep in mind this was at a time in my
life when I was such a hardcore BMXer I was
embarrassed to even be seen on a bigwheeled bike, let alone a rickety step-through
grandma bike. With a big metal basket up
front I started taking the bike to the grocery
store. The bike had an immediately profound
effect on me. On those leisurely grocerygetting rides through neighborhood streets I
found my world suddenly quieted down.
Smiling was irresistible and I felt a simple and
humble calmness I couldn’t explain.
In time I realised that this old clunky cruiser
had stripped away all the pressures and
expectations that I had loaded on to my BMX
bike. For the first time in memory I was riding
a bike with no desire to see how fast it could
go, or how far it could jump. My mind wasn’t
pushing me to look for new ways to ride it or
obsessing about how to link obstacles in my
path together. I was just simply rolling along. Every one of us in the bike industry fell in
love with that feeling at some point. The
problem we face is that it’s so easy to lose
track of it. We start looking for the next ‘high’
on our bikes by trying to ride them farther,
faster or harder. We get caught up with
technology and how we can make our bikes
stronger and lighter. And of course the very
act of working in the bike industry sometimes
makes us lose sight of how simply joyful the
act of riding the damned bikes can be.
The bike I rescued changed my life
completely. I started being able to channel
some of its simplicity into my BMX riding.
That gave me a new confidence to enjoy my
BMX on a more base level, which made me a
better rider. Sometimes simple is better, even
when it comes to BMX tricks. More than that
it opened my mind to a whole world of
cycling. I started seeing all the different kinds
of bikes as paint brushes in an artist’s tool
box. Each one had its purpose, but they were
all at their core building on that same simple
feeling I found riding my garbage bike.
www.Fairdalebikes.com
Instagram: @fairdalebikes
Twitter: #everypedal
BIKEBIZ DECEMBER 11
BIKE AND TRIATHLON SHOW
Bike & Tri Show will be
holding regular seminars
on the main stage
Bike & Tri again
Having built the foundations of a ‘show for the north’ at Manchester Central last year, Hamerville Media,
the organisers of the Bike and Tri show, are now of the mindset that the sky is the limit. Mark Sutton
talks to Colin Gale about the show’s goals, trade involvement and assisting Manchester’s cycling growth…
HAVING ACHIEVED your first year’s target,
what’s the goal for year two over at
Manchester Central?
Our goal for year two is 8,000-plus visitors.
Big triathlon names include USN, Zoggs, Huub,
2XU, Ceepo, Rotor, Champion systems,
Compress Sport, Z3R0D, BlueSeventy, Zoot,
Lezyne, Speedfil, Compex, Orca, Hilly, Torq,
High5 and Mailsports International. How far did visitors travel to be at the show
last year? Are the majority relatively local
to the show?
Our research shows that the majority of
visitors travelled less than two hours to get to
Manchester Central.
How many exhibitors are you hoping to
have on board by the times doors open? Is
there room to expand on last year?
Last year we had 72 exhibitors and we
currently have 75 exhibitors, though I would
like to get over 100. The hall has expanded by
a third to encompass the sold out floor plan
last year.
What feedback did exhibitors pass on
following the close of the debut show and
how have you acted on requests?
Feedback has been generally very positive, but
the market has shown us that content to the
show has to be very much ‘on brand’.
So, while tricks may be popular, new
attractions like the ‘Street Velodrome’ we feel
are much more in keeping with the focus of
the show and will allow for increased visitor
participation.
How’s the floor plan looking to date – who’s
already signed up?
Our floor plan for 2013 has expanded by 33
per cent for 2014. Big cycling names confirmed
thus far include Cervelo, Rose, KTM, Starley,
Matrix, Roux, ADR Carbon, Fi’zi:k, Azione, Anna
Nichoola, PowerBar, Provision Cycle clothing,
Purple Harry, Schwalbe and Wattbike.
12 BIKEBIZ DECEMBER
“A very good
reason to
attend is the
seminars,
supported
by the ACT,
among
others... ”
Colin Gale,
Bike and Tri
Show
Will the focus of the show remain road
cycling and triathlon, or are other cycle
sectors welcome?
The show will focus on all aspects of road
cycling and triathlon, but will include time trial,
track and commuter as we aim to fulfil our
commitment to Manchester to be the city of
cycling by 2017.
Are there any new features, rides or
seminars pencilled in for this year?
New for 2014 will be the Street Velodrome,
which is the first ever experience of an indoor
Velodrome featured at the back of the hall.
There’s a New Sports Tours International
Destination Café, as well as a New Velodrome
Experience being organised so visitors can ride
at the main Manchester Velodrome. There’s
also the Cyclist Magazine Cycling Theatre,
which will have hot new content from
everything on two wheels, and a Sportive
ranging between 40 and 80 miles to put
yourself to the test on the Sunday.
Why should those in the trade make the
journey to the show?
A very good reason is the return of the
dedicated trade lounge, sponsored by BikeBiz
with programme of informative seminars
supported by the ACT on all aspects of the
trade to help local traders develop their
business and increase the profit margins.
Busy trade stands are an indicator for retailers
of the products they should be stocking in
order to service the demand for certain cycling
trends – so where better to get a feel for what
they should be stocking?
Any cycling celebrities lined up for an
appearance?
Yes, British Cycling has confirmed riders from
their elite road and track squads will be in
attendance, along with other industry figures.
Why has Manchester proven to be an ideal
city to host the show?
Recent research has shown that the urban area
of Greater Manchester is now the most vibrant
in the UK.
The increase in young professionals moving
into the area has meant the sports of cycling
and triathlon have seen rapid growth.
Manchester is the home of British Cycling
and the region is second only to the South East
of England in terms of the percentage of
overall membership to the organisation.
Recent financial grants announced by the
city to develop networks of cycle routes shows
reinforces the city’s commitment to be the
‘City of Cycling’ by 2017.
How can interested exhibitors enquire
about space?
The show is all about showcasing the latest
product to the market. If there is anything new
or set for launch, there are a number of
different ways in which this can be maximised
at the show. For example, clothing exhibitors
can benefit from professionally choreographed
fashion show.
Exhibitors wishing to be present at
Manchester Central should contact Aaron
Dombey on 01923 237799, or email
adombey@hamerville.co.uk. Aaron will be more
than happy to assist in the tailoring a package
to the exhibitor’s needs.
BIKEBIZ.COM
CHARGEBIKES.COM
Simplicity sells
Come and see the new 2014 range of Charge bikes at The Bike Place Show,
(Silverstone January 26-28th) and see how our simple and elegant range of UK designed bikes
is one of the easiest sells in the bike industry.
Thebikeplaceshow.co.uk
SILVERSTONE RACE CIRCUIT 26-28TH JAN 2014. THEBIKEPLACESHOW.CO.UK
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CORE BIKE 2014 PREVIEW
WORKING YOUR CORE
As the preparations for the tenth Core Bike show ramp up, Jonathon Harker takes a sneaky
peak into the exhibitors top secret plans for the Whittlebury Hall Hotel trade-only event…
BOBBIN BICYCLES
FRESH FROM its nomination for Bike
Brand of the Year at this year’s BikeBiz
Awards, cycling lifestyle trailblazer
Bobbin Bicycles with be showing its
2014 range at Core Bike for the very first
time. The Bobbin line is produced over in
Taiwan and the rapidly expanding line
CHICKEN CYCLEKIT
includes stylish ladies and gents
roadsters as well as the new Bobbin
Junior range, with several models for 414 year olds.
Retailers are invited to come along
and say hello to the thriving brand in
room S10.
BUFFERA
MIDGES. THE enemy of all right minded
folk and all outdoor activity fans, whether
they’re mountain bikers, cycle tourists or
roadies. Help is at hand with Buff’s brand
new Insect Shield Buff, launching with
samples at Core Bike.
The Insect Shield does exactly what
the name suggests and protects the
wearer from insects. How so? The Insect
Shield Buff is a seamless tube of Coolmax
Extreme fabric that offers up to 95 per
cent protection from harmful UV rays
and has also been treated with Insect
Shield Technology for long lasting and
odourless protection from insects.
BIKEBIZ.COM
The collection, available to retailers at
the end of February, includes ten
patterned designs and four plain with an
RRP of £20.
Appealing not only to cycle types, the
Insect Shield Buff is set to be snapped up
by walkers, climbers, cycle tourists,
anglers, horsemen (and women) and
basically anyone who’s had the
misfortune to encounter the fearsome
Scottish midgie. As BikeBiz goes to press,
Buffera has also got the AW 14-15
collection on the way, so we’ll have more
on that next time.
Handily for the cycle to work market, a
number of 2014 Tifosi bikes retail under
£1,000, including the CK5 Classico and
CK6 Forte, as well as the existing CK7
Granfondo. The new aluminium CK4
Sportivo with carbon seat is just a touch
over at £1,099.99.
Building on its interest at the NEC Cycle
Show, the Cinelli Bootleg cross-continent
Hobo bike will be at Core. Cinelli is
introducing the Saetta Radical and Radical
Plus, building on the reputation of the
original Saetta. The Histogram Ultimate is
a new Mash build and the Mash Parallax is
an ‘optical wonder’. The popular Cinelli
Experience appears in white or black, while
Cinelli’s iconic track frame, the Vigorelli, is
introduced in a new colour called Vigarosa.
The new disc specific Zydeco appears in a
striking polished Italo shade, and the
Strato Wired returns in black and white.
Deda Strada is introducing the new
Gladiatore, a carbon frame equipped with
a Campag group set for under £1,500. The
Super Scuro Evolution is also added to
the Deda fleet, with an integrated
seatpost and EPS / Di2 ready. The popular
Nerissimo goes yellow for 2014, while the
Alluminio bike and the Acciaio steel
frame are key newcomers as is the 2014
Ran frame, available in a disc option. The
full Deda Elementi 2014 wheel range is a
technical revolution for Deda fans, with
stunning alloy and carbon wheels in
clincher and tubular models.
Chicken CycleKit uses quality European
finishing kits on its in-house built bikes.
Bike builds are invariably supplied with
Campagnolo drivetrains, Cinelli or Deda
bars and stems, Selle Italia saddles,
Vittoria tyres and Miche or Campagnolo
wheels.
The ever increasing interest of
Campag’s EPS system is expected to keep
on growing with the release of the new
V2 power unit, allowing riders to mount
the power unit internally, giving obvious
aerodynamic and aesthetic advantages.
The revolutionary idmatch system
from Selle Italia helps cyclists choose,
scientifically, what saddle suits them –
providing dealers with measuring
equipment comprising pelvic callipers, a
tape measure, pelvic inclinometer and
software programme to help cyclists
choose the saddle best suited to their
anatomy. Chicken CycleKit now
distributes Sportourer saddles, a leisure
and commuting range from the sister
company of Selle Italia.
LAS helmets, now owned by Briko,
caused a stir at the NEC and will be at
Core together with eyewear and clothing
from the brand. The Vermarc race
clothing includes the Mark Cavendish
Omega Pharma range and the Sportline
PR.R custom clothing for own name kit.
Vittoria ‘made in Italy’ shoes, also
popular at the NEC, are establishing
themselves as a leading European
manufacturer. 2014 may also be the year
for Datatag, again since the NEC show,
sales of the new Datatag systems have
rapidly increased. Retailers have said new
bikes are rolling out the doors fitted with
the anti-theft system.
Chicken CycleKit is now able to supply
Zefal mudguards, pumps and bottles
from stock. Early March sees the arrival
of the complete Flinger range of
mudguards.
Following the successful trialling of
Superior bikes last year, many of the
2014 models will be available from
January. Bike friendly transport options
are offered by JetBlack car racks, which
widens the choice of product available.
There’s more on
www.chickencycles.co.uk or in the
distributor’s catalogue.
BIKEBIZ DECEMBER 15
CITRUS-LIME
CITRUS-LIME specialises in providing
independent retailers with modern and
efficient Ecommerce, Electronic Point of
Sale (EPOS) and Stock-Control Solutions
that provide a competitive advantage and
the infrastructure on which to build
successful retail businesses.
Citrus-Lime’s Microsoft Dynamics RMS
forms the core of the EPOS solution,
around which they have built a range of
modular upgrades designed to meet the
specific needs of retailers. From the "drag
& drop" calendar of the Workshop
Module and the next generation Tablet
EPOS solution, through to the
accessibility of supplier product data via
the Supplier Integration Module (SIM)
and integration with Sage accounting
software, retailers can build a system
EBC
perfectly suited to their business.
Citrus-Lime’s Ecommerce platform
offers secure, feature-rich, online
shopping solutions and can be integrated
with accounting, point-of-sale with
electronic receipts and fulfilment
systems, in addition to Amazon and eBay.
The firm are now also able to provide a
Mobile Ecommerce platform and the
Click and Collect solution for multi-site
retailers offering an Ecommerce website.
The product launching at the 2014
Core Bike Show is the Customer Rewards
Module. This Module enables customers
to accrue points every time they
purchase a product from the retailer.
These points can then be spent on items
both ‘in-store and online’. Demonstrations
of this product are on offer at the show.
HOPE
TWO KEY new products from British
brand Hope will be at Core Bike, including
the long awaited R8 front light, crafted
after two years or design, operation and
power refinement. The eight Cree XP-G2
LEDs generate a maximum power of
3,000 lumens (2,200 measured) through
custom-made optics which blend 4x spot,
2x diffused and 2x elliptical lenses to
illuminate the trail.
A new six cell battery has been
developed for the R8 which will give two
hours burn time on maximum power. The
new ES Li-Ion battery also features a
charge indicator showing battery life at a
button touch. The battery case is
16 BIKEBIZ DECEMBER
THE ELECTRIC Bike Corporation (EBC) is a
British distributor of e-bikes. With the
exclusive rights to the premium Boschpowered AVE bike brand (the AVE SH-9
roadster at £2,699 is pictured) and the
development of its own house brand
EBCO, EBC has a wide range of models,
from reliable commuters available at less
than £1,000 (perfect for the
Government's Cycle to Work scheme) all
the way up to the enthusiast off-road full
suspension models retailing at over
£4,000. EBC dealers have access to a
wide range of marketing, PR, technical
support and spares and even boasts a
nomination for one of our prestigious
(even if we do say so ourselves) BikeBiz
Industry Awards.
EBC will be found in the Grand Prix
suite where test rides can be booked.
HOTLINES
machined from aluminium and has a
rubber protection cover to allow rattle
free fixing to stems and top tubes.
Also new from the house of Hope is
the Hope Tech 3 master cylinder, which
replaces the Tech Evo master cylinder.
The Tech 3 master cylinder can operate
all the calipers from Hope’s range and
offers a slight increase of power of about
The piston is actuated by a cam and a
roller system to eliminate any free play
The Tech 3 master cylinder is now
directly compatible with any Shimano ISpec type shifter meaning no extra
mount is required to attach the shifter to
the master cylinder.
THE NEW Manitou Mattoc fork will be
exhibited for the first time in the UK at
Core. A nod to trail builders, the Mattoc
provides efficient pedaling and handling any
terrain you throw at it, we’re told, making it
an ideal platform for enduro riding. It’s a
34mm stanchion fork with 140, 150 or
160mm of travel for both 26 and 27.5 inch
tire sizes. It is also available in a 170mm
configuration for 26in tyres only. The
Mattoc will be available in Pro, Expert and
Comp configurations. Pro and Expert feature
the lightest weight chassis, with taper-wall
legs and Manitou’s patented deep bore
hollow crown on Pro and Expert models. The
Pro Model gets additional weight savings.
Also appearing at Whittlebury Hall is iXS’
Trail RS Helmet. This lightweight, maximum
coverage half-shell helmet is launched into
the new NLS (Next Level Series) range from
the Swiss clothing and protection brand.
Designed with Freeride pioneer Richie
Schley, iXS has sought to create the perfect
trail/enduro helmet. Featuring a pronounced
wrap-around design at the rear of the shell
to maximise protection, the outer shell is inmoulded to the EPS liner to add durability
as well as to improve impact dispersion in
the event of a crash. One of its key features
is its adjustable, breakaway visor, that is
designed to keep the visor in one piece
during a crash.
BIKEBIZ.COM
HERO ECO
ELECTRIC BIKE firm Hero Eco will be
bringing along models from manufacturer
A2B. Designed in e-bike hotbed Germany,
A2B sports high torque models and the
longest range of any of Hero Eco’s bikes.
The Galvani is a suburban offering
pitched as the electric bike world’s
answer to a touring bike. Offering more
range without a larger battery, the
Galvani opens up a wide range of journey
choices, designed to perform on a range
of different terrain, happy on a city street
I-RIDE
and gravel path alike. The range is up to
58 miles and sports a 250x brushless DC
hub motor.
The Ferber, meanwhile, is designed
with a more traditional sensibility. Faster,
more responsive and manoeuvrable with
wider 26-inch wheels for an upright and
comfortable ride. The range is up to 62
miles and potential customers are listed
as suburban men and women over 35
and retired types, those wishing to shift
gear everyday, among others.
ISON DISTRIBUTION
NO SHORTAGE of product available from
the i-ride stable at Core. One of the most
notable will be the brand new Argon 18
bikes and frames, completely re-designed
for 2014. Generating the most interest so
far has been the top end Gallium Pro road
frame, which will be offered in a number
of bike build options. The new Gallium Pro
has achieved a higher stiffness to weight
ratio while maintaining the highly
responsive power transfer, accurate
handling and outstanding comfort that
the Gallium Pro is known for. All this and
it only weighs 790g (frame only).
i-ride has a full new range of
Northwave shoes for 2014, including the
new Extreme Tech Plus – an advancement
from last year’s Extreme Tech with various
new features, most notably a double
speed winch instead of using an Ratchet
system. The micrometric speed winch
system represents the evolution of the
closure system to offer precision fit.
Catlike also has some eye-catching new
products like the new Mixino helmet. This
helmet is reputedly the first in the world
to feature a new material called Graphene
which is derived from graphite. Catlike
uses this material to form part of the inner
skeleton to make the helmet extremely
light and above all improves the safety by
increasing impact energy absorption. The
Mixino also features a Multi position
system for adjustments, allowing the
helmet to fit many different head shapes
and achieve maximum comfort.
MOJO
NOW IN its third year of exhibiting at
Core Bike the show is firmly at the top of
Mojo’s ‘to do’ list, it tells BikeBiz: “Core
Bike gives us a great opportunity to meet
with our dealers and discuss the finer
points of Fox Suspension. We’ll be
exhibiting the 2014 range of Fox
Suspension, including the awesome 40
Float and new Talas 5 System, along with
the class leading Float X rear shock. As
usual we’ll be there to answer all your
suspension questions and share our years
of experience. Whether it’s setup advice,
maintenance and service advice or a
thorough technical explanation you’re
looking for, please call by for a chat.”
HALO WILL be showing many new
products at Core including road discready carbon wheels, set to be a great
performance solution for riders who want
to enter the world of disc brakes for road
bikes, but also want to continue to use
rim brakes for competition as they allow
the use of both.
Halo Carbaura 6D 700c road wheels
aim to answer the increasing demand
from sportive riders looking for durability
and value in a performance Carbon Aero
wheel package. Halo chose a structural
design for the Carbaura rims over one
that uses the carbon part purely as a
fairing for aerodynamic gain as the
resultant shorter spokes on our wheels
BIKEBIZ.COM
create less vibrational noise and are less
susceptible to sending the wheel out of
true should a spoke break.
The shallow 38mm section Carbauras
provide the best performance over a
variety of course topography while the
50mm and 58mm versions provide
incrementally better gains for time trial
and triathlon, we’re told.
The Carbauras have a Structural
Carbon (3K Carbon weave) rim with
bonded Alloy clincher section and CNC
brake surfaces. Rim Options available: 38,
50 or 58mm rim depths.
Front wheels feature 20H Radial
spoking, providing a lightweight, stable
Aero structure with lateral rigidity. BIKEBIZ DECEMBER 17
ONE INDUSTRIES
ONE INDUSTRIES Europe will be arriving
with new models from all its brands with
attractive buy in packages and new dealer
pricing structures, we hear.
The new Vapor Gear has been
optimised for 2014 with a bike-specific
cut that has an improved fit and further
reduced weight. The full kit – jersey (RRP
£44.99), pants (RRP £119.99), gloves (RRP
£25.00) weighs in at only 713g (size M).
Bold new colourways have been created
on a full-length stretch fabric chassis
offering increased durability and abrasion
resistance. The Vapor gear offers creative
innovation for today’s most demanding
PALIGAP
athletes.
New from 661, the Rage full-face
helmet (RRP £139.99) has exceptional
strength to weight ratio and fresh new
graphics. The Carbon fusion shell is
packed with ventilation and features,
making the Rage ideal for Enduro where
ultimate lightweight protection is in high
demand. The Recon helmet (RRP £64.99)
gets an upgrade for 2014 with the
addition a BOA adjustment system. New
for 2014, the Rage Hard Shell Kneepad
(RRP £49.99) offers ultimate protection
with an internal hard cap and updated
graphics.
POLARIS
A NEW addition to the ever growing and
successful Polaris pod range is the Axial
Pod. This completely new development
uses a combination of the brand’s EVA
Pod and Cargo Bag to protect bikes on
their travels.
Polaris’ new Axial Pod is big enough to
take all downhill bikes and easily
swallows 29ers but, crucially, will fold
down small enough to fit under a bed
when not in use.
18 BIKEBIZ DECEMBER
PALIGAP WILL be showcasing its hot new
bike brand signing Marin. The 2014 range
will be on view at the first floor
Woodcote room.
Amongst the
models on display
will be the Attack
Trail featured in
MBUK’s
December
edition and the
award-winning
Mount Vision. The
commuter and road
markets will be served too with the likes
of the Fairfax SC3 and the Argenta. The
team from Cycleops and Powertap will be
in the Monza room presenting the new
G3 hubs and wheelsets as well as running
question and answer sessions on why
Powertap has the edge
over pedal and
crank systems.
The Cycleops
virtual training
software will also
be available to
test as well as
the full range of
Cycleops trainers
for 2014.
Dealers and press will be able to find
the distributor in the Woodcote and
Monza rooms.
SILVERFISH UK
The EVA base with adjustable bottom
bracket support protects the chain rings
and the padded 600-denier upper gives
protection to the frame and handlebars.
A large pocket inside holds a tool
pouch in which can be stored, pedals,
tools and the like whilst the larger pocket
can be used to hold smaller items or
smaller pieces of clothing. Weight is only
8.3kg and the dimensions are: 1400mm x
860mm x 250mm.
2014 SEES Race Face cement its grip on
the component market with new wheels,
pedals and new cranksets all joining the
line-up. Silverfish UK will have all of the
Race Face components on show at Core
including hardgoods, softgoods and high
performance armour. The Vancouver brand
has been testing its new 2014 Turbine
wheelset on its doorstep. The new nononsense hoops are constructed with
straight pull spokes laced to alloy hubs and
wrapped with a 6061 rim meaning they
can take on everything from XC and trail
riding right up to enduro ripping and are
priced at just £419 a pair.
Also forming part of the 2014 Race Face
line-up is also the new Race Face pedal
range. Available at two levels and price
points, the new platform offering is a
guaranteed shoe gripper whether you
decide to go with the top of the line Atlas
pedal with its sealed bearings and double
concave platform or the Aeffect pedal with
its slim construction and replaceable pins.
Race Face pedals start at £99.95.
Spanish performance clothing and rider
equipment specialist Spiuk has made an
impression in the UK and this year its
helmet and shoe ranges are seeing
particular innovation and focus. One of the
stand out products which will be on display
at Core in the Silverfish room will be the
new Dharma helmet. At £119 the lid offers
a spec list the same as helmets costing
double that price. Constructed using a
Cone-Head EPS foam moulded around a
front Super Cage, increased impact strength
and a low weight are inherent
features. With nine colours to pick from
there’s a Dharma for everyone.
BIKEBIZ.COM
10TH ANNIVERSARY
The Biggest UK
Cycle Trade Show
26th-29th JAN 2014
REGISTER NOW:
www.corebike.com
STORCK
STORCK WILL be exhibiting at Core 2014
with the complete range of 2014 Storck
road, MTBs and cycling gear. Since a new
distribution deal in April 2013, only 30 to
40 bricks and mortar IBDs in the UK have
been signed up – the brand won’t
entertain the notion of internet only or
mail order dealers.
Storck Bicycles Storck Aernario
(pictured) was voted by Germany’s Tour
Magazine as the Best Bike in The World
2013 and the rest of the range hasn’t
UPGRADE BIKES
been a stranger to excellent reviews
either. The Storck Fascenario 0.6 was
voted Best Bike in The World 2012, with
the Fascenario 0.7 voted Best Bike in The
World 2007, 2010 and 2011. Storck has a brand spanking new
website at www.stock-bicycles.cc where
customers can choose their frame and
build their bike with a variety of build
kit options. The entire 2014 range will be on
display at Core Bike Show.
WINDWAVE
BBB WILL be a star at Windwave’s Core
line-up, including the all-new BBB Patron
case for iPhone, enabling riders to safely
and securely mount their smartphone to
their bike whilst retaining full
functionality. Made from an impact
resistant polycarbonate outer shell with a
shock absorbing silicone insert, the Patron
has been designed with a slim profile so
can be used on or off the bike. The
adjustable mount can be used in both
portrait and landscape or mounted to the
bar or stem enabling you to always find a
perfect viewing or filming angle. The
20 BIKEBIZ DECEMBER
RIDING HIGH on its triple win at the
BikeBiz Awards, Upgrade will have plenty
of new product at Core, not least house
brand DMR, which will be showing revised
“Bolt” frames and new pedal models.
Kinesis UK has the new lightweight
Aithein road bike, Tripster ATR titanium
go-everywhere machine and SYNC
advanced titanium hardtail. Designer
Dom Mason will be on hand at Core to
provide the detail. Meanwhile Lezyne has
built on its LED success this winter with a
range that includes favourites like the
Femto and Zecto. At Core, however, the
focus will return more to hardware with a
new line in Digital Floor pumps and
extended small bags line as well as
signature Danny MacAskill products. Alex
Mai and Kyle Casteel from Lezyne will
attend the show.
X-Fusion suspension has received press
plaudits this year and has three new
models and Upgrade is looking to sign
more dealers up. Joel Smith will be flying
in from the US to support the show.
Pivot Cycles will be part of the main
display for Upgrade this year. Then new
Mach6 27.5 enduro bike will be star of
the show and positive early indications
for the that super high-end VaultCX bike.
Daniel Limburg from Pivot US will attend.
ISM saddles will be new at Core this
year having started with Upgrade in the
spring. Upgrade is keen to show the
benefits of this original saddle design, not
just for riders but for dealers’ business.
FREEGO WISPER
weight is only 69g and available in black
or white, (£32.95).
Another Core highlight will be Morgan
Blue and its new Cycle Care Kit,
containing everything you could need to
care for your bike. The kit consists of a
maintenance CD, 1L Mud Off, 1L Bike
Wash, 1L Chain degreaser, 125cc chain
lube, chain keeper, chain brush, sponge,
cloth and bucket. The new Cycle Care kit
has a contents value of £64.20, but it will
be offered at for a limited time for just
£42.95 RRP.
THE NEWLY amalgamated Freego Wisper
will be re-launching the Birdy folding bike
in the UK.
Small enough to fit into the boot of
any car, light enough to whisk on and off
the train and performing as well as
conventional bikes, Birdy is the iconic
high-end folding bike from Riese &
Muller, now available in the UK through
the Freego Wisper Group. Here the Birdy
is configured with Rolhoff 14 and Magura
hydraulic brakes, a folding bike deigned
for the serious cyclist. Freego Wisper will also be showing the
latest Riese and Muller offering, the
Charger. In 2013 the nimble Riese &
Muller Charger was the second electric
bike ever to have won the coveted Gold
Medal at Eurobike. This bike will be
available to test ride on the new electric
bike test circuit at Core. The company
said: “It is not surprising with bikes of this
quality now available that a reported 50
per cent of all cycle related revenue spent
in Germany and Holland last year was on
electric bikes.”
BIKEBIZ.COM
JUST ADD
YOUR BIKE
polaris-bikewear.co.uk
Kris, graphic
designer, rides
a Cervélo R5.
ANSMANN
You can visit
Ansmann’s
trade counter
in Harlow
Currency exchange
German electric bike brand Ansmann has had a big 2013, from deepening its reach into the UK to the
rising popularity of e-MTBs. BikeBiz speaks with Ansmann UK marketing manager Lenny Wood…
You’ve been at a number of shows this year
– what have been the highlights? For us, the Cycle Show was the highlight in the
UK. A fantastically well supported and well
attended show which allowed us to engage
with trade and general public all under one roof.
The e-bike test track and sponsorship of the
BikeBiz Awards both served to increase our
brand awareness and exposure as a high quality
brand cycling brand.
Have any products in particular attracted
attention at the shows? The rear motor mountain bikes have been a real
hit for us. Our initial market research had led us
to pursue the over 50 market with our trekking
and city bike designs but the national shows
have shown us that the mountain bikes are very
popular with all age groups. At the Cycle Show, our demonstration
mountain bikes were out on the test track all
day, every day for the duration of the show. The
combination of high quality components,
German engineering and the great design really
impressed.
What’s your take on the rising popularity of
the e-MTB category? We have seen great interest in the e-MTB
models and we think that a mountain bike with
torque sensor assistance is a great addition to
any off-roaders arsenal. The e-MTB gives you a
high spec bicycle designed for an off-road
environment. It is ridden like a standard
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bicycle and only supplies assistance when the
torque sensor detects the rider struggling. This
means that the off road riding experience is
virtually unaltered, save for a little assistance
where required.
We think that e-bikes are a product that
historically do not appeal to the purist, but in
the mountain bike I think even he purist can
see the benefits.
How was 2013 overall? And what are
Ansmann’s plans for 2014? 2013 was an exciting year for us, launching a
new and very unique business division to the
trade. We now have a great network of partners
on board, covering the whole of the UK.
Attending a large number of shows has also
been very beneficial. Meeting with the trade
gauging opinions on the e-bike industry and
cycling in general has been invaluable to us.
Also being able to talk directly with the public
and hear their thoughts and suggestions about
our range and what they look for in a bicycle
has been great.
With a trade network in place, 2014 will see
us more in consumer facing promotion to bring
the brand in to the spotlight with consumers
and really help support our distribution
partners. We have our eye on a number of
marketing avenues and look forward to bringing
Ansmann to the masses.
How has the OEM business been for
Ansmann this year? Which brands use
Ansmann product, if that’s not too sensitive
to reveal...?
The OEM business is taken care of by our
German head office and so we do not have
detailed information at present.
“With fuel
prices
consistantly
rising e-bikes
continue to look
like a great
alternative...”
Lenny Wood,
Ansmann
What is your take on the UK e-bike market?
Compared to some other European countries –
like Netherlands, France and Germany – the
UK has some catching up to do. This, however,
is a good thing for manufacturers as it means
the industry still has much growth potential.
With cycling in general receiving a real shot in
the arm from Olympic and Tour De France
success, e-bikes can only profit from such levels
of interest.
In addition, with fuel prices consistently
rising, e-bikes will continue to look like a
fantastic alternative method of transportation.
With London is set to deploy hundreds of ebikes on the roads next year, this suggests to us
that the UK really is cottoning on to the
electric bike revolution that is sweeping the rest
of the world. Who would bet against Boris
Johnson reaping some significant PR from such
an initiative?
What’s coming up next for Ansmann?
We are working hard on research and
development so expect a steady flow of new
products and upgrades in 2014. Bike dealers
wishing to get in touch can contact our e-bike
business manager Shaun Collins on
07917 697 748.
BIKEBIZ DECEMBER 23
CSG UK INTERVIEW
“Each year, try to get it less wrong”
Those were the parting words of former CSG UK managing director Russell Merry to the man now in
charge. Mark Sutton talks to Mark Broughton, now at the helm, about the task ahead…
You were previously in finance at CSG UK –
how did the new role come about?
I joined CSG in 2010 as finance manager. With the
steady growth of the company since then, driven
through the addition of the Cannondale brand to
the company’s portfolio, my role progressively
grew to Finance Director.
Tell us about your business life pre-CSG:
I attended Aberystwyth University – getting a
degree in accounting and finance, before joining
KPMG on their graduate training program – which
included qualifying as a Chartered Accountant in
2004. I spent most of eight years working in and
around the Midlands looking after all kinds of
different businesses from small local business to
large global companies. My specialist areas
included retail, pensions and I had various technical
accounting roles with the company. I moved to
Dorset to take a position with a local firm that
happened to be advising Hot Wheels business prior
to its sale to Dorel. The rest is history.
You’re a cyclist and a fan of the brands CSG has
– what bikes do you own?
Currently I own three bikes – I have a Cannondale
Evo Red Racing, a GT Zaskar hardtail mountain
bike and a Cannondale Bad Boy commuter.
I have two memories that have stayed with me
– from childhood it would have to be riding my
mountain bike around Western Park in Leicester
and more recently participating in the Macmillan
Dorset Ride with my wife during the summer. It
was very hot, but was great to see everyone out
there enjoying their bikes in the beautiful Dorset
countryside where we are so lucky to live.
Now you’re at the helm, perhaps you could tell
us a bit about the CSG strategy going forwards:
We are a little bit different to our main
competitors given we have a portfolio of different
brands across a broader selection of markets sold
24 BIKEBIZ DECEMBER
“We are in
negotiations
with some
exciting brands
to continue the
growth of parts,
accessories and
clothing.”
Mark Broughton,
MD, CSG UK
through multiple distribution channels. We have
a really diverse dealer network and we are
identifying those dealers who want to work with
us to grow together. Without giving too much away, we have
programmes that we will be rolling out into 2014
to help our dealers showcase our products better.
We will be launching those initiatives at The Bike
Place Show at Silverstone in January.
What challenges to CSG and the wider
business do you foresee going into 2014?
There seems to be a wider belief that the streets
are paved with gold in the cycling business. We
are seeing lots of new businesses setting up and
this obviously adds competition to existing shops
and can bring outside skills into the industry. Not
every new shop will succeed and it’s important
for us to pick the good ones to partner with. How big a part will BMX play in the business
and how are you handling the downturn?
BMX has been tough over the last nine months
in particular, which has made us restructure our
team with a dedicated phone line and staff to
make it easier for the BMX shops to buy from us.
There was definitely over stock in the market
from the big players, but we are starting to see
improvement in this situation. We have two of
the best brands around in Mongoose and
WeThePeople and we are seeing sales improve as
we start moving towards Christmas, with
deliveries sold out before they arrive. As we all know there is definitely a cyclical
nature to BMX, but we are continuing to invest in
marketing and that, coupled with the wider
business resources we have, makes us well placed
to work with our dealer base to navigate our way
through. Fortunately, we aren’t reliant on the
BMX market but as the company was founded
on BMX we certainly wouldn’t neglect it either,
especially in tougher times.
What incentives will you be offering dealers
to do business with CSG UK in future?
We know we have some strong product that
dealers want to hold in stock, but there is more
that can be done to ensure that we are the first
choice for our customers. We have invested
heavily in B2B over the last few years and have
put a lot of time and effort into our buying
processes to ensure we are improving in terms of
stock holding. Beyond this we have major plans
for developing our POS offerings for our dealers.
Any further labels joining in the year ahead?
We are currently in negotiations with some
exciting brands to add to the CSG portfolio. Our
parts, accessories and clothing business is
growing quickly and we have plans for this to
continue. Like many quality distributors we are
approached constantly by companies looking for
distribution, but everything we do has to
be complementary and beneficial.
How will you go about maintaining good
margins on your brands for trade accounts?
It’s crucial that both our dealer base and
ourselves make reasonable margins. Different
brands have different approaches to this. We
have a pretty simple approach, which is
transparent and allows everyone to understand
what they are making.
Did Russell Merry leave you with any parting
wisdom on running a firm the size of CSG?
Russell remains a good friend and I certainly
enjoyed our time working together. We are very
different in our approaches to management –
which given our different backgrounds is not
surprising. The industry in which we operate is
pretty unique and Russell’s parting words to me
were ‘Each year try and get it less wrong’. Given
the success and growth the business has seen
over the last four years this a pretty big ask. BIKEBIZ.COM
RUTLAND CYCLING
Water, water
everywhere
Rutland Cycling was singled out for praise by the bike
trade when it picked up the BikeBiz Awards Independent
Retailer 2013 gong. Jonathon Harker visits the store and
MD David Middlemiss to see what all the fuss is about…
The store has individual counters for hire, the workshop and retail sales. The Workshop counter also doubles up as a seminar
area for out of hours talks on subjects such as maintenance
26 BIKEBIZ DECEMBER
“WE’RE NOT just waiting for the customer to
come in,” Rutland Cycling managing director
David Middlemiss tells BikeBiz. A quick scan of
the list of events the shop runs confirms
exactly that, with a wealth of rides and
seminars in the calendar, all designed to lure
punters in.
As an example, for October there was a
Night Ride every Tuesday (at two of the shops),
a Mums and Tots ride every Friday (led by
Breeze champions), four ladies-only Breeze
rides and a bike maintenance class. By our
calculations, that is 14 rides and events to help
forge the store’s reputation as a hub for
cyclists. December has 13 – including a Santa
Ride where riders are encourage to come along
dressed as St Nick himself. And that’s in the
off-season.
Granted, they do have a great location for it.
When BikeBiz visits the store on a mid-week
morning in November, the retailer, perched
next to Rutland Water (you’d never have
guessed) is preparing for winter, with the hire
bike display significantly reduced down. On
your way in there’s the RockBlok climbing
centre next to the Whitwell HQ shop.
Middlemiss points out that the climbing centre
hut was the original Rutland Cycling hire shop
that opened way back in 1981. Now Rutland
Cycling is a huge outlet dwarfing the original
shack, stocking in excess of 400 bikes, umpteen
accessories and clothing lines, hosting a Bike Fit
studio, a comprehensive workshop and more.
WATER GOOD IDEA
Dave Archer, the father-in-law of BikeBiz’s host
for the day, asked Anglian Water over 30 years
ago whether it would allow him to open a bike
hire shop on the newly created Rutland Water,
which opened in ’76. It’s fair to say the water
company didn’t expect great things, but it did
grant him permission to run hire bikes around
BIKEBIZ.COM
RUTLAND CYCLING
Circling Rutland Water
is 23-miles of track
The two-level
Whitwell branch
the 23-mile track…and the rest is history.
Since growing out of that hire bike shack
into the larger footprint store over two levels
at Whitwell, the retailer opened Giant Rutland
on the south shore of Rutland Water,
revamping what was a very basic retail unit
into a slinky modern brand store, in 2010. It’s
been a sizable success, according to
Middlemiss: “Despite the shops being only a
few miles apart, the Giant store hasn’t
cannibalised the Whitwell’s store’s success.
Both have grown simultaneously.”
The retailer has also opened Grafham
Cycling, which boats 7,500 sq ft of retail space
over two floors, closer to London and also
enjoying waterside cycling facilities. Finally,
Fineshade Cycling is based in the wood of the
same name. Now three years old, this Forestry
Commission Trail Centre is joined by Rutland
Outdoor in Fineshade Wood.
SPLASHING OUT
Back at Rutland’s Whitwell HQ, the shop has
recently expanded its kids offering, with more
bikes from the likes of Frog. The shop has a
separate hire till to keep customers happy in
peak times and there’s a separate workshop
counter too, which also doubles up as the
seminar area for in-store out-of-hours talks on
maintenance and the like.
Since August, Whitwell’s bike service
customers get a free courtesy bike, with 2014
road, MTB and hybrid models on offer. Rutland
might be the only bike shop to offer this
(though let us know if they’re not). “The
customer might find that they prefer the
courtesy bike while their own bike is in the
workshop, so there’s always upgrade potential
there.” It’s about keeping up with the best
practises of the wider world of retail,
Middlemiss tells BikeBiz.
The workshop also offers a breakdown
BIKEBIZ.COM
service for cyclists who run into trouble around
Rutland Water, RAC-style.
There are seven full-time Cytech trained
workshop employees at Whitwell alone, with
more at the other venues, as well as three Fox
Shox qualified mechanics.
The maintenance classes and seminars the
shop hosts will be followed up with courses, the
retailer hopes, in a bid for further “knowledge
sharing” to benefit customers. Upstairs at the
Whitwell store is the new Bike fit area which is
one of many key changes at the shop in what
has been a big year behind the scenes.
Though it hasn’t shouted about it, Rutland
has gone through a takeover in 2013. An MBO
completed in July has seen the company
returning to the ownership of the founding
family. It’s brought about a refocus of the
business with new measures and details like
those courtesy bikes and the revamped events
calendar. The MD tells BikeBiz: “We started with
hire bikes and we’ve always been about putting
people on bikes. That’s in our DNA and we’re
putting that into the foreground post-takeover.”
The retailer has now recruited a training, ride
and event coordinator to that end.
“All the events are about explaining how fun
cycling can be and engaging with the customer.
We’re not waiting for them to come in the
door.”
The retail environment is key too: “We’re
trying to keep the excitement on the floor. We
want to be a destination store with a big
volume of product, but at the same time we
have to keep it coherent for customers in-store.
I’d like to think we’re really on that line.”
“Internally we want to show genuine
passion, provide great service and have great
products we are proud to stock. It's also about
getting everyone on board with the vision,”
Middlemiss admits.
With a keen eye on all aspects of the
“We’re an
independent
local bike
shop. We
just happen
to be quite
big.”
David
Middlemiss,
Managing
Director,
Rutland
Cycling
business and where things can be improved,
the family is also determined that the shop
moves to fit the needs of the people who come
to the site – hence the increase in kids bikes,
for example. The brands in-store have been
rationalised and the women’s range has been
ramped up, not least in the MTB sector. In fact
MTB is still absolutely key for Rutland, despite
road seeing huge growth. The boss praises the
enthusiasm of the off-road fans and cites
enthusiasm for 650B wheels sizes as being
highly encouraging. On the road side, more
steel rides are coming in, while brands like
Scott, Trek, Giant and Specialized are all
flourishing in-store.
EAU K, COMPUTER
A shift in focus online has come about postMBO too, with the family keen to avoid a ‘race
to the bottom’ discounting war. “Online is
more of a challenge,” Middlemiss says. “We
wanted to replicate the store experience online,
so we underwent a six month project with
Citrus-Lime.”
Launched in September, the store now offers
click and collect, including timescales to
manage customer expectations “a surprising
amount of customers will reserve an item then
turn up just a couple of hours later to pick it
up”. It’s one of many new offerings designed to
make it easier to convert online visits to sales.
Rutland’s vast hire fleet covers a range of
brands and everything from e-bikes and bikes
adapted for the disabled to MTBs, road bikes
and everything in between.
“We have around 78-full timers working
across the store, including 14-full time
technicians in the workshops and five Breeze
champions in the staff.
“We’re an independent local bike shop. We
just happen to be quite big.”
www.rutlandcycling.com
BIKEBIZ DECEMBER 27
PALIGAP
The Tables
are Tern-ing?
Given the recent distribution activity within Paligap’s stable, we
thought it was time for a catch up. Mark Sutton talks to David
Lane about distribution models, the fortunes of the mountain
bike market and opportunities across the UK for dealers…
Fresh Marin bikes as
seen at Interbike
WE’VE SPOTTED the Tern logo on the
website – a new deal in the offing?
There certainly is. We have been discussing the
UK distribution with Tern for a few months
now and hope to sign an agreement prior to
the year end and launch at the Core Bike show
in January. We have been working closely with
Evan’s UK to ensure a smooth transition and
they will continue to sell the brand within their
store network.
So the big talking point has been the
addition of the Marin brand – how did this
come about and what are your goals for the
label going forwards?
This happened very quickly when we met the
brand owners at the trade shows this year and
it became clear that they wanted to make a
change. We happened to be in the right place
at the right time. Marin has been a marketleading brand for 20 years or more in the UK,
but has lost their way with product and
marketing in the last two years. Paligap aims to
build the brand through our marketing and
branding along with the investment Marin are
making in product and design to assist sales in
this important market.
Are there any particular regions that you’d
be interested in signing a dealer for this
brand?
There is a strong dealer network that has been
built up over the years, but there are a number
of areas where the brand needs distribution. We
have identified Ireland and the North East as
two areas. Again, we will have a room at Core
dedicated to Marin and we actively encourage
dealers wherever they’re located to come and
chat with us as there could be opportunities
throughout the UK.
“We decided three years ago not to go into own-brand goods. Brands
come and go, but there will always be a need for a distributor...”
David Lane, Paligap
Selle San Marco also joined recently – why
should dealers be choosing this saddle brand
over some strong competition?
Selle San Marco has great brand heritage and
again we aim to build market awareness with
our marketing and brand work and also provide
dealers with attractive packages and in store
POS. We appreciate there are a number of
saddle brands that have overtaken Selle San
Marco in recent times, but they still have a
great deal of heritage and teams on the Pro
Tour using the product, the product line is
completely built in Italy, which is a sign of
great quality also.
Is there anything in particular helping
accelerate the present growth?
We are expanding our account and brand
management teams in the autumn and winter
period to support the brands we are
distributing and to support potential future
growth. 2013 has seen very decent growth
within the IBD sector.
With the investment in the label
comes fresh tech, such as the
IsoTrack suspension platform
28 BIKEBIZ DECEMBER
How many staff do you currently employ
and do you foresee new jobs being created
as new brands join?
We currently employ 26 staff and with
additional account manager we will appoint
within November this will take us to 27. If our
plans our met in the first six months of this
financial year we will be looking to recruit in
BIKEBIZ.COM
PALIGAP
MD David Lane at the
Giro d’Italia
other areas of the business in March 2014.
Look out for the trade vacancies that we will
be promoting.
You’ve quite a variety of brands covering a
wide range of budgets – is the plan to
become a comprehensive catalogue of all
things cycling – or do you have a specific
focus in mind?
We have definitely tried to build our complete
line offering so we can become more of a one
stop shop, but at the same time we do not
wish to lose the fact that we have built this
business on strong relationships with both our
customer and supplier base and see this is very
important now and moving forward.
How’s the super high-end Cipollini label
getting on the UK? Any stock opportunities
for dealers in any uncovered regions?
We are now into our third full year of building
the Cipollini brand and it is definitely gaining
momentum and attracting more dealers in the
UK. We are looking for dealers throughout the
country, so please don’t hesitate to contact
your account manager or call our office.
How’s business as a whole? Up Y-O-Y?
We are only three months into our current
financial year, but are tracking roughly the
same as last year, which taking into account
the fact we are yet to receive Marin inventory
and the drop in business with the online
players is pretty decent.
Which trade and consumer shows will you
be present at in 2014?
You’ll find us at the Core Bike show, Scottish
and Irish Trade shows in 2014.
If anything, what is Paligap doing to grow
cycling both locally and on a wider scale?
Support any athletes/events?
Paligap supports a number of local riders and
grass roots teams with a number of our brands
and we are looking at further opportunities in
the coming months. Events wise, we have
always supported a number of local events to
us, including the Ritchey Bikefest for the past
five years.
What long-term goals do you have for
Paligap?
We aim to grow our business with brands and
not move into the ‘own-branded’ route which a
number of our competitors have, which was a
decision we made three years ago, as although
brands may come and go there will be a place
for a distributor for the foreseeable future, even
though the channel to market has changed
majorly in the past three years.
Any products or trends in particular dealers
should look out for this year?
We should be weary of putting all their eggs in
the road market; the USA is already seeing a
slowdown in this sector and excess inventory.
Yes, we have the Tour and Giro on UK soil in
2014, infinite more sportive events in the
calendar, but we really see a move back to
MTB in the coming two years, it has never
gone away and the UK has received a lot of
investment in trail centres and bike parks.
BIKEBIZ.COM
BIKEBIZ DECEMBER 29
CITRUS-LIME
A twist of lime
While bike retailers wind down for winter, e-commerce and EPOS providers like Citrus-Lime are coming into
their busiest period. Jonathon Harker mops the brow of sales and project consultant Grant Hadwin…
How’s the year been? And how has it
compared with 2012? Citrus-Lime has had a great 2013, going from
strength-to-strength. We’re very close to
having a record year. We have definitely seen
an upturn in new business and existing
customers investing more in the development
of their existing systems to go multi-channel.
We’ve seen a great deal more investment from
our customer’s in multi-channel retail and
investing in areas such as Google PLA, CitrusStore Mobile and pre-orders of our new
Customer Rewards module.
While bike shops are preparing for the
quieter months over winter, this is one of
your busiest periods isn’t it?
Absolutely, we always see an influx of business
towards the end of the summer as they
prepare to change and update systems over the
quieter months of winter. Although due to the
warm start to autumn we have seen our
customers being a bit busier than usual at this
time of year. We always try to get the message
across when we are speaking to prospective
and existing customers alike – if you want to
commit to a large business operations project
the best time to do it is over the quieter
months. This isn’t always possible but with any
IT project, planning and working with industry
specialists is the key to a successful rollout.
30 BIKEBIZ DECEMBER
“Customer
rewards allows
the retailer to
reward loyalty
without
discounting...”
Grant Hadwin,
Citrus Lime
You’re going to be launching Customer
Rewards at Core Bike. Can you tell us about
that and how it will help bike shops
convert sales? Our new Customer Rewards Module is going
to tighten up the integration between instore and online and it allows our retailers to
give something back to their customers whilst
working within the best interest of both
retailers and the industry as a whole. We
always encourage our clients to stay clear of
heavy discounting as it can affect the brands
and give the perception of being a discount
store. By using the Customer Rewards module
it allows the retailer to reward the customer
for their loyalty without giving discounts on
all items. The module is unique as it allows
the customer to earn points based on spend
(the rate of which is set by the retailer) and
these points can be spent both in store and
online. The customer will also gain access to
www.customer-rewards.co.uk where they can
check their points balance if the retailer does
not have a Citrus-Lime Ecommerce store.
Did the partnership with Bike Rental
Manager come about with more bike shops
offering hire bikes? Can you fill us in on
how Citrus-Lime has linked up with BRM?
We have been speaking to Doug at Bike
Rental Manager for a while now and are big
fans of the product. So when one of our
clients began using the product and liked it,
we looked into developing a partnership.
Now we are happy to be in the early
stages of working together and we can
offer a hire module as part of our retail
solution which already boasts dynamic
integration to suppliers, Workshop Module,
integrated ecommerce, multi-site Click and
Collect, Citrus-Store Mobile, eBay and
Amazon modules.
You’ve put together some high profile
launches with the likes of Rutland Cycling’s
new site. Can you fill us in on any other
recent Ecommerce launches/news? Yes, we have recently launched Rutland on to
the Citrus-Lime Ecommerce platform which
has been highly successful for all parties
involved. We have also launched Cycles UK’s
Click and Collect Site, revamped Rat Race
Adventure, E-Outdoor, Behind the Bike Shed,
and a number of other projects including
many more Citrus-Store Mobile projects. If
you want to check out our latest Citrus-Store
Mobile offering go to
www.rutlandcycling.com on your smartphone
and it will automatically jump to CitrusStore Mobile.
Citrus-Lime: 0845 603 9254
www.citruslime.com
BIKEBIZ.COM
THE INDEPENDENT CYCLE TRADE SHOW
THE CYCLE TRADE SHOW ARRANGED BY INDEPENDENT
DISTRIBUTORS FOR THE BENEFIT OF THE DEALERS
SILVERSTONE
26,27,28th JANUARY 2014
SILVERSTONE CIRCUIT WING | 9.30AM - 6PM
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FOR MORE INFORMATION AND REGISTRATION DETAILS PLEASE VISIT
WWW.THEBIKEPLACESHOW.CO.UK
ü* ŏ1/ŏ+*ŏ03%00!.ŏĮ%'!(!$+3
THE BIKE PLACE PREVIEW
Fresh rubber and
much more is
expected from Eclat
A Bigger Bike Place
Now well established on the trade calendar, Silverstone will once again host The Bike Place
come January 26th through 28th. Mark Sutton talks to show organiser Sean Reynolds about
expanding into a larger hall, adding a mountain bike track and hosting over 100 cycling labels…
WITH PLANS to house over 30 cycling
distributors, the Bike Place show has come a
long way in the three years since its debut
exhibition. Having revealed a guest list that
includes the likes of the Cycling Sports Group,
Triton Imports and Velobrands, over 100 labels
are expected to be represented, with many
showing product to retailers for the first time.
Overlooking the Silverstone circuit, the
hangar housing the show this year will be
noticeably larger in order to accommodate all
those signed up, with room to spare for a
ShoreTrax portable MTB demo track. There may
also be an opportunity to go for a spin on the
track itself, though this is still to be confirmed.
Without further ado, let's have a look at a
selection of the product that'll be on show.
Pacenti has now
found a home
with Evolution
imports
Greenover
This will be the first time Greenover has taken
Rocky Mountain to Silverstone, but that's not
all. The firm has told BikeBiz that it will be
introducing a brand called Wishbone Design,
who is known for its wooden balance bikes.
Thanks to a modular construction, the bowed
frame can flip, handily raising the saddle height
as the child grows, as well as turning into a
trike, should a bit more balance assistance be
required by the rider.
R53 Sport
Returning for a second year, R53 is anticipating
a big year with Pyga Bikes having scored
numerous positive reviews in the consumer
press. At the Bike Place show R53 is expected
to launch two more new models, the Pyga
Pascoe (140mm 650B) and Pyga Zero, a 650B
32 BIKEBIZ DECEMBER
carbon hardtail frame, with the same 'fun and
fast' geometry.
A fresh version of the extremely popular ICE
dropper post is also set for launch at the show,
dubbed the V8 Deluxe. A newly-designed
remote lever, with a more precise function
make up the changes, while the retail price
actually decreases.
GearMechHanger.com
With over 300 replacement hangers now in its
catalogue, gearmechhanger.com claims to now
be the UK's largest supplier of CNC machined
frame spares.
To be introduced at the show, the
engineering firm will reveal a workshop box
containing all of the best-selling hangers, ideal
for backing up the numerous brands that you
may carry in store.
Cycling Sports Group
In its debut year at Silverstone, Cycling Sports
Group is expected to bring along Mongoose,
Eclat, Charge, Salt, Fuse, GT and Cannondale for
the ride.
Expect to see some of the many
developments that have been brewing with
high-end BMX label Eclat, including fresh
coloured tyres, the beefy Maverick cranks and
perhaps the recently spotted Eclat Blind
freecoaster hub.
Evolution
Expect plenty of eye catchers from Evolution,
with products like the limited edition turquoise
Chris kind hub, headset and bb shells. Delivery of
some of these sought after parts will land in the
UK during mid-January in time for the show.
BIKEBIZ.COM
THE BIKE PLACE PREVIEW
NEED TO KNOW
Opening Times
26th Jan 2014 – 9.30am-6pm
27th Jan 2014 – 9.30am-6pm
28th Jan 2014 – 9.30am-6pm
Postcode for SatNav: NN12 8TN
The show will be catered and Wi-Fi will be
free to guests.
Pyga is perfroming under
R53’s guidance and will
show once again
GearMechHanger.com
stocks over 300
spares
Ti hardtail
goodness from
Stanton bikes
The Bike Place will also be an early
opportunity to check out the newly added
Pacenti rims line, with which Evolution are
offering wheelbuild packages alongside
Chris King hubs.
Gigapower
With a new brake pad designed specifically
for carbon fibre wheels on the way,
Gigapower will be worth a visit for the
high-end road retailer in particular.
A specially formulated brake pad for
electric bikes is also set to debut alongside
two new counter top display stands to
support stockists.
BIKEBIZ.COM
Stanton Bikes
Derbyshire’s Stanton Bikes will displaying its
line of steel and titanium hardtail frames.
Having made the Dirt 100 with the Slackline
853 in 2011, the company has since gone on
to develop further frames, which are available
to retail stockists with an interest in fine
handmade product.
Complete builds, such as an XT spec Ti
Slackline and a new dirt build, both of which
have been noted in the most recent Dirt 100
will be on show. Though the pick of the bunch,
we’re told, will be the introduction a new
XC/trail 29er frame, dubbed the Sherpa and
made from Reynolds 853. There will also be a
650b gravity enduro frame called the
Switchback launched at the exhibition.
ByoCycles
Finally, one for the e-curious or e-savvy
retailers out there, ByoCycles will be exhibiting
its wares.
With components sourced from only the
most reliable industry manufacturers,
ByoCycles are building confidence into its line,
which now includes a folding bike.
The Bike Place will be perhaps the first
showing of the new Zest 26-inch, offering
pedal assistance delivered by a 250w brushless
geared motor and 36v 9ah li-ion battery.
Registration for the show is now live at
www.thebikeplaceshow.co.uk
BIKEBIZ DECEMBER 33
#THE
NEW GT
If you hadn’t heard, GT is back with a bang - making great bikes
and winning World Championships, again.
Come and see us at The Bike Place Show at the Silverstone race
circuit 26-28th Jan 2014 to see a great range of bikes, an innovative
new ’shop in shop’ program and maybe meet a World Champion…
GTBICYCLES.COM/THENEWGT
SHOWING AT THE BIKE PLACE SHOW, SILVESTONE, 26-28TH JANUARY 2014
REVIEW OF THE YEAR
Review of
the Year
Post-Olympics the interest in cycling has
remained stratospheric, but have the fortunes
of the cycle trade? Jonathon Harker charts the
ups and downs of 2013…
Was the popularity of e-mountain bikes the surprise of
2013? We and many of the distributors we talked to didn’t
foresee the UK public taking to them in such a big way
Battle of 2013:
Fisticuffs in Florence
Statistic of the
year: £1billion
It was a heated run-up to the UCI
presidency election between
incumbent Pat McQuaid and British
Cycling boss Brian Cookson, but
eventually Cookson emerged
victorious at the Congress in Florence.
Cookson won with 24 votes to 18
and the backing of a host of key
names, from Sir Dave Brailsford and
Sir Chris Hoy to, er, BikeBiz. It is hoped
that under Cookson’s stewardship the
UCI will be more respondent to the
bicycle industry.
London yet again grabbed the headlines
in March when Mayor Boris Johnson and
London ‘cycling czar’ Andrew Gilligan
(appointed this year) announced £913
million would be spent over ten years to
make London more cycle friendly.
The plans included a substantially
segregated ‘Crossrail for the bicycle’
running to Canary Wharf from the
western suburbs. It all began to make the
£77m national total dedicated to cycling
look a bit paltry, now we think of it. But
even if you’re not London-based, it’ll only
One to watch:
Decathlon
The French sports retail giant followed up its ‘100
stores in the UK in ten years’ plans with the opening of
its first UK distribution centre. The 190,000 square foot
Northamptonshire warehouse is an ex-Tesco site and
also this year, in lesser but no less signficiant news, the
firm held its first press conference in the UK for a bike
range launch – B’Twin road 2014 at its East London
HQ). We’ve said it before, but watch this Decathlonshaped space…
BIKEBIZ.COM
Misleading headline
of the year:
Eurobike closes
doors for the
last time
Ending years of confusion for the easily, er, confused,
Eurobike (the distributor, not the show) closed its
doors for the last time in August. Fortunately, it was
under happy circumstances with the team – as well as
brands Moda and American Classic – joining the
nearby Moore Large family. The move is part of a
significant plan for Moore Large, which said it plans to
double its turnover inside the next five years.
http://tinyurl.com/eurobikeclosesdoors
be a matter of time before the pro-cycle
culture eeks out of the capital into local
councils. Provided Mr Johnosn is as good
as his word…
Top Online Stories
of the Year
1. Road rager let off ‘cos of police rules suffers from
Twitter attacks
2. Jeremy Clarkson buys bike, urges normal people to
follow his example
3. No lycra? You’re nicked, son
4. ‘Get out and ride for me,’ says Michael Bonney
5. Labour MP who called cyclists law breakers is
busted for running a red
6. Martyn Ashton’s injuries are life changing
7. Government to create Office for Active Travel to
get Brits out of cars
8. Second edition of anti-theft bike tracker launched
9. Tour de France 2014 route revealed
10. Advice on becoming an IBD
BIKEBIZ DECEMBER 35
REVIEW OF THE YEAR
Ireland and
Yorkshire
IT WAS A
GOOD YEAR
FOR…
IT WAS A
BAD YEAR
FOR…
Bike crime
Ireland, Northern Ireland and God’s own county scored
coups in 2013, bagging Grand Tour stages for 2014. The
Grande Partenza of Giro d’Italia 2014 will run across
Belfast, Armagh and Dublin in May 2014 for the 104th
edition of the race. And as 2012 became 2013, it was
revealed Yorkshire would host the Tour de France 2014,
starting in Leeds for the Grand Depart, rolling through
Ripon and Harrogate, York, Sheffield and then down
south to Cambridge and the Mall in London. If you
haven’t already checked if your bike shop is on or near
the routes to find out whether you need to get the
bunting out, there’s still time.
Golf
Remember golf? Businessmen used to make deals on
the golf course, apparently. You know, back when the
likes of Silicon Valley tech executives from the likes of
Google or Yahoo didn’t saddle up to seal deals. Hard to
believe now, but there was a time that huge business
deals – like this year’s Vodafone/Verizon deal (the third
biggest deal in history) – weren’t secured with CEOs
riding (or even spinning) alongside each other.
Executives of the world, it’s time to swap those carbon
clubs for a carbon frame, if you haven’t already.
Cycle to Work
While there’s always question marks over its long term
future, cycle to work had a good 2013. In February,
HMRC confirmed that Cycle to Work tax breaks could
be used for ‘safety equipment only’ packages, with a
£100 minimum. While the benefits of that will
probably take a while to filter through to retail, the
Cycle to Work Alliance revealed that the number of
commuters taking to their bikes – and using C2W –
had grown 22.5 per cent in Q2 2013. Q1 saw a 19.3
per cent increase.
As if that wasn’t enough, the first Cycle to Work Day
in September saw commuters pledge to ride a
whopping 257,000 miles to work. Encouragingly, over
300 bike shops took part in the initiative.
Office for Active
Travel
Remember that hotly anticipated cross-departmental
body announced in June? We’re still waiting for it sadly.
The Office for Active Travel was reportedly to have a
£1bn budget to boost pedestrian and cycle facilities
and cut down obesity, congestion, Co2 emissions…but
it was scotched at the last minute. And seemingly in
favour of more spending on the roads. We can only
hope the Treasury is sitting on a gold mine so the NHS
is still running in a couple of decades.
…Or attempted bike crime. This year our phone and
email rung/pinged off the hook with reports of
scammers impersonating bike shops, placing false
orders and then arranging for (unwitting) couriers to
pick up the bikes and deliver them into their hands,
with the impersonated shop none the wiser. While
many of these attempts were relatively sophisticated –
using the correct staff names and even headed paper –
bike distributors proved wise to the scam and didn’t
lose out on any stock...as far as we heard.
36 BIKEBIZ DECEMBER
BIKEBIZ.COM
REVIEW OF THE YEAR
Baristas
MBUK
IBDs
Coffee: As a nation we can’t get enough of it – just
look at the number of Costa, Starbuck, Nero and
independent coffee shops on your local High Street
(CoffeeBiz, anyone?) but the UK bicycle industry has
been getting in on the act in a big way too. For every
two ‘new bike shop openings’ we seem to get one that
includes a coffee/bar element. There’s a joke in here
about stimulants and cyclists, but there’s also a serious
point about wise shops building up a sense of
community around their retail offering. If you’ve
already got a cycle club attached to your shop, what
about investing in a decent coffee machine too?
25 years in the print and cycle business is nothing to
be sniffed at and Mountain Biking UK (MBUK)
celebrated its quarter century this year. Tym Manley
and Chris Turner launched the title in 1988 and the
current team celebrated with a bumper edition of the
mag included a guide to the 100 best bits of bike
bling ever. They also got a willing volunteer to ride a
bike out of a plane at 6,000ft. Hope his suspension
was up to the job.
Anecdotally, BikeBiz has received more reports of bike
shops opening in 2013 than ever, but are the streets
of Britain really seeing more and more IBDs
launching? Turns out you don’t have to take our word
for it – according to stats from the Local Data
Company, independent bike shops have grown four
per cent in the top 500 town centres over the first
half of 2013. The data company, together with the
British Independent Retailers Association, found a 13
per cent net rise in independent bicycle retail
numbers in the first half of 2013.
Privateer
Steady financials
26-inch MTBs
…or should that be the mountain bike magazine
reading public? This year Gruppo Media announced it
would be shelving the acclaimed MTB mag Privateer
indefinitely. Issue 18, out on November 15th, was the
final issue (for now at least) with Gruppo
concentrating on sister mag Rouleur. We haven’t put
our copy of the last issue on eBay, honest.
The weather has been all over the place this year,
skewing financial results the trade-over. A harsh
prolonged winter followed by the best summer in
years has given forecasters of weather and bike sales
alike an unenviably tough time. The likes of Tandem
Group, Halfords, Evans Cycles and many more that
don’t share their financial stats all cited those spates of
harsh weather over 2012/2013 as hitting their
financials negatively. Happily, the summer seems to
have redressed the balance for many. The poor weather
of 2012 also hit events in 2013, with the York Cycle
Show facing cancellation after an off-puttingly rainsoaked event last year put off some potential
exhibitors (though it’s hoped to return next year).
A contentious one this, but one prime cycle retailer
told us that the market had been reluctant to jump
aboard the 29er trend initially, but there was no such
similar reticence with 650B, which UK consumers have
been giving the enthusiastic thumbs up to. All of which
seems to mean the humble 26-inch wheeled MTB
stalwart is set to move down the pecking order. If you
disagree let us know at BikeBiz@intentmedia.co.uk
BIKEBIZ.COM
BIKEBIZ DECEMBER 37
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TAIPEI CYCLE SHOW
Yih-Jyh Kang, exec
director of exhibition
department, TAITRA
Exporting ideas
Where can you get a first look at forthcoming products,
ideas, trends in the cycle industry? Taipei Cycle Show is
undoubtedly one of the best places to start. Jonathon
Harker delves into next year’s show for an early glance at
what the bike trade will look like in 2014 and beyond…
BIKEBIZ.COM
“We’re
expecting to
see designs to
meet the needs
of different
groups of the
cycle
population.”
FEW GLOBAL trade show have the
sheer clout of Taipei Cycle Show, set in
the heart of the world’s cycle
manufacturing industry, where demand
for space at the significant show far
outstrips supply.
The show is put on by TAITRA
(Taiwan External Trade Development
Council) which is keen to develop its
already ample international reach.
BikeBiz speaks with TAITRA’s executive
director of the exhibition department
Mr. Yih-Jyh Kang about plans for the
show, the state of exports to the UK
and Europe and the trends you can
expect to see from the pivotal event…
BIKEBIZ DECEMBER 39
TAIPEI CYCLE SHOW
How successful was Taipei Cycle Show this
year? The Taipei Cycle Show, in its 26th year in 2013,
brought together 1,103 exhibitors from 36
different countries, using 3,289 booths (58,000
sqm). As the trend towards Lifestyle of Health
and Sustainability (LOHAS) gains even greater
attention globally, the show attracted in total
7,179 international visitors coming from 107
countries and areas, growing 11.3 per cent in
comparison with 2012.
You grew the latest show by extending the
exhibition area. Will Taipei Cycle 2014 grow
again or be approximately the same in size? In recent years, the demand for space at the
Taipei Cycle has far outstripped the supply. To
accommodate more exhibitors, the show is held
both at TWTC Nangang Exhibition Hall and at
TWTC Hall 1 since 2012. The 2014 Taipei Cycle
will continue this arrangement, but the show will
be approximately the same size as 2013, as
TWTC Hall 1 is also out of available space.
However, this crunch is about to be relieved by
the completion of Nangang Exhibition Hall 2,
expected by mid-2016.
What kind of trends can we expect to see at
Taipei Cycle Show 2014? Cycling is now becoming a part of daily life, and
personalised accessories, high-tech products,
stylish sportswear are becoming integral parts of
cycling. And in the coming Taipei Cycle Show, we
expect to see advances in material durability
and weight, as well as different designs to meet
the needs of different groups of cycling
population, such as for bicycles for commuters in
urban areas.
Innovative ideas and designs do not only
originate from name brands, Taipei Cycle also
highlights growing number of small and medium
enterprises (SMEs) devoted to innovation in the
cycle industry. For instance, in 2014, 60
companies are first time participants, making
Taipei Cycle the best venue to discover new
ideas and new suppliers.
At Taipei Cycle buyers will see how Taiwan
cycle industry is joining hand with other Taiwan
industries that are also highly competitive
globally, including information and
communication technology. An example is
Darfon, an off-shoot of BenQ Group known for
Key names from the Far East
bike market regularly exhibit at
Taipei Cycle
40 BIKEBIZ DECEMBER
its consumer electronics products, has developed
electric control system for e-bike.
How have the d&i Awards grown? In the past
European companies have been slow to take
part, so has that changed?
Yes, indeed. The Taipei Cycle d&i Awards is
quickly becoming a hallmark for design &
innovation in the cycle industry in Asia. One of
the winners of the Gold Award in 2013 was
Hamax from Norway. In comparison with the
same period last year, the number of entries for
the 2014 competition has grown eight per cent.
The deadline of the registration will be on
December 20, and we look forward to more
high-quality entries.
How strong is Taiwan’s export market to the
UK and Europe at the moment? Taiwan exported 2.85 million units in the first
three quarters of 2013, with average unit price
increasing 7.65 per cent, from US$399.89 to
US$430.47.
EU is the largest export market for Taiwan
bicycles. During the first three quarters of this
year, EU accounted for 51.52 per cent (app.1.47
million units) of all Taiwan bicycle export in
volume, and 40.39 per cent (app. US$495
million) in value.
Also in the first three quarters of 2013, UK is
the third biggest export market for Taiwan
bicycles globally, accounting for 9.71 per cent
(approx. US$119 million) of total export in value,
a 5.78 per cent growth comparing with the same
period last year.
What is the ambition for Taipei Cycle Show
over the next five years? Taipei Cycle is planning for future expansion with
the completion of Nangang Exhibition Hall 2,
which is located right next to Hall 1. By then we
expect to have more than 5,300 booths (approx.
100,000 sqm). On the basis of a platform for
high-end and added value bicycle products, we
will continue to work with Coliped and UBI
France to organise European Pavilions.
Meanwhile, efforts will also be devoted to market
in Asia, to encourage more Asian buyers and
exhibitors to attend our show, including forming
country pavilions and trade delegations. Through
all these means, we hope to make Taipei Cycle a
complete global bicycle sourcing platform.
A second exhibition hall
will be complete in 2016,
relieving the space
crunch at the show
“The EU is the
largest export
market for
Taiwan
bicycles.”
Further expansion in LEV Exhibits and
other exhibit domains is expected too: As
global cycling population increases, the
development of LEV (light electric vehicles)
steadily advances. LEVs are particularly
favoured not only by seniors, but also by
younger generation to cope with the lack of
parking space in urban areas, rising
petroleum price, as well as to combat global
warming. The recent Navigant Research
pointed out that global sales of LEV will
increase from 630 million Euros in 2013 to
810 million Euros in 2020, growing 28.6 per
cent. When the new hall is completed, Taipei
Cycle will enlarge its LEV Pavilion, and
exhibits on other products, technology and
services for cycling. Clothing and footwear,
accessories and high-tech electronic devices
for cyclists are other domains that we will
expand in the future.
Why should the UK cycle trade come to
Taipei Cycle Show 2014? Taipei Cycle Show gathers high-end
manufacturers that provide high quality
products with reasonable prices for all
aspects of cycling. Buyers can meet highpotential partners from Taiwan and different
parts of the world at Taipei Cycle, and then
actually visit manufacturing sites clustered
around Taichung.
In 2014 the show is teamed up with
three other shows on sports, namely TaiSPO
(the Taipei International Sporting Goods
Show), SPOMODE (The Taipei International
Sports Textile & Accessory Expo and DiWas
(the Taiwan International Diving and Water
Sports Show). Together, these shows offer a
large variety of sports products including
bicycles, fitness equipment, sports clothing
and accessories as well as products and
equipment for swimming, diving and water
sports. 1,500 exhibitors occupying over
5,000 booths will participate in Asia’s
largest sports equipment event, to create
the most convenient platform for sourcing
from Asia.
Taiwan is also rapidly developing the
infrastructure for cycling, including building
over 50 bicycle lanes around scenic areas.
We also cordially invite our visitors to spend
some time cycling here, and enjoy the
beauty of Taiwan.
www.taipeicycle.com.tw
BIKEBIZ.COM
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42 BIKEBIZ DECEMBER
BIKEBIZ.COM
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It’s time the cycle world tried to resist
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THE ELECTRIC bike market has seen
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usage in the UK, but a UK Research
Councils-funded report is set to shed
accurate light on the sector in May 2014.
The research is concentrating on two
areas: whether electric bikes have the
potential to appeal to a wider range of
people than conventional cycling, and
whether those with the opportunity to
use an electric bike start cycling or cycle
more than previously.
Raleigh is working with the team that
is producing the in-depth three-year
study. That team incudes the University of
Brighton – working with Transport
Research Laboratory (TRL) and the
University of Ulster, in partnership with
Brighton & Hove City Council and Bupa
International.
The project is seeing trials with
members of the public and trials
conducted with two major employers.
INITIAL RESULTS
Significant numbers of staff at both
employers (40 per cent) said they were
interested in borrowing an e-bike and
“75 per cent said
they would cycle to
work at least once a
week with an electric
bike.”
since then 40 employees at the first
employer borrowed e-bikes in two waves,
with another 40 using them this year.
Those borrowing bikes are asked to
complete before-and-after surveys, and to
complete short interviews at the bike
hand-back, while some are involved in
longer interviews, and/or ride-along
observation. Hard data is being created
too – a monitoring system has been
developed called SEMS (Smart E-bike
Monitoring System) to provide precise
information about bike useage, distance
travelled, the speeds achieved, time spent
on the bike, bike location, e-bike power
setting used, etc.
The data will be analysed when the
final trials are completed, but early
indications are encouraging for electric
bike usage. 63 per cent of the 2012 trial
participants reported that they cycled
more during the trial (with, for example,
one trial participant going from not
cycling to cycling 450 miles in ten weeks).
A spokesperson said: “There is some
evidence that having an e-bike available
would encourage more sustained
behaviour change – 75 per cent reported
that they would cycle to work at least
one day a week ‘if they had an e-bike
available’. Moreover, there is some
suggestion that the trial could lead to
longer term behaviour changes anyway –
at the end of their bike loan, 25 per cent
participants said that they expected to
cycle more after the trial compared with
pre-trial, some described new plans for
cycling to work, and some discussed
purchase of an e-bike.”
www.trl.co.uk
Lapierre makes MTB accessible to everyone
Both hardtail and fullsuspension versions of
the Overvolt are
available to stock
BIKEBIZ.COM
FIRST SPOTTED at Eurobike, the Lapierre’s
Overvolt electric mountain bike is now
being officially launched to the trade for
pre-orders.
Tapping into the UK’s burgeoning eMTB market, the Overvolt uses a brand
new 400W Bosch Performance pedalassist motor that integrates into the
aluminium frame. Promising to balance
assistance and manual pedalling to
provide the exact power required to
tackle all types of terrain, the Overvolt
uses the Lapierre Nico Vouilloz-designed
handlebar and Schwalbe tyres.
According to Lapierre, the Overvolt
makes mountain biking accessible to
everyone and is a bike that is “first and
foremost a real MTB that is fun to ride”.
The Overvolt comes in two versions:
full suspension (140mm travel front and
rear, 21.8kg) and hardtail (120mm travel,
20.2kg).
“It’s the very best of MTB technology
with the latest electronic assistance
technology,” the firm said.
Hotlines: 0131 319 1444
DECEMBER BIKEBIZ 45
Sponsored by
ELECTRIC BIKES
Shimano steps into e-bike market
By Jonathon Harker
Shimano’s Steps drive components
IN 2014 Shimano will launch a new
groupset made especially for e-bikes,
called Steps. It will be a totally
integrated offering, from drive unit to
battery, front gear set, cycle computer
and chain, with components designed to
work best as part of the full group. The
battery has a 418Wh capacity, takes four
hours for a complete charge and comes
in two placement options – a rear carrier
type and a down tube alternative
Initial delivery to OEM is planned for
August 2014 and Steps will be able to
integrate with Shimano’s Di2 internal
hub gears.
Shimano Europe managing director
Frank Peiffer said: “The e-bike market is a
new segment for Shimano. Our service
to the OEMs, dealers and consumers is
key at the introduction of our Steps. That
is why we chose for a phased approach.
The pilot project is a limited quantity in
a limited sales channel…if we are
convinced the product works, we expand
it further to other players in Germany
and the rest of Europe.”
cycle.shimano-eu.com
OPINION: Let’s stop using the ‘c’ word
“How better to be
out and about,
independent and
energised...”
Ray Wookey, Cycling
Made Easy
46 BIKEBIZ DECEMBER
FIRSTLY I have to say I
have an axe to grind. I
run a specialist business
selling electric bikes. To
really get things on the
table let’s set the scene.
Sale of e-bikes is the fastest growing
sector in the UK bike industry. In
Germany one in every three full sized
bikes sold is an e-bike. Over 50 per cent
of the bike industry turnover in the
Benelux countries is attributed to power
assisted bikes. So this is not a fringe ‘fad’
thing for sad old people who can’t make
an effort or are past being able to ‘do it
right’. E-bikes are here, are growing and
are in use, like mobile phones, shopping
centres, emails and tablets.
I will run through a much-heard
script…
-“I sell electric bikes”
-“That’s cheating isn’t it?”
-“Not really. Do you cycle and if so do
you enjoy it?”
-“Yes.”
-“Regularly? When did you last cycle?”
-“Well not much this year”
-“Last year?”
You find that the alleged keen cyclist,
keen to dismiss electric bikers as ‘cheats’
doesn’t cycle at all and hasn’t for many
years. They often carry a fair bit of
weight and could do with exercise, any
exercise, urgently.
So who benefits from electric bikes?
Anybody. Even keen road or mountain
bikers have other halves who are
reluctant to cycle, but would welcome e
assist. In this way the keenie can have
cycling away breaks, days out, family
outings, etc, and not feel guilty about
going off and doing their own thing.
E-bikes enable people to rediscover
cycling, reduce commuting cost and get
around day-to-day for shopping, visiting
friends or popping down to the pub.
There is no ‘stigma’ and do not need
apology and shame attached. How better
than to be out and about, independent
and energised sooner than sit in front of a
TV, sit in a car, bus or train? Please do not
damn the category and users as the
people who buy, use and enjoy e-bikes.
They are savvy, out there and enjoy them.
These days they also look cool and are
brimful of clever technology which
enables you to benefit from as much or as
little e assist as you need. Pedal as normal
with no assist on flat terrain then choose
for more when you get on a more severe
hill. The e power pedal assist enables you
to flatten your ride but still get the benefit
and exhilaration of exercise.
If someone is a lapsed cyclist or
carries a niggling injury e-bikes are ideal
for getting going again and rediscovering
the joys of cycling – without the barriers
and pain. ‘Real’ cyclists boast of miles
covered, equipment, bought and tales
of daring do. These active fit cyclists
may not be the primary market for
electric bikes but their scathing
dismissiveness of electric bikes is
damaging and (dare I say it) comes from
a form of sheer arrogance.
There I have got it off my chest. The ebike put downer (snob) does not exist on
the continent. Mum, Dad, Grannie,
Grandpa, daughter, son, Aunty, Uncle and
even the dog and playgroup children all
use bikes. They are fitter, lighter, have
more vitality and save money on their
travels. No cars to park, no petrol,
maintenance, insurance, depreciation...
I love it when people say “it’s
cheating” because then I am able to let
them have it with both barrels. When I
have finished my rant they probably still
have their views and think of the shame
and difficulty of declaring that they have
“one foot in the grave” if they bought an
electric bike. Funnily when they try an
e-bike they say: “I didn’t think it would
be as good as this”. An electric bike
cannot be imagined only experienced.
Go on, make my day!
Ray Wookey runs Cycling Made Easy, a
specialist independent electric bike
store based in Coulsdon, Surrey.
t. 020 8660 8823
e. ray.wookey@cyclingmadeeasy.co.uk
w. www.cyclingmadeeasy.co.uk
BIKEBIZ.COM
BIKEBIZ.COM
DECEMBER BIKEBIZ 47
OUTDOOR & FITNESS
The guide to the wider outdoor industry news, products, announcements and events
EMPLOYERS CALLED ON
FOR OUTDOOR SURVEY
Outdoors sector
staffers surveyed
UK Skills Active is working on a UKwide outdoor industry report and
needs the help of employers working
in the outdoor sector...
Blacks joins London super
show in February (p50)
Water To Go’s re-usable ‘filter
in a bottle’ is seeking retailers
across more sectors (p51)
ENTS • SAILING
V
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•
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IN
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RUNNING
BING • T
•
IM
G
L
C
IN
•
M
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IM
O
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W
S
H
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•
IPMENT • TRIAING • CAMPING • WALKING QUIPMENT • TRIATHLON
U
Q
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•
G
IN
H
T
O
E
D
CL
& SNOWBOAR
WBOARDING
• CLOTHING •
SURFING • SKI BA • KAYAKING • CAVING G • SURFING • SKI & SNO ING • CAVING
DIVING • SCU RAINING • EVENTS • SAILIN G • DIVING • SCUBA • KAYAK • CLOTHING
TS • SAILING • WALKING
N
CLIMBING • T LKING • SWIMMING • RUNNIN
E
V
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•
G
IN
IN
MING
G • TRA
CAMPING • WA
UNNING • SWIM
LON • CLIMBIN
PMENT
OUTDOOR & FITNESS
Blacks joins London super show
Retailer to run 400sqm store at The Telegraph Outdoor Adventure & Travel Show, February 13th to 16th
By Jonathon Harker
BLACKS OUTDOOR Retail has been
drafted in to run the official Outdoors
Store at The Telegraph Outdoor Adventure
& Travel Show, which runs alongside the
London Bike Show and the Triathlon Plus
Show in February.
The whopping 400sqm Outdoors Store
is new for 2014 and has been created as
one of six zones that can be found within
the Telegraph Outdoor Adventure & Travel
Show. The partnership with Blacks
Outdoor Retail means that visitors will get
a ‘real in-store experience’ at the show,
complete with all-important trained staff.
A number of brands will be retailed in
the store, including Jack Wolfskin, The
North Face, Berghaus, Montane, Scarpa,
Craghoppers and Osprey.
“We’re delighted to be working with
Blacks Outdoor Retail Ltd this year,”
enthused Geraldine Reeve, group show
director for show organiser VOS Media.
“The partnership will allow our visitors to
browse and buy a whole range of gear in
one place within the show which adds to
the fantastic visitor experience we’re
creating. We are always aiming to
improve the show and listening to
customer feedback is key in doing this.”
“Visitors want a retail
store in the show.”
Ken Reeve, Blacks
Ken Reeve, chief exec of Blacks
Outdoor Retail, added: “Our partnership
with the show allows us to position
ourselves in front of over 50,000 engaged
visitors. We know visitors want a retail
store within the show and we are happy
to provide them with one. We will bring a
range of top brands and the latest gear,
but our staff are polite, helpful and
experienced in helping visitors find
exactly what they are looking for.”
Blacks is now owned by JD Sports
following a £20million takeover last year.
telegraphoutdoorshow.co.uk
Employers called on for outdoor survey
Mid-December deadline for firms to take part in ‘the only comprehensive UK outdoor industry report’
By Jonathon Harker
A DIVERSE range of outdoor employers
are being called on to take part in a
SkillsActive UK-wide survey.
Billed as the only comprehensive
outdoors industry survey in the UK,
SkillsActive and its sector organisations
are calling for participants to complete
the survey in order to collect vital
information and feedback for sector
development before the mid-December
deadline.
The survey aims to highlight trends,
needs and opportunities as well as other
areas of potential progression for the UK
outdoors industry sector, aiming to ensure
that growth and development will always
be on the rise. General organisational data
will be covered including training and
development, employment skills,
qualifications and the investment made in
them by employers and staff.
Mark Lavington, chair of the
SkillsActive Outdoor Employers Group
(OEG) said: “Representing our sectors size,
value and impact to local, regional and
50 BIKEBIZ DECEMBER
“Representing our
sector is entirely
reliant on good,
accurate data.”
national stakeholders is entirely reliant on
good, accurate and current information
and statistics.
“The Outdoor Employers Group is
therefore extremely pleased to be working
with SkillsActive to support this initiative
and wholeheartedly encourages all
employers to take a few minutes to
complete the survey.”
Feedback from the survey is set to
support and help achieve continuing
growth for the industry.
peter.thompson@skillsactive.com
+44 (0)114 289 0490.
BIKEBIZ.COM
OUTDOOR & FITNESS
Exhibitors call for Outdoor Trade
Show changes
…And organisers respond with shift to mid-week slot
By Jonathon Harker
NEXT YEAR’S Outdoor Trade Show (OTS)
will run for three days in a mid-week
period for the first time.
The move comes after extensive postshow research of exhibitors and visitors at
the 2013 show.
In 2014, the Stoneleigh Park,
Warwickshire-set event will run over the
three days from Tuesday September 9th
to Thursday 11th, with the same format
of allowing retailers to see a wide variety
of brands and new product, from clothing
to footwear and accessory product,
including hundreds of tents and awnings
in the outdoor display area.
“After thoroughly analysing the
feedback received after OTS 2013, we
have decided to move the show to a midweek slot,” said organiser Marta Williams.
“The outdoor area will revert to three
NRG4 unveils
underwater
protection
By Jonathon Harker
DISTRIBUTOR NRG4 has taken on Loksak
and its range of 100 per cent waterproof
phone and tablet cases.
The cases are waterproof down to a
depth of 60metres, with a hermetic
airtight seal that prevents the re-entry or
release of air and micro organisms. It’s
possible to use touch screen electronics
while the device is protected (from water,
dust, etc) in the Loksak and there are
three different pack options available. The
carded multipack of three (£10.00)
includes phone, smartphone and tablet
sized cases. For £8.99 there is a carded
pack of three iPhone sized cases and
finally at the same price a pack of three
smartphone sized cases.
NRG4 operations manager Craig
Middleton said: “Adding the Loksak brand
to our range continues NRG4’s
philosophy off adding high quality
BIKEBIZ.COM
products to our portfolio. Loksak cases
are market leading in this sector with
their innovative technology. They are 100
per cent waterproof down to a depth of
60 metres and carry five US patents to
make sure your phone and valuables stay
bone dry in all weather conditions. We
have two attractive POS display options
available. The RRP of £8.99 for a pack is
very competitive and we can offer great
margins to our dealers.”
The in-store POS displays include a free
rotating POS display with 50 packs and a
free fixed display with 24 packs.
info@nrg4.co.uk
“[The move] responds
to the needs of the
industry to provide a
cost-effective show.”
Marta Williams, OTS
days, ultimately responding to the needs
of the industry to provide a cost-effective
show for suppliers and a worthwhile trip
for retailers.”
In 2013, OTS hosted 133 exhibitors
from all aspects of the industry, with
1,392 unique trade visitors (compared to
1,294 in 2012), who attended the show
over the three-day indoor show period.
More info via 0161 437 4634 or visit
www.outdoortradeshow.com.
Filter in a bottle now
targeting bike trade
By Jonathon Harker
WATER TO Go’s re-usable bottle, that
filters unsuitable water and converts
it into clean drinking water, is now
seeking greater representation in the
bike trade.
Launched at the start of this year
to the outdoor market among others,
the brand is now looking for a ‘master
agent’ in the cycle business trade to
bring it to bicycle retailers, with an
active sales force in the sector.
The patented filter sits in the neck
of the bottle where it filters the
contents as they are consumed. Using
nano-technology – originally
developed for use on NASA space
projects – the filter removed 99.9 per
cent of bacteria, viruses, heavy metals
and chemicals such as chlorine,
‘providing clean drinking water from
almost any source’.
Trade enquiries should be directed
to Martin Todd:
07890 994874.
Water To Go uses NASA
tech to provide clean
drinking water
BIKEBIZ DECEMBER 51
PEOPLE AND RECRUITMENT
Send your recruitment news to
mark.sutton@intentmedia.co.uk
Howden takes reins at British Cycling
Paligap bolsters on the road and office-based sales staff with South East rep James Wellman and head of
sales Tony Rose Sport England is set to benefit from Ian Drake’s experience at British Cycling
BRITISH CYCLING Bob Howden, the
acting chair of British Cycling has been elected
as British Cycling’s new president, replacing the
now head of UCI Brian Cookson. He was voted
in at British Cycling’s annual National Council
meeting, held this year in Crewe.
Howden has served as British Cycling’s
acting chair since Cookson took up his post as
president of the UCI in September. Howden has
been a board member for the past 13 years. He
has also been the chair of the Yorkshire region
since its inception in 2001.
Howden, said: “I am delighted to have been
elected as British Cycling’s president with a
mandate to push on with ensuring that British
Cycling is achieving its objectives. We will
remain true to what has become our tradition:
to succeed on the world stage and to inspire
people to enjoy riding their bikes more often,
be it for sport, recreation or transport.
“Brian Cookson is a tough act to follow –
especially when you look at the amazing roll
call of successes that British Cycling has
52 BIKEBIZ DECEMBER
enjoyed under his leadership. We are certainly
riding high and it’s my job to ensure that we
build on this.”
Tony Rose
James Wellman
SPORT ENGLAND British Cycling’s chief
executive, Ian Drake, has been appointed to
sit on Sport England’s Board, the national
body for grassroots sport.
Drake’s appointment has been announced
alongside six other new board members –
including Kate Bosomworth, David Goldstone,
Sally Gunnell, Debbie Jevans, Charles Reed and
Mark Spelman. The new members have been
appointed for a three-year term.
Commenting on the news, Ian Drake said: “I
am delighted to be joining Sport England’s
Board. It is a privilege to help shape the future
of grassroots sport in this country.
“The amazing success that cycling has
enjoyed across all levels since 2008 has put
me in a good position to be able to use that
experience to help drive change across all
other sports.”
PALIGAP Paligap has strengthened its
office and on the road sales team, with the
appointment of Tony Rose as national sales
manager and James Wellman as the
distributor’s new south east territory
account manager.
With over 20 years experience in the
bicycle industry, Rose has covered everything
from retail sales, distribution sales
management and brand development,
among other roles.
Wellman has been part of the Paligap
internal sales team for a number of years
and has built strong relationships with his
dealer area. With experience in key projects
such as the Fast Forward dealer program and
Cipollini frame program he was the obvious
choice to fill this position.
For information regarding the recent
additions of Marin, Selle San Marco or any of
the Paligap brands, contact the Paligap sales
team on 01454 313116, or email
Sales@paligap.cc
BIKEBIZ.COM
Whatever you would need to enjoy your
ride more, BBB has high quality product
and excellent value for money. From helmets that are good enough to be worn by the
pro riders from teams that compete in the Tour
de France to our test-winning DiscStop brake
pads, there’s something for everybody.
That’s why we feel we can say BBB is All About Cycling.
www.bbbcycling.com
Since 1954, Colnago has been defining
the cutting edge of road racing technology;
from classics such as the Master to modern
milestones like the C59 and M10.
Colnago was the first manufacturer to take full
advantage of the possibilities offered by exotic materials such as carbon fibre. Together with Ferrari and
the Politecnico di Milano they created the Concept and
the C35, the forerunners of today’s C59 and M10.
www.colnago.com
Full Speed Ahead produces world class
products for cyclists all over the world.
As the prime supplier for several Pro Tour
teams, Full Speed Ahead is deeply involved in
research and development of products at the
highest level of competition, resulting in worldleading products such as the K-Force range.
www.fullspeedahead.com
At Marzocchi we’re passionate about
bikes. Since 1949, every mountain bike or
motor bike product we have built has come
from our desire to design the most sophisticated, high tech suspension products for the ultimate riding experience.
All Marzocchi’s aftermarket products backed up with
an industry leading 3 year, no-nonsense warranty.
www.marzocchi.com
WE’RE ALSO EXHIBITING
To register for the Core Bike show visit www.corebike.co.uk
For more information on Windwave’s products please visit www.windwave.co.uk
The 10/10 test scoring GHOST AMR now
has a bigger brother. The 29” wheeled
AMR 29 series, all the fun and agility of
the Original AMR in a 29” platform with
100mm rear travel for all day trail fun.
dealers
wanted
100mm Travel
29” Wheels
www.ghost-bikes.com
Shimano XT
Fox 32F 29 CTD
rrp: 2999.99
Distributed in the UK by
www.hotlines-uk.com
I
Email: sales@hotlines-uk.com
I
Tel: 0131 319 1444
RETAIL ONLY
The trade’s guide to sourcing stock, up-and-coming IBDs and the very latest products
RETAIL
COMMENT
“WHAT’S NEW?”, we ask. During shows and factory visits
that’s the goal for us media types – to be among the first to
cover the shiniest bit of kit before putting into words why a
retailer or consumer should be investing in said brand’s goods.
The ground breaking items are always the ones to stack up
the column inches and, with any luck, have enthusiasts
checking their bank balances to see if today’s the day the
dream bike becomes a reality. What’s largely overlooked and,
yes, we’re guilty of it too, is the bread and butter bikes that sell
every day up and down the country. Going by the numbers of
new cyclists on the roads, I’m starting to wonder why that is.
What I can see on the ground is plenty of bikes that appear to
be several years old, though in a good state of repair, which
may go a long way to explaining why workshops up and down
the country are so busy.
“The lines between categories are
getting blurrier by the model year and
that’s no help to the beginner...”
There is of course a keen interest in the development of
£999 Cycle to Work bikes, particularly as many in this bracket
revamp their catalogue with skinny, yet knobbly, tyres and disc
brakes. Yet, to the uninitiated, the industry’s labelling and reinvention of various bike styles can do nothing to boost buying
confidence. To the newbie, it’s a bike, for the road, or for the dirt
path. On the shop floor, it might be a hybrid at sub £500 and a
cyclocross bike at £999, with the only noticable difference a
drop bar. For the buyer who hasn’t been into a bike shop for a
while, the lines are getting blurrier by the model year. Mountain
biking has become another can of worms altogether.
Far below that mark, in the £200 to £500 region where
most of us once began, there’s seemingly not much content
out there to assist the uneducated buyer in their decision. And
who’s going to explain to those curious of an investment in
performance why a ‘clipless’ pedal means you’re actually fixed
to the bike? Can’t we just call them fancy shoe pedals?
To the advantage of the entire industry, the average
complete bike sale value (and therefore build quality) is
increasing gradually and, as such, there’s a real opportunity to
perch the beginner on a saddle that won’t dissapoint them.
That’s also increasingly the case with youth bikes, also too
often overlooked by cycle media.
It can be painful to watch a non-cyclist attempt to make
sense of handlebar tags full of industry jargon. So, since the
industry loves a new ‘category’ isn’t about time we started
making some noise about excellent ‘beginner’ bikes aimed at
adults rediscovering the joys of pedal power? These are, afterall,
the simple, reliable A-to-B machines that drive the business
day-to-day.
Mark.Sutton@intentmedia.co.uk
IN THIS MONTH’S ISSUE
DEALER PROFILE: HOOPS VELO
57
What’s the best that can come of a pub closing down?
Converting the space into a bike shop is Hoops Velo’s answer...
CYCLE FOOTWEAR
65
There more labels than ever looking to take a slice of the
cycling footwear pie. BikeBiz runs through who stocks what...
NEW PRODUCTS
68
BikeBiz rounds up the month’s latest product releases, both
new to market and due for delivery shortly.
56 BIKEBIZ DECEMBER
BIKEBIZ.COM
DEALER PROFILE: HOOPS VELO
Hoops occupies a
former pub in
Farnham
Jumping through Hoops
Telephone: 01252 448836
Email: Gary@eaststcycles.com
Facebook: facebook.com/Hoopsvelo
Twitter: @HoopsVelo
Location: 88 East Street, Farnham,
Surrey, GU9 7TP
With 25 years behind him in the cycling business Gary Bird has opened yet another cycle store, this
time dedicated to the often very specific needs of the road connoisseur. Mark Sutton asks Bird what
Hoops Velo will be doing to help the customer put in the extra miles…
You already own East St Cycles – why open a
separately branded store?
I already own East St Cycles in Farnham where I
began my business in 2004. In 2005 the Walton
Cycles group, who I’d previously worked for,
folded and I ended up with the Walton On
Thames branch. ‘East St Cycles 2’ was born.
In 2008 Richmond Cycles, a well established
store in South West London, became available
and I snapped it up. I retained the name as my
philosophy is about having a multi-local business,
rather than making an assumption that
replicating a brand or product portfolio in
differing markets works.
In 2011 I opened the first Trek concept store in
the UK in Milton Keynes. This is a concession in a
large Cotswold Outdoor store. We have about
4,000sq ft and share the space with Cotswold,
Costa Coffee and Up & Running.
I’ve just opened Hoops Velo, a road only shop
in the same town as our existing store. I wanted
to increase bike buying traffic and create a more
regional rather than good town store. Specialising
in one sector helps create this.
I’d love to suggest that the name has some
meaning, but I completely made it up and
figured that it would be abbreviated to just
Hoops quickly. Nice and catchy.
So Hoops Velo will be exclusively road and
perhaps cyclocross bikes?
Hoops will service all road customers from £600
to £10k plus. I hate the idea of having a snobby
shop and want it to be inclusive. The £600
customer often morphs into someone with
several bikes, so why alienate them? I think the
BIKEBIZ.COM
concept will work as it’s way more specific and
rather than trying to be a mini department store,
that is the traditional quality IBD.
How many staff do you employ across the
businesses now?
With Hoops I’m up to a staff of 35 in total. If I
ever see them all together it scares the shit out
of me frankly. As it’s only then do you really
recognise the amount of mouths to feed.
How’s life as a retailer/distributor?
Now we have taken on the Volagi distribution I’m
planning on keeping it separate from my day-today retail business. I think there is a natural
retailer opposition to buy from who they may
consider to be a rival competitor (I’m not, unless
we are in close proximity, of course). Volagi is a
road disc brand with a very distinctive look, they
have had excellent reviews internationally and
we consider that road disc will be as popular as
650B in off road. It’s the future.
I want strong shops to sell Volagi and I have a
desire for them to consider it a profitable brand
to invest in. We’ve sold four in the last ten days
at a quiet time of the year and all at full RRP.
What are the greatest challenges to overcome
for a retailer in the present climate?
The biggest challenge for any retailer right now is
adapting to changing consumer habits. I’d
suggest stocking brands that aren’t slaughtered
online (they do exist). Not trying to sell
everything under the sun too. Why have three
computer brands or four tyre brands? Have a
lean business, get better margins off a smaller
select group of distributors who are not
indiscriminate about who they themselves sell to.
Then if necessary offer a brand match. This
reassures your customer who may hold the view
that everything you stock will be available online
cheaper. Frequently it’s not.
“I want strong
shops to sell
Volagi. I have a
desire for them
to see it as a
profitable
brand worth
investing in...”
Gary Bird,
Hoops Velo
Beyond coffee, how else are you engaging
customers with the business?
I think dwell time is what it’s all about, so coffee
and cakes are important. It’s a couple of quid for a
cake, but in terms of achieving conviviality with
your customers its really helpful. Twitter, Facebook
and the forthcoming website and blog are key to
putting us under the noses of potential customers.
What’s been driving trade in the early days?
So far the majority of revenue has come from
clothing sales, it’s really easy to sell quality product
in a nice environment. The free parking will help
grow workshop revenue as we become more
established and having a highly visible, professional
looking workshop gives the end user faith that
their bike is in safe hands. The high-ticket bike
sales, although not as frequent, are always the icing
on the cake.
Outside of work, will you run any shop rides,
promote cycling locally, or attend any events?
We’ll be strong advocates, supporting local riders
and getting into the press locally, regionally and
nationally where possible. Shop rides, demo days
and talks from inspirational people even from
outside cycling are planned.
I want the store to be a brand and it needs to be
different to achieve this and have a voice of course.
BIKEBIZ DECEMBER 57
WHEELS AND RUBBER
Wheel good riding
It’s not just spin – within this article there’s a fine selection of wheels, tyres and
tubes available to the UK cycle trade. Jonathon Harker lists the options…
2pure
Airstreeem
ROLF PRIMA’S handbuilt range of wheels
claims the fastest
spoke pattern in the
world. The Vigor
family has been the
brand’s most popular
wheelset since it
started, combining
aerodynamics with minimal
weight, pitched at everyday training and
race day alike. SRP is £799.
Redesigned for 2014 is the Ares 4 road
carbon wheelset, weighing 1375g and
combining weight savings with wind
cutting spoke tech – with real world as
AUSTRIAN RACING and tri
brand Airstreeem has what
it calls daring new colour
schemes for its highend carbon wheel, the
Aero 50 Clincher.
They feature an
asymmetrical rim
design, nano-coated
braking surface and
narrow spoke triangle
for aerodynamics,
stiffness and braking
performance. The Carbon
Aero 50 Superlights have all
that and more – namely a reduced
well as wind tunnel testing. SRP is £1999.
The road Alloy Elan hits the £749 price
point, coming in 700c or 650c. Finally the
Aspin SL is the road alloy option, retailing
at £499 and using Elan tech.
0844 811 2001
Bicyclebitz
THE FIRM is expanding its
Vee rubber bike tyres rapidly
as they’ve been ‘very well
received throughout the
trade’, we hear. The firm says
it has been importing Vee
Rubber standard and
premium ranges at a rate of
approximately a container
full per month to its
Scunthorpe warehouse.
The tyres offer a wide variety of tread
patterns and sizes, covering everything
from commuter, MTB, road, cyclocross,
trainers, folder, recumbent, BMX, hybrid,
e-bike, 29ers, 650Bs…you get the picture.
Chicken
CycleKit
Many of the tyres come complete with
a variety of puncture prevention belts viz
Kevlar, aramid and polybelt. There’s more
info over at www.bicyclebitz.com or via
bicyclebitz@gmail.com
Continental
YOU MAY have caught up with the latest
from Continental at Cycle Show, in which
case you’ll already know about top of the
range tech like BlackChili and Protection
models. You’ll also be aware of the
flagship Grand Prix 4000 S II, which has
had a facelift, with a discreet bead strip
allowing colour coordination. Sizes have
expanded with the addition of a 28mm
option. The new Grand Sport family is
based on a solid 60 TPI casing, a NyTech
breaker and the durable and super grippy
PureGrip tread compound. The Extra
version offers pure puncture protection,
while the Grand Sport Race is designed as
a balanced, all-round tyre. The Grand
BIKEBIZ.COM
weight of 1,1220 grams. It’s the choice of
ITU Triathlon World Cup Athletes.
The aluminium clincher
series includes four models
for everyday training,
marathons, racing and
mountain riding.
Highlights of that
series include the
AL20 Black edition,
featuring exceptional
stiffness and weighing
1,420 grams.
The new wheel range
is covered by
Airstreeem’s two year crash
replacement service.
www.airstreeem.co.uk FOR 2014, Miches’ hand-built in Italy
SWR carbon clincher wheels (£1099.99)
have been redesigned with a full carbon
rim, made from high strength carbon
fibre and specifically for clincher use.
Deda Elementi is adding a top end
wheel line to the bar and stem range
through Chicken. Available in Carbon
45mm and 30mm, several patented
technologies in the range result in
maximum air penetration, high speed,
extreme lightweight and matchless style.
With the onset of winter, it is time to
swap out summer slicks. The Zaffiro Pro
Tech from Vittoria has a special wet-grip
compound keeping riders inflated and
rubber side down. A dense weave sidewall
maximises puncture protection through
the rest of the tyre. The unique tread
pattern offers 20 per cent increased grip.
chickenb2b.co.uk 01525 381347
The Cycle
Division
Sport Light has been designed as a pure
competition tyre, with the PureGrip
compound saving weight at the cost of
longevity. Other key offerings include the
Ultra Sport II, the award winning Rubber
Queen trail and freeride tyre (re-named
Trail King) and the 29-inch range has
expanded with more specialist tread
patterns and the Cyclocross Speed and
CycloXKing. Via multiple distributors.
CYCLE DIVISION offers a wheel building
service. A team of experienced wheel
builders supply and maintain a vast stock
range and can serve IBDs with almost any
size configuration. The range is broad and
supports the IBD wishing to provide
anyone who rides a bike with a
continuous supply of well-made wheels –
be it for sport, lifestyle, health or
commuting purposes. All wheels are hand
finished, labelled and bagged under their
‘D2O Bicycle Wheel Division’ tag.
The Cycle Division can also supply
tailored products and provide rapid
turnaround of any special wheel build. As
the main importer of Sturmey Archer in
the UK this service is especially handy for
anyone requiring any hub building into
any rim size. Another area Cycle Division
specialises in is free issue work. If dealers
have in stock a large (or small) number of
hubs and rims and feel daunted at the
prospect of building them into wheels
then CD can help. 0845 0508 500
BIKEBIZ DECEMBER 59
WHEELS AND RUBBER
Coyote
Sports
THE FIRST order of KHE has just been
received at Coyote HQ. The highly
regarded range of street/park tyres are
available in foldable versions as well as
standard and Coyote has stocks of
street, park and dirt in 20-inch and 26inch including the MAC 1.5 and
MAC2+ versions. The MAC tyre is pitched as the world’s
first freestyle folding tyre and ‘not just a
new tyre like all the others’. Instead
changing the weight of the complete bike
Evolution
Imports
dramatically because it has less rotating
mass at the end of the frame and at the
same time it strengthens using Kevlar
material. Those Kevlar strips keep
everything in shape – no getting bigger
with big pressure – and keep things light.
This new tyre is made of hard rubber and
holds up to 120psi. For more details of
the range contact sales@coyotesports.com or phone
0161 727 8508
THE DISTRIBUTOR has taken
on Pacenti Rims, offered as a
rim only or in-built wheels –
adding to the offering in the
Evo-Wheels range.
Speaking of which, the
Evo-Wheel programme has
been amended as the firm is
now building all its wheels inhouse. Evo’s wheel builder has
over 20 years experience with
a meticulous attention to
Hotlines
i-ride
THE EVO Oozy wheelset is Spank’s
newest all-mountain/enduro wheelset.
They weigh in at 1,650g (26-inch) and
are available in 26-inch, 29er and 650B
sizes and they only have an RRP of
£449.99. The Fratelli-made rims are all
constructed from a single length of alloy
and are sleeved and bonded, resulting in
greater consistency and strength. The
Spanl Oozys have got off to a flying start
with the media, winning plaudits in MBR
and MBUK.
Also via Hotlines are WTB Vigilante
Tyres. The Vigilante is a top-level
FULCRUM’S RACING 5 CX
Wheels, retailing at
£249.99, have been redesigned for 2014 to
reduce weight and also
to increase the reactivity
of the wheels. Saving 115g
in weight and increasing the
reactivity by four per cent means
a pair of Racing 5 wheels now only
weighs 1,645g. Racing 5s are designed for
everyday use and training and this CX
version comes equipped with double
gasket seals over the bearings to stop
aggressive all-mountain tyre, and first
choice for Team WTB’s Mark Weir. The
square-lugged open-tread pattern offers
stability in loose or wet terrain, while the
stiff outside knobs grip at lean angles.
They use Dual DNA (TCS) and Gravity
DNA (Team Issue) rubber, ideal for riders
giving it some. 0131 319 1444
ISON
Madison
HALO OFFERS rims,
wheels and tyres for most
cycle genres, with the
Carbaura and Carbaura RD
carbon road disc wheels
new for ‘14. Three rim
depth sizes are offered: 38mm, 50mm
and 58mm and they’re future-proofed as
they can also be used with rim brakes.
The best-selling Vapour trail rims have
also got the carbon treatment and are
available as rims or complete wheels
(using the new Halo 6-Drive hubs) in 26,
27.5 and 29-inch. Rims and complete
THE EVER-POPULAR RS80
series is back in 11 speed
fashion with the new
RS81 series. These carbon
laminate wheels offer
great value for money and
are now offered in 24mm,
35mm and 50mm profiles,
featuring high lateral rigidity
that has been improved with a wide
flange spacing. Labyrinth double contact
sealing shuts out the water, mud and dirt
via low-friction seals without affecting
rotational stiffness.
wheels with many axle choices complete
the range. Ison carries fat tyres and rims
from Surly and 45NRTH as well as Deluxe
BMX wheels. Dia Compe has its Gran
Compe track wheels in various colours
and Gusset has a range of entry-level
complete BMX wheels and rims for most
budgets. 01353 662662
Massi
Mavic
MASSI HAS widened
its Hurricane range to
27.5-inch and 28inch wheel sizes.
The new Hurricane
has been tested by
Massi’s pro riders
with excellent reviews (we’re told). This
high performance tyre is pitched as a true
all-rounder. Its tread design gives
outstanding grip in all conditions,
including mud, and features hardened
side walls for an improved puncture
MAVIC SAYS its Cosmic
Carbone 40c wheel tyre
system is the first reliable
carbon clincher wheelset.
Retailing at £1,800, the
versatile aero set use
exclusive TgMAC tech
which enhances the carbon
structure that has an aluminium
spine to hold brake and air pressure.
Also from Mavic is the CXR 60c wheel
tyre system (£2,000). The integrated
wheel-tyre system ‘cheats the wind’, says
60 BIKEBIZ DECEMBER
protection. The shoulder knobs reach
deep into the toughest corners, providing
enough traction where others will skid
and slide. Hurricane is specifically
designed for XC racing.
www.R53sport.co.uk
detail with all wheels
supplied with radial run out
readings of at most 0.03mm
(radial and lateral).
Aside from Pacenti,
Evolution Imports offers DT
Swiss, Reynolds, HED and
Stans rims built on to Chris
King Hubs. There’s also a
choice of nine colours for the
hubs. The firm hopes to have
a couple of new rims to add
in the New Year, so although
nothing has been confirmed
yet, keeps your eyes open for
more on that on BikeBiz.com.
0208 290 0807
dust, dirt and water getting in,
perfect for winter. Also
available from i-ride are
Continental Gator
hardshell tyres, priced at
£34.95 each. This tyre
comes equipped with
Continental’s Duraskin
protection that wraps
into the sidewall for extra
protection. It also comes
with a Ploy X Breaker, tech taken
from their car tyres. A durable polyester
thread is cross stitched with a close
thread into the tyre giving an extra layer
of protection to fend off sharp objects.
01444 243000
Of course the big buzz in
the MTB world at the
minute is wheel size
and 27.5 seems to be
emerging as front
contender. New to
the range this year
from Conti is a
selection of 27.5-inch
tyres including the Trail
King Protection which
replaces the Rubber Queen.
Continental’s BlackChili
Compound provides the grip for this tyre
and the Protection range can also be run
without tube on UST compatible rims.
www.madisonb2b.co.uk
Mavic, saving time and watts
in all conditions and is ideal
for tri, sprints and hilly races.
The Crossmax Enduro is
the first MTB wheel tyre
system designed for Enduro
racing (£720 in 650b). Using
key Mavic tech like ISM,
Isopulse and UST Tubeless
ready, the Crossmax Enduro
has different rim widths front
and read to accommodate
different tyre width and tread patterns,
developed to maximise the Enduro
experience.
01276 404870
BIKEBIZ.COM
WHEELS AND RUBBER
Moore Large
4ZA OFFERS the light, fast and
aero profile rim-sporting
4ZA Cirrus, while the 4ZA
Cirrus Pro wheels
combine all of 4ZA’s
carbon fibre know-how.
Prices range from
£219.99 to £1189.99.
Kenda makes quality
tyres and tubes for mountain
XC, downhill, BMX, road racing,
cyclocross and commuter bicycles. New
MTB tyres include the all-rounder Honey
Badger and 24 Seven, a super low profile
tread for minimal weight and low rolling
resistance. For the road there’s Kriterium
and the Kountach. ML also offers the
equivalent sized boxed tube free
with every tyre purchased
from the Kenda basics range
until the end of 2013.
American Classic offers
a wide range of wheels for
road, MTB and downhill. All
mountain bike wheels are
available in 26, 650B and 29
sizes. Lighter spokes were
specifically designed for this hand-built
wheel system retailing at £699.99.
sales@moorelarge.co.uk
Paligap
FFWD IS re-launching the F4R FCC with
the DARC (Double Arc profile)
seen last year on the tubular
version. Also new are the
four spoke carbon track
wheels and a new
affordable all-aluminium
road set. Road disc wheels
also join the range. Ritchey
is launching the WCS Zeta II
aluminium road wheelset – a
wider, tubeless ready offset
aluminium rim built with DT spokes
onto new Phantom Flange hubs. WCS
Raleigh
Schwalbe
RALEIGH OFFERS a wide range of
tyres and tubes that not only
includes its own brand of Raleigh
tyres and tube – offering everything
from road and hybrid product
through to MTB – but it also
distributes Schwalbe tyres and
tubes and Michelin tyres and tubes
and boasts a long-established wheel
building facility based on-site in
Nottinghamshire.
The offerings include new Tru build
wheels, available in 26 and 29-inch
iterations. Both are built using a Mach1
SCHWALBE INFLATES each tube at its
factory and then stores them under
pressure for 24 hours in order to test air
retention. The brand uses a high elasticity
and quality material in its tubes to allow
for many tyre sizes to be covered.
There are three tyres for winter road
training – the Durano for high mileage
and the Durano S which boasts a
dynamic slick profile and lots of colour
variants. The Durano S is less durable than
the Durano, but lighter with lower rolling
resistance. The Durano Plus provides
maximum puncture protection for race
Silverfish
2014 SEES the arrival of new Race Face
Turbine wheelset (£429). This nononsense offering features bladed spokes
and a lightweight stiff rim, perfect for
the needs of trail and enduro riders.
E*thirteen entered the wheel
market a few short seasons ago
and for 2014 sees availability in
either LG1+ for DH or TRS+ and
TRSR for trail/enduro riders.
Also joining the range for 2014
are the new TRS-R enduro race
wheels which like the TRS+
wheels feature a 28mm wide,
Neuro double wall disc rim, black spokes
and a six bolt quick release disc hub.
www.raleigh.co.uk
20mm deep rim but this time are laced
to a carbon centred hub. Formula entered the wheel market in
2013. With everything from carbon fibre
rimmed XC race hoops through
to all-MTB and road disc wheels
available, Formula boasts
precision machined hubs and
lightweight rims, with
wheels that are laced
together to construct a
high performance range of
Volo wheels ready for your
disc rotors to be bolted to.
01752 843882
Tiger Cycles
THE ALL-NEW Tiger Tyre is
here. Following the
success of the budget
range of tyres
launched by Tiger
Cycles two years
ago, the
Lockerbie-based
bikes and
accessories
distributor
has now
launched a
complete
Zipp
Zyro
ZIPP HAS been building all Firecrest
Carbon Clincher and Tubular rim-brake
wheelsets, as well as the 202 Tubular
wheelset, using the latest iteration of its
188 rear hub, the V9, and a more
effective spoke-lacing pattern. The
refinements see improved stiffness and
durability along with aerodynamic
efficiency and crosswind stability. Mark
Cavendish received early hub prototypes
in January and logged 13,000 km on
continually refined variants, including his
stage victories at the Giro and Le Tour.
PANARACER’S TOUR Guard Plus (£29.99)
is ideal for urban and semi-urban
commuting and touring. The Tour Guard
(£24.99) is aimed at urban/semi-urban
commuting and touring cyclists while the
Tour (£14.99) is an all-round
riding/commuting tyre. If you’re after fast
commuting or touring, Panaracer’s
RiBMO comes in from £29.99 to £34.99.
Meanwhile the Trailraker (£24.99) is ideal
for soft muddy conditions.
Zyro also supplies Michelin, including
the PRO 4 Endurance (£37.99) for riders
BIKEBIZ.COM
Zipp is available from Fisher Outdoor
Leisure. 01727 798345
Trail wheels continue Ritchey’s move into
the trail/enduro sector, and 27.5 and 29inch versions are available. No Tubes has
an expanded range of wheels, covering
XC, trail, enduro, DH, CX
and road. Powertap
wheels now start at
£900 for G3 hubs
built onto alu
rims. Carbon rims
builds are also
available.
Challenge’s has road
tyres at all levels as
well as specific track and
tri tyres plus the MTB One
tubular. 01454 313116
machines. It features a
SmartGuard belt for
effective protection against penetration
punctures. Nevertheless it has a level of
protection unparalleled in racing cycle
tyres. Schwalbe is available to the trade
through a number of distributors.
Via various distributors.
new range of
Tiger branded
budget priced
tyres,
available in
all sizes
from 12inch to
700c and
priced
from a very reasonable £1.99. For full
details on tyres and rest of their parts and
accessories range go to
www.tigercycles.com or call
01683 220837
seeking both endurance and durability.
Easton has upgraded its robust EA90
SL wheels, with a wider, 17.5-millimetre
(internal) rim width. Available in the New
Year is the EC90 AERO55 Tubular
(£799.99/£1039.99 to £999.99
BIKEBIZ DECEMBER 61
Cycleguard Partnership scheme
– sign up today!
Keep your customers cycling……
and more importantly keep them cycling with you.
Our goal, like yours, is to keep our customers happy, and cyclists cycling. At Cycleguard we arrange insurance cover for
thousands of cyclists, and over the past 15 years we have worked hand in hand with hundreds of Independent Bike Dealers just
like yourself. Why not contact us today and enquire about our Insurance Partnership Scheme which offers the following benefits:-
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ADDED VALUE
EARN £10
– if a customer makes a claim then they can
for your customers by referring them to a
for the first 10 policies sold, then £15 for
come back to you for their bike repair or
specialist insurance provider
every other policy sold
replacement, giving you the chance to offer
the same quality professional service again.
like Cycleguard
Tel
024 7685 1049
Email
cycleguardsupport@thistleonline.co.uk
Cycleguard is a trading style of Thistle Insurance Services Limited. Lloyd’s Broker. Authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority A JLT Group
Company. Registered office: The St Botolph Building, 138 Houndsditch, London, EC3A 7AW. Registered in England No 00338645, VAT No. 244 2321 96.
62 BIKEBIZ DECEMBER
BIKEBIZ.COM
RETAIL ADVICE
Ever
considered
closing your
shop for a
week?
The shop is quiet, so is it the
perfect time to spruce up your
shop floor and take stock?
Waving Cat’s Nick Fish explains
the pros and the cons…
TRADITIONALLY, FEBRUARY isn’t the busiest
month in cycle retail, so what better time to
get to grips with some ‘big jobs’? However
good you are at shop maintenance and
cleaning, bikes have a habit of leaving marks
and ‘dings’ on walls and floors, which over time
build up to a messy look. Have you been
thinking about a better changing room, a bike
fit area, repositioning your display areas or
opening up the workshop so that customers
can see their bikes being fettled (scary I know)?
As long as you make room for the renovations
by reducing your floor stock and tell your
customers well in advance when the refit is
going to happen, you can have a well-organised
showroom blitz.
MAKING ROOM
Love or hate the Christmas sales, it’s
guaranteed that millions of pounds will be
spent and you need to get your share. You
won’t just be attracting your existing
customers through a sale but many customers
who live outside your usual catchment area
will travel to buy – but only if the price is right.
You will also have a good chance to take some
sales back from internet retailers. You might
want to ask other non-cycling retailers in your
area when they are starting their sales and try
and fit in as footfall in the area will be high.
Bikes: Target the last season models or current
season hard to sell sizes and colours with
discounts or FOC equipment bundles. Promote
your sale stock via your website, email
database, flyers in the shop or even eBay (dare
I say it). There are currently 1,634 mountain
and 1,493 road bikes listed on eBay with a
start price of £300-plus, making eBay the
dominant market place for closeouts and used
bikes. Some thoughts:
BIKEBIZ.COM
“Refurbishing
during quiet
times needn’t
be a costly
exercise...”
Nick Fish,
Waving Cat
Make your clearance bikes ‘collection only’ as
your suppliers might get hacked off if you
start shipping bikes around the country
(there’s also the extra hassle of boxing and
shipping to deal with).
If your stock is ‘clean’ and you have money
to invest in stock you might want to buy-in
some closeouts from your suppliers. Make
sure you buy at the right price – as a guide
you need to be making at least 30 per cent
margin (ex VAT) off an SRP discounted by 25
per cent. If it isn’t a good deal don’t buy it.
Use the motor trade ‘ex demonstrator’ ploy
to move less saleable current models rather
than a straight discount as you might annoy
customers who have recently bought new
bikes from you.
Don’t list your clearance bikes all at once –
keep adding to the list as this gives you a
great opportunity to remarket your sale
through “more models added to the sale”.
Make a noise about it in your shop window
– big, bold signage can be bought from a
local supplier or online for beans.
Clothing and equipment: Dusty stock in
damaged packing has to go! Identify it, list it,
and put it in one location so that your
customers can easily find it. Get a sale rail for
clothes and a shoe rack for all those shoe range
leftovers and make sure that everything is
sized, in order and priced – remember
clearance stock isn’t rubbish.
PLANNING YOUR REFURBISHMENT
Refurbishing your store needn’t be a costly
process, as a lot of the labour cost will come
from your team who won’t be hanging around
waiting for a customer to walk through the
door on a quiet day. It could also be a good
team building exercise by encourage their
input and getting them involved.
Look and feel We aren’t all budding Laurence
Llewelyn-Bowens so don’t be proud – just
copy! Plagiarism isn’t a bad thing. Visit your
local shopping mall and choose a colour
scheme you like. Look at the various “concept
stores’ created by the big cycling brands and
use some of their ideas. Things to think about
in advance:
If you and the team aren’t inclined to pickup
a paintbrush then book a local odd job guy
or a builder for bigger work.
Check with your suppliers to see what instore signage, window graphics or staff
uniform they have that you can use to good
effect – less can be more here as signage
overkill can be distracting for customers.
Also check to see if your suppliers have any
good point of sale or display systems you
can utilise.
Work out in advance what the focus will be
in each area of the shop – this is particularly
important if you are laying new flooring.
AND FINALLY:
Plan a post refurbishment mid-week evening
event and encourage your customers drop in –
offer some promotions on the night: buy a
jersey and shorts and get free mitts, book a
service by the end of the month and save 25
per cent of the labour cost, buy two new tyres
and get two free tubes etc, etc, etc. Don’t
forget to promote it in store and via your
website and email database.
Waving Cat – Business Mentoring
Contact Nick Fish via email:
nick@wavingcat.co.uk
or by phone: 07842 932201
BIKEBIZ DECEMBER 63
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• Airtite Kit A quality repair kit at a budget price
Box of 25 01016
• Red Devil Self Seal Patches Strong and reliable patches for quick, clean repair
Carded Patches 04006 Carded Repair Kit with Tyre Lever 06011 Carded Kit 01021
Dispenser with 25 Kits 01022 Display Jar with 36 Kits 01023 Flat-Fix Kit 01020
• Jetvalve Tyre Inflation System Instant C02 inflation for all valve types
Carded Inflator 07008 Carded C02 Cylinder 07007 Box of 5 C02 Cylinders 07009
MADE IN THE UNITED KINGDOM BY
WE ARE BIKE MAINTENANCE
www.weldtite.co.uk
64 BIKEBIZ DECEMBER
BIKEBIZ.COM
FOOTWEAR
Fancy footwork…
What’s the solution to your customer’s athlete’s foot? Stick them in some equally athletic shoes, we
reckon. Mark Sutton seeks some product highlights from the distributors selling cycling footwear…
i-ride
Mavic
WITH NORTHWAVE’S evergrowing footwear line within its
warehouses, i-ride has
footwear for all disciplines
and weathers.
For the current season, the
£169.99 Arctic Commuter Winter
boots are perhaps the most appropriate.
The Commuter model of the Celsius
Arctic meets the needs of all those who
like to travel to places of work and leisure
using their bicycles and therefore require
safety and optimum visibility whatever
the light conditions.
The boot takes advantage of
Northwave’s Gore Tex Koala Membrane
giving maximum protection against the
MAVIC’S
AVENGE road
shoe is based
around what
the brand calls
an Energy
Carbon
Composite
Outsole,
which when
paired with the
shoe’s lightweight mesh
and synthetic uppers, makes
for a lightweight (315 grams, size
8.5) and supremely comfortable shoe for
fast riders. Carrying an Ergofit 3D EVA
tounge insert, the shoe will mold around
Moore Large
STARTING WITH a strong offering for the
triathletes out there,
Lake has introduced
the TX222, a
model which
bridges the gap
between the
TX312 and
212. Retailing
for £159.99, this is an
light race shoe with a
carbon sole and materials chosen
to aid quick drying and breathability.
For the current season, the 145
waterproof boot will be a hit. The upper is
made from waxed canvas, leather and a
Madison
YOU’VE A choice of
Shimano or Pearl
Izumi offerings
from Madison
when stocking up.
Available now,
Shimano’s R260 is the
latest addition to the
catalogue and brings with it the full
custom fit and benefits of Dynalast
technology. Also new to the range is the
MT44 and MT24 shoes. These are
multipurpose trail/leisure shoes with
styling well suited on and off the bike.
Also new in for December are the
Pearl Izumi PRO Leader II shoes. This is
part of Pearl’s new lineup of shoes for the
BIKEBIZ.COM
cold and also
assists in creating a microclimate for the
rider’s feet. A speed-lace closure system
provides excellent speed, closure and
functionality, locking in place in just a
few short moments.
01444 243000
waterproof membrane, with dual BOA
lacing system, all for £169.99. This comes
in both MTB (MX) and road (CX) models.
Specifically for the roadie, the CX402 is
the catalogue’s main headturner.
This shoe embodies all new innovation
and technological advancements
developed by Lake. The thermal formable
technology closes the heel counter to
create a custom fit in conjunction
to adjustability provided by
the dual BOA lacing
system.
This model
retails at £369.99
and is available in
half sizes, wide-fit
and Speedplay options.
01332 274200
upcoming 2014
season. Using a seamless
one-piece upper and Boa
dial closure, these
shoes eliminate
hotspots and
form to the
shape of
your
foot. As
tested throughout the 2013
season by BMC’s Tejay Van Garderen, you
know they’re up to the job. Retail price
on the Leader II shoes is £239.99.
01908 326000
Paligap
ITALIAN FOOTWEAR manufacturer DMT
has a heritage in crafting footwear solely
for the cyclist.
As a specialist
footwear
manufacturer
for a number of
high-end
brands, DMT
also makes its own label
and the new 2014 range is an 80
per cent revamp on the previous year. New materials, closure systems and
sole units dominate the range, plus a
subtle, more UK friendly range of colours
fills the catalogue. With a wider fit than
the rider’s contours, with closure handled
by two comfort straps and a low profile
dual position ratchet support.
High visibility inserts feature
where appropriate.
01276 404870
normal, DMT tend to fit the broader
European foot better than most. Top of the range is the new Vega, an
ultra-light highly vented shoe with double
BOA closure weighing in at 220 grams
and a retail price of £225. Strong value
comes from the Pegasus, a poly-carbon
soled shoe with Velcro and BOA
closure that costs just £120.
Dedicated track and
triathlon shoes are
also now found
within the
range, as a well
as a full MTB line
up. Road and MTB shoes
start from £78 with Paligap telling BikeBiz
good margins and dealer packages are
available. 01454 313116
Chicken
Cyclekit
SET FOR introduction to the
market in January, Nalini is to
produce two road and one mountain
bike suited shoes with Bianchi branding
to match the clothing currently in the
catalogue. On the road model, expect to
find similar technology to that of the
Kraken Plus shoe, which weighs in at 290
grams and is Look cleat compatible.
Major research and development has
gone into the construction of these shoes
to ensure the foot stays consistently cool,
offers protection from falls and to make
sure the shoe holds the foot during the
thrust. The shoes are sure to be a hit with
die
hard
followers
of the iconic
brand. They will be
available to order on
www.chickenb2b.co.uk. Alternatively call
the sales office at Chicken Cycle Kit for
more details.
01525 381347
BIKEBIZ DECEMBER 65
FOOTWEAR
Silverfish
Zyro
WHETHER YOU like to race the clock or
simply clock up the miles there’s a Spiuk
shoe to meet your customer’s needs. For those competing professionally in
triathlon the new Pragma shoe is designed
to excel in the saddle. Lightweight, stiff
and featuring a carbon fibre sole, they are
designed to fasten quickly and securely. If
your customer likes to log serious mileage,
then the Urha-R or Urha-M could be just
the shoe for them. Available in either MTB
or Road soled options, they feature a
double Velcro closure, clean design and a
stiff sole. WITH GIRO now
on board, Zyro
accounts have
access to a wide
variety of
footwear, from
classic clip ins, to
shoes like the robust
dirt going Chamber, which
as it happens has a cut away
lower to allow the rider to choose
flat or clipped.
With a total of 31 models across Road,
MTB, Gravity and Triathlon; the range will
With a wide range of shoes at all price
points, Spiuk’s shoe range has all cyclists
covered, whether that be with the Motiv
for the spin class regulars, the ZS15RC for
the road racers, or the more casual
looking Compass. Retail prices start at
just £64.95.
01752 843882
2Pure
Bob Elliot
NEW FROM Lizard Skins going into 2014
is a three product line of shoe covers.
Beginning at £19.99 for a pair of toe
covers in sizes small to XL, your customer
is adding some wind resistance where it
matters, as well as adding a reflective
detail to their footwear.
Next up at £24.99 is the first full shoe
cover, offering both water and wind
resistance, as well as a microfleece lining
for warmth.
Top of the line at £29.99 is a fully
insulated water and wind resistant
version, again in sizes small to XL. Look
WITH FLR’S shoe line and Funkier’s range
of footwear accessories, bob Elliot’s
customers can pick up the majority of
their footwear stock from one place.
For a very reasonably priced £59.99,
customers could take home either of
FLR’s road going F-35, or off road-suited
F-55 shoes. Both use three Velcro straps
to secure the rider and are compatible
with two-bolt SPD cleats, among others.
The same lightweight, synthetic leather
with strong ventilated nylon mesh is
used, while the mountain bike version
comes with a re-inforced toe cap.
Ison
ISON CARRIES the awardwinning 45NRTH range of
cycling footwear made
specifically for extreme
and harsh conditions. The
Wolvhammer was
introduced last year to
much acclaim and this year sees
the introduction of the Fasterkatt.
Having just scooped a Eurobike gold
award, the Fasterkatt is designed with -4
to +7 degree Celsius temperatures in
mind. The Fasterkatt performs optimally
in the sort of damp that the UK Winter
Fisher Outdoor
HAVING DEBUTED at
Interbike in 2010, DZR
now offers shoes to
suit urban cycling,
freeride and more.
Each DZR shoe is
designed to offer a unique
combination of stiffness while
pedaling and flex when walking. Within
the Task series, you’ll find a co-moulded
power plate with a reinforced nylon
shank, as well as padded uppers, secured
down with a robust ‘power strap’. There
66 BIKEBIZ DECEMBER
out for the Dry-Fiant gear in the 2Pure
catalogue. Stock is available now.
0844 811 2001
throws your way, making it an ideal boot
for mucky cyclocross events.
Constructed with a waterproof
membrane and rubberised textile shell
that extends over the ankle it’s a
robust unit. The bottom of the
shoe is sealed
with a
waterproof
membrane to keep
water from getting through
the two bolt compatible cleat slots.
The £199 boot is also the first cycling
shoe to use micro-glass outsole rubber
technology to enhance surface traction
while running on slippery surfaces.
01353 662662
Seventies
are five designs to choose from in the
task range and seven in the Urban
catalogue. Look out for the new additions
of the £89.99 Cove and £79.99 Midnight
in the Urban collection, with the latter
housing a 600 luminosity
reflective badge and a vegan
friendly canvas and
micro-fibre mix.
There’s a
vegan-specific
shoe too, which
uses only natural
gum rubber and full grain leather using
minimal treatments to give an aged look.
01727 798345
Sole
cover every requirement and all price
points from £69.99 to £300. As standard,
models will be available in nine sizes for
men and seven sizes for women, with
additional half size availability at
the higher-end. Consumers with
high volume or wide feet
have not been left out
either, with three road
and two MTB ‘HV’
models available,
accommodating
up to EE width.
Every highend Giro shoe will
come supplied with a ‘Supernatural’
footbed system.
01845 521700
Funkier provides a selection of
overshoes, with the waterproof OSW-04
costing just £24.99 and a neoprene cover
better suited to triathlon at £26.99. The
label also produces merino wool socks,
which come in at just £13.99 retail price.
01772 459 887
LOTEK HAS been making footwear
specifically for BMX riders since 2004
and in recent years has introduced double
density footbed technology to its shoes
in order to protect and keep the rider
comfortable, specifically when absorbing
big impacts.
For 2014 the brand has the BTS range,
which does stand for ‘back to school’, but
without being specific to younger riders.
The sole comes fully redesigned and the
signature models return in the form to
the Fader, Reeves, Nightwolf and BTM.
0845 3103670
IF IT’S a custom footbed
your customer is after, Sole
has a range of orthopaedic
support products to boost
comfort and performance.
Sole have designed their
footbeds in such a way that they
minimise pressures that can be caused by
the inward twisting of the knee and
ankles during a pedalstroke. Meanwhile,
the footbed arch support and heel cup
can help reduce plantar fascia strain
when pushing down on the pedal.
Sole Thin Sport Custom Footbeds cost
£38 at retail price and are now available
as stockist packages to cycle shops.
sales@yoursole.com
BIKEBIZ.COM
BIKEBIZ.COM
DECEMBER BIKEBIZ 67
NEW PRODUCTS
Fresh Crop
This month BikeBiz journeys into the future and returns
with some clever specs, a new book from Mark
Cavendish and a Nutter...
Funkier kids clothing
Bob Elliot: 01772 459 887
FOR THE proud parent whose kids need all the gear
too, Bob Elliot has brought in a new line of Funkier
clothing for ages eight to 14.
Two long-sleeve jerseys join the catalogue for
winter, as well as microfleece tights that’ll see
young’uns happily through the cold snap ahead.
The Microfleece jerseys feature two rear pockets, a
full reflective zipper and reflective material on the
shoulders, while the fabric is quick drying, with
moisture from the inside quickly wicking away to
the surface.
The winter tights carry reflective details too, as well
as a B3 pad and antibacterial fabric, which also just so
happens to be a quick wicker.
Thule Sprint 569
Multipower protein shakes
Vangard Velo Retro line
Madison: 01908 326000
Direct: 01737821840
Moore Large: 01332 274200
DESIGNED FOR the transportation of even the most
exotic of bikes, Thule’s New Sprint 569 combines
convenience and patented safety technologies,
making it an ideal roof transportation option for
carbon and other sensitive frames.
The Sprint’s ‘AcuTight’ knob ‘clicks’ when optimal
hold is reached, ensuring that the bike is safely
secured to the rack. The built-in suspension in the
rack attachments and wheel strap absorbs any
vibrations, minimising road shock damage to your
frame. The telescoping wheel tray extends as far as
needed to fit your bike and can be shortened to
allow hatchbacks to open fully. As with all Thule
carriers, the Sprint 569 is lockable. What’s more, the
unit will take all wheel sizes.
Stock lands in February and retail price has been
set at £175.
MULTIPOWER HAS launched a ready-mixed recovery
drink called Fit Protein Lite.
With 40 grams of milk protein, Fit Protein Lite is a
high quality, low carb, low fat protein shake that
supports muscle building, recovery and helps you to
cut down for the summer.
With a fat content of only one gram per bottle,
the mix delivers 80 per cent less carbs and sugars
than Multipower’s number one selling Fit Protein
brown bottle.
Retailing at £3.85 a bottle the 500ml drink is
available in three tasty flavours – Chocolate, Vanilla
and Strawberry.
RETAILING FROM £34.99 right through to £129.99,
Vangard has introduced a retro styled clothing line
comprising everything from baselayers to jackets. The
£34.99 garment is a 50 per cent merino cycling cap
with a warm dipped lower at the rear to cup the top
of the neck and keep chills at bay.
Next in the line is a short sleeve jersey at £89.99
in three colours – blue, orange and white. A long
sleeve version, in just blue or white, will cost £10.9
at retail. Each jersey sports three rear pockets, as well
as a high merino content to keep you cool and
comfortable.
The £129.99 jacket keeps the same retro styling
while offering the advantages of a windbreaker.
68 BIKEBIZ DECEMBER
BIKEBIZ.COM
NEW PRODUCTS
GET YOUR NEW PRODUCTS FEATURED IN
Send your product details including a hi-res photo and brief description of the product.
Email mark.sutton@intentmedia.co.uk. Or call Mark on +44 (0)1992 535646 for a chat
Recon Instruments Jet
Madison: 01908 326000
HAVING SIGNED futuristic eyewear brand recon to its
stable, Madison will have stock of the Jet glasses from
February 2014.
Recon specialises in what it calls Heads-Up Display
technology, which in short means that you can view
live ride data ‘direct to eye’, all without any
interruption of your view. Data such as speed,
distance, elevation and more is easily accessible and
should you have the right equipment, the Jet connects
via Bluetooth to display information from power
meters, heart rate monitors and cadence sensors.
What’s more, the glasses also pair up to iPhone and
android devices, eabling the rider to take calls on the
move, among other things.
The glasses themselves are advanced too, with the
Jet sporting light-sensitive polarised lenses. All of this
and the glasses weigh just 60 grams.
Mark Cavendish: At Speed
Full Windsor Nutter tool
Boardman Elite SLR, CXR lines
Ebury Publishing: 01206 255678
Union of Pedallers: 0113 2451128
Direct: elite_sales@boardmanbikes.com
DOCUMENTING A long list of firsts from a British
rider, Mark Cavendish: At Speed details the life of one
of the most prolific sprinters in the long history of
pro cycling.
Cavendish himself says of the title: “So much has
happened since my last book Boy Racer, not least
winning the green and rainbow jerseys. With At
Speed I want to take the fans right inside the intense
world at the very top of cycling, both on and off the
bike and show how much my life has changed as
cycling has grown into a mainstream sport.”
Cavendish has also added the title MBE, as well as
the 2011 sports personality of the year award, also
documented in the book. To the present day and his
new role in the ranks of Omega Pharma Quick Step,
At Speed skips no chapter in the sportsman’s
highlight strewn career.
EAST LONDON accessories firm Full Windsor has
come up with a multi-tool that it calls ‘The Nutter’.
At £39.99, the unit comes tucked into a stylish
leather pouch and the tool’s layout lends itself to
leverage, with the tool itself becoming a handle. The
tool weighs just 110g or 3.9oz and will fit easily into
a saddle bag or jersey pocket.
The ‘Nutter’ comprises: nylon coated tyre lever;
15mm box head spanner; spoke key; 3,4,5, 6 and
8mm hex tool bits; Phillips head screwdriver; flat
head screwdriver, 25 torque bit and a magnetic tool
bit extender. The pièce de résistance, for when a beer
is necessary at the end of a long ride, is a bottle
opener. The Nutter is housed in a pouch made
recycled inner tube and leather in an attractive burnt
brown or jet black colour. www.unionofpedallers.cc
BOARDMAN HAS added to the world-class, multiple
title-winning Elite Series AiR, AiR/TT and SLR platforms
by creating the all-new SLS, CXR and AiR/TTE models.
The SLS is an all-day fast riding Endurance frame
combining comfort with performance. The CXR is a
superfast multi-terrain bike for off-road and gravel
grinding. The AiR/TTE has been designed using the
latest Computational Fluid Dynamics technology and
wind tunnel testing, resulting in an incredibly fast,
super aerodynamic frame platform which has a 5 per
cent increase over the Kona winning AiR/TT. Developments have been made to the carbon layups on all new bikes, with features including one-piece
bottom brackets and oversized box section stays for
better power transfer, tapered steerers for improved
handling and clean cable routing for aero efficiency.
The very first SLS, SLR and CXR models from the allnew 2014 Elite Series will be available during
December, with further models being added early in
the New Year and the AiR/TTE will be available in
Spring 2014.
BIKEBIZ.COM
BIKEBIZ DECEMBER 69
70 BIKEBIZ DECEMBER
BIKEBIZ.COM
COMMUNITY
SPONSORED BY
is keen to publish your
opinions, whether you send them
via email, Facebook, Twitter,
BikeBiz.com or semaphore…
The Mighty 14
RRP £19.99
Safety debate
RESPONSE
TO STORY VIA
BIKEBIZ.COM
CYCLIST KILLED BY BUS
“NOT WEARING A
HELMET,” SAYS MET POLICE
Why does the Met Police’s press release
state whether the cyclist was wearing a helmet or not during
the collision? You can go for the conspiracy, or you can go for
the likelihood that for the past ten years-plus, the first
question asked by a large portion of there press whenever a
cyclist is killed has been ‘was he wearing a helmet?’ – and in
this context it’s entirely understandable if, as a matter of
course, they release that information in an official press
release when they have it...
Kieran Foster
RESPONSE
TO STORY VIA
BIKEBIZ.COM
SHOULD WE FEAR THE
DISTRIBUTION MODEL
SHAKE UP?
Response #1 Working for a local bike shop,
I’d like to see more direct and comparable margins offered to
small, local bike shops as those larger on-line brands offer –
we’ve no chance competing at a component level, especially
when the larger online retailers like CRC go direct to European
sources and we are left maybe getting third-hand distributed
components at a price higher than those large internet retailers
are selling to the customer for, and that’s before we add any
margin – very difficult for the local bike shop in this market.
‘Cycling Instructor’
Response #2 @Cycling Instructor – I think the key parts of the
problem here are a combination of the shake-up in the supply
chain, the willingness of the cheaper suppliers in the Far East
and elsewhere to accept smaller orders (hence micro-brands
springing up all over the place) and lastly the big boys with
substantial VC or other backing having to keep the turnover
figures up and to do so being ruthless in their discounting
policies, in the knowledge that they have a hold over their
suppliers, who will find it difficult to challenge those policies
on the products for which they are responsible...
There are undoubtedly direct deals done with suppliers in
Europe and elsewhere from time-to-time, but the real problem
is more likely that some of the bigger dealers are asked to preorder in quantity to help bulk orders out, the incentive often
being very low prices to the dealer. Ideally of course those
dealers would take the extra margin, but usually IME those
deals are used to support an aggressive discounting policy at
retail.
The problem from a wholesaler’s perspective is that the
natural order of things in a vertical market has always been
that the wholesaler will have a greater turnover than will a
retailer – now, the biggest online retailers have turnovers that
comfortably exceed those of many of their suppliers and if the
wholesalers try to avoid supplying, or make supply difficult,
those customers are in a strong position to approach
manufacturers and try to do a deal direct – so the wholesalers
are between a rock and a hard place. A very few brands have
managed to avoid this trap of course, but in general they were
strong brands before online grew to the extent that it has done.
I’m not sure that a comparable margin is what IBDs really
need – not many given their likely turnover, could survive on
10-20 per cent, which are not unusual margins for online
retailers to make on some lines – what is needed are
alternative ways of bringing income through the door that
depend on goods and services that can’t be downloaded, or, as
George [Bowie] suggests, ways of adding value to a product or
a brand in a way that online retailers can’t match.
There should also be a willingness on the part of the
wholesale trade to acknowledge that if the trends that are
growing now continue, they will find themselves increasingly
marginalised and so I think that collectively they have to
resist the pressure from some larger retailers in order to
control the falling elevator of retail prices which in the long
term do no favours for anyone, least of all (in the long run), the
end customer.
Graeme King, Velotech Cycling
STAR COMMENT
This month the lucky winner will
receive a precision engineered tool
for on the go and workshop use, for
a wide variety of repair tasks
ROAD SAFETY MINISTER
TO RIDE BROMPTON ON
TOUR OF LONDON’S
DANGER SPOTS
“Wonder how many drivers he sees
RLJing.”
@Gazza_D
UK MOTORISTS STUCK IN
JAMS 84 HOURS A YEAR
(ON BIKES, THEY’D BE FREE)
“What’s that in pollutant levels?”
@jitensha_oni
LORD JAMES: “CYCLISTS
HOPE TO BE HIT SO THEY
CAN FILM IT”
“British Lord aiming for upper class twit
guest spot at Python reunion?”
@Chris_keam
“@David_Cameron can you have a word
with this idiot. He’s one of yours I think”
@thing_three
RESPONSE
TO STORY VIA
BIKEBIZ.COM
EUROBIKE MOVES DEMO
DAY TO THE SHOW
GROUNDS
Even more traffic chaos is on the cards then!
Andy Easterbrook, Wildoo
“Lord James is attacking the #cyclesafe
campaign by The Times. Callous or what?”
@Emmaway20 (parody account)
“A new name in my black book of shame”
@VinoVeloVinyl
in association with
The new BikeBiz Bible is out now,
providing the industry with a
must-have guide to the UK’s
retailers, distributors,
manufacturers and related
businesses.
If you’d like to find out more,
contact Jake Adams on
01992 535647 or email
Jake.Adams@intentmedia.co.uk
The BikeBiz Bible is now
available online.
Visit www.bikebiz.com
2PURE
46c Bavelaw Road, Balerno, Edinburgh, EH147AE
Tel: 0844 811 2001
www.2pure.co.uk
ANSMANN UK LTD
Units 11-12, RO24, Harlow Business Park,
Harlow, Essex. CM19 5QB
Tel: 0870 609 2233
www.ansmann.co.uk
ATG TRAINING - HEAD OFFICE
Future Centre, Smeaton Close,
Aylesbury, Bucks, HP19 8SZ
Tel: 01296 737815
www.atg-training.co.uk
HAMERVILLE
Regal House, Regal Way,
Watford WD24 4YF
Tel: 01923 237799
atg training
BM7 DISPLAYS
Unit 7, Metro Centre, Toutley Road,
Wokingham. Berkshire, RG41 1QW
Tel: 0118 977 2914
www.bm7displays.com
for your future...
Bespoke Displays for
the Cycle Industry
BUFFERA LTD
Cranborne House, Cranborne Road,
Potters Bar, Herts EN6 3JN
tel: +44 (0)1707 852244
www.buffera.co.uk
BUTTERFIELD DESIGN
19 Ember Lane, Esher, Surrey, KT10 8EA
Tel: 020 8398 2407
www.butterfielddesign.com
CUSTOM SPORTS CLOTHING LTD
Unit 11 Weavers Corner,
Hampson street, Horwich, BL67JH
Tel: 07875 095 793
www.customsportsclothing.com
CYCLING COMPONENTS
5 Phillips Court, Lyme Close, Axminster, EX13 5QJ
tel: 01297 35234
www.cyclingcomponents.co.uk
EUROBIKE UK LTD
Unit B Grampian Buildings,
Sinfin Lane Industrial Park,
Sinfin Lane Derby, DE24 9GL
Tel: 01332 774 796
www.eurobike.uk.com
EVOLUTION IMPORTS
27 Widmore Road,
Bromley, Kent, BR1 1RW
Tel: 0208 290 0807
www.evolutionimports.co.uk
FAT BOY IMPORTS
Unit 10, Weavers Corner,
Hampson St, Horwich, BL6 7JH
Tel: 07966 401165
www.fatboyimports.com
For additional copies please contact
FISHER OUTDOOR LEISURE LIMITED
8/9 Brick Knoll Park,
Ashley Road, St Albans,
Herts, AL1 5UG
Tel: 01727 798345
www.fisheroutdoor.co.uk
FENIX LIGHT
8/F, 2nd Building, DongFangMing
Industrial Center, 33th District,
Bao’an, Shenzhen, China
Tel: +86-755-29631163/83
www.fenixlight.com
HOTLINES EUROPE LTD
Unit 17 The Loan,
Viewforthbank Industrial Estate,
South Queensferry, EH30 9SD
Tel: 0131 319 1444
www.hotlines-uk.com and
www.hotlines-europe.com
I-RIDE
7-8B Mid Sussex Business Park,
Ditchling Common Industrial Estate,
Folders Lane East, Ditchling,
Sussex, BN6 8SE
Tel:01444243000
www.i-ride.co.uk
ISKUTE
Unit A3 Westfield Business Park,
Long Road, Paignton,
Devon, TQ4 7AU
Tel: +44 (0)1803 558885
www.iskute.com
JUICE LUBES LTD
15 Leighdene Close,
Exeter, Devon, EX2 4PN
Tel: 07807 077 491/07713 157 523
www.juicelubes.co.uk
JUNGLE PRODUCTS LTD
Unit 3, The Cedar, New York Mills,
Summerbridge, HG3 4LA
Tel: 01423 780088
www.jungleproducts.co.ukand
www.santacruzbikes.co.uk
MADISON
74 Alston Drive, Bradwell Abbey,
Milton Keynes, Buckinghamshire,
MK13 9HA
Tel: 0800 1300 598 (Customer Care and Warranty)
01908 326000 (Sales)
www.madisonb2b.co.uk (B2B)
www.madison.co.uk (Consumer)
MARA MEDIA
Unit 5 Teach na Rosann,
Annagry, County Donegal,
Rep of Ireland
Tel: 353 (0) 74 954 8935
www.maramedia.ie
MEALOR-CLARKE CYCLE SPARES LTD
Unit 1, Eastlands Road,
Leiston, Suffolk, IP16 4LL
Tel: 01728830055/01728605970
www.mealorclarkecyclespares.com
DISTRIBUTION
AND WHOLESALE
E-COMMERCE
AND EPOS
EVENT
ORGANISERS
MERIDA BICYCLES LTD
Unit 13,
Nottingham South and Wilford
Industrial Estate,
Ruddington Lane,
Wilford,
Nottingham, NG11 7EP
Tel: 0115 981 7788
www.merida.com
MOJO SUSPENSION HOODOO LTD
2 Rbf Business Centre,
Pontymister Industrial Estate,
Risca,
Newport, NP11 6NP
Tel: 01633 615815
www.mojo.co.uk
MOORE LARGE AND CO LTD
Sinfin Lane Industrial Estate,
Sinfin Lane,
Derby, DE24 9GL
Tel: 01332 274252
www.moorelarge.co.uk
PALIGAP LTD
Unit 2 Danbury House,
Great Western Park,
Armstrong Way,
Yate,
Bristol, BS37 5NG
Tel: 01454 313 116
www.paligapltd.co.uk
PARKLIFE (HAVANT) LTD
Unit 5,
Butterick Building,
New Lane,
Havant, P09 2ND
Tel: 02392 475895
POWACYCLE
Akhter House,
Perry Road,
Harlow,
Essex, CM18 7PN
Tel: 01279 821243
www.powacycle.co.uk
RALEIGH UK LTD
Church Street,
Eastwood,
Nottingham, NG16 3HT
Tel: 01773 532600
www.raleigh.co.uk
www.cyclelife.com
www.diamondback.co.uk
RED CLOUD MARKETING & COMMUNICATIONS
Delfan,
Llangyniew,
Welshpool, SY21 0JS
Tel: 01938 810873
www.redcloudmc.com
REECE CYCLES PLC
100 Alcester Street,
Birmingham, B12 0QB
Tel: 0121 622 0180
www.reececycles.co.uk
MEDIA AND
PUBLISHING
MARKETING,
PR AND
CONSULTANCY
MANUFACTURER,
STANDALONE
BRANDS
RUBENA
Tyburn Trading Estate,
Ashold Farm Road,
Birmingham B24 9QG
Tel: 0800 281 413
www.worldofbiketyres.com
THE CYCLE DIVISION
Unit 27 Gatehouse Enterprise Centre,
Albert Street,
Lockwood,
Huddersfield,
West Yorkshire, HD1 3QD
Tel: 0845 0508 500
www.thecycledivision.com
SEVENTIES DISTRIBUTION
Unit 1,
25 Moorhurst Road,
St Leonards on Sea,
East Sussex, TN38 9NB
Tel: 0845 310 3670
www.seventies.co.uk
THE CYCLE SHOW
58 White Lion Street,
Islington,
London, N1 9PP
Tel: 020 7288 6733
Tel: 0207 288 6010
www.cycleshow.co.uk
SILVERFISH UK LTD
Unit 3C and 3B Woodacre Court,
Saltash Parkway Industrial Estate,
Burraton Road,
Saltash,
Cornwall, PL12 6LY
Tel: 01752 843882
www.silverfish-uk.com
VELOTECH SERVICES LTD
26-27 Western Road,
Stratford-upon-Avon,
Warwickshire, CV37 0AH
Tel: 01789295470
www.velotechservices.co.uk
SONIC CYCLES
PO Box 39804,
London, W11 4WQ
Tel: 020 7243 2848
www.soniccycles.co.uk/b2b
SURF SALES LTD
Point Break,
North Road,
Shorncliffe,
Folkestone,
Kent, CT20 3UH
Tel: 01303 850553
www.surf-sales.com
ORGANISATIONS
TENN OUTDOORS
82 Castleham Road,
Castleham Industrial Estate,
St. Leonards on Sea,
East Sussex,
TN38 9NT
Tel: 01424 854411
www.tenn-outdoors.co.uk
SCHWALBE TYRES UK LTD
Schwalbe Centre,
Hortonwood 30,
Telford,
Shropshire, TF1 7ET
Tel: 01952 602 680
www.schwalbe.co.uk
SPORT DIRECT LTD
Unit 80,
Courthill House,
60 Water Lane,
Wilmslow,
Cheshire, SK9 5AJ
Tel: 0845 2693060
www.sport-direct.co.uk
SERVICES
AND TRAINING
SYNERGY ACTION LTD
25 Balena Close,
Creekmoor Industrial Estate,
Poole,
Dorset, BH17 7EB
Tel: 01202 736 662
www.synergyaction.eu
SADDLEBACK LTD
Unit 10, Easter Court,
Woodward Avenue,
Yate, Bristol, BS37 5YS
Tel: 01454 285 285
www.saddleback.co.uk
SPIN PR
SI Buildings,
Foodbrook Park,
Marlborough Road
Pewsey,
Wiltshire, SN9 5NU
Tel: 01672 518265
www.spin-pr.com
RETAILERS,
WORKSHOP
AND MAIL ORDER
WALKERS CYCLE COMPONENTS LTD
22 Holywell Road,
Leicester, LE2 8SG
Tel: 01162 833885
www.walkerscycles.co.uk
UK Ltd
ZIPVIT SPORT
7-8B Mid Sussex Busines Park,
Ditchling Common Industrial Estate,
Folders Lane East, Ditchling
Tel: 06 283 3885
www.zipvitsport.co.uk
ZYRO LTD
Thirsk Business Park,
York Road, Thirsk, YO7 3BX
Tel: 01845 521 700
www.zyro.co.uk
www.zyrob2b.co.uk
If you’d like to find out more,
contact Jake Adams on
01992 535647 or email
The BikeBiz Bible is now available online.
Visit www.bikebiz.com
74 BIKEBIZ DECEMBER
BIKEBIZ.COM
COMPANY PROFILE AND EVENTS
UPCOMING EVENTS
SPOTLIGHT
COMPANY PROFILE
SEAN DEANE
OPTIMUM SPORTS
Tel: +44 (0) 1942 497707
Email: enquiries@optimumsport.com
W: www.optimumsport.com/cycling
CORE BIKE
Sunday January 26th to 29th
Whittlebury Hall, Northants
www.corebike.co.uk
January 2014
ZYRO’S CYCLE VISION
Tuesday January 21st
Vinopolis, London &
Thursday January 23rd
Royal Armouries, Leeds
www.zyrob2b.co.uk
FISHER OUTDOOR LEISURE’S
EXPO 2014
Dates TBC
Sopwell House, St Albans
www.fisherexpo.co.uk
March 2014
CORE BIKE
Whittlebury Hall, Northants
www.corebike.co.uk
TAIPEI CYCLE SHOW 2014
Wednesday March 5th to 8th
Nangang Expo Centre, Taipei
www.taipeicycle.com.tw
THE BIKE PLACE
Silverstone, Northamptonshire
www.thebikeplaceshow.co.uk
BIKE AND TRI SHOW
March 8th and 9th
Manchester Central,
Manchester
February 2014
LONDON BIKE SHOW 2014
Thursday Feb 13th to 16th
ExCeL, London
thelondonbikeshow.co.uk
ICEBIKE* 2014
Tuesday Feb 25th to 27th
Madison’s Milton Keynes
Distribution centre
www.icebike.co.uk
THE TRIATHLON SHOW 2014
Friday February 28th to 2nd
Sandown Racecourse, Surrey
www.triathlonshow.co.uk
April 2014
WELSH CYCLE SHOW
Saturday April 4th and 5th
Wales National Velodrome,
Newport
www.welshcycleshow.com
July 2014
TOUR DE FRANCE
Saturday July 5th to 27th
Yorkshire, Cambridgeshire,
London and France
letour.yorkshire.com and
www.letour.fr
For more cycle trade dates: www.bikebiz.com/events
THE BIBLE
IS BACK!
BIKEBIZ.COM
In association with
Can you fill us in on Optimum’s
rugby background?
Optimum was established in 1996 and
has grown to become one of the
world’s leading rugby protective
brands, supplying the British Lions team
in 1997 and the World Cup winning
England team in 2003. Supplying over
400 independent general sports
retailers and distributors across the
world in France, Canada, USA, Italy and
Australia amongst others, Optimum is
one of the most recognised brands in
the rugby world.
Moving on to the cycle side of the
business: To give an idea of the
depth of the range, how many items
are in the Optimum line-up?
The range is continually evolving and
at the moment it is split between
clothing and accessories with over 40
individual lines – and there’s even more
to come.
Can you explain the Hawkley and
Nitebrite ranges? Is one a particular
focus for Optimum?
Both ranges are targeted at the
commuter and cycling enthusiast with
the Hawkley range being for everyday
use and the Nitebrite range more
specifically being manufactured in
fluorescent and reflective materials to
enhance visibility in the dark.
How does Optimum stand out
against the competition?
As an already established and
respected brand in the sports industry,
we are able to bring to the cycling
market our knowledge and expertise
that we have used in rugby to the
manufacturing and production of our
cycling range. In addition to this we
have always prided ourselves on
creating innovative, exciting and
technically advanced products.
And you’re looking for dealers to
take the brand on?
Yes, as detailed we currently already
supply over 400 independent sports
retailers and are excited to get involved
with the cycling specialist retailers too.
After exhibiting at both the London
Bike Show and The Cycle Show at the
NEC, we have already opened many
new accounts and would like to build
on this.
Have you got any point of sale
options for dealers?
We have a number of POS options
promoting the brand in general, i.e.
window stickers, posters, slat wall
headers. We now have a cycling
specific range which is available on
request and can be dispatched with
initial orders.
What are the best contact details
for retailers to get in touch?
We have a network of regional Sales
Representatives around the country
already who are more than happy to
call in and present the range. If any
retailers require more information,
please feel free to contact us direct on
01942 497707 or at
enquiries@optimumsport.com and we
can make an appointment for you.
For additional copies please contact:
BIKEBIZ DECEMBER 75
BIKEBIZ MARKETPLACE
TO ADVERTISE IN THESE PAGES PLEASE CALL JAKE ADAMS ON 01992 535647
MARKETPLACE CONTACTS
BIKES & ACCESSORIES
B&W International (Cases & Bags)
01539 751 127
Bob Elliot & Co Ltd
01772 459 887
www.bike-cases.co.uk
www.bob-elliot.co.uk
Jungle Products
01423 780 088
www.jungleproducts.co.uk
Kinesis
01404 711 611
www.upgradebikes.co.uk
Lezyne
01404 711 611
www.upgradebikes.co.uk
M&J Distributors Ltd
01613 379 600
www.mjdist.co.uk
Madison
01908 326 000
www.madisonb2b.co.uk
The Cycle Division
0845 0508 500
www.thecycledivision.com
BIKE MAINTENANCE
Clarks Cycle Systems
01827 382 800
www.clarkscyclesystems.com
Ice Toolz
02392 521 912
www.windwave.co.uk
Morgan Blue
02392 521 912
www.windwave.co.uk
Weldtite
01652 660 000
www.weldtite.co.uk
CLOTHING
Lusso
0161 724 5222
www.lusso-clothing.co.uk
Wildoo
01908 374 555
www.wildoo.co.uk
COMPONENTS
THE BIKEBIZ MARKETPLACE OFFERS A COMPLETE
MARKETING PACKAGE OF PRINT, ONLINE AND
EDITORIAL VISIBILITY, ALLOWING COMPANIES THE
OPPORTUNITY TO MAINTAIN CONTACT WITH READERS
EACH MONTH WITHOUT THE ASSOCIATED COST OF
FULL DISPLAY ADVERTISING.
Its associated online
version, has been
designed to offer
readers a directory of
all products and
services in the bike
trade.
Marketplace
Rates:
Quarter Pa
ge
£175
(minimum
six months)
Your presence in this
section ensures that
your company’s
details are easily
found, keeping you
one step ahead of
your competitors.
THE STANDARD PACKAGE INCLUDES:
A quarter page advert in each issue
Regular editorial coverage in the dedicated column
Company details listed in the online directory
with web link
Company details listed in the BikeBiz
Marketplace Contacts
A2Z
02392 521 912
www.windwave.co.uk
Gigapower
01295 710 518
www.gigapower.co.uk
Nokon
02392 521 912
www.windwave.co.uk
To get your company featured here contact:
Pace Cycles Ltd
01751 460 599
www.pacecycles.com
Sonic Cycles
0207 2432 848
www.soniccycles.co.uk/b2b
USE Ltd
01798 344 477
www.use1.com
Jake Adams on 01992 535647 or
jake.adams@intentmedia.co.uk
0845 644 9424
www.evopos.com
Citrus Lime
0845 6039 254
www.citrus-retail.com
Seanic Retail Software
01926 338 932
www.seanicretail.co.uk
01494 530 761
www.adcal-labels.co.uk
01282 699 555
www.pendle-bike.co.uk
Argos
01179 724 730
www.argoscycles.com
Bob Jackson Cycles Ltd
01132 551 144
www.bobjacksoncycles.co.uk
DEALER MANAGEMENT SYSTEMS
Evopos
In association with
EPOS & ECOMMERCE
LABELS
Adcal Labels
RACKS
Pendle
RESPRAYS & REPAIRS
WATER BOTTLES
Bottlesport
08456 029 267
www.bottlesport.com
01709 511 766
www.siwis.co.uk
AN ESSENTIAL GUIDE TO RETAILERS,
SUPPLIERS AND SERVICES WITHIN
THE CYCLE TRADE
WEBSITE SERVICES
SiWis Limited
76 BIKEBIZ DECEMBER
AVAILABLE NOW
BIKEBIZ.COM
BIKEBIZ | MARKETPLACE
BIKES & ACCESSORIES
BIKES & ACCESSORIES
BIKES & ACCESSORIES
BIKES & ACCESSORIES
New 2014 Lines Now In Stock
đŏ1((ŏŏ/!.2%!ŏ* ŏ3..*05ŏ'ŏ1,ċŏ
đŏ+),!0%0%2!ŏ).#%*/ŏ* ŏ/0+'ŏ%*ŏ(!2!(/
The Original Carbon Pioneers
đŏ+),!0%0%2!ŏ).#%*/ŏ* ŏ,.%%*#ŏ/0%(%05
đŏ.#!ŏ !(!.ŏ0!..%0+.%!/
New York Mills, Summerbridge, Harrogate, HG3 4LA
New York Mills, Summerbridge, Harrogate, HG3 4LA
01423 780 088 or info@jungleproducts.co.uk
01423 780 088 or info@jungleproducts.co.uk
BIKEBIZ.COM
BIKEBIZ DECEMBER 77
BIKES & ACCESSORIES
BIKES & ACCESSORIES
BIKES & ACCESSORIES
BIKES & ACCESSORIES
78 BIKEBIZ DECEMBER
BIKEBIZ.COM
BIKEBIZ.COM
BIKES & ACCESSORIES
BIKES & ACCESSORIES
BIKES & ACCESSORIES
BIKES & ACCESSORIES
BIKEBIZ DECEMBER 79
BIKE MAINTENANCE
BIKE MAINTENANCE
EXO-SKEL-F&R160B-SLC
Black EXO front and rear
2 piston hydraulic system
I.S / P.M compatiable
with 2 x 160mm rotors
12 x rotors bolts 4 x
mount bolts and 2 x hose
reduction kits boxed.
+
CLO-216
Clarks birdcage design lock on grip
designed to increase airflow to palm to
reduce sweating resulting in improved grip.
FREE OF CHARGE
Contact
inf
info@clarkscyclesystems.com
o@clarkscyclesystems.com
for information on distributors
supporting these offers.
BIKE MAINTENANCE
BIKE MAINTENANCE
MAINTENANCE:
WE’VE GOT IT
COVERED
Workshop quality tools for the home
mechanic – precision engineered by Cyclo
• Chain Tools Including wear indicators and rivet extractors
Chain Wear Indicator 07902 Rivex Chain Rivet Extractor 06003
Universal Rivoli Chain Rivet Extractor 06300
• Spanners Workshop quality spanners for all parts of your bike
Single Headed Cone Spanners Available in sizes from 13mm-22mm
15mm Pedal Spanner 06382 Forged 15mm Pedal Spanner 06371
Plus a wide range of Open/Ring, Bottom Bracket and Headset Spanners
• Sprocket Removers With long cushioned handles for ease of use
5,6,7 & 8 Speed 06383 9 & 10 Speed 06385
• Torque Wrench Ensures nuts are tightened correctly
3/8” Drive, 3-25 Nm Torque Wrench 06317
• Multi Tools Folding allen key and screwdriver sets
Multi Tool 06320 Deluxe Multi Tool 06321
• Basic Tools All the essentials that no toolbox should be without –
including pliers, screwdrivers, cable cutters, hammers and files
BRANDS BY
www.weldtite.co.uk
80 BIKEBIZ DECEMBER
BIKEBIZ.COM
CLOTHING
BIKE MAINTENANCE
E
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IN TER
CLEANERS:
WE’VE GOT IT
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The ultimate range of mechanic
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• Dirtwash Bike Cleaner Cleans safely with minimum scrubbing
1 Ltr Spray 03028 5 Ltr Refill Tub 03031
• Citrus Degreaser Specially formulated to degrease oily parts
400ml Aerosol 03002 75ml Liquid 03017 1 Ltr Refill Tub 03022
250ml Spray 03023
WINDTEX
THERMAL
JACKET
• Metal Polish Unique formula polish suitable for all metals
75g Tube 02007
• Disc Brake Cleaner A heavy duty disc brake cleaning spray
250ml Aerosol 03029

• Chain Degreaser Machine Chain driven four sided brush action
Machine and 75ml bottle of Citrus Degreaser 06017
MADE IN THE UNITED KINGDOM BY
T
LUSSOCLOTHINGCOUK
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CLOTHING
COMPONENTS
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wildoo.co.uk info@wildoo.co.uk 01908 374555
BIKEBIZ.COM
BIKEBIZ DECEMBER 81
COMPONENTS
COMPONENTS
SEE US AT THE BIKE PLACE
STAND: C8
YOUR TOTAL BRAKE SOLUTION
ROAD & CITY BIKE
WHY ARE WE UNIQUE?
Tests have proven our pads and
blocks to be safer, quieter, less
abrasive and longer lasting with
greater stopping power than
other leading brands
MOUNTAIN BIKE & CYCLOCROSS
DISK PADS
THE DIFFERENCE
Reliable in dry and wet conditions
Guaranteed not to squeal
No toe-in adjustment required
Contains no metal material
Compound lasts Longer
Different solution for different rims
Environmentally friendly
Made from ceramic fibres
DEALERS SHOULD CONTACT US NOW
Tel: 01295 710518
Email: info@gigapower.co.uk
COMPONENTS
82 BIKEBIZ DECEMBER
COMPONENTS
BIKEBIZ.COM
COMPONENTS
COMPONENTS
Own The Night.
est.1990
RX
SHOKPOST
X3.0
DISC WHEELS
SUMMIT
BAR
Engineered
Excellence
The NEW 2014 Exposure Lights range.
Available to order now.
Dealer Enquiries: Info@USE1.com or 01798 344 477
ULTIMATE SPORTS ENGINEERING
The Perfect Cyclocross Build Kit
Full range available to order now at www.B2BUSE.com
Dealer Enquiries: Info@USE1.com or 01798 344 477
www.exposurelights.com
www.use1.com
EPOS & ECOMMERCE
BIKEBIZ.COM
BIKEBIZ DECEMBER 83
LABELS
EPOS & ECOMMERCE
Bike Frame Stickers
Get your name around, remind your customers where
they bought their bike or accessories and where to
take it for a service.
Any size, shape up to 60x40mm,
1-3 colours include laminate so no
scratching.
500
£92
1000
£120
2000
£165
Origination £30
www top tube stickers up to
20x150mm. 1 colour on clear
500
£105
1000
£145
2000
£190
Origination £20
(IGH7YCOMBE
WWWFREEWHEELINBIKESCOUK
www.cycle-world.co.uk
Serviced By -
LONGHAM, 01202 590414
RINGWOOD, 01425 470835
Tel. 01479 870 050
Sales - Service - Setup - Repairs
Gomm Road, High Wycombe, Bucks, HP13 7DJ
Telephone: (44) (0) 1494 530761
email: sales@adcal-labels.co.uk
www.adcal-labels.co.uk
RACKS
84 BIKEBIZ DECEMBER
RESPRAYS & REPAIRS
BIKEBIZ.COM
RESPRAYS & REPAIRS
WATER BOTTLES
WEBSITE SERVICES
BIKES & ACCESSORIES
BIKE MAINTENANCE
COMPONENTS
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EPOS & ECOMMERCE
LABELS
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RESPRAYS & REPAIRS
SALES TRAINING
TRAINING SERVICES
WATER BOTTLES
WEBSITE SERVICES
GET YOUR COMPANY FEATURED IN THE
BIKE BIZ MARKETPLACE BY CONTACTING:
Jake Adams
01992 535647
jake.adams@intentmedia.co.uk
BIKEBIZ.COM
BIKEBIZ DECEMBER 85
OFF TRACK
Let’s get
statistical
How does the government think cycle usage will fare over the
next few decades? How many bikes has Cyclescheme sold
since 2009? And how much should be spent to increase
cycling? All these questions, plus a few others, are answered in
our latest statistical glut of figures from the bike biz...
Steve Toll,
Founder and CEO of ISM Saddles
362,582
The number of bikes sold through Cyclescheme since 2009
(correct at time of press)
What bikes do you own and where’s your favourite place
to ride? I own a Trek, Specialized, Cannondale and Quintana
Roo... I have way too many bikes: My wife and I have 13. We
ride them to get some lunch, though for leisure I like riding in
Florida as we’ve got excellent trails here. The trails by Lake
Michigan are a favourite too, where I rode as a little boy.
Tell us about your background in the business: When I
worked as a police officer in the ‘90s, my wife and I used to
ride regularly. One Christmas she bought me a bike and we
would ride the Tampa Bay area. My comfort would deteriorate
on longer rides, so that’s where the idea came from. I was
sitting in the bathroom reading and I realised how much more
comfortable I was. My brother made the first sample from a
design I sketched, welding up a plastic model. Over the years
we perfected the design, though it has always been a noseless
design. The first models looked a lot like a toilet seat.
Tell us a bit about the science behind ISM’s saddle: I learned
about a German eurologist called Dr Frank Sommer who I
think now works at the University of Hamburg. He’s noted for
his work with accurately measuring blood flow, so in the early
days he was a big part of shaping our product. We went after
the tri market first as it’s more accepting of new ideas – the
regular road market is a more traditional. Now we work with
physicians and road cyclists in Tampa who consult with us and
help shape our ideas.
You’ve built a strong reputation in the tri world – do sales
come easy nowadays? Our athletes sweep the podiums on a
regular basis and that translates to sales. We’ve had people call
and ask which saddles our athletes use before ordering.
One third – 1/3
30 per cent of people split their commute
between cycling and another mode of
transport, including trains, buses and cars
(Source: Cyclescheme)
Anything big in the pipeline for 2014?
We’ve always got new bits in the pipeline, we’re always
listening to customer feedback in order to work out what’s
next. At Interbike we introduced the Berkley cruiser saddle.
Two of the first test riders said it was a sofa for the bicycle.
Which shows will we see the brand at in 2014? We’ll be at
Interbike, Eurobike and, in the UK, the London Bike Show in
February. We’ll also be with the Upgrade guys at Core Bike.
86 BIKEBIZ DECEMBER
BIKEBIZ.COM
OFF TRACK
£17 per person
According to a new academic study
published in Social Science & Medicine,
£17 is the required spending per person,
per year to increase cycling and decrease
motoring.
3billion miles
Department for Transport statistics
predict a decline in cycle journeys.
There’ll be a short-term rise to 3.4bn
miles in 2015 (up from 2.9bn in 2010)
but that will decline to 3billion by
2025. The DfT also believes its current
policies will see walking journeys fall
and car journeys rise…
Daniel
Gillborn,
Director
Our Survey Says
£1.2m
Silverfish enjoyed its biggest turnover
month of all time with sales of £1.2m in
October, representing a growth of 30 per
cent on October 2012.
6
Tragically, six cyclists died on London’s
roads within 14 days last month,
leading to heated calls for improved
measures to boost cyclist safety in the
capital.
1 millio
n
Getting
one mil
lion mo
cycling
re
is
latest p one of British women
ubli
Cycling
’s
four ye shed aims for
ars – as
the nex
t
well as
as man
win
y
the Oly (or more) med ning
mpics a
a
nd Para ls at
ly
m
pics
in 2016
.
BIKEBIZ.COM
NT$7.05
Giant posted its highest ever level of earnings
per share (NT$7.05)
for the first nine months of 2013. That came
despite flat sales in Europe and the US – sales
grew 28 per cent in China, however.
THE DECISION to write a monthly column for BikeBiz
was borne out of two key factors. Firstly, I was aware
that at Cyclescheme we have access to a wealth of
important and insightful data, which I wanted to share;
and secondly, I saw it as a way of interacting with the
independent bike trade on a scale I simply haven’t been
able to do before.
It’s great to see that, as we come to the end of 2013,
the cycle to work market as a whole is growing. In
addition, Cyclescheme’s share of this market is
continuing to rise. Suffice to say, the cycle to work
scheme is in rude health.
This success has been attributed to many factors.
Team GB’s success at the Olympics last year, for
example, has been one of the key ingredients in the rise
in the popularity of cycling. Further to this, I think I can
safely say that another big part of this success has been
the work we have all been doing in the bike trade.
In the case of Cyclescheme, our annual surveys (which
are due to go out to over 450,000 people nationwide
very soon) are one of the most crucial ways in which we
learn about our market. This will be the third year we will
have conducted surveys on this scale and we strongly
believe that learning from our suppliers, clients and the
wider bike trade helps us and our partners stay ahead of
the game.
Because of the data we have accumulated we know
that over 60 per cent of people hear about Cyclescheme
through a work colleague, that nearly 70 per cent are
attracted to join by the savings and that over 70 per
cent would not have bought their bike had it not been
offered through the Cycle to Work scheme. We also
know that one in four adult bikes sold in the UK are sold
through a Cycle to Work scheme.
Aside from feedback from consumers, we also need to
know what you think. That’s why, in the very near future,
a survey will be landing in your inbox. If you can take
just ten minutes out of your day to complete it, that
would be fantastic. The feedback we get from you is
incredibly important and will help ensure we are doing
everything we can to get customers through your door.
We will also share the results of the wider 2013
survey in our various group forums when we publish
them at the beginning of next year and will continue to
work closely with you all to help ensure the cycle to
work market continues to grow. See you in 2014.
Daniel Gillborn is director of
Cyclescheme, the UK’s leading provider
of tax-free bikes for work. You can reach
him on Twitter @DGCyclescheme
BIKEBIZ DECEMBER 87
OFF TRACK
Bike trade bristles
with enthusiasm
Swapping hardhats
for bike helmets
THE CYCLE trade was unusually hirsute (even for the cycle trade) in
November, thanks to charity challenge Movember in aid of men’s health.
Plenty of cycle businesses got involved, including Fisher Outdoor Leisure
(pictured mid-way through the challenge), Zyro, JeJames Cycles, Moore’s Cycles
and Dales Cycles, who partnered with Silverfish and Yeti in their efforts – all
aiming for handlebar moustaches, naturally. We’ll be honest, this photo from
Fisher makes us wonder if a few people might have cheated just a tiny little
bit, but it’s all in aid of charity tinyurl.com/movemberbiketrade2013
THE PROPERTY industry is in the midst of a love affair with cycling (we’re
told), with many property folk switching their hardhats and suits for lycra and
cycling helmets. Cycle to MAPIC is a case in point. Last month 21 property
professionals rode 450km from Milan to Cannes for the start of the
international retail property market exhibition, MAPIC, raising money for
charity. This is the partner event to the larger, Cycle to MIPIM, London to
Cannes ride, held annually in March. More info over at www.cycle2cannes.org
Mobilize Me
WE’VE BANGED
the drum for
World Bicycle
Relief before and
we’re doing it
again in support
of its latest
‘Mobilize Me’
campaign. WBR is
matching all
contributions to
the campaign,
until December
31st 2013. Mobilize Me is aiming to mobilise thousands of entrepreneurs, healthcare
workers and students by providing life-changing transportation that will help them to feed
their families, build their businesses, treat the sick, finish school, follow their dreams and
change their world. A worthy cause: http://tinyurl.com/pelkwjy
The property trade
relocated to bikes for
Cycle to MAPIC
Paw sense
of direction?
CAMBRIDGE-BASED ViewRanger has been helping BBC Children In Need’s
Richshaw Challenge stay on track. The sports computer, navigation and
buddybeacon app has been utilised by the rickshaw team and to keep supporter
up to date with the progress of the challenge. Unless BikeBiz’s eyes were
mistaken, Polaris supplied the team with cycle clothing. In total the Rickshaw
Challenge raised in excess of £1m for the charity.
CROWDFUNDING CORNER
Got an idea for a great product but no hard cash to get
started? Then it’s time to ask the internet for a hand-out…
Purple Harry of ‘Bike Floss’ fame is
looking for a cash injection to take
the business forward and has
turned to the internet, via Crowd
Cube, for help. Seeking a cool
£75,000, the cleaning brand has an
‘exciting pipeline of new product
ideas’ as well as stocking,
marketing and infrastructure
requirements. If you’ve some cash
burning a hole, head over to
http://tinyurl.com/purpleharry
88 BIKEBIZ DECEMBER
BIKEBIZ.COM
OFF TRACK
Send your pictures to
mark.sutton@intentmedia.co.uk
Abu Dhabi: Sun, sea,
sand...and cycling
THIS WINTER, spare a thought for poor Sir Chris Hoy, who has been selflessly cycling in
Abu Dhabi to boost PR for cycling in the area. While there, Sir Chris met Aboubaker Al
Sakaf, who is behind Abu Dhabi’s Fun Ride Sports which rents bikes to increasing
numbers of cycle tourists cycling Corniche beach and gardens. Al Sakaf said: “It’s all
really taking off now. A couple of years ago people here were a little bit wary about
riding bicycles, there was no established bike riding culture like there is in Europe.” We
at BikeBiz are unselfishly willing to head over for a ride too.
It’s a tough job,
but someone’s got
to cycle along sundrenched beaches
quote
unquote
“DEVELOPMENTS IN recent months
show that the bicycle season has not
really picked up in full following the bad
conditions during spring, despite good
weather in the summer months in most
countries. Therefore, there is no material
impact of sales catching up and more
products were sold at a discount at the
end of the season than anticipated…
“As our dealers are also encountering
the effects of a difficult season, less
bicycles of the new model year are
currently sold in pre-season sales;
dealers are frequently moving orders to
the spring. Nevertheless, Accell Group’s
turnover will also increase in the second
half of the year, which also
demonstrates that even during slow
economic times the underlying long
term trends of more consumer interest
for mobility, health and sports are
structural.”
Accell Group CEO René Takens,
November 19th
Right environment
for cycle training
Environment Minister Mark H Durkan paid a visit to Holy Family Primary School to
meet pupils who are receiving on-road cycle training. The school has been working
with Sustrans this year to help students learn to cycle safely, as part of the Active
Schools Travel Programme funded by Department for Regional Development and the
Public Health Agency. Local training company, Pedal Right, is delivering level 1 & 2
cycle training to schools in the North West as part of the Active Schools Travel
Programme. Sustrans’ schools officer, Michele Murphy, said: “If every child in Northern
Ireland equipped with on-road cycling skills, it would be a huge step towards a
healthier, happier generation.”
Sponsored by the brands of
Moore Large 01332 274252
“When I rode alongside you [London
Mayor Boris Johnson] to help you
launch your vision for cycling in March
this year, you made a verbal promise to
look at the successful experiences of
Paris and many other cities in restricting
the movements of heavy vehicles during
peak hours.
“London has an opportunity to
emulate and surpass Paris and to lead
the way for the other ambitious cycling
cities across Britain.
“Let’s not waste this opportunity to
do something now. The longer we delay,
the more lives will be lost.”
Chris Boardman, November 19th
“Getting a cycle
safety audit into
the mainstream
of transport
planning is very
high on our
[Labour’s] agenda
for the next
manifesto so that
cyclists and
pedestrians are not added in as
afterthoughts but planned in right from
the start.”
Shadow transport secretary Mary
Creagh, Monday November 18th
(Source: The Guardian)
For more on these stories, head to www.BikeBiz.com
BIKEBIZ.COM
BIKEBIZ DECEMBER 89
OFF TRACK
SPOKES
Invest in cycling culture
Wondering what the Twitterati have been up
to this month? Look no further...
Cycling campaign groups and bike shops are working together to
grow cycling culture, says Carlton Reid. Are you doing your bit?
Be careful ordering a bike & Di2
shifters if using predictive text I did this and my bike turned up with a
large group of Detroit Rappers...
OVER THE last couple of months I’ve given a number of
When in Cambridge I fired up the Bike Hub app – which
talks to cycle campaign groups, including in Leeds, Hackney
geo-locates nearby bike shops – and was thrilled by the
and Cambridge. These talks – I’m also available for birthdays,
BSDQ, ‘bicycle shop density quotient’. (I just made that up).
weddings and bar mitzvahs – have been made more
In short, you’re not far from a bike shop in this university
enjoyable by the cycle safaris I’m treated to. Often I’m taken
town. But sales aren’t dominated by students. Colin Beckett,
on guided tours of local bicycle infrastructure.
owner of University Cycles, says most shoppers are workers.
Hackney’s hands-on campaign group, with the help of
What many of these people on bikes might not realise is
cycle-aware councillors, has helped raise cycling to work's
how much of Cambridge’s bike friendliness has been shaped
modal share from five percent to 15 percent in ten years or
by the Cambridge Cycling Campaign. Naturally, there are
so. I was taken on a two-hour cycle safari
many other factors at work, too, such as
of the borough. Hackney's famous filtered
bike-friendly topography, including river
permeability schemes – bollards cutting
routes and car-free greens; and the
down on motorised rat-running – have
Cambridge University ‘motor proctor’ who
helped incubate a cycling culture that's
prevent students from driving cars and has
now hale and hearty. Yes, there are fixie
done so since the beginning of motoring.
hipsters in Hackney, but what blew me
Nevertheless, an active local campaign
away were the amount of solo women
group has been instrumental in growing the
pedalling around the borough after
cycling scene, and this benefits bike shops.
midnight, on normal bikes in normal
The Bristol Cycling Campaign is another
clothes. Few of them had helmets, hardly
group working wonders for local cyclists and
any were festooned with flashing LEDs.
bike shops. Campaigners have been active
I'd rather they'd had lights, but the fact
for a number of years in Bristol (it’s where
they felt safe without strobes spoke
Cyclebag was founded in 1977, a campaign
volumes. Hackney is not Houten, there
group which grew into Sustrans) and their
aren't curb-lined bike paths everywhere.
largely unsung work will now be boosted by
I saw only one. What Hackney has done
cash from the Cycling Cities Ambition fund
is re-model many of its streets so
and from the pro-bicycle policies of Bristol’s
they're a lot less welcoming to people
first elected mayor, George Ferguson. Elected
in cars and a lot more welcoming to
on an independent ticket in November 2012,
PHOTO shows filtered
people on bikes and on foot.
Ferguson says he wants to double cyclist
permeability in Cambridge…
Similarly, Cambridge has blocked off suitable for ‘nippers and nannas’. numbers in Bristol in six years.
many streets to cars, making it a pain to
There’s talk of Dutch-style infrastructure
drive a private car in Cambridge. Parking is also fiendishly
for the city. Mark Bradshaw, Bristol’s assistant mayor for
expensive and it’s just easier to get from A to B on bicycles.
transport and planning, said: “We are producing a new
None of this came about by accident, the city council –
cycling strategy and have been working with Bristol Cycling
often guided by cycle campaigners and other interested in
Campaign on plans for the strategic cycle network. We will
the public realm – made decisions to restrict cars, and
continue to work with the campaign group and other
favour bicycles. Just as in Hackney, this is a work in progress
stakeholders in delivering a comprehensive network.”
and neither place is a Groningen-style nirvana for people on
Could stakeholders include bike shops? It certainly ought
bicycles. But compared to the rest of the UK, Cambridge and
to. Bike shops across the UK should be working hand in
Hackney are light years ahead in terms of bicycle modal
(cycling) glove with their local campaign groups. They want
share and this shows in the number of bike shops.
what you want: more people on bicycles.
EDITORIAL: 01992 535646 | ADVERTISING: 01992 535647 | FAX: 01992 535648
Executive Editor: Carlton Reid
Carlton.Reid@intentmedia.co.uk
Design: Dan Bennett
Dan.Bennett@intentmedia.co.uk
Editor: Jonathon Harker
Jonathon.Harker@intentmedia.co.uk
Production Executive: Alice Sanz
Alice.Sanz@intentmedia.co.uk
Deputy Editor: Mark Sutton
Mark.Sutton@intentmedia.co.uk
Publisher: Lisa Carter
Lisa.Carter@intentmedia.co.uk
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Marketing & Circulation
bike.subscriptions@c-cms.com
Editorial
Saxon House,
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90 BIKEBIZ DECEMBER
@plastic_peloton
Funny how a ‘knee-jerk reaction’
of safer cycling provision is out
of the question, but a knee-jerk
reaction of a stupid police blitz
isn’t
@joncstone
Urgent: If any #cyclists have
been fined for not wearing a
helmet or not 'accepting advice',
please email me asap:
jenny.jones@london.gov.uk
@GreenJennyJones
The first five days after
the weekend are always
the hardest.
@RedBull
Just seen the most shocking
ever pic in Dirt mag. My
eyes need TLC now.
#youhavebeenwarned @YetiCharge
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ROAM FARTHER. RAIL HARDER.
Nico Vouilloz knows DH—and has
10 world championships to prove it.
But Enduro is a different animal:
“You can’t know the trail perfectly—
it’s too long. That’s why you need
a balanced wheel, so you can go
fast but not eat rock when you hit
something wrong.”
THE
E
LE
RELENTS
LESS
UIT
PURSUIT
OF BALANCE.
No matter where you ride, SRAM wheels will take you further. We start with
the demands of the terrain and work forward from there—carefully balancing
each wheel’s design around five key attributes: weight, inertia, engagement,
stiffness and durability. For ROAM 60, that starts with a UST compatible
CARBON TUNED rim—light enough for long climbs, strong enough for the
toughest Enduro races. ROAM 60’s DOUBLE-DECKER hub shell design takes
straightpull spoke slots and stacks them two-by-two—distributing force
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This commitment is epitomized by the “Be Visible,
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