Issue 69 | October 2011

Issue 69 | October 2011
EDITORIAL
Issue 69 | October 2011
NEWS 4-5
New exhibitors for Core Bike 2012, a new UK female
cycle brand emerges, Bohle becomes Schwalbe and more
INDUSTRY OPINIONS 10
EVENTS 86
OFF THE RECORD 99
MYSTERY SHOPPER
Find out who’s achieved ‘Star Store’ status
on Mystery Shopper’s visit to Guildford
SPONSORED BY
FOCUS ON…
14
33
CYCLE SHOW 2011
Cycle Show makes its debut at the NEC. We look
at the exhibitors and product you can expect there
BIKEBIZ AWARDS
16
Have you got your ticket to the cycle
industry awards yet?
EUROBIKE 2011
19
BikeBiz provides seven pages-worth of new
products from the Germany-set show
OUTDOORS
We profile the forthcoming
Outdoors Trade Show at
Stoneleigh in the Midlands
62
TIPS FOR BUSINESS
SECTOR GUIDE: ROAD
45
75
REGULARS
CHAIN REACTION
12 LETTERS
The internet can be cheaper, but sales training
can bridge the difference, argues our columnist
PEOPLE
64
82
Will we ever have a month where Mystery
Shopper fails to annoy someone?
SPONSORED BY
New faces at Lifeboat Events and Walkers
Cycles, plus a new dep ed for Privateer
NEW PRODUCTS
New pumps from Oxford, Mako locks from
Squire, Dare 2b’s latest plus much more
68
SPOKESMAN
102
Executive editor Carlton Reid tackles the thorny
‘online vs High Street retailer’ issue
YOU MIGHT have missed it, but in the
midst of Eurobike, Interbike and the
NEC Cycle Show, we got the news that
bicycling is booming, contributing £2.9
billion to the UK economy in 2010.
That was the figure from a report
commissioned by Sky and British
Cycling and carried out by the London
School of Economics. Drilled down,
that figure equates to a ‘gross cycling
product’ of £230 per cyclist, per annum.
It added that bicycle retail in the UK had seen a sales rise
of 28 per cent year-on-year in 2010, with sales of 3.7
million bikes generating £1.62 billion.
I’m not going to bang on about the accuracy of the
figures here, for fear of boring regular readers of this column
still further, though it’s worth noting the report isn’t from
one of the usual market research firms, although it is funded
by those with a vested interest.
“If getting 2 million latent consumers
on bikes could generate over £709m to
the economy, then supporting cycling
is a no-brainer, surely?”
The report author – Dr Alexander Grous – emphasised
that the figure is the tip of the iceberg, saying ‘the scale of
opportunity is clear’: “New cycle commuters are estimated
to contribute £505 per head in terms of typical bicycle and
accessory purchases. Encouraging all 2,215,700 latent
consumers to become recreational cyclists could therefore
be worth over £709m to the UK economy,"
The question has to be – why the hell aren’t we
encouraging precisely that to happen? Unlocking that
dormant economic potential should be a no brainer at a
time like this, but economic woes have coincided with the
Government’s philosophy of localism. The report mentions
that UK Government spend on cycling is notably lower than
that of our European cousins, despite the untapped
potential of more cyclists to the economy.
So, in answer to ‘why aren’t we trying to convert noncyclists into cyclists’ – the cycle world is, stepping into the
breach through the likes of Bike Hub and the wider cycle
world like Sky Rides, Cycletta and all the rest. And let’s not
forget campaigning bodies like Sustrans, the CTC and new
organisations like The Cycling Embassy of Great Britain.
We might not necessarily agree on the methods – like
whether bike lanes should be segregated and how it should
all be paid for – but it’s in all our interests to find ways of
unlocking that untapped potential. But if we are waiting for
the Government to intervene while it’s preoccupied with
localism then we’ll be waiting for some time. In the words
of Grous ‘the scale of opportunity is clear’.
Jonathon Harker, Editor
NEWS
CYCLE
SHORTS
Pendleton’s
Cycletta event
draws 800 women
The women-only mass
participation ride Cycletta
South drew over 800 cyclists
new and old. Organisers
found around 75 per cent of
participants hadn’t attended
a cycle event beforehand.
Mark Noble
launches ‘And
Forks’ brand
Deluxe BMX owner Mark
Noble has launched a brand
dedicated entirely to BMX
forks. Two models are
available from launch – a
23mm and a 33mm offset
model.
Herne Hill
velodrome reopens
The original Herne Hill
Velodrome, a venue used at
London’s 1948 Olympic
Games, has been resurfaced
and renovated and is now
once again open to the public
and cycling clubs.
Saddleback
becomes Bont
supplier to the UK
Retailers with trade accounts
for Saddleback now have
access to the Bont shoe
catalogue, which is largely in
stock now.
Social media
‘increasingly linked
to purchasing
decisions’
Research comissioned by IBM
has found consumers
increasingly taking influence
from social media when
making purchasing decisions
and undertaking research.
Sombrio now
making footwear
Canadian clothing brand
Sombrio revealed a line of
footwear geared toward the
freeride market at Eurobike.
BikeBiz spent several days
covering the show and our
report can be found on page
19 through to 30.
For breaking news visit:
www.bikebiz.com
4 BIKEBIZ OCTOBER
New exhibitors
sign up to the
2012 Core Bike
industry show
Bionicon, Endura, Hotlines, Mojo Suspension
and Polaris to appear at the trade-only show
for the first time
by Jonathon Harker
CORE BIKE IS returning to Whittlebury Hall in
January next year with five new exhibitors
joining the established ranks.
Running from Sunday January 29th to 31st
2012, the trade-only event will take place
once again at its traditional Whittlebury Hall,
Northamptonshire base.
New exhibitors for 2012 include Bionicon
Bicycles, Endura cycle wear, distributor
Hotlines, Mojo Suspension and Polaris
Bikewear.
The Core Bike organisers told BikeBiz: “We
have invited new exhibitors to be part of Core
Trade gears up
for 2011 BikeBiz
trade Awards
THE COUNTDOWN to the cycle industry
awards is almost over, with just a few days
remaining before the winners of the 13
awards are revealed.
Around 200 industry people are set to
attend the informal event, which takes
place on the evening of Wednesday
September 28th – the evening before Cycle
Show starts. It takes place at the Hilton
Metropole, NEC, Birmingham – just a
stone’s throw from the NEC.
For the price of a ticket attendees get
drinks vouchers, free (hot) food and chance
to mix with the movers and shakers of the
industry, as well as getting to see who gets
to pick up the coveted awards. Tickets cost
£25 – if you haven’t already got one there
may still be some left – contact Carly Bailey
on +44 (0) 1992 535 647, or at
[email protected]
Electra Bicycles is Premium Partner for
the 2011 BikeBiz Awards, alongside Event
Partners Koga Bicycles, Citrus-Lime and
Cycle-SOS.
You can find a list of the finalists
competing for an award on page 16.
“We have invited new
exhibitors to be part of
Core Bike from 2012
and the exhibition will
continue to be an
event made up of core
distributors, with
core brands.”
Bike from 2012 and the exhibition will
continue to be an event made up of core
distributors, with core brands.
“This offers dealers an even wider selection
of 2012 products to view and all at a great
venue where everyone can take their time and
enjoy the hospitality.”
The full list of exhibitors now includes 2pure,
Bionicon, Buff, Chicken Cyclekit, Chocolate
Distribution, Citrus-Lime, Cordee, Endura, Extra,
Hope, Hotlines, i-ride, Ison, Merida, Mojo
Suspension, Paligap, Polaris, Sealskinz, Silverfish,
Siwis, Upgrade and Windwave.
Registration will open to bike dealers on
Saturday October 1st.
Does Eurobike need
to be longer?
by Jonathon Harker
EUROBIKE CRACKED its own attendance
records again this year, but with the show
now bigger than ever questions have been
raised over whether the time is right for the
show to become longer.
A number of trade executives told BikeBiz
that their schedules were packed over the
course of the event, with little time to visit
other stands to gain valuable insights into
trends across the wider industry.
While show organiser Messe
Friedrichshafen dismissed the suggestion to
BikeBiz, should more numbers of trade
visitors find it ever more difficult to get
round the huge show, Messe Friedrichshafen
may yet have to consider a way to relieve
that issue.
This year Eurobike boasted over 40,000
industry visitors from over 100 countries,
with around 1,800 journalists and 20,000
cycle enthusiasts attending the event.
According to our trade panel (see page
ten), key trends included 29ers and electric
bikes as expected. Shimano’s Ultegra Di2 was
also noted to generate buzz at the
Friedrichshafen event, while others observed
that there were less singlespeed bikes being
exhibited this year.
This year Eurobike celebrated its 20th
anniversary. For product news from the show
turn to our seven-page feature on pages 19
to 30.
BIKEBIZ.COM
NEWS
Bohle UK gets reborn
as Schwalbe UK
Firm switches name and bolsters team with two new recruits
by Jonathon Harker
CORE TIMELINE
Core Bike started with
six bike
companies at the West
Brom
Moathouse, set up as an
alternative to
single supplier shows. The
event has
steadily grown, up to 12
exhibitors in
2007 and 15 in 2009,
when CitrusLime, i-ride (formerly Jim
Walker) and
Merida joined. Core also
moved to
Whittlebury Hall in the
period, where
the show is set to rem
ain for 2012.
Cordee and Sealskinz join
ed the show
in 2010, while last yea
r saw Chocolate
Distribution join the ran
ks.
TYRE FIRM BOHLE UK Ltd has been
renamed Schwalbe Tyres UK Limited – or
Schwalbe UK for short, bolstering the
indentity of the brand.
Schwalbe has also recruited two new
members of the UK team, taking the
total number of employees up to 15.
Will Brown and Ben Tomkinson have
joined the sales teams, Brown as sales
administrator – handling new or existing
orders, warranty issues, technical and
general enquiries – and Tomkinson as
Northern territory sales promoter. He’ll
work in-house in order to deepen his
tyre and tube knowledge, but will be
regularly visiting retailers from
November. Both are keen cyclists.
Schwalbe UK’s Dave Taylor explained
the logic behind the rebranding to
BikeBiz: “It was really to put the brand at
the front of peoples mind rather than
the group.
“Although ‘Bohle’ is the group name,
Schwalbe is the name that people in the
industry affiliate with. The EU
subsidiaries have followed suite –
Schwalbe Netherlands, Schwalbe France
and Schwalbe Italy. Also the new
subsidiary in Indonesia is Schwalbe Asia
and Head Office in Germany is now
Schwalbe Ralf Bohle GmbH.”
The firm started life as ‘Double J
(Midlands) Ltd’ in 1985, set up to
specialise in the supply of parts to the
wheelchair and bicycle industries. It was
set up by its present MD Philip Taylor
and his brother, whose background was
in bicycle manufacture.
Expansion of the business prompted a
move in 1990 to new offices and a
18,000 square foot industrial unit on a 2.5
acre site. Five years later the company
was renamed ‘Bohle UK Limited’ when
Ralf Bohle GmbH purchased it.
Further business expansion saw Bohle
UK move to a purpose-built, ultramodern facility in Telford in 2008.
Storage capacity was upped by a third,
with sufficient land on site to be
expanded by another 50 per cent as
required. Presently it can store up to
500,000 tyres and 1.4 million tubes.
“EU subsidiaries of
Schwalbe have
followed suit. We now
have Schwalbe
Netherlands, France,
Germany and Italy in
Europe and more in the
Far East.”
[email protected]
[email protected]
Schwalbe UK: 01952 602680
NEWS
AnaNichoola invites women to style
their ride
Young clothing brand pitched at female cyclists seeks dealers for its biggest
range yet l 12-piece collection in the works for spring/summer 2012
The Smuggler Neck
Warmer (left) and
Sorbet gloves (right) are
part of the winter
‘11/’12 range
By Jonathon Harker
FEMALE-CENTRIC clothing brand
AnaNichoola is looking for more dealers
to stock the fledgling brand as it moves
into its third year.
Aimed at female cyclists of all types,
the brand launched two years ago hand
making female cycle clothing, accessories
– including bike lock covers and high heel
SPD shoes – and printing t-shirts. The
brand then moved on to its first
production run of fingerless gloves, which
were retailed in around 30 independent
stores – largely in London – which
subsequently sold out by mid-summer.
That success has led AnaNichoola to
launch a five-piece range for winter, with
plans for a 12-piece range for next
spring/summer. The brand has been taken
on by Evans Cycles and is looking for
further dealers to stock it.
“The ‘Style Your Ride’ campaign running
alongside the winter range is a concept
that has come about through both
observing and being part of the changes
in women's cycling,” founder Anna
Glowinski told BikeBiz. “It is all about
women riding with their own style,
confidently and loving it, be it in a pair of
heels commuting through town or
gunning it down the Alpe D'Huez. The
styling in the range has come from sports
where fashion and function merge
together as one all the time, like surfing
and snowboarding, and it also follows
high street trends.”
Glowinski is a former racer who left the
sport and then returned after fitting cycle
instruction in during summer months at
university. She now rides and sponsors the
MuleBar Girls and is bringing out an
online fashion, bike and lifestyle mag.
“I don't feel that there is any other
cycling brand that takes this angle for
women,” she added. “The freedom and
independence that cycling offers is hot.
We don't need to hide behind ugly
clothes, or pretend we don't cycle with
some kind of clothing that doesn't look
like cycle clothing, but is cycle clothing.”
www.ananichoola.co.uk
Powabyke generates 2pure gets behind
buzz at Sky Rides
MTB tuition firms
By Jonathon Harker
POWABYKE has taking advantage of the
summer’s mass participation cycle Sky
Ride events to showcase its products.
Exhibiting at the Hull event at the end
of August, Powabyke has taken to
supporting the event in its aims to get
more people on two wheels and also to
actively support IBDs in the cities that Sky
Rides are being held in.
The Hull event saw 5,500 bike riders
take part on bicycles and e-bikes, riding on
car-free streets for the day.
Powabyke brought its full X-byke range
to the event, including the X6, X-24, XLS
and the Powatryke Cruiser in Queen
6 BIKEBIZ OCTOBER
Victoria Square, Hill alongside local dealer
Bob’s Bikes.
Powabyke MD Nick Child enthused: “It
was a cracking show for us with a very
good turnout, no doubt due to the
professional marketing by BSkyB. We
intend to attend all of the 2012 shows,
provided we can recruit IBDs who will
invest a day to sell Powabykes with us.”
Bob’s Bikes MD Stuart Woodmansey
added: “Skyride is a massive event for the
city of Hull. It will turn more people on to
cycling and it will show people where the
cycle routes are and what a good city Hull
is for cycling.
“Skyride is an opportunity to introduce
electric bikes like the Powabyke range to
people. Customers come into the shop and
ask us about electric bikes but they only
seem to be aware of the older style
electric bikes and so we want to bring the
new phase in and show people how they
have progressed. A lot of people think of
electric bikes as big, bulky bikes but if you
look at the Powabykes’ X- bykes they are a
completely different bike altogether.”
Powabyke: www.powabyke.com
IBIS AND 2PURE have joined forces with
two of Scotland’s newest MTB tuition
schools – Ridelines in Innerliethen and
Bike School Scotland in Aviemore.
Both firms offer tuition, skills and
guiding courses from beginner level up to
MBLA leadership courses.
“It’s very exciting for Ridelines to have a
working partnership with such a well
respected brand as Ibis,” enthused
Ridelines founder Andy Weir. “I’m looking
forward to working
together with them to
provide top quality MTB
tuition on top quality
bikes. I’m currently riding a
Tranny with full Crank Bros
kit. It’s such a responsive
and fun little bike and a
real eye catcher. I’ll be
using it for all Ridelines
tuition sessions and guided
rides.”
Jules Fincham is a senior
tutor with MBLA. She
added: “Working with
2pure has been and
continues to be fantastic. The Ibis has
been a magnet for other riders lots of
riders have heard how good they are and
they want to find out if it’s true.”
A 2pure spokesperson said of the deal:
“Andy and Jules are perfect ambassadors
for us. They are influencers within their
local areas. To have them speaking to our
market and promoting our products at
ground level is invaluable to us.”
2pure: [email protected]
Pic © jasonbaxter.net
BIKEBIZ.COM
SOLITE
150 LUMENS
The Solite 150 is a headlamp, helmet light, bicycle bar light and miner style light
all-in-one. It is so innovative, 3M gave it their best “In-New-Vation Award” for 2011.
With the total system weighing in around 135 grams and the powerful lithium-ion
USB rechargeable battery pack giving you up to 40 hours of useable light there’s
no excuse for the fun to stop when the sun goes down.
For more info visit www.madison.co.uk/lightandmotion
SOLITE DEMO UNITS AVAILABLE NOW!
Talk to your account manager , our telesales team or see MadisonB2B for more
info and how to ‘try before you buy’ for free!
Designed and
assembled in the
NEWS
Kona questions Interbike value
BIKE BRAND KONA has hailed the
success of its Luau dealer days in the US
this August – meanwhile, questioning the
worth of exhibiting at Interbike.
While the firm did attend Eurobike,
Kona reversed a decision to attend
Interbike this year, despite a long running
relationship with the show.
Jake Heilbron, joint founder of Kona,
told BikeBiz: “Kona decided not to take
part in Interbike this year, for a number of
reasons. The bottom line remains the
same as last year, which is that our
dealers and our sales reps simply don’t
feel it’s productive for our business.“
“As one of the first companies to
commit to Interbike in 1988, we have
never picked up a new dealer during the
show. All that work takes place with Kona
rep visits and follow up communication.
With dealers being more experienced and
knowledgeable, a quick convince to take
on a brand simply doesn’t occur.”
Kona recently ended its long-term
relationship with UK distributor Paligap,
opting to service the UK market from its
Geneva office, with product now shipped
from its Rotterdam distribution facility.
8 BIKEBIZ OCTOBER
“A quick convince to
take on a brand simply
doesn’t happen – it takes
rep visits and follow up
communication...”
Peter Dobbs
sticks to the
bike trade
PETER DOBBS Design and Print
Services has launched a new label
offering designed for bike dealers.
Printed with shop name, address,
web address and telephone number,
the Bike Frame ‘Shop Address’ Labels
are designed to give customers a
simple reminder of how to get in
touch with their local bicycle retailer.
Printed on clear and coloured vinyl
or polyester, a full colour option has
also been made available.
The firm also offers a range of other
print and design work to bike shops, as
well as clothing and promotional
goods at low costs.
Dealers looking for such items
before Christmas are being advised to
place their orders in the coming weeks
to avoid joining the surge in orders
ahead of the festive season.
01482 224007
BIKEBIZ.COM
INDUSTRY OPINIONS | EUROBIKE 2011
Bang
on trend?
“EUROBIKE WAS the usual: very busy and a
beer, ham and cheese-fest.
The stand was rammed as usual and dealer
response was excellent with initial orders
looking very positive. We think 2012 will be
strong for us.
The Ultegra DI2 bikes seem to be very hot
and we are increasing orders where we can.
29ers got a strong response also. We have ten
models and all seem to be quite interesting to
dealers – again, the initial orders are strong.
Matt paint road bikes seemed to be in many
ranges too, but with back-to-back meetings I
didn’t have much chance to get on many other
stands at the show!
We will certainly be there again next year.”
Dan White
Account Manager, Cube Bikes
“I didn't stay for the public days at Eurobike but
the trade days were certainly as busy as I've ever
seen them before.
There appeared to be considerably fewer fixie
bikes this year, but a marked increase in the
number of electric bikes, so much so that a
whole test area was dedicated to the trend.
There was also a notable presence of smallwheeled road bikes.
The mood within was one of reserved
buoyancy – making hay while the sun shines...”
Ben Spurrier
Designer, Condor Cycles
“We had a good look round to see if there
were any trends to keep an eye on,
10 BIKEBIZ OCTOBER
Eurobike may be bigger than ever, but is it still setting
the trends, or is it a fashion disaster? Jonathon Harker
asks the industry for their take on the strength of the
event, the prevailing mood of the market and whether
Eurobike still cuts a dash on the global show scene…
particularly colours. Overall we came away
happy with the changes we have already
made to our range.
E-bikes and road bikes seemed to be
extremely popular as they are the growing
markets. Although there were less
singlespeed bikes on display our sales of highend quality fixies are still buoyant.
There was a buzz about Shimano's new
Ultegra Di2 and it seemed to be everywhere.
We are hoping to display it at the Birmingham
show at the NEC at the end of the month,
along with a few other items we managed to
pick up from Eurobike.
Eurobike is also a bit of a social visit when
we can catch up, not only with our suppliers
from around the world, but also with our
customers from other countries. It is a great
meeting place for the industry.
The highlight for me was the ever
expanding stylish Brooks display and being
named number one dealer at their awards.”
Neil Manning
Director, Condor Cycles
“Eurobike was busy as always, but I noticed that
the Thursday was quieter than last year and
rumours have it that it wasn’t too successful for
companies looking for new buyers.
It was horrifically hot in the halls – well, it
was in A3 anyway. I didn’t have time to have a
wander around the show but the obvious trends
were there: 29ers around every corner and an
entire hall dedicated to e-bikes. Schwalbe is
following the trends of both with a new Racing
What’s hot? Shimano’s
Ultegra Di2, 29ers and
e-bikes were trending
at Eurobike
What’s not? Numbers
of singlespeed bikes on
show were down at
Eurobike
Ralph tread pattern specifically designed for
29ers and two new e-bike specific tyres –
Energizer Pro and Energizer Plus.
I think there’s great optimism for the cycle
industry in the UK, especially with the
Olympics just around the corner with the
Brits holding a whole host of talent across all
cycling disciplines both in the Olympics and
Paralympics.
“The potential dark clouds on what could
be another reasonable year would be a bad
winter and summer, the upcoming review on
Anti Dumping, the inevitable rise in cost of
raw materials and devaluing of Sterling. The
obvious negatives and positive are there as
always.”
Dave Taylor
Marketing, Schwalbe UK
“Eurobike was a good show. My time was
mostly spent with UK press going to our
various brands.
It was as successful and busy as ever and
29ers were among the obvious trends.
Were the dealers optimistic about
2011/2012? At Eurobike, yes, but it does
draw out the go-getters. The moaners stay
at home. When is BikeBiz going to charter a
flight and bring the trade?
We’ll be back again next year with DMR
and to present our suppliers back to the UK
trade and press where we can.”
Rory Hitchens
Marketing Manager, Upgrade Bikes
BIKEBIZ.COM
CHAIN REACTION | SALES TRAINING
So what if
the Internet’s
cheaper?
Colin Rees argues that preparation is
everything – especially when faced with
a customer threatening to make their
purchase on the internet instead of in
our store. Sales training to tackle and
educate tricky customers is the way
forward, he writes...
TRAINING IN STORES of all different types
around the UK often gives me an insight into
what is bothering sale staff most at any given
time. At the moment, there is a huge fear of
the customer saying, ‘I can get it cheaper on
the internet’ as immediately, there seems to be
nowhere else to go in the sales pitch.
The effect on sales people is so shattering
sometimes, it can be as horrific an situation as
a customer saying ‘no’ when you ask if he
wants to buy the bike. Unless you have been
trained how to handle that, it’s game over for
lots of sales people and the only thing that
goes out the door is a brochure and the
customer’s promise to come back if he changes
his mind – fat chance.
As with all sales objections, if they are
thought about carefully beforehand, discussed
and practised, there is always going to be a
better outcome compared to being faced with
a situation you have not thought about and
need to deal with ‘on the spot’ off the top off
your head with no help in sight.
So what on earth could we say to that
customer that might, just might, have a chance
of succeeding? In fact, there are eight possible
avenues I consider worth a shot next time it
happens.
l The biggest advantage you have is, the bike
is here, now, you can ride it away right now,
well after we give it a final check over. The
customer is probably holding the bike, stroking
it, wishing it was his. In some cases, it might be
a big enough factor to overcome price.
l You provide a free safety check after six
weeks, you take what you get from the
internet.
12 BIKEBIZ OCTOBER
Addressing customer
concerns and
objections can pay
dividends
l Your bikes are assembled by trained,
qualified technicians. It's a miracle if there is
no self assembly element from a bike
purchased online. Front forks round the right
way, Sir? You may have to assemble the bike,
work it out for yourself and hope you get it
right. How do you get on with IKEA stuff? It
will probably be a week before you ride it!
l That means in turn, you could be
jeopardising your own safety and that of
others. Bikes in boxes and assembled by
customers have led to serious injury.
l I hope you have all the tools you need.
l We are here if anything goes wrong with
any product you buy from us, but you have to
pay us to fix a bike from the internet.
I have never understood why bike shop
owners and other retailers do not spend time
as a team, examine every possible reason for
not buying a bike and train people to
overcome objections. Is it not logical to
suggest if every sales person can adequately
answer every sales objection, there can never
be a time the customer can actually get away
with saying ‘no’? Sales have to go up.
ABOUT COLIN REES
Colin Rees has been presenting cycle
specific sales training sessions for 15
years, covering over 450 cycle shops
in the UK and Ireland. He has
presented training for sales forces for
Gill, Madison and Giant.
l Have you every tried returning an internet
purchased product – it is a nightmare.
l The bike is right here, you are holding it, you
have brilliant value in this bike, we will look
after it all it’s life and you can ride it away
immediately.
Okay, I accept, you will want to adjust the
thoughts using your own words and style and
yes, it will not work every time on every
product. But in common with every sales
objection, if bike dealers are able to be
professional and answer an objection directly,
some customers will come round. You will be
more successful and more confident and at the
same time the store will, crucially, capture
more revenue.
Colin Rees
Cycle Specific Sales Trainer
07540 351 530
BIKEBIZ.COM
BIKEBIZ.COM
BIKEBIZ OCTOBER 13
MYSTERY SHOPPER | GUILDFORD
SPONSORED BY
Rouleur Ltd publishes the acclaimed cycling magazines – Rouleur and
Privateer. These are sold exclusively through subscription and IBDs only
Guild-mine
Guildford has a plethora of
bicycle specific, outdoors
crossover and offshoot bike
carrying businesses. In a town
with independents, chains,
concept stores and online
retailers with physical outlets,
this Mystery Shopper visit was
never going to be a dull one…
The winner of Mystery Shopper will
receive Star Store Status and will win a
display, magazine and book bundle
from Rouleur Ltd – purveyors of
exceptional cycling literature
14 BIKEBIZ OCTOBER
Pedal Pushers
Raleigh Cycle Centre
IF PROOF was ever needed that service from an
independent trumps the service of the multiples, Pedal
Pushers is a prime example.
From the word go the assistant here gave an
enthused and attentive guide to folding bikes and the
pros and cons of wheel sizes ranging 16-inch through
24. With just one bike in stock for each wheel size, the
assistant was able to quickly pull examples from the
racks to demonstrate the fold, using the demo to also
reveal hidden features such as integrated pumps within
seatposts and magnetic closures.
Key to the pitch was the compromise between having
a bike small enough to be accepted on trains without
issue, while balancing the efficiencies of each wheel size.
Having talked me through the bikes, the assistant
made a brief mention of add-on accessories such as
bags, as well as touching on the reliability that comes as
standard from the world's largest folding bike
manufacturer. All in all, this pitch was thorough, paid
good attention to my questioning and ultimately had
me sold on a particular model by the time I left.
WITH A tough act to follow on from, Guildford's Raleigh
specialist gave another comprehensive guide to what I
could achieve from folding bikes on various budgets and
wheel sizes.
Depending on your perspective, the only fault that
could possibly be highlighted would be the rubbishing of
lower end models in stock. Though Mystery Shopper
always loves a shop that isn't afraid to up-sell, it's never
encouraging to see a staffer with little faith in the entire
line-up. The points made about lower end bikes were,
however, entirely valid – with recommendations to buy
higher in the line founded on the weight and awkward
design associated with low budget buys.
Attention to detail was again a key point winner, with
a demonstration of the fold revealing several clever bits
of design in the higher-end folder. The assistant was
attentive to my questioning throughout, though trailed
off slightly when I was expecting a sale closure.
Nonetheless, another strong performance.
BIKEBIZ.COM
MYSTERY SHOPPER | GUILDFORD
SPONSORED BY
Rouleur Ltd publishes the acclaimed cycling magazines – Rouleur and Privateer. These are sold
exclusively through subscription and IBDs only. For information please contact: [email protected]
Giant Guildford
FIRST IMPRESSIONS count; that's something Mystery
Shopper has maintained all along. And having been
present as Giant began to mull over the concept store
idea at its trade invitational some years ago, I have to
say on the ground store planning and layout has been
managed very well, if Guildford's branch is anything to
go by.
Among the plus points, the store was well lit,
organised and had a counter facing the entrance. As
such I was met immediately on entry and given the
guided tour of Giant's folding bike line, designed with
'lefty' style fork and frame, which the assistant
explained reduced the fold size.
Focusing on component choice as opposed to the
fold, the assistant covered gearing and wheel size points,
briefly touching on how each Giant folder would be
accepted on any train or bus. The pitch wasn't quite as
strong as those experienced on earlier visits, but it had
its plus points. The three models in store all had sale
tags attached, yet price wasn't taken into account
within the pitch, something which I felt hampered the
assistant's closure of the sale. A very impressive store,
though an average sales experience when compared to
the first visit of the day.
Halfords
Evans
THE NEXT Few paragraphs give me a sense of déjà vu as
once again Halfords would have done a heck of a lot
better in the scoring stakes had staff not been barricaded
behind counters.
Walking the shop floor for ten minutes in full view of
staff twiddling their thumbs should relegate any store
into the depths of unmarked, but Mystery Shopper is
reluctant to be so cruel, as in Guildford and most other
stores, once approached the staff knew their stuff.
Though it's unlikely that we'd stumble across an
expert in the folding field, Guildford's staff didn't do a
bad job of discussing weight, wheel size and also briefly
touched on transport issues. Bikes weren't removed from
racks, but all in all, once removed from the counter the
staff aren't half bad at talking bikes. Selling them, on the
other hand, could be improved.
ENTERING Evans with a query relating to a mountain
bike pedal and cleat, as opposed to the folding bike
sought elsewhere, I was hoping to challenge what is
typically a high scorer in Mystery Shopper's UK tour
with something a bit more detailed.
Having had no luck on the shop floor after browsing
for ten minutes, the front desk was approached. The
assistant kicked off in a fairly odd fashion, choosing to
quiz me about ownership of the bike as opposed to
selling me a set of cleats and shoes. Sidetracked and
taken aback by some unusual questions the assistant’s
tone became increasingly hard to handle from my
'beginners' perspective. The inference that a newbie to
clip-in pedals should know without education how to
set up a pedal and shoe arrangement bemused me
further until it was decided I'd cut the experience short
and leave.
A bad day for the assistant perhaps, but something
clearly wasn't quite right here. I left having obtained
none of the information I'd sought. For the first time I'm
thoroughly dissatisfied with Evans' service.
BIKEBIZ.COM
Summary
Out of curiosity for what each could offer, Mystery
Shopper also visited Route One, which sells a line of
fixie and BMX bikes online, though none were present
in store, suggesting the retailer is aware competition
for bikes is tough locally.
Secondly, Field and Trek were also approached and
while not selling bikes, it did carry goods tailored to
the market, on which the assistant responded well to
questioning. For those customers who shop around,
buying product in outdoors stores is increasingly
viable as retailers in this sector look to cash in on
cycling's popularity.
BIKEBIZ OCTOBER 15
BIKEBIZ AWARDS | FINALISTS
The final countdown
NEED TO KNOW
What?
The 2011 BikeBiz Awards, the only night to
celebrate the UK cycle industry.
How many?
13 Awards in total, and 77 finalists,
focusing on different aspects of the trade,
including distribution, retail and media.
Who picks the winners? Over 70 judges
from across the cycle industry.
Where? Hilton Metropole, NEC,
Birmingham
When? Wednesday September 28th – the
evening before Cycle Show starts.
How much? Tickets cost just £25 and
include drinks vouchers and a hot meal.
How do I get hold of a ticket?
Contact Carly Bailey on
[email protected] or on
01992 535647.
Now just weeks away, the industry is preparing for the only UK cycle trade
awards. But who will be this year’s prize winners? All will be revealed on
the evening of Wednesday September 28th...
BikeBiz Awards,
September 28th,
Hilton Metropole,
NEC, Birmingham
BY THE TIME you read this, the judges will have
made their last votes on the finalists that you,
the cycle industry, have been lobbying for.
We’ve counted the votes in top secret
darkened rooms and the prizes themselves have
been prepared and polished.
Now all that remains is the Awards evening
itself, where the winners will be announced in
front of the bicycle trade.
If you’ve been stuck under a stone for the
last few months you’ll need to know that this
year the BikeBiz Awards are taking place at the
swanky Hilton Metropole at the NEC,
Birmingham.
Conveniently they’re taking place on the
evening of Wednesday September 28th – the
evening before the NEC Cycle Show begins.
To take advantage of this unique networking
opportunity, or to just come along to celebrate
with the cycle industry and see who picks up an
award, you’ll need to get a ticket from Carly
Bailey at [email protected] or on
01992 535647.
Tickets cost just £25, with a hot meal and
drinks vouchers included in the price. The
informal night will afford plenty of opportunity
for attendees to eat and drink, all the while
mixing and mingling with the movers and
shakers of the cycle industry.
Premium Partner Electra Bicycles is backing
this year’s Awards, as are Event Partners CitrusLime, Cycle-SOS and Koga Bicycles.
Time is running out
ONLY £25
includes hot buffet dinner and drinks vouchers
BOOK YOUR TICKETS NOW!
BIKEBIZ AWARDS | FINALISTS
The
finalists
INDEPENDENT RETAILER
Rutland Cycling
Condor
Wheelbase
Bell’s Bicycles
18 Bikes Ltd
Mountain Mania Cycles
Biketreks, Ambleside
CONSUMER
PRINT MEDIA
Shred
Singletrack
The Ride Journal
Rouleur
Dirt
Cycling Plus
ONLINE RETAILER
Chain Reaction Cycles
Wiggle
JE James
UK Bike Store
CONSUMER WEBSITE
Road.cc
BikeRadar.com
The Bike List
Singletrack
Cyclist no 1
HIGH STREET CHAIN
Evans Cycles
Cycle Surgery
Cycles UK
Leisure Lakes
Halfords
Edinburgh Cycle Co-op
RETAIL WORKSHOP
Evans Cycles
Revolution! Cycleworks
Bike Scene, Guisborough
Oxford Cycle Workshop Training
Jake’s Bikes
DISTRIBUTOR: BIKES
CSG UK
Madison
Moore Large
Reece Cycles
Eurobike
Silverfish
DISTRIBUTOR: P&A
Raleigh
Madison
Zyro
Moore Large
Silverfish
Fisher
DISTRIBUTOR OF THE YEAR
Madison
Zyro
Silverfish
Moore Large
CSG UK
Rutland Cycles
Edinburgh Cycle Co-operative
BIKE BRAND
Moda
Orange
Ibis
Eddy Merckx
Brompton
Mondraker
Cannondale
P&A BRAND
Xposure
CatEye
Knog
Hope
Shimano
SRAM
Schwalbe
RISING STAR
Forme
Morvelo Bicycle Apparel
Going Going Bike
Evoc
Cycle Systems Academy
RETAIL MARKETING
INITIATIVE
BM7 displays
Red or Dead branding
Specialized Concept Store,
Covent Garden
Bike Hub smartphone app
Seventies videos
'Ride with Eddy Merckx'
Altura POS program
Wiggle
Zyro
Please email
[email protected]
or call 01992 535647
EUROBIKE | SHOW REVIEW
Euro-vision
It’s probably best to kick off with an apology, Eurobike is literally impossible to cover comprehensively
due to its sheer size. Nonetheless, Mark Sutton toured the show for three days straight and came home
with the following stories to tell…
Koga
BikeBiz was fortunate to track down Koga’s UK
agent David Stainthorpe on what was an
incredibly busy stand, following the Eurobike
Award recognition of the WorldTraveller 29er.
Trekking enthusiasts and specialists take
note, the £1,799 build carries lighting
technology from German specialists Busch and
Muller, comes decked out with mudguards, has
pannier and bottle cages included as standard
and a tweaked geometry for 2012, designed
around comfort on the very longest expeditions.
Weighing in at 16.5kg, the build isn’t going
to break the scales either. Dealers will be
pleased to hear that far from prices rising, this
award-winning model has actually come down
in price year-on-year.
BIKEBIZ.COM
Koga’s
WorldTraveller
29er scooped a
Eurobike Gold award
Stainthorpe was
also a strong advocate of Koga’s ‘signature
program’, an online build-it-yourself tool that
BikeBiz can report is as comprehensive as it
gets, with customers able to build their ideal
bike from the ground upwards via Koga’s
website. What’s
more, the website
will even
automatically track
and update the
price and weight of
a build as the
customer develops
their bike. Custom
builds take around
four weeks on
average and delivery
is routed via the
customer’s local dealer who will add the
finishing touches.
Finally, Stainthorpe picked a
predicted strong seller for the coming
>>>
BIKEBIZ OCTOBER 19
EUROBIKE | SHOW REVIEW
– the commuter-influenced
>>> season
Supermetro, available from October for
a shade under £1,000. Among the tidy finishing
features on the Supermetro, you’ll find a
scannable barcode printed on the top tube that
when scanned by a smartphone delivers the
user to a Koga video on the firm’s website. This
model also carries an exclusive pedal concave
and adjustable height stem.
Ultra motor
Electric bike manufacturer
Ultra Motor continues its
surge to make its mark on
the electric bike market
with the A2B line – some
of which was seen in the
flesh for the first time at
Eurobike.
The second
Generation Metro and
hybrid 24 bikes were the highlight of
the exhibitor’s stand, which had also
introduced matching branded luggage items to
compliment its launches. What’s more,
specialist manufacturer Basil is in charge of
making all luggage items.
The A2B Metro has got off to a strong start
with the brand selling to Hollywood stars such
as Leonardo Di Caprio, among others. A revised
digital torque sensor prevents any jerky
reaction to twisting the throttle grip, creating
an consistently smooth and fluent pedal
assisted ride.
The Hybrid 24 uses the same digital
control technology and boasts a smaller,
discreet battery built into the rear rack.
Also introduced at the show was an ID
Key remote turn on, similar to those used
in some more tech-filled motor vehicles
– meaning the bike’s pedal assist boost
will only work for those in possession of
the unique key, which is supplied with the
sale of the bike.
With all the techy upgrades present, it’s
hardly surprising that the near future holds
an MOT-style plug in check that will see
retailers be able to identify any faults or
repairs digitally via a computer link up.
Mark Loveridge of Ultra Motor told BikeBiz:
“We’re working on a way to manually adjust
the torque levels via this plug in. In the
meantime we’ve many ways in
which we’ve made the
retailer’s job easier –
including magnetic
wire plug ins on all
models.”
BBB
Now found
within the
Windwave
portfolio and still
ever-expanding, the
BBB catalogue reads like
a one-stop-shop of bicycle
20 BIKEBIZ OCTOBER
components, clothing and accessories.
As an example of how extensive the
manufacturer’s line has become just one
glasses model has some 1,029 possible SKUs
thanks to interchangeable lenses and
customisable coloured rubber coats.
The new product list was once again
extensive, with the new products introduced to
BikeBiz spanning lights, pedals, carbon bottle
cages, jockey wheels,
eyewear,
computers
and revisions
to helmet
designs. The
commuteraimed lights
were one
thing
marketing
editor Marcel
Kruithof spent a
bit of time
demonstrating –
introducing two fresh models, including the
100-lumen Spark (pictured), complete with an
adjustable 12 to 22-degree beam and USB
rechargeable capability.
A fresh dial-close retention system has been
introduced to top-end BBB helmets – spanning
the Everest, Falcon, Loco and Pheonix model –
the top two road and mountain bike models.
Other introductions
included a new 22gram carbon bottle
cage and a water
bottle with lockable
valve and a plastic
composition that does
not effect the taste of
smell of the contents.
Schwalbe
UK
Standing out from
the crowd with a
large-scale stand
and a sea of staff in
fetching Hans Dampbranded checked shirts, Schwalbe’s stand
screamed busy, busy, busy. And UK marketing
man Dave Taylor confirmed that the firm,
among other changes, were facing another
possible warehouse move having outgrown
the current space inside three years, as
well as having increased turnover by
around 50 per cent year-on-year.
Aside from offering the tyres of
choice for around 80 per cent of
riders in the British 4X series, the
firm had a few other fresh launches
to shout about, including the
unavoidable Hans Dampf, which had
even managed to secure a presence
around each and every toilet-based
mirror at Eurobike.
Taylor explained what all the fuss was
about, stating: “This is a tyre that’ll handle
anything on the trail, working as a front or rear
and available in 2.35 width only. A flexible
‘Snakeskin’ sidewall prevents damage here and
while adding a tiny bit of weight, will extend
the life and abrasion resistance of the tyre
greatly. Stock of the 26-inch model is available
now, with a 29er version due early next year.”
29er tyres, though yet to realise full
potential in the UK, are increasingly important
to Schwalbe, with Taylor stating that Stateside
the larger wheel size represents a near 50/50
split with traditional size mountain bike tyres.
It is with this in mind that retailers will find a
new Racing Ralph among others in this year’s
catalogue. Next year, Taylor predicts a
dedicated section on the larger size may
feature.
Tying in with next year’s Olympics, Schwalbe
are planning a release of a ‘Big Ben’ tyre
alongside Transport for London. We’ll bring you
more on that closer to the Olympics.
SRAM was out in
force in
Friedrichshafen and
will be again once
more at the NEC this
month
SRAM
Once again BikeBiz was fortunate to catch PR
co-ordinator Julian Oswald on what was an
immensely busy stand – and for good reason.
“From a retail perspective, the most
important groupset we have this year is the X5
at 2x10. It’ll be a big seller as it carries trickled
down technology features on a mid-range
groupset, meaning the performance
characteristics are close to that of our top-end
XX gear,” said Oswald.
“I think it’s important for retailers to be
aware of 2x10 at the lower end of the market.
The X5 is compared best with Shimano’s Deore
groupset, though packs in plenty of
performance for such a low price. For 2012 we
have four different 2x10 ratios, from 22-36
through 28-42, the really is a perfect gearing
combination for every level of rider.”
Quarg
SRAM’s most recent acquisition comes in the
form of powermeter brand Quarg, which is
available for the majority of bottom bracket
standards including BB30.
Accurately relaying the wattage generated
from each pedal stroke output, Quarg’s system
provides a more accurate and consistent
reading than most heart rate monitors and
claims to be around 25 per cent cheaper than
its closest competitors product.
Synchronising with any bicycle computer
using Ant+ technology, Quarg’s system can
communicate wirelessly, even with iPhones and
iPads.
Quarg product will land in the UK this
October and will initially be available to fit
26/39 ratios only.
Rock Shox
You couldn’t have missed SRAM’s show
highlight, or at least the one that was
common knowledge pre-show.
>>>
BIKEBIZ.COM
- £69.99 SRP
- from £54.99 SRP
- £99.99 SRP (MEN’S AND WOMEN’S)
750 LUMENS
- £350.00 SRP
- £29.99 SRP
- £29.99 SRP
- £19.99 SRP
EUROBIKE | SHOW REVIEW
on the front entrance of
>>> Plastered
Messe Friedrichshafen and even visible
in marketing posters at the local
airport, the 29-inch version of the SID front
fork will be racking up the column inches
worldwide.
As such BikeBiz will focus on a hidden gem
of the stand – a internal cable routed revision
of the Reverb height adjust post. Internal
hydraulic hose routing does add some cost
over the standard Reverb, however, the ‘Stealth’
internal won’t be available immediately with
an exclusive partnership with Trek and Scott
signed for at least the next year prior to
aftermarket release. When that time does
eventually roll around, the post will appear in
100 and 125mm options and come boxed with
an ‘Enduro clamp’ to limit travel adjust for
those riding such events.
Of particular interest to retailers will be the
news that premium Rock Shox suspension
items will soon be supplied with a
complete service seal kit, something
Oswald says “will prevent dealers
having to order spares as and
when the customer’s product
needs an overhaul.”
With much of the attention from the preEurobike ‘Ride the Revolution’ show focused on
the premium extension of the Xposure line
(Infinity), Salt Plus wasn’t given a mention. It is
on the way though, confirms BMX guru at CSG
UK, Chris McCardle.
Expect to see the full line soon, which if
Eurobike is anything to go by, consists of
cranks, pedals, grips, forks, bars, complete
wheels, saddles, sprockets, pegs, chains, gyro
equipment, hubs, hubguards and much more.
Charge’s James Hoppe
models the new
softshell jacket and
backpack/satchel
Surface
Tucked away in the evolving Charge Carousel
were samples of what to expect from Surface in
the coming months. Many items that hadn’t
landed in time for ‘Ride the Revolution’ debuted,
including an innovative backpack with pre-curved
removable backpack straps. It’s a big unit,
designed to easily
Clarks Cycle Systems
Surprising visitors to its stand with 57 new
products, Clarks not only had diversified its
own branded offering, but had in fact launched
an entirely new brand – the BMX specific C4
label.
Without mention of Clarks Cycle Systems,
small print aside, the
C4 line sits
Avid
Evidently the SRAM Group
has prioritised dealer needs
this year as, launching five
new products aside, Avid has
introduced on all levers an ‘Air
Trap’ chamber, which prevents any
air re-entering the system during or
post-bleed, even when a bike is flipped
upside down.
“This system, alongside a repositioned bleed
port will make servicing all Avid product far
easier, as well as making the product more
tolerant toward a ‘bad service’,” said Oswald,
Salt Plus
Another new introduction to Cycling Sports
Group’s ever-growing catalogue is premium
extension of the Salt line – Salt Plus.
BIKEBIZ.COM
entirely separate
in the catalogue and will see the introduction
of anodized braking components for BMX
bikes, including gyro cabling, as well as
components such as cranks and pedals further
down the line.
In stock at present, dealers will find brake
pads, including colourways that glow in the
dark, coloured chains, both half-link and
standard, as well as grips.
Paul Toon of Clarks told BikeBiz: “The
demand for well-priced BMX product was there
and we’d had requests for more tailored bits
off the back of existing kit. That’s where this
dedicated branch comes from.”
BMX aside, Clarks has diversified its main
brand offering introducing a wide variety of
saddles, spanning performance slimline models,
through comfort models, all of which are made
in Italy. 29 models of saddle were debuted and
a select few had hidden features, such as flexy
rails on the comfort and touring saddles for
greater absorption of bumps on the road.
Bottle cages, individual hose fitting kits,
handlebar tape and some new anodized
coloured disc rotors were also shown to the
trade for the first time. Matching mounting
brackets are available in the six colours present
on the disc rotors.
Meet C4, Clark
Cycle Systems’
explosive new BMX
exclusive component
launch
accommodate a large volume of gear, as well as
offering dedicated sections for a laptop, among
other things. The tough, water resistant Cordura
body and suede lower give a classy finish, while a
drawstring cord makes gaining access quick and
easy.
Further to this, a new softshell with a similar
cut to last year’s successful Pertex jacket features.
Taped seams and mesh lining keep the elements
at bay and the unit packs down for ease of
storage.
Electra
Electra introduced a
more mainstream bike
line and anticipates
this segment will grow
in future
Once again commandeering an entire corridor
in Friedrichshafen, Electra’s range was out in
force, but you would need to have ventured to
the very depths of the brand’s personal
showroom to discover the latest update from
this colourful brand.
Now with Surf Sales in the UK,
>>>
BIKEBIZ OCTOBER 23
EUROBIKE | SHOW REVIEW
who already deal with the
>>> dealers
brand will be pleased to hear that
Electra style is coming to the mainstream
audience with the launch of four new bikes.
Unrecognisable as Electras on first glance,
the discreet line neglects the ‘Flatfoot’
technology for which Electra is renowned, but
retains some of the design features
synonymous with the brand.
Director of product development at Electra,
Mark Pippin told BikeBiz: “We’ve two models
for men and two for women. They’re all leisure
bikes with that little bit of extra Electra
attention to detail that differentiates us from
the competition and ultimately screams style
and grace, as with our main bike catalogue.
These are Electra bikes, designed for the rider
who isn’t just cruising the beachfront, but is
more likely to have a hill or two to conquer
day-to-day.”
Pippin confirmed to BikeBiz that this is a
long-term category for Electra and in the
coming years we’ll see plenty more everyday
bikes with a touch of Electra style.
Moore Large
Eurobike 2011 was the first outing abroad for
Moore Large’s house component and accessory
brands – with Outeredge, Savage Components,
One23 and ETC in tow.
In an apparently successful attempt to
gather interest from international distributors,
the Derby supplier introduced BikeBiz to a few
new products key to its branching into
overseas territories.
Savage Components had two new pivotal
saddles on show, one apparently inspired by a
Bond villain from Live and Let Die.
Again borrowing inspiration, the ETC line has
developed some new lights based around the
best sellers of the premium Torch line,
condensing them into budget friendly versions
spanning £6.99 through £16.99, with the top
of the line package comprising both front and
rear light units. Six of the eight new units use
LEDs and batteries and brackets are included
with all.
Outeredge introduced a new £19.99
waterproof shoe cover, zipped at the rear and
totally seamless for total cover against the
elements. Fleece-lined waterproof gloves,
available in black or yellow, both with
reflective piping, also made a debut
appearance and will retail for £20.99.
24 BIKEBIZ OCTOBER
“Strong margins are available
on all house brands,” said a
spokesperson manning the
stand.
Sigma
Sport
Visitors to the Sigma
Sport stand would
have been given the
guided tour of the
firm’s latest software
package, designed to
make feedback from
computer devices plain and
simple for all to understand.
Handy tick box selection of the
readings desired will correspond with a
selection of graphs, which can detail your
performance mile-by-mile. So detailed are the
ride reports that even cadence readings are
now able to be accurately measured showing
the consistency accurately throughout the
duration of a ride.
Hard goods wise, Sigma introduced the
Rox 8.1 and 9.1 computers, with a ‘Ghost
Race’ function introduced to the latter,
meaning riders are now able to race
against their previously set times. The
latter also is delivered with the
aforementioned software and a docking
station, whereas with the former these are
sold separately.
Sigma computer batteries have also
been upgraded with the claim that all will
arrive fully charged and remain this way
while on the shelf. This is thanks to the
introduction of a new zero discharge battery
technology, dubbed Accu Tech,
something that will feature on
all road safety
products in
2012.
Sigma
demonstrated
its new performance
tracking software to
those visiting the stand
Mavic now stocks a
streamlined helmet
line with a few
unique touches
Weldtite
Mavic
Causing one
of the bigger
product
launch
buzzes at the
show, Mavic
introduced helmet
product, spanning
three models in
eight colours.
Basing the helmet design around a
survey of over 25,000 head shapes,
graphically demonstrated in the company’s
marketing material, the helmet line
“prioritises comfort and fit over weight,”
according to Mavic PR manager Michel
Lethernet.
Having spent an extraordinary amount of
time on aspects as detailed as the single piece
inner foam, Mavic admittedly borrowed ideas
and experience of Amer Sports Group’s
Salomon brand, which itself manufactures
safety headgear for other markets.
“The ideas are tailored to cycling,” said
Lethernet. “The dealers visiting this week have
been very impressed with some of the unique
ideas that have gone into the designs, including
well thought out aerodynamics and ventilation,
as well as a lowered rear for comprehensive
protection.”
At the very top-end the Plasma SLR offers
carbon reinforcement, while throughout the
range you’ll find detail such as soft-compound
rubber coated dials for adjustment with wet
hands.
Furthermore, the one-piece, multi-density
inner foam is treated and antimicrobial to
prevent odour and maintain cleanliness. The
foam is even pre-shaped to accommodate the
straps, as opposed to pressing them against the
wearer’s head.
Fresh footwear was also on display, with the
Huez shoe flagged up as a likely big-seller for
the road market, much thanks to its claim to
be the lightest model in the world. Perhaps
more useful to the UK will be the Frost and
Drift shoes, complete with Gore Tex sock inner,
though this model isn’t anticipated to hit the
market until Winter 2013.
xxxx
Where do we start with Weldtite? There’s a
new line of eco-friendly lubes, degreasers,
cleaners and liquids designed to keep bikes in
pristine condition. Then there’s an exciting
development on the workshop front, albeit a
bit of a no-brainer.
First up, the Pure off-shoot brand lands in
September and will be seen in Halfords stores
as well as independents interested in carrying
the eco-credential savvy brand. There’s a full
line of liquids spanning wet and dry lubes,
cleaners, degreasers and protection solutions.
Perhaps more exciting for retailers with a big
workshop business is the firm’s new workshop
stand, which is yet to be named. Neglecting
the traditional screw down clamp the versatile
head clamps down on tubing via an extremely
simple quick release style clamp that takes no
more than a second to secure or release. A
silicone wrap keeps frames scuff free and stock
is expected with Weldtite in spring.
Chris Jenkinson of Weldtite told BikeBiz: “It’s
the head of this system that’s the key and it’s a
wonder no one has developed such a
simple clamp as this before now.
>>>
BIKEBIZ.COM
Jekyll
Jekyll
Prices £2,499.99 - £4,999.99
“Bikes are becoming more capable and versatile every year
and the new Cannondale Jekyll is the epitome of this”
- MBUK
RZOne20
“Unshakable on trail confidence thanks to great handling
and decent suspension performance”
- What Mountain Bike
Flash Carbon
“A truly awe-inspiring carbon colossus”
- Bicycle Buyer
Duster
Duster
Prices £999.99 - £1,599.99
“A buttery smooth free flowing ride, we adored this bike from
the moment we set it up”
- Bicycle Buyer
“I always wanted a simple Ti frame with great geometry and
this one suits me right down to the ground. Bring on the
grimy winter - the Duster Ti is begging for it!”
- MBUK
Blender
“It just makes you smile whatever you do on it, and we love
bikes that make you do that’.”
- Dirt
Avalanche
Avalanche
Prices £449.99 - £799.99
“We can guarantee that you’ll be riding and upgrading this
frame ten winters from now”
- MBR
Sensor
“Trail-munching suspension and rewarding handling deliver
a properly fun ride”
- What Mountain Bike
Karakoram 29er
“You probably won’t find a better riding 29er at this price”
- MBUK
Zaskar
“Light, stiff, flickable, reassuring handling, serious fun.
It’s a fantastic bike”
- MBUK
Slayton
Slayton
Prices £1,599.99 - £2,199.99
“We rode on a variety of trails and the Slayton impressed
across the board”
- MBR
Salvo
“Strong spec, distinctive graphics and capable suspension
performance”
- What Mountain Bike
Tyax Super
“A long forked trail bike with fast tyres & classy finishing kit”
- MBUK
60% Margin Available
Supersport
Plus
Touring
Plus
Cyclocross
Plus
www.conti-tyres.co.uk
Country
Plus
EUROBIKE | SHOW REVIEW
more, if you’re a mechanic on
>>> What’s
the move, the head is detachable from
the main stand product and, with a
little held from some extras to be stocked at
Weldtite, can be mounted onto things as
diverse as tow ball mounts on the rear of cars,
making it ideal for mechanics visiting races.”
Merida
Available here from January,
the guards will set
customers back £44.99
and come with a
flexy 15cm rubber
tip for further
protection and
impact
resistance. A
cyclocross
inspired XL
version of the
Raceblade will also
be available with a
further improved
covering.
Also hard to miss on the SKS
stand was the promotion of the new Spaero
pump, coming in both aluminium and plastic
at £34.99 and £29.99, respectively. Featuring a
pull out hose, compatible with both Schrader
and Presta valves, the Spaero is designed
exclusively with MTB use in mind, reaching just
73 PSI. Expect these to land with distributors in
March.
A close up of SKS’s new
Raceblade guard
revision
Tactic
Clothing
Merida is and has been seeking a greater
presence in the UK for some time now,
gradually upping its game with a presence
each year at January’s Core Bike. But general
manager Chris Carter says he wants to see a
greater acceleration of Merida’s presence in
bike shops in the coming year and is calling on
dealers curious about the brand to get in
touch.
“Normally when retailers see our margins
and compare with their current supplier and
competitors of ours it becomes a no-brainer to
look at a link up with Merida,” said Carter.
“We now sell the brand across 62 countries,
but the UK is still under-represented. We’ve
expanding our Cycle To Work offering this year
and value for money is key to the next model
year, as in prior catalogues. What’s more, we’re
now offering Birzman tools, Alpina helmets and
are about to begin selling aftermarket Procraft
and PRC components.”
Merida has four mainland UK
representatives on the road, as well as one in
Ireland.
SKS
Cycling clubs rejoice, SKS has solved the
problem of coating your fellow cyclists in a
shower of grime.
The Race Blade Long, debuted at Eurobike,
took on board feedback from British cyclists
who move in tightly packed formation and
found that while protecting the rider is a
problem solved, the rider following behind still
suffers from spray from those travelling in
front.
BIKEBIZ.COM
BikeBiz briefly grabbed a
moment with techy
clothing manufacturer
Tactic, who informed us of
their search for a
distributor in the UK.
Revolving largely around
three SKUs at present –
from Basic through what
the manufacturer describes
as ‘super high-end’ – a
partner is sought to carry
the entire line. It’s not bad
looking gear either, with a
spokesman for the firm
telling us that unique to his
brand comes a design code printed on the
inside neck. This, he said, has worked very well
on home turf for those wanting custom prints
utilising his base jerseys – “a reference point,
tucked within,” he explained.
“Tactic is all about the top-end of cycling
clothing, with even our basic line carrying
features associated with the very finest
garments. The thickness of the fabric is perhaps
one of the only alterations through the SKUs.
Each garment is entirely seamless and carries
underarm meshing for breathability.”
Tactic clothing is
seeking a UK
distributor
others. With product
tailored for
commuting,
downhill, and
freeride,
among other
segments,
more or less
every inch
of the
majority of
packs in
Ospreys line
carries some
form of
innovation.
Despite this,
European marketing
co-ordinator Elizabeth Edwards told BikeBiz:
“We’re more about fit, comfort and weight
than anything else. At present we’ve around
200 cycle-related stores carrying Osprey in the
UK, but we’re always open to fresh custom. We
think that retailers who try Osprey kit will soon
see that we’ve solved some pretty inherent
problems associated with the hydration
backpack sector, perhaps most notably the
bulge that filling a bladder can often cause in a
backpack.”
This problem has been solved with the help
of a custom-designed, stiffened anatomical
bladder that doesn’t barrel when filled. Further
to this you’ll find a magnetic clip that holds
the bite valve still while in the saddle, as
opposed to allowing the hose to dangle free
and get in the way. There’s a handy and
unique-to-Osprey helmet clip, dubbed ‘Lid
Lock’ too, featured on most packs.
Osprey’s stand was filled to the brim with
product – from high-density, resistant Nylon
packs for freeriders, right down to backpacks
easily converted into stylish suitcase style bags
for the businessman on a bike. Reflective piping
is found as standard on commuter goods and
plenty of back up spares, such as Osprey’s
custom bladder are also available from the
manufacturer, which sells direct to retail.
Casa Masferrer is
seeking UK retailers to
carry Massi’s bike and
components line
Osprey
Another brand with firm heritage and
experience drawn from markets with perhaps
more diverse requirements than cycling,
Osprey has been manufacturing backpack
goods since 1924 and has only broken into the
bike industry in recent years.
It does, however, intend to make an impact
here and has got off to a strong start with
sterling reviews from Singletrack, among
Casa
Masferrer – Massi
Spanish bike brand Massi is looking to make
inroads on the UK market with the
help of parent distributor Casa
>>>
BIKEBIZ OCTOBER 27
EUROBIKE | SHOW REVIEW
and to boost this effort a
>>> Masferrer
new UK agent has been appointed to
cover England, Wales and Scotland.
Largely revamped or new for 2012, the
Massi line now spans prices from £400 through
£4,000, “hitting almost every price point in
between,” according to a spokesperson.
Offering 21 bikes in total, as well as a
comprehensive line of components and
accessories, the brand “has everything a retailer
could need”.
The 2012 model year will see the
introduction of two 29er models, the carbon
Pro 29 and aluminium Trax. BikeBiz was also
told that custom build options are available
with a choice of Shimano and Campagnolo
components, followed shortly by SRAM’s
introduction to stock. UK retailers interested in
the Massi brand can make contact via the
casamaferrer.com website, or by calling +34
677 513 183 and asking for Marcus.
Tern
Launched to the public at
Eurobike, Tern revealed a line
of 22 models spanning 400 to
2,600 Euros, as well as a line of
branded accessories.
“Our mission is
to get more
people using
sustainable
forms of
transport,”
stated Joshua
Hon, vice
president of
Tern. “It has been an incredible ride, working
with a team of passionate and talented people
and developing a completely new line of bikes
dedicated to our mission. The initial reaction to
the bikes has been really positive and we’re
looking forward to getting more of our bikes
under people when we start shipping next
month.”
Tern’s product line features five distinct
frame platforms, each with particular
characteristics tailored to the needs of today’s
urban cyclist. Tern bicycles are in production at
present, with shipments having begun by the
time this magazine hits desks. Tern will be
distributed in over 30 countries, though a UK
partner has not been announced at the time of
press.
Dubbed ‘Smart Folding Technology’, the
button system makes shop floor
demonstrations ten times easier, according to
brand manager Karin Marter.
She told BikeBiz: “The line features a simple
bend in the frame on which we have a patent
pending. It’s a simple, yet elegant design that
offers a stiff and efficient ride. What’s more, we
have an electric version using a Japanese motor
with a clever torque sensor joining the range
shortly.”
Avocet Sports carry the BigFish brand in the
UK and all new stock will land early in 2012.
Add on accessories, such as unique to Bigfish
bike baskets, will also become available shortly.
Tern
launched
22 models
at
Eurobike
Hope
With a fresh B2B redesign and
improvement on the way, including a
mobile webpage, complete with dealer
locator and log on, Hope is becoming very
dealer friendly as technology moves on.
Also pleasing to dealers will be a
plethora of new products. The press
darling of the show was a remote master
cylinder designed for cyclocross riders. As
more bikes within this niche arrive with
disc mounts as standard, Hope indentified
the need for a dual master cylinder unit
for drop bar bikes. Fitted via a special
bracket, the unit uses a simple piston
system, removing the need for
complicated levers. Final prototypes will be
seen at the 3Peaks, with production models
landing later this year.
Rear cassettes are also on the agenda with
an early sample shown at Eurobike. Still
admittedly a work in progress, Hope hopes to
provide the ability to run a nine tooth rear
sprocket, allowing the use of a smaller front
ring, while still providing a full gear range and
allowing the use of 1x10. The ratchet
mechanism is still machined within the
sprocket carrier, but Hope has riveted titanium
sprockets into this. The smallest cluster of
sprockets is then machined from steel and
bolted into place. Expect to see the first sixspeed DH models early next year.
28 BIKEBIZ OCTOBER
Bigfish
The fish has evolved. Eurobike saw the debut of
a fresh build from the folding bike
manufacturer and while retaining the iconic
bowed design of the first and only prior build,
BigFish chose Friedrichshafen to introduce the
‘Line’ folder.
Within that introduction came another
revelation – a button click system that has
now been retrofitted to the original build and
which enables the rider to fold the bike by
simple pushing a series of buttons, in no
particular order.
LEFT:
Bigfish
has now
retrofitted its
button pushing
Smart Folding
Technology to the iconic
orignal design
Zefal
Zefal has a selection of
miniature track pumps on
the way, all supplied with a
frame-mounting bracket
giving the end-users the
means to carry a low-effort,
high output unit without
lugging around a large track
pump.
Featuring a long Schrader
and Presta compatible hose
for improved reach over
traditional designs, the
pump is stable on the floor
thanks to fold-out handles.
Larger versions of the pump
will land with Zyro from
October, though a miniature version is
expected to become available from February
and it is this that is tipped to be a big-seller.
Abus
Landing during early November, Abus revealed
the Tec-Tical helmet at Eurobike, a redesign of
a prior model that the manufacturer says is the
most technically advanced in its line. Designed
for both the demands of cross-country and
road cycling the multi-shell in-molded EPS
helmet weighs in at 240 grams and carries a
dial adjust fit, as well as adjustments for the
width of the wearer’s head.
Available in various colours,
including the Abus-sponsored Team
>>>
BIKEBIZ.COM
EUROBIKE | SHOW REVIEW
yellow shade, the helmet is
>>> Nutrixxion’s
supplied with a mesh fly-net that can
easily be secured to prevent entry via the
vents.
Sombrio
year we’ve launched a
lot of urban-specific
product for the
city cyclist and
this will be
followed
shortly by a
string of
women’s
specific
product
launches.”
Among
such items is
the Thermo
Windshiled,
available in
red, green or
‘Roubaix’ black.
Made from a
breathable and
stretchy fabric the
jacket carries tough
laminated seams,
underarm ventilation,
a dipped tail and an
‘athletic fit’ – all set to
retail for £125.99.
Endura offers much more
than just roadie gear, however,
with BikeBiz shown new Kevlar and
Memory Foam re-enforced knee and elbow
pads at £55 and £50, respectively. Secured
with Velcro straps, the material element of the
pads is flexible while pedalling and will adjust
freely to the contours of the rider.
Endura’s big push revolves around urban and
road orientated product, as well as a number
of new high visibility items.
Back in the UK and covering Endura’s
marketing after a brief stint in Europe, Katrin
Engel told BikeBiz: “The competition in this
market is incredibly tough, but Endura covers
each and every area comprehensively, so
retailers will find everything they need. This
30 BIKEBIZ OCTOBER
Dainese
Endura’s
Memory
foam knee
pad
Having many fingers in many pies has worked
well for Dainese, which borrowing from its
motocross segment has some exciting gear for
the mountain biker this year.
One such unit is the Oak Pro knee guard,
which uses the BOA lacing system seen on just
a select few shoes within the cycling market.
The use of this tech creates a snug fit around
the contours of the wearer’s body, yet also
allows for far easier and more efficient removal
of the pad, which literally slips on and off in an
instant. Another perk is that one size fits all,
handy from a retail perspective. It doesn’t
come cheap, mind, beginning at 149 Euros for
the standard Boa model and 199 Euros for an
advanced model with an aluminium insert in
the kneecap for improved impact resistance
and dissipation.
Vittoria shoes (not
the tyre brand) now
available via
Omnipex
Among the many delights found in the
outdoor divide between Eurobike’s A and B
halls, Sombrio were discreetly introducing a
mid-top footwear line.
Company founder Dave Watson told BikeBiz:
“There’s plenty of shoes around that just don’t
quite cut it for harder riders and we’ve spent a
lot of time selecting the right compounds and
materials to make sure these perform. The
rubber on the base is the perfect compound
to be super-grippy on the pedals and took us
around a year to be entirely happy with. They
are tough, bombproof actually, and available
with, or without lace covers. Considering the
priority of the soft compound base was to be
tacky on the pedal, the durability is actually
quite strong.”
Stock is expected with newly-appointed
distributor Hotlines as of March next year.
Endura
Adjusted via a clever fold out dial on the
tounge, its reminiscent of the BOA concept,
but works a little differently. Further to that the
buckle on top-end shoes is removable and
replaceable.
To find out more on the brand, visit
www.vittoria-shoes.com.
Vittoria shoes
Probably best to clear up on fact before we
kick off – this is not the same Vittoria that
manufactures millions of tyres annually. It is, in
fact, a shoe brand that has become available
here in the UK via Omnipex.
Fresh out of Italy, with all European-sourced
material supply and with offices opened in the
US last year, the brand claims to have
introduced a new lacing technology, which it
calls the ‘Rotor System’.
Dainese utilises BOA
lacing in its knee pads an industry first?
“We believe this is the first time BOA has
been used in protective gear,” said product
manager Alberto Bardin.
“This pad, making the most of Memory
Foam inserts, creates a clever shock absorbing
sandwich that reacts extremely well under
intense impact.”
BIKEBIZ.COM
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CYCLE SHOW | GUIDE
A calendar
NEC-essity
Opening at the Birmingham NEC on September 29th,
Cycle Show’s trade-only day is set to draw crowds
from up and down the country. So, why should you
join those making the journey? Mark Sutton gathers
a few sneak peaks from exhibitors…
Fisher Outdoor Leisure
Clee Cycles
THERE’S NEW items galore over on the
Clee Cycles stand, found at K5. From
chain catchers and bolt spares, to new
polished road bike stems, Cleedistributed KCNC will be debuting
plenty of new gear.
The KCNC Arrow road stem in black
or white is one such item. This super
stiff and light classic horizontal road
stem is machined from 7075 alloy with
a chamfered square cross section to give
a really stiff ride for roadies who like the
extra torsional rigidity. It's still light at
128 grams for the 110mm length,
helped by a full set of Ti bolts. The 17degree drop gives a flat top bar and
stem option.
BIKEBIZ.COM
Also of interest to those with a
penchant for flashy titanium gear,
KCNC’s full Ti ten-speed cassette and
accompanying performance chains will
be shown. Available in ratios 11-23, 1225 and 12-27 the unit carries ten
individual cogs mounted to a one-piece
anodised 7075 alloy carrier. Mountain
bike specific versions are set to appear
in the Clee Cycles catalogue in just a
few months time.
On to the chain, KCNC have
managed to stamp a great value price
tag of just £45.99 on its 116 link, TiNcoated, bushingless construction chain.
Hollow pins, combined with improved
plate profiles offer a lower weight and
cleaner shifts.
SPANNING THREE stands – D1, D11 and
E25 – Fisher has one of the larger
presences at the show and is planning
to maximise its impact with a few
product launches.
As exclusive UK distributor there will
be a large SRAM presence showcasing
the whole portfolio including Zipp, Avid,
Truvativ and Rockshox 2012 ranges. The
highlights include new SRAM X0, Apex
and Red finish options, as well as the
new Avid brakes and Zipp Firecrest
wheels
The 2012 range of LOOK road
bikes will be on display
including some special
695 frames and the newlyannounced complete bike options,
as well as the exciting new 2012
MTB range.
The latest ranges
from Troy Lee
Designs, Santini,
MET, Bluegrass,
SMART lights,
Basil and Tacx
will also be on
show in what is set to be the
distributor’s main UK consumer show
appearance of the year.
Fisher’s marketing and
communications manager, Steve
Cromwell tells BikeBiz: “Our experience
in 2010 proved to us that the Cycle
Show is a very effective way of
introducing consumers to our key new
products and brands and allows cycling
enthusiasts to get up close and personal
with the latest kit.”
>>>
BIKEBIZ OCTOBER 33
CYCLE SHOW | GUIDE
>>>
Saddleback
OCCUPYING TWO stands, Saddleback will be found on both
H61 and G71, bringing along goods from ENVE, Felt, newly
picked up shoe brand Bont and sports nutrition brands For
Goodness Shakes and Mule Bar.
It’s Castelli making the headlines pre-show, however, much
thanks to its patented Sanremo Speedsuit.
While fast, skin suits aren’t really
practical for road racing
thanks to a lack of pockets
and, more importantly, it’s
hard to take what Castelli
delicately puts as a
‘nature break’. The
Sanremo solves this –
stitching a new and improved
aero jersey to a ‘Body Paint’ bib
short. The jersey and short
portions overlap on the front for
full coverage, but leaves
unstitched a section for when
nature calls. Three rear pockets
feature.
Saddleback is touting this as
a show highlight, as not only
does the skinsuit improve
airflow around the torso, but it
removes bib straps, improving
comfort and allowing even
more cooling when unzipped at
the front. Johan Van Summeren
took the skinsuit to its first
victory on the roads to Roubaix.
Moore Large
EXPECT A number of debuts on the Moore Large and Today’s
Cyclist stand, found at C11.
Among these will be the Forza Components brand with
which Moore Large has just signed an exclusivity deal for the
UK. Lauren Vanderplank of Moore Large tells BikeBiz: “Stock
isn’t due to land until next year, though we will show a large
representation of the product and perhaps have a Forza
manager on the stand to speak with the trade.”
Forza aside, expect to see product from Lake, Limar, One23,
Knog and Proviz, among others, though Proviz will have it’s
own booth. Lake is to debut a number of new footwear
models, including the CX 312, exclusively revealed in the
August edition of BikeBiz (page 58). This top-level shoe will be
available with either three-hole, or Speedplay cleat
compatibility. A BOA laced heel closure system features,
offering fast, snag free slip on and removal
of the shoe.
Knog will also show the
Strongman lock,
samples of which
have been seen at
prior Moore Large
house shows. This
model is now in
production, but not
before the brand used
the unit to lift a car off the
ground to test its strength. Expect this to land with the
distributor in November and cost around £74.99.
Oxford Products
BRINGING ALONG its line of Comfy neck
warmers, Chill Out jackets and kid's cycle
helmets, Oxford Products is seeking a greater
presence in the cycle market.
The helmet line has something for everyone,
from lid style helmets for dirt jumpers, through
the F15 and F20 adult helmets, as well as a line
of kids cycle helmets for both boys
and girls, comprising the Little
Rocket, Little Angel, Little
Madam and Little Devil.
For more on Oxford
Products' cycle trade
offering visit
www.oxprod.com.
ACT
WITH ALL THE uncertainty and controversy
surrounding the Cycle to Work scheme and
legislation tweaks the ACT has stepped in to
offer independent retailers a solution.
WorkRiders is a brand new facilitator, via
ActSmart, that can implement all the Cycle to
Work benefits to the retailer and consumer, but
with no commission charges to ACT members.
Although the WorkRiders programme
launches to consumers late in 2011 and
employer engagement commences in October
2011, retailer
registration is live
now, with over 300
currently signed up
Martin
and ready to roll.
Pickering
What’s more,
Work Riders sales
provide instant payment to
the retailer.
Find out more about Work Riders on the
ActSmart stand, found at stand G23.
>>>
34 BIKEBIZ OCTOBER
BIKEBIZ.COM
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>>>
Water Off a Duck’s Back
John Jordan
B&W AND BUZZRACK distributor John
Jordan will be present on stand M17.
Protective case manufacturer B&W
of Germany will traverse the channel
to bring Cycle Show's crowds its line
of hard plastic cases and softdensity nylon bags, each of which is
tailored to accommodate the
bicycle. In fact, the whole range will
be on show, including pannier
boxes,
folding
bike
boxes
and even
a range of
handlebar-mounted
smart phone cases.
On to Taiwan's award-winning car
rack manufacturer, Buzzrack. Cycle Show will
host the brand's patented Conical tow ball
fitting, which allows four bikes to
be carried on the Buzzy bee 4 rack.
This rack is not only TÜV approved,
but also meets the proposed ISO
standard R18-904-4, a standard
some way tougher than current
requirements.
The new top of the range
Buzz Runner SPARK (available for
two or three bikes) includes
adjustable wheel holders that can
accommodate even small
children's bikes, a variable
width lighting board,
and an innovative
tilting mechanism.
The distributor
also offers full
technical support
and a complete spare parts
programme for both brands.
BOUTIQUE CYCLE clothing designer Water Off a Duck's Back
will be present on stand CSG11.
Having just this month launched the gentleman's Cycle
Coat, designer and founder Antonia Maybury tells BikeBiz: “I am
delighted to launch our men’s coat. Since launching the
women’s range we have had a huge amount of interest and it
was a natural progression to branch out into menswear.
Commuting as a cyclist is a fantastic mode of transport,
however, there are times when you want to be able to look
smart, professional and stylish as soon as you step off your
bike. It was key for me to design a functional coat, creating
something that would add to the experience of cycling, while
looking smart at the same time.”
If you are interested in stocking the men’s Cycle Coat,
contact Maybury through the website
www.wateroffaducksback.co.uk.
Upgrade
UPGRADE’S brightly-coloured,
squishy floor stand returns over
on G21 and will feature the
likes of Pivot Cycles, DMR Bikes,
Kinesis Bikes, Lezyne, TRP and
Reynolds wheels.
US brand Pivot is entering its
fifth year and has already
scored some big reviews in the
highly competitive market for
full suspension bikes. Chris
Cocalis, the man behind the
Titus brand, started Pivot and,
working closely with
suspension guru Dave Weagle,
began working on the next
generation of DW Link
suspension platform. An
exclusive UK launch is planned
at Cycle of Pivot’s full carbon
Mach 5.7, costing £2,099.00 for
a frame, shock and headset
package.
Leyzne has a few
launches to be aware
of ahead of the show
too. With a big focus
on developing its
home workshop tool
line, expect to find
new CNC pedal
spanners and chain
whips, versions of the
same tools with
hardwood handles,
two-way BB-sprocket
tools, three-way
wrenches and a CNC’d
spoke key.
Kool Stop
KOOL-STOP Europe, found on stand F1, will introduce the
new Kool-Stop Campi Super Record into the European
market, hosting the pad's consumer debut in Birmingham. The
replacement rubber will be available in black, salmon
(extreme conditions), ceramic, dual compound, carbon and
triple compound (high performance in extreme
conditions).
Kool-Stop has also developed a new
carbon compound especially for cycle
cross. The Dura Two inserts are
available in this material and
have been named Carbon
1003 RED.
>>>
36 BIKEBIZ OCTOBER
BIKEBIZ.COM
CYCLE SHOW | GUIDE
>>>
Exhibitor List
Exhibitor
Stand No.
2XU UK
CSF6
3E Limited
D41
ABD
M51
Academy Eyewear
G55
Action Medical Research
Alpine Cadence
F5
M15
Alzheimer's Society
E27
Amazing Wheels & Wheelylift
A11
Aroma-Sports
H1
ACT - The Cycling Experts, Cytech &
Workriders
G23
Assos
H21
Avocet Sports
J38
Batribike
C61
Bike Box
J9
Bike Eye Products
G58
Bike Eye Products
CSF8
Bikebins.com
F62
BikeBiz
P10
Birmingham City Council
M2
Black Sheep Sports
B31
Bobike
Breeze Blockers
C6
CSA2
Campagnolo Srl
F11
Cape Town Cycle Tours Trust
E22
Carradice
Catlike
B42
CSD1
Challenger World
L29
Cicerone
G53
Claremont Sports Medicine and
Performance Centre
Compex
F42
M43
Condor Cycles
E11
Continental Tyres
G63
Co-Rider
A5
CTC - The UK's National Cyclists'
Organisation
K33
Cycle Aid
F44
Cyclescheme
B52
Cyclesport North
J32
Cycleurope UK
C21
Cyclewild
J5
Full Speed Ahead
Cycle-Works
E2
Future Products
Dare 2b
L62
Dare 2b
CSC20
L11
J4
Garmin
Kiddimoto
B11
Kool-Stop Europe BV
K31
Kovert Racing
F1
PARRS
M45
PAS Trading
G51
M61
Paulus Quiros
G52
GausWheel
E61
Kudos Cycles
C51
Pearson Cycle Specialists and Cyclefit
L51
Gear Club
E21
Lezyne, Kinesis, DMR & Reynolds
G21
F51
Dirty BMX
M62
Giordana
J11
Linus Bikes
G24
Pedal Precision
Dolan Bikes
F21
HardnutZ
F61
Look & SRAM MTB
Domestic Team Car Display
H31
HEADCAMz
CSA7
Maxifuel
Heat in a Click
CSC1
Dawes Cycles
ElliptiGO Ltd
Environmental Transport Agency
Ernest the Bear Toys
J1
M36
A2
Hed Wheels
HiVisBike
M57
PitBitz
G12
Plain Lazy
CSD10
B53
Multisports Distribution
CSG8
Polaris Bikewear
CSB10
Felt Bicycles
G71
Hope Technology
Fibrax
M35
Intelligent Optics
Fine-ADC
D31
Intrepid Apparel
Fisher Outdoor Leisure
E25
Intrepid Apparel
CSG7
FLi Distribution
F31
IPC Media - Cycling Weekly, Cycling
Foffa Bikes
E26
Active, Cycle Sport & MBR
D42
Full Beam Bike Lights
J8
38 BIKEBIZ OCTOBER
L46
Multisports Distribution
Holders and Mounts
FreeGo Electric Bikes
J21
Pipedream Cycles
Mulga Bill (Zaboo UK)
G54
B1
L24
B21
Pinarello
H11
Falco UK
Forcefield Body Armour
D1
CSG5
G56
NRG4
F23
Powacycle
B41
K1
NUUN
G57
PoweredBicycles
C72
CSA4
Odoni
B22
Primal Wear Inc
G11
L48
ONDA
M1
Pure Bike Company
M47
O'Neal Europe 2Wheel-Distribution
Purple Harry's Bike Cleaning Perfection
GmbH & Co KG
F31
CSG6
H52
Ortlieb & Tubus
G61
QimmiQ
Ison
L15
Oxygen Bicycles
E28
Qoroz
Jungle Products
L47
Pacific Cycles
D65
Quest 88
A51
Paligap
K11
Quick Energy
M32
KCNC
K5
K13
L2
BIKEBIZ.COM
CYCLE SHOW | GUIDE
Rainlegs
Strider Sports UK
F4
Tri247
F45
RAW Bamboo Bikes
M13
Sub 4
F8
Trionz
CSC10
Rose Versand GmbH
C62
Surrey Human Performance Institute
TriUK
G31
Rotor Products & Spin Industries
C41
E41
Ultimate Sports Engineering & Exposure
Saddleback
H61
Sustrans National Bike Network
Schwalbe
CSG10
E1
Tactuff Cycle Luggage
M41
CSD30
Lights
H12
Ultimate Sports Nutrition
A31
Ultra Motor
C52
Scoop Distribution
M55
Tandem Cycles
C1
Seventies
M63
Target Wheels
C42
Shutt Velo
L30
The Good Mountain Biking Guide
Sigma Sport
L22
The Gorilla Firm
F43
Water Off a Duck's Back
Singletrack
L43
The National Cycle Museum Trust
G62
Wattbike
SMP4BIKE
J37
The Roofbox Company
M17
Wildoo
Spencer Ivy Electric Bikes
E29
Tiger Cycles Europe
SpiceRoads Cycle Tours
Split Seconds Imports
J7
M21
SRAM Road, Zipp, Santini, TLD,
J3
F41
Verde
H41
Windwave
Timbuk2
L21
Wisper Bikes
Todays Cyclist
C11
Witter Towbars
Toptech
L56
World Cycle Challenge
L41
WyndyMilla Bespoke Cycling
MET & Tacx
D11
Torpedalo
St John Street Cycles
B51
TORQ Fitness
St John's Ambulance
M11
Tour of Britain
Storck Raddar
D32
Tozo
Streetsure
A21
Training Escapes
BIKEBIZ.COM
F3
Ultra Sport Europe
CSG11
K22
K7
L1
C71
J2
J33
G22
C5
Zeal BMX
CSG9
L16
Zeal BMX
M31
CSA5
J6
ZIKE
ZipVit Sport
A1
K32
BIKEBIZ OCTOBER 39
FOCUS ON | SCRATCH BIKE HIRE SCHEME
Cycle in the Toon
BikeBiz looks at the city hire bike phenomenon and quizzes one of the newest schemes on how it
has put the concept to work in Newcastle. Jonathon Harker reports…
CITY BIKE HIRE PROJECTS have been cropping
up in an increasing number of cities across the
world, largely to huge degrees of success. From
the Velib in Paris, to Barcelona’s Bicing, the
scheme may employ slightly different methods
and pay structures, but all with the basic
principle of offering bikes for hire to navigate
busy cities, providing an alternative to
gridlocked roads and busy public transport.
It’s little wonder that cycle advocates in
other cities have begun to wonder ‘why not
us’? We’ve seen three such schemes spring up
in the UK and Ireland within two years,
including the popular dublinbikes, London’s
Barclays Cycle Hire and – most recently –
Newcastle’s Scratch Bikes, which offered its
first hire bikes in July this year. BikeBiz speaks
to Robert Grisdale, CEO of ScratchBikes to find
out why the city needs its own bike hire
scheme, and how the citizens of Tyne and Wear
have reacted to its introduction…
What inspired the creation of the scheme?
ScratchBikes was an idea we had whilst
studying Civil Engineering at Newcastle
University. We had seen and used other
systems across Europe and loved the concept,
but wondered why they have to be so
technology/infrastructure intensive – and
therefore too expensive for everywhere but the
largest of cities. We set about creating a much
40 BIKEBIZ OCTOBER
simpler solution which we launched in
September 2010 at Newcastle University – and
it worked.
How has it been received so far?
Despite not having all rental locations in place
across the city, we have been amazed at the
number of new sign ups and rides in the first
week. 99.9 per cent of the feedback we have
had has been very positive. People love the fact
that we are providing such a flexible system
that works and is so cheap to use.
Is the scheme open to sponsorship like the
London hire scheme?
Yes – ScratchBikes is exclusively sponsored by
Newcastle NE1 Limited for 12 months. They
are the Business Improvement District
company based in Newcastle
[www.newcastlene1ltd.com]. We also offer
digital media opportunities on our website and
iPhone app.
The move to have an app from the off is
innovative. How did you come up it?
Being lads in our mid-twenties, we are used to
having information on the move and mobile
phones are a big part of our every day lives so
developing an app for our users has been on
our to-do-list from the start. Many companies
are now jumping on the app bandwagon, but
Launched this summer,
the Scratch Hire Bikes
operate on a low cost
principle
unfortunately lots are merely image enhancing
gestures which are often pretty useless to the
public. Our app genuinely makes using the
system an easier and more pleasant experience.
It also provides people with a more friendly
way to give us feedback by suggesting new
rental locations and reporting faults.
What are your aims for the scheme?
We are developing a new improved locking
system which will allow us to offer other
organisations, cities and towns across the world
with a low cost turn-key bike sharing solution.
We have just recently completed an
investment deal which means that we can now
move forward with the development and
deploy the first scheme in Spring 2012. We see
our scheme here in Newcastle as our flagship
operation – our shop window. We plan to
launch our new locking technology here in the
next 12 months to demonstrate our new
innovative system.
[email protected]
0843 208 1017
BIKEBIZ.COM
INTERVIEW | EUROSPORT
From the commentary
box: David Harmon
and Sean Kelly report
Is cycling highly rated?
Is a perceived boom in cycling translating into the number of people watching the sport on TV?
Jonathon Harker speaks to the head of one of the UK’s key sports channels – Eurosport UK’s
managing director Dave Kerr - for his take on the popularity of cycling…
How have you seen the popularity of
cycling fare on British Eurosport over the
past few years? An upward trend?
In terms of live coverage over the past four
years the viewing figures in the UK have been
very consistent, however this year has so far
seen an approximate 15 per cent improvement
on 2010 (figures are inclusive of all HD when
available).
Cycling average audiences for live race
coverage in 2010 were 57,000 and so far in
2011 we have generated 65,000 viewers.
Clearly cycling as a leisure pursuit and an
elite sport is seeing a real growth in the UK
market and therefore the media coverage and
general awareness of the sport is increasing
which means the audience for our coverage
also continues to grow.
Your UK ratings for the Tour de France saw a
very significant proportion tuning in via the
HD channel – do you think this suggests
cycle fans are prepared to pay a bit extra
for their sport?
Cycling fans are not necessarily prepared to
pay more compared to any other viewer as
most sport fans want to enjoy their preferred
sport in the best possible way. The difference is
cycling perhaps lends itself more to the high
definition experience more so than other
sports. Cycling on TV has always included
BIKEBIZ.COM
elements which focus on the travelogue aspect
about where the races are actually being held.
As an example the Tour de France showcases
the French countryside and the panoramic
views from aerial shots look particularly
stunning in HD. Eurosport HD viewers currently
account for 38 per cent of the 2011 UK cycling
average audience.
Will Eurosport be covering cycling events
for the London 2012 Olympics?
Nothing has been confirmed yet but Eurosport
is keen to focus on sports which it knows its
audiences has a strong affinity for and cycling
is one of our pillar sports across all markets.
event not cycling or tennis present in the list,
which came in at number seven.
Mountain stage
Pyrenees 2010 ©
Spencer Platt-Getty
Images.
Pic Courtesy of
Eurosport
Are you predicting an upswing in audience
figures compared with the Beijing
Olympics?
We would expect a large upscale in viewing
figures given the event is taking place in
London with this likely to increase popularity
of the event. We would also not have to deal
with a time zone difference here in the UK,
which was present in Beijing where there was
an eight-hour time gap.
British Eurosport is in approximately ten
million homes across Sky and Virgin Media
in the UK
How popular are the cycle events with UK
viewers compared with other events in
terms of audience?
Of the seven top rated events we have
broadcast in the UK so far in 2011 by average
live audience, and which have had HD
coverage available, the cycling events came in
2nd, 5th and 6th. Unsurprisingly this was for
the three Grand Tours; The Tour de France
(94,000), Giro d’Italia (63,000) and Vuelta a
Espana (47,000). The French Open achieved the
highest live average audience of 116,000.
Other tennis events such as WTA Eastbourne
and ATP Queens also performed well. The
Snooker World Championships was the only
BIKEBIZ OCTOBER 43
BUSINESS | TOP TEN TIPS
Ten tips for
financial
success
ONCE YOUR BUSINESS is up and running –
something that’s enormously difficult in this
day and age – it’s easy, perhaps, for the less
financially minded to put more complicated
money concerns to the back of their minds.
But in doing so businesses might not be
making the most of their money. Worse, they
could be putting their business at risk.
BikeBiz spoke to independent financial
adviser Mark Ireland about simple steps
businesses can take to protect their interests.
He’s worked with many small and medium
sized companies over the years and helped
them plan their finances. As he says: “We
shouldn't leave our personal or business
finances to chance; those that do will be less
profitable, pay more tax and maybe even lose
everything in the end.”
Here he sets out some important
considerations for any business regardless of
size, turnover or time in existence. Some tips
are basic housekeeping, but much of this can
be forgotten in a busy working day, whilst
BIKEBIZ.COM
Making money isn’t just about revenue and
margins. Helen French talks to financial
adviser Mark Ireland about everything else a
business owner should keep in mind when it
comes to finance…
“We shouldn’t leave our
finances to chance; those
that do will be less
profitable, pay more tax
and maybe even lose
everything in the end.”
others include aspects of business planning
often overlooked until it is too late.
1. BUSINESS BANKING
We’re all afraid of switching banks for day-today business banking facilities, but we
shouldn’t be. Clearly banks are not falling over
themselves to pay interest on business
accounts, but many may provide useful
ancillary services and introductory free banking
periods. Gone are the days of your bank being
a bank for life, so look at the features offered
and decide whether they are required for your
business – if not, tell your bankers you don't
need them and try to negotiate better terms or
move banks.
2. EXISTING BORROWING
Make sure you discuss your existing finance
arrangements with your bank regularly. Interest
rates are low and will only rise. Whilst banks
are not currently overly generous with the
terms of business loans and overdrafts
>>>
BIKEBIZ OCTOBER 45
BUSINESS | TOP TEN TIPS
>>>
you can bet your bottom dollar (or
pound) that when the base rate rises
the interest charged on new loans will rise as
well. So if you’re able to refinance now for a
known period of time, with maybe even a fixed
interest rate, you’ll likely be better off in the
medium to longer term.
3. PROFESSIONAL INSURANCES
All companies are of course required by law to
provide both employer and public liability
insurances, and for some professional liability is
a must. But how many small businesses actually
shop around when the policies come up for
renewal, to see if there are better terms or
cheaper costs available? Many will also have an
‘off the shelf’ policy which doesn’t necessarily fit
with the business itself, maybe not taking
account of offsite
visits and so on. Shop
around as soon as you
receive your renewal
notice, ideally using a
broker who has
knowledge of your
industry.
forced to retire early due to ill-health? Would
you be happy if your company could be
influenced by the family of a former business
partner as a result of them inheriting an
interest? Protecting yourself and other
shareholders or partners is financially sensible,
provides a formal structure to work to, and
could also protect the value of the business
from the tax man. Simple ‘life and serious
illness’ insurance can provide financial
compensation, giving both the remaining
owners and the families of the owners peace of
mind and security. The same can be said of
business loan protection, which many banks
now require again as a requirement for new
finance. Shop around though, as these
insurances can vary tremendously in price,
especially if you normally only deal with your
bank; speak with your
professional advisers about
the structure appropriate
for your company.
Money’s too tight to
mention for most
businesses. But it’s
worth taking time out
to look at how you can
improve your situation
7. KEY MAN INSURANCE
Do you have a star
salesperson, or a key
technical person – someone
that without whom the
business would suffer
financially for a period of
time due to loss of revenue,
recruitment costs, delays
and so on? Once again, consider insuring your
business against this financial loss in a similar
way as above.
Make sure you shop
around for all
financial services...
“When was the last time
you investigated EU or
Government grants that
might be available to
you? Grants of up to
£250,000 may be
available.”
4. BUSINESS
GRANTS
When was the last
time you investigated
Government or EU
grants that might be available to you,
especially in the development or testing of
new technologies or marketing provision?
Grants of up to £250,000 may be available.
Take a look at http://bit.ly/iUdROt for useful
information on getting a grant in 2011.
5. LTD COMPANY, PARTNERSHIP OR LLP?
With upper rates of income tax now at 50 per
cent, and an increase in the levels of both
employee and employer national insurance
rates, there has never been a more important
time to revisit whether you should operate as a
limited company or a partnership/sole trader.
Speak with your tax advisers and get them to
take you through the pros and cons of each,
not forgetting to look at the limited liability
partnership route.
6. BUSINESS SUCCESSION PLANNING
Have you ever considered what happens to
your company in the event that you or one of
your business co-owners dies prematurely or is
46 BIKEBIZ OCTOBER
8. N.E.S.T.
The National Employment Savings Trust is the
new workplace pension being rolled out across
the UK from 2012. From this point all
employers will be required by law to make
contributions to a pension scheme for their
staff. It will be phased in over a few years but
it is time to start budgeting for this additional
expenditure to your business, as minimum
employer contributions will be set at around
three per cent of an employee’s salary.
9. STAKEHOLDER PENSIONS
Whilst we wait for the above to start there is
still the legislative requirement for all
businesses with five or more staff to have in
place a stakeholder pension scheme. There is
no commitment to contribute at present, but
there is a requirement for the employer to
promote the scheme to staff and make
payments to it available via payroll, or face
fines of up to £50,000.
10. EMPLOYEE BENEFITS
It may not seem appropriate in these days of
austerity to add to the benefits you give to
your staff, but consider the merits and possible
tax advantages they have, as they may offer a
way of providing valuable extras to staff,
possibly in lieu of a pay rise. Typically these
include private medical care, pension
contributions, life insurance, access to a
childcare voucher scheme and so on. Many
provide personal cost savings and tax
advantages to the employee as well as you the
employer.
All statements concerning the tax treatment
of products and their benefits are based on
understanding of the current law and HMRC
practice as at the date of publication. Levels
and bases of, and reliefs from, taxation are
subject to change.
NEED TO KNOW
Mark Ireland DipFA is an independent
financial adviser at Barton Financial
Planning Ltd. He has been providing
tailored financial planning to small and
medium sized companies and their owners,
as well as private individuals, trustees and
charities, for nearly twenty years. Should
you wish to discuss any aspect of financial
planning, whether for you personally or for
your business, Mark is contactable by email,
[email protected] or by phone,
020 8922 9140.
BIKEBIZ.COM
BRAND SPOTLIGHT | FISHER OUTDOOR LEISURE
Winter warmer
Fisher Outdoor Leisure’s marketing and comms manager Stephen
Cromwell, tells BikeBiz about the distributor’s seasonal ranges…
How is the winter period potentially as
lucrative as summer for cycle retailers?
Each IBD has a different customer base so
clearly it varies from store to store, but there
are many ways that a bike shop can capitalise
on the opportunities the winter season offers.
The three main areas we have identified for
winter sales growth are lights for the
burgeoning commuter market, many of which
will want to continue riding when the days get
shorter, performance clothing for all riders to
help stave off the cold and the rain and of
course home trainers for the enthusiast who
wants to keep up their fitness in the comfort
and warmth of their own home.
What product does the TACX brand have for
winter cyclists?
Although there are many proven benefits of
using a TACX Turbo trainer all year round, it is
through the winter months where dealers will
definitely see most interest.
New to the range for this winter is the
Booster, TACX’s new resistance trainer. As the
official warm up trainer of the Olympic Games
and World championships, it generates high
power at low speeds thanks to the magnetic
brake which is even more powerful than the
Satori – Tacx's other Ergo trainer renowned for
power training.
The Genius Multiplayer is TACX’s new top-ofthe-range virtual reality trainer. It enables riders
to recreate an immersive riding environment
away from the inclement weather. With video
and VR software there is no chance of getting
bored or jaded and with a 12 month
48 BIKEBIZ OCTOBER
“Dealers
signing up to
become
TACX Test
Centres
benefit from
exclusive
POS and
fantastic
margins.”
Stephen
Cromwell,
Fisher
Multiplayer licence you can even ride with
other riders across the globe via the internet.
The Genius Multiplayer retails at £1,349.99
and there are a number of entry-level VR
trainers at more widely affordable price points,
like the Flow at £574.99 RRP.
The entire Tacx range is available to try out
at the Cycle Show, with a jersey signed by both
Schleck brothers up for grabs for the fastest
time trial of the show aboard a Tacx trainer.
Light ranges clearly come into their own in
winter months. What brand does Fisher
have to hit that category?
Smart lights are already renowned for their
reliability, power and quality design, and the
brand has improved the range further. The
Lunar front lights are now even more compact
and unobtrusive with longer run times. Despite
being smaller and the batteries lasting longer,
the Lunar comes in 10, 25 and 35 Lux models
and has the same high power and tough
construction as the previous versions. Also new
for this winter season is the super slim 7 Lux,
which lasts for up to 140 hours on only one AA
battery, which is truly remarkable when you
think closely about it.
What other ranges are available for
stockists for the winter months?
The new Santini autumn winter Fashion
collection is now ready to order and features
exciting products like the new Feel H20 jacket
is made of unique high stretch and water
resistant Soft Shell with an internal windproof
application making it perfect for autumn
training rides and sportives. It retails for
£194.99 RRP. For those days where the
weather can't make up its mind, for cold starts
or a long journey home the new Kines jacket is
ideal. Made from TK Fabric, it is super light
weight yet windproof, is only 150gsms and can
be packed and stashed in a jersey pocket. The
retail price is £89.99. The Kines Jersey uses
proven NDP42 thermo fleece making it ideal
for medium to low temperature conditions and
retails at £74.99. There will be a significant
Santini presence at the NEC show on stand
D11 where the autumn winter clothing as well
as the replica and custom kit will be displayed.
What incentives do you have for dealers to
stock the three brands?
Dealers signing up to become TACX Test
Centres benefit from exclusive POS and
fantastic margins as well as featuring in an
extensive advertising campaign planned over
the winter. Smart light dealers receive a free
display unit subject to a minimum
commitment and with incredibly low returns
and a limited lifetime warranty there are great
benefits to the consumer as well. Through the
365 stock service, exclusive to Santini, dealers
can now benefit from year round supply of
premium quality top end Road and MTB
Santini Product, backed up by our stock
replacement scheme. At the end of the Winter
Season (end March 2012), dealers can replace
winter stock with Summer stock to the same
value. IBDs interested in stocking these brands
should speak to their Fisher account manager.
www.fisherb2b.co.uk
BIKEBIZ.COM
BIKEBIZ.COM
BIKEBIZ OCTOBER 49
EVENT FOCUS | AUSBIKE
Ausbike here to stay
It answered the call for an expo for Australia and three years on is looking like a permanent fixture on
the international bike event scene. Ausbike’s Brad Alcock speaks to Jonathon Harker…
THE WORLDWIDE economy may not be in the
healthiest state, but the cycle trade has been
among the sectors that have largely managed
to avoid the worst of the downturn, in the main
at least.
The Australian bike market is no exception.
The nation is such a fan of the bicycle that
Australians have been well known for
purchasing more bicycles than cars, snapping up
1,154,077 cycles in 2009 – for the tenth year in
a row (see box-out on page 53). Against that
backdrop, three years ago, the Ausbike bicycle
expo was established.
Taking place in Melbourne, Ausbike Australia
was the first national cycling trade expo in the
territory and, according to the show organisers,
was born out of necessity. It reaches across the
sectors, covering road, track, time trial,
mountain bikes, cross country, BMX, trials, kids,
toddlers and unicycles.
“Ausbike has grown every year since 2009,”
Ausbike’s Brad Alcock explains to BikeBiz. “We
had around 60 per cent more exhibitors in 2011
than in 2009.”
“The quality of exhibitor displays has
increased significantly along with the number
of exhibitors.
“For those companies exhibiting, Ausbike has
become the must-do event in Australia. Overall
feedback from exhibitors is extremely positive.”
The show itself has developed too, extending
the number of days it covers – now including
two public days and one trade-only day –
which proved a key attraction in snapping up
more exhibitors. “With the change to two
50 BIKEBIZ OCTOBER
Last year’s Ausbike
saw 60 per cent more
visitors than in 2009
public days this year a number of new
exhibitors were keen to attend,” Alcock says.
That growing exhibitor list this year
included the likes of Giant Bikes, Scody
Clothing, Avanti and Scott Bikes, Tinelli
Clothing, General Optical,Ventou Clothing,
Ron D Swan Accessories and Bike Buller,
among others.
“Along with new exhibitors we also had a
number of new
brands showing at
Ausbike,” says Alcock.
“They included Ghost
Bikes, TM Bikes, Kross
Bikes, Creux Clothing,
Fliker Scooters and
Bike Trees.
“Each year sees a
change in exhibitors
as some companies
drop out and others
take the space.”
As is a staple with shows of this type,
Ausbike has a raft of attractions besides new
bikes and accessories, including BMX
competitions, chances to try out the latest
bikes and opportunities to look at new
trends in cycling fashion. This year the show
also includes a collection of vintage bikes,
painstakingly put together and displayed by
the top collectors in the region. Ausbike also
provided chance for consumers and trade to
chat face-to-face, of course.
This year the show saw 150 exhibitors,
with over 2,000 visitors from the industry
and a further 8,000 consumers attending.
Show highlights included the debut of
Garmin’s Vector – pipping Eurobike to the
new product by a few weeks.
Ausbike takes sustainability seriously too
and has introduced the Bike Trees concept to
the show. To help offset the Greenhouse
emissions produced by the show – through
freight, flights and driving there – the Bike
Trees project is designed
to help influence people
to ride to Ausbike 2011
instead of driving.
Ausbike purchased
1,000 trees to offset
the event.
“The quality of
exhibitor displays has
increased significantly
along with the number
of exhibitors.”
TRENDS DOWN
UNDER
Uniquely, bike shows
with multiple brands
and exhibitors provide a
chance for trade and consumers alike to get
some perspective on the trends and fashions
sweeping the market. We’ve heard about
29ers and electric bikes at Eurobike (turn to
pages 15 and 23 for more on that), but are
those sectors the Australian market is seeing
an upsurge in? And how about the triathlon
scene? BikeBiz asks Alcock.
“For 29ers, almost every bike company at
the show had a 29er to display. Some
companies, like Kona and Giant, had quite a
number of variations. The 29er market is
certainly growing in Australia.”
>>>
BIKEBIZ.COM
MEGA Frameset
Ready for ANYTHING.
Distributed in the UK by
www.hotlines-uk.com
I
Email: [email protected]
I
Tel: 0131 319 1444
EVENT FOCUS | AUSBIKE
reflecting the current state
>>> of Perhaps
the UK market, the electric bike
sector has been modest growth in Australia.
“The e-bike market is not quite so fast
growing here. There were a number of e-bike
exhibitors at the show but legislative issues are
hampering sales. In Australia e-bikes can't be
more than 200w and are to be fitted with a
governor to limit speed to a maximum of 25km
per hour.”
“Triathlon on the other hand is growing at a
very rapid rate with more events than ever
before and new events planned. The
participation rate at all events is high, with
most events selling out within a day or two.
With a new Ironman event planned for
Melbourne in March, Triathlon continues to
grow.”
Generally, the Australian cycle scene had a
boost with Cadel Evans’ exploits at the Tour de
France, becoming the first Australian to win the
UCI Pro Tour. While that has been great PR for
the territory, there has undeniably been some
slowdown in the cycle market, as Alcock
admits: “Up until the last 12 months or so the
bike market has been moving ahead in leaps
Next year Ausbike is
moving to October to
coincide with Bike
Week in Melbourne
and bounds with sales very strong.”
But even the recession-proof cycle sector
has not been unscathed, he adds:
“The last year has been tough on retail in
general with the bike market not exempt.
Many retail stores are significantly down on
last year. With the boom in online sales all
retailers are feeling the pinch.”
THE YEAR AHEAD
Now the organisers of Ausbike have got their
eyes on next year’s show, which will see a
number of fairly drastic changes – not least
a change in date.
Alcock says: “For 2012, Ausbike will be
moving to October to coincide with Bike
Week in Melbourne and will be held the
weekend prior to Around the Bay in a Day,
the largest mass participation ride in
Melbourne.
Currently we see Ausbike staying as a
combined trade and public show as it was
this year. It is the largest gathering of the
bicycle industry in Australia and the largest
consumer bicycle show in Australia. Our plan
is to continue to grow each year.”
“The e-bike market is
not quite so fast
growing here in
Australia, legislative
issues are hampering
sales. Triathlon on the
other hand is growing
rapidly.”
AUSTRALIAN BIKE MARKET: THE STATS
WITH AN estimated population of 21
million, Australia has a healthy number
of bicycle imports. They have largely
remained stable through the tough
climate, according to stats supplied to
BikeBiz from the Cycling Promotion Fund
and Bicycle Industries Australia.
In the twelve months from July 2010
to June 2011, overall bicycle imports
into Australia totalled an impressive
1,218,086. In the previous twelve
months imports were only marginally
higher at 1,244,398.
Notably, the difference has been more
marked at the start of 2011. Often
outperforming the end of 2009, the last
six months of 2010 saw imports
BIKEBIZ.COM
generally higher than in the last six
months of 2009. That provides a
contrast for the start of 2011 versus the
first six months of 2010, with 2011
underperforming more markedly –
though, as mentioned above, when the
full 12 months is taken into account
that drop is far less significant.
The figures break down further
between adult and child bikes. Adult
bikes imports made up approximately 66
per cent of the total number coming
into Australia.
The organisation notes that the
children’s bicycle figure represents 70
per cent of actual imports as the
presumption has been made that around
30 per cent of children’s bicycles are,
strictly speaking, toys. Perhaps most
significant of all is the fact that bicycles
have outsold cars every year for the past
decade by over 2,000,000. Over 11 and
a half million bikes were sold over that
time, reaching a record high in 2007.
Like the UK and much of the world,
cycle advocates and politicians are
gravely concerned about the impact of
obesity on the population, helping
support the cause for cycling. Australia
has seen the publication of a National
Cycling Strategy for 2011 to 2016 by
the government, aiming to double the
rate of cycling by 2016.
And it’s not just fears of an ‘obesity
epidemic’ driving decision makers to
think more carefully about cycling.
According to stats around $9 billion per
year was lost in productivity through
transport congestion. That figure is set to
rise to $20 billion per year by 2020.
www.cyclingpromotion.com.au
According to stats from Ausbike, the
vast majority (90 per cent) of attending
retailers were there to see new brands
and products, 67 per cent attended
Ausbike to network, while just under half
(48 per cent) to see the full product
ranges (2010 figures). Ausbike takes
place at the Royal Melbourne
Showgrounds, Melbourne, Australia
www.ausbike.com.au
BIKEBIZ OCTOBER 53
OLYMPICS | NOW AND THEN
Olympics:1948 vs 2012
It’s now less than a year
until the opening of the
first Olympics to be held
on British soil in 64 years.
Jonathon Harker looks
through the history books
at the last time the global
event came to these
shores...
NEXT YEAR’s Olympics will be, for many, a
once-in-a-lifetime’s opportunity to
experience the phenomenon on home soil. If
you can get any tickets...
Scarcity of ringside seats to see Hoy claim
gold at the Velodrome aside, the London
2012 Olympic Games are predicted to be the
biggest yet, with interest and expectations
riding high for Team GB’s cyclists, particularly
following that still-talked-about bunch of
gold medals taken during Beijing 2008.
So, what about London 2012? Just how big
is it going to be? If the core operating budget
of around £2 billion is anything to go by,
pretty darned big. Licenced merchandise sales
will generate an income of around £86
million, and as of March 2011 LOCOG (the
London Organising Committee of the Olympic
and Paralympic Games) has signed domestic
sponsorship deals totalling over a colossal
£670 million in value.
Those mind boggling numbers give a taster
of how much rides on London 2012 and of the
sheer amount of cash that will be pushed
around the nation in its name. Let’s hope the
bike trade is poised to take its share.
That volume of money is likely to offer a
stark contrast for the nation’s pensioners, who
might just be able to remember when the
Olympics last visited the country.
Famously, the 1948 London Olympics were
the first to take place since the end of the
Second World War, taking on an even larger
significance as the previous games had taken
place in Berlin (in 1936 – the Olympics were
sensibly postponed during the war).
The 1948 Games were set in a country
recovering from that global battle and still
undergoing rationing, so splashing a cool £2
billion, or the equivalent subject to inflation,
was never really an option.
Now, less than a year before the Olympics
get underway, the global situation is far
different. The UK is in a period of relative peace,
notwithstanding Iraq and Afghanistan, but with
financial difficulties that have seen global
recession, narrowly avoided bank and market
collapses and the US take a vote to avoid
default on its debts to the brink.
So, spending a cool £2billion on the
Olympics now is equally unlike... oh hang on.
54 BIKEBIZ OCTOBER
LONDON 1948
Number of sports
26
Nations represented
59
Olympic Cycle venues
Cycling Events
to austerity. Track; Herne Hill
No new venues were built due
d; Windsor Great Park
Velodrome (10k-plus capacity) Roa
four track. No women took
A modest six; two road racing and
nts. GB scored five medals,
eve
ing
cycl
part in the 1948 Olympic
but sadly no golds
Paralympic cyclists?
N/A
Male athletes
3,714 (398 of which were from GB
Female athletes
390
Total athletes
4,104
Opening ceremony
le the Royal Artillery gave a
2,500 pigeons were released, whi
time, we hope)
21 gun salute (not at the same
Opened by
His Majesty King George VI
PM during games
Clement Attlee
Flame lit by
Donald Finlay (athletics)
Olympic broadcasting
Trivia
and 73 from Ireland)
st rights and showed a
BBC paid £1,000 for the broadca
it worth it? TV ownership
whopping 60 hours live. But was
there are reportedly four or
was tiny in 1948, whereas now
five TVs per household
was founded and also the
1948 was the year Condor Cycles
was released. The 1948
film
ves
year the classic Bicycle Thie
ity games', unsurprising
ster
'Au
the
ed
nam
Olympics were nick
ng
veri from war and still
as they took place in a nation reco
were the second to be
pics
under rationing. The 1948 Olym
the first being in 1908 and
–
tury
Cen
held in the UK in the 20th
Modern Olympic Games
among the very earliest of the
BIKEBIZ.COM
OLYMPICS | NOW AND THEN
LONDON 1
948
LONDON 2012
Number of sp
orts
26, which break
do
wn into 39 disc
Nations repres
ented
How many cy
cle events
and venues?
Olympic cycle
athletes
and medals
Paralympic cy
clists
Male cyclists
Female cyclis
ts
Total athletes
Opening cere
mony
Opened by
PM during ga
mes
Flame lit by
Olympic broa
dcasting
iplines
205, approximat
el
y
18 events, in BM
X, MTB, Road an
d Track (not inclu
track Paralympi
ding road and
c events) Track;
Olympic Velodr
Road; The Mall
ome (6,000 capa
(Road Race) an
city)
d Hampton Cour
Hadleigh Farm,
t (Time Trial) MTB
Essex BMX; Olym
;
pic Park BMX tra
ck
Track; ten med
al events, 188 at
hletes (104 men
four medal even
, 84 women) Ro
ts, 212 athletes
ad;
(145 men, 67 w
medal events 80
omen) MTB; Tw
athletes (50 men
o
, 30 women) BM
events, 48 athl
etes
X; Two medal
Across road an
d track, 225 athl
etes will cycle (15
5 men, 70 wom
en)
324 approxiate
ly
206 approximat
ely
Circa 10,500 (BOA
);
500 from GB
It’s still top secr
et, but it'll prob
ably involve ou
heroes, almost
r Beijing Team
certainly David
GB
Beckham and de
of fireworks. W
finitely an awfu
hatever happen
l lot
s, it’ll be a far cr
1948 (see left)
y from the pige
ons of
Her Majesty Qu
een Elizabeth II
David Cameron
Unconfirmed at
time of press, bu
t the current fa
bookies is Olym
vourite with the
pic legend Sir St
eve Redgrave
Every cycle even
t will be broadc
ast live, due to
and web TV. Th
the wonders of
e BBC will again
digital
be showing the
via the Red Butto
whole lot, inclu
n. As a guide, th
ding
e 2008 Beijing
watched by a re
Olympics were
cord four billion
TV viewers
“London 2012 trumps London 1948 for number
of cycle events. In the earlier Games, Great
Britain won none of the six cycle biking golds on
offer... let’s hope Team GB’s cyclists fare better
during London 2012.”
BIKEBIZ.COM
HEAD-TO-HEAD
One of the starkest
differences between the two
Olympics is the lack of
women taking part in cycle
events in 1948. Compared
with the approximate 206
females participating in
cycling in 2012 we’ve clearly
come a long way – although
that’s still around 100 less
women than men taking part
in cycle events.
The Paralympic Games, by a
strange coincidence, began as a
small gathering in 1948,
involving British war veterans.
Now the Paralympics are a
major international event, run in
tandem with the Olympics and
next year seeing 225 athletes
take part in cycle events.
ROUND THE VELODROME
A common thread linking the two
Games is the Herne Hill
Velodrome. While it won’t be used
for the 2012 Games, Herne Hill is
the last remaining venue from the
1948 Games that is still in active
use. But were it not for the
intervention of ‘Save the
Velodrome’ the Velodrome looked
set for redevelopment.
Campaigners fought a high
profile battle to keep the cycle
heritage site – the oldest cycle track
in Britain – from closing. Happily the
campaigning has now paid off, with
the future of the site seemingly now
secure as a long-term facility for all
including local residents and schools.
Herne Hill reopened in September,
given a new lease of life through the
significant investment – to the tune
of £500,000 – from British Cycling.
A state-of-the-art track has been
laid, broken in by Olympic gold
medallist Chris Boardman who got to
lead the first ceremonial lap of the new
track at the opening. Hugh Robertson,
Minister for Sport and the Olympics,
reopened the track this summer and
summed up the timely intervention of
the campaign to preserve the venue.
The Minister said: “It is fitting that the
year before London 2012, we are able to
celebrate the refurbishment of the track
at one of the key venues from the 1948
Games. As the popularity of cycling
continues to grow, it is vital that people
are provided with the facilities and
opportunities to ride their bikes, be they
young people starting out, serious racers,
or others simply cycling to keep fit.”
The Velodrome played a key part in the
development of triple Olympic champion
Bradley Wiggins, who started racing on the
track at the age of 12. He, like the rest of Team
GB, will be seeking to make London 2012 a
resounding success on the track and road, while
hopefully managing to inspire a new generation
of cycle fans in the process.
www.savethevelodrome.com
BIKEBIZ OCTOBER 55
56 BIKEBIZ OCTOBER
BIKEBIZ.COM
BIKE HUB | BIKEABILITY SCOTLAND
Boosting bikes in
Scotland
Think Bike Hub is as geographically
challenged as Barclays Cycle Hire in London?
Well think again. Jonathon Harker talks
with Cycling Scotland’s chief exec Ian Aitken
about how the industry levy has helped
Scottish kids benefit from Bikeability…
IT’S ALL VERY well hearing pundits moaning
about the youth of today sat in front of the TV,
playing video games or bullying each other
over the internet, but is anyone actually doing
anything about it? Is there anyone giving the
little blighters the skills they need to safely get
out and about? Of course there is. It’s you, Mr
and Mrs bike trade.
In November last year, Ian Aitken, chief
executive of Cycling Scotland – the national
cycle promotion organisation for Scotland –
announced that the Bike Hub industry levy was
set to contribute £30,000 per annum for cycle
training for children in Scotland.
Bikeability – the National Cycle Training
Standard – is one of the most valued cycling
initiatives by the bike industry. And it’s no
different north of the border, as Ian Aitken tells
BikeBiz: “Bikeability Scotland is fundamental in
preparing young people to use their bikes for
getting around. It covers the stages from
learning to ride, basic cycle control and
BIKEBIZ.COM
Grame Obree helped
launch Bikeability
Scotland this year
junctions through to making journeys on-road,
preparing every cyclist to use the road
network.”
But was it really such a big deal to
consolidate cycle training both sides of the
border? Aitken explains why it was: “Integrating
the existing cycle training in Scotland with
Bikeability means the scheme is more focused,
bringing three existing levels into a unified
scheme, which really helps spread the message
that multi-level cycle
training is really important,
and we want to see as
many children as possible
doing all three stages.”
Those three stages start
with Level One – covering
basic cycle control skills
taught in a traffic-free
environment. Level Two
includes starting and ending
and on-road journey, being
aware of everything around you, positioning on
the road, using junctions to turn right and left,
using the Highway Code and recognising
important signs.
Level Three sees young riders learn the skills
to tackle a wider variety of traffic conditions,
deal with all types of road conditions and more
challenging traffic situations. The course also
covers dealing with hazards, making ‘on-themove’ risk assessments and planning routes for
safer cycling.
Bringing those three levels of formalised
training to children in Scotland has all been
made possible through the Bike Hub industry
levy, as Aitken explains, bringing the training to
a wider number of children than before:
“Funding from the Bike Hub has been
absolutely crucial in establishing Bikeability
Scotland. The funding has helped support
additional staff positions to provide support for
all local authorities in Scotland to develop their
local Bikeability Scotland programmes. The
cycle training officers play an integral role in
helping more local authorities deliver more
multi-level training.”
Cycling Scotland itself provides additional
funding for Bikeability Scotland, raising the
profile of the scheme and supporting
volunteering and the workforce that deliver the
training, whether
through training
courses or other
targeted support. The
organisation also has a
number of other
initiatives to help
children get on bicycles,
of course, Aitken
explains to BikeBiz,
including the Give Me
Cycle Space campaign,
encouraging drivers to give children as much
room as possible on the road to help parents
feel confident about letting their children cycle
to school.
The creation of Bikeability Scotland
combined with Give Me Cycle Space and all
the other pro-cycling initiatives Cycling
Scotland is running have come at a good time.
Scottish cycling could hardly have a higher
profile than it has at the moment, from the
urban skills of YouTube sensation Danny
MacAskill to Edinburgh-born Chris Hoy soon
set to try for Olympic success again.
With stars like those inspiring youngsters
and Bikeability Scotland giving them the skills
they need to get on the road to emulate their
cycling heroes and heroines, there’s plenty of
encouraging reasons for children to get out on
their bikes.
“Funding from Bike
Hub has been
absolutely crucial in
establishing
Bikeability Scotland.”
BIKEBIZ OCTOBER 57
ACTSMART | CYCLE SHOW
Time to talk business
The NEC-based Cycle Show will witness the launch of the new WorkRiders cycling to work
programme and the unveiling of Cytech Retail Training; just two of the reasons why the cycle trade
may want to head over to stand G23, writes the ACT...
THE ACT IS heading to the NEC-set Cycle
Show, running from September 29th to
October 1st, with Cytech featuring strongly.
The Cytech training and accreditation
programme continues its national expansion,
with record numbers attaining Cytech technical
qualifications during the past 12 months.
Despite economic pressures the cycle trade
clearly appreciates the value of training as well
as national promotion as a Cytech Accredited
business to half a million consumers a month
via The Cycling Experts business search.
Cytech is owned by the industry with any
surplus income re-invested in promotion and
development to meet the trade’s needs and
accordingly, Cycle Show will see the launch of
Cytech Retail Training.
The first stage of the Cytech Retail training
and accreditation programme will be launched
on Thursday September 29th at stand G23. A
suite of retail training courses will be
developed to compliment the long established
Cytech Technical programme.
The intention is to develop key retail skills
for the outdoor pursuits market, complimented
by sector specific training on relevant services
and sales tools.
All accreditations will be treated in the same
manner as the Cytech Technical programme,
with individuals and their employers
recognised accordingly.
Cytech Technical demonstrations will be
provided by ATG throughout the show for trade
and consumers; including topics such as
suspension servicing and facing and chasing
OW
STAND G23, CYCLE SH
60 BIKEBIZ OCTOBER
“Alongside free national
promotion and the
Experts Retail
Community, Ride It Away
retail finance has
increased bicycle sales by
30 per cent this summer
versus 2010.”
a bottom bracket. The demos are to help
recruit more budding mechanics into the
industry and also to educate the public about
the benefits of choosing a shop with Cytech
Accredited staff and specialist workshops.
WORKRIDERS LAUNCHES
WorkRiders, the new cycling to work
programme, will have its first visit to the Cycle
Show. WorkRiders is a totally free service for
ACT members with no commissions, no
administration fees and no costs. Non-ACT
members pay just a five per cent
administration fee on sales.
WorkRiders is a different type of cycling to
work provision aimed at empowering all
independent retailers and brand owners to
engage with their communities, increasing the
number of employees cycling to work
throughout the UK.
Retailers benefit from the introduction of a
simple payment card system, providing
guaranteed payment at point of sale and funds
received in as little as 24 hours with no fees for
ACT members.
With no retail margin erosion retailers can
become more proactive with promotions
targeted at specific employers and employees
and low margin or clearance product is now an
attractive proposition to develop cycling to
work custom.
All specialist retailers can become
WorkRiders Authorised Retailers, registration is
now live at www.workriders.co.uk.
INCREASE SALES AND SAVE MONEY
ACT’s partnership with ActSmart is generating
an increasing number of sales development
opportunities for IBDs. Alongside free national
promotion and the forthcoming Experts Retail
Community, the Ride it Away retail finance
programme has increased bicycle sales by
over 30 per cent throughout the summer,
versus 2010.
Cost cutting is an essential part of business
management in the current economy and
ActSmart provides a range of services to cut
your costs and save you time, never forgetting
that quality of service is key. Autumn/Winter is
the best time to address cost reductions and
visiting us at Cycle Show is a great place to
start. Don’t forget, Bronze membership is free.
See WorkRiders on the
main stage to find out
about the new cycling
to work programme
and how to develop
your cycling
community
Thursday September
29th, from 12.15 to
12.45
For more information call
ActSmart on
0845 618 7256
www.actsmart.biz
BIKEBIZ.COM
OUT AND ABOUT BEYOND CYCLING
Dipping a toe into sectors
beyond cycling? BikeBiz
provides the month’s news
from related markets...
Outdoor trade readies for
Stoneleigh Show
Warwickshire event to see increased numbers of
exhibitors and visitors through its doors
By: Jonathon Harker
ONE OF THE KEY dates in the Outdoor
retail calendar – the Outdoor Trade Show
– is taking place at the end of September
at Stoneleigh Park, Warwickshire, with
more exhibitors than ever.
Now in its sixth year, the show has, at
time of press, 132 exhibitors lined up for
the 2011 show, which takes place from
September 26th to 28th.
Exhibitors this year include some
names familiar to the bike trade, as well
as plenty who aren’t. First time OTS
exhibitors include Bergans of Norway, AltBerg and global brand Timberland.
ActSmart and Anatom have returned in
2011 after a year away from OTS, while
the roll call of returning brands upping
their stand space include Karrimor Special
Forces, Design Go, UKD and SealSkinz.
Show organiser Marta Williams told
BikeBiz: “We have already booked 132
exhibitors for this year so we will hope to
grow visitor numbers as well.”
Originally set up by the trade, for the
trade, demand for the event has seen it
grow from humble beginnings. Back in 2006
the Outdoor Trade Show had 46 exhibitors
and 621 visitors. Last year’s successful show
saw 120 exhibitors and 1,427 visitors.
The OTS’ location has proved a key
factor in the growing popularity of the
show, according to Williams.
“Stoneleigh Park is a
small venue so we’re
able to keep costs down
and pass that onto
exhibitors. It’s a very
cost effective show.”
Marta Williams, OTCS
“The show has always been at
Stoneleigh Park. There is a combination of
factors to choose Stoneleigh Park – as a
small venue we are able to keep costs
down which are passed onto exhibitors
making it a very cost effective show.
“The location in the Midlands makes it
very convenient for travelling and it is well
served by road, rail and is close to Coventry
and Birmingham airports. The staff at
Stoneleigh Park are excellent and make the
running of the exhibition go very smoothly,
which has been praised by exhibitors and
visitors.”
Show organiser MCS can be contacted
on 0161 980 7242.
www.outdoortradeshow.com
Magellan sails back to the UK
By: Jonathon Harker
Global GPS brand Magellan has
relaunched in the UK, bringing its range
of handheld navigation devices to the
outdoors trade.
The rugged devices are pitched at all
kinds of outdoor adventuring, from
hiking and climbing to fishing, sailing
62 BIKEBIZ OCTOBER
and geocatching – an increasingly
popular GPS treasure hunting game, for
those not in the know.
The waterproof range feature
worldwide mapping, 3.2 megapixel
cameras, altimetric barometers,
electronic compasses and more. The
devices are priced from £179.99 for the
eXplorist GC, right the way up to
£499.99 for the eXplorist 710. The
range also incorporates a Magellan
iPhone ToughCase, compatible with
the iPhone 3G and iPod touch. That
entry-level model is a dedicated
Geocaching GPS product, while the
710 (and 510 and 610) are pitched as
complete outdoor GPS products.
www.magellangps.com
BIKEBIZ.COM
OUT AND ABOUT BEYOND CYCLING
NEWS IN BRIEF
Whitby brings
new hydration
system to OTS
By: Jonathon Harker
NEW PRODUCTS
Distributor Whitby and Co will be
showcasing the latest from its partner
manufacturers at the Outdoor Trade
Show, including new product from
Geigerrig, Leatherman, Wenger, Princeton
Tec and many more.
As featured in August’s BikeBiz,
Geigerrig’s award winning pressurised
hydration pack – which squirts water
rather than making the wearer suck from
a water bladder – will appear at OTS as
part of Whitby’s show offering, as will
the Leatherman Wingman and Sidekicks
– the first multi-tools from the company
under £50. Both are designed to tackle
multiple situations around the house,
garden, workshop or the great outdoors.
Wingman is a 14-tool offering, while
Sidekick offers 15. Both are made from
stainless steel and feature a range of
knives, pliers, screwdrivers, can and bottle
openers, files and wire cutters.
The early bird gets in
cheap to festivals
No sooner has the festival season
finished, than the major players in
the sector are offering early bird
incentives for 2012. With no
Glastonbury next year, competition
for tickets is likely to be fierce for a
place at a festival. Reading and
Leeds, and V Festival are among
those offering early bird tickets
already.
Other product highlights brought
to the OTS by Whitby and Co include
the Wenger Ueli Steck knife. The
result of a collaboration between
Wenger and, erm, Ueli Steck, this
specialist multi-functional tool is for
climbers, hikers and backcountry skiers.
Built to Steck’s own specifications, it has
a titanium handle, as well as a suite of
tools.
If you’re going to the
show you can also expect
to see the Princeton Tec
BOT kid’s headlamp, Helle
Temagami knives and
Whitby’s own Hand
Warmer, released to
retail in September
ahead of the cold
weather.
Whitby is exhibiting
on stand 66 at OTS.
www.whitbyand
co.co.uk
Wild swimming
gathers pace
Outdoors retailers might be wise to
stock up on swimming gear in view
of a growing craze for ‘wild
swimming’. According to Sky News,
membership of such clubs is
booming in spite of Britain’s
decidedly poor weather, possibly due
to low costs and pushed by social
media sites.
OTS and Tent show to
merge
A trade survey earlier this year
revealed 80 per cent of retailers and
manufacturers were in favour of a
joint Outdoor Trade Show and Tent
Show. The organisers have done just
that, as from 2012. The combined
show will take place at the popular
Stoneleigh Park venue from
September 10th to 13th 2012. For
more on this year’s OTS show turn to
page 62.
SMART TUBE
Outdoor sales rise in
the US
BLUE DESERT is currently seeking a UK
distributor for the likes of its Smart
Tube, H2 bike and Cap 2 Go. Cap 2 Go
is a specially shaped cap fitted with a
caribener for easy transport of water
bottles. Ideal for a wide variety of
activites – camping, school bags, trails
and many others. The Smart Tube is a
drinking system for bottles, fitting any
standard water bottle. The hands-free
system is hygienic and an adaptor for
wide mouth bottles is also available.
According to the Outdoor Industry
Association, Outdoor product sales in
August were up by 7.6 per cent in the
United States, despite the continued
tough economic climate and the
disruption caused by Hurrican Irene.
Outdoor product sales for the four
weeks ending August 27th 2011 rose
to $900.8 million, going by the OIA
VantagePoint monthly trend report
for the month. Outdoor footwear
was one of the main winners,
growing by over 21 per cent to $192.3
million.
HEAVY DUTY LED SAFETY LIGHT
WITH APPLICATIONS in a variety of
markets, the B Seen Heavy Duty Safety
Light can be used as a warning light,
rescue beacon, to mark an area
beacon-style or even for traffic control.
Available in red, blue, yellow or white
the product – pitched as a reusable
beacon – has batteries that provide up
to 100 hours of operation and is shock,
vibration and water resistant. It fits any
metal surface using a powerful magnet
and can be attached to clothing, packs,
high vis and life jackets with a
BIKEBIZ.COM
carabiner. The B Seen light also has ten
flash modes including blinking, rotating
and SOS and even floats. The product
is supplied to UK retailers via Gates
Green Imports which can be contacted
on 01342 458099 or
[email protected].
Wenger makes sweet
music...with a knife
Knife manufacturer Wenger added
an unusual function for its Giant
Swiss Army Knife. Working with
sound designer and composer Roger
Lima of WhiteNoise Lab, Wenger
launched a music video featuring its
Giant Swiss Army Knife as the sole
musical instrument. On YouTube the
‘Giant Swiss Army Knife Beats’ video
has scored over 26,000 views. The
tune is played out using the knife’s
87 implements and 141 functions.
BIKEBIZ OCTOBER 63
PEOPLE | RECRUITMENT
Send your recruitment news to
[email protected]
Roman climbs aboard the Lifeboat
n LIFEBOAT EVENTS Organisers of Dealer
and Press Camp Lifeboat Events, has added
ROBERT ROMAN to its team. Assuming the
role of sales manager, Roman will also have
account management responsibilities ahead of
the 2012 instalments of the series.
“We are thrilled to have Robert on the
team,” said Lance Camisasca, president of
Lifeboat Events. “Robert, who worked in
exhibitor sales while at Interbike, understands
our events and our goals. I got to know Robert
during our time together at Interbike, where we
spent eight years working side by side. I knew
when I launched this company that he
belonged in the ‘Lifeboat’.”
Roman will spearhead Lifeboat’s 2012
exhibiting partner programs for Urban
PressCamp, PressCamp and DealerCamp.
64 BIKEBIZ OCTOBER
Camisasca said DealerCamp will return to Park
City in 2012 on July 24th to 26th, with the
other events dates to be confirmed soon.
n ISPO BIKE A newly created position
heading up German bike show ISPO Bike has
been filled by EVA SCHLANGENOTTO.
Her tasks will include the conceptual
direction and preparation of the trade show.
Assisted by long-term ISPO team, who have
been producing trade shows in the sports
business for many years. For more information
on the bicycle trade show, visit ispo.com/bike
Robert Roman
n PRIVATEER Following a successful first
few issues, Privateer has hired former MBR
writer ANDY WATERMAN who assumes the
deputy editor role.
BIKEBIZ.COM
PEOPLE | RECRUITMENT
l Schlangenotto fills new role for German bike show ISPO Bike l Waterman rides into Privateer deputy
editor role l Whale wins Walkers rep job l Claire Whittaker succeeded by Sabrine Skiker at ETRA
"Privateer magazine has been extremely well
received and thanks to our growing army of
retailers and a steadily expanding subscription
list, we are now selling out of each issue of
Privateer," stated editor Tym Manley.
Waterman, having spent six years at MBR,
told BikeBiz: "When the opportunity to join Tym
and the Privateer team arose I jumped at it. I
can’t wait to start. To describe it as a dream job
would be an understatement. So many aspects
of the mountain biking experience go
unreported in mainstream MTB mags, so to be
given the opportunity to delve deeper than the
obvious, in a package that looks as good as
Privateer, is going to be a real privilege."
n WALKERS CYCLES ALEX WHALE has
been appointed to oversee sales representative
BIKEBIZ.COM
duties on behalf of Walkers Cycles in the
Gloucestershire, Birmingham, Worcestershire
and Hertfordshire areas, as well as covering
Wales. Having worked for Hot Wheels (now
CSG UK), Raleigh and more recently Dawes,
Whale has spent over 15 years working within
the bicycle business.
n ETRA Claire Whittaker, who has been
working as an assistant to ETRA secretary
general Annick Roetynck, is moving on as of
the end of September, taking a role with the
European Commission as directorate general
for Mobility and Transport.
Whittaker will be succeeded by SABRINE
SKIKER, a French national who has previously
held a role within the European Commission’s
energy and transport department.
Alex Whale
BIKEBIZ OCTOBER 65
RETAIL ONLY
The trade’s guide to sourcing stock, up-and-coming IBDs and the very latest products
RETAIL
COMMENT
AND I’M SPENT. Bank holidays leaping straight into Eurobike,
returning to the BikeBiz Bible, merged with the print deadline
of this very magazine – it’s been a busy one. No rest for the
wicked, however, just a week down the line the Outdoors
Show, Cycle Show and the BikeBiz Awards hit, among other
things scribbled into a well-thumbed diary. We will, of course,
have coverage from each, which will hopefully be handy if
your diary is anything like ours at this time of year.
Admittedly, a hectic schedule has thrown me slightly out
of touch on what’s gone on in the rest of the industry in the
past month, so while I’m playing catch up, let me fill this
space with a few highlights from Friedrichshafen to be aware
of in the coming year.
BIGFISH (p28): Quick release clamps are fine, but buttons are
better. Introducing these to the new ‘Line’ bike and retrofitting
to the original, Bigfish have cut shop floor demo times.
CLARKS CYCLE SYSTEMS (p23): Few would have claimed to
have had near 60 new products on their stand. Clarks did,
however, as well as a new BMX specific, pocket-money
“Admittedly, a hectic schedule has
thrown me slightly out of touch - so
here are a few Eurobike highlights...”
components brand dubbed C4. This entirely separate entity
offers brakes and gyros, grips and also told BikeBiz of cranks
in pedals in the design stages.
ELECTRA (p23): Though retaining some Electra flare, the
brand has released a mainstream line of leisure bikes in what
it confesses is an area for sustained expansion for the firm.
BikeBiz will soon carry an interview with the brand, so keep
your eyes peeled for that.
KOGA (p19): Scooping a gold award for its WorldTraveller
29er and introducing an online custom build service, Koga
can offer customers a tailored build from the tyres upwards,
all while tracking weight and price. I recommend logging on
to see this service for yourself.
OSPREY (p27): I have to confess to using a Raptor 10 pack
around the woods lately and highly recommend it. That,
however, isn’t the reason I’ve flagged Osprey as a highlight.
Aside from having a comprehensive range for all sectors,
this firm has some genuinely innovative ideas going into its
packs, from rigid bladders and magnetic hose fasteners, to
detachable backpack straps for business types looking for a
cycling-compatible briefcase.
WELDTITE (p24): Another demonstration that screamed
‘why has nobody done this before’. Look out for Weldtite’s
new detachable workshop stand component that is about
to make mechanic’s lives a heck of a lot easier.
[email protected]
IN THIS MONTH’S ISSUE
NEW PRODUCTS
68
Dare 2b’s latest collection of clothing is among the
highlights in our regular new product feature
DEALER PROFILE: CYCLEHEAVEN
71
BikeBiz heads up to York to speak with two shop-strong
Cycleheaven, following its latest opening
ROAD SECTOR GUIDE
75
The latest lightweight frames are covered in our guide,
alongside helmets and other road paraphernalia
PRODUCTS | NEW RELEASES
New gear
In this month’s look at the latest products to hit the
market, BikeBiz features Dare 2b’s fresh clothing line-up,
a new wheelset from American Classic and much more...
XML lights
MOUNTAIN BIKE light battery spare supplier
MTB Batteries has begun importing XML lights,
which use the latest technology, utilising a
single Cree T6 high-power LED.
Delivering a claimed 1,000 lumens over three
straight hours on high output, the light also has
a medium, low and flash setting, should you be
in the saddle through the night.
Coming with a discreet Lithium Ion battery
pack with circuit protection, the head unit can
be removed from the battery and plugged into
a mains charger.
MTB Batteries 07527 508273
The head unit will indicate to the rider what
power remains via the illuminated on/off
button that simply glows green and red. The
head unit is machined in all the right places to
assist heat disapation.
Helmet bands, o-rings and a water-resistant
battery pouch with two straps to secure to the
bike frame are included in the package.
Trade accounts with MTB Batteries are
available and the unit costs just £67 at retail.
See mtbbatteries.co.uk for more information on
XML Lights.
American Classic magnesium wheelset
FOR 2012, American Classic continues the
development of magnesium wheels, pushed
through by advocate, company president and
engineer Bill Shook.
The material, chosen for its light weight,
strength and ductility. Lighter than aluminium
and more resistant to impacts than carbon fibre,
the material naturally dampens vibration, even
countering high-frequency vibration from
typically smooth road surfaces.
Bent into shape in a method developed by
Shook, the 2012 wheelsets come in at just 1,107
Dare 2b garments
DARE2B HAS a much-expanded catalogue
coming into the winter season and is on the
lookout for independent retailers to carry stock
across the UK.
Based around feedback from the market, the
firm has developed a number of new goods at
very reasonable prices, including the £45
Turbulant Windshell for men and Blown Away
women’s design. The garment takes note of the
trend for versatile and stretchy fabrics, all while
combining a tough water repellent Teflon coat,
mesh overlays for ventilation and stretch bound
Oxford hand pumps
OXFORD PRODUCTS' new catalogue features
three new hand pumps, costing £9.99, £10.69
and £40.99.
Each is supplied with a handy plastic frame
mount, which fixes onto any frame with bottle
cage mounts. The most expensive of the trio, the
Road CNC Telescopic, is a Presta only, CNC
machined pocket size pump ideal for those not
wanting to lug around a large unit to achieve a
high PSI output.
The cyclist on a budget doesn’t do bad for a
shade under, or over £10. For £10.69, Oxford's
68 BIKEBIZ OCTOBER
Eurobike 01332 774796
grams for the £799 wheelset and also in a
tubeless road build, retailing for £750 and hitting
the scales at 1,170 grams. The builds use
American Classic’s unique hub internals.
The tubeless wheelset will be simple enough
to work with thanks to a pre-installed inner AC
fiber tape layer and outer AC honey-coloured
double tape layer. Simply add a tubeless ready
tyre and pump liquid sealant in via the included
AC tubeless valves.
The wheels should land with UK distributor
Eurobike in January.
Direct 0161 749 1348
cuffs. What’s more, the garment packs down to a
handy small ball which can be stuffed into an
accompanying sack.
The line extends to higher price points too
and for £100, the Fullburst jacket comes packed
with clever outdoorsy tech and flourescent
colours. Made with Ared V02 20,000 stretch
fabric, the garment provides protection against
foul weather, as well as incorporating reflective
piping and detail for greater visibility on the
roads.
Oxford Products 01993 862 300
hand pump opens out into a mini track pump
with foldable pedestal and retractable eight-inch
hose inside the barrel.
For just a penny under a tenner, customers
can take away a Schrader and Presta valve
compatible unit with an alloy barrel, alloy thumb
lock, a fold out handle, carriage bracket and
other clever features.
Oxford Products will be at the Birmingham
Cycle Show later this month where dealers will
be able to meet representatives and discuss
stocking product.
BIKEBIZ.COM
70 BIKEBIZ OCTOBER
BIKEBIZ.COM
IBD | PROFILE
Cycle Heaven
The first bike shop in a rail station?
Owners: Andy Shrimpton and Piers Maffett
Locations: Bishopthorpe Road York and
York Railway Station
Established: 1993
Telephone: 01904 636578 / 622701
Web: www.cycle-heaven.co.uk
Email: [email protected]
Opening times: Seven days a week
Cycle Heaven scored the enviable coup of setting up its second shop within the busy York Rail Station.
Jonathon Harker speaks to co-owner Andy Shrimpton to find out how he snapped up the prime
location and how he keeps the business on the right tracks…
How did you get to open a store in York
Station? There must have been plenty of
competition…
The usual way – saw the sign, made the
enquiries, put together the business plan, got
the finance sorted… There were some other
interested parties from the bike world, but the
landlord liked our offering – based I believe, on
a sound business case and a strong local
reputation.
And it’s a first for a bike shop?
Your readers can advise on that. I think that
there are shops adjacent to, very near, or
underneath stations etc, but not actually inside
one I believe.
Do you think it will start off a trend across
the country?
If by that, you mean railway companies looking
to promote cycling to and from stations, I think
the trend has already started. There are lots of
different projects around the country – such as
the Brompton Dock in Guildford.
They are not so keen on bikes on trains,
which is why they are promoting good cycle
parking and other amenities such as long term
BIKEBIZ.COM
hire, at either end of a train journey.
Aside from commuters, does the shop
attract any other types of cyclists?
Tourists for cycle hire, cycle-tourists, and locals
who live close by.
How’s business for your other shop in York?
Steady, but fine considering the recession. I get
a feeling that it’s tightening it’s grip and that
times are harder for people than they were a
year ago.
What are your biggest challenges ahead?
In the short term, the continuing recession and
increased local competition are challenges.
Long term, it will be fundamental structural
changes to the industry driven by technological
change. The implications of web2 technology
are still playing themselves out meaning we all
have to be much more flexible in every aspect
of our business. I don’t see life getting any
easier for independent retailers in the future.
Do you run any special events in either of
the stores?
From time-to-time we run open evenings
Cycle Heaven’s York
Railway Station store
caters for commuters,
cycle tourists, cycle
hire customers
and to locals
focused on our core customer groups or
product areas – which are generally
commuter/utility oriented.
What trade shows do you go to?
I really try to avoid them. I especially dislike the
in-house shows, which I feel are usually
disappointing. I would make an exception for
Zyro which is very well run, with a very high
standard of hospitality. But even there I’d
probably not go if it wasn’t just down the road!
With any show, I’d attend if I felt there was
matter that I needed to discuss that concerned
overall business strategy – like taking on a new
bike brand or going into a major new product
area. Otherwise, I feel that it’s the business of
my staff to engage with the product – so they
get to go.
What do you think 2012 has in store for
cycle dealers?
Generally speaking, a tougher trading
environment. But there are always plenty of
local opportunities out there. I feel that you
always have to question your own business
model and its sources of competitiveness and
sustainability.
BIKEBIZ OCTOBER 71
CRUISER
FRONT
BACK
NIGHT OWL 3i LADIES’ / BLUE FADE / 3-SPEED
TOWNIE
AMSTERDAM
S
COLLECTOR’
EDITION
TOWNIE BALLOON 8D MEN’S / NAVY / 8-SPEED
AMSTERDAM GIRARD 3i LADIES’ / MADONNA / 3-SPEED
TICINO
TICINO 20D MEN’S / BLACK / 20-SPEED
ELECTRA Bicycles supplied in the the UK by SURF SALES
01303 850553
[email protected]
www.surf-sales.com
www.electrabikes.co.uk
www.electrabike.com
GOOD LUCK TO ALL BIKE BIZ AWARD NOMINEES
SECTOR GUIDE | ROAD BIKES AND ACCESSORIES
The weight is
over
With a focus on lightness, stiffness
and looks, the road bike market is
even more competitive than its
riders. Jonathon Harker looks at
bikes and accessories in the sector…
Zyro
THE TEC-TICAL (SRP £79.99) is the most
technically advanced helmet in the Abus
range. Featuring multi shell in-mould for
durable fusion of the multi piece outer shell
and EPS shock absorbing material, it’s
lightweight (290g for 54-58cm) and
ventilated with 14 inlets and nine outlets.
Ergofit is Altura’s flagship road range,
including winter wear for high intensity
use. Products are constructed in a multi
panel pre-shaped design, sculpted to fit in
the riding position, using high quality
fabrics, in a range with everything riders
need for those winter months without
compromising performance. The women’s
Synergy range similarly features pre-shaped
panel designs and high quality fabrics for
unrivalled fit and protection.
Ashima’s Aero Shoes are available in
Aero Shoe/Pro-Carbon – Shimano or Aero
Shoe/Pro-G – Shimano from £19.99, with
‘Air-Flow’ cooling and a wear dot indicator,
so you know when to replace the pads.
Bryton’s Rider 35T (SRP £209.99) is a
GPS-based, customisable training computer
for tracking and analysing rides, ideal for all
levels of cyclists, while CamelBak’s Podium
Big Chill (£14.99) says it has the largest
fluid capacity of any insulated bottle of the
market at 750ml.
CatEye’s V Series of cycle computers
have options at £99.99 and £124.99 for
wireless devices, plus lights – including the
Rapid 1 front and rear for £29.99.
Minoura’s Smart Phone Holder (SRP
£24.99) helps road riders make use of
smartphones while on two wheels. MKS’
MM Cube EZY clipless features a tough
alloy body and strong clip-in system
(SRP £99.99) while Panaracer’s Race A
tyre supersedes the popular ECO3.
Zyro also supplies Prologo saddles,
including the Zero Nack (SRP
£149.99), a flat shaped saddle ideal for
racing cyclists. Tifosi offers road riders
the likes of the High Speed Red Fototec
(SRP £69.99), ideal for when the sun is
at its strongest, and the Light Night
Fototec (SRP £69.99), pitched as perfect
for protection from dawn to dusk.
Finally, Zefal’s Carbon Cage (SRP £34.99)
keeps those bottles safely stowed and Air
Profil LL (SRP £24.99) inflates tyres to a
higher pressure than a mini pump.
Zyro: 01845 521700
>>>
Celebrating its 10th year, the UK’s leading
Cycle Show heads to NEC, Birmingham
on 29 Sep - 2 October 2011.
BIKEBIZ.COM
Register for your FREE trade pass at
www.cycleshow.co.uk/register
for more information’
BIKEBIZ OCTOBER 75
SECTOR GUIDE | ROAD BIKES AND ACCESSORIES
>>>
CSG UK
Chicken
Cyclekit
PROVIDING Italian flare, Cinelli’s 2012
range starts with entry-level model Cinelli
Experience, the Veloce group remaining at
£999.99 for the C2W bracket. All models
have a strong GP for stockists and the
MASH range of fixie frames and bikes
lead the alloy and steel range.
It’s only the second year Deda Strada
has made own-branded frames but it is
hoped 2012 will see it exceed sales
expectations again. It now includes an
electronic compatible Assoluto RC
frameset (£1,699.99). Strong margin
and an exclusive dealer network make
this a must-stock range.
Tifosi is introducing the full carbon
Tifosi Corsa – a new model for
this winter. The Tifosi Corsa is a
full carbon frameset which
Cube
THE CURRENT portfolio consists of
170 different mountain bikes, racing,
cross, triathlon, and e-bikes. The Cube
Litening is among the highlights, and in
2012 the all-new Litening Super HPC
frame promises to be more
comfortable as well as being lighter
without losing stiffness. A further 150g
have been shaved off last season’s
version – making the frame 860g on
the scales. Aluminium parts have been
ditched and the flattened top tube and
seat stays have been made thinner to
make the SHPC frame more
comfortable. Classic gear systems or
the brand new electronic Shimano
Ultegra Di2 can be fitted, with a special
plate for the frame openings allowing
for easy cable installation. The CSL Evo
carbon fibre fork matches the frame
and weights only 320g.
The Agree Di2 is another top-of-the
line highlight from the range. As the
name spells out, it uses the brand new
Shimano Ultegra Di2.
The monocoque construction of the
AGREE GTC using twin mould
technology guarantees even layer
structure and prevents dangerous
76 BIKEBIZ OCTOBER
uniquely has eyelets and clearance for a
rack and mudguards. Available in white
and black, the frameset SRP is
£1,139.99 and complete bike is
£1,924.99. This is in addition to the ever
popular CK7 Audax model, CK1 Cyclo
cross frame and Strada fixed model.
Huge GP for a modest stocking in order.
For components, Selle Italia is now
making an SLR version of the bestselling
Max Flite called the Max SLR Gel Flow.
Based on the SLR shape, the Max SLR is
145W*275L but weighs just 270g, ideal
for sportif and audax riding. The
Monolink seatpost and saddle range has
also been increased, featuring a new alu
seat post and Combi package which
includes a Monolink seatpost and saddle
at a reduced price.
Chicken Cyclekit: 01525 381347
www.chickenb2b.co.uk
2012 SEES the introduction of the
Super Six Evo to Cannondale’s elite
road range. As raced on by the Liquigas
team in the TdF, Cannondale’s latest
weighs a mere 695 grams for the
Ultimate 56cm frame, making it the
lightest frame ever tested at Zedler
Farradtechnik in Germany.
Cannondale has also re-designed old
favourite CAAD8. More in line with the
CAAD10, and with BB30 on the Tiagra
and 105 models, customers can have a
piece (or frame’s worth) of CAAD10
technology, at the price of the CAAD8,
within the cycle to work bracket.
Cannondale’s new helmets cater for
every rider, from the urban commuter to
the mountain masters and road grand
tourer. Three ‘standard’ technologies
feature in every helmet – a nylon
Embedded Chassis, Dual-EPS foam and
the proprietary Occipital Fit system. Top
tier helmet models also feature a fourth
technology – Exo-Alloy reinforcements,
allowing bigger venting on each helmet
for better airflow, and no loss of
protection. SI alloy bridges span critical
intersections to simultaneously boost
helmet strength and cooling.
The new helmet models range from
£29.99 to £79.99, from the rangetopping Teramo Road Helmet, through
to the Ryker (MTB), Radius (Urban) and
Quick (Recreation) models, to meet the
demands of today’s cyclists, at all levels.
The GTR flagship Carbon Elite now
includes a high modulus ‘FOC Ultra’
carbon frame, tapered head-tube and
BB30 bottom bracket. The tech trickles
down into the alloy range with FOC
Ultra carbon forks featuring on the
series 1 and 2 models. The series 1 and
2 also feature a new frame for 2012,
comprising of GT’s Speed metal alloy
and featuring molecularly aligned
forged elements in the drop-outs,
bottom bracket and tapered head-tube.
Packed with tech and with an
emphasis on stiffness and durability, and
low weight of course, models range
from £599.99 for the series 5 through
to £1699.99 for the Carbon Elite.
CSG UK: 01202 732288
folding on the inside of the frame. At
the same time the proportion of resin
is kept to a necessary minimum,
reducing weight.
The HPC helmets are also new for
2012. Easily adjustable with one hand,
the helmets weight about 270g with
27 strategically placed vents for
cooling and air circulation. The line-up
also features Fid lock magnetic chin
closure, removable visor, in-mould
micro shell and composite internal
reinforcement skeleton against
impacts. They are available in four
colours: Blackline, Teamline, WLS
and Limited.
Cube: +31 (0)10 – 3403 502
>>>
BIKEBIZ.COM
KOGA IS PROUD TO SUPPORT THE
BikeBiz Awards!
GOT WHAT IT TAKES? WANT MORE SALES IN TOP BIKE BRANDS?
Looking for a premium brand that distincts itself from traditional top brands?
Are you passionate about bikes and able to sell quality, style, integrity and
individuality? Then you should talk to Koga. Creators of the WorldTraveller,
Randonneur and Signature Custom order bikes - all benchmarks in the touring /
trekking sector. Step up to the mark and become a Koga retail partner.
Contact David Stainthorpe 07834 452680
or email: [email protected]
www.koga.com
www.koga-signature.com
78 BIKEBIZ OCTOBER
BIKEBIZ.COM
SECTOR GUIDE | ROAD BIKES AND ACCESSORIES
>>>
2pure
THE 2011 IBIS Silk SL uses a refined
layup of high modulus carbon fibre, fine
tuning prior year’s weight savings and
gain in strength.
The carbon fibre headcups keep the
weight down, resulting in a 58cm frame
weight of about 2.2 lbs. The Silk SL is
stiff but smooth in the riding, with the
responsiveness of a large tube
aluminium bike combined with the
suppleness of a Ti frame.
The Silk SL can survive a 900 pound
frontal impact (at the front axle) before
a failure of the down tube, which is
stronger than many full-suspension
mountain bikes, we’re told. The
understated graphics package is pitched
as a refreshing change in a world of
gaudy team replicas too.
2pure also supplies Paceline Chamois
Butt’r cream to the trade – an option
for cyclists who use a lubricant to
improve their riding comfort. It also
comes in Eurostyle for riders who like
that cooling, soothing tingle.
Lizard Skins DSP Race Tape is
available as well - it’s the tape of
choice for Team VacansOleil. At 50
grams per set including end plus it’s the
lightest tape on the market. The tape is
available in red, white, black and grey.
Weight conscious riders may also be
interested in Feedback Sports Alpine
digital Scales – an essential for
weighing bikes and components.
2pure: 0844 811 2001
Extra
THE RACEROCKET HPX is specifically
designed for road bikes. It’s long, slim
and has a narrow barrel and longer
stroke that inflates to 160psi with ease.
An extendable hose takes the stress off
the valve stem and the small size fits
into a pocket, if the rider has one handy.
Hutchinson Fusion 3 tubeless tyres
feature a three-compound tread to
optimise durability, acceleration and
cornering grip. The 700x23 tyres
feature Kevlar-Protech anti-puncture
reinforcement and have an enhanced
all-weather performance as well as
enhanced durability with a
thermoplastic reinforced tread
compound.
The Fizik brand has a range of
saddles that take into account the finer
Fisher Outdoor
Leisure
FISHER OUTDOOR is the exclusive UK
distributor for LOOK road bikes. From
the carbon entry-level LOOK 566 to the
award-winning, range-topping and multi
Vuelta a Espana stage winning LOOK
695, the aspirational French brand offers
exclusivity with premium build and ride
quality. New for 2012, LOOK road bikes
are also available as complete bikes as
well as frame only options.
SRAM road group sets are familiar to
the higher echelons of pro cycling and
were used in the 2011 Giro d’Italia by
one Alberto Contador, using the entrylevel SRAM Apex gearing, to help him
compete in the steep, high mountains.
A host of new colours have recently
been announced – including the Red
Black and Apex White – so colour coding
a bike is now also easier than ever. Red
Black is available from July and Apex
White will be available in August.
For clothing, Santini offers a high level
of technical performance matched with
looks and durability. The autumn/winter
collection, now ready to order, features
the likes of the new Feel H20 jacket,
made of high stretch and water resistant
Soft Shell with an internal windproof
application (RRP £194.99). Meanwhile
the new Kines jacket is ideal for
changeable days, made from TK Fabric, is
details of road riders. The ability to flex
the spine varies depending on fitness,
among other factors.
With that in mind, the Kurve Snake
is pitched at those with more flexibility
who bend to a greater degree at the
lower part of the spine, in which
position the sit bones manage most
of the body’s weight with a little
pressure on the all-important genital
area. The Kurve Chameleon, meanwhile,
is aimed at those with an ‘in-between
spine’, while the Kurve Bull is for
cyclists with a rigid spine and less
flexibility who may find it tougher to
accomplish the high performance
cycling position.
Also available via Extra at the
Swissstop Flash Pro brake pads to fir
Shimano Dura Ace, Ultegra, 105, SRAM
and TRP.
Extra: [email protected]
super lightweight and windproof, all
£89.99 RRP. Fisher Outdoor also
distributes the entire SRAM and Zipp
wheel and component range exclusively
in the UK. The award-winning Zipp 303
has proven that lightweight wheelsets
can withstand the toughest of
conditions of the cobbled classics.
Full details are available from territory
account managers or at the site below:
Fisher Outdoor Leisure:
www.fisherb2b.co.uk
>>>
BIKEBIZ.COM
BIKEBIZ OCTOBER 79
SECTOR GUIDE | ROAD BIKES AND ACCESSORIES
>>>
Madison
MADISON’S BIKE offering includes
the likes of Ridgeback, Saracen and
Genesis, the latter offering the brand
new Flyer Classic for 2012. This
geared version of the Flyer uses
downtube shifters to keep the same
clean and classic aesthetic, but
essentially making the ride a bit easier
for those wanting, or needing, gears in
their life. Shimano’s reliable downtube
shifters are easy to repair and very
reliable, mainly used for long haul
touring bikes but still appropriate for
a low maintenance geared ride
around the city.
The new Selle San Marco Concor R
(for racing) is the latest for the range
that first introduced in 1978. Handmade in Italy, the Concor-R takes the
waved profile that helped make the
original Concor famous in cycle
Raleigh
RALEIGH UK has been launching its
2012 road bike range at selected stage
finishes of the Tour of Britain, where
Raleigh’s professional road team has
been competing. Attendees would have
seen the brand’s latest road bikes from
the successful SP Carbon series, which
are being raced by Team Raleigh
professionals, and the SP Carbon Race
model that was voted in the final
four of Cycling Plus Road Bike of the
Year 2011.
The SP Carbon Race model features a
carbon frame with integral cable routing
for a full Shimano Ultegra groupset. It’s
competition and refines the design
further. Cutting-edge materials and
over 24 months of painstaking design
have gone into the saddle, we’re told,
to create the super lightweight high
performance Concor.
The Carbon FX is the pro choice
with grand tour stage wins. It features
a comfort-tuned carbon fibrereinforced hull and a seamless
microfeel cover for an ideal mixture
of durability, comfort and
breathability.
The racing Xsilite uses custom alloy
titanium rails for the optimum
balance of weight and durability.
Finally, the Protek is a MTB/CC
version with Xsilite rails and silicon
injected reinforcement in key areas.
The Carbon FX weighs 160 grams
and has a £134.99 RRP, while the
Xsilite is 190 grams and retails at
£99.99.
Madison: [email protected]
now finished in a stealth matt black
with silver and red highlights to match
wheel and saddle components for an
RRP of £1,900. Raleigh helmets will be
available from February 2012.
Brand new for 2011, the RSP Road
Range includes components and
accessories suitable for road cyclists of
any age and standard. All RSP parts offer
high performance as well as value for
money and great dealer margins,
according to Raleigh. Designed in the
UK, the range is undergoing continual
development and 2012 sees the brand
introduce full carbon fibre saddles,
seatposts, carbon wrap bars and an
interesting ‘BB30 to Shimano’ adaptor.
Raleigh: 0800 096 9060
Moore Large
THE VELO SENSO Miles saddle is
available in three colours and men and
women versions. With crossbow
suspension and honeycomb gel, it’s
comfortable, and retails at £43.99
(men’s version) and £31.99 (women’s).
Jagwire’s coloured Cable Kits look
good and are estimated to be 30 per
cent lighter than standard models, with
clever detailing coming with enough
cable to fit most bikes and all the
necessary connectors. They’re also easy
to install and are very keenly priced to
boot. The Racer brake/gear kits retail at
£32.49 and multi-purpose Hyper
brake/gear kits retail at £17.99.
Kenda’s Kadence is its newest entrylevel training and road enthusiast tyre.
Available in five colours, it features R2C
rubber compound paired with 60tpi
casing for the best blend of performance
and affordability, all for £21.99.
Forme’s new 2012 models include
the Comp 1 which is equipped with
Ultegra Groupset, Easton EA70
wheelset and finish componentry and
retails at £2,000.
Meanwhile, Forme’s Thorpe range
is designed to offer the perfect
balance between high performance
and comfort. Providing torsional
rigidity without sacrificing vertical
give, the Thorpe frames feature an
11/8-inch to 11/2-inch tapered head
tube and steerer, allowing for more
precise steering when descending as
well as improved power transfer when
jumping out of corners and launching
powerful attacks.
Barracuda also has a number of new
offerings for 2012, including the 24inch Blackfin Sprat – a junior road bike
for £254.95 RRP. The Blackfin Minnow
is a 24-inch Junior road bike (RRP
£359.95) while the Blackfin is a 700c
adult road bike retailing at £379.95.
For more information on the range
contact one of ML’s area managers or
enquire at the email address below.
Moore Large:
[email protected]
Rapha
RAPHA’S PRO Team Cross Kit 2011 is now available. Developed in collaboration
with the US-based Rapha-Focus pro team, Rapha has introduced two new
performance products for high-intensity cross racing. Using the same fabrics and
components as the road racing Pro Team collection, the Pro Team Cross pieces are
cut and constructed for the demands of cyclocross competition. The products
feature Rapha logos and distinctive candystripe livery.
The Pro Team Cross Collection consists of a Pro Team Cross Jersey, Pro Team Cross
Bib Shorts and Long Sleeve Cross Jersey.
Rapha: www.rapha.cc
80 BIKEBIZ OCTOBER
BIKEBIZ.COM
LETTERS | YOUR SAY
Mail to:
Saxon House, 6A St. Andrews Street,
Hertford, Hertfordshire SG14 1JA
SPONSORED BY
Email:
Jonathon.Harker@
intentmedia.co.uk
STAR LETTER
BikeBiz is keen to publish your opinions, whether they’re from
letters, emails or via BikeBiz.com...
Geographically
challenged
How does he do it? Mystery Shopper manages to incur
the wrath of another local bike shop…
Dear BikeBiz,
As a bike shop/industry veteran and avid
reader of BikeBiz I look forward to receiving
your publication each month, I particularly
enjoy the mystery shopper article and always
seek it out first to see if I or any of my former
colleagues have been visited/scored/damned.
Since moving from London recently where I
have enjoyed 16 years of working in fairly high
profile bike shops (Evans, Action Bikes, Cycle
Surgery etc.) to sleepy North Norfolk to
manage Fatbirds (formerly Fatbirds Don't Fly)
in Hunstanton, I had given up hope that
Mystery Shopper would ever sharpen his/her
pencil and tell the cycling world about the
slightly cockney and utterly fabulous bicycle
expert that provides such great customer
service!
To my amazement I opened this months
BikeBiz to page 12/13 as usual and found that
the Mystery Shopper had been to my little
corner of England, hooray...then the horror, we
had been omitted from the article.
I am genuinely gutted, Fatbirds is easily the
best 'proper' bike shop in North Norfolk in my
opinion, we are one of the few stores, possibly
the only store in the UK that specialise in
titanium road bikes, we offer a free full fitting
service, consultation and 'final fit' to every
customer that comes to the store as well as
the usual after sales care and servicing. 90 per
cent of the bikes we sell are custom built
titanium and our key brands are Van Nicholas,
Sabbath, Kinesis and Lynskey.
We also stock Merida, Bottecchia,
Guerciotti, Cinelli, Orange, Tifosi, Ambrosio and
Pro-lite.
We generally have 30-40 custom built
titanium bikes ready to view/test ride in store
as well as 40-50 more general off the peg
bikes including leisure, hybrid,
fitness/commuter and mountain bikes. We
currently cater for all except children, which
we leave to Halfords in Kings Lynn!
We pride ourselves in our old school bike
shop service, we show the spring classics and
grand tours on a big screen in our 'bored wives
and girlfriends holding area', complete with
It may be time for
Mystery Shopper to
invest in sat nav...
free coffee, comfy sofa, magazines etc.) and
offer informal bike rides twice a week in the
summer around the stunning local area.
The new owner and I have worked very
hard over the last year to make Fatbirds a
'real bike shop' and our customers have given
us some very positive feedback,
I can only assume that we have been
ignored because Mystery Shopper was in the
area on a Sunday, our ethos is that we close
on Sunday because we love to ride too, or is
it that the former owner and founder of
Fatbirds has previously upset Mystery
Shopper? the fact that A E Wallis (known
locally for its washing machine repairs) was
found at the dark end of the tiniest village
high street in Heacham is very frustrating
considering we are a large store on the A149,
the only 'busy' road for miles.
I hope this doesn't read back like a rant, I'll
continue to read and enjoy BikeBiz regardless,
If you ever fancy doing a piece on a growing
bike shop with a twist you know where to
come, just don't place Mystery Shopper in
charge of the Satnav!
RESPONSE
IT’S A FAIR cop, ‘guv. Mystery Shopper might
be pretty good at putting bike shops to the
test, but his sense of direction leaves a lot to
be desired. He is notoriously poor at finding
his way to the office kitchen to use the kettle,
for example. As recompense for Mystery
Shopper’s lack of GPS awareness we’re
sending you the Star Letter prize.
Star Letter
Whether it’s a hand-written, sentthrough-the-post letter, email or a
comment made on the BikeBiz forum,
the best letter of the month wins a
prize from Oxford
Products.
This month the lucky
winner will receive
the Ultra Torch 9.
Info:
l Waterproof Front
headlight
l Anti-shock switch nonslip structure
l Quick release Jubilee clip
suits 31.6mm handle bars
l Batteries included
BIKEBIZ.COM
BIKEBIZ OCTOBER 83
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 Carly Bailey on
01992 535647 or email
[email protected]
The BikeBiz Bible will also be
available online.
Visit www.bikebiz.co.uk.
2PURE
Unit 2A, Unit 3A, Kirkliston
Tel: 0131 448 2884
Web: www.2pure.co.uk
2X2
Unit 6, Hall End Business Park
Dordon, Tamworth, Staffs. B78 1SX
Tel: 01827 331099
Web: www.2x2worldwide.com
AARON BERRY (FAT SPANNER)
Tel: 07966 401165
Web: www.fatspannerworld.com
BM7 DISPLAYS
Unit 7, Metro Centre, Toutley Road
Wokingham, Berkshire. RG41 1QW
Tel +0118 977 2814
Web: www.bm7displays.com
BOHLE UK LTD
Schwalbe Centre
Hortonwood 30, Telford,
Shropshire. TF1 7ET
Tel: 01952602680
Web: www.schwalbe.co.uk
BUA SPORTS LTD
Sandyford Office Centre
17 Corrig Road, Sandyford, Dublin 18. ROI.
Tel: +353879978859
Web: www.buasports.com
BUFFERA LTD
Cranborne House, Cranbourne Road,
Potters Bar Herts.. EN6 3JN
Tel: 01920460754
Web: www.buffwear.co.uk
C3 PRODUCTS LTD
Web: www.c3products.com
Tel: 0754 564 2931
THE ESSENTIAL GUIDE TO RETAILERS, SUPPLIERS AND SERVICES WITHIN THE CYCLE TRADE
CARRADICE OF NELSON LTD
Westmoreland Works
St. Mary's Street, Nelson
Lancashire, BB9 7BA
Tel: 01282615886
Web: www.carradice.co.uk
CHICKEN, RJ & SONS LTD
Unit B2, Cherrycourt Way
Leighton Buzzard, Bedfordshire.
LU7 4UH
Tel: 01525381347
Web: www.chickenb2b.co.uk
CHOCOLATE DISTRIBUTION LTD
2 Flint Cottages
Oxford Road, Stokenchurch
Bucks, HP14 3SX
Tel: 0871 231 9966
Web: www.chocolatedistribution.com
CYBERTILL LTD
2 Dovecote Court
Stanley Grange, Ormskirk Road
Knowsley, Merseyside. L34 4AR
Tel: 0800 030 4432
Web: www.cybertill.co.uk
CYCLING SPORTS GROUP
Vantage Way, The Fulcrum
Poole, Dorset. BH12 4NU
Tel: 01202 732288
Web: www.cyclingsportsgroup.co.uk
CUSTOM SPORTS CLOTHING
Tel: 07580 495881
Web: www.customsportsclothing.com
DAWES CYCLES LTD
35 Tameside Drive, Castle Bromwich,
Birmingham. B35 7AG
Tel: 0121 748 8050
Web: www.dawescycles.com and www.dirty-bikes.com
and www.barrosabikes.com
EUROBIKE LTD
9 Portico Road
Littleover, Derby. DE23 3NJ
Tel: 01332 774 796
Web: www.eurobike.uk.com
FALCON CYCLES LTD
Bridge Street
Brigg, Lincs. DN20 8PB
Tel: 01652 656 000
Web: www.falconcycles.co.uk
FISHER OUTDOOR LEISURE LTD
8/9 Brick Knoll Park
Ashley Road, St Albans, Herts. AL1 5UG
Tel: 01727 798345
Web: www.fisheroutdoor.co.uk
GREEN OIL UK LTD
Green Oil House
12 Rolvenden Gardens
Bromley, Kent. BR1 2TN
Tel: 020 8313 9074
"Web:?www.green-oil.net,
HIGH FIVE LTD
Unit 4 Ash Court,
Forest Business Park
Bardon, Leicestershire. LE67 1UD
Tel +01530 835873
Web: www.highfive.co.uk
HOTLINES EUROPE LTD
Unit 17 The Loan
Viewforthbank Industrial Estate
South Queensferry. EH30 9SD
Tel: 0131 319 1444
Web: www.hotlines-uk.com
and www.hotlines-europe.com
HYKEHAM WHOLESALE LTD
CAMBRIAN TYRES/CONTINENTAL
North Parade, Aberystwyth
Ceredigion. SY23 2JR
Tel: 01970626777
Web: www.conti-tyres.co.uk
For additional copies please contact
[email protected]
7 Earlsfield Close,
Lincoln. LN6 3RT
Tel: 01522 801550
Web: www.hykehamwholesale.co.uk
DISTRIBUTION
AND WHOLESALE
E-COMMERCE
AND EPOS
I-RIDE.CO.UK
7-8B Mid Sussex Business Park
Ditchling Common Industrial Estate
Folders Lane East,
Ditchling, Sussex. BN6 8SE
Tel: 01444243000
Web: www.i-ride.co.uk
ISKUTE LIMITED
Tel: 01803 752225
JUNGLE PRODUCTS LTD
Unit 3, The Cedar New York Mills,
Summerbridge. HG3 4LA
Tel: 01423 780088
Web: www.jungleproducts.co.uk and
www.santacruzbikes.co.uk
KOOL STOP EUROPE
Kool-Stop Europe bv, Kostverloren 21
NL 9684 TB Finsterwolde
The Netherlands
Tel: +31 597 522 944
Web: www.koolstop.eu
MAVIC SAS
Amer Sports UK, Theta Building,
Lyon Way, Frimley, Surrey. GU16 7ER
Tel: 01276 404870
MDI LIMITED
115 New Court Way
Ormsmirk, Lancashire. L39 2YT
Tel: 01695 571029
Web: www.mikedixonimports.co.uk
MOJO SUSPENSION HOODOO LTD
2 Rbf Business Centre
Pontymister Industrial Estate
Risca, Newport. NP11 6NP
Tel: 01633 615815
Web: www.mojo.co.uk
MOORE LARGE & CO LTD
Sinfin Lane Industrial Estate
Sinfin Lane, Derby. DE24 9GL
Tel: 01332 274252
Web: www.moorelarge.co.uk
NEMESIS GB LTD
17 Great Western Business Park
McKenzie Way, Tolladine Road
Worcester. WR4 9GN
Tel: 08707775530
Web: www.nemesisgb.com
PALIGAP LTD
Unit 2 Danbury House
Great Western Park
Armstrong Way, Yate, Bristol. BS37 5NG
Tel: 01454 313 116
Web: www.paligapltd.co.uk
EVENT
ORGANISERS
Specialist | Cycle | Distribution
MEDIA AND
PUBLISHING
MARKETING,
PR AND
CONSULTANCY
PELICAN PR
No.1 Holly House, Mill Street,
Uppermill, Oldham OL3 6LZ
Tel: 01457 820807
Web: www.pelicanpr.co.uk
RETAILERS,
WORKSHOP
AND MAIL ORDER
SERVICES
AND TRAINING
POWACYCLE
SURF SALES LTD
Akhter House, Perry Road
Harlow, Essex. CM18 7PN
Tel: 01279 821243
Web: www.powacycle.co.uk
Point Break
North Road, Shorncliffe, Folkestone
Kent. CT20 3UH
Tel: 01303 850553
Web: www.surf-sales.com
PUNCTURE PROOF TYRES
Unit 1, Barons Court Gardens
Bromsgrove. B61 9ET
Tel +0844 800 6493
Web: www.puncture-proof-tyres.co.uk
RAM-MOUNT UK LTD
"Unit 5, The Lion Cente"
Hanworth Trading Estate,
Hampton Road West
Feltham. TW13 6DS
Tel +020 8894 1234
Web: www.ram-mount.co.uk
RED CLOUD MC
2 Merlin Drive
Sandy, Bedfordshire. SG19 2UN
Tel: 01767 692831
Web: www.redcloudmc.com
REECE CYCLES PLC
100 Alcester Street, Birmingham. B12 0QB
Tel: 0121 622 0180
Web: www.reececycles.co.uk
Unit 27, Gatehouse Enterprise Centre
Albert Street, Lockwood,
Huddersfield, West Yorkshire.
HD1 3QD
Tel: 0845 0508500
Web: www.thecycledivision.com
THE CYCLE SHOW
Upper Street Events Limited
58 White Lion Street
Islington, London. N1 9PP
Tel: 020 7288 6733 and 0207 288 6010
Web: www.cycleshow.co.ukXX
UPGRADE
PO Box 688
Horsham, West Sussex. RH13 8XQ
Tel: 01403 711 611
Web: www.upgradebikes.co.uk
USE LTD
(ULTIMATE SPORTS ENGINEERING)
Unit 6, Hampers Common Industrial
Estate
Petworth, West Sussex. GU28 9NR
Tel: 01798 344477
Web: www.use1.com and
www.exposurelights.com
SADDLEBACK LTD
VELORBIS LTD
Unit 10, Easter Court
Woodward Avenue
Yate, Bristol. BS37 5YS
Tel: 01454 285 285
Web: www.saddleback.co.uk
Peter Bangs Vej 53
DK 2000 Frederiksberg, Denmark
Tel: +4531110030
Web: www.velorbis.com
WALKERS CYCLE COMPONENTS LTD
SEVENTIES LTD
Unit 1, 25 Moorhurst Road
St Leonards on Sea, East Sussex.
TN38 9NB
Tel: 0845 310 3670
Web: www.seventies.co.uk
SILVERFISH UK LTD
Unit 3C and 3B Woodacre Court
Saltash Parkway Industrial Estate
Burraton Road, Saltash, Cornwall. PL12 6LY
Tel: 01752 843882
Web: www.silverfish-uk.com
SONIC CYCLES
PO Box 39804, London. W11 4WQ
Tel: 020 7243 2848
Web: www.soniccycles.co.uk/b2b
STORMFRONT TECHNOLOGIES LTD
Unit 1B, The Newton Centre
Thorverton Road, Exeter. EX2 8GN
Tel: 0800 612 1044
Web: www.stormfront.co.uk
ORGANISATIONS
THE CYCLE DIVISION
ROOF BOX COMPANY
Unit 1A, Toll Bar Estate
Sedbergh, Cumbria. L810 5HA
Tel: 0844 7708397
Web: www.roofbox.co.uk
PARKLIFE (HAVANT) LTD
Unit 5, Butterick Building
New Lane, Havant. P09 2ND
Tel: 02392 475895
MANUFACTURER,
STANDALONE
BRANDS
22 Holywell Road
Leicester. LE2 8SG
Tel: 07967 813566
Web: www.walkerscycles.co.uk
WILDOO LTD
39 Barton Road
Water Eaton Industrial Park
Bletchley. MK2 3HW
Tel: 01908 374555
Web: www.wildoo.co.uk
ZIPVIT LIMITED
Freepost MID20466
The Towers Business Park
Rugeley, Staffordshire, WS15 1BR
Tel +0800 0282875
Web: www.zipvit.co.uk
ZYRO LTD
Thirsk Industrial Park
York Road, Thirsk. North Yorkshire
Tel: 01845 521 700
Web: www.zyro.co.uk
Web: www.gritscooters.co.uk
EDITORIAL PLANNER | EVENTS
Editorial Planner | November 2011
UPCOMING EVENTS
SPOTLIGHT
l Stocking fillers: Gifts under £20
l Cycle Show Review l BikeBiz Award Winners
BIKEBIZ AWARDS 2011
Wednesday September 28th
Hilton Metropole, NEC, Birmingham
www.BikeBiz.com
Editorial Deadline:
October 7th
Advertising Deadline:
October 12th
To advertise call Carly Bailey on +44 (0) 1992 535647,
or email her at [email protected]
For editorial contact Jonathon Harker on +44 (0) 1992 535646,
or email him at [email protected]
DECEMBER 2011
l P&A: Wheels, Tyres, Tubes, Pumps l Retail Survey
Editorial Deadline: Nov 4th Advertising Deadline: Nov 9th
l Workshop: Cleaning and Tools
l Workshop: Training l Core Bike Guide
Editorial Deadline: Nov 30th Advertising Deadline: Dec 5th
FEBRUARY 2012
l Commuting: Folding Bikes, Helmets, Reflectives
l IceBike Guide l Fisher Expo Guide l Core Bike Review
Editorial Deadline: TBC Advertising Deadline: TBC
MARCH 2012
BIKE MOTION BENELUX
Friday October 14th to 16th
Benelux, Netherlands
www.bikemotionbenelux.nl
CYCLOINDO 2011
Thursday Nov 4th to 13th
Jakarta, Indonesia
www.cycloindo.com
BIKE BRNO
Thursday Nov 10th to 13th
Brno, Czech Republic
www.bike-brno.cz
December 2011
APRIL 2012
l Bike Security
l Cycle Fashion: Clothing, Sunglasses, Watches and
Accessories l The UK’s Top 20 IBDs
Editorial Deadline: TBC Advertising Deadline: TBC
MAY 2012
l Energy and Nutrition l Women’s Bikes and Accessories
Editorial Deadline: TBC Advertising Deadline: TBC
January 2012
THE LONDON BIKE SHOW
Thursday January 12th to 15th
ExCeL, London
www.londonbikeshow.co.uk
CORE BIKE 2012
Sunday January 29th to 15th
Whitlebury Hall, Northants
www.corebike.co.uk
February 2012
TAICHUNG BIKE WEEK
Tuesday Nov 29th to Dec 2nd
Taichung, Taiwan
www.taichung-bikeweek.com
l Media analysis l Electric Bikes
l Madison iceBike* review
l Fisher Outdoor Leisure Expo review
Editorial Deadline: TBC Advertising Deadline: TBC
86 BIKEBIZ OCTOBER
CYCLE SHOW 2011
Thursday October 29th Sept
to October 2nd
NEC, Birmingham
cycleshow.co.uk/bikebiz
November 2011
JANUARY 2012
THE BIBLE
IS BACK!
October 2011
E-MOBILITY CONGRESS
Monday December 12th
Ede, Netherlands
www.emobilitycongres.nl
FISHER OUTDOOR LEISURE
EXPO 2012
Monday Feb 20th to 22nd
Sopwell House, St Albans
www.fisherexpo.co.uk
MADISON ICEBIKE* 2012
Tuesday Feb 21st to 23rd
Madison’s Distribution Centre,
Milton Keynes
www.icebike.co.uk
March 2012
TAIPEI CYCLE SHOW 2012
Saturday March 7th to 10th
TWTC Nangang Exhibition
Hall, Taipei
www.taipeicycle.com.tw
BESPOKED BRISTOL – THE
HANDMADE BICYCLE SHOW
Mar 23rd to 25th
Brunel’s Old Station, Bristol
www.bespokedbristol.co.uk
For more cycle trade dates: www.bikebiz.com/events
For additional copies please contact:
[email protected]
BIKEBIZ.COM
BIKEBIZ MARKETPLACE
TO ADVERTISE IN THESE PAGES PLEASE CALL CARLY BAILEY ON 01992 535647
The BikeBiz Marketplace offers a complete
marketing package of print, online and
editorial visibility, allowing companies the
opportunity to maintain contact with
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THE STANDARD PACKAGE INCLUDES:
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with web link
Company details listed in the BikeBiz
Marketplace Contacts
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Carly Bailey on 01992 535647 or
[email protected]
(minimum
six months)
COMPANY PROFILE
MARKETPLACE CONTACTS
BIKES & ACCESSORIES
Bob Elliot & Co Ltd
B&W International (Roofbox)
Kinesis Bikes
Madison
Paligap
Pivot Cycles
Seventies
The Cycle Division
01772 459 887
015396 21884
01403 711 611
01908 326 000
01454 313 116
01403 711 611
0845 310 3670
0845 0508 500
www.bob-elliot.co.uk
www.roofbox.co.uk
www.kinesisbikes.co.uk
www.madisonb2b.co.uk
www.paligapltd.co.uk
www.upgradebikes.co.uk
www.seventies.co.uk
www.thecycledivision.com
BIKE MAINTENANCE
Weldtite
01652 660 000
www.weldtite.co.uk
COMPONENTS
Independent
Lezyne
Pace cycles Ltd
TRP
USE Ltd
Xfusion
01299 400008
01403 711 611
01723 867 919
01404 711 611
01798 344 477
01405 711 611
www.independent100.com
www.upgradebikes.co.uk
www.pacecycles.com
www.upgradebikes.co.uk
www.use1.com
www.upgradebikes.co.uk
CUSTOM CLOTHING
Wildoo Ltd
01908 374 555
www.wildoo.co.uk
'DESIGN & PRINT SERVICES'
Peter Dobbs
01482 224007
[email protected]
EPOS
Citrus Lime
Evopos
0845 603 9254
0845 644 9424
www.citrus-retail.com
www.evopos.com
LIGHTING
Exposure Lights
01798 344 477
www.exposurelights.com
NUTRITION
Zipvit
01444 243 000
www.zipvitsport.com
RACKS
BuzzRack (Roofbox)
Maxx Raxx
Pendle
015396 21884
0845 230 3799
01282 699 555
www.roofbox.co.uk
www.maxxraxx.co.uk
www.pendle-bike.co.uk
RESPRAYS & REPAIRS
Argos
0117 972 4730
www.argoscycles.com
SALES TRAINING
Quest
07540 351 530
[email protected]
TRAINING SERVICES
Cycle Systems Academy
0207 6082577
www.cycle-systems-academy.co.uk
WATER BOTTLES
Bottlesport
Wildoo Ltd
0845 602 9267
01908 374 555
www.bottlesport.com
www.wildoo.co.uk
WEBSITE SERVICES
SimpleEshop
SiWis Limited
0116 267 5145
01709 511766
www.simpleeshop.com
www.siwis.co.uk
87 BIKEBIZ OCTOBER
Quarter PRataes:
ge
WILDOO
Andy Easterbrook,
Tel: 01908 374555
Email: [email protected]
Skype: andyeasterbrook
W: www.wildoo.co.uk
Wildoo was formed nine years ago and is
based in Bletchley, Buckinghamshire. BikeBiz
spoke to the firm’s Andy Easterbrook to find
out more about the product and services
Wildoo provides to the bike trade...
What products can Wildoo customise?
As well as clothing and bottles we can also
offer most bike components including
headsets, seatposts, bottle cages as well as
framesets.
Have you ever had
any wild and
wacky
requests?
Not that I can
recall!
Can you name some
of the companies
you've worked with
recently?
We have just shipped a
large quantity of
bottles to Ironman
Europe but other
recent notable
customers include
Evans, Belron International, Sweaty Betty
and Islabikes.
And are there any events you've worked
closely with?
We have a strong relationship with Right to
Play and for the second year running have
produced the official jersey for their bike
charity ride. We also produced another batch
of Right to Play jerseys design that Will Carling
wore at the Londres Paris bike ride.
Which brands do you act as
UK agent for?
We are the UK agent for Token
Products, Pletscher and Jet Black
Products.
How can dealers get in touch?
As well as traditional methods (see
above) we use Skype and have both
Twitter and Facebook accounts. On our jerseys
we also print a QR code on the inside of the
collar which can be scanned with a smart
phone to hyperlink to our website.
Any final words for bike dealers interested
in stocking Wildoo?
Producing custom bike products is our
speciality. Our experience, quality, pricing and
efficient service cannot be beaten.
BIKEBIZ.COM
BIKEBIZ | MARKETPLACE
BIKES & ACCESSORIES
BIKES & ACCESSORIES
BIKES & ACCESSORIES
BIKES & ACCESSORIES
88 BIKEBIZ OCTOBER
BIKEBIZ.COM
BIKEBIZ | MARKETPLACE
BIKEBIZ.COM
BIKES & ACCESSORIES
BIKES & ACCESSORIES
BIKES & ACCESSORIES
BIKES & ACCESSORIES
BIKEBIZ OCTOBER 89
BIKEBIZ | MARKETPLACE
BIKE MAINTENANCE
COMPONENTS
COMPONENTS
COMPONENTS
90 BIKEBIZ OCTOBER
BIKEBIZ.COM
BIKEBIZ | MARKETPLACE
COMPONENTS
COMPONENTS
BIKEBIZ.COM
COMPONENTS
CUSTOM CLOTHING
BIKEBIZ OCTOBER 91
BIKEBIZ | MARKETPLACE
DESIGN AND PRINT SERVICES
DESIGN AND PRINT SERVICES
EPOS
EPOS
92 BIKEBIZ OCTOBER
BIKEBIZ.COM
BIKEBIZ | MARKETPLACE
BIKEBIZ.COM
LIGHTING
NUTRITION
RACKS
RACKS
BIKEBIZ OCTOBER 93
BIKEBIZ | MARKETPLACE
94 BIKEBIZ OCTOBER
RACKS
RESPRAYS AND REPAIRS
SALES TRAINING
TRAINING SERVICES
BIKEBIZ.COM
BIKEBIZ | MARKETPLACE
BIKEBIZ.COM
WATER BOTTLES
WATER BOTTLES
WEBSITE SERVICES
WEBSITE SERVICES
BIKEBIZ OCTOBER 95
OFF TRACK | NUMBER CRUNCHING
I N THE SADDLE
Let’s get
statistical
How many new products are Clarks now selling? And how
much has Bohle grown in the last year? There’s only one way
to find out – let’s look at the stats...
Drew Gill,
Founder of Spin
What bikes do you own and what’s your favourite riding
spot?
Over the last 20 years or so I've been lucky enough to own
and ride a lot of nice bikes.
This is the period during which I became a convert to
titanium frames after riding my first – a 1980s Merlin that
belonged to a close friend and long time cycling buddy of
mine, Glenn Weiss. I currently own a Litespeed Icon and a
garage full of Spin prototypes and production bicycles.
What is the biggest rush achievable on a bike?
There’s nothing quite like your first ascent of a fabled alpine
col, such as Alpe d’Huez, or riding in the wheeltracks of cycling
legends. Even better is sharing a beer at the summit and
recounting the adventure with the people closest to you. It can
really only get better from there if you do all this on a bike you
built and designed yourself, and you win the stage too!
What was the thinking behind the creation of SPIN?
I know exactly, precisely the bikes I want. And the same for
each part that goes on them. I've been drawing these bike in
the back of my exercise book since I was at school! They have
to look fast even when they’re leaning against the café window.
So a few years ago when I was able to take a back seat in
my main business, I decided to create the bike I always wanted.
The bikes at NAHBS are Vanilla and builders like that.
What SPIN is about I guess, is that same NAHBS artisan
hand crafted quality, but without all the taking yourself too
seriously and without the extra inflated price tags. SPIN isn’t
aiming to be the cheapest Ti bike brand out there. We’re just
aiming to be the best.
What has been the biggest challenge with the SPIN brand
so far?
Getting customers to believe that what their eyes are telling
them is fantastic quality, really is. For real.
It takes a brave person to buy a titanium frame for
example from a company they’ve never heard of, never seen
reviewed in any magazines, and perhaps even more
importantly, that none of their friends have heard of either.
No bragging rights at all. My hat really goes off to all those
pioneering SPIN customers to date.
But my guess is that for every one of these chaps (no lady
frame buyers as yet), another 100 or more have looked at the
same products and poured over the details we provide, and
said to themselves “where’s the catch? It can't be for real”.
So that’s our challenge now. To get more people to see
what can be achieved with Spindustrial Space Station
Titanium. To show that there’s a rather dashing alternative to
bikes covered in cat vomit graphics. Our carbon wheels are
pretty fine too!
E: [email protected]
96 BIKEBIZ OCTOBER
20
d on
s close of
r
o
o
d
The
ion
th edit
the 20 ike last
Eurob
month
57
The number of new products in Clarks
new catalogue this year, now totalling
300 lines, 29 of which are new saddles
BIKEBIZ.COM
OFF TRACK | NUMBER CRUNCHING
OUR BIGGEST 15 STORIES ONLINE IN AUGUST
1. Rapha responds to spoof website
/news/read/rapha-responds-to-spoof- website/011775
2. Bicycling is booming, says top economist
/news/read/bicycling-is-booming- says-topeconomist/011721
4
The number of years the BikeBiz Awards have been running. This year
there are 13 prizes up for grabs, with the winners to be revealed on
Wednesday September 28th at the Hilton Metropole, NEC, Birmingham
3. London bike shops trashed by looters
/news/read/london-bike-shops- trashed-bylooters/011656
4. The London riots trashed by looters
/news/read/the-london-riots- according-to-twitter
50%
5. Brixton and Enfield Halfords targeted in fresh
riots
/news/read/brixton-and-enfield- halfords-targetted-infresh-riots
Bohle has seen business grow 50 per
cent year-on-year in 2011. Another
notable statistic is that 80 per cent of
riders in the British Four-Cross Series
used Schwalbe tyres
6. Brompton launches new luggage and handlebars
at Eurobike
/news/read/brompton-launches-new- luggage-andhandlebars-at- eurobike/011795
7. Bike retailers suffer another night of rioting
/news/read/bike-retailers-suffer- another-night-ofrioting
8. Raleigh to bring Trionz performance bracelets to
market
/news/read/raleigh-to-bring-trionz- performancebracelets-to-market
9. Evans Cycles taking precautions for stores, stock
and staff
/news/read/evans-cycles-taking- precautions-forstores-stock-and- staff/011667
10. Mosquito bikes keeps violent at bay during riots
/news/read/mosquito-bikes-keeps- violent-looters-atbay-during-riots
3
Consumer site Road.cc took over
the Charge Bikes stand for an
evening at Eurobike to celebrate its
third birthday with the trade
11. Tesco takes bike shop in a shop scheme to
another 16 stores
/news/read/tesco-takes-bike-shop-in- a-shop-schemeto-another-16- stores/011614
12. Advice on becoming an IBD
/news/read/advice-on-becoming-an- ibd/011660
13. Police recover looted Evans Cycles cash
registers
/news/read/police-recover-looted- evans-cycles-cashregisters
14. Finalists revealed for the 2011 BikeBiz Awards
/news/read/finalists-revealed-for-the- 2011-bikebizawards/01159S
15. Cube 29er offering goes into double figures
/news/read/cube-29er-offering-goes- into-doublefigures/011678
BIKEBIZ.COM
BIKEBIZ OCTOBER 97
OFF THE RECORD
OFF
k
c
a
r
T
Send your pictures to
[email protected]
the gloves are off...
Pic © Andy Steel
!
t
h
g
i
f
k
Faceboo
re’s
y is best? The
n
a
p
m
co
e
ik
ht!
Which b
find out – fig
to
y
a
w
e
n
o
only
THE BIKE INDUSTRY is a competitive place. Before you've
toasted your success, there's a whippersnapper coming
up behind you to try to take your place. So, using
perhaps the most unscientific method imaginable –
comparing the number of Facebook likes companies have
– we've pitted brand, magazine and retailer against each
other for a spot of (admittedly daft) good-natured
competition...
Likes
#1
Ausbike – 2,572
Eurobike – 930
Interbike – 4,896
This month we pit global shows, retail chains and
assorted arch rivals against each other, including us,
because we’re good sports. And one final caveat: In the
words of John Snow, this is just a bit of fun. BikeBiz loves
all the companies listed equally. While we demand a
rematch, let us know if you’ve got any suggestions for
who should be pitted against who next month at
[email protected]
#2
Shimano - 18,789
SRAM - 28,889
#3
Dahon – 7,986
Tern – 936
Brompton – 3,147
#4
Halfords – 5,422
Evans Cycles – 15,029
Cycle Surgery – 1,774
#5
BikeBiz – 205
Bike Europe – 18
Bicycle Retailer – 1,345
BIKEBIZ.COM
BIKEBIZ OCTOBER 99
OFF THE RECORD
OFF
Track
• team red cloud wmb conquer the transrockies
The Rocky road to Canada
AS REPORTED in BikeBiz in June, cycle marketer Red
Cloud teamed up with What Mountain Bike magazine to
compete at the Transrockies seven-day MTB stage race
in Canada in August.
Red Cloud owner, Mark Almond (left) was joined by
competition winner Gordon Dickson on the start line in
Fernie, British Columbia in aid of Stay Strong. After seven
tough days in the saddle, covering 400km and climbing
almost 40,000ft, Team What Mountain Bike Red Cloud
rolled across the finish line in Canmore, Alberta in 24th
place. Almond described it as the “toughest but most
rewarding week of my life”.
www.staystrong.co.uk
No uphill struggle
for Carpenter
Best dressed riders
compete for prizes
THE SIX-YEAR old Brompton World Championship took place in August, with a field of 750
registrants taking part during a spell of unlikely good weather. Held in the UK for the
fourth year in a row, the Brompton World Championship was part of the Breast Cancer
Care Bike Blenheim Palace Festival of Cycling.
A wealth of competitions form the event, famously including the best dressed riders,
won this year by the, erm, elegantly attired Fokko Bakker of the Netherlands and Rachael
Jackson from the UK (above, right). Well, it takes all sorts.
Fastest Male was bagged by Commonwealth Games competitor Michael Hutchinson,
while Rachael Elliott defended her Fastest Female title successfully.
IT’S BEEN A busy, and successful, season for the Madison Saracen downhill team,
not least of all for Manon Carpenter. Riding a Saracen Myst DH bike, her first race
under the team banner – at was round one of the British Downhill Series at Nant
Gwrtheyrn – she bagged first place in the Elite category.
And she went on to have an amazing season, becoming 2011 Junior World
Champion, Junior World Cup Champion – 10th World Cup Overall. It’s all the more
impressive after last year when Manon took an injury just one week ahead of the
2010 World Championship, putting the Junior favourite out of the running and
putting a depressing twist on an otherwise great season.
But she managed to grab this final chance to become Junior World Champion,
battling through a wet and muddy Champéry track. Manon put in a run which saw
her go a whopping 14 seconds beyond her nearest rival, adding the Junior World
Championship to the Junior World Cup victory she secured weeks prior. The good
news didn’t just stop there however, as Manon’s time was so quick that she would
have made the podium in the women’s field as well.
Images: Jacob Gibbins and British Cycling
Bikes in your future?
ASTROLOGER RUSSELL GRANT may have just signed up to this year’s Strictly Come
Dancing, not that BikeBiz would know about these things, but the sooth-saying celeb has
been predicting who will be likely to ask for a bike for Christmas.
According to the curly haired one, Sagittarians are most likely to ask for sports gifts and
camping equipment.
If you can work out a way of asking a customer’s birthday without sounding like a
lunatic then you can judge whether Grant’s prediction has any basis in fact. We’re
supposed to remain impartial on most stuff, but we predict they won’t be.
Going by Grant’s predictions, BikeBiz’s own dep ed would be likely to ask for an
aromatherapy kit or luxury spa break, so that’s secret Santa sorted.
www.russellgrant.com
100 BIKEBIZ OCTOBER
Carpenter celebrates
her acheivements
BIKEBIZ.COM
OFF THE RECORD
Send your pictures to
[email protected]
• cyclescheme tackles 106-mile ride • carpenter rides out for saracen dh team
100-mile commute
A TEN-STRONG cycle team from Cyclescheme and Grass Roots Group took
part in a 100-mile cycle to work in support of the Willow Foundation.
Starting at Bath-set Cyclescheme HQ at 06:00 hours, the team
cycled to Grass Roots Group HQ in Tring, Hertfordshire, covering 106
miles, climbing 4,826 feet and travelling at a 15.6mph average, with a
top speed of 42.8mph (possibly while riding downhill). The group were
inspired to attempt the feat by Arsenal legend Bob Wilson’s 500-mile
cycle ride in aid of the Willow Foundation.
Daniel Gillborn, Head of Commercial Operations for Cyclescheme
hinted the team were gluttons for punishment: “Everyone faired remarkably
well considering the distance and I have already heard murmurs of; 'I can’t wait
to do that again next year'!"
You can support the worthy cause at www.justgiving.com/cyclescheme
Reade it and weep
WEATHER MIGHT have delayed the event, but once Shanaze Reade got to try out
the new London 2012 BMX track at the Olympic part she wasted no time in
winning the event. The Olympic hopeful did express concerns about the safety of
the course saying the first straight was ‘on the limits’ in terms of wind, but
overall was full of praise for the course, calling it perfect, none withstanding
thsoe niggles. Reade said: “It was a big thing for me to come here, and not just
for the win. If you can perform a year before the Olympics today then why can’t
you do it for 2012?”
Images: Chris Keller Jackson at Crankphoto.co.uk
quote
unquote
“I had the possibility of doing the same
thing [as Boardman] but I thought – do
I want bikes built in China and shipped
over here with my name on them? I’m
not saying what Boardman has done is
a bad thing, it’s just me. I’d want to
build bikes which say ‘hand-crafted in
Britain’.
“There’s a British tubing industry and
there’s a lot of skill in this country,
there’s a lot of young people looking for
employment, so why would you get
more money pumped out of the
country?”
Graeme Obree, speaking to the
Guardian Bike Blog
Sponsored by the brands of
Moore Large 01332 274252
“I think it’s a fact right now that there
are more men than women cycling, but
thanks to British Cycling and Sky’s
Breeze network we are closing the gap.”
Pop star Alexandra Burke sings the
praises of Breeze at Skyride
Manchester
“Lorries present a serious risk to cyclists
– one in five of the deaths of cyclists
involve lorries. Allowing even longer
lorries onto our roads will mean larger
‘blind spots’, more tail swing and a
greater risk of hitting other road users.
Instead of increasing the danger from
lorries, the Government should be
working to reduce the threat that
already exists."
CTC campaigns director Roger
Geffen slams long lorry plans
“We are very proud of our new Oporto
bike. We wanted the perfect ladies
bicycles and we think we have done it.”
Cooper Bikes MD Mike Cooper on
the launch of the Oporto
Victoria Pendleton
“It is great to see so many more women
cycling, not just at Cycletta but every
day, and we really hope this continues.”
Victoria Pendleton during the
Cycletta South
For more on these stories, head to www.BikeBiz.com
BIKEBIZ.COM
BIKEBIZ OCTOBER 101
OFF TRACK | SPOKESMAN
TWEET
SPOKES
short and
Wondering what the Twitterati have been up
to this month? Look no further...
Mild panic setting in... just over
a week until Eurobike and then
all hands on deck to get our
@CycleShow display up to
scratch by Sept 27th
@ContiTyres
Stay special
Packets of Haribos keep some cyclists sweet, but online and
offline retail will have to work harder to win custom in the future,
says Carlton Reid…
BACKCOUNTRY.COM is a US online retailer of outdoors
kit. Motto: ‘We use the gear we sell’. It has 335,037
Facebook ‘Likes’. Backcountry.com carries more than 400
brands in various categories, including backpacking,
camping, hiking, climbing, trail running, paddling, skiing,
snowboarding, snowshoeing and adventure travel.
In 2009, it started HuckNroll.com for mountain bikers
and Realcyclist.com for roadies. Backcountry.com also
operates two closeout sites, Bonktown.com and
Chainlove.com. At the end of August, Backcountry.com
absorbed CompetitiveCyclist.com, an online retailer of kit
from the likes of Shimano, Campagnolo, SRAM, Mavic, Zipp,
Rapha, and Power Tap.
All top-end kit, then.
The site says: "We don't have order-taking meatheads
answering the phone. Every member of our staff has a
grasp of technical detail that's, well, awesome. No other
site does more to convey the vital information every
serious cyclist desires."
CompetitiveCyclist.com is a major US player in a niche,
high-end, lucrative part of the bike market. Brendan
Quirk, founder and CEO of CompetitiveCyclist.com, is
now general manager of Backcountry.com’s bike division,
and staffers also moved over to Backcountry.com.
At the time of the sale, Jill Layfield, CEO of
Backcountry.com, said: “Brendan’s operating experience,
strategic insights, and bike industry expertise will be
invaluable. And the employees that are joining us will be
integral as well. They’ve invested in the success of
Competitive Cyclist, and their industry relationships and
passion about all things bike are going to fuel our business.”
So, why does all this matter? It's a US webstore, it'll
impact on US IBDs only. Maybe, but CompetitiveCyclist.com already takes ads on UK cycling websites and
will now be looking to become even more aggressive in
the UK. But perhaps not aggressive in pricing: Wiggle and
Chain Reaction have trademarked that schtick around the
world, with bike shops in America and Australia
complaining about the UK's 'bad boys'.
The consolidation of online bicycle retail is no huge
surprise: even if fulfilment centres or warehouses are
hundreds of miles apart, there can be one online
presence. By spreading costs, big online retailers eating
smaller ones will keep getting bigger.
Amazon is no longer just a retailer of books, and isn't
always the cheapest for its other product offerings, but it
got to its current position of market dominance by, yes,
being the prime mover, but also because of its exemplary
customer service.
Backcountry.com and CompetitiveCyclist.com are
looking to expand on the back of customer service, the
jewel in the crown of bricks and mortar bike shops.
Online bicycle retail is not just about ‘price shagging’. To
compete, bricks and mortar bike shops are going to have
to up their game. Again. Some have gone down the single
brand concept store route; others are adding upscale
espresso bars; yet others are embracing 'cycle chic' and
going for the style market.
Location, location, location may work for some bike
shops, as will being the only retailer for miles to stock a
certain hot brand, but brands have bad years so
differentiation and specialisation will increase in
importance as the key strategy in bicycle retail.
EDITORIAL: 01992 535646 | ADVERTISING: 01992 535647 | FAX: 01992 535648
Executive Editor: Carlton Reid
[email protected]
Design: Kelly Sambridge
[email protected]
Editor: Jonathon Harker
[email protected]
Managing Editor: Lisa Carter
[email protected]
Deputy Editor: Mark Sutton
[email protected]
Publisher/MD: Stuart Dinsey
[email protected]
Advertising Manager: Carly Bailey
[email protected]
Marketing & Circulation: Lindsay Banham
[email protected]
Finance Director: Hilary Cole
Editorial
Saxon House,
6A, St. Andrew Street,
Hertford,
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ISSN 1476-1505
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102 BIKEBIZ OCTOBER
Trip to BikeBiz Awards pencilled
in for Going Going Bike. Now
practicing my disappointed "we
didn't win face"
@TheHoxtonRaj
Anyone going to Eurobike got
any spare room for a diamond
geezer in there digs?
@Cyclecraig cannot get a
hotel!!!!!
@Jackos016 (Bionix Mechanic)
Is it just me who thinks its pisspoor to have Eurobike and
the world champs at the same
time?
@finkill
LAX swamped with bike
industry nerds bound for
Eurobike. Next stop: Zurich
@snafubmx
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CLIMB TO THE TOP
Distribution in the UK: Fisher Outdoor Leisure LTD, www.fisheroutdoor.co.uk
The secret for steep ascents: SRAM WiFLi.
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WiFLi: Wider - Faster - Lighter.
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WiFLi