BikeBiz April 2014, issue 99

Issue 99 | April 2014
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CYCLIST’S BRAND
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EDITORIAL
Issue 99 | April 2014
20 reasons to be cheerful
NEWS 4-6
Cycling Plus reveals its hard-fought ‘bike of the year’
and Taipei Cycle 2014 reveals plenty
MYSTERY SHOPPER
Our undercover reporter
quizzes retailers in North
Manchester. Flip to page 24 to
find out which was favoured
by our reporter
FOCUS ON…
24
TOP 20 INDEPENDENTS
13
Trade and consumers pitched in to give us an
extensive list of independent retailers leaving
customer’s smiling. But who were the 20
ICEBIKE REPORT
19
A recap on Madison’s house event, including
highlights from Sportline’s exhibition
BIKE AND TRI SHOW 27
Now in its second year, expectations were
higher, so how did the show fair?
E-BIKES
Sponsored by
The latest news from the likes
of A2B, Juicy Bikes and many
more in the electric world
38
OUTDOOR & FITNESS
Interested in the outdoor market?
It’s growing, apparently, so now may
be the time for crossover brands...
42
CUSTOM SPORTS CLOTHING
DAWES ACADEMY
31
CYCLE LUGGAGE
47
Whether its daily commute luggage, or a bike
bag for travelling, we’ve a selection of the finest
FASHION
51
35
COMMUNITY
57
When did you last send a letter? Exactly. We get
with the programme for our community page
55
A selection of the product announcements from
the past month that’ll soon be ready for retail
“Our inbox has been inundated with
tales of 40-mile trips to stores. Maybe
then, some bike shops really do earn
the title of destination store...”
Maybe cycle consumers are different and are belligerently
loyal to their favourite shops (though that’s a theory that
will be hard to stomach for many shops worrying about
online retail). Maybe then, some bikes shops really do earn
the title of destination store? Well I could harp on about
this all day and be no closer to a conclusion, so to spare
your no-doubt-by-now waning attention, here’s one of the
many testimonials sent to us this year:
“After having a not so great experience with another
bike shop I popped into Criterium Cycles and the service
I received from Paul and his team was fantastic. I was
originally put off buying a bike and getting into cycling by
the other shop, but once I had a chat with Paul I now own a
bike that I love!
I’m enjoying my cycling so much that I’ve signed up to do
a 200-mile charity cycle in China for women vs cancer this
September.”
We’re sure the many bike shops missed off our list won’t
be gnashing their teeth or having sleepless nights about
it, but if they are feeling affronted it may be of some
consolation to note that the amount of quality entries
we received amounted to a situation where – as Warren
Rossiter eloquently put it when judging the best bikes in the
Cycling Plus Bike of the Year competition – you are trying to
judge different levels of good”.
SPONSORED BY
Jonathon Harker, Editor
Casual or competitive, rain or shine, page 51
onwards has the market’s best cycling garments
NEW PRODUCTS
IN THIS issue we celebrate the top
20 independent bicycle dealers in the
UK business. You can read our top 20
later in this magazine – a list we put
together with the help of the trade and
consumers.
The task of making the list is always,
frankly, a formidable one, but on the
other hand it is also a joy to hear
some of the stories and emails we receive from bike shop
customers that are keen to shout about their local IBD.
Our group inbox has been inundated with messages
from consumers with tales of 40-mile round trips just to
go to their favourite bike shop, or of chains being fixed for
stranded cyclists for little (or more often no) charge and
many more.
To my mind these tales are almost like something from
a bygone age. Weren’t overlong journeys to far off shops
meant to be a thing of the past now we’ve got the internet
and order our groceries to be delivered to our door from a
store that is only two miles down the road?
SPOKESMAN
74
Carlton Reid talks trade shows and why ‘anchor
brands’ are important
COMPANY PROFILE 60 OFF TRACK 72 NUMBER CRUNCHING 70
NEWS
CYCLE
SHORTS
DfT reminds
cyclists to ride
central
A poster campaign telling
cyclists to take the lane
on narrow roads has been
re-introduced by the DfT.
The campaign will run for
four weeks in Birmingham,
Bristol, Cambridge, Leeds and
Manchester.
Bike Week
registration open
Registration for Bike Week
events is now live on a new
smartphone friendly website,
found at bikeweek.org.uk/
eventregistration
Bike Week runs June 14th
to 22nd.
Road.cc passes 1M
unique users
Road cycling consumer site
road.cc has for the first time
attracted over one million
unique users to its site in a
month.
Halfords facing
£1m lawsuit
A cyclist whose Saracen Raw
2 snapped at the headtube is
attempting to sue Halfords.
Joshua Love’s lawyers are
suggesting that the bike’s
“ready to give the trails
a kicking” description is
misleading.
Zyro axes
Exteondo
With immediate effect, Zyro
has ceased distribution of
Etxeondo in the UK and
Ireland.
In a statement, Zyro said
that in recent weeks Etxeondo
has announced a change
to its distribution policy:
“This change in policy will
have a negative impact on
independent bike dealers, and
as such Zyro does not wish to
be associated with the brand
moving forward.
Big Pedal sees
over 1M journeys
The Bike Hub funded Big
Pedal saw 1,520 schools rack
up an impressive 1,104,700
journeys to school on bikes
and scooters this year.
For breaking news visit:
www.bikebiz.com
4 BIKEBIZ APRIL
Cannondale triumphs in
C+ Bike of the Year
“On the whole there wasn’t a bad bike tested among the 50,” says Rossiter O
Readers average spend still within £1,500 to £2,000 bracket
by Jonathon Harker
THE CANNONDALE Synapse 5 triumphed
in Cycling Plus’ annual Bike of the Year
competition this year.
The competition pitted 50 bikes priced
between £1,500 and £2,000 – the price band
most C+ readers expect to pay for their next
bike – against each other. According to Cycling
Plus technical editor Warren Rossiter, the
competition has become harder to judge with
the quality of bikes submitted having improved
“immeasurably”.
“When we started there were some average
bikes we tested, but on the whole there wasn’t
a bad bike in the 50 we tested. At the top end
the bikes are different levels of good. We aim
to pick the best bike for many people - an all
rounder. There were some truly exceptional
bikes this year.”
For 2014, Cycling Plus shook up the format
with a final five ‘shoot out’ and the addition of
more categories.
The lure of the Bike of the Year competition
remains for the trade, Rossiter told BikeBiz:
“There is clamour to be included in the
competiton. Historically we’ve heard how
winning bikes have increased sales.
“When we started a lot of people sat back
to see how it progressed, but now it’s well
established and when we get to Eurobike we
have brands showing us their new bikes and
asking if they can be included.
“It’s a challenge in itself to get more bikes in.
I start the selection process off, whittle it down
and then involve more people the further the
process progresses.
“I rode all the bikes on a 76 mile route and
clocked up around 4,000 miles.
Cannondale’s
Synapse 5
“Anecdotally, we’re
hearing that our
readers are spending
more per bike, but the
average purchase is
still between £1,500 to
£2,000”
Warren Rossiter, technical
editor
“It’s a massive undertaking and there’s a lot
of pressure on us to do a good job.”
Running the competition has given the
C+ team insight into the changing market,
including around price.
“We’ve stuck with the £1.5k to £2k price
bracket and the research we’ve done with
Cycling Plus is that’s what our readers will
spend on their next bike, or spent on the
bike they’ve got now. We have talked about
increasing it, but we’ll see. We’re hearing that
our readers are spending more on their bikes,
but the bulk of sales are still in that area.
“There are lots of smaller brands now, but
generally it’s the same names that come
up at the top, but that’s market forces to
a degree and the amount of man power a
brand can throw at a bike.”
Rise in London
commuters cycling
by Carlton Reid
NEW CENSUS data released by the Office
for National Statistics reveals that London’s
bike commuting boom is real.
However, the picture is patchy elsewhere
in England and Wales. In London, the
number of people cycling to work has more
than doubled in ten years, up a whopping
144 percent (albeit on a low base campared
to cities such as Amsterdam). Overall,
cycling to work levels in England and Wales
as a whole were unchanged, with a modal
share of 2.8 in 2011, which is the same as
in 2001.
Other cities experiencing higher levels
of cycling to work were Brighton and Hove
( up by 109 percent), Bristol ( up by 94
percent), Manchester ( up by 83 percent) and
Newcastle (up by 81 percent). In Wales, the
most successful local authority was Cardiff
which saw an increase of 65 percent.
741,000 working residents aged 16 to 74
cycled to work in England and Wales in 2011
– an increase of 90,000 compared with 2001.
Between 2001 and 2011 the number of
people living in London that cycled to work
more than doubled from 77,000 in 2001 to
155,000 in 2011.
“The public demand is
there and many urban
councils have made
progress, but many
authorities have a
haphazard approach...”
Rachel Bromley, Sustrans
policy advisor
BIKEBIZ.COM
NEWS
Taipei Cycle round-up
Rise of Cambodia ODahon floats OBrompton launches new luggage collaboration with John Chapman
OTern and Biologic snap up design awards OInternational visitor numbers rise again
by Jonathon Harker
A VARIETY of stories emerged from
Asia’s best-known cycle show last month
against the backdrop of discussion around
the continued rise of Cambodia’s cycle
production, which has snatched ever
more significant export numbers to
Europe’s cycle trade away from Taiwan.
Dahon floats on Taiwan Stock Market
Dahon has returned to Taiwan with new
company Taiwan TW and has gone public
on the Taiwan Stock Exchange, headed
up by vice general manager Cathy Chen.
Chen will expand the workforce and
promote Dahon in the local market, while
the company will be a new subsidiary for
R&D, purchasing and distribution.
Cutting edge designs
Tern and Biologic walked away with a
three-award haul from Taipei Cycle Show.
Firstly, the Tern Swoop Duo was gonged,
with its low centre of gravity and design
so riders can easily hop on or off, using a
SRAM Automatix 2-speed drivetrain and
Tern innovations like N-Fold tech.
Also from Tern is the Trolley Rack, a
simple device that allows riders to roll
their Tern easily through train and bus
stations like a piece of luggage on wheels.
The Tern-patented system includes a
cover to keep riders grease-free. Finally,
via Biologic, the FixKit multi-tool is a
super thin, compact bicycle tool using
20 commonly used tools. Tern says it
is the only tool in its class to include a
high leverage15mm wrench for axle nuts
and pedals – the patented design locks
the wrench to the tool body so the body
becomes an extended handle with 14cm
of leverage. A neoprene pouch slips onto
the body handle for a more comfy and
firm grip.
TranzX picked up awards for its
Antishock and Quickpark stems. The
Antishock road stem improves comfort
through a vertical displacement of 0° to
Biologic’s FixKit
tool was gonged
Dr David Hon,
Dahon CEO
-2°, which absorbs most vibrations and
shocks before they can reach the cyclist.
It achieves optimum pressure distribution
and reduces typical numbness and fatigue
in hands, arms, shoulders and neck area –
especially over long rides.
The new TranzX 90° Quickpark stem
provides easy self-storage – by releasing
the safety lock and lever it is the cyclist
can rotate the handlebar sideways by
90 degrees while the front wheel remains
pointing forward. The bicycle can then be
brought indoors for storage, or even just
wheeled down a crowded pavement – if
you’ve had enough of riding?
In total 49 products were selected for
Taipei Cycle awards.
Product launches
Brompton launched a new luggage range
at Taipei Cycle Show - a collaboration with
English bag manufacturer John Chapman.
The Game Bag, which has taken inspiration
from the best-selling Gamekeeper bag, has
been made to fit the front of the Brompton
bicycle frame. It can also be removed and
used as a standard messenger-type bag.
Available in Mustard Yellow, Navy Blue
and Olive Green, the Game Bag includes
traditional Chapman bag features like
traditional waterproof cotton canvas,
military specification webbing, solid brass
hardware, English bridle leather fittings
and a rugged construction. The Game Bag
costs £230 and will be available from www.
brompton.com and selected Brompton
Bicycle dealers from April onwards.
Back with Tern, the brand launched a
Bluetooth Smart Speed/Cadence Sensor,
enabling cyclists to turn a smartphone into
a full-featured cycling computer.
The sensor uses the latest Bluetooth
4.0 protocol found in iPhone and Android
smartphones and is compatible with many
popular cycling apps, including BioLogic
BikeBrain for iPhone. A single CR2032
battery provides up to 700 hours of riding
data.
The Bluetooth Smart Speed/Cadence
sensor has a MSRP of €45.95 and will be
available in the second quarter of 2014.
Taipei Cycle Show will return alongside
TaiSPO from March 18th to 21st at
Nangang Exhibition Hall, TWTC Hall 1 &
Hall 3.
www.taipeicycle.com.tw
DISTRIBUTION NEWS
Raleigh adds SRAM distribution
Fisher Outdoor Leisure takes on unique suction cup bike racks from SeaSucker OGreyville adds £100
HD action camera label ORaleigh joins Fisher Outdoor Leisure in SRAM distribution
FISHER OUTDOORS AND SEASUCKER
Fisher Outdoor has added the SeaSucker
bike rack label to its portfolio.
Spotted at Interbike last year,
SeaSucker stands out in the bike rack
world as being the only one to use suction
cups to attach a cycle to a vehicle. The
vacuum cup system, used around the
world for the transportation of glass
panels weighing in excess of two tonnes,
makes light work of carrying bikes.
SeaSucker brand manager, James
Leader, said: “It’s not often you find a
genuine piece of innovation, but this is
and it not only looks great, but performs
amazingly well too. Even I can fit it in
under five minutes and that includes
taking it out of the box.”
The range comprises four models
fitting up to three bikes in certain models,
with prices ranging from £159.99 to
£449.99. Trade customers can pre-order
their stock now by calling the sales
team 01727 798 345, or visiting b2b.
fisheroutdoor.co.uk
6 BIKEBIZ APRIL
RALEIGH AND SRAM
SRAM has added Raleigh as a distributor
for the UK and Ireland, with stock of the
mountain bike goods expected this year,
followed by road early in 2015.
Raleigh will operate in the UK along
side SRAM’s long-term aftermarket
Distributor Fisher Outdoor Leisure, who
continue to support all brands, including
the QUARQ range of Power Meters.
Last year Raleigh UK MD Mark
Gouldthorp spoke to BikeBiz about
Accell’s close relationship with SRAM and
the increase in SRAM-specced bikes in
Raleigh’s line-up.
Ian Young, SRAM Europe after market
manager, said: “The UK Market is a very
important market for SRAM. We are
delighted to welcome Raleigh to the After
Market group alongside Fisher Outdoor
and look forward to further developing
and supporting the UK IBD with our
growing porfolio of products via these
two well established businesses.” 01773
532600
GREYVILLE AND Q-CMAZ
Greyville has become a strategic cycle
partner for Norwich-based sports tech
specialist Q-Camz.
Q-Camz is launching a range of
ultra-rugged HD action cameras and
smartphone mounts which are touted as
bringing high-end build quality into the
circa £100 category for the first time,
exclusively with Greyville.
The Q-Camz line-up includes a rugged
Q-Eco barrel cam with 1080p at 30fps &
720p at 60fps with 10m waterproofing
and image stabilisation technology, while
the affordable Q-Mountz mountable
smartphone enclosures offer high
definition video and 3m waterproofing for
iPhone and Samsung users.
Q-Eco & Q-Mountz will be listed
on Greyville Website at www.
greyville.com for B2B ordering, or for
more information contact: sales@
greyville.com, phone 0845 1661983.
Alternatively contact your account
manager.
BIKEBIZ.COM
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CHAIN REACTION
Mike Cotty now runs his
own business - Media24
Is Your Business
Socially Acceptable?
Gone are the days of who can shout the loudest for the longest. It’s those
that take the time to engage and enrich their personal relationships that are
coming out on top with their consumers, says Mike Cotty, Director at Media-24
WELL IT seems that Bob Dylan was right The
Times They Are a-Changin’ and five decades
on the sheer pace of evolution, development
and technology is, at times, staggering beyond
comprehension. Whilst Dylan may have mainly
been referencing poverty and racism in his work
he did also sight social change which, in today’s
world, is undoubtedly one of the most rapidly
expanding platforms when put into a media
context, with no sign of slowing down.
Looking back, just a few years ago, our
marketing landscape was a very different
place with the scope of brand to consumer
communication limited to just a few key areas of
engagement, namely television, radio and print
advertising. It may not have seemed like it back
then, but, compared to the modern day, it’s as if
the planet was spinning at a tenth of the speed
it is now, with traditional lines of communication
from your brand, product or service to the end
user. Often this would mean that the biggest
companies, with the deepest pockets, could shout
louder and for longer even if they didn’t have a
great deal to say. While all of those mediums are
still available and relevant in one way, shape or
form, it’s how the rise and rise of social media has
engulfed traditional means that make things a lot
more interesting and, in some respect, level the
playing field to provide opportunities for everyone
to be heard, from individuals to global enterprise,
no matter how great or small.
BIKEBIZ.COM
“Businesses
themselves
do not have
emotion, it’s the
people within
that bring a
brand
to life....”
Mike Cotty,
Media 24
The question is how to be heard among such
a plethora of social hype and constant noise?
And that’s a very good question indeed. I mean,
if you haven’t engaged your audience within
the first ten seconds on YouTube then it’s ‘click’
and onto the next video, or the tab is already
open and it’s time to see what’s happening in
the Twittersphere, or on Facebook, Instagram,
Tumblr, LinkedIn, Google+ and the like. The
list is endless and so is the constant barrage of
message alerts, status updates, videos, photo
streams and adverts from every waking (and
sleeping) moment of the day. So the answer is
simple right? Pick a platform with millions of
users and target your advertising to reach the
masses as they surf the social wave. While on
paper this may appear to be a sound theory, a
small and affordable investment to potentially
reach a huge global and highly targeted
audience, just like most things in life it’s rarely as
straight forward as it seems. Take Facebook as a
prime example. What’s the last advert that you
can actually remember that appeared on your
feed? Over 1 Billion users is a hugely impressive
statistic, but if the ad’s aren’t engaging then
how genuine is the actual reach? The constant
messaging that we all face today means we’ve
quickly evolved to ‘tune out’ anything that is
of no significant importance. The human brain
was never made to process the amount of
information that is thrown at it today. Factor
emails, meetings, spreadsheets, presentations,
family and life into the equation, along with
all of the above, and it’s obvious that you have
to quickly acquire a robust filter that is able to
focus on the content that is most important and
engaging while disregarding everything else as
background noise. Fortunately, the clever breed
that we are, means we’ve evolved in such a
way to do this subconsciously. Tune in to the
important stuff, tune out to everything else.
The beauty of today’s social media
architecture is that it allows a one-to-one
personal connection that removes the barrier
between brand and consumer to allow direct
dialogue in a two-way flow of conversation.
Businesses themselves do not have emotion,
it’s the people within them that bring a brand
to life and are able to deliver their experience,
passion and personality in a way that only
a human can and, most importantly, with
true authenticity away from acronyms and
marketing jargon. Consumers want to feel
connected, respected and understood. To be part
of something that they are passionate about
and can relate to. Today everyone has a voice,
so it’s important to take the time to listen. A
one-to-one conversation can quickly become a
one-to-all message as your advocates share their
experiences further afield among their followers.
Look for opportunities to help and bring
added value to the conversation, offering advice
or experience to better your human-to-human
relationship in everything that you do. Identify
opinion leaders in your market, and opportunities
to engage and join the conversation with your
consumers. Build a relationship and spread your
message in plain English with authenticity and
credibility in a way that takes your business
and makes it a resource, enriching, inspiring
and becoming an integrated part of the lives of
everyone you meet and greet. Just like life, social
media is a journey and the opportunities have
never been better to make it an amazing ride for
everyone, you just need to understand how to
tune in, listen and engage in the right way.
For further information contact [email protected] or visit http://media-24.co.uk
BIKEBIZ APRIL 9
FESTIVAL OF CYCLING
Cyclists can take in the
scenery and sights of
Yorkshire
‘Cycling in Yorkshire is a religion’
The stars appear to be in alignment for the fledgling Yorkshire Festival of Cycling, launching this July
alongside Le Tour. Marketing manager Oli Broom tells Jonathon Harker what he expects to see…
EVEN THE marginally interested realise that
the Tour de France will be starting in Yorkshire
this year, but for cycle enthusiasts, there will
be little else on their minds come July. Directly
tapping into that passion is new cycle event
the Dare 2b Yorkshire Festival of Cycling.
How will it be taking advantage of the world’s
greatest cycle race? And how can the trade get
involved? Busy marketing manager Oli Bloom
takes time out to speak with BikeBiz…
Can you explain the concept behind the
Dare 2b Yorkshire Festival of Cycling?
The Dare 2b Yorkshire Festival of Cycling
is taking place on July 4th to 6th 2014 at
Harewood House, location of the ceremonial
start of the 2014 Tour de France. The festival
will give thousands of cycling fans the
opportunity to camp next to the Tour de
France route, watch the world’s best riders
race through the grounds of one of England’s
finest estates and enjoy a packed weekend of
entertainment. Live music, inspirational talks,
an interactive BMX stunt-zone, film screenings
and bespoke mountain bike trails are just a few
of the other attractions that will accompany
a participation events schedule, delivered by
Human Race, that includes individual and team
time-trials, duathlons, family rides, criteriums,
trail running and unique led-rides to other
vantage points on the Tour route.
Will there be opportunities for attendees
to cycle in the ‘footsteps’ of the pro riders?
Will places be limited? The route the peloton
will take through Harewood House is the only
private road being used for Yorkshire’s Tour
de France Grand Depart and visitors to the
festival will be able to ride up and down it all
10 BIKEBIZ APRIL
weekend, before the riders come through and
after they’ve left. Not only that, they’ll be able
to compete in any number of time-trials and
criteriums. Because getting around the Dales
will be such hard work throughout the Grand
Depart, we’ve teamed up with West Yorkshire
Police to offer festival visitors the opportunity
to get into the Dales on specially designed
led-rides to other amazing vantage points on
the Tour route. These rides will be really special
and a great way to see the race after it has left
Harewood. Places are limited, but good value
at £25 per head.
“We’ve
organised
rides to help
visitors out
into the Dales
to vantage
points...”
Oli Broom,
marketing
manager
We hear there’s already a buzz in the areas
the Tour rolls through – are you hoping to
tap into that excitement with the Festival?
We already are. We’ve sold thousands of
tickets and we expect to sell thousands more.
Cycling in Yorkshire – a bit like cricket – is a
religion and we want to put on an event that
celebrates that.
Will you be competing with World Cup
audiences, or will they be catered for?
We’ll be showing the World Cup quarter-finals
live on big screens around the festival site
so England fans, assuming they’re still in the
competition, have nothing to worry about!
What pro cyclists will be appearing?
Loads of celebrities, including cyclists, will be
coming along to get involved in the rides as
well as watch the Tour go by. Local girl Lizzie
Armitstead will be joining us on Saturday 5th
July and 2006 Tour de France winner Oscar
Pereiro will be at Harewood House all weekend.
We’ve also managed to persuade the Brownlee
brothers, who grew up training on Harewood’s
lattice of bridleways and footpaths, to set
times to be beat on the trail run and cycling
time-trial circuits.
Are you seeking trade exhibitors?
Yes. Our exhibition so far consists largely of
cycling and outdoor brands, with over 50
signed up to take part. But we’d like to have
more and we believe it’ll be a great place for
brands to be seen and to engage with the
public. The exhibition stands are right next to
the Tour de France route through Harewood so
unlike during the Olympics when many brands
were sent to distant corners of the Olympic
Park, companies will benefit from a great
location with large footfall. The exhibition will
be a major part of the festival.
What size crowd do you anticipate?
It’s really difficult to say. Welcome to Yorkshire
say that 880,000 people will be lining the
Tour route on stage 1 and we expect between
20,000 to 30,000 of them will be at Harewood,
with up to 15,000 camping all weekend. It
is the Ceremonial Start after all and the first
iconic location of this year’s Tour.
Obviously Le Tour won’t run through
Yorkshire every year, but can you say
whether the event will return in 2015?
The Tour won’t be back, but the festival
will become part of the legacy of its visit
to Yorkshire and an annual event. We think
Yorkshire needs a cycling festival to rival the
best festivals in the country and Harewood is
a fantastic setting for it to take place. So the
plan is for 2014 to be a fantastic event and for
2015 to be just as good!
www.festivalofcycling.org
BIKEBIZ.COM
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Fenwick’s introduces the new Fast Blast Degreaser, a powerful solvent-based degreaser designed to
instantly clean the dirtiest of drivetrains. Its highly effective formula dissolves grease, oil and grime
fast, allowing a final blast to wash away all contaminated residue, leaving only a light,
corrosion-resistant protective coating.
Fenwick’s is also proud to announce their new marketing campaign that will incorporate partnerships
with Danny Hart and NFTO Pro Cycling. Print advertising will appear in consumer facing
publications throughout the season.
WELCOmE
LEAVING THE
TO COMPETITORS
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The process
So how did we arrive at the final 20? We
asked a number of distributors and brands to
pick out the bike shops they thought were
among the best operating in the UK at the
moment. So was our panel just aiming to
curry favour with their shops or retailers they
wanted to work with? No - the nominations
were made in private with the understanding
that those making nominations wouldn’t
be named. The nominations didn’t quite
take place in a dark room at an undisclosed
location, but you get the idea. Through this
process it wasn’t long before we began to
hear the same shop names cropping up time
and again.
Not only that, but we also turned to our
readers online for their views, though we
did resist any shops that has suspiciously
high numbers of votes, judging rather on the
quality of the nominations.
And there you have it. In the spirit of
celebrating the independent bicycle dealers
of the UK, here’s the list we came up with…
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DESPITE ALL we hear about brands going direct
to consumers, specialist chains and the rise of
online retail, the humble independent retailer
remains a hugely significant component of
the bicycle market in the UK, numbering well
in excess of 2,000.
By definition, there are a huge variety of
independent bike dealers out there targeting
different parts of the market, so compared
some of them is a little like comparing the
proverbial chalk and cheese. So why are we
doing it here? Simply to celebrate and name
check some of the 20 that have impressed
the market.
2014
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A WORD FROM OUR
SPONSOR…
Dales Cycles runs
Ladies Nights, among
other events
DALES CYCLES
This Glasgow independent dealer has
been in the bicycle business for over a century
and has been in the hands of the same family
since 1950s. Despite having sold bikes over
the decades it has moved with the times, not
least offering a modern 6,000 square foot
showroom in the city centre, a far cry from
the small shopfront of the ‘50s. In addition,
Dales also now has a store in East Kilbride,
which punters can get a feel of online with an
interactive store visit (as they can with the
Glasgow store). Dales Cycles’ office HQ is sited
alongside a warehouse close to the Glasgow
store.
The retailer is sponsor for a brand new
Scottish Women’s Road Race Series for
2014 and last month ran its first dedicated
women’s cycling evening with guest speakers,
martinis and Indian head massages, supported
by Liv/Giant. Not only that, but the shop is
no stranger to charity work, having raised
hundreds for Movember last year in a team up
with Silverfish and Yeti.
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“Punters can
get a feel of
the new store
via an online
interactive
store visit”
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You voted, shared your anecdotes and we sifted
through them all in a darkened room to come up with
the top 20 independent bicycle dealers of 2014…
IBD
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CYCLESCHEME, ONE of the best-known
cycle to work providers in the UK,
teamed up with us to launch the search
for the top 20 IBDs.
Not only does Cyclescheme work with
over 2,000 independent bicycle dealers
across the UK, but also with companies
of all sizes to enable employees to
purchase a bike (and safety equipment)
tax-free.
Cyclescheme’s head of commercial
operations Daniel Gillborn said: “We’re
very pleased to support BikeBiz and our
partner stores by commending great
service in this venture. We will continue
to promote IBDs to our employers and
believe high standards in customer
service is what ensures growth in our
industry.”
Cyclescheme directs employees of the
likes of Tesco, Network Rail and over 50
Government departments and agencies
to its network of independent bike
dealers through the C2W scheme.
www.cyclescheme.co.uk
BIKEBIZ APRIL 13
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MOUNTAIN TRAX
This Berkshire specialist bike shop has
had an interesting route to market, starting
out as a part-time mail order venture back in
the olden days (the mid-‘90s). Success saw
the retailer struggle with space and when
the chance to expand into a garden centre
provided the opportunity to open a large shop
too, Mountain Trax grabbed it and got physical
in March 1996. Since then staffer Chris White
bought the shop in 2005 which saw a period
of growth and then moved to new premises in
2007, just a few miles from trails in Swinley
Forest.
With a self-stated aim of avoiding being a
cliquey high-end bike shop and supporting the
women’s mountain bike market, the retailer
specialises in the downhill market and more
recently trials, jump and dual slalom. Opening
seven days a week with a workshop operating
five days a week. Mountain Trax sponsors
its own Race Team, the local Gorrick race
series, and TrailTrax Navigation events, as
well as supporting local bike clubs such as the
excellently named Berks On Bikes.
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ONE PLANET ADVENTURE
North Wales’ One Planet Adventure
has the Coed Llandegla Forest on its doorstep,
together with over 44km of MTB trails. It’s
no surprise that this business offers hire
bikes and café facilities for visitors, but the
forward thinking retailer also runs skills course
alongside offering (award winning) bacon
butties – as well as a retail and workshop
offering. Those skills courses are aimed at
novices and experts alike, helping take riders
skills up a notch through classroom sessions,
a custom-built skills area and video analysis –
which sounds to us to be several steps ahead
of what other bike shops offer.
Recently the area has been battling the
devastation the winds have wreaked on the
trails, and the retailer has been doggedly
providing online updates to keep the local
community informed. Speaking of which, One
Planet Adventure even has an online weather
cam so rider can check the conditions before
they head over. Hosting demo days to lure in
customers, the retailer has also formed the
One Planet Adventure race team to ride in the
UK Gravity Enduro races.
PEDAL POWER, WEST CALDER
While no doubt many of the bike shops
named Pedal Power are fine retailers, it’s the
one on Main Street, West Calder, Scotland
that has been singled out for praise by our
nominators. Pitched as Scotland’s largest
concept bike store, the well stocked Pedal
Power moved into a larger unit at the
end of 2012 with bikes, accessories and
clothing spread over three (yes three) floors,
providing the kind of choice of product
that draws in customers from far and
wide. Formed in 1973 and owned by two
times Scottish Mountain Biking Champion
Jonathan McBain, the store has put in show
appearances at the likes of the Scottish Bike
Show along the way. This authorized Giant
dealer is open seven days a week and boasts
Scottish cyclocross champ Gary Hand as an
employee.
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PHIL CORLEY CYCLES
BikeBiz’s own Mystery Shopper visited
Phil Corley Cycles back in the mists of time
(2009 in fact) and had a very agreeable visit,
and in 2014 it seems the shop is still doing
great work judging by the nominations it
received for this list.
Based in Stacey Bushes, Milton Keynes, Mr
Corley first set up shop in Great Linford a few
miles down the road in 1979 and moved again
before settling in Stacey Bushes in the ‘80s.
The store itself boasts three full time qualified
mechanics, a refitted website in November
last year and an in depth bike fitting service,
impressing on customers that bike fit isn’t
just for those racing but for any riding,
getting them into optimal riding positions and
avoiding injury, improving comfort. Support
from the retailer for cycle teams is strong,
with Team Corley Cycles road cycling team
first hitting the road in 2007 and going on to
compete in the Tour Series from 2009 to 2012.
The retailer also co-sponsors the Body Limits
Transition/Corley Cycles team.
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STAN’S CYCLES
Wine tasting and film nights is indeed
taking the idea of what bicycle retailing is all
about a step further than many bike shops are
comfortable with. There’s no shame in that, of
course, but it’s one of the reasons that Stan’s
is on this list…that and the nominations it
received independently. Pushing the envelope
with the local cycle community, Stan’s
supports local cycling club Paramount CRT
and with the club has teamed up to bring
cycle racing back to Shrewsbury with the
Shrewsbury Cycle Grand Prix in May. Stan’s
is another retailer on this list that has been
around for decades – since 1951 to be precise.
Crucially, it has moved with the times (hard
to imagine wine tasting or a fashion show in
a bike shop in the ‘50s) and moved into new
premises where it serves coffee and bakery
items.
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Stan’s Cycles has been
around since 1951
SWINNERTON CYCLES
Sadly, Roy Swinnerton passed away last
year, but it’s a testament to his legacy and
that of his mother and father who started the
shop in 1915 (whom he took it over from with
his wife in 1952) that the Swinnerton retail
empire is regularly held up as a fine example
of bicycle retailing. Cycle racing has been part
of the foundations of the store right from the
start, not least with the owners founding the
Newcastle Track Association and the Stoke
ACCS and the family keen road and track
cyclists. Swinnerton Cycles staff won the
Corporate Grand Prix at the Pearl Izumi Tour
Series last year and will compete again when
the Tour hits Stoke-on-Trent.
Swinnerton Cycles also has a Forest Centre
outlet situated in Cannock Chase forest,
offering hire and demo bikes to punters as well
as custom bikes and tips on MTB routes.
The firm has employed a variety of tactics
to bring customers through the door, including
simple but hugely effective SMS texts to
remind customers of when their bike service
is due.
7
SIGMA SPORT
The Hampton Wick, Kingston-set Sigma
Sport has 3,000 sq feet of prime retail space
per floor and is regularly held up as a fine
example of bicycle retail, famed for leading the
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TOP 20 IBDS
Sponsored By
way. No pressure then. That reputation hasn’t
just come from the modern, clean look of the
shop, but also for warm welcome it prides
itself on for both beginners and elite athletes
alike in the triathlete and road rider sectors.
So renowned is the store that it attracts
customers from far and wide, according to
the world of social media. The Sigma store
portfolio includes a nearby warehouse facility
for its mail order business and of course the
Specialized concept store in Kingston, offering
4,000 square foot of bike retail goodness.
From putting on events like its very recent
Triathlon 2014 Launch Evening (offering
prizes to lure in customers), to becoming
retail partner for events like the HotChillee
Dunkerque – Roubaix event, hosting women’s
group rides, and far too many other things to
cram in here, Sigma shows no sign of resting
on its reputation.
THE TRAILHEAD
It doesn’t occupy the largest retail
space, by its own admission, but it’s what
it does with it that matters, from retailing
to custom builds and a busy workshop. But
it’s also what it does outside of the shop
that earns it a spot on this list. Shrewsbury’s
Trailhead Bicycle Company has a packed
schedule of demos and rides alongside its
retailing business. Inviting customers on
regular fortnightly shop rides, Trailhead
also hosts demo days, including in nearby
Eastridge Woods and even overseas trips like
its forthcoming Trailhead Pyrenees Adventure.
Perhaps a sign of a new retailing trend,
Trailhead is one of two shops on this list
getting into film screenings – last month the
dealer presented a premiere of Steve Peat’s
film Won’t Back Down at the nearby Silverton
Hotel, with tickets selling out well in advance.
Then there is seven-strong Team Trailhead
too, proving retail might start in the shop, but
more than likely it ends up on the trail for this
independent bicycle dealer.
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UBYK
Blending online with physical retail is
a constant challenge for independent retailers
and Oxford’s Ubyk has tackled it headlong
with a unique custom build ProBuild offering.
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BIKEBIZ.COM
UBYK specialises in
tailoring a bike to the
customer
Allowing customers to customise their ride,
pick out components and watch videos while
the weight and price change as the bike is
specced out is undoubtedly pretty cool. Given
that information, it’s perhaps unsurprising
that Ubyk has a philosophy of ensuring bikes
are tailored for the customer and heavily
hints online and social media that its staff will
provide expert advice to customers.
In store, Ubyk has its own Performance
Progress Lab designed to provide customers
with elite level performance testing, analysis
and feedback using testing equipment to get
to grips with the customers fitness levels and
pinpointing key strengths and weaknesses.
Stocking high-end bikes in the road, tri
and MTB sectors and bike fitting, Ubyk offers
delivery to the door with set up from one of
its staff and is highly active on social media
too, where you’ll find a fair amount of praise
directed at the shop’s of service and advice.
CRITERIUM CYCLES EDINBURGH
This Edinburgh shop has earned plenty
of praise and positive anecdotes. The Trek
Project One-offering shop is another on the list
with a keen emphasis on inclusive cycling. The
shop itself says on its site: “Most bike shops,
in our experience, offer one of two services:
a) A huge array of expensive, hi-tech bicycles
and items sold by enthusiastic but bike-geeky
staff; b) Mass market products sold by sales
assistants who don’t care or know very little
about cycling.” Criterium is, therefore, self
consciously different, aiming to appeal to
all kinds of cyclists – not just from different
sectors, but of differing levels of familiarity
with the cycle world. But let’s not just take
their word for it. One paying customer told us:
“The staff are really knowledgable and clearly
make customer service their first priority. They
are the only bike shop I have found that
really understands that women and biking
do go together both in terms of the bikes
they have, the understanding of the differing
requirements and the range of bikes, clothing
and accessories they carry.” And here’s
another: “Can’t recommend them enough and
as a female don’t feel intimidated going into
there shop and being bamboozled with bike
jargon. I bought my last bike from them and
saving up for my dream bike which I will go
back and purchase from them.”
WHEELBASE
If it’s going above and beyond standard
retailing you are after, then you wouldn’t go
far wrong if you looked at Lake District-set
Wheelbase – hosting comedy gigs is still a
feat we’ve yet to hear replicated elsewhere
in the cycle retail sphere. Wheelbase’s huge
showroom, stocking over 600 bikes over
16,000 sq ft, has seen it claim it is the largest
bike shop in the country (we’ve not visited
them all, but we reckon they’re not far wrong).
Understandably then, that showroom alone
makes Wheelbase a crowd puller, as does the
nearby Kentmere Valley with road and MTB
riding in nearby pleasurable surroundings.
Offering free bike wash, free hot showers
and changing rooms as well as nearby Wilf’s
Café has added extra weight to its status as
a destination store. Perhaps an indicator of
its popularity is the fact it is open 362 days
a year shows the staff put in the hard work
to be on hand for customers. Established in
1992, Wheelbase backs the Wheelbase/Altura/
MGB rad racing team, and hosts the big demo
weekend.
CHEVIN CYCLES
Otley-based Chevin Cycles has long
had its card marked as an interesting bike shop
to watch, not least a few years ago when it
managed to help host an evening with Gary
Fisher locally. With four decades under its
belt, the retailer boasts a huge demo fleet,
experienced cycle fit technicians, a Shimano
service centre and tailored ranges for women.
That’s all at a picturesque location (lucky
them). Chevin Cycles isn’t standing still in
physical or online retail, with a new flagship
store opening in Skipton this month as well as
a freshly launched click and collect offerings
operating from their online site. Here’s some
kindy words passed to us, on them: “Big shout
out for Chevin Cycles Otley here. Used them
for the last five years, great store, good range
of bikes and components/ accessories/ clothing
and friendly helpful staff. I even travel 20 miles
to visit the store all the time.” And some more:
“They support Otley Cycle Club and our new
and growing social section, they listen to our
needs and stock things that we need at a good
price with a really friendly attitude.”
The Trailhead is getting
into film screenings
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there will be video tutorials to help customers
get to grips with their bikes and also, in the
future, it has plans to develop safety videos for
families.
C&N CYCLES, REDHILL
Does the ‘C’ in C&N Cycles stand for
‘community’? Possibly not, but C&N carry
out their bike retailing business as if they it
did. We’re assured they are engaged in a wide
variety of activities in their local community,
but before we get into that side of things,
C&N’s ‘standard’ retailing business deserves a
mention, as one of their customers told us: “I
ride regularly and had the misfortune to crack
my frame on a bike in October. Within 48
hours C&N had sourced me a new winter bike
frame and fork, moved my components across,
sized it as per a previous fit with them and got
me back on the road to get the winter miles in.
I’ve also brought numerous accessories through
them as you get the specific advice that is
missing from the online retailers.” Encouraging
words there, but C&N’s efforts to engage with
the local population and school through the
likes of Dr Bike sessions, have cemented a
golden reputation for the store with locals. As
one testimonial said: “They come in to check
of all the bicycles in the bike shed and then
students are able to have any faults rectified
at the shop at a discounted price. I know of
small faults that have been fixed for free even.
When I get my bike serviced with them I can
drop it off in the morning (they even picked
it up in their van on one occasion) and pick it
up after school in the afternoon – it takes out
all the hassle.” Working around customers and
engaging with the community? Check.
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JE JAMES
JE James is one of the largest
independent retailers in the UK and has had
a busy 18 months, not least with refurbishing
part of its Rotherham store to focus on
the growing womens cycle market and
manufacturer-specific areas with the aim of
making it a destination store. Events-wise the
retailer has been no slouch, with CycleFest – a
free demo weekend designed to appeal to
a wide number of cyclists – free children’s
workshops and riding skills, among others. The
retailer is going the extra mile with workplace
sessions to explain cycle to work and how
to integrate cycling with their businesses.
And then there’s JE James’ formidable online
offering. Having seen investment in systems
to ‘bring the in-store experience to online
customers’, emails are being personalised to
appeal to their cycling tastes (rather than a
‘catch all’ blanket email campaign). Also online,
JE James is developing a ‘how to’ area where
15
16 BIKEBIZ APRIL
JE James has just
refurbished its
Rotherham store
Belfast’s Dave Kane
Cycles has got behind
the Giro D’Italia in a
big way
EASTGATE CYCLES
Gloucester’s Eastgate Cycles has built
up a strong road community through Breeze
rides, weekly rides and the quirky Eastgate
Runway Rumble, established last year. The
latter deserves a few words of explanation
– a four hour endurance challenge taking
place on the main runway and taxi ways of
Gloucester Airport, Staverton, riding from
8pm ‘till midnight with trophies given out for
individuals and teams that ride the furthest.
Clearly the madcap event has caught the local
imagination – last year 125 rider took part
and this year they’ve had to cap it at 250
riders. According to one of the testimonials we
received, the weekly rides have been popular
too: “With 75 riders doing weekly summer
rides brought together by the shop, they have
introduced a healthy road social scene. There
wasn’t normally less than 30 turning up all
through the winter, and female friendly too.”
The pundit adds: “They seem to know all the
regular customers by name. A cuppa available
free too if needed. Friendliest shop ever.”
16
AIRE VALLEY CYCLES
Aire Valley is a name that came up a
number of times from our trade pundits. The
Keighley, Bradford independent bike dealer has
been in the retail business for over quarter of
a decade, aiming to deliver high quality cycles
coupled with a high quality service. The firm
started out almost three decades ago and is on
its third premises, with around 7,500 square
footage of space over more than one floor
dedicated to bikes and accessories tailored
to the road, mountain, BMX and cyclocross
markets. Also packing in Cytech qualified
mechanics in its service department, Air Valley
boasts plenty of trade and racing experience
in the form of ex-pro cyclist Bernie Burns and
employs the tactics of demo weekends and
social media prize giveaways among others to
lure in the local community.
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Bradford’s Aire Valley
Cycles 7,500 sq ft store
RUTLAND CYCLING
This retailer isn’t shy about shouting
about itself, which is absolutely meant as a
compliment. How else would it let customers
know about its numerous weekly rides and
events designed to build its community, like
Breeze rides, mothers and tots rides, nature
rides that take advantage of the (very) nearby
beauty spot that is Rutland Water. That’s
not to mention its support for the likes of
CiCLE Classic and Tri4life. The growing retailer
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Rutland Cycles sends
BikeBiz more press
releases about shop
events than any other
recently secured £2.8m investment, so it must
be doing something right, and plans four more
stores, the first of which will launch this year.
It’s picked up a trade award or two over the
years, has installed a revamped bike fitting
offering and hosts a Santa Ride at Christmas…
and that’s not to mention the huge hire bike
offering, again taking advantage of its location,
that might just spark a few love affairs with
the world of cycling. It first opened back at the
start of the ‘80s and few would deny it has
come a long way.
GIANT, ST PAUL’S
When Giant’s flagship outlet
opened in the city of London at St Paul’s,
the independent owned shop made a big
impression. Boasting the first of the Liv/Giant
areas over 150 square metres, it features the
complete ladies bicycle offering from Liv/Giant,
as well as a huge selection of ladies clothing.
Word is that it’s the largest women’s cycle
section in a UK bike shop, but admittedly we
didn’t get the tape measure out to check it
was the case. Covering two floors and a 950
square metres of prime retail space, Giant St
Paul’s offers Power Fit - Giant’s professional
bike fitting system, as well as a charity cycle
cafe, providing those city types with yet
another reason to cross the threshold. It’s open
seven days a week and has a store layout that
has come straight out of the ‘this is how to lay
out a modern classy looking bike shop’ book.
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DAVE KANE CYCLES
There’s a lot you could say about Dave
Kane Cycles of Belfast. You could mention the
fact that the retailer has two shops alongside
each other, one offering bikes and P&A, the
other a more boutique-y affair. You could also
mention the fact that the retailer has jumped
whole-heartedly into celebrating the Giro
d’Italia, which will be passing by its door in
May, appearing in the local media and news to
bang the drum and whip up local enthusiasm.
You should definitely mention the fact that
Dave Kane Cycles is also another of those
shops that aims to be friendly and helpful to
those not only at the top end of cycling, but
also those just getting into cycling. And it
would certainly be remiss not to mention the
cycling heritage that the family run shop has.
Owner Dave Kane and his son Mark are both
Olympians and multiple World Championship
competitors, while fellow rider Debbie Barclay
(nee Kane) opened the ‘clothing boutique’
part of the store way back in ’82, significantly
ahead of the trend. Youngest son Paul also
raced to a high level in Ireland and his son
is now starting to race at underage events.
Cycling is clearly in the blood, and, as one
testimony put it: “Passion is what makes a bike
shop.”
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ICEBIKE*
Skinny carbon from Elite
Wheels Manufacturing BB kits
Nuun POS
Recon’s debut saw
many having a go
Pro’s new bike bag
Swiftly moving forwards
With more trade members having made the journey to IceBike than ever, this will no doubt be a refresher
for many. But if you missed out, Mark Sutton was on hand to handpick the product highlights…
Madison Clothing
Elite
Developed alongside the Madison Genesis road
team, there’s plenty of new kit for the tarmac
cyclist, minus the flashy logos you’ll see on the
race team’s gear.
With subtle design nods to the race
team, the short sleeve jersey has silicone
impregnated fibres to assist grip and is cut with
leaning over the bars in mind.
Madison’s new road bib short has TMF
developed pads that are thin, but dense and as
such great for shorter races and rides.
Among other fresh goods, there’s a
lightweight windshell, a heavier thermal gilet
and the waterproof Apex jacket, which carries
some clever wrist vents to aid air circulation.
It’s not easy to get customers excited over
water bottles, though Elite might have at least
made it a little easier to diversify its product
against competitors with the Corsa.
Starting at £3.99 and also covering £5.99
and £7.99 for team designs, the Corsa bottle is
ideal for club cyclists thanks to its unique blow
off cap. If a Corsa falls during a ride, the cyclist
behind is at less risk as the cap shoots off
under pressure. Tyres will then simply roll over
the squashable design.
For the retailer, Madison has come up
with a very tidy point of sale unit to store 44
bottles – simply buy 50 bottles to obtain the
unit. Corsa bottles are biodegrable inside seven
years.
Also new from Elite is the 15-gram Leggero
carbon bottle cage, retailing at £54.99.
Team inspired everyday
racewear from
Madison’s own label
Thule
Having absorbed the Chariot label, revamping
the four-model line with Thule branding,
Madison’s customers have access to a strong
line, with each carrier available as a single or
double seater.
Madison accounts can take on the label’s
goods from only a two product commitment,
meaning valuable showroom floorspace
needn’t be taken up.
Madison’s Thule brand representative Chris
brattle told BikeBiz: “Check out Mumsnet, it’s
full of recommendations for Chariot/Thule
carriers. In the near future we’ll be pushing the
brand through further channels such as GQ
and other national mags.”
Starting at £489 and running through to
£999 for the jogging-friendly CX, the line’s best
selling model is the patented £750 Cougar, so
dealers can make good money with sales.
BIKEBIZ.COM
Gamut
Pro’s bike bag internals
Where to start with Gamut? It was the new
stems that caught our eye, but that’s not all.
Starting with those, the label has introduced
the Cillos stem line, with a trail version in
sizes 40 to 70mm with 10mm increments
in between. There’s a direct mount stem for
downhill too. At 120 grams and with three
positions – 45, 50 and 55mm – it’s a light and
versatile unit. Both retail for £89.99 and land
in Madison’s warehouse mid-March.
Wheels Manufacturing
We check the number of hangers made by
Wheels Manufacturing each year just so our
jaws can drop a little further and this year’s
figure is 234. In fact it’s probably a few more
than that by now.
But what’s more impressive is that the
label has managed to find time to produce a
number of bottom bracket conversion products
for this year. There’s a new press fit 30 to
outboard, BB30 to outboard and many more.
Threaded in the middle, the kits are creak free
and compatible with Shimano and Sram’s
groupsets. What’s more, they’re all based
around Enduro Bearings, a brand picked up by
extra recently for their quality.
Duck Smart
Getting their hands dirty with product demos,
Duck Smart were introducing dealers to the pH
neutral, non damaging formula, which foams
up to last longer while digging away at grit
and dirt.
The main bicycle cleaning product is the
‘Earth Mover’, a solution with no PTFE that
adds water repellency properties. A one litre
bottle retails for £6.99 and each product has a
fruity scent.
For a £250 investment, retailers can earn a
point of sale stand for free.
Arcane
Just two new pieces from Madison’s BMX parts
label Arcane. The first is a two-piece crmo
crankset, weighing 800 grams and retailing for
£150.
The second, for the barspinning tailwhippers
out there, is a 50 gram gyro plate made from
CNC’d aluminium.
There’s also an interesting new sprocket in
the works using non-traditional materials.
BIKEBIZ APRIL 19
ICEBIKE*
Fresh Gamut guides
Lazer has some interesting
innovations for 2014
Shop and workshop sized
Duck Smart containers
Gamut now offers a
variety of stems
Mule Bar
With the usual taste tests on offer, those
visiting Mule’s stand were greeted with samples
of the new Flapjack, available in plain, blueberry
or chocolate versions.
At just £1 each, they’re not bad for an on or
off the bike snack. The price is down to a quirk in
the Government’s rules, which says VAT is not
applicable to flapjacks.
There was also a taste test on a product yet to
be finalised by the label. Dubbed Bombay Express,
the taste test was a final recipe decider before
Mule goes into production.
Pro
Got a customer that travels frequently and
would be wise to invest in proper luggage to
accommodate their carbon? Pro may have the
answer with its new Mega travel case.
With attention to detail rife throughout the
case has plenty of features to thwart a baggage
handler’s attempts to dent your customer’s
pride and joy. Take the blocks that suspend the
frame off the base. These make contact with
dropouts near impossible and even goes as
far as to include a pulley system to keep your
derailleur and chain free from harm.
Furthermore, wheels sit in a separate
compartment, as do any extras such as
helmets or shoes that you may be carrying.
Lazer
Some interesting new concepts were on show
from Lazer, with the MIPS system featuring
on the Helium road helmet and an entry
commuter lid.
MIPS, for those that don’t know, is a two
part Swedish designed helmet design that offers
multi-direction impact protection thanks to an
independent inner shell that is able to move
separately from the shell in the event of a crash.
It was the Lifebeam helmet that drew the
most attention, however. This £200 lid has a
tiny in-built heart rate monitor that measures
the rider’s pulse via a sensor position on the
forehead of the inner shell. Working around
a USB rechargeable, ANT+ based system, the
Lifebeam borrows technology developed for
fighter pilots.
BikeBiz was told that, in future, Lazer
may consider selling the headband as an
aftermarket piece.
20 BIKEBIZ APRIL
Madison’s clothing line
has grown, particularly
for the female customer
Recon
Swiftly
Perhaps the main attraction, this was the
first opportunity to try out a set of Recon’s
futuristic Jet glasses.
Stock is due during early summer and a set
will retail for £580, so while not a cheap piece
of equipment, it is perhaps as ‘real time’ as
information delivery gets. If that’s important
to your customer, giving them a demo, via
Bluetooth, on their phone should be fairly
straightforward. It’s an engaging piece of kit,
capable of displaying message alerts, compass
and speed functions and much more instant
information direct to the eye, without getting
in the way. There’s also a built in camera,
another selling point for those who like to
record their activities.
New under Sportline’s portfolio, Swiftly
scooters are an alternative way to get around.
There’s three models in the range, including
one £499 folding unit. Described as half way
between a BMX and a scooter, they’re stunt
capable, should you customer feel like it.
All tubing is socket welded and finished
with an integrated headset, so it’s safe to say
they’re built to withstand. The folding model
is a simple design whereby the footplate
covers a quick release that will see the frame
fold inwards until the bars hook onto the
footplate.
Dirt and downhill models, as well as a
clothing line, are to follow in future.
Genesis
Nuun
Now offering 12 flavours, hydration specialist
Nuun added two recently – an easy to palette
lemonade and a caffeinated cherry limeade.
For those that are unfamiliar, a £6 tube
contains 12 tabs that will dissolve to make
one sports drink. At 50p a serving, it’s not bad
value for the customer, yet the retailer can
earn a fair margin with a minimum buy in of
just one box of eight tubes. Mixed four packs
are also sold, retailing at £22. Point of sale
racks are available.
With new bikes not due until July, there were
just a few tweaks to the Genesis catalogue to
report this time around.
The Caribou fat bike, introduced this time
last year, could be about to receive a price
cut, dipping from the current £1,500 to
around £1,200, BikeBiz was told. The current
Shimano brakes may also be about to make
way for TRP Spike stoppers.
Among other subtle changes, the
Equilibrium 20 will now come in a shiny red
shade as well as the current cream.
BIKEBIZ.COM
THE IRISH CYCLING SHOW
Giro aside, there will be
plenty to keep crowds
amused in between
stand visits
Giro boost for Irish Cycling Show
This year the Irish Cycling show will be very different, not least due to the fact that it is teaming up with
the Giro d’Italia. Mara Media’s Hugh Bonner and Grace McDermott speak with Jonathon Harker…
UNLESS YOU’VE been hidden under a rock for
the past few months you’ll be well aware that
two of the world’s biggest cycle races will be
starting from Ireland and the UK this year.
With Yorkshire hosting the start of the Tour
de France, and Belfast and Dublin the settings
for the first legs of the Giro d’Italia, you could
argue that it’s a shame they’re taking place in
the same year and potentially overshadowing
each other, depending on which side of the Irish
Sea you are based.
“On the other hand,” considers Mara Media
MD Hugh Bonner, “perhaps it’s an indicator
of how far cycling has come in the UK and
Ireland?”
Mara Media has been closely working
with the team behind the Giro d’Italia and
Dublin’s City Council to combine for a cycle
extravaganza over the weekend of May 10th
and 11th based in the picturesque Georgian
surrounds of Merrion Square Park.
“The Irish Cycling Show is right by the finish
line,” Bonner tells BikeBiz, “so we’re in the same
square with all the hoopla going on. People will
come to the Giro for the atmosphere and to be
near the finishing line, plus they’ll have a show
beside them so they’ll be able to make a day of
it. There’ll be food stalls and the like too.”
Team work has been key to putting on the
show, Bonner explains: “The Giro d’Italia team
wanted a good locale to finish, the Council
wants to promote the area and we wanted to
be where the action is, so it’s a case of team
work that is bringing it all together.
“It takes a number of years to establish the
Irish Cycling Show as we started it from scratch.
We’ve spent a lot of time and effort over the
last two years and this year with the Giro it’s
going to be quite different and it will help us
22 BIKEBIZ APRIL
“People
will come
for the giro
atmosphere,
plus there will
be a show right
beside...”
Hugh Bonner,
Mara Media
raise the show up to where we want it to be.
We’re a small company so we can’t throw
money at the show so we have been gradually
building it up, but working with the Giro d’Italia
will really put it on the map.”
Speaking of starting from scratch, how did
Mara Media come to put together the Irish
Cycling Show in the first place?
“We spied a gap in the market. I enjoy
cycling and rode Dublin to Paris a few years
ago. While we were riding I chatted with the
other cyclists and we talked about why there
is no cycling show in Ireland. At Mara Media
we run a number of shows and I’m interested
in something that is green and sustainable and
cycling fits that.”
Dublin beauty and park – trying to promote
that area – Gerogain houses – beautiful
maximising it.
The industry is performing well – cycle to
work is five years old sense that people are
progressing – renewing their bike – from a
basic one to a carbon one. You can see it on
the ground, the amount of riders you see, the
cycle hire in Dublin, the number of events and
sportives, etc.
So who is signed up for the 2014 show?
Mara Media’s Grace McDermott fills us in:
“We’ve got some big names signed up now.
Rapha Team Sky is bringing the same stand
it had at the London Bike Show and it’s the
first time they’ve exhibitied in Ireland like this
so that’s a big deal. Extra UK has a big space
booked and we’ve got Chain Reaction Cycles for
the first time. They will also bringing the same
stand as they had at the London Bike Show.
“Kona – who have supported us from day
one – will be there and theys always work hard
to make their stand quirky. They have been
hounding me about the specs of the stand so
they can finalise their plans.
“Madison is back at the show too. They’ve
also been a supporter right from day one and
it’s great to see they value the Irish market and
the show.”
“Moore Large are on board too, as are Kask
helmets, SiS, Trek, Dawes, Apex, the Nicholas
Roche performance team and many more.”
McDermott add: “The show is going to
be unique with the Giro d’Italia. Dublin
City Council has been great and we’re all
enthusiastic. We want it to be really special and
we’re up to the challenge.”
And beyond this year, what has Bonner got
lined up for the Irish Cycling Show?
“Our plan is simple – to grow the event
to be a world class show, attracting national
and international visitors, showing the best
products, being unique and having a warm
welcome too.”
www.irishcyclingshow.com
BIKEBIZ.COM
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in return for commission, joint marketing support and
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WHAT ARE THE
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APPLY TO BE A PARTNER AT:
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MYSTERY SHOPPER
E
STORE ST
AR
AR
ST
S
RE
TO
STAR
STOR
E
R
TA
STAR
ST
ORE
OR
ST
E
24 BIKEBIZ APRIL
Evans Trafford Centre
Eddie McGrath Cycles
THIS STORE is a flagship branch for Evans with a
massive floor space, stock levels and a large open plan
workshop. It’s based at the ‘Chillfactor e’ snowsports
complex next to the Trafford Centre. Parking is
excellent, but after the recent Winter Olympics, space
was at a premium. Inside, it is bright and well stocked,
maybe too well stocked – moving round is a bewildering
and cramped experience.
It took an age to get the attention of a salesperson,
which is a shame as there were plenty of staff, and
several just loitering. When a member of staff was
approached, he was however excellent, directing Mrs MS
down the hybrid route, explaining (in plain speak) some
of the technical elements of the bikes on offer. With
a whole row of Women’s Specific bikes, Evans should
signpost this better.
The assistant was not condescending, gave honest
advice and did not push for a sale. The offered Specialized
hybrid was a 2013 model, with a good discount. We’d
consider buying here if it wasn’t for some of the staff
ignoring the customers – just trying to look good.
MCGRATHS IS the opposite end of the scale to Evans,
small in appearance, no easy parking (which is a pain)
and with a much smaller range and stock holding. The
exterior façade belies just how much space is inside.
Right on the MS doorstep, even though I have never
been here before, I was busted thanks to my trade
identity – but I was not the punter, Mrs MS led the
discourse.
The shop was busy, and had a great ‘family feel’,
offering several brands and a great array of P&A. and
a workshop at the back. We got almost immediate
service, and the member of staff took time to
understand the needs, to size options, and look at
stock levels on a computer. Service here was personal
and attentive and whilst the choices were limited, the
product was a good fit to the needs, you get the feeling
that service and support would be excellent too.
He took the time to compare the standard and
Women’s Specific options too. Altogether, a great
customer experience, though the physical product was
less pleasing than Evans.
S
Manchester has a thriving
cycling scene, with
participation increasing
all the time. Cyclists come
in all sorts with all types
of aspiration. Mystery
Shopper’s partner plans to
‘get fit with the girls’ on
some road and towpath
riding, here’s hoping the
local shops can deliver
advice and products for the
£750 budget.
STAR STOR
E
RE STA
STO
R
ST
AR
OR
ST
North
Manchester
BIKEBIZ.COM
MYSTERY SHOPPER
Brookes Cycles
I BOUGHT my first ‘proper’ bike from here. The area has
changed significantly in the 25 years since that purchase,
and until recently was very run down. The area is almost
unrecognizable, in that the whole row of shops is now
occupied and on a Saturday lunchtime, quite busy. This shop
is still there, and now branded under the Raleigh Cyclelife
banner. For a shop in this area to last in these uncertain
economic times is great, and evolving under the Cyclelife
banner has some real advantages.
The shop is clean, bright and exudes a branding and quality
that sets the modern Raleigh product rather well. No clutter,
well organised and logically set out. In one corner, near the
counter was ‘Raleigh TV’, an interactive touch screen TV.
Great to congregate around and review specifications – if a
little hit and miss. Raleigh obviously has suitable bikes at this
price point and again we were steered down the hybrid route.
In addition, the shop had just taken on board KTM as a brand
and could offer this emerging marquee. None of the bikes
offered were in stock, though products were due to arrive
imminently from both brands.
Last year’s Raleigh models were in stock and he said he
could do deals on those – if they fitted. I knew Brookes when
it was all ‘Spit and Sawdust’ and its positive to note that the
current owners are part of the Brookes family. In conversation
it transpires that the store has been on these premises for 80
years, and in existence for 125. For weathering the storms,
and evolving with the times, Brookes, we salute you.
Ken Foster’s Cycle Logic
Urban Cycles
THIS SHOP is a double fronted showroom with bikes
outside under a Victorian style canopy, all the other
shops in the row are the same style. The residents in
this area are a mixture of Students and Families – a
great demographic for the shop. The area seems a bit
out on a limb in comparison to the busy and trendy
Chorlton area to the North. Parking is scarce.
Not quite Victorian inside, the shop looks to be in
need of a facelift, some of the ultra modern POS does
not really fit in with the general décor. Having the
counter near the entrance is always a good thing and
the staff member that served us was engaging and
polite. Most of the stock was held in a rather cramped
area, and it was awkward to get bikes in and out to
view. The staff member took time to understand Mrs
MS and again, the Hybrid style was selected, with some
nice offerings around and below the price point, offering
non technical explanations for the differences and
advantages of one product over another.
Overall, a reasonable experience, though we both felt
it was less engaging and friendly than Eddie McGraths.
THE PURPOSE of Mystery Shopper is to use the tools
available in a location to scope out and find shops
locally to review. Even though searches before and on
the day (and sat outside the shop) elicited a bike shop
at the location, there was no shop. This is a shame,
considering the location and the lack of bike shops
close by. That is the nature of retailing.
BIKEBIZ.COM
Summary
IN CARRYING out Mystery Shopper activities right on
the doorstep, we had to use underhand tactics. This
ended up working well, to see if bike shops catered for,
and understood the needs of the fairer sex. Admirably,
Mrs MS was not spoken down to or bamboozled by
tech – in fact she learnt a few bike related tips along the
way. There is always the risk of being rumbled, so we
had to source shops we did not know, (sorry to those
in the region who did not get a visit !). Evans was both
good and bad, the best product offering and the worst
(and an unacceptable) waiting time, which put us off
significantly. Ken Fosters was good, as was Brookes – in
fact, these two and Eddie McGrath’s were all close,
friendly and offered the sort of service you’d warm to.
Ultimately, McGrath’s service and the feeling that you
were buying into the shop (more than the product –
which was not the best on offer) takes the crown, with
an honourable mention to Brookes.
BIKEBIZ APRIL 25
OUR
HISTORY
is in the
MAKING
2014: Supernova XT
2008: Flight R25
2006: Dual Track Advance
2003: The Switch Storm
2002: Genesis Day 03
1983: The first Ridgeback
Since 1983 Ridgeback has been building
bikes for uk riders and has an unmatched
reputation for innovation and quality. From
high performance flat bar and touring bikes
to comfortable commuters and children’s
bikes, Ridgeback leads the way.
ridgeback.co.uk
BIKE AND TRI SHOW
The show drew over
6,500 visitors this year
Tri-ed and tested
This March saw the second ever Bike & Triathlon Show in Manchester Central. Having carved out its
regional niche last year, the show was keen to improve in terms of exhibitors and attendance for its
follow up. Jonathon Harker reports from the fledgling show…
BY THIS stage of the season, if you’ve been to
a few shows already you can reasonably expect
to see not a lot that’s new. But frankly, that’s
OK. The target audience of the Bike & Tri Show
wasn’t necessarily the same as that of those
other consumer and trade shows – like the
London Bike Show or Core Bike, for instance
– and for those that are based in the North
West it could well have been a first chance to
see a range of new products and brands in the
flesh for the first time. Which is exactly the
point of the Bike & Tri Show – as well as the
appeal to the triathlete consumer, naturally.
And that’s not to mention the cycle stars of
Chris Boardman, Chris Hoy and Joanna Rowsell,
et al providing significant lure for consumers
and fans alike. So, without repeating our show
coverage of the past few months (OK, maybe
just a little bit), here’s some of what we saw…
Appropriately enough for the Bike & Tri
Show, Cycleguard unveiled its brand new
Triathlonguard (see what they did) insurance
product to the masses at Manchester Central.
The policy offers insurance for the triathlete
and their equipment whilst training and
competing, here or overseas. The product
even covers bikes, say, in transition periods
during organised events – the kind of feature a
household insurance is hugely unlikely to offer.
BIKEBIZ.COM
Cycleguard also let BikeBiz in on a
new development it is working on in the
commercial arena, an area it says it has hardly
scratched the surface in, that is designed to
offset costs for dealers, so keep your eyes
peeled for that.
Velotech Services brought Ceepo along to
the Manchester show, offering framesets from
£1,399 and full builds from £2,499 from the
tri brand. Top of the range Viper hits RRPs of
£3,499 for the frameset and a full build at
£6,499. Stock landed with Velotech Services
in January.
Also via the distributor comes the Rotor
brand, which is aiming to lead the market
with its new four-bolt QXL Rings for Shimano
Dura Ace and Ultegra, available to shops now.
Rotor is now working with Starley through the
Starley Primal team, fact fans.
Just Riding Along was appointed Industry
Nine distributor last year and has been
bringing the hubs and wheels to a number of
show as well as the UK cycle trade, including
the Bike Place back in January. It’s all part of a
programme to get the Industry Nine into the
mind of the cycle consumer and trade.
Chilli Technology is planning on giving
more established players in the action video
market a run for their money. The firm started
out in the snow sports arena, director Paul
Bradley explained to BikeBiz, and readers
may already be familiar with the Action Cam
range, which launched around two years
ago. Retailing at around £69 RRP for its third
edition, the Action Cam provides 720P and up
to 2.5 hours recording. What may really set
the cam amongst the pigeons is a product that
takes 16MP pics, is Wi-Fi-enabled, provides
1080p HD and records in 120fps – and at 30
to 40 per cent RRP than competitors.
So, with the competitively priced tech in
place and ready to go, Chilli is looking to grow
awareness of the brand and reach out to more
shops and consumers alike.
Beacon’s home-grown bike range includes
four road bikes, one cyclo-cross and one time
trial frame. The young brand recently scored
a PR coup by supplying Davina McCall with a
bike and mechanical services for the BT Sport
Relief triathlon efforts, which gleaned plenty of
column inches in the nationals.
This year also saw the brand appear at The
London Bike Show and the word is steadily
building on the Whalley, Lancashire-based bike
range. Prices start in the region of £1,299 and
while the range is exclusively carbon there are
alloy bikes in the works.
Those that know the story will be familiar
BIKEBIZ APRIL 27
BIKE AND TRI SHOW
Ceepo has been present
at the majority of shows
this year
Beacon Bike’s profile is on the rise
thanks to a link up with Davina
McCall, among others
Athlete testing
in full flow
Optimum Sports’
Stowaway jacket
with the rugby background of Optimum
Clothing. Despite having been in the oval
balled world for near to two decades, the cycle
side of the business – less than two years old
– is already well on the way to catching up, we
were told. The Nitebrite range and Stowaway
jacket (pictured) are among the most popular
lines.
Extra UK brought a wide range of product to
the Bike & Tri Show, including the Time bike
line, which is still made in France. The decades
old brand, ridden by the likes of Tom Boonen
among others, offers five or six frame models
that use Time’s own RTM – Resin Transfer
Moudling technology.
Of late we’ve seen plenty of visibility brands
trying their luck in the cycle market and the
Bike & Tri showed up the Aura Belt, in effect a
belt that glows via LED technology, with three
flash modes and visibility up to 300 metres,
according to the PR. Available in six colours,
the Aura Belt can be affixed around the
waist or, for those shunning tradition, around
backpacks and anything else that is clearly
visible to fellow road users.
Anyone heading over the NRG4 stand would
be regaled with news on how the popularity
of the Kali helmet brand has bowled the
company over. NRG4’s first official shipment
28 BIKEBIZ APRIL
is arriving in April, but the firm has had to
snap up stock from France just to satisfy
demand in the meantime. On the company
news front, NRG4 is currently preparing its
new showroom, part of its new expansion and
investment.
Meccanica is a self-styled gentlemen’s
outfitters and bike store. Retailing in a pop
up store in Knutsford, Meccanica set up in
November with its ‘Bolenium’ clothing line.
The retro-flavoured, British-made range is
also being retailed in two London shops and
includes t-shirts, polo shirts, jeans, jackets,
knitwear and boxers. Looking at home on and
off the bike, there are cycle-specific features
and nods to riding throughout the clothing,
including rear pockets and the general look and
feel of the garments.
The denim wear in the range has been
manufactured by the prison service, the brand
revealed to BikeBiz. Prices hit around £59 for the
polo, white the t-shirts range from £35 to £39.
Launched last year to the cycle market, BG
Innovations has been around for near on three
decades, initially working in the motorsport
arena. Unsurprisingly, then, the firm is well
used to creating product that is safe to use on
carbon fibre and other performance materials.
The line-up is simple, consisting of just three
products. First is Pro Clean which degreases
and washes, and can be used on a diverse
range of surfaces including leather without fear
of damage, BikeBiz is informed, due to the lack
of acids in the mix. Next is the Pro 1, a clear
long life protector that includes UV protection,
lasts for months and dries quickly thanks to a
propellant that evaporates at speed. The Pro
2 is a heavier wax and thicker. The brand has
been earning some good reviews and there are
healthy margins for dealers, we’re assured.
Velocite has a brand new carbon 650b
version of its Flux MTB and its first cyclecross
frame – a revamped Magnus.
2x2 led its Bike & Tri Show offering with its
own brand Roux, which has had a good year
we’re told, and an entry level tri offering –
perfect for those looking to join the sport but
unwilling or unable to part with off puttingly
big prices to dip their toe in.
While the brand was not at the show,
2x2 boss Scott Hillyard took the time to tell
us how well the Bickerton brand had been
performing since its launch a short while ago,
waxing lyrical about the fact the brand has five
or six models for retailers to stock – which is
a good amount, rather than a baffling double
figured range.
www.bikeandtri.co.uk
BIKEBIZ.COM
30 BIKEBIZ APRIL
BIKEBIZ.COM
CUSTOM SPORTS CLOTHING
Supply as much
detail as you like
and let CSC work
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Orders ready to
go out to bike
stores around the
country
Jeremy Clarkson’s
face on your shorts
It may seem an unlikely request, but Custom Sports Clothing can
put the Top Gear presenter’s oversized visage upon your cycle
clothing, should you so wish it. Jonathon Harker speaks with
director Aaron Berry and sales manager Matt…
IN THE increasingly competitive cycle market,
most retailers will be seeking ways to make
them stand out from the crowd and avoid
falling victim to the dreaded ‘showrooming’
phenomenon. Custom Sports Clothing has
a simple tip to share – stock a product that
competitors, online and off, don’t have access
to. Increasing numbers of shops are working
with CSC to this end, the firm tells BikeBiz.
“This is happening more and more now. It’s
a way of shops getting away from customers
using their premises as a fitting room and then
going to order online. Dealers can (or we can)
design a retail specific line exclusive to their
shop which no one else can use and so is only
available from their retail outlet. Then the
customer can’t find it cheaper anywhere else.”
Custom clothing isn’t just for retailers
seeking to beat their online rivals, the firm adds:
“It’s a good way of advertising your business,
to be seen out at races or even just at a trail
centre in well-designed eyecatching kit will
create interest in your business. I have it from
a few shops now that ‘we saw someone in one
of your tops at x trail centre or race meeting
so thought we would come down and have a
look’. It does work!”
BIKEBIZ.COM
Custom Sports Clothing started trading four
years ago under the stewardship of director
Aaron Berry and sales manager Matt. Having
seen the best months of its business so far –
January and February of this year, BikeBiz is
told – the firm recently started working with
four agents to expand the number of stores it
works with.
One point of difference for Custom Sports
Clothing is the fact that it uses production
fabric from Italy, as the duo explains: “All our
fabric and short pads are produced in Italy.
Specific fabric is used for different garments,
so a short sleeve top uses a different fabric to
a skin suit. It’s all wicking breathable fabric and
depending on the application it’s designed to
stretch in specific ways.”
Perhaps unsurprisingly, the full product range
from CSC is customisable. Big sellers include
short sleeve tops, but the full range includes
a wide variety of product (not all of which we
have room to list here) including skin suits,
freeride tops, mitts, arm and leg warmers, trisuits, bib tights, bib shorts, winter jackets, wind
jackets and more. The firm also produces work
wear which is mainly embroidered but there are
polo shirts which can be fully printed, Beanies,
“We offer a
free design
service with no
restrictions,
your
imagination
aside...”
Aaron berry, CSC
t-shirts, socks… the list goes on.
“Our kids clothing is just a scaled down
version of our adult range so the quality is
exactly the same. The range isn’t as big as the
adults but we still offer items like long and
short sleeve skin suits, freeride jerseys, winter
jackets, fleece tops, plus the usual bib shorts
and short sleeve tops, among others.”
Those fearing their design skills are
hampering their chances of creating some nice
looking customised kit are in luck: “We offer a
free design service and there is no restriction
to design – just your imagination. You could
even have Jeremy Clarkson’s face printed on
your shorts if you wanted. There is no limit
to how many colours you can use. The price
on our price list is what you pay, we have
no hidden extras - only VAT. We also have
UK-based office and manufacturing facility so
any warranty issues can be sorted very quickly,
like for example if someone needs a new zip
fitting we can turn it around in two days. Our
garments are designed by our in-house design
team so we can keep ahead when it comes to
the cut and fit.”
Triathlon is becoming a larger part of CSC’s
remit, now equalling around 20 per cent of the
business “and growing all the time”, with the
firm offering a couple of tri suits and separates
of different quality.”
But what about those all-important turn
around times?
“From artwork and order confirmation we
always quote six to eight weeks.
“All of our business is growing at the
moment and the clubs we work with seem to
stick with us, or try someone else and come
back to us! I like to think we offer a reliable
service, if we say we can deliver we will and
there’s always someone who will answer a
phone call or an e-mail.”
[email protected];
07875 095793
BIKEBIZ APRIL 31
RIDE25
GARY VERITY, Chief Executive
of Welcome to Yorkshire – the
agency which led the winning
bid to bring the Grand Départ to
the county – said: “The Grand
Départ’s arrival this summer in
Yorkshire has already had a major
positive impact on the county,
across business and tourism, and
it’s great to see that it has inspired
successful entrepreneurs like John
to follow his passion and create
a brand new venture around
cycling. One of the many reasons
we wanted to bring the world’s
largest annual sporting event to
Yorkshire was to raise the profile
of the county globally and create
a lasting legacy to further grow
the county’s tourism economy.
New businesses like Ride25
will hopefully create jobs and
opportunities and also encourage
people to saddle up, which can
only be a good thing, and we wish
him well in his new venture.”
Gary Verity, inset
Around the world in 25 legs
Ride25 is a cycle holiday company with a difference. Co-founder John Readman explains to Jonathon
Harker how the firm has begun working with independent bike dealers…
RIDE25 IS plotting to carve out its very own
niche in the cycle holiday market, with a specific
and probably unique proposition for independent
bicycle retailers.
In a nutshell, Ride25 is a company offering
cycle trips to the other side of the world, in 25
legs. There’s no compulsion for punters to ride
them all, they only have to commit to one tour
at a time.
Intrigued?
Yorkshire-based founders John Readman and
Rob Hamilton came up with the concept after
running a one-off ride to Australia – 1morecycle
– for children’s charity 1morechild. Half of those
taking part weren’t regular cyclists and there was
a strong social element to the ride. Soon after,
the announcement came through that Yorkshire
was hosting the start of the 2014 Tour de France.
Gary Verity of Welcome to Yorkshire was pivotal
in bringing Le Tour to Yorkshire, and also to
Ride25.
Readman takes up the story: “Gary said
the Tour coming to Yorkshire would inspire
enterprise. He was right. The Tour de France has
been a big inspiration to us. It feels like this is the
time to launch Ride25.”
In short, Readman and Hamilton seized the
moment and sought to turn their one off ride
into a business.
“We spied an opportunity,” Readman told
BikeBiz. “Ride25 is a holiday, but it’s a challenge
as well, with time to enjoy the company of the
other riders, with good food and wine along the
way.
32 BIKEBIZ APRIL
“We’re
planning on
getting more
people on
bikes...”
“We’re hoping to attract people who don’t
think cycling to Paris or Geneva is achievable.
We’re planning on getting more people on bikes.
“They can go at their own pace and all our
riders have to do is worry about pedalling.”
While rider’s don’t have to sign up to every
leg, there’s a good chance they’ll feel the urge to
do more than one – when they sign up they get
a bespoke shirt with a badge for the specific ride
that they are doing. Each leg has its own colour
and badge, so some riders will have a number
of coloured badges on their jersey, no doubt
prompting envious looks from other riders.
The social side of Ride25 is key too. Routes
will have photo points where riders can share
their pics and Strava stats with jealous chums
back home – “bragging rights”.
“We hope people will come with two or three
mates and then they’ll find a likeminded group
and end up forming a bond of friends that they
team up with for future Ride25 legs.”
Each ride will have six support staff, including
medic and technical, and three support cars. For
every rider taking part Ride25 will recycle a bike
to Africa with Re- cycle.
How does retail come in?
Bike shops have been able to work with cycle
holiday firms before, but with Ride25 there’s
more in it for the dealer than just a simple bit of
commission.
“Ride25 is looking for regional partners,
with an area of exclusivity for each shop. We’ll
provide digital marketing support, which is an
area of expertise for us, and everyone who signs
up to the ride will be directed to their nearest
regional partner IBD, encouraging footfall into
shops.
“Our site has a map including all our
approved Ride25 partners and we’re in the
process of putting together videos with one of
our first partners featuring all their branding,
which we’ll use and promote online – it’s all
good marketing for them.
“We can help promote our retail partners
and give them something back.”
And there’ll be commission for any holidays
sold in store too, of course.
In return, all a shop has to do is promote
Ride25 in-store and on social media, even with
something as simple as putting a post card in
every bag.
“Even cycle cafes can be a Ride25 partner,”
Readman adds.
Being a Yorkshire company, Ride25 is keen
to emphasise there are regional opportunities
for the retailer and for the rides themselves.
“There are lots of London to Paris rides
around, but we’ll offer Leeds to Paris, Cardiff to
Paris, Birmingham to Paris, etc.”
“We’re looking for proactive partner in each
region and we’re in this for the long haul,”
Readman concludes. “We’re not about to sign
up a brand or an online retailer as a sponsor.
We are treating Ride25 as a brand in its own
right and that’s why we’re embracing IBDs.”
Find out more via [email protected] or at
www.ride25.com
BIKEBIZ.COM
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BIKEBIZ APRIL 33
ACTION UNLEASHED.
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with the best action sports products from across the globe.
Register on our B2B site today and put some action in your life.
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DAWES ACADEMY
the height while a child is sitting on the bike.
Not only that, but we’ve opened tooling for new,
skinnier hybrid tyres on the 20, 24 and 26-inch
models, these give less rolling resistance than
wider tyres and so make hills less scary.
Also, new crank lengths on the smallest
models and, double chainguards to suit the
easy to pedal 26T chainring offer even more
unique features. Each model size in the range has
been specified individually, after all, a child riding
a 14-inch bike, will have shorter legs and reach
than one riding a 16 or 20-inch, so each model
has crank lengths, stem and handlebar to suit.
What marketing plans do you have for
Academy?
Academy has been one of our main focuses for
the start of 2014. We’ve already featured
the brand in several consumer magazines
and websites and will continue to do
so at key selling times throughout the
year. As well as print marketing and, our
annual road show, we’re also attending
shows and dealer events with the
brand. We’re trying to cover as many
areas geographically as we can, with
the next event being the Welsh Cycle
Show on April 4th/5th – being held at
Newport Velodrome. We’re also looking
at increasing the brand’s presence on our
new website with 360 imagery.
Components are taiored
to the younger cyclist
Join the Academy
Finding it difficult to sell kids bikes? It’s a tough market in which the chains
are all too often unchallenged by competition. Gary Conway tells Mark
Sutton how he believes Dawes may have a viable alternative for parents
You’ve just launched a new kids offering –
what’s different about the Academy range and
why would a dealer be interested?
Each model in our new Academy range has been
carefully thought out and built to a spec, not
simply a price. Our main aim was to build a range
of junior bikes that perfectly fit the intended
user, with components and gearing to suit their
size and strength. This, we feel, will help children
enjoy their experience of cycling even more and,
encourage them to continue with the sport long
into the future.
We appreciate that not all dealers are used
to, or perhaps even interested in this level of
product, but from recent feedback at our shows,
we know for a fact that there is a growing market
for junior bikes of a better quality and consumers
are asking for this in store. What we’re offering
is incremental growth to IBD’s, not simply a new
range to replace an existing one. You’ll always
have parents on a budget that simply want
a bike for as little as possible, but, when you
have customers openly asking for higher quality
product, Academy now fills that gap.
The kids market in recent years has been
dominated by chain stores – is this launch an
attempt to level the playing field?
Chain stores and other national outlets are always
going to have a large proportion of junior (and
in fact all) bikes sales in the UK, but what we’re
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offering with Academy is several levels above that
quality of product.
Dawes continues to offer IBD’s a product that
gives excellent value while offering more features
and benefits of lower mass-market options. This
is the same whether it be junior or adult product.
Academy is adding to the local bike dealer’s
armoury when competing against the larger
players, but as the products in question are so
much different to one another, this isn’t exactly
an attempt at levelling the playing fields; more so
putting the IBD’s in a different league to nationals.
You had to create your own tooling for the
Academy line – tell us about the process:
Yes, several items have been custom made
specifically for our Academy bikes. The process
is not easy or particularly fast, but the end result
has been well worth it. With most kids bikes being
specified with ‘off the shelf’ products, we found
that we had to take a step back and completely
redesign certain components to suit smaller legs,
arms and strength. Every model in the Academy
range has our unique one-bolt adjustable stem;
in 43mm or 50mm reach, this is shorter than
any other 1” A-head style stem available, bar
the heavy and sometimes ugly BMX stems that
just wouldn’t fit the bill. The stem height can be
adjusted on a specially made shim, this means
one bolt allows you to slide the stem up and
down – no spacers, no quill, so ideal for adjusting
“Several items
have been made
specifically
for Academy.
It’s not fast, or
easy, but the
end result has
been worth it”
Gary Conway,
Dawes
Is there a minimum stock commitment for
the bike line?
To become an ‘Academy Stockist’ all we’re asking
is an initial order of six bikes across the range.
That’s not even one of each SKU. We understand
that this will be completely new territory for
nearly all IBD’s, so we don’t want to scare people
off by demanding huge commitment. Hopefully
the product will speak for itself and those initial
six bikes will encourage further commitment.
We’re also working on new models and, decals
specifically for girls to keep things fresh.
Are you finding parents are investing more in
a child’s first and second bike purchases than
previously?
You’ll always get those parents that aren’t into
cycling and just want to get their child a bike,
any bike. For that reason, some nationals and
catalogues will always have demand. We’re not
really interested in competing with that though,
we’d rather sell a product based on its merits, not
simply on how much change you get from £100.
On the other side of the market, the side that
we’re targeting, there is also a large number of
parents wanting to buy quality assured product
and, are willing to pay that bit more for it. That
said, you can also look at the resale value of these
bikes; as they are built to last, you’ll tend to find
you can achieve a better sell on price when the
child has outgrown it. Taking that into account,
you may find Academy works out cheaper in the
long run than much lower quality product.
The investment parents are willing to make
in bikes has been increasing for quite some time
now, including bikes for themselves.
Academy aside, what else has Dawes been
working on?
We’re coming close to launching our brand new
B2B website, which should hopefully give all our
customers easier access to live stock info and 24
hour ordering.
BIKEBIZ APRIL 35
RIDGEBACK HITS 30
The big 3-0
Who better to look through the milestones of the past 30 years of
Ridgeback – and give us some hints about the future – than head
of product design Toby Howes? Jonathon Harker takes notes…
Ridegback was
a pioneer of UK
mountain biking
The brand started with a single mountain
bike. How big is the range now?
It fluctuates between around 55 to 60 models,
excluding colour options.
How far has Ridgeback’s mission changed
from back in 1983?
In terms of quality and design, our basic ethos
remains unchanged. We strive to offer a quality
product, that is durable and reliable and one
which can be passed on for more use but
more than that, we want the resulting rider
experience to ensure that a Ridgeback owner
has no hesitation in recommending the brand
to others. Which is what happens.
If you had to pick out three milestones over
the 30 years, what would they be?
The first; Ridgeback being the first UK MTB in
1983. Credit needs to go to the company’s
founder Errol Drew who back in 1982 at the
New York Bike Show, spotted a strangely robust
bike that looked as if it was the two wheeled
equivalent of a 4WD car. With a high degree
of conviction I recall he said, ‘Toby, this is
the future of cycling’. I will also admit that at
that moment, I didn’t see the potential of this
‘mountain bike’ as strongly as he did.
Secondly, In 2001 we created the flat
bar road bike. Yes, Ridgeback was the first
commercially available bike of this type.
Originally named Genesis, this new breed of
fast commuter sports bike was definitely one
of the last significant developments in cycle
genres. Shimano had created a set of road
group compatible flat bar controls and front
derailleur the year before but with little interest
from bike makers. At the time, I was riding
a self-customised road bike with a straight
bar and caliper brakes … which were hard
36 BIKEBIZ APRIL
work as the incompatibility of brake and lever
meant the system lacked sufficient leverage
to get good braking. Shimano’s new flat bar
components addressed this issue.
I remember thinking there must be others
who’d want to ride on a bike like mine, so
we developed a couple of models, ordered a
container full and bingo, they sold out instantly.
When we visited Eurobike that year, I fully
expected to see flat bar bikes from all of the
big players. But no! They didn’t start picking up
on it until 2002. Shortly after, Shimano very
kindly sent me a pair of R540 wheels with a note
thanking us for getting things going in terms of
flat bar road bikes.
Last of all, pioneering disc brakes on
road going bikes. In 2008, to mark our 25th
anniversary, the R25 was launched. This was
a limited edition flat bar bike based on a
prototype I was riding at the time. Six years
ago, there were almost no disc equipped road
or hybrid bikes, so looking back, the R25 was
a clearly a precursor of the faster commuter
sports bikes of today. We’ve always been a
fan of hydraulic discs as they really do offer
advantages, especially for everyday commuters.
Great stopping power wet or dry, low pad wear
and no cables to lubricate. We’ll be introducing
hydraulic discs on some of our best-selling
commuter bikes in 2015 including Element and
Supernova.
Ridgeback is traditionally seen as strong in
commuter and touring markets - how have
those markets - and Ridgeback’s offering developed to fit those markets?
Ridgeback has always been strong in these
markets and in some ways they are similar.
Good design is timeless. Whilst that comment
can be applied more literally to the touring
market, we feel it also applies to the commuting
market. Of course there are many variations
on a theme and Ridgeback has a few itself but
the basic layout of a comfortable everyday bike
doesn’t need to change from season to season.
Yes the top tube shape might change over time
and even though Shimano continue to eke more
performance out of their components year-onyear, Ridgeback’s strength comes from the fact
that a Ridgeback Velocity today delivers the
same quality cycling experience it did 15 years
ago. Owners know it and bike shops know it.
“I will admit
that, at that
moment, I did
not see the
potential of this
‘mountain bike’
as he did...”
Toby Howes
What does the future hold for Ridgeback?
Stick to what we do best! Evolution and
refinement are always on-going but in the
short term, more premium children’s models.
Greater use of disc brakes and even a couple
of Tandems but they will appear next year.
However, later this year, we’ll be launching a
new road bike range called Rapide. Nothing to
do with our best-selling commuter range, (which
will be re-named in 2015), the Rapide road
range is designed in the UK and aimed at the
sportive market. We have focused on geometry
and fit whilst also investing in our own tooling to
ensure quality. This complete approach allows us
to offer a lifetime warranty even on our carbon
frames. Rapide will officially be launched this
summer with an extensive marketing program
to build consumer awareness.
We would like to thank all our loyal customer
base for their support in making Ridgeback the
success it is today. Ridgeback’s core brand values
of quality, service and value will always be
our priority. We have also set out a very exciting
product roadmap for the next three years to
build on what we do best and also expand into
new categories.
www.ridgeback.co.uk
BIKEBIZ.COM
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BIKEBIZ APRIL 37
Sponsored by
ELECTRIC BIKES
‘Electric bikes have come
a long way’
A2B Obree nominated for ‘Designs of the Year’
award in transport category
LONDON’S DESIGN Museum announced
that A2B’s Obree bike had been
nominated for one of its coveted Designs
of the Year Awards 2014, honouring
the best in global Architecture, Digital,
Fashion, Furniture, Graphic, Product and
Transport design. We caught up with
A2B’s Mark Loveridge, who praised the
brand’s nomination and discusses building
a larger dealerbase.
In view of some of the more
‘functional’ designs seen in the e-bike
market just a few years ago, is this
a sign of how far electric bikes have
come in terms of design?
“Absolutely. The e-bike market in Europe
has experienced rapid growth over
the past few years and in turn there
has been a demand for more stylish
electric bicycles. A2B launched the first
true e-bike back in 2008 with its own
bespoke internal motor and battery,
this inspired a new breed of e-bike
that exists today. It’s great to see
recognition for the continued efforts
of the A2B design team in the Design
Museum Award.”
What are the key USPs of the Obree
and how much does it retail for?
The Obree is one of our first bikes to be
manufactured in Germany. It utilises a
The Obree, the first A2B
to be made in Germany
completely German propulsion system,
including a clear and feature rich
display, smooth direct drive motor with
integrated torque sensor and thumb
control – so you don’t need to remove
your hands from the bars to access
information or change power settings.
The display is removable and
provides five levels of pedal assist, the
bike also benefits from five levels of
pedal assist, regenerative pedalling and
regenerative breaking.
E-bike shop takes
on ‘car corridor’
A NEW electric bike showroom is going
toe-to-toe with Audi, VW, Land Rover
and Honda car showrooms in Coulsdon.
Cycling Made Easy has opened its
new electric bike showroom, sticking
out amongst
numerous car
dealerships on
the main routes
into the town
in Croydon,
according to the
shop.
The firm said
that the growing
electric bike
market has seen
Cycling Made
Easy double its turnover every year
since opening in 2010. For the past two
years Croydon Council has engaged the
company to pioneer e-bike use for cycle
training and for a new hire scheme at
38 BIKEBIZ APRIL
Croydon Council HQ.
Ray Wookey, director of Cycling Made
Easy, said: “Auto dealerships dominate
the main routes into Coulsdon - Audi,
VW, Renault, Honda, Land Rover are
all here. To
open our
large e-bike
showroom
right in the
middle of
‘car central’
is a bold
move. We’re
sending out
the message
that e-bikes
have arrived
and cycling should be as central to urban
travel as the car is.”
Cycling Made Easy: 8 Chipstead Valley
Rd, Coulsdon, Surrey CR5 2RA
020 8660 8823
Is A2B currently on the lookout for
further dealers? How many do you
have at the moment?
Yes we are. Presently we have around
35 dealers in the UK, but are interested
in talking to dealers who are presently
involved, or interested in getting involved
in the e-bike market.
Whereabouts in the country is A2B
most popular? Is the electric revolution
extending beyond the city?
The A2B range caters for all types of
journeys; from commuters to leisure
riders. As such, A2B have a broad spread
of user’s up and down the country.
A2B also hit the news for acquiring
electric bike hire firm The Electric Bike
Network, currently provides over 5,000
e-bike rentals a year for visitors to some
of the largest national parks in the UK,
including the Lake District, The Peak
District, the Chilterns and the Cairngorms.
www.wearea2b.com
The e-bike of
the future?
QOROS HAS created an eBIQE concept
for always-connected and leisure riders at
the 84th Geneva Motor Show.
Via the QorosCloud platform, riders
can access advanced route planning,
intelligent navigation and – most
uniquely – the ability to remotely check
the eBIQE’s tyre pressure, battery charge
and range wherever they are. You can
also network through social media (which
might not be ideal while riding). Realtime updates for incidents, travel times,
weather and charging points are also
beamed into the bike. Other features
include a fingerprint recognition system,
with the ability to recognise multiple
users. Regenerative braking is included
too, so the electric motor generates
electricity while slowing down, with
the energy fed back into the battery,
increasing efficiency and range.
www.qorosauto.com
The eBIQE will allow
remote tyre pressure
checks, among other
features
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Sponsored by
ELECTRIC BIKES
Getting fruity in the Peaks
An e-bike brand not pitched solely at urbanites and with half of its customers female? It’s time to park your
e-bike preconceptions at the door of Juicy Bikes. Co-director Sarah Wales speaks with Jonathon Harker…
A younger demographic
is apparently turning
to e-bikes as cars are
proving too expensive
THINK ELECTRIC bikes are only for the
city? Peak District-set Juicy Bikes seeks to
address that misconception. With classic
styling and a unisex appeal that sees half
of its sales made to women, Juicy Bikes is
resolutely not aimed at the gadget seeker,
but ‘open to all’, with many sales coming
through recommendations. Co-director
Sarah Wales tells BikeBiz what goes into
running the brand with broad appeal…
When did you establish Juicy Bikes?
We started producing Juicy Bikes in 2008
[with co-director Bob Wales], initially
for our own shop in Buxton, Derbyshire.
As our reputation and popularity grew,
we began to get enquiries from further
afield and so we started to look for retail
partners around the UK. We noticed our
customers recommending Juicy Bikes to
their friends when they returned home.
The women’s market has typically
been hard for the bike trade to tap
into, so is there anything in particular
about the Juicy Bikes product that
reaches out to female customers?
In terms of design, we find many people
(men as well as women) will travel a long
way to see our bikes because they love
the slightly off-beat look and the colours.
When they try a bike and find they love
the ride as well, it’s an easy sale. I think a
choice of colours and accessories matters
particularly to women but also men who
want something other than mainstream
black, white or silver.
We find women ‘get’ e-bikes much
more readily and they have fewer issues
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“We focus our
POS information
on describing the
benefits, not the
features. Often
customers want to
know “will it get me
up that hill?”
Sarah Wales
with cycling and machismo; a bike where
you can decide the level of exercise you
want, a bike you can use to visit friends
without arriving dripping in sweat –
what’s not to like? UK males in particular
tend to reject explicit assistance
adopting a “ride ‘til I drop” attitude,
but many think nothing of purchasing a
featherweight frame. It’s interesting that
in other European countries, Holland
in particular, electric bike uptake has
been so much higher. Perhaps abroad
pragmatism wins over machismo. We
think attitudes here are changing for the
better as leisure cycling becomes ever
more popular and controllable exercise is
accepted as possibly more sensible than
always having to hit the wall.
I also think our unisex approach is
important, choosing the right bike is
down to height, build and, perhaps
most importantly, riding style: not
gender. Very few of us are average. We
believe in buying the bike you feel most
comfortable on, not the one you see as
a ‘ladies’ or ‘gents’ bike. Our colours aide
that philosophy helping give some riders
“permission” to ride either a step-through
in dangerously dark Blue or a cross-bar
frame in ‘Heather’.
We focus our point of sale information
on describing the benefits rather than the
features – lifestyle riders, often women,
want to know, “will it get up the hill to
work”, not “how many gears has it got”.
Is it a common misconception that
e-bikes are replacing ‘normal’ bikes,
rather than car journeys?
I think it’s a misconception with some
cyclists and some bike shops. It’s often
a lack of imagination that stops people
from seeing that there are other types of
cyclists beside the recreational rider with
a high fitness level who rides primarily
to work out. In the UK we have lost the
inclusivity of the Europeans who use
cycling as a mode of local transport, very
much part of daily life. We certainly are
appreciating that younger customers are
turning to our bikes to save money, in
particular with commuting. Often a car
repair bill forces the enquiry.
You’re looking for bike shops to take
on the brand. Are there any particular
areas you’re targeting?
We constantly get enquiries from London
and the South East and decent shops
there would be a real asset. The Lake
District and the North East are also areas
where we are underrepresented. But
we’ve been doing very well in any area
we’ve had a presence. I’m amazed how
far people are prepared to travel because
they cannot try a bike locally. A test ride
is crucial to a sale and then local support
is the final reassurance a customer wants.
We recognise the importance of
supporting retail partners with areas of
their own and we also want to preserve
our own reputation for excellent service
to our customers, both retail and
commercial, so we will restrict new
opportunities to join us this year.
Office: 01298 2 55 95,
Shop: 01298 21 40 40
[email protected]
BIKEBIZ APRIL 39
ASPIDE CARBON FX
PESO:
DiMA:
Aspide range
is available in
different levels:
121 g
Waved+Narrow
)109g GUARANTEED
Discover more on: www.sellesanmarco.it
121g
177g
DISTRIBUTED BY:
UK Dealer Staff Saddle Program
Save 75%
Apply Online: www.paligap.cc/ssmpromo
MET
You can become a
MET stockist with
just ten helmets
national and international level and to participate
actively in the development of our products.
These include Shanaze Reade, Hannah Barnes,
Liam Moynihan and Fergus Lamb for Enduro,
downhill riders Bernard Kerr, Drew Carters, Joe
Connell and Jack Reading, the triathlon world
champion Non Stanford recruited for the French
Grand Prix series, and Juliet Elliott, one of the
main ambassadors of fixed gear riding.
We have also imported from France our own
series of Enduro races, the Bluegrass Enduro Tour,
which has a round in the Glencoe Mountain
Resort on May 4th this year and will offer a mix
of timed stages and a final run with a mass-start.
Finally, we are ever present in the specialized
press, especially through product testing of our
models. This helps drive demand.
Is there a particular helmet you think will sell
well in 2014?
The UK is a great market for helmet sales in that
there is a market for urban, road and MTB. We
launched two new high-end all mountain helmets
this year, the Parabellum (£130) under MET and
the Goldeneyes (£100) under Bluegrass. Both of
these helmets sold well on our preorders and it’s
great to see that we’re getting repeat orders from
our retailers. I think it’s helped that both of these
helmets are extremely well specced for the price.
A head for sales
Little over a year on from announcing that it was to go direct to retail in
the UK and Irish territories, MET’s Jean Pierre Coup tells BikeBiz the results
are pleasing. Mark Sutton finds out more…
You’ve been selling direct to dealers for a while
now – how has the switch affected things?
We’ve been working dealer direct in the UK for 15
months and we’re very satisfied with the results
so far. In the beginning it takes a lot of time and
energy to set up, but once you have everything
in place it’s a beneficial way of working because
you operate much more closely to your retailers
and to your sales team. Before we changed the
distribution channel in the UK we were already
supplying direct to Italy, France, Norway and
Finland, which gave us the necessary experience.
In the last six months we’ve also started going
direct in Ireland and Northern Ireland.
Has cutting out a distributor affected the
retail prices of helmets at all?
We didn’t increase any of our retail prices and we
managed to increase the margin that could be
made on MET and Bluegrass products.
What is the minimum stock commitment?
The minimum stock order to open an account is
ten pieces.
BIKEBIZ.COM
What point of sale is available for dealers
committing to the label?
In addition to receiving our catalogue, we also
offer to committed dealers a slatwall pop kit that
creates a very professional looking helmet display
with branded top and side banners, mirror and
branded helmet holders.
Typically what’s the margin like on sales?
Given that there is no VAT on helmets in the UK,
the margin made by retailers is much higher than
in other markets. We offer a range of stock ins
with retailer margin ranging from 50-60 per cent.
What marketing plans do you have for 2014 to
promote UK sales?
Just as we have now taken over the responsibility
for the distribution of our products, we are of
course 100 per cent responsible for promoting our
MET and Bluegrass brands on the UK market.
Our communication strategy is mainly based
on a strong presence in competitions, so over
the last year we have taken on several UK
competitive riders to represent our brands at a
“Given that
there is no VAT
on helmets in
the UK, the
margins range
from 50 to 60
per cent...”
Jean Pierre Coup,
MET
What can you offer protection wise for kids?
Our helmet range for kids starts at £19,99 for a
twin mold helmet, which is available in two sizes
in the Buddy and the Superbuddy. For an in-mold
helmet we offer the Genio and the Elfo, which
feature our Bimbi Secure geometry.
Here our engineers have designed two cut
outs on the internal part of the helmet to ensure
that the helmet doesn’t come in contact with the
fontanels. It also features a flat spot at the back
of the helmet so that it’s really easy for children
to sit up right in their child seat. For additional
safety, the Elfo and Genio also feature a rear led
light. For youth helmets we have the famous
Crackerjack, which offers a great balance of youth
looks and safety features with an LED light and
integrated mesh net.
From Bluegrass we have the Superbold skate
helmet which offers a youth size in a small with
a great range of colours and we also have a range
of body armour available in junior sizes.
How can dealers take out a MET account?
Any retailer wishing to open an account with us
can contact us on 0207 193 7496, or via email on
[email protected]. We will then put them
in touch with their local sales person who will
arrange an appointment to present them the new
range and to discuss the buying options available.
BIKEBIZ APRIL 41
OUTDOOR & FITNESS
SM Group grows team
following ‘significant growth’
Distributor brings Nick Hurt on board from 2pure sister firm NinePointNine
by Jonathon Harker
PLYMOUTH OUTDOOR leisure products
and marine electronics distributor SM
Group has brought industry stalwart Nick
Hurt into a new role with the company
following ‘significant growth’ in the
outdoor market.
Hurt has stepped into the newly
created post of northern outdoor leisure
account manager.
The firm said that it is experiencing
a significant period of growth in the
outdoor market following some key
brand acquisitions. In March 2013, the
SM Group was appointed sole distributor
of US camping brands Kelty and Wenzel
and seven months later acquired
distribution rights of H.A.D. headwear
and F Lite technical base layers.
At SM, Hurt’s role is to maintain
service, grow the watercraft business
and develop the outdoor sector with
the Outdoor brands that the SM Group
outdoor division represents, driving sales
“We’re pleased to
welcome Nick to
the SM Group team.
His knowledge
will benefit the
company...”
and growth.
Outdoor market stalwart Hurt has 20
years’ experience in the sector and has
represented companies such as VauDe,
Keela, Trezeta and Dolomite, and most
recently has worked with 2pure sister
company NinePointNine distribution.
SMG Group MD Chris Northmore said:
“We are very pleased to welcome Nick
to the SM Group outdoor’s team. I am
sure that his enthusiasm, knowledge and
experience will benefit the company in
our quest to develop and market our
portfolio of outdoor brands.”
The appointment of Hurt completes
SMG’s outdoor division team. This
follows the appointment, back in early
2013 of Vince Pawley, an experienced
product development and sales
professional with 20 year’s industry
experience as the Sales Manager for the
outdoor division.
www.smgeurope.com
or call 01752 241010
Triathlon Performance Institute launches
New assessment service has been showcased on the tri events circuit
by Jonathon Harker
SURREY SPORT Park has launched the
Surrey Human Performance Institute for
Triathlon.
Tapping into the growing sports
market movement for consumer
performance to be expertly assessed
through the like of bike fitting, the
service is pitched at any level of athlete.
Located at Surrey Sports Park, the
Surrey Human Performance Institute,
offers health and performance
assessments to a variety of clients. The
testing facilities provide clients with the
opportunity to learn about their health
and optimise their training through a
two-hour testing programme.
The launch took place at the Triathlon
Plus Show at the ExCeL Arena in London
and the Performance Institute recently
appeared at the nearby Triathlon Show
at Sandown Park.
“One of the biggest myths is that
these tests are designed for elite
athletes, in which they are, but they
can also be applied to any athlete,”
said Joe Wainwright, manager of the
Institute. “We’ve got the triathlon radar
zone which entails four performance
assessments. These include body
42 BIKEBIZ APRIL
The Institue will be holding
a weekend triathlon
training camp for all on
April 5th and 6th
composition, cycling and sub maximal
lactate test, running sub maximal test
and a swimming lactate test as well.
The test themselves will identify key
performance indicators.”
Surrey Human Performance Institute
will also be holding a weekend triathlon
training camp for all levels, offering
“One of the biggest
myths is that these
tests are designed
for elite athletes, yet
they can be applied to
anyone.”
Joe Wainwright, manager
expertise, testing and advice on how to
train smarter over the weekend of April
5th and 6th at Surrey Sports Park.
www.surreysportspark.co.uk/
performanceservices
BIKEBIZ.COM
OUTDOOR & FITNESS
Positive signs for
outdoor industry
A record early start for the Outdoor Trade Show bodes well for the event and
for the health of the trade alike. Jonathon Harker speaks with organiser MCS…
by Jonathon Harker
in 2013 demonstrated that three days
would be enough and it also keeps
the show more united with the same
duration indoors and outdoors.
SIX MONTHS ahead of its September
kick-off, the Outdoor Trade Show (OTS)
has taken a record number of exhibitor
bookings. At time of press, 93 exhibiting
companies have secured exhibition space
and 400sqm more indoor floor space has
already been reserved. Exhibitors in the
outdoor area already equal the final 2013
figure. BikeBiz spoke with Marta Williams
of organising company MCS to find out
the reasons behind the growth…
How was the feedback from last
show? Will you accommodate new and
upcoming brands in their own section
again?
As mentioned above the feedback
was great, a result of increase visitor
attendance and a very positive
atmosphere. The New Brands Area was
a new concept we trialed last year,
in response to requests from ‘small
product’ companies and new brands
that only required a very small stand
and that wanted to keep costs down.
We are planning to repeat this in 2014
as it proved very popular and it gives
new brands that want to break into
the market a platform to present their
products to the industry.
How do you explain the rise in early
bookings? Is it a sign the show is
more popular, the outdoor sector is
strengthening again, or both?
It is great to see this unprecedented level
of commitment from existing and new
exhibitors with over five months until
the show opens its doors. We have had
ten more exhibitors booked and almost
300sqm more than this time last year,
which is very encouraging. The feedback
from the 2013 show was fantastic, there
was an eight per cent increase in visitor
numbers and exhibitors reported excellent
business made at the show. More
importantly there was an air of optimism
which was commented by many. So, in
summary we believe it is a combination
of all the above, exhibitors and retailers
had a good show, therefore they want to
repeat their experience which makes the
show more popular!
There’s has been a few shifts in
timings for the show over recent years
and now it’s going to be a three day,
mid-week slot. Can you explain the
reasoning behind this move?
After every show, we send questionnaires
to exhibitors and visitors to ask their
feedback and comments on various
aspects of the show, and timings is
always a very popular topic. Two years
ago there were numerous requests for
Sunday opening, so we tried that option
for the last two years, and in reality,
Sunday visitor number weren’t that great,
therefore we are going back to a midweek show, with proven figures to back
up the move. Before the Tent Show and
OTS joined together as one show, the
Tent Show ran as a six-day show, so the
four-day formula was requested by tent
exhibitors to allow enough time to take
retailers through the tent range. Feedback
BIKEBIZ.COM
At the time of press, 93
firms had signed to this
year’s OTS
“There is a trend for
brands to want to
expand into cross
over markets. The
cycling industry’s
product is well
represented”
Are you expecting plenty of bicycle
industry crossover exhibitors and
attendees?
There is a general trend for brands to
want to expand into cross over markets
and over the last two years this has been
a growing trend at OTS. The cycling
industry is well represented at the show
with cycling distributors such as Madison
and 2pure both exhibiting for the past
few years and crossover products such
as torches, water bottles, GPS, hydration
systems and backpacks, being enough for
cycling retailers to find their journey to
OTS worthwhile.
OTS runs from Tuesday September 9th
to 11th 2014.
MCS: 0161 437 4634
www.outdoortradeshow.com.
BIKEBIZ APRIL 43
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RETAIL ONLY
The trade’s guide to sourcing stock, up-and-coming IBDs and the very latest products
RETAIL
COMMENT
Could you go own-label?
A LOT HAS been written about ‘show season’ lately, it’s
unavoidable and increasingly cluttered. As part of the UK
trade media, we’re often handed floorplans weeks ahead of
the doors opening in order to pull together our own preshow highlights – something which, oddly, is becoming more
and more difficult.
Why? For days on end we discussed it until one day it
leapt off the page. The answer; a vastly increased amount
of floor space is being sold to direct to consumer brands,
often off our radar due to lack of bricks and mortar retail
involvement. Furthermore, the distributors are dropping
away from many exhibitions in favour of their own – as
pointed out by our Exec Editor Carlton Reid this month. The
recent Bike and Tri floorplan alone had Boardman Elite, Rose,
Dolan and Planet X. The London bike Show was much the
same, with Canyon commanding a huge and popular stand.
“A vastly increased amount of floor
space seems to be going to direct
to consumer brands, while the
distributors drop away...”
The trade is slowly coming to terms with differing
distribution models. If you want Cube, Kona, MET, Mavic and
many others within your stable you’ll be well aware of the
differences to margin levels when compared to the ‘traditional’
multi-link distribution methods. Direct to consumer brands are
nothing new, of course, but another increasingly popular link is
own-label brands, run entirely by the retailer.
We recently spoke with Beacon Fell, a label designed
and operated by Lancashire retailer The Fell_01. With more
and more money seemingly burning a hole in the high-end
road bike buyers pocket, it’s not hard to see why an ownbrand product is increasingly appealing. With a catalogue
of ready-made bikes and a built to order program, The Fell
has all bases covered, offering a unique product and tailored
service – two things increasingly important to the modern
independent bike dealer.
So the pros of having an own-label are obvious, but what
are the cons? Well, if it’s to be a consideration for your
store, you’ll need some knowhow of manufacturers and ones
with a schedule free enough to allow for a relatively small
production run. You’ll also need to become very sharp on the
marketing front. Beacon recently scored some great publicity
by linking with Davina McCall ahead of her Sport Relief
cycling challenge. Could you spot an opportunity like this?
If you can handle the hurdles, own-label could be a
lucrative part of your store’s future finances and identity.
[email protected]
IN THIS MONTH’S ISSUE
LUGGAGE AND PANNIERS
47
Commuting customer after a saddlebag? Tourer after a set of
panniers? We run down which distributors carry which labels.
CYCLING FASHION
51
Trends come and go, but the clouds are always lurking.
Prepare your stocks for rain or shine with our guide.
NEW PRODUCTS
55
BikeBiz rounds up the month’s latest product releases, both
new to market and due for delivery shortly.
46 BIKEBIZ APRIL
BIKEBIZ.COM
LUGGAGE
The baggage carousel
Whether your customer is taking their bike abroad or looking for a handy bag for the daily commute,
there’s a huge range of options. Some of those are within this article, compiled by Jonathon Harker
Chicken
Cyclekit
AUSTRALIAN COMPANY JetBlack
offers a large range of cycling
accessories including turbo trainers,
sunglasses and pumps. Amongst them
all is a wide variety of cycling bags,
such as the JetRace with its RipStop
construction and high visibility panels
that are ideal for commuting. Also on
offer are the X Bags, suited to cyclists
riding in all conditions due to the
weather resistant material from which
they are constructed. Chicken Cyclekit
says there are excellent margins available
and dealers are being actively sought. For
Claud Butler
more details, contact the sales office on
01525 381347
CLAUD BUTLER is distributor of OGNS,
which offers an extensive selection of
cycle luggage, available in a variety
of styles and colour options to suit all
cyclists needs. With single panniers from
£32.99, the Adventure model offers an
easy to fit clip system, a wide opening
top, reflective strips, a lighting loop
and has a 27.5 litre capacity. The range
also includes the Hana, a stylish double
pannier, with an added feature where
each bag can be removed separately
and used with a shoulder strap as
a messenger bag. OGNS continues
to supply well designed rack packs,
handlebar bags and saddle bags and in
2014 has broadened its collection; adding
a smartphone pouch, hydration pack
and messenger bag. All products are
water resistant and have been created
with reflective elements for the safety
conscious. For further information please
contact Claud Butler on
01652 656000
Zyro
THERE’S A big luggage range from Zyro,
including ABUS’ Pannier Bag (£64.99),
an 18L pannier bag, produced from
1000D Kodra, a waterproof and very
durable material. Meanwhile Atura’s
Morph Backpack (£74.99) combines a
backpack with a pannier, but without
compromising on the functions of either
– one side of the bag is a well-padded
backpack, the other side a dedicated
pannier.
Elsewhere, the Altura Sector 30 Backpack
(£59.99) is a versatile high capacity pack
for commuters, fitting up to 15-inch
laptops and an external U-Lock pocket.
www.zyro.co.uk
Extra UK
THE TOPEAK Dyna-Wedge is a new
wedge pack for 2014. This aerodynamic
water-repellent lightweight saddle
bag has a unique centre opening for
easy access to tools, tubes and other
essentials on the road. Naturally it fits
neatly under the saddle using adhesive
straps and is suitable for use with most
saddle rails. The weatherproof version is
constructed with 420 Denier Nylon. Find
out more via Extra.
www.extrauk.co.uk
Madison
Moore Large
THE PACK ’n Pedal Range from Thule
ranges from backpacks and panniers,
right through to bike bags. The Pack’n
Pedal commuter pannier universal is
a weather-proof 19 litre front or rear
pannier ideal for commuting and city
riding. Retailing at £99.99, it is designed
to work perfectly with the Thule Tour
rack, but fits virtually almost any
standard pannier rack. The patented
Blade Helix fixing system with magnetic
lower stabiliser means these are easy
and fast to mount and remove, ideal for
nipping into the office, or for a swift half
shandy.
www.madisonb2b.co.uk
OUTEREDGE LUGGAGE’S Impulse
range is designed for the ever
changing challenges of the cycle
world. The collection includes
large panniers (left or right), a
rack bag, saddle bags (small or
large) and a laptop pannier. The
bags are constructed in 600D poly
with grey/black PVC trimming, all
featuring reflective strips retailing
from £11.99 to £49.99.
New additions to the range for
2014 are large twin panniers, a
mini saddle bag, top tube bag (with clear
pocket for phone/sat nav) and stem fit
bag. For more information on the range,
BIKEBIZ.COM
dealers should ask their area manager for
details or contact
[email protected]
BIKEBIZ APRIL 47
LUGGAGE
Polaris
THE EVA Pod Plus is the old original
EVA Pod’s ‘bigger better brother’. Sibling
rivalry aside, the Pod is designed to take
all road, MTB, triathlon, time trial and
extended seat post bikes i ncluding 29ers.
It has numerous tough pull handles for
ease of use and includes high quality
padded wheel bags. The EVA Pod Plus
has a lock friendly eyelet so if you are
ever forced to leave your bike pod if
travelling alone you can lock your bike
pod to your frame. It weighs in around
8kg and retails at £325.
The Axial Pod is Polaris’s new bike
pod and the first specifically designed
for MTB and DH bikes. This Pod will take
a Triple Crown Downhill bike and also
the Monster 29ers. Find out more from
Polaris directly at
www.polaris-apparel.co.uk
Oxford
Products
OXFORD’S AQUA range
of all-weather waterproof
luggage uses a roll top
design, with durable
welded PVC construction
and hi-visibility reflective
detailing. That range
includes the Seat Wedge Bag
which is available in one and
two litre models. Sporting a
quick release design and LED
light loop, RRPs hit £17.99
(1L) and £19.99 (2L). The
Aqua Laptop Commuter
Bag has a 15 L capacity,
with padded laptop/tablet enclosure and
an adjustable padded shoulder strap, all
for £49.99 RRP. Also in the range is the
Pannier Bag, featuring an adjustable quick
Paligap
AXIOM PERFORMANCE Gear is a 25
year old company whose products are
designed and tested in-house at their
Vancouver base. From basic commuter
bags to round the world expedition
quality systems, details like fabric
technology, fixing systems, repairability
fit system and 18L capacity. External and
internal pockets and use on either side of
cycle, it retails at £49.99.
www.oxprod.com
and serviceability are all key to the
ranges. The innovative Smartbag touch
and Gran Fondo Seat packs have been
best sellers since their launch last year.
With a full range of panniers, bar bags,
trunk bags, seat-packs and accessories
Axiom has all bases covered.
www.paligap.cc
Silverfish
Raleigh
RALEIGH HAS a new retro style pannier
and matching saddlebag from New
Looxs: The Mondi Single Pannier (£46.99)
and Mondi Saddlebag (both in canvas,
RRP £15.99). The New Looxs Mondi
canvas is a style-conscious and durable
pannier bag, ideal for the daily commute.
With a main pocket and several smaller
pockets for stashing paraphernalia, there
48 BIKEBIZ APRIL
are handy hooks inside the zipped pocket
and reflective materials on both sides.
The new Looxs Bolsa Pannier (£41.99)
is based on a shoulder bag design with
colourful floral designs. The bag can be
mounted on the front carrier via Velcro
straps and coverable hooks mount the
mag on the rear carrier.
www.raleigh.co.uk
GERMAN BRAND EVOC may
still be the new kid on the
block but bold colours and
high performance back packs
and luggage are helping them
make an impact. Designed to
swallow DH, road and 29-inch
bikes the EVOC bike bag
features side wheel pockets,
smooth running wide wheels,
padded sides and numerous
grab handles. The bag packs in minutes
and folds down for simple storage. It’s
available in four colours and two sizes
(new BMX and standard). SRP is £229 for
the BMX version and SRP £299 for the
standard.
EVOC has also introduced the new
Bike Cover for 2014, a collapsible storage
bag is design for all types of bikes and is
perfect for the car, train or hotel room
(SRP £99.95). Also look out for EVOC’s
backpack protector range which come
with a CE rated spine protector to help
should riders come into contact with
terra firma. There’s also an expanding
range of photo packs from EVOC,
protecting everything from phones to
professional photo set ups.
www.silverfish-uk.com
BIKEBIZ.COM
XXXXXXXXXXX
LUGGAGE
Bobbin Bicycles
BOBBIN’S NEWLY expanded baskets and
racks range with RRPs starting at £21.90.
One of the new luggage carrying options
is the Porteur Rack (RRP £44.95), which is
made from chromed steel and wood and
is ideal for carrying beers or a small (well
behaved) dog. It features adjustable axlemounting legs to fit a variety of wheel
sizes and in the image attached is fitted
to Bobbin’s new Noodle bike (RRP £375).
www.bobbinbikes.co.uk/
Wildoo
Endura
WILDOO’S NEW Velopac musette is
available in aftermarket designs and also
custom printed. First, some history: The
original cycling musette was a simple
cotton bag developed to pass cyclists
food during a cycle race. While that was
designed to be thrown away after use,
VeloPac has developed a modern take
on the classic musette ideal for the daily
commute where just a lightweight simple
bag is required. The VeloPac musette is
proudly made in Britain using a durable
waterproof Polyester fabric. Gone is the
traditional press stud closure and in its
place a zip to ensure the contents are not
lost mid ride. Finally we have replaced
the then sewn cotton strap with a wide
webbing strap and added an adjuster so
the bag sits securely as you ride. This
allows the bag to be adjusted to sit
high on the back so it stays in position
ENDURA’S CYCLE Specific Roller Kit Bag
is a fairly new addition to its extensive
collection that includes two sizes of
feature-packed back packs (18L and
25 L), a small and a large seat pack in
aerodynamic design, a compact security
Jersey Wallet and a cycle specific Roller
Kit Bag. The latter is fitted with a host
of relevant features like a durable outer
fabric so it stands upright even when
empty. The Roller Kit Bag has neoprene
comfort handles on the top and
the side, an expandable handle and
compression straps. The internal design
features multiple cycling-specific zipped
compartments for helmet, shoes, gloves,
and eyewear, and a secret zipped pocket
for small valuables with soft touch lining.
RRP is £124.99.
www.endurasport.com
even when out of the saddle. Retailing
at £20, custom print options begin with
minimum orders of just 50pcs in one
design.
[email protected]
Ortlieb
ORTLIEB, AVAILABLE via Lyon
Equipment has Back-Roller High
Visibility panniers in its range,
hitting the £180.00 price point.
This new, high-vis version of
the classic Ortlieb Back-Roller
waterproof bike pannier uses
PU laminated Cordura fabric
in black and fluorescent signal
yellow, interwoven with a highly
luminous reflective yarn. In the
dark, the whole bag becomes a
reflector. With its QL2.1 fixing it
is quickly mounted on a bike rack,
and once off the bike cyclists can
carry it as a shoulder bag with the
included strap.
www.lyon.co.uk
BIKEBIZ.COM
BIKEBIZ.COM
Caribee
CARIBEE’S KALEIDOSCOPE version of
its popular Adriatic bag is pitched as an
all-rounder, ideal for school, commuting,
day-trips and travelling.
The Aussie brand has, we’re told,
grown exponentially in the UK over the
last 18 months, but has been making
travel bags more than 50 years. It’s
equipped with a comfortable Action
Back harness, an easy-access front
sleeve pocket, an organiser panel, a
waterbottle pocket and a haul loop,
making it easy to grab and go. The
Adriatic is made from 600D polyester
PU fabric, meaning it’s well equipped
to handle the bumps and scrapes of
everyday use. RRP is £29.95.
www.caribee-uk.com/
BIKEBIZ
49
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www.gaerne.com
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Hand made Italian shoes,
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> CARBON G.CHRONO < weight: 275 grams
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Distributed in the UK by
www.hotlines-uk.com
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Email: [email protected]
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Tel: 0131 319 1444
CYCLING FASHION
Whatever the weather
Hotlines
There really is no weather like we have in
the UK. Just a month on from swathes of
the country being underwater, Spring has
sprung. But with April round the corner, do
you have the right stock to see your fair
weather customers through the sun and
showers? Mark Sutton rounds up some key
products for the months ahead…
SWISS CLOTHING
label IXS turned a few
heads back in January
at CoreBike with
its trail garments,
including the new
Asper BC shorts.
If your customer is
browsing for a sturdy and
solid all mountain short, the
Asper BC has Velcro waist
adjustment and a stretch
panel on the back. A mesh
lining and air vent system
on the thighs provide
great breathability for high
performance, with two zip
closure front pockets and two side
Silverfish
Extra
2014 SEES RaceFace coming
out strong with a line-up of
clothing perfect for hitting the
trails. Jerseys, jackets, shorts and
gloves make up the off-road side of
things, while a great range of shirts,
shorts and hoodies have your customer
covered for the post ride pub mission.
Highlights include the £29.95 Stage
glove with its thin low-profile, slip-on
design and lightweight nylon back
perfect for summer use. Add to that
women’s and men’s shorts including
the popular Khyber and Ambush shorts,
which return with fresh colours. New
for the season also comes the Nano
packable jacket, which offers low bulk
and protection from the elements,
FOR THE inevitable
April showers, Extra has
the perfect garment
in the form of Brook’s
collaboration with John
Boultbee – the Cambridge rain cape.
Light weight and stowable, the
Cambridge is waterproof up to 10,000
mmH20 and has an adjustable hood
that will accommodate a helmet
if needs be. Reflective piping runs
throughout and the cape rolls
into itself thanks to some stylish
leather straps on the rear.
The garment retails for £105
and is stocked in black, brown,
olive, sand and red.
01933 672 170
Chicken
Cyclekit
RELAUNCHED
RECENTLY with
Chicken Cyclekit, Briko
is an iconic label,
popular in the 90s and
looking to replicate that
success with some fresh goods.
Having started making
ski wax for Italian ski teams,
the company then started
producing eyewear, which they
later developed for cycling.
Known for designing extremely
well-functioning lenses, for use
in all conditions and all types of
riding, the label was largely made famous
BIKEBIZ.COM
making it perfect for putting in a back
pocket when it warms up.
Spiuk continues to enjoy success on
the pro circuit, as well as in magazine
tests. In addition to the usual jerseys,
jackets and shorts, the Spanish label
now has triathlon-suited products. Spiuk
also offers a wide range of eyewear for
both on and off the bike, which include
the popular Arqus glasses which offer
interchangeable lenses as well as light
reactive Lumiris II options.
01752 843882
by Cipollini.
Briko is
now back
with an
all new
clothing
range,
with
incredible
value for
money Items and
good margins for
dealers. Looking
for dealerships and
exclusive territories
are available. For
information on
stocking Briko call
the sales office on
01525 381347
Moore
Large
WITH LIMAR,
Vangard and now
Dare 2B within
its stocks, Moore
Large has a great
selection for the
dealer.
Dare 2B caters
for all kinds of
riders, tailoring each garment
to its intended environment. New in the
catalogue is the AEP range, designed in
collaboration with Oscar Pereiro. This
line contains lightweight jerseys, bib
shorts, windshell jackets and waterproof
breathable jackets.
pockets on the legs.
Hotlines has
stock of both
black and red
colours, both
costing
£84.99 at
retail.
On the
jersey front, the
£41.99 Misteri BC is a
lightweight polyester
number ideally suited
to warm weather
riding. It wicks
moisture and dries
incredibly quickly
leaving no hint of
body sweat odour.
0131 319 1444
Limar’s glasses line may prove
attractive this summer, with
various price points covered.
For the serious buyer, the
OF9 (£109.99), has two
pairs of interchange lenses;
a photochromic NXT, which
automatically adjusts to the sun
light intensity and a polarized
offering protection and comfort.
Vangard is something of a
specialist in technical fabrics and
is this year extending its expertise
to offer dealers a teamwear print
and design service. Unlimited colour
options are available and sizes from six
years to 4XL. With a minimum order of 30
pieces, prices depend on quantity, garment
choice and design.
01332 274200
BIKEBIZ APRIL 51
CYCLING FASHION
Zyro
Madison
FEW WILL have missed Giro’s emergence
as one of the labels making inroads into
the casual cycle clothing arena, yet the
clothing is often far more technical than
it appears on the surface.
Giro Women’s senior apparel designer
Karany Nihm worked with cyclists and
the in-house design team to create
garments that are both functional and
flattering. In keeping with Giro’s design
philosophy, technical detail in the new
road line is essential, but kept ‘invisible
until it is needed’. The line features
highly technical fabrics like Nycore Wool
and Pertex Shield, as well as innovative
solutions like the Stowback pocket
system and Skeletal Pocket Construction
to ensure that riders are comfortable and
capably-outfitted on the bike.
Covering most garments you’d happily
wear around town, Giro has everything
from Merino polo shirts to technical
trousers and shorts, each tailor cut to be
as comfortable in the saddle as they are
while walking the dog.
Zyro are of course widely know as the
creator of Altura gear and the 2014 line
again packs in the value.
Take the Raceline Bib Short, at £89.99
your customer is taking home a garment
developed alongside professionals,
with aerodynamics in mind, as well as
premium quality European stretch fabrics.
Then there’s the 3D moulded stretch
IN-HOUSE designed and now competing
with the best of the rest, Madison’s
own-label clothing line is bigger than
ever, offering both male and female
cyclists a wide variety of garments
for all seasons.
For the downpours, Madison
recommends the Addict threelayer storm jacket at £139.99.
With the Addict your customer
is investing in a hard-wearing
jacket built to withstand the
elements, much thanks to a
12,000mm waterproof rating
and 15,000gms breathability
rating, ensuring they’ll stay dry
without overheating. Careful thought has
gone into ensuring it’s a bike compatible
garment, with a hood that’ll fit over a
helmet, front facing chest vents that
allow regulation of temperature and that
SealSkinz
multi-density insert with gel injection
on the sitting bone pads, vastly boosting
comfort. What’s more, this carries a silver
anti-bacterial cover for odor and bacteria
resistance.
01845 521700
WIDELY KNOWN in markets
within snow, water and
land sports, Seal Skinz has
a reputation for keeping the
user dry. No wonder they’re
popular in the UK.
The new Dragon Eye glove is
no different in that it manages
moisture to deliver dry, next
to skin comfort. The three
layers of ADD: ‘stretchdry’,
waterproof and windproof,
all provide their own unique
performance. StetchDry is a
technology utilised in the
label’s British made
garments.
will work around a hydration pack.
Madison also distributes the Pearl
Izumi label, popular among triathletes, as
well as eyewear from Recon and Lazer.
01908 326000
Designed to be an attractive
low-profile glove, the Dragon
Eye is ideal for cycling thanks
to features such as anti-slip
surfaces and cuffs, a durable
suede palm and fleece thumb
wipe, as well as touchscreen
compatibility.
Another product centering
around the Stretchdry
technology is the popular
mid-weight merino wool
sock. Offering waterproofing
and breathability, as well
as elasticity around the
ankle and instep, these
socks will be among the
most comfortable available
for all weather cyclists.
01553 817990
Bob Elliot
Buffera
PUSHING FORWARD with sustainably
sourced fibres, Buff will follow last year’s
eucalyptus garments with the addition of
Infinity Organic Cotton.
Made with a 58cm seamless length,
the Infinity collection is made from a
fabric that strives to reduce the need
for chemical pesticides, herbicides and
fertilisers.
Made up of eight colour options, each
dyed to be unique, no two products will
ever be the same. Priced at £26.00 for
the plain and £33 for the gradient dye
52 BIKEBIZ APRIL
designs, bike shops can take on stock
immediately.
As with all Buff headgear, one per
cent of sales proceeds will be donated
to a non-profit organisation working to
improve the environment.
Also of interest to cycling retailers will
be the new Helmet Liner Pro Buff, also in
stock now and retailing for £16. As you’d
expect, it’s shorter than a normal Buff,
so tucks under the lid, wicking moisture
away while your customer rides.
01707 852244
COVERING HEAD to
toe, Bob Elliot’s Funkier
label targets the cyclist
looking for value for
money from their
purchase, with technical
cycle socks from just £5.99,
jerseys from £19.99 and
upwards and much more.
Key for the period ahead
are jerseys like the J-763
gents Elite in a carbon
and red trim. Made from
100 per cent polyester
mesh with quick dry
protection, the garment
sneaks in a few tidy features for
the money, such as reflective banding, a
water resistant pocket and a silicon waist
gripper.
If it’s a bib short the
customer is after, check out
the S-9763-E8 Elite. Sold
in a exclusive presentation
box, the anatomically
cut bib short has an E8
antibacterial pad, with good
moisture transfer properties.
01772 459 887
BIKEBIZ.COM
Scan this QR code
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THOROUGHBRED
ORCA.
THOROUGHBRED.
The Orca bloodline is written in the history of road cycling,
in gold. Developed in the wind tunnel, and ridden by
champions, the 2014 Orca features a brand-new ergonomic
design and a redesigned fork. True monocoque technology
and a lifetime warranty boost Orca’s potential, passing on
its purebred genes for generations.
BIKEBIZ.COM
BIKEBIZ APRIL 53
54 BIKEBIZ APRIL
BIKEBIZ.COM
NEW PRODUCTS
Send your product details including a hi-res
photo and brief description of the product.
Email [email protected]. Or
call Mark on +44 (0)1992 535646 for a chat.
New
Gear
This month it’s groupsets
galore as Shimano and
SRAM reveal trickledown.
Meanwhile, Dymag’s
Formula One expertise
benefits in the firm’s cycle
market plans.
France En Velo
Shimano Alivio MTB
Rockshox Paragon frok
Madison: 01908 326000
Fisher Outdoor: 01727 798345
WITH AGGRESSIVE and low profile styling, Shimano
has vastly upped the appeal of the Alivio groupset in
aesthetic terms, but there is of course performance
trickledown too.
Besides the new look, the Alivio rear derailleur now
features Shimano’s Shadow RD technology, previously
associated with higher groupsets like SLX and Deore.
Since bigger wheel sizes have became more
prevalent in the Alivio segment, the drivetrain has
adopted a 40-30-22 triple ring and while the front
derailleur is more compact than previously, again a plus
for larger wheel clearance.
To improve handling, Shimano has integrated the
shift and brake lever, giving a clean appearance and
improved cable routing.
The nine-speed cassette is available in four different
gearing options (11-28T, 11-32T, 11-34T, 12-36T).
ROCK SHOX has announced the 700c, 50/65mm
travel Paragon fork, a suspension offering tailored to
the modern urban and trekking cyclist.
Having drawn on the expertise of B+M, Trelock,
Supernova, Spanninga, Fuxon and SKS, the
suspension manufacturer says the Paragon is ready
to integrate lighting, with the brace designed to
accommodate a headlight. The wiring management
system provides a secure, concealed path from a
dynamo hub up to the brace.
Without a fender, Paragon provides ample room
for tires up to 45c in width.
The Paragon is expected to retail for around €225
and is compatible with the PopLoc system should
the customer want to upgrade to a remote lockout.
The fork will be both rim and disc compatible.
Dymag wheels
SRAM XO1 7-speed DH
Wild Things: 07761 375717
Direct to retail: [email protected]
Fisher Outdoor: 01727 798345
FRANCE EN Velo is a photo guide book about a
new cycling challenge / touring route across France
from the Channel to the Mediterranean, pitched by
the authors as a ‘sunnier version of Lands End to
John O’Groats’, with great food and easier transport
connections.
With over 1,000 miles to cover, spanning with
diverse scenery, the £16.99 title takes the reader
through rural France, from St Malo to Nice.
Featuring carefully thought out maps and digital
route information, France En Velo’s 256 pages
are illustrated with stunning imagery. There are
highlighted hill challenges and suggestions of where
to eat and sleep.
YOU MAY have heard the Dymag name before, most
likely for its heritage in carbon fibre motorcycle and
Formula 1 wheels and as many have done before,
they’ll be bringing their expertise to the cycling
world.
Already stocked by independent retailers in the
UK, the new range of hand built wheels comprises
of road carbon fibre rims ready to buy off the
shelf, or bespoke packages tailored to the rider’s
requirements.
The Dymag rims can be purchased as a standalone product from £270 for sizes 24mm - tubular,
and 38mm, 44mm, 50mm and 60mm, available in
a tubular or clincher. The 88mm rim is priced at
£337.50 (tubular or clincher).
The spoke counts available for all the rim sizes are
20, 24 and 28 spoke.
DUE IN stock with Fisher Outdoors from April, SRAM
has released the details of its seven-speed XO1
downhill components.
Borrowing technology from XX1 and the 11-speed
version of X01, the downhill group is made up of a
seven-speed cassette, mounting to the XD Driver
Body freehub, and seven-speed rear derailleur
and shifter. SRAM’s unchanged XX1 chain is
recommended for use with the group.
The cassette includes a chain barrier on the back
cog to stop it dropping into the spokes. The sprocket
sizes are 10-12-14-16-18-21-24 and the cassette is
said to be the lightest available. What’s more, the
system will be compatible with any wheels that can
fit the XD driver body.
BIKEBIZ.COM
BIKEBIZ APRIL 55
2 piston hydraulic brake, both 22mm
diameter – providing strong evenly
distributed braking force.
Í Mineral oil
Í Weight per wheel 344g
Í Power 112Nm
Í Reach Adjustment
Í Hinged Clamp design for easy fitting
Online: www.clarkscyclesystems.com
Email: [email protected]
56 BIKEBIZ APRIL
BIKEBIZ.COM
COMMUNITY
SPONSORED BY
BikeBIZ is keen to publish your
opinions, whether you send them
via email, Facebook, Twitter,
BikeBiz.com or semaphore…
The Mighty 14
RRP £19.99
TOP DOS & DON’TS
While taking suggestions for which shops should make it into our ‘Top 20
IBDs’ feature (page 13) we pondered what precisely are the qualities that
make a retailer good? Rather than decide ourselves, we turned to minds far
greater than ours – the BikeBiz community. Here’s what you said.
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
Q: YOUR TOP DOS AND DON’T FOR
BICYCLE RETAILERS?
Do
Don’t
1. Do treat all customers with respect,
1. Don’t ever think you know
regardless of gender, experience,
budget or cycling discipline.
2. Do call the customer back and be
reliable.
3. Be thankful for every person that
walks through your door
everything.
“Treat all customers
with respect,
regardless of
gender, experience,
budget or cycling
discipline…”
4. RIDE A BIKE! Be like the people who
2. Try not to be to cynical (regardless
of how many years you’ve been
at it)
3. Be grumpy (vital) - always!
A: Don’t overstate risks of cycling to try &
sell helmets. Normalise cycling => more ppl
cycling => more custom
@CTC_Cyclists
A: @BikeBizOnline let people browse and not
pressure them into a sale
@matpennell
A: @BikeBizOnline do have more women on
your staff (and not just to fill the shelves and
do the till).
@XFmGirl
A: @BikeBizOnline stop using stock racks and
build some personality into your shop.
@Cyclistlaw
4. DONT DISCRIMINATE (depending
on what type /kind of bikes you like
use you. It helps, a lot.
5. Don’t stock the shop with stuff
5. Buy little, buy often
6. Get over the internet. Unless you
have been in business before the
late ‘90s, it was there before you.
7. Get your hands dirty at least once
per day (if you’re not the mechanic)
Thanks to everyone that
contributed to the list, particularly
Cristian Tomlinson of Supernova
Cycles.
Do you agree with the list? Have
you got any dos and don’ts to add
to the list? Let us know at
[email protected]
chosen just because you like it.
Otherwise it may as we’ll be your
garage/shed.
6. Don’t proceed with a costly
bike repair (or exceed customers
predefined budget) without the
customer’s approval.
Kinoko’s in store
presentation
is a world leader in chain technology with patents which include Diamond Hard Technology which increases durability up to 25% in comparison with their competitors - and GST (greener surface
treatment) which is the world’s first anti rust chain made with zero toxic metals.
OXFORD is the now exclusive
chains and
distributor of
connectors for the UK and Ireland.
products, from volume selling entry level to
OXFORD will be stocking the full range of
their new cutting edge 11 speed Onze “5” series ultra-light chain, with retail packed or
workshop quantity options.
For all trade enquiries please contact Oxford Products Ltd. t: 01993 862 300
e: [email protected] www.oxprod.com
or one of the its Flagship Wholesalers:- M & J Distributors | Hykeham Wholesale
Mealor Clarke | Mackadams Factors | Walkers | Pell & Parker
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
[email protected]
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
www.bikeandtri.co.uk
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
[email protected]
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
[email protected]
The BikeBiz Bible is now available online.
Visit www.bikebiz.com
COMPANY PROFILE
COMPANY PROFILE
ANDY EASTERBROOK
WILDOO
Nervous about getting
into Ecommerce?
Citrus-Lime’s head of sales and marketing Grant
Hadwin explains how bike shops can tackle the
sometimes alarming ecommerce challenge…
WHAT DO you say to retailers who are
nervous about dipping their toe into
the world of Ecommerce?
We understand. Nervousness is a
natural reaction to something you don’t
feel confident about. I didn’t feel too
confident about my first proper descent
but the guys I was riding with had been
many times before, knew the lay of the
land and gave me some useful advice
about what to expect. Citrus-Lime’s
decades of experience gained working
with a wide range of online cycle retailers
has helped us to understand what works
online and what you can anticipate from
extending your reach via online retail.
Investing in ecommerce doesn’t mean
you should rush out and gather Venture
Capital funding so you can ‘take on The
Big Boys’ and get into a bun fight over
two points on a rear-mech. Instead, start
with a clear understanding about what
your company will offer online customers.
In your bricks-and-mortar business, you
are likely an IBD with a reputation for
having a deep knowledge of a focussed
range of carefully chosen products with a
commitment to great value, service and
after-sales care. Who doesn’t want that
from their retailer?
There’s no escaping the fact that
today’s consumers are demanding a
multi-channel offering. The question
isn’t whether or not you should respond
to demand, it’s when and how will you
respond. The answer is now and we’ll
help with the ‘how’.
Can you explain more about the 5
Steps to Success marketing strategy
for ecommerce?
Sure. Put simply, we initially focus on
THE BIBLE
IS BACK!
60 BIKEBIZ APRIL
product promotion because products
offer the easiest way to drive traffic.
Traffic leads to sales and each sale adds
to a customer base that you can seek to
build a relationship with. We have been
working hard on presenting value back to
our customers by focussing on features and
services that are manageable, measurable
and cash-flow positive. We’ve trialled
a myriad of services over the years and
refined that down to a set of opportunities
for our customers to exploit.
You’ve just launched the Customer
Rewards Module – how does it help
independents compete with larger chains?
Our Customer Rewards module directly
helps to motivate existing customers,
encourage repeat business, capture data
and increase brand awareness. It allows
the IBD to offer their repeat customer
meaningful savings on future purchases
and avoid engaging in ‘race to the
bottom’ price-wars that strips margin
and threatens IBD sustainability. Our
sincere hope is to position our customers
away from an “instant discount culture”
towards a culture of Customer Rewards.
What does the Customer Rewards
Module require retailers to do; is it
time consuming to run?
No. The beauty of the Customer Rewards
module is its simplicity for the retailer.
Adopting Customer Rewards into the
day-to-day of retail is the challenge but,
with Citrus-Lime’s dedicated Customer
Rewards Support Team, help is on hand
in that department, too. A real sense that
Customer Rewards is not just wanted, but
needed, is coming across loud and clear.
Citrus Lime: 0845 890 1270
In association with
Give us a brief history of Wildoo?
We’ve been trading 11 years. The
first few years were a struggle as I
established the company and built a
portfolio, but now we are in overdrive
with growth coming faster and easier!
You showed a Velopac Musette
prototype at the Bike Place Show in
January – tell us a bit about it?
We have three aftermarket musette
designs in production now, which
will be ready before the end of
March. We also have our first custom
musette order from a London dealer in
production, which is great as we have
only really soft launched this item.
In addition we have plans for a
leather musette and then a neat
cyclist’s essentials case for the
café rider, printed with some great
designs. Other VeloPac items are in
the idea stage, but so far we are only
progressing with quality items that we
can competitively make here in the UK.
What does the product range cover
now? Can you customise virtually all
of them for customers?
Wildoo is the only company that can
offer a full range of customised cycling
products, including clothing, socks,
bottles, smartphone cases, multi-tubes,
gloves, caps and musettes.
Are there plans to expand the
product range still further?
For 2014 we are adding mini cycling
jerseys (to hang in the car window),
mini tools and laser printed headset
top caps and spacers.
You mentioned Wildoo’s export
market is growing – why is that?
Our big success story so far is
Japan. We have a distributor there
that loves VeloPac and has ordered
every two weeks so far this year
with each order getting bigger. We
have a number of other markets very
Tel: 01908 374555
Email: [email protected]
W: www.wildoo.co.uk
interested, but have been waiting on
the musette so they have a range,
rather than one product.
Overall, how is business?
Business is good and getting better, in
2013/14 we have increased turnover
by 15 per cent. With the growth in
sales of existing products and the
addition of Velopac and other new
items we are forecasting a growth of
over 20 per cent in 2014/15.
Have you got a perspective on the
general state of the market?
The market seems to be very divided
with the low-end struggling, but we
are seeing more and more growth in
the charity ride and sportive sector
and they all want customised products.
Branding is very important these days
and Wildoo is perfectly positioned to
capture this market with a broad range
of products at competitive prices,
backed up with excellent service.
What does the future hold?
We are expecting strong double digit
growth for at least the next two years
and plan to roll out more of our own
designed and unique products so that we
can consolidate our position a market
leader of custom products and, alongside
this, develop the Velopac brand. For
2014 we have extended our sponsorship
as kit supplier to the Mule Bar Girl –
Sigma sport team, which is strengthening
our brand image in the competitive
custom clothing sector.
How can dealers get in touch?
We can be contacted by phone, email
or via our website. Unfortunately our
website was recently hacked and as we
are in the middle of developing a new
site the old site was taken down. We
have recently invested in two completely
new websites (Velopac.cc which is now
live and Wildoo.co.uk which hopefully be
live the time this is published).
For additional copies please contact:
[email protected]
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ORGANISATIONS, CHARITY
AND ASSOCIATIONS
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ePos, website builders
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Trail and hire centres, conference, cycle tours,
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RETAILERS, WORKSHOPS AND MAIL
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MARKETPLACE CONTACTS
BANNER PRINTING
Peter Dobbs
01482 224 007
peter.dobbsdesignandprint@
hotmail.co.uk
BIKES & ACCESSORIES
Kinesis
M&J Distributors Ltd
Madison
Overade
The Cycle Division
01404 711 611
01613 379 600
01908 326 000
01404 711 611
0845 0508 500
www.upgradebikes.co.uk
www.mjdist.co.uk
www.madisonb2b.co.uk
www.upgradebikes.co.uk
www.thecycledivision.com
BIKE MAINTENANCE
Clarks Cycle Systems
Ice Toolz
Morgan Blue
Weldtite
CLOTHING
Wildoo
COMPONENTS
A2Z
Nokon
Pace Cycles Ltd
Sonic Cycles
USE Ltd
01827 382 800
02392 521 912
02392 521 912
01652 660 000
www.clarkscyclesystems.com
www.windwave.co.uk
www.windwave.co.uk
www.weldtite.co.uk
01908 374 555
02392 521 912
02392 521 912
01751 460 599
0207 2432 848
01798 344 477
www.wildoo.co.uk
www.windwave.co.uk
www.windwave.co.uk
www.pacecycles.com
www.soniccycles.co.uk/b2b
www.use1.com
BANNER PRINTING
62 BIKEBIZ APRIL
DEALER MANAGEMENT SYSTEMS
Evopos
0845 644 9424
EPOS & ECOMMERCE
Bike Rental Manager
Citrus Lime
Seanic Retail Software
+33 686 451 310
0845 6039 254
01926 338 932
www.evopos.com
www.bikerentalmanager.com
www.citrus-retail.com
www.seanicretail.co.uk
RACKS
Pendle
01282 699 555
www.pendle-bike.co.uk
TYRES & TUBES
Rubena
0800 281 413
www.rubenacycle.co.uk
WATER BOTTLES
Bottlesport
08456 029 267
www.bottlesport.com
WEBSITE SERVICES
SiWis Limited
01709 511 766
www.siwis.co.uk
GET YOUR COMPANY FEATURED IN THE
BIKE BIZ MARKETPLACE BY CONTACTING:
Jake Adams on 01992 535647
[email protected]
BIKES & ACCESSORIES
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BIKES & ACCESSORIES
BIKES & ACCESSORIES
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BIKES & ACCESSORIES
BIKEBIZ APRIL 63
BIKEBIZ | MARKETPLACE
BIKES & ACCESSORIES
BIKES & ACCESSORIES
BIKES & ACCESSORIES
BIKE MAINTENANCE
service
centre
Technical Support
HOTLINE: 01455 254800
[email protected]
SERVICE SUPPORT, PRODUCT & VIDEO
www.clarkscyclesystems.com
24 Hour Dispatch of Spare Parts
64 BIKEBIZ APRIL
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BIKE MAINTENANCE
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BIKEBIZ APRIL 65
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CLOTHING
COMPONENTS
E M TS
TH TO LIS
S
U A
C ECI
SP
Custom Cycle Clothing
Ŕ/PTFUVQDIBSHFT
Ŕ-PXNJOJNVNTŊ
GSPNKVTUQJFDFT
Ŕ1SJOUFEUPZPVSPXOBSUXPSL
Custom Sports Bottles
Ŕ7BSJPVTTJ[FTDVTUPN
QSJOUFEVQUPDPMPVST
Ŕ-PXNJOJNVNTŊ
GSPNKVTUCPUUMFT
Ŕ4DSFXPODBQTXJUI
TQFDJBMTPGUQVMMJOHTQPVUT
NEW! Custom Velopac
Protective Smartphone Cases
Ŕ$VTUPNQSJOUFEVQUPDPMPVST
Ŕ-PXNJOJNVNTŊGSPNKVTUVOJUT
wildoo.co.uk [email protected] 01908 374555
COMPONENTS
66 BIKEBIZ APRIL
COMPONENTS
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COMPONENTS
COMPONENTS
USE HARDWARE
Perfected over 20 years
of component design,
testing and manufacturing
in the south of England
ATOM HANDLEBARS
www.use1.com
VYBE SHOKPOST
use_exposure
RACE STEMS
Ultimate Sports Engineering
DEALER MANAGEMENT SYSTEMS
COMPONENTS
EXPOSURE LIGHTS
TRACE & TRACER
All round visibility from super
bright compact light units.
USB charging, fuel gauge,
CNC’d aluminium bodies
and quick release mounts.
TRACE
www.use1.com
BIKEBIZ.COM
TRACER
use_exposure
Exposure Lights
BIKEBIZ APRIL 67
BIKEBIZ | MARKETPLACE
EPOS & E-COMMERCE
EPOS & E-COMMERCE
Calendar management . Barcode scanning
True multi-user support . Point of sale
Online booking . Integrated maintenance
Client database . Transaction histories
EPOS & E-COMMERCE
68 BIKEBIZ APRIL
RACKS
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TYRES & TUBES
WATER BOTTLES
WEBSITE SERVICES
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MARKETPLACE BY
CONTACTING:
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BIKEBIZ.COM
BIKEBIZ APRIL 69
OFF TRACK
In association with f i’zi:k
Fiscal storm
This month we’ve got some no nonsense statistics and
financial results for you. How are some of the big names
in the cycle trade faring financially? What has the largest
cycle retail specialist planning for the coming years? And
how many times will the harsh 2013 winter be blamed for
poor performance…?
35,088 million yen
Tom Dowie,
Cycle coach, Chicksands shoveller
What bikes do you own?
Currently I own two Giants from this year’s sponsor Giant
Radlett. I’m riding a Giant Defy for my boring training rides
and the awesome Giant Trance advanced setup with the new
pikes and a few extras. Also I still own my 4x bike, jump bike
and a race BMX to keep it mixed. I’m riding a lot of cross
country at the moment to keep fitness up.
Shimano published a strong set of results with a 10.2 per cent growth in
net sales in fiscal year 2013. Net income rose a whopping 27.7 per cent to
35,088 million yen (approx £204m). IBD sales were hampered by unsettled
weather in the first half and didn’t fully recover, the brand said
How does a typical day normally pan out for you?
My weekdays start with emails it’ll be a training ride after,
maybe some coaching and finishing with a session at my gym.
You aren’t shy of a bit of shovel work, how many hours a
week do you spend digging trails?
I can’t afford to be shy of the shovel having to run chicksands!
It takes a beating weekly. I keep up with the general
maintenance week to week, so that’s easily ten hours a week,
but I go on mad ones occasionally, perhaps ranging up to 30.
Tell us about your coaching business?
Tom Dowie Coaching has been established a good few years
now. I love the coaching as its always so rewarding seeing the
client enjoy their riding more during and after the session. I
coached a lot out of the Olympic XC course last year, which
has been a good push for the numbers of my coaching clients.
Currently I’m coaching around four days a week, but due to
racing all summer I lose out a bit.
How do you go about building a rider’s confidence?
A lot of coaches like to trick you into not thinking about the
things that could go wrong. I like to explain the skills and use a
breakdown, so you can eliminate risk entirely.
30%
Mintel research has revealed that a worrying 30 per cent of the
nation admit they rarely or never do sport or exercise. By our maths,
that’s almost 20million. Just imagine if we could get them all on bikes.
Or half of them. Or a quarter…
And you’re currently working on an off-shoot grooming
business – is that right?
I am! Growing a beard is more work than shaving and I’m
not paying £20 for beard oil every other month. After making
my own for a while and supplying Tom Whitton of Highway
Cycles for his valiant beard, I decided to smash out a few
bottles to the public. I’m still a bit shocked by it as I’m already
stocked in four barbers and selling to the public and friends
through the website. Check it out - Bedfordshire Beard Co!
70 BIKEBIZ APRIL
BIKEBIZ.COM
OFF TRACK
£2.3m
Evans Cycles saw profits rocket to £2.3m in the 12 months to
November 2013 – up from £269,000 in the previous 12 months,
when profit was channelled back into investment. (Source: Retail Week).
Daniel
Gillborn,
Director
Signups on the
up as 2014 sales
continue to rise
Six
In the same report, Evans Cycle revealed it was planning to double the number of
stores it opens annually to six a year, targeting sites in “all the big cities”. Around
half the store portfolio is within the M25 at present.
€19m
Turnover grew ten per cent to €849m in 2013 for Accell Group, but profit was down
from €23.3m to €19m (approx. £15,843,435) due to ‘one-off reorganisation changes
in the Netherlands and North America’.
£277
Accell Group saw the average price of a bike fall to €336
(approx £277) in 2013 from €345 in 2012 (approx. £287).
BIKEBIZ.COM
MORE THAN ten years since the Cycle to Work
scheme was first introduced you’d be forgiven for
thinking that the scheme has reached saturation
point, that all the employers who are likely to sign
up have already done so and that everyone who
can buy a bike is already on two wheels. The truth
is, based on our research, this is far from the case.
In the first few months of 2014 alone over 700 new
employers have signed up with us and thousands
of new Certificates have been issued out to new
participants. Suffice to say, the popularity of the
scheme shows no signs of slowing down.
Considering it’s continued importance and
popularity it’s imperative that we remain ahead
of the curve with the service that we provide. In
a recent survey we asked our employer clients
why they continue to use Cyclescheme as their
scheme provider and we’re very pleased to report
that nearly 75 per cent of people cited our market
leading online process as the biggest reason they
continue to work with us. We invest heavily in
making sure the process of running a scheme is
as simple and easy as possible, so it’s fantastic to
hear first-hand that our customers value the time
and effort we put in. Secondly, 46 per cent of
employers said that the relationship and access to a
nationwide network of retailers was very important
to them; and further to this, 30 per cent said that
they continue to run a Cycle to Work scheme in
order to support their local economy.
All these figures paint a very positive picture
and one that adds considerable weight to the work
we are doing to improve the services we provide
to you, the retailers. Giving you full store profiles
on our website, sharing local employer scheme
information with you and offering a range of
training opportunities are just a few of the things in
our development timeline. We will be sure to share
these new additions with you as we roll them out
over the coming months.
Daniel Gillborn is director of
Cyclescheme, the UK’s leading provider
of tax-free bikes for work. You can reach
him on Twitter @cycleschemeltd
BIKEBIZ APRIL 71
OFF TRACK
PowerBar’s back
on Le Tour
PowerBar has renewed its partnership with the Tour de France, making it the official
sports nutrition for the race all the way up ‘til 2018. Ensuring plenty of cycle fan’s
eyeballs will be subject to PowerBar logos, the deal will see PowerBar feed stations
dotted around the course for all the stages as well as presenting the stage winners
throughout the race. Fact fans may be interested to note that PowerBar has spent
over a decade attached to the premier cycle race.
www.powerbar.co.uk
Bearly sane
Wolves, bears and frostbite were some of the dangers faced by two UK cyclists
as they set out on what sounds like the world’s toughest bike race. Alan Sheldon
and Andy Heading, sponsored by Polaris Bikewear, lined up with 50 others for
the Iditarod Trail Invitational in Alaska, a 1,100-mile epic across barren tundra,
forest, frozen rivers and lakes. Sheldon had to pull out after eight days of the
race but he was in good company – since the race’s inception in 2000, just
42 competitors have completed the event, which runs from Anchorage to the
Bering Sea port of Nome. With temperatures dipping close to -60C it’s safe to
say the Polaris bikewear was put through its paces. Lunatics.
www.iditarodtrailinvitational.com; www.polaris-bikewear.co.uk
Alaska’s 1,100 mile Iditarod
Trail Invitational crosses
frozen rivers and lakes
Outen about
Rutland Cycling’s regular night ride was taken over last month when local adventurer Sarah
Outen came along as part of her preparation for her next adventure kayaking from Adak
Island, Alsaka to the nearest road in Alaska - a distance of over 1,500 miles. Outen has
been preparing by cycling in Rutland and Oxfordshire cross training with the bike on loan
from Rutland Cycling. A local herself, Outen led riders through the muddy trails around
Hambleton Peninsula and back to the Whitwell store for a talk on her adventures.
www.rutlandcycling.com
72 BIKEBIZ APRIL
MTB vs BMX
vs road
April sees the return of the Red Bull Hill Chasers to Edinburgh, following its 2013
debut. If you’re clueless to what the event entails, it’s a pretty unusual affair,
pitting BMX, MTB, road and fixed gear cyclists against each other, as well as this
year Olympic BMX rider Shanaze Reade. This April’s competition will take place
on Edinburgh’s 200 metre stretch of road, The Mound, including a ten per cent
gradient. Charge is sponsoring the event, which is open to registration at www.
redbull.co.uk/hillchasers. Qualifiers take place on Saturday April 12th.
BIKEBIZ.COM
OFF TRACK
Ilkley Cycles is a
Dales Rider
Adam Evans of bike store and cafe Ilkley Cycles joined Morgan Williams, head of
commercialisation at Yorkshire Cancer Research for a sunrise training session ahead
of The Dales Rider. What’s that, you ask? The Dales Rider is a charity ride set to
raise thousands of pounds for the cancer charity, with a 65 mile and 31 mile route
on offer. Ilkley Cycles of White Rose Classic fame, is the official partner of the Dales
Rider and both Evans and Williams will be among the riders. Find out more at www.
yorkshirecancerresearch.org.uk/thedalesrider.
Strictly TweedLove
Cycle Law Scotland has been
campaigning hard through its Road
Share campaign for ‘stricter liability’
in Scotland to protect vulnerable road
users. To help spread the word on
that and its services in helping cyclists
injured in road collisions, it has signed
up as event sponsor for TweedLove
2014, which is hosting the only UK leg
of the Enduro World Series. TweedLove
is a festival celebrating Scottish
mountain biking and offers a whopping
sixteen days of racing and fringe events
through the Tweed Valley from May
24th to June 8th. Cycle Law Scotland
has also leant its support to the
Edinburgh Festival of Cycling, which
runs June 12th to 22nd.
Facebook.com/CycleLawScotland
Cycle Law Scotland has
backed the Tweedlove
event
quote
unquote
“This is the first
time I’ve been [to
the Taipei Cycle
Show] as part of the
UCI to speak to the
industry and it looks
like the industry
have a good
reaction to that.
“All these years I was on the other
side banging on the UCI’s door; now I
have the chance to actually try and do
things better.”
Dimitris Katsanis, the UCI’s new
consultant to its Equipment
Commission, speaking to the Taipei
Show Daily at the start of March
Sponsored by the brands of
Moore Large 01332 274252
and the only way we can do that is if our
innovation isn’t quickly ‘borrowed’ by
other companies..”
Joshua Hon, Tern ‘team captain’,
following a new IP deal with Avocet for its
Ferrari folding bike line, March 7th.
“We have a large team of skilled and
dedicated people working on our
product designs and technology and
it is important for us to protect that
intellectual property. I’m sure that every
company creating their own IP knows
exactly how we feel. For our industry to
grow and thrive, we need to innovate
“The AA Think Bikes campaign is definitely
needed when half of drivers are often
surprised when a cyclist or motorcyclist
‘appears from nowhere’. Those on two
wheels never appear from nowhere so as
drivers we need to be more alert to other
road users and this is where our stickers
act as a daily reminder. Likewise riders
need to be aware that they may not
always be spotted by drivers. We hope
that this campaign can reach the parts
that other campaigns can’t reach.
He added: ”Greater awareness
alongside education, enforcement and
improved infrastructure will make our
roads safer for all..”
Edmund King, AA president, on the
launch of the AA’s #thinkbikes wingmirror campaign.
For more on these stories, head to www.BikeBiz.com
BIKEBIZ.COM
BIKEBIZ APRIL 73
OFF TRACK
SPOKESMAN
Show spats
ain’t nothing new
When “anchor” brands pull out of shows, the writing’s on the wall.
Is a event’s collapse a bad thing for dealers, asks Carlton Reid?
MANY OF the key UK house trade shows have now
wrapped. The Taipei Cycle show is a fading memory. Soon,
the peak selling season starts in earnest, but it won’t be
long before the cycle starts again. Is the bike trade year
set in stone? Will it always be the case that house shows
pile up in late winter, the trade then flocks to Taiwan in
March and decamps to Germany in August and then Las
Vegas in September? Clearly, some big bike companies
want to disrupt this cosy cycle of trade shows and, as per
usual, they’re doing that by pulling out of the all of
them and doing their own thing. When “anchor”
brands leave trade shows, the organisers go
into panic mode. Without these major
brands there’s less reason for dealers to
attend. With stores having fewer and
fewer brands it becomes easier to stop
attending a generalist trade show, a
show with lots of micro-brands.
For the UK, of course, this is almost
academic. We haven’t had a generalist,
UK-specific trade show for some time.
IceBike is a house show, CoreBike is a hotel
show restricted to a relatively small number of
high-end brands, and the London and Birmingham shows
are public expos with trade days tacked on. The Harrogate
shows of old are long gone, and so is their revenue, which
used to prop up the show owner, the Bicycle Association.
While the show scene today may seem solid, it’s not.
If there’s one thing constant about cycle shows it’s that
they never stand still. The best you could hope for is a few
years’ of stability, the sort that Eurobike has benefitted
from, but that stability may not last another ten years.
I started writing about bicycles in 1986 and went to
my first cycle show as a reporter in the same year. In the
80s and 90s I attended shows in London, Birmingham,
back to London, Harrogate, back to Birmingham, and so
on. While producing a daily show newspaper I was thrown
out of one of David Hyde’s shows for daring to report
that not all attendees were happy with the format. (David
let me and the team back in a few hours later). Thing is,
no matter what the format, the venue, or the date of the
show, not everybody will be happy. And it’s not just a
trade show “problem”. Consumer shows also go in, ahem,
cycles. Right now there are probably too many. A plethora
of shows was a problem in the 1880s and 90s, too.
Britain’s first Victorian-era cycle exhibition was the Stanley
Show, organised by the Stanley Cycle Club. (In 1895
the exhibition was staged in the Agricultural
Hall, Islington, the same location where
Bob Chicken would launch the
International Bicycle Exhibition at the
Business Design Centre). The Stanley
Show, extant since the 1870s, got
competition from rivals and, after a
25 year run, closed.
Albert Linder Pope, son of Albert
Augustus Pope, “father of the US cycle
industry”, carried on his father’s work
in the automobile business and, in 1913,
questioned whether shows were worthwhile.
He started a campaign to discontinue all trade and
consumer motor shows, citing the problems identified by
his father in the cycle industry:
“The disorganization of your factory and sales
department and business in general during the weeks of
the show is a serious matter,” said Pope Jnr, “and one that
will have to be reckoned with by the automobile industry.”
It’s highly probable that one or more of the major
international shows will soon cease to exist. Evaluated
on a cost per handshake basis, shows remain a hugely
expensive part of the marketing mix. Those anchor brands
who’ve pulled out of the major international shows may
come to rue their decisions. Will the shows still be around
to welcome them back?
EDITORIAL: 01992 535646 | ADVERTISING: 01992 535647 | FAX: 01992 535648
Executive Editor: Carlton Reid
[email protected]
Design: Dan Bennett
[email protected]
Editor: Jonathon Harker
[email protected]
Production Executive: Alice Sanz
[email protected]
Deputy Editor: Mark Sutton
[email protected]
Publisher: Lisa Carter
[email protected]
Sales Executive: Jake Adams
[email protected]
Marketing & Circulation
[email protected]
Editorial
Saxon House,
6A, St. Andrew Street,
Hertford,
Hertfordshire.
SG14 1JA
BikeBiz is mailed FOC to 4,000+
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ISSN 1476-1505
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74 BIKEBIZ APRIL
Wondering what the Twitterati have been up
to this month? Look no further...
Just tried BMX for the first
time, some years later than the
usual debut, on the Manchester
indoor track. Huge, huge fun.
@Peterwalker99
Today we helped sort the
drainage on a local BW. Some
passing walkers gave us 4
kitkats as a thankyou
@Singletrackmark
Customer rings to complain
we’re closed, all the doors are
locked, nobody answering the
door bell..... Our door is open and we
have no bell.
@MattMbr
Traveling too and from London
by train with a cast iron sewing
machine and a chainsaw
has been a trial.
@Howies
Head over to @rapha_uk as
registrations are now LIVE for
Hell of the North.
@rapha
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©2014 SRAM LLC
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