BikeBiz October - Issue 105

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ISSUE 105 BIKEBIZ.COM

F O R E V E R Y O N E I N T H E B I K E B U S I N E S S

On with the Show

p23

Cycle Show kicks off with the trade day on Thursday September 25th. BikeBiz runs through the exhibitors and celebs to rub shoulders with

p15EurobikeProducts and stories from the world’s biggest bicycle show

p31Halfords revampedTake a guided tour through Halfords’ freshly upgraded store portfolio

p39CMAsWho would you pick as the winners of the inaugural Cycling Media Awards?

p35A new CyclelifeRaleigh reveals all about the future of Cyclelife

p49Retail on track(s)One bike shop tells how he set up his business at a rail station

p53Running Le TourBehind the scenes of the Tour de France with Pennine Events

p69Road bikesA rundown of the latest road bikes and P&A ready to stock

F O R E V E R Y O N E I N T H E B I K E B U S I N E S S

OCTOBER 2014ISSUE 105 @bikebizonline | facebook.com/bikebiz

Prestige brands from i-ride.co.uk

BIKEFIT

Your perfect ride deservesthe finest equipment

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It’s well known that what you race on Sunday you can sell on Monday – as long as the race result was good and the bike is on the money.In September Gee Atherton won the 2014 UCI Downhill World Championships, so we can tick the ‘win race’ box. GT offer the same 2015 Fury 27.5 bike that Gee raced on, as well as a full line of super competitive MTBs including this 27.5 GT Avalanche Sport; at only £399 with 27 speed, hydro brakes and a lockout fork it’s destroying the competition – just like Gee...

WIN ONSUNDAYSELL ONMONDAY

2015 GT Avalanche Sport 27.5 - £399.99 RRP

Interested dealers contact CSG UK • Tel: 01202 732288 • Email: [email protected]

NEWS

BIKEBIZ.COM BIKEBIZ OCTOBER 7

EDITORSCOMMENTSYMPTOM OR THE CAUSE?WHEN YOU’RE focused on the business end of the cycle world, speculating whether big cycling events affect sales is an occupational hazard.

It’s natural to draw the link this year more than most because we’ve gorged ourselves on high profile cycle events in the UK and Ireland. You have to wonder if we’ll see its likes again – both the Tour de France and Giro d’Italia Grand Departs, the inaugural Women’s Tour, The Tour of Britain, The Commonwealth Games, RideLondon…

Judging by that list you should have had your busiest year ever, right? If you’re a journalist covering UK-set races, then perhaps you did, but if your business is selling bikes and P&A then did you really have your best ever year? Even if you are lucky enough to say it was, then will next year – with no Tour or Giro Grand Depart or Commonwealth

Games – therefore see a down swing in sales? Ultimately, UK-set cycle

events leading to increased sales is an overly simplistic equation, despite their being more than a grain of truth in it. Common

sense, for instance, argues that a few extra Pinarello Dogmas have been sold thanks to the efforts of Team Sky.

But does it matter if these events don’t boost sales? No, of course not.

It would be great if they did, but that’s not really the point, is it?

It’s easy to muddle the equation, but the fact these

events are here in the first place is because

there is a growing interest in cycling here in the UK – or specifically, the sport of cycling.

That’s something worth celebrating in [email protected]

RICHARD SETTERS has joined the BikeBiz team as account manager.

Setters will handle sales across the magazine, website and the rest of the BikeBiz brand, replacing Jake Adams.

Setters previously worked in the leisure industry, including a stint in shop

management in the outdoor sector. A keen cyclist, Setter rode the Haute Route from Geneva to Nice.

You can contact Setters by phone on 01992 535647, email at [email protected] or Twitter: @richiesetters

CYCLING IN Wales received another shot in the arm with the launch of female-only rides piloting in Swansea, Cardiff, Newport and Monmouthshire this autumn.

The Breeze rides are being funded in partnership between Sport Wales and British Cycling and follow the successful Breeze programme that is already operating in England.

This summer also saw the arrival of “new major domestic cycling event” Velothon Wales, following in the footsteps of Ride London and running from Cardiff in June 2015. 10,000 cyclists are expected to take part. The

ride will run alongside a UCI sanctioned elite pro race, expected to attract many of the world’s top riders and teams.

Also this summer, the Welsh Government’s guidance for walking and cycling routes closed for public consultation. The consultation was the latest stage of its widely acclaimed ‘world leading’ Active Travel Bill, which makes it a legal requirement for local authorities to plan and deliver routes that link up hospitals, schools and shopping areas with traffic-free routes and cycle [email protected] www.velothon-wales.co.uk

Setters gets into the BikeBiz saddle

Wales is riding high

DENNIS PUBLISHING is launching a new brand aimed firmly at the growing road cycling market.

Bikes Etc is a new monthly magazine focused on testing and reviewing the latest bikes and kit, with expert reviews and advice on performance, maintenance and the best places to ride.

Those at Eurobike may already have caught a glimpse of the mag when the Dennis team showed it to a number of clients. Priced at £4.75, Bikes Etc will have a print run of 40,000 copies from launch.

“We believe that a passion for bikes and kit is fundamentally at the heart of the UK’s road cycling boom,” said publisher Nicola Bates. “Road cyclists are in a perpetual state of purchasing, rationalising their purchases, or dreaming about what they might buy next. We want Bikes Etc to indulge our readers in their passion.

“Many people have asked us how Bikes Etc will differ from Cyclist. If Cyclist is 80 per cent rides and 20 per cent kit, Bikes Etc will be 80 per cent kit and 20 per cent rides, but will have the same top end production and design qualities as Cyclist. We want the aesthetic delivery to match the

aspirations of road cyclists, and reflect the styling and branding prevalent in this market. We hope that this, along with the quality of our reviews will set us apart from the competition.

“As with Cyclist, there will be significant launch and marketing investment, with key listings already secured with most national magazine retailers. The magazine will be priced at £4.75, and the first issue will be on-sale at the end of October. We’ve already marketed Bikes Etc to the Cyclist and Dennis Publishing email databases, with over 2,000 hot prospects for subs sign ups before launch.”

Bikes Etc will have subscriptions marketing website from launch, with further plans for a reviews based website in the Spring of 2015. Dennis Publishing will draw from its experience of reviews websites across various markets.

Advertising director Sean Igoe said: “The response from the market has been overwhelmingly positive, and with the web launch also around the corner, the market seems to be excited with the ambition of Dennis in the road cycling market.”www.dennis.co.uk

8 BIKEBIZ OCTOBER BIKEBIZ.COM

Dennis launches new road cycling mag

© NewBay Media 2014 All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording or any information storage or retrieval system without the express prior written consent of the publisher. The contents of BikeBiz are subject to reproduction in information storage and retrieval systems. Printed by Pensord.

Executive Editor: Carlton [email protected]

Editor: Jonathon [email protected]: A ker-ching and thumbs up.

Production Executive: Alice [email protected]

Deputy Editor: Mark Sutton [email protected]: I normally just shout: “Do a wheelie!”

Design: Dan [email protected]: A quick wave

Account Manager: Richard Setters [email protected]: I usually say “jump on the train” as I am overtaking them. But seriously it’s a standard boring “morning”

Publisher: Lisa Carter [email protected]

Marketing & Circulation [email protected]

Editorial: Saxon House, 6A, St. Andrew Street, Hertford, Hertfordshire. SG14 1JA

BikeBiz is mailed FOC to 4,000+ trade addresses every month

ISSN 1476-1505

NEWS

THIS MONTH WE ASK THE BIKEBIZ TEAM: What is your preferred greeting to fellow cyclists?

Juicy Bikes opens new showroom

E-BIKE BRAND Juicy Bikes is moving to a new showroom in Ashbourne, Derbyshire.

The company told BikeBiz it has exceeded its targets for new dealers this year and has a number of new electric bikes in the works.

“The Heath colourway has been so popular in our Sport Click and Compact Click ranges that we’ve had bow to demand and introduce a Heath Classic as well.”

The firm also has two brand new bikes in the pipeline: the Classic and Sport ‘Lite’. Both

these bikes will keep the powerful motors and understated style of the originals but in an altogether lighter design, “with a lighter price to match”.

The brand said: “This new range should satisfy the demand for an even more affordable Juicy Bike, and encourage even more undecided people to swap out their car journeys for a Juicy Bike ride or two.”

Find out more about the new lines from Juicy via: www.juicybike.co.uk

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Publisher follows up Cyclist magazine with Bikes Etc


NEWS

CYCLE SHORTS‘Cycling is a discriminatory form of transport’Birmingham Councillor Deirdre Alden took issue with the £17m dedicated to improving the city’s cycle infrastructure. She said it would only benefit “white, young men”. Public transport ticket cost increases and increased facilities for cars didn’t appear to irk the Councillor, however.

Bike shop numbers grow 15 per cent in a decadeACT and ActSmart statistics revealed that the cycle retail market has become increasingly competitive on the retail frontline, with bike shop numbers up 15 per cent in ten years.

£300,000 lawsuit filed against bike shopAccording to The Daily Mail, a family is suing bike shop Acceler8 after servicing the brakes of a bike, hours before a fatal incident involving a 14 year old and a van. The coroner found there had been a ‘catastrophic failure’ of the front brake. Now the family is bringing a £300,000 lawsuit against the shop.

WD-40 acquires GT85UK-based GT85 lubricants has been purchased by maintenance giant WD-40. GT85’s largest market is the UK, with sales also in the US, Australia and some other European countries. The takeover will see GT85 develop further domestically.

Dom Mason leaves Upgrade and creates Mason Cycles Kinesis UK designer and brand manager Dom Mason has now left Upgrade to work on his own bicycle brand Mason. Promising something “very different to Kinesis UK in look and feel” the frames will be Italian made using Columbus steel and Dedacciai alloy.

Children spending 50% longer in the carResearch reveals that kids are being consigned to the car far more than their parent’s generation.

Upsetting the Applecart

For breaking news visit:

www.bikebiz.com

FOLLOW US ON TWITTER @BIKEBIZONLINE

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EUROBIKE: ON THE UP 2014’s Eurobike showing saw trade visitors numbers grow again. As the graph shows, aside from a blip in 2011, it’s a continuing upward trend for the show. Source: Messe Friedrichashafen

THE LONG rumoured Apple Watch launched last month and is promising to be a game changer for lots of existing tech. The Apple event in California, which featured much road cycling, MTBin, BMXing

and family cycling, revealed the watch has an inbuilt heart sensor, altimeter, speed gauge and taptic wrist buzzes that could alert cyclists to turn left or right in cycle satnav apps.www.apple.com

XX BIKEBIZ XXXXXXX BIKEBIZ.COM

OPINION

Is everyday cycling just a novelty?

What’s with our cycle sport obsession? Stuart Newlands of Bikelands asks whether we should concern ourselves with normalising cycling and selling that image to those holding off two-wheel travel

THE OTHER day someone looked through the window of our shop while pointing at a ‘sit up n beg’ and said, ‘oh novelty bikes!” It made me think, what’s more novelty: The person who cycles two miles a day, five days a week to get their groceries, pick up the kids and pop into the bank, or the person who puts in 50 miles on a Sunday morning? The answer? Neither! However, in the UK we seem to be obsessed with ‘sport’ cycling, we think that the very existence and growth of the bike industry relies on it. It made me wonder, is this the reason why regular cycling in the UK remains stubbornly at eight per cent? (says the National Travel Survey).

So whilst the cycle industry continues to focus and fight over the minority, they’re doing nothing to appeal to the 92 per cent not cycling. What makes one person catch the bug, but turns another off? What can we do? I think it starts with our retail environment. Now I’m not talking about sticking a life-size cut out of Victoria Pendleton in the corner of the store, or fitting a wicker basket on a grey hybrid. We need to think about how to excite and engage this elusive customer. The questions we should be asking are; where do they shop? What magazines do they read? What are their aspirations? We answer those questions and we may see these potential customers stepping

through our doors. Remember, they’re not the same customer as your mountain biker or road cyclist.

Bicycle shops aren’t renowned for browsers; you tend to go into one when you need something. Now that’s OK for those people who already cycle or have made the decision to buy a bike. But how about those who just don’t feel like they fit into the current ‘promoted’ cycling fraternity? Too often the customer will be confronted with a ‘terracotta’ like army of bikes lined up cheek by jowl. An old boss of mine once said, when presented with a wide range of products at a range review – “too much choice, spoils choice!” I think this is something the bike trade needs to reflect upon. Making the shopping experience more akin to other shopping trips may give that

elusive customer a reason to step through the door and try a bike.

If I had a pound every time a customer came into the store and said, “my husband bought me a mountain bike, I hate it and never use it. I just want a bike with fewer gears and a basket”, I probably couldn’t retire, but I’d have more holiday money for ice-creams. The stats show that 43 per cent of people in the UK have a bike or access to one (National Travel Survey) – well why aren’t they using them? Perhaps we’re selling over geared, over complicated bikes, when all they really need is a simple everyday bike? Okay, I know we can go on about the government’s spend and road safety putting off cyclists, but as retailers we need to take a little responsibility too. When they do eventually ride off with the bike they want, perhaps they’ll tell their friends and come back again. You will have initiated a relationship that’ll last and develop. There are plenty of ways to accessorise your bike; whether its lights, computers or flower garlands. Remember that they are all repeat purchases.

When we’ve achieved our 15 per cent regular cycling national average, the government will have to sit up and take notice. But this growth isn’t only going to come from the sports side; it has to come from the everyday cycling side too. Ditch the car, buy a bike and feel the benefits.bikelands.co.uk

“If I had a pound everytime a

customer came in and said: ‘My

husband bought me a MTB. I hate it and never use it. I just want a bike with

fewer gears and a basket’...”


OPINION

Where is the bikeindustry’s Rightmoveor Zoopla?

With a retail playing field blown wide apart by the internet, it is high time there was a comprehensive choice of shops, brands and bicycle types, all in the same place online, argues Bikesoup founder Antony Auty…

THE CURRENT buzzword in cycling retail is ‘community’. Building your base of loyal customers makes an awful lot of business sense. There are a number of ways to build your shop community – rides, skills workshops, newsletters, offers, demo days…The list goes on.

But how do you get new customers into the shop in the first place? How do you reach out and find new buyers for your products? Things were much simpler before the internet. You placed adverts in a local newspaper or a cycling magazine and then ‘KaBoom!’ the phone is ringing constantly and you can’t move for the number of people in the shop.

Yes, you could produce a well-designed advert with some engaging text but beyond that, the playing field was largely level – you gained customers based on your location and your brands. As long as you moved with trends and realised that MTBing was here to stay, all was fine. Life was simple.

Today, life is more challenging for the bicycle retailer with increased consumer expectation, more competition and new products released almost daily. You need to be an expert in customer service, active with social media, have the budget to stock the latest ‘must have’ products and be able to deliver at a moment’s notice.

There was a period when a basic website was a viable alternative to traditional print advertising but

those days are long gone. Now, to be competitive and attract new customers companies need a significant investment in an online presence, but how that investment is spent has become a very cloudy affair. Do you write content about your products? Do you invest in a comprehensive e-commerce platform? Do you allocate budget to Google or Facebook marketing? There is no right or wrong answer, you just have to give it a try.

If only life for the IBD could be more predictable and allocating advertising and marketing budget was a simple decision.

Other business sectors are fully engaged online delivering consumers with a choice of products and services in a couple of clicks. Leading industry players like Rightmove and Zoopla direct us to the perfect house to buy or rent. Autotrader will help us find the perfect car. Just Eat puts you in contact with 20,000 local takeaways for your pizza or curry. So, why has the bike industry not reacted in the same way and provided consumers with a one-stop-shop to find a new bike?

Broadly, the bike industry is made up of three key components – suppliers, publishers and retailers. Without the retailers the industry will grind to a halt. Is it not time for brand managers and publishers to come together and make life simpler, more enjoyable and profitable for the retailers? And time to provide consumers with an enjoyable experience online when looking for a new bike and offer them a wide choice or shops and brands, all in one place?

That is our ambition at Bikesoup, to work with publishers and cycling brands to direct consumers into retail stores and get back to a simpler, more predictable, easier to manage and profitable business life. We’d like to see retailers doing what they do best – engaging and advising customers, building their community and making more sales. www.bikesoup.com

“Other business sectors are

fulled engaged online, delivering consumers with a choice of products

in a couple of clicks. Why not bikes?”

For your local wholesaler, contact us:

[email protected]

01993 862 300

CONGRATULATIONS MANON CARPENTER

2014 WORLD CHAMPION

facebook.com/madisonclothing twitter.com/madisonclothingfacebook.com/madisonclothing twitter.com/madisonclothing Visit www.madison.cc or contact your Madison apparel represenatative for more informationVisit www.madison.cc or contact your Madison apparel represenatative for more information

Worn and developed by the Madison Saracen Factory Race Team

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1. LIV BY GIANTThe Liv branding has been present alongside Giant for a while now, but Eurobike saw the separation of the two, with Liv commanding a stand of its own on which it announced that the label is to become independent. Former Giant CFO Bonnie Tu, who herself has previously participated in the Tour de Taiwan using substandard “shrinked and pinked” equipment, takes charge as Liv CEO.

Existing Giant dealers will have priority on stock and the label will command its own point of sale units designed to reflect the many aspects of leisure and sport cycling for women, as designed by an all-female team.

A fresh apparel colour palate will be agreed upon by those designers on an annual cycle.

2. SCHWALBE PROCOREWe genuinely had real trouble with the crowds photobombing while trying to get near the Schwalbe

ProCore, such was the interest. Developed alongside Syntace,

the new technology consists of two air chambers – an inner core holding 55 to 85 psi and an outer chamber where sealant and air fill the space to anything around 10 to 20 psi. The advantages are obvious: More grip, no chance of snake bite punctures, prevention of burping and it’s compatible with all wheels. At 200 grams per wheel, there’s a weight penalty, but the performance advantages may just outweigh the extra grams, which can be countered with a lightweight tyre choice.

3. ECLATGerman manufacturer WeMakeThings continues to trailblaze when it comes to the BMX sector. Evidence comes in the form of a thicker 25.4mm clamp area on the new Eclat handlebar, which makes perfect sense – as bars get taller, forces on the junctions have more leverage.

The same applies to the new Fortress pedal. Running on bushings and a oversized spindle, the Fortress is a plastic body with metal pin combination and it looks as though it could be as tough as they come in the BMX market at present.

Other subtle additions include a steel washer supplied with the barends to vastly add life, as well as two new rims in the superlight Mercury and cross-lace Phantom.

4. ORBEAWe’ve included Orbea not only because the product looks incredibly sharp for 2015, but because having undergone a pricing restructure, the catalogue is now extremely competitive when put up against its closest rivals.

Orbea’s Damian Hackett told BikeBiz: “There’s no sacrifice in quality, despite the pricing coming down across the board. We’re taking the UK market very seriously and have recruited a quality

dealerbase to deliver the level of service we need.”

On the product front, the mountain bikes will this season come in both 27.5 and 29-inch wheel sizes. Look out for the Rallon range, which spans build price points from £2,199 through £4,299, as well as the pictured Oiz full suspension race series.

5. CLARKSPrice point product is a key focus for many brands at the moment and Clarks is no exception, having come to market with a caliper and rotor disc package for just £14.99. It’s a simple mechanical system that has rear backing plate adjust and accepts Avid BB5 pads, as well as IS or post mount fittings.

For the dealers servicing the enthusiast customer, there’s both new 30 metre and individually boxed alloy housing for gear and brake cables, coming in at 45 per cent lighter than the steel version.Finally, Clarks has added the M2

Eurobike’s huge, or at least far bigger than BikeBiz’s pagination limits, so without wasting any more precious words, Mark Sutton rounds up some of the show’s many highlights…

Squeezing it in…

EUROBIKE

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disc, another affordable disc, this time taking mineral oil and utilising a dual 22mm piston set up. This brake is capable of a very respectable 112Nm of stopping power, putting it on par with much more expensive units.

Stock is expected to be available by the end of October.

6. GIROOne of the busier stands of the show and for good reason, Giro had plenty to talk about. Starting with the brand’s traditional territory, the MIPS technology has found its way into five helmets in the line. Having invested in Swedish label MIPS, Giro now promises that the technology will be rolled out throughout both its catalogue and Easton Bell owned Bell’s lines.

For those who haven’t heard of MIPS, it’s an inner layer that breaks away from the outer shell during a crash and rotates within, greatly

reducing the rotational forces the brain can suffer in many incidents.

Giro won two Eurobike awards this year, including a best in show in the footwear category. The models gonged are the new Empire SLX and Rumble shoes, which as award-winning footwear goes, pack in the value for relatively low price points.

7. BIRZMANCentral to the Birzman 2015 catalogue is not one product, but a simplistic innovation that the market’s bike shops have been crying out for since the Presta valve came to be.

Now found across the majority of the range is the Snap-It Apogee valve head, which with the slip of a collar will transform to take either type of valve head. Many within the inflation range are also now equipped with a pressure relief valve in order to fine tune the PSI input.

Another subtle, but also overdue design feature is the five degree lean now adopted by the track pump barrels. If your mechanic is pumping wheels all day, this could make life a lot more comfortable.

Another workshop wonder is the newly patented chain tool, which is adjustable in seconds to take any type of chain.

8. SRAM GROUPIt’s been a busy year for the SRAM Group and we’re promised yet more “pipeline projects” coming to fruition in the near future.

Beginning with SRAM, a key product from Eurobike was the from the ground up revamp of the Rise 60 wheelset in both 27.5 and 29-inch builds. The hub’s an interesting unit, offering 26 points of engagement, but with two of the pawls offset so as to double the effect, essentially creating 52. Regardless of size, a front wheel will

come in at £722 and a rear at £790. An upgrade to the RS1 predictive steering hub adds £30 up front.

That brings us to Rock Shox RS-1 fork, which is described as a project 25 years in the making. Currently only available as a 29er fork, Rock Shox has worked around the issue of torsional stiffness in an inverted fork with the pairing of the RS1 hub, which has low profile teeth that lock the body into the fork’s dropouts, thus replacing the strength lost by the lack of bridge. The upper chassis is entirely one piece of carbon, including the steerer tube. Of interest to those who like to fine tune their progression curve is the inclusion of three threaded volume spacers that can alter the fork’s response.

Aggressive riders would add more of these spacers than those just pootling along. Finally, 80, 100 and 120mm travel versions will land imminently in the UK.For more coverage see BikeBiz.com

EUROBIKE

5. 8.7.

6. 7.

CYCLEOPS.COM FLUID2CycleOps exclusively distributed in the UK by www.paligap.cc/paligap.cc

BIKEBIZ AWARDS 2014


INDEPENDENT BIKE DEALER

Chevin Cycles, OtleyCriterium Cycles, EdinburghJe James CyclesRutland CyclingSigma SportWheelbase

WORKSHOP SERVICESEvans CyclesFinely Tuned RideGrease Monkey CyclesHavebikeMojo SuspensionSram Tech CentreTf Tuned

MAINSTREAM RETAILER

HalfordsDecathlonGo OutdoorsCotswold Outdoor

IN-STORE EXPERIENCECycle SurgeryEvans CyclesHoops VeloSigma SportSoho BikesVelocafe, Brighton

SPECIALIST RETAILER

Cycle SurgeryEast Coast Cycles, HullEdinburgh Bicycle CooperativeEvans CyclesIlkley CyclesPennine CyclesVelorution

RETAIL EVENTEast Coast Bicycles: Ecb KnightsEvans Cycles: One For The GirlsHargroves Cycles: Qe Cycle FestJe James Cycles: Tour WeekendPennine Cycles: Put You In Le SaddleRutland Cycling: Mums andTots RidesWheelbase: Big Demo Weekend

STARSTORE

Bike Doctor, RusholmeBlazing Saddles, Hebden BridgeEddie Mcgrath Cycles, UrmstonHolloway Cycles, IslingtonPeak Cyclesport, MacclesfieldThe Bike Rooms, Manchester

ONLINESTOREAction SportsChain Reaction CyclesEvans CyclesProbikeshopProbikekitSDJ SportsWiggle

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It’s time to clear a space on the shelf of your awards cabinet

THE TRADE has lobbied and voted, the award maker have been feverishly carving out the names of the winners at a secret location, the room has been swept and we’ve put out our best glasses – we’re now mere days away from the big cycle industry night where the BikeBiz Awards will be handed out at last.

This time it’s at a new venue – the Crowne Plaza Birmingham NEC – but it is still just a stone’s throw from the NEC exhibition hall setting of Cycle Show. The awards night itself takes place on Wednesday September 24th, the evening before the trade day of Cycle Show. This year’s awards are being kindly

supported by Platinum Partner cycleplan, Category Sponsor nuun and Event Partners Sealskinz and Cycle-SOS.

So, if you want to enjoy a drink or several, a hot buffet and hob nobbing with the cycle industry, you know where to come. See you there. intent-events.com/events/event_details/42

Among this year’s Workshop Services finalists is the havebike team

British Cycling picked up an award for Skyride at last year’s awards.

SPONSORS

Platinum Partner

Event Partner

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Bike Brand of the Year


BIKEBIZ AWARDS 2014

BIKE DISTRIBUTOR Cycling Sports Group Uk

Moore LargePaligapSilverfishSportlineWindwave

P&A DISTRIBUTORMadisonMoore LargePaligapSilverfishUpgrade BikesWindwaveZyro

SPECIALIST DISTRIBUTORBatribikeSeventiesChicken CyclekitElectric Bike CorporationJungle Products

BIKE BRANDKinesis UkVerentiHoy BikesCannondaleGenesisGiantSpecializedTrek

MARKETING TEAM

Dare 2BEvans CyclesHotlinesMadison/SportlineMoore LargeRaleighSealskinzUpgradeZyro

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> ANSMANNAnsmann has grown its repertoire with front and rear retro fit kits that come complete with all the necessary products to convert a 26 or 28 inch wheel bicycle. The motor replaces the front wheel hub and is compact with a smooth silent run.

> BIANCHIBianchi will headline its stand with the brand new super aerodynamic TT-Triathlon Aquila CV. The carbon frame with Countervail Vibration Cancelling technology was engineered and designed using advanced CFD simulation software

and pro athlete feedback, and features concealed brakes and a dual position seatpost.

> BOB ELLIOTKey brands from the Bob Elliot portfolio will be appearing on Stand M71, including Funkier Clothing, FLR Shoes, Chiba Gloves, NRC Eyewear, Zefal Components, Muc-Off, Schwalbe Tyres & Tubes & Continental Tyres & Tubes.

> CITRUS-LIMEAs any retailer who knows their onions is aware, it’s all about click and collect these days. But how do

you implement it? This is where Citrus-Lime comes in, with the firm keen to prove that click and collect is not solely the domain of big retailers, but something small independents can get involved with too with the right software.

> CHICKEN CYCLEKITChicken’s biggest Cycle Show presence yet will see dedicated areas for Campy, Datatag, Deda Elementi, Selle Italia and Vittoria. The redesigned Cinelli range will be there too, as will Nalini, Briko, LAS and Vittoria shoes.

> COLNAGOColnago’s first aero road bike – the V1-r – was designed in collaboration with Ferrari and first seen in the UK during the Grand Depart, ridden by Europcar’s Bryan Coquard. UK fans will now be able to take a closer look at the monocoque frame with aero dynamic tube sections and full-carbon rear dropouts as it comes to Cycle Show.

> DATATAG At a time when bike interest is seemingly at its highest for years, bike theft appears to have grown hand-in-hand too. When high-end wheels and components are as valuable to thieves as some frames, protecting the entire bike is a tricky job. Security expert Datatag thinks it has the solution in two new systems – the ‘UV Stealth’ and ‘UV Stealth PRO’ – marking components and frames alike.

Bringing together a wealth new bikes, fresh tech, product launches and cycle celebrities all under one roof, Cycle Show is a key date for UK cycling. Jonathon Harker looks at what you can expect to find at the NEC…

Cycle Show 2014 Guide

CYCLE SHOW 2014OPENING TIMESOPENING TIMES:Thursday September 25th(trade and press)9.30am to 6pm

Friday 26th to Sunday 28th (consumer)9.30am to 5pm

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CYCLE SHOW 2014


CYCLE SHOW EXHIBITORS LIST 2014L28 1partCarbonH141 A2BK13 Academy EyewearJ145 ACTL67 Active TravellerM21 Aftershokz Sport HeadphonesJ45 AguesportJ42 Alpine CadenceK130 ANSMANN UK LTD.F45 Arc Carbon WheelsA70 Ashfi eld Special Needs LtdJ71 ATB SalesK190 BatribikeG61 BBBC35 Beaconfell & Protool CycleworksB57 Beet ItF37 Belgian-Luxembourg Chamber of

Commerce in Great BritainM26 Benson & Ashley LTDH101 BianchiA15 Bicicielo

H125 Bicisupport SrlM20 Bike Lights UKJ36 Bike RegisterJ144 BikeBiz MagazineN16 BikekloxM33 BiKLOX LLPG131 BioracerL82 Bloomsbury Publishing PlcD11 Boardman BikesM71 Bob Elliot & CoH133 Body Geometry FitN25 BosalL69 British CyclingH151 Brunton - Rosker LtdM27 Buhel UKC73 Bushnell Performance OpticsF3 BWT LtdK145 BYOCYCLES LTDD1 C Originals LtdG111 CampagnoloF71 Cherry Marketing Institute

D21 Chicken Cycle KitM34 Chilli TechnologyL47 CiceroneP24 CiclaJ147 Citrus-Lime LtdH81 ColnagoG101 Condor Cycles LtdC67 CTCA25,A31 Cube Bikes G31 Custom Performance Kit LtdC69 Cycle AlertJ146 Cycle Show (Wales) LtdJ34 Cycle Works LtdB54 CycleschemeF81 Cyclesure from Butterworth SpenglerM35 CycleWiz LtdN17 Cycling BuddyK73 Cycling Costa DauradaL33 Cycling WorldD77 CyclistH81 Dainese / Marzocchi / Transition

M72 Dare 2bD67 DassiD23 Datatag ID LtdD24 Deda ElementiC55 Diamond BackH11 DMRB41 Doom BarA55 Dynamic BicyclesG41 Early Rider LimitedH131 EBC LtdL17 EDZ layeringL57 ElectraK166 Electric Bicycle CompanyK150 Electric Bike MagazineK22 Equisafety LtdF63 EuroRaxxJ140 Evopos UK LtdL73 Exodus Travels LtdK72 Explore!G91 Extra UK LtdA51 Extreme-Eyewear Ltd

> EXTRA The distributor of Brooks, Clif, crankbrothers and Time will be over at stand G91.

> EVOPOS Ecommerce provider Evopos will be showing off its new EPOS software upgrade. Version 6 of the ‘all in one cycle dealer solution’ combines the reliability of the desktop, the accessibility of the web and convenience of the mobile. Specifically, the upgrade includes integration to eBay and e-commerce sites with mobile access.

> ELECTRA Freshly acquired by Trek, Electra is not just about stylish beach cruisers, but also stylish city, stylish commuter bikes…and stylish accessories. Flat Foot Technology is within the brand’s arsenal, providing an upright, relaxed riding position where the leg is properly extended despite not making the rider leave the saddle to put a foot on the ground.

> FISHER OUTDOOR LEISURESRAM, LOOK, Santini, Troy Lee and more will be showcased alongside some yet-to-be-revealed new brand signings, according to the rumours.

> GAZELLE Gazelle is riding into the future of electric biking through a collaboration with Italian design house Giugiaro Design. The Concept E-Bike integrates the battery and motor into the frame, and will be released as a very limited edition at the end of 2015, with an RRP yet to be set.

> HARDNUTZThe Stealth Hi Vis Black helmet sounds like an odd mix of contradictions, but thanks to 19 panels of colour matched 3M Scotchlite reflective material – virtually undetectable in daylight – these helmets are highly reflective under street lights and car headlights.

> I-RIDEDe Rosa and fresh faced new own brand Orro will be among the i-ride highlights at Cycle Show, over three stands at the NEC.

> KTM KTM’s Lycan LT frame is the ‘next step in evolution’ from the previous long travel KTM, the 26-inch Bark. The Lycan is 27.5-inch wheeled and features ultra stiff and high performance PDS rear suspension for a superior ride feel. See it in person at the NEC.

> MADISONMadison’s large Cycle Show presence will lead with the likes of Garmin, GoPro, Lazer and Shimano, among other stocking potentials.

> MOORE LARGEUnder both its trade and consumer (Todays Cyclist) name, Moore Large will bring along Knog, Moda, Dare 2b together with newer brand signings like Super-B.

> NUUN Sugar-free and non-sticky, nuun packs in electrolytes and no carbs. Find out more first-hand at the stand of the original portable hydration tablet.

> ORBEAAmong the bikes, helmets, spares and more, there’s a good chance that the new Orca (Orbea Carbon) platform will feature, first launched globally at Press Camp.

CYCLE SHOW EXHIBITORS LIST 2014

CYCLE SHOW 2014


M15 Fat Lad At The BackJ32 Fibrax LimitedB51 fi refl y™ Sports RecoveryK61 Fisher Outdoor Leisure LtdJ31 Four4thH61 FSAJ121 & J131 & K142 FWG Freego Wisper GroupJ43 Garmin VIRBG71 Gear Club LtdM30 Get in Gear LtdL35 GigapowerN13 Ginger & French LtdD85 Golden Eagle EnterprisesK71 Green Jersey Cycling ToursF39 Greenover LtdF7 Grit.cxD84a Grn BikewearL84 Gwynedd Council - Visit SnowdoniaD29 HaibikeK26 Halo HeadbandC1 HardnutZ

L81 HeadwaterB52 Help for Heroes TradingN26 HentyG31 Hersh Bike srlB32 High 5G42 Hope TechnologyL26 HopeBits.co.ukJ35 Human Race LtdL12 i-ride B21 i-ride - De RosaB31 i-ride - OrroM32 Icetagg LtdG154 Immediate MediaH15 Impact Cycle Trading LtdP14 Intrepid Apparel LtdF49 Italy Cycling HolidaysL83 Jet2holidaysM31 Jura Cycle ClothingG73 KALAS WEAR LTD.K25 Keela International LtdJ155 KETTLER (GB) Limited

D13 KiddimotoG21 KinesisC2 Kool-Stop Europe BVH121 KTM Bike IndustriesN23 LightriderL15 Lucas Bike LightsF48 Lusso SportswearG143 Lyon Equipment LtdK140 MadhogC11 Madison - GoPro, Garmin and LazerB11 Madison - Shimano, PRO and EliteL11 Magicshine UKL65 Malta Tourism AuthorityK123 Momentum Electric LimitedA41 Moore Large & Co Ltd / Todays

CyclistC21 Moore Large & Co Ltd / Todays

CyclistK200 Moustache BIkesN10 Northern AlbionJ151 Northern Flags Ltd

B56 Nurishment ActiveJ143 Nutrition WorksD65 NuunH97 O’Neal / Azonic / DIRTY / San MarcoG51 OndaJ38 Optimum CyclingS1 Ordnance SurveyH51 Paligap Ltd - Marin BikesA56 PediBal LimitedM14 Piga CyclingJ49 PitBitz LtdH12 Pivot / X-FusionP28 Plain LazyK154 Powabyke UK LtdK121 PowacycleD61 PowerBarG150 Pragmasis LtdK76 Premiere VeloJ165 PrestigeH91 Primal Europe LtdM18 Pro Vision Cycle Clothing Ltd

> PALIGAPCalifornian brand Marin will have a strong showing at the Paligap stand at Cycle Show this year. Look out for Biologic, Mekk and more.

> PINARELLO DOGMA F8Designed in partnership with Team Sky and Jaguar, the eighth generation of the award-winning Dogma made its debut at the 2014 Critérium du Dauphiné and will be making its UK trade show debut at Cycle Show. It’s the first and only bike in the world built with T1100 1K carbon and has 47 per cent improved aerodynamics over the Dogma 65.1.

> POWERBARPowerBar’s Nutrition Lab is open to UK athletes for the first time, a community where athletes, trainers, nutritionists and the like can exchange ideas to hopefully boost performance and help shape future products lines. That and new lines will be promoted at the show.

> QUEST 88 Quest 88 is hosting the Inclusive Cycling Hub once again this year, and among their new models will be a three-wheel semi-recumbent cycle, named the Draisin Slider, designed for people with impaired balance or movement.

> RALEIGH The famous bike brand returns to Cycle Show with its arsenal of bikes for the road, for kids, for off-roading, commuting and the rest.

> REECE CYCLESReece’s not inconsiderably-sized brand portfolio includes Hamburg-based Bergamont bike brand, among others.

> SILVERFISHYeti, Easton Cycling, Mondraker, SDG and more make up the Silverfish line-up. Head to stand D25 for the full line-up.

> TAGGISAR ICE STICKERSTaggisar is bringing to the market QR code tags that can be stuck to helmets, so if an emergency does occur, a quick scan of the code will reveal key medical information and emergency contact details.

> TENN OUTDOORSFor the first time since it launched in 2007, Tenn Outdoors will be appearing at Cycle Show showing off its road, MTB, commuting and tri products, over three levels of garment – Tenn Active, Performance and Optimum.

> VELOTECHThe all-new Rotor Power LT crank is coming to the NEC via Velotech Services. Riders will be invited to turbo test the superlight powermeter for themselves, with their live data appearing in screen.

Bring your outdoor road training, indoorswww.kettler.co.uk

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CYCLE SHOW 2014

PRO-RIDERS AND CELEBS:

1

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2

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3

6

1. IVAN BASSO (FRIDAY)2. SIR CHRIS HOY (FRIDAY)3. KEITH BONTRAGER (FRIDAY)

4. JENS VOIGT (SATURDAY)5. DAVINA MCCALL (SATURDAY)6. JOANNA ROWSELL (SATURDAY)

CYCLE SHOW EXHIBITORS LIST 2014L63 Protect Your BubbleB55 PulsinA77 Quest 88M22 Rackshack.co.ukD51 Raleigh Bike PartsD41 Raleigh UK LtdC71 RAM Mount UKJ33 Rearviz Pty LtdH41 Reece Cycles Plc.F79 Reid BikesK74 Rendezvous HotelP20 Ride UK BMX MagazineJ95 Road Cycle ExchangeK51 Rock Machine BikesM36 RocketsK220 Roodog LtdD17 Rose BikesJ37 Roswheel UKF77 Rouleur MagazineK127 Royal Dutch GazelleJ100 RPM 90

G152 RSPBA7 Rubena TyresA21 Rudy Project/GiordanaD5 SALICEK24 SAM WearC61 Scimitar SportsD84 Selev HelmetsG115 Selle Italia srlB53 Shok-BoxD79 SicleriL71 Silent WolfD25 Silverfi shH95 SiS (Science In Sport) LtdK155 smart BirminghamC59 SMP 4 Bike - DillgloveG33 So CycleP26 Sorrymate.comF35 Spitfi re UK Distribution LtdN15 Sportif MagazineD83 Sports Kits DirectF1 St John Ambulance Cycle Response Unit

P16 StayStrongA52 Stebles BikesH27 StiqueG125 Storck Bicycle UKG151 & G35 SUB-4 Health & Wellbeing CentreF67 Success Cycling LtdC65 Sure ClinicA53 SURE SPORTSH154 Surf & TurfL41 SustransJ111 Tannus TyresL16 TCL SportsC70 Tenn OutdoorsG153 The Bike BagL45 The Bike ListJ150 The HookyD81 The Sock MineC51 Torq LtdD63 Tour RidesJ51 TrekC77 Trillion Cycles

F29 Two MakersG140 Ultimate Sports Engineering LtdA57 Universal Cycles LtdG32 Valke LtdG147 Van NicholasJ153 Vaude (UK) LtdA54 VegloF69 VelosureJ41 Velotec LimitedG40 Velotech Services - RotorL31 VISIJAX LTDC63 VisualsoftD22 Vittoria SpAH21 VitusL55 VulpineH31 Wattbike LimitedH25 Westfalia - AutomotiveL77 Woodland TrustD71 Wosskow BrownH155 Yellow Jersey Cycle InsuranceA11 Yellow LtdK14 Zero 50 Retail LtdG45 ZipVit

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REVAMPING HALFORDS

UPPING ITSGAME

The UK’s largest cycle retailer candidly admits it is playing catch up, but if its flagship stores are anything to go by, the chain is starting to look like a very different cycle retailer indeed, finds Jonathon Harker…

Slots in nicely: Evesham’s store manager came up with this simple bike rest

EVESHAM, sits just 20miles from Halfords’ Redditch HQ and hosts one of the retailer’s flagship stores.

The Evesham branch is also something of a testing store for and was the first to do something fairly revolutionary – bring the cycle department front of store and put bread and butter car maintenance items like car oil and wiper blades upstairs on the mezzanine level. This significant break in tradition gave some of the top brass sleepless nights, but the gamble paid off, proving so successful that the other 92 or so Halfords stores with a small mezzanine level will be getting the same treatment, placing cycling front and centre.

“WE WERE SO FAR BEHIND”Halfords is refreshingly up front while taking BikeBiz around the Evesham store. “We were so far behind,” says Craig Marks, head of

investor relations and corporate communications. “We had a lot of catching up to do.”

Halfords is fixing its aging store set up, starting with a new logo outside and a huge sign simply saying ‘we repair bikes’, a not so subtle hint of where Halfords is

planning to grow business. “We had low market share in repairs. People didn’t know we did it,” Marks admits. The new approach is working already – from an admittedly small starting base, this side of the business has grown 29 per cent.

With an ‘invite me in’ mantra, Halfords has ditched the double lobby doors, notoriously hard to negotiate with a bicycle, for sliding doors. There’s more natural light in store thanks to more windows while outside there is a free air pump.

Those with their ear close to the

ground will already know Halfords.com has grown with 185 brands and a product range expanded by 15,000 new products. That diverse brand line-up is being reflected in store (though obviously not on the same scale), with an emphasis on being, to use a well worn but useful

phrase, a one-stop-shop, providing not just the bike, but kit options and maintenance too. Clothes and P&A have grown 64 per cent since these changes were put in place, again, from a low starting point.

According to cycles comms manager Louise Iles: “It’s about the right brands for the right customers.”That means more Raleigh SKUs in-store, while clothing brands like Dare 2b and Tenn have shop floor visibility.

Via more interesting and engaging POS (“bringing the store to life”), brands are being given their own devoted areas for the first time. New joiners like Jim Berkeley, head of trading for cycle parts, accessories and clothing has been credited as a key player in forging ahead in these areas.

Of course, making these changes across Halfords’ 450-strong store portfolio is not going to happen

“We had a lot of catching up to do.”Craig Marks, Halfords


overnight, but they’ll be coming to a Halfords near you (in the region of 35 have been converted so far).

Speaking of brands, Halfords is clearly very excited about Boardman Bikes, with hints about a much expanded accessories range in the near future – “clearly a big opportunity”. Pendleton too is a big deal for the retailer, not least because the Somerby is Halfords’ best ever selling bike for women, over the 100 years Halfords has been in business.

Buyers are now given more space to take risks for Halfords, keen to have new ranges to generate interest for returning customers, something the company hasn’t nailed in about a decade, it admits.

Marks says: “We are spending and have asked our suppliers to spend too. Our dividend was cut by a third to invest in the business. We got a better response than we thought from our suppliers – they are enthused about the direction.”

FIXING REPUTATION Part of the reason Halfords wasn’t renowned for offering bicycle maintenance was its habit of tucking the service desk away in a dark corner. Well no longer, a dedicated cycle desk is placed in

the equally unmissable cycle section of the store, while a central information hub offers click and collect pickup and more.

Some of the freshened up stores have a workshop behind glass where customers can see mechanics at work, servicing can now be booked online and a clear bronze, silver, gold servicing price structure is in place.

Training is being addressed with a ‘cycle repair academy’ in Leicester

and to service increasingly clued up customers. Training has helped address a notoriously high staff turnover level, which is also being tackled with a focus on offering bona fide careers, rather than a seven hour a week stop gap.

Then there are kids clubs where seven to 11 year olds are shown repair basics, as well as working with 9,000 Scouts year to date – they can work towards a Halfords badge now.

With kids a crucial part of Halfords market, revamped shops feature a track around POS which has gone down well with juniors and helped keep them contained on busy weekends, with matching accessories and chance to design bespoke stickers for their bikes.

Other POS innovations have ranged from the simple why-haven’t-we-thought-of-that-before (measuring tapes a la IKEA so customers can measure their head

for the right helmet) to the innovative (a simple slot in the customer service desk where a bike can be rested while the customer chats with staff).

Perhaps inevitably, coffee machines have been installed, but Halfords has cannily placed touch screen terminals alongside, where you can browse Halfords.com whilst supping, in store, which is a bit meta now we think about it (what would happen if you placed a click

and collect order while you are in-store, we wonder?).

All of this fits into Halfords’ strategy; store, infrastructure (“some of our stores used to look like they were closing down – availability is much better now we’ve moved to five deliveries a week”) online and products.

And that’s not all…the Halfords team weren’t afraid to tease BikeBiz with forthcoming scoops and ‘big news’ coming soon.

While tradition dictates that Halfords and independent bike dealers are sworn mortal enemies, the truth of the matter is ever so slightly more nuanced, a point Halfords is keen to press.

“We’re helping people into cycling. Our new stores help inspire them. We get them going.” So while Halfords is happily intent on clawing back share, it says it prefers brands to give them exclusive lines. “We are helping grow the market. We bring people in, engage the customer and then they often trade up and head to independent channels. We are very accessible.”

So, summing up, the bad news is that Halfords is raising its cycling game, massively. And the good news? Halfords is raising its cycling game, massively.


REVAMPING HALFORDS

Changing rooms, coffee machines...Halfords now has much more in store

“We’re helping people into cycling. Our new stores inspire them.”Louise Iles, Halfords

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CYCLELIFE REVAMP

A decade in CyclelifeTen years on from launching Cyclelife, Raleigh is now breathing life back into the stores with makeovers and a new agreement. Ben Hillsdon tells Jonathon Harker about the latest on the retail support programme for IBDs

RALEIGH IS in the process of revamping its nationwide Cyclelife store concept and launched three stores in three weeks this summer. H That trio of shops included Cyclelife Bristol, close to the start of the Bristol-Bath Cycle Path. Pitched by Raleigh as “the biggest and boldest example of the new Cyclelife concept”, the shop has taken over a 3,000 sq ft site.

In-store, Raleigh road, electric and leisure bikes are displayed in zones with other ‘house-brand’ bikes from Haibike, Diamondback and Dahon while POS displays with the new Raleigh branding deck out the store’s white interior.

Cyclelife Bristol manager Shaun Butcher said: “We’ve got a first class shopping environment and we need to match that with our service. That’s why we’ve been at pains to stress our principle of getting the right bike for the right discipline, offering professional advice and excellent customer service.

“With the help of Raleigh’s marketing support team we’re working to develop long lasting relationships with cyclists in Bristol, attracting those consumers looking for something more than just a place to buy bikes.“

Other recent Cyclelife launches include On Yer Bike Burnley, which officially opened its Cyclelife department zone as part of a

significant store expansion, followed by the soft launch of Cyclelife Electric Wessex in the town of Poundbury, near Dorchester in Dorset.

“The first thing you’ll notice in the new stores is a clean, modern look fit for today’s discerning

cyclists,” Raleigh’s marketing manger Ben Hillsdon tells BikeBiz. “With clearly presented in-store zones for Raleigh, Diamondback, Haibike and our accessory brands we’re able to give consumers the consummate Raleigh experience.

“For dealers, Cyclelife was always designed as a one-stop-shop so they could buy everything they needed from us,” explains Hillsdon.

“Now that we have upped the game with the quality of our bikes and the range of our accessories, we believe that more than ever.

“For consumers, we wanted to create a retail outlet with the backing and peace of mind you get with such a recognised name.

“But in essence the new Cyclelife concept is a supportive partnership programme. As well as a financial package including 12 months phased credit and bikes on consignment, Raleigh covers 50 per cent towards the cost of shop fit outs, including signage, lighting, display, flooring, counter space and work-shop. We are also committed to offering sales and marketing support to the stores, including demo days, click and collect and ‘white label’ websites.”

Raleigh’s had a big few years, so what about Cyclelife’s future?

“The scope of Cyclelife is open-ended. Whether it be working with a dealer to operate a full concept-store or a significant ‘department’ within a multi-franchise operation or indeed a specialist electric bike outlet, we are now positive that we can provide effective and valuable support to independent bike dealers of all persuasions.”www.cyclelife.com

Bristol saw one of three shop Cyclelife launches this summer

“The scope of Cyclelife is open-ended, with options for shops.”Ben Hillsdon, Raleigh



LAUNCH INTERVIEW

Seen the light? Fresh from Friedrichshafen, Jonathon Harker asks Knog’s brand and marketing guru Sam Moore about shining a light on the action camera market

How was Eurobike? Fantastic. It was great to talk to almost all our distributors – we love getting some quality time with our partners. But also great to see the reaction from everyone to our product lines – our combo locks, video lights, and discuss our development of existing products.

Is it tough for Knog to come up with new outlandish stands?It’s funny you ask. We have prided ourself on the unexpected approach to our booths and they’ve been great – I’ve loved every one. So we love to make a splash, but the thing we like even more is socialising, so we’ve made sure our stand facilitates conversations. It’s form and function – style and substance. We have invested in some grown up video and product display stands. This year, it wasn’t naked barbies or a dark box room, but it was our world [qudos] action video light for GoPro that raised an eyebrow or two.

The Qudos light seems a bit of a departure for Knog... We don’t think it is a departure for a design brand. The inspiration came from using our GoPros out mountain-biking. It’s a bike product, but not exclusively. Ultimately, we’re believers in getting out there and don’t want people to be inhibited by technology, security, or even darkness! Most of our lot own GoPros and as we’re night owls by nature, the need to light the stuff up that we were fi lming became obvious. If you scan YouTube or GoPro’s website for night-time videos, they are bizarrely scarce. We want to change that. But the exciting bonus is the response we’re getting from the photography sector. We have been overwhelmed with the feedback from SLR owners.

Can you take us through some of the other launches? We’re currently fi nalising a range of StVZO compliant lights for the German market. They are similar

to our Blinder ARC 1.7 and 5.5 and Blinder ROAD 2. We’re calling them Blinder TILT 1.7 and 3.0 – which will have a similar look to our BlinderARCs, plus the Blinder ROAD 2.2. These are exciting because we’ve been locked out of the German market since these regulations came into play.

The development of a range of entry level lights is one of our more exciting projects. We want to change the equation of cost to design quality. We did it with the Frog, and we want to do it again – make sexy looking lights that don’t cost the earth.

And new launches in the locks side of the business? We’re really excited about our Combo lock range. No more keys, same great convenience locks – Party Combo, Twisted Combo, and Milkman Combo will be great for anyone riding around town. Look out for our “What’s Your Combo?” campaign – it’s a bit of fun!

What POS options are available? We have introduced Digital POS options for retailers. We’re really happy with them – they are practical, great value, and look great. They also have the capability to be updated remotely. Most of all, the results are outstanding. From a quick review post launch, the average jump in Knog sales using DPOS was 30 per cent.

Any fi nal thoughts to share? We’re really excited about our future and are setting ourselves up for growth. In Europe we have a number of new distributor relationships, including Brooks in Italy, and have registered Knog as a German business, led by our global chief sales offi cer, David Burger. We have also hired a new head of marketing at Knog HQ in Melbourne, Sam Moore (me!). So, we’re building the team and relationships, but we always want to hear feedback and ideas about how we can keep improving. Moore Large: 01332 274200

“The results are outstanding – the average jump in Knog sales using digital POS was 30 per cent.”Sam Moore, Knog

BRANDPROFILE

Working with

The British Tri Trust aim to use the engaging sport of triathlon to encourage children to become more active, not only improving their health, but also developing their social skills, increasing self esteem and nurturing good habits such as commitment, discipline and respect. Over 11,500 ‘active days’ were delivered in 2013 and over 13,500 delivered in 2014 so far with the help of Dawes Academy bikes.

Dawes Cycles have also supported a series of 16 weekly British Cycling Youth A & Youth B races (Under 14’s and Under 16’s) at the Rockingham Raceway in Northamptonshire.

The closed road circuit played host to weekly races with fields of up to 50 riders all competing to wear the Dawes Academy yellow jersey for that week’s race winner.

With our range of bikes we hope to inspire a whole new generation of cyclist’s be it for competition or general health. Go online or instore to view the full Academy range.

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CYCLING MEDIA AWARDS

The finalistsThe inaugural CMAs take place in October, with the

winners picked out from the following list of finalists…

CYCLE JOURNALISTS, websites, magazines and newspapers have been named as finalists at the UK’s specialist awards celebrating the very best in cycling journalism.

The inaugural Cycling Media Awards covers all corners of the cycle press, from specialist magazines and websites, to national and mainstream media, fitness brands and broadcast.

The winners will be voted for by a panel of over 150 judges from the

professional cycle press and then announced at the awards evening on Thursday October 16th at The Bloomsbury Ballroom, London. 150 of the UK’s top cycling media will be invited to attend for free.

Individual category sponsors include Cycle Alert (Cycle Campaign of the Year), Lapierre (Coverage by a Mainstream Website) and the Austrian National Tourist Office (Coverage in a Health & Fitness Magazine).


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ROAD.CCA wide variety of cycle news features on road.cc, from news and reviews to advocacy and more.

SINGLETRACKWORLDDaily news, reviews, bike tests and a popular forum help forge Singletrackworld’s appeal.

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CYCLISTCyclist aims for breathtaking imagery and uses some of the sports best photographers.

ROULEURRouleur uses photography to celebrate the passion and beauty of the sport.

THE RIDE JOURNALThis all-encompassing mag doesn’t pigeon hole riders and uses original photography with specially commissioned illustrations.



SPECIALIST PRINT WRITER

ANDREW DODD - MBUKFeatures editor at MBUK, Dodd is keenly behind building a better MTB infrastructure.

JAMES SPENDER – CYCLISTThis cycle journalist won the 2014 PPA Rising Star/New Talent for Journalism Award.

KAYA BURGESS - THE TIMESNot only a news reporter, Burgess helped lead the Times’ ‘Cities Fit for Cycling’ campaign.

LARA DUNN - WOMEN’S CYCLINGDunn not only writes for Women’s Cycling, but has also worked for Cycling Plus, Countryfile and others.

PAUL KIMMAGEIn recent years this ex-racer is best known for daring to take on the UCI and Armstrong.

REBECCA CHARLTON - IPCThis author and broadcaster writes across Cycing Weekly, Cycling Active, Cycling Fitness and MBR.

ROSS LYDALL - LONDON EVENING STANDARDChief news correspondent Lydall covers cycle news in London.

WARREN ROSSITER - IMMEDIATE MEDIATechnical editor Rossiter is one of the key journalists putting in the hours for Cycling Plus’ bike of the year comp.

SPECIALIST ONLINE WRITER

BEN CARLSON-OAKES - SPORTIVE.COMThe self-styled ‘baroudeur’ enthuses over cycling, coffeehouses and style over suffering.

DAN JOYCE - ROAD.CCWith 23 years in cycle journalism, Joyce also edits Cycle Commuter and Cycle for the CTC.

JAMES HUANG - BIKERADARA bike tech writer since 2005, Huang not only tried out tons of gear but also used to fix them as a shop mechanic for 14 years.

MATT BRETT - ROAD.CCIn bicycle media since ‘96, Brett has edited both 220 Triathlon and Cycling Plus.

KIRSTY HO FAT - WOMEN’S CYCLINGHo Fat supported female cyclist as Total Women’s Cycling editor and now as online editor at Women’s Cycling.

MARC BASILIERE - BIKERUMOR.COM AND SINGLETRACKWORLD.COMNow at Singletrack as ‘US Special Agent’, Basiliere has over 25 years on MTBs.

TOM EDWARDS – BBCBBC London transport correspondent Edwards has written plenty about cycling in the capital for an enviably wide audience.

COVERAGE BY A NEWSPAPER- SPONSORED BY CYCLE GUARD

LONDON EVENING STANDARDThe Evening Standard keenly covers the capital’s cycle news and views.

GUARDIANThe Guardian’s long term cycle coverage sees increasing column inches dedicated.

INDEPENDENTRace reports and cycling news are covered by the paper.

OBSERVERThe Sunday paper packs in plenty of words on cycling lifestyle and news.

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Lara Dunn RebeccaCharlton

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Cycleguard would like to wish all of the finalists in the Cycling Media Awards 2014 the very best of luck.

Cycleguard provides specialist Cycle Insurance for all levels and types of cyclist, from experienced racers to every day commuters and leisure cyclists.

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ELLEElle combines fashion, shopping and celeb news, including blogs on lifestyle.

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GQStyle advice and tips, entertainment, culture and lifestyle are all covered by GQ.

GRAZIAGrazia features fashion trends, beauty tips and A-list news.

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STYLISTStylist covers fashion, travel and ideas, among others.

COVERAGE BY A HEALTH & FITNESS MAGAZINE - SPONSORED BY AUSTRIAN NATIONAL TOURIST OFFICE

MEN’S FITNESSExercise, health and nutrition advice are all covered by Men’s Fitness.

MEN’S HEALTHMen’s Health helps its readers with fashion, sport and health advice.

TOP SANTEHealth, psychology, diet and nutrition are among the focuses of Top Sante.

WOMEN’S FITNESSFitness tips, workout plans, cardio techniques and exercises are the key topics in this mag.

COVERAGE BY A MAINSTREAM WEBSITE - SPONSORED BY LAPIERRE

BBCThe BBC provides full race reports, news and live updates from major competitions.

EUROSPORTBlogs complement photos, videos and reports from the cycle racing world.

GUARDIANThe Guardian covers race news and reports as well as a dedicated cycle life and style with news and comment.

HUFFINGTON POSTAlso blending lifestyle with news, Huffington’s cycle coverage includes tips and pointers for riders.

SABOTAGE TIMESSabotage has a typically irreverent angle on cycling, with blogs and opinions including cycling and flirting tips.

SHORTLISTShortlist combines articles like ‘ways to look smart on sweaty commutes’ to ‘great cycling scenes in movies’ and Olympic cycling guides.



BROADCAST COVERAGE

BBCThe BBC provides hours of cycle coverage from the likes of the Glasgow Commonwealth Games.

EUROSPORTLive coverage from major races, Eurosport is a stalwart of the cycling TV world.

FIVE LIVEThe sports radio channel brings live action, news and of course debate from the cycling world.

GCNThis YouTube channel puts you in the centre of riding action as well as providing ‘how to’ guides and more.

ITVFrom race highlights and live coverage to the Cycle Show, ITV’s support of cycling is hard to ignore.

CYCLING PODCAST

THE BIKE SHOW PODCAST (RESONANCE FM)Now in its eleventh year, it covers everything from politics and advocacy to brands and more.

THE CYCLING PODCASTAn experienced, three journalist team opens the world of pro cycling to listeners.

THE UNOFFICIAL UNSANCTIONED WOMEN’S UCIThis podcast is based on the sweary blog of the same name, explaining the joys of women’s racing.

THE VELOCASTCoverage of all the major races plus a look back to cycling’s racing history.

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#CHOOSECYCLINGBritish Cycling’s campaign is its vision of how Britain can become a true cycling nation.

#CITIESFORCYCLINGThe Times’ campaign kicked off a couple of years ago, but still has a far reaching influence.

#SPACEFORCYCLINGThe LCC’s campaign reached election candidates with bespoke actions to improve cycling in their area.

#STOPKILLINGCYCLISTSThis uncompromising campaign launched following London’s biggest ever ‘die in’ in November.

THEBIGPEDALOver 1,142,000 journeys were made as part of this nationwide school competition.

#THINKBIKESThe AA’s Think Bikes helped remind drivers to consider cyclists.

WORLD NAKED BIKE RIDEThis eye catching ride protests against car culture and raise awareness of cycling as an environmentally friendly option.

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PITCHING TO INVESTORS

Enter the Dragons’ DenLooking to boost your profile and gain investment for your new brand? BBC’s Dragons’ Den programme has had no shortage of cycle-related hopefuls this series, writes Jonathon Harker…

EVER WONDERED what it would be like to pitch your business to the likes of Deborah Meaden, Duncan Bannatyne and Peter Jones? If you’ve ever seen Dragons’ Den then you’ve probably speculated how well you’d hold up to questioning (as well as how you would spend your millions).

With plenty of upstart cycle businesses eager to turn prototypes into production models through crowd funding and investors, it is no surprise to see more cycle businesses bashing down the Dragons’ Den doors. The latest series alone has seen the likes of apparel firm Fat Lad At The Back fail to make off with cash from the investors, and more recently Torch Apparel has chanced its arm.

Torch’s product lines use integrated lights. The helmet, through those integrated (and rechargeable) lights boasts 360-degree visibility, while the light-up backpack has similarly eye-catching properties.

In the Den, Torch founder Nathan Wills and UK business partner Hugh Roper asked for £75,000 in exchange for ten per cent of the business. Sadly initial enthusiasm for the products from the investors didn’t lead to investment, with the ‘Dragons’ not finding Torch’s patent to be quite as far reaching as they’d hoped. But, as Wills and Roper told BikeBiz, it wasn’t just about the investment opportunity…

Nathan Wills: “While Hugh and I were excited at the opportunity to pitch to the Dragons we were well aware of the likelihood of not receiving an offer and the complexity that might come with any such offer. Aside from any funds our main goal was brand exposure and so far I feel great about the attention that Torch has received since airing. Hugh had a crowd-funding campaign ready to go at airing on Seedrs. The idea was to capitalise on any viewers of the show that might be interested in investing in our brand. We have already surpassed our initial funding goal and it still has over a month left [at time of press].

“Additionally, it has clearly made our brand more visible in the UK. Previously the company was known more in the US so sales were slow on the European side. After appearing on the Den we’ve seen more sales in the UK in three days than in the previous three months. We attribute this not only to the simple exposure, but the very kind reviews of the product and brand by all of the Dragons and for that we of course would like to say “Thank you!” to all the Dragons and the BBC.”

Hugh Roper: “I would like to add that I am personally very pleased to see Torch and Nathan’s design receiving the recognition it deserves. The T1 is the first of a number of exciting products that we will bring to Europe. To have over 150 investors in our business is brilliant and puts us in great shape to execute on our European plan.

“We are actively looking for independent bike retailers to show and sell our products. We receive many enquiries from customers in London, Birmingham, Bristol and Manchester looking for places to try our products on. We look forward to the next few months, where lighting the night, becomes a real issue for cyclists all over the Northern hemisphere.” torchapparel.com

“Appearing on Dragons’ Den has clearly made our

brand more visible in the UK.”Nathan Wills,

Torch Apparel founder


Torch’s integrated light provides all-round visibility for riders

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How simple is it to set up a bike shop alongside a railway station? Jonathon Harker hears all about it from the owner of Russell’s Bicycle Shed in Sheffield…

CYCLE-RAIL journeys, or journeys cycling to rail stations then jumping on a train, are growing. A lot.

This is already common knowledge but – when you get down to it – it’s unthinkable that we take for granted that cycle-rail journeys were at 14 million in 2009 and rocketed to 39 million in 2013. 39million! That’s an awful lot of inner tubes.

Anyone part of that boom who is riding to the railway station every Monday to Friday will see the evidence first-hand. Fellow cycle commuters daily have to negotiate all the bikes already locked up and taking all the best spots, despite cycle parking spaces more than doubling since 2009 (to over 53,000 spaces).

So why aren’t there more cycle retailers taking advantage of a footfall to kill for and tapping into that cycle commuter market at rail stations? That’s the question we asked a couple of issues ago and sure enough, one reader – from the Cycle Rail Working Group (CRWG) – pointed out that increasing numbers of retailers have indeed been taking advantage of the potential of the railway.

One of the newest shops capitalising on cycle commuters is Russell’s Bicycle Shed, which opened at Sheffield Station this summer. Just a couple of weeks after opening BikeBiz spoke with owner Russell Cutts...

The story goes that you turned up once a week at Sheffield rail station to service bikes and the opportunity to set up a

permanent site came about when the station was being redeveloped – was it really as simple as it sounds? Is anything as simple as it sounds? It took some work to get in touch with the station manager and then put forward my proposals, but I have found East Midlands Trains to be very supportive. They were very eager to get me working here one day a week and when the cycle hub development got underway they did ask if I would be interested in taking on the shop unit. It was anything but easy. After providing a comprehensive business plan I need to persuade East Midlands Trains board that I could make this successful. I have since received a lot of help and support from East Midlands Trains.

How popular was the service on those weekly sessions before you opened the shop? Did you get regular custom from the cycle commuters there? I’ve built up a good relationship with the commuters and the take up of the service was astounding. People knew they could get their bike serviced or repaired while they were at work and they didn’t need to find a bike shop that opened at 7am to do it. Effectively their day was uninterrupted, so it made complete sense. There are many commuters who use my service regularly and some who have been thankful that I was there when they returned to find they had a puncture. I provided a public bicycle pump within the store which people really appreciated,

“It was anything but easy. After providing a comprehensive business plan I needed to persuade East Midland Trains board that I

could make this successful.”Russell Cutts,

Russell’s Bicycle Shed


Rail easy?

RUSSELL’S BICYCLE SHED

RETAILERPROFILE

49-50 BB104 Profile-Russells_final.indd 1 17/09/2014 10:57

RUSSELL’S BICYCLE SHED

especially those who commute to Sheffield on the train and leave their bikes here overnight.

What were the biggest obstacles to setting up the permanent servicing station and shop? Finance. What can I say, the banks are unhelpful and many avenues for funding just wouldn’t touch this type of commercial enterprise. I’ve spent a lot of money just getting the place stocked up and with my Marin franchise there will be significant investment to offer an all-round service for those commuter cyclists.

How’s business been since you set up the Bicycle Shed? Well I’ve only been trading here for two weeks [at time of press] so it’s hard to tell, but I have had a good couple of weeks and there has

been lots of interest shown in the shop. I’ve noticed a strong uptake in my cycle hire offering too, people are taking advantage of the location to pop out to the Peak District for a few hours or ride the Five Wiers Walk. Although I am yet to market the hire business other than through the web, I have seen a good response so far.

So your service is tailored to commuters? Do you sell spares as well as offering repairs? I offer all services, although we are attached to the cycle hub and our main focus is commuters we do offer services to all other types of cycling. We have a very wide range of products and spares available to buy. I also offer hire of bicycles, car carriers and soon Bike Boxes.

What advice would you give to

other bicycle businesses planning to work alongside their local railway stations? Working at the railway station means you see the same people twice a day in most cases. Having a good relationship with this customer base is critical to success.

Any final thoughts? The connection between cycling and train travel is an obvious one; more people on bikes means less congestion and with most stations in very central locations within cities it benefits a wider community of cyclists. To help connect up the major cities having cycle hubs with businesses like mine attached is critical, not withstanding that I am still running a bicycle shop and you don’t have to be a commuter to benefit from the services I provide.www.russellsbicycleshed.co.uk

WORKING WITH THE RAILROADThe Cycle Rail Working Group (CRWG) is a group which was formed originally by the last government back in 2008 with membership from a number of key players in the world of rail transport – notably Network Rail, the Association of Train Operating Companies (ATOC), Transport for London, Passenger Transport Executives Group, with representation from the DfT and some other more specialist groups.During this Coalition Government, the CRWG has received £30 million in funding from the DfT for projects – large and small – to improve all elements in support of cycling to stations, from better security; better parking facilities; better access to stations and also, in a number of cases, the provision of premises for local bike shops to provide maintenance and repairs to cycles at the station themselves. Find out more atcycle-rail.co.uk

“The connection between cycling and

train travel is an obvious one. Cycle hubs like this one

are essential.”Russell Cutts,

Russell’s Bicycle Shed

RETAILERPROFILE


49-50 BB104 Profile-Russells_final.indd 2 17/09/2014 10:57

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TOUR DE FRANCE 2014: RETROSPECTIVE

A Grand DepartPENNINE EVENTS are very proud to have been involved in Stages 1 and 2 of the 2014 Grand Depart in North Yorkshire, particularly after our involvement in the last visit of the Tour to the UK in Kent in 2007. This puts the company in a unique position and in particular the director of the company Mark Sandamas and myself (Graham Jagger) as we worked together on both events. Few can claim that achievement and we are pleased to have that on our personal CVs.

The 2014 Grand Depart achieved a massive amount of publicity and promotion which raised its profile to the highest possible level and there was a huge amount of pressure and responsibility place on us to “get it right” for Yorkshire and the UK. In 2007, the build-up was not as intense and TV coverage much less so, this year the level of expectation was much higher all-round. Being a Northern-based company, but one that nevertheless works all around the UK, the 2014 Tour was literally on our doorstep and we knew the area and the routes very well which made our involvement that bit easier.

In 2007 the Tour was a time trial followed by the London to Canterbury leg but this year there were three full Stages, two being in Yorkshire, making it a much bigger event this time round. With it going through several large cities and towns and a large swathe of very rural North Yorkshire the challenges were much greater in 2014 than 2007. However, using our skills, knowledge and experience we were able to overcome all the logistical and technical issues that the event could throw up. The roads used on both Stages 1 and 2 were full of spectators throughout with hardly a spare vantage point unused. The crowds were absolutely enormous but we were able to maintain safety for both spectators and riders over both of the days.

Pennine Events were first brought in by North Yorkshire County Council in February, giving us just six months to prepare to deliver the event in the County on their behalf. We worked closely with the County Council, Harrogate Borough Council, Craven District Council and Richmondshire District

Council as the routes cut through all those administrative areas. We were also brought in by Harrogate Borough Council and Craven District Council to manage their official Spectator Hub sites in Knaresborough and two in Skipton. It was a huge task to prepare the Event and Crowd Management Plans for each Stage in North Yorkshire, carry out all the Risk Assessments and co-ordinate the delivery of the event on each day.

As a result of our work we have been pleased to receive such positive feedback and commendations from all we worked for and worked with. The reputation of the company has been enhanced considerably by virtue of what we achieved in delivering what the French have acknowledged as being the best Grand Depart ever in the history of the event. To have been involved in two Tours is a great feeling of satisfaction for Mark and I and both were great successes. What was achieved has put Yorkshire firmly on the worldwide map both as a cycling destination and somewhere highly capable of putting on such a

Crowds lined the streets through much of Yorkshire

“There was huge pressure for us to

get it right for Yorkshire and

the UK.”

Pennine Events was involved in the Tour’s last UK foray in 2007 and this year the Grand Depart in North Yorkshire on Stages One and Two. Now the dust has settled, we asked Pennine Event’s Graham Jagger to tell us about the hard work and sweat that went into putting on a UK event that was watched worldwide...

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prestigious event with such success. Its success will create a cycling and visitor legacy, which is what was intended when the bid was made to host it in the County.

It is right to say just how much the whole county embraced the coming of the Tour to Yorkshire. Everywhere you went in the lead up to the event you could see yellow painted bikes, bunting and just everything you could possibly think of to tell you what was about to happen in the area. Businesses saw it as not only an opportunity now but also in the future to promote themselves and the area as a whole. There was hardly a spare room to be had in hotels and B&Bs around the area in the lead up to and immediately after the two Stages that were held in Yorkshire. Of course there were many roads closed in order to allow the Tour to take place and these were very disruptive to people’s lives, but thanks to much advance publicity, consultation and co-operation the resolute people of Yorkshire coped well with the disruption and inconvenience and the event passed through each area with minimum fuss.

It cannot be overstated just how big a challenge it is to put on an

event of the scale and stature of the Tour de France. On the day, the whole world is watching what happens and without doubt that has its effect on you. The relief you feel when it’s all over and gone well is enormous then you begin to realise just what you have achieved. I remember seeing the first riders come through Skipton where I was responsible for managing all that was taking place on the day and hearing the noise created by the crowds increasing as they came up the High Street to the point where it became a deafening roar as the peloton rode through and I have to admit to having a tear in my eye. It was underway, going well and we had done it.

Despite the euphoria of such a moment there had been some difficult times before getting there. The delivery of the Tour de France in Yorkshire was a complicated affair with many organisations and individuals involved, some of whom were not easy to deal with, lacking in competence and plainly obstructive. Overall governance became a heavy burden, the event was “over engineered” unnecessarily and it took a lot of patience to get through all the steps required in order to make it

work. But nevertheless whatever had to be done we did and we got the right outcome – a hugely successful and enjoyable event, acknowledged as the best Grand Depart ever!

Pennine Events is a stronger company for having worked on this and the previous Tour De France in the UK. Our reputation in delivering events of this calibre has been yet again enhanced and we can only grow and go forward from here. We can now without question say we are one of the leading event management companies within the UK and in particular one with such unrivalled knowledge and experience in cycling events of this stature. Pedal for Scotland on 7th September with 10,000 cyclist riding between Glasgow and Edinburgh for Cycling Scotland was our next big event but there are also others still to deliver before this year ends, a year that Mark and I, the whole company and Yorkshire and the UK will remember fondly for many years to come. Come and join us on one of our future events.

For more on Pennine Events contact Director Mark Sandamas at [email protected] or on 01772 447979. www.pennineevents.co.uk

TOUR DE FRANCE 2014: RETROSPECTIVE


“I remember seeing the first

riders come through Skipton and hearing the noise from the

crowds increasing as they came up the High Street. I have to admit to having a tear in

my eye.”

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While the Tour caused much disruption for locals, Pennine Events praised them for their co-operation

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ELECTRIC BIKES

Moustache covers road, sand, snow and mudFurry frame covers to protect electric bike batteries and systems from snow? Check.

ANYONE WHO stalked the corridors of Messe Friedrichshafen or was glued to the coverage from the show will know that Eurobike was chock full of electric bicycles this year, more so than ever.

One e-bike themed curiosity from the show was a line-up tailored for a range of cycling environments. Entitled MASS – Mud, Asphalt, Sand and Snow – by S+ARCKBIKE with Moustache, the collection comes from a collaboration between French designer Philippe Starck and Moustache Bikes. The bike range is backed by matching complementary accessories, including Causse gloves, Giro helmets, S+ARCKBIKE glasses and backpacks, with more in the works.

That Giro helmet is a specially created offering between the brand and S+ARCKBIKE which is ‘eco-sensitive’ – featuring a cork liner and a lightweight aluminium shell that can be easily recycled.

Onto the bikes: The MUD is an all-terrain bicycle with medium hot grayscale, dual suspension frame

boasts Shimano XTR brakes and Fox and Rock Shox suspension.

ASPHALT is tailored for fast and comfortable urban use with a dual suspension frame. In charcoal grey, it uses a Shimano Alfi ne Di2 11V shifting system, integrated hub and Bosch powertrain, as well as Schwalbe tyres and fi ’zi:k saddle.

SAND comes in a warm light grey colour, features large Schwalbe tyres to provide the necessary lift

on the sand, Bluto Rock Shox forks, the Bosch system and Shimano XTR gearing and brakes. It also has a protective cover for foul weather and integrated stowage.

SNOW is dedicated to (you guessed it) snow-based territory and like the SAND uses huge

Schwalbe tyres for lift and traction. The mono-arm fork allows optimum snow evacuation. Equipped with the Bosch system again, Shimano XTR gearing and brakes, it has a synthetic fur frame cover that protects the battery from those extreme temperatures.

Starck (somewhat baffi ngly) said: “Cycling is one of man’s most powerful accessories. It offers almost endless possibilities with a

minimum of material. The bicycle is on the path of dematerialisation, which is a symptom of our civilisation. Just like man over time has increased his physical potential, the bike has naturally acquired electric energy to better serve humanity.” www.starck.com

MASS keeps the e-bike drive system safe from the elements

“The bicycle is on the path of dematerialisation.”Phillippe Starck

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ELECTRIC BIKES

Continental-poweredEntz arrives in the UK

TWO NEW shops specialising in electric bikes opened this summer.

The Flat Earth has opened in Codicote, Hertfordshire. Offering bike servicing for both electric and non-electric bicycles, the new shop also provides P&A and clothing for riders. The Flat Earth launched at the end of May.

Meanwhile in Stroud, offering what it says is the largest stock of electric bikes in Goucestershire, eCycle UK has opened in John Street. The shop launched in August and offers A2B branded bikes, among others.thefl atearth.co.ukwww.ecycleuk.com

ANOTHER EUROBIKE launch saw A2B reveal its latest, the Entz, which will be available to consumers late September.

Named after the American inventor of electromagnetic transmission (Justus B Entz), the newest bike in the A2B range integrates the brand new CONTI eBike system from Continental – the Entz being one of the fi rst

bikes in the world to feature the technology – and an

incorporated new gearless NuVinci Harmony hub.

The CONTI eBike drive system consists of a motor, display, remote and

battery, weighing just 3.4kg. The motor is integrated into the frame design and provides

silent ride support through a sensitive sensor.

The gearless NuVinci Harmony hub is featured in the deluxe model – the hub changes the gears automatically and also enables the

rider to adjust their own individual cadence on the fl y.

The Entz also features a smartphone-look backlit display on the handlebar giving riders real-time feedback on their speed, distance, power and battery status. It can be mounted in two positions and is integrated into the grip.

The high capacity battery has a 100km (62miles) range and the bike has a maximum supported speed of 15.5mph. The rider can select between the standard and the deluxe version, which also offers an automatic shifting gear hub and the new belt drive and the CONTI eBike system, which in combination offer a very smooth ride, A2B said.

Coming in black or white, the frame has a fi ve year warranty while a two year warranty (in the EU) covers the all-important electronics, motor and battery. The standard Entz will retail at £2,899 while the deluxe model will hit the £3,399 price point. www.wearea2b.com

Shops join the e-bike sector

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The smartphone-look backlit display gives riders real-time

feedback on their speed, distance and power.

A2B’s newest electric bike, revealed at Eurobike, is among the very fi rst to use the CONTI eBike system

The current generation of Sturmey-Archer hub dynamos will add power to your sales. The 6v range includes front hub models combined with 70 and 90mm diameter drum brakes and now there is also a single side model for recumbents. The new type HDS12 2.4w version is for bikes where only the headlamp needs to be powered.

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SANDWICHED BETWEEN Eurobike and Interbike, this issue has offered me very little in the way of time to think, or check the news to see what’s affecting the market this month. As a result, all I have to offer is some speculative thinking out loud. However, what being on the ground at these shows will do for you is give you some idea of how well the industry as a whole is performing, often thanks to the number of unique R&D cash-sucking items appearing on stands. Eurobike once again gave a strong indication that innovation in the market is rife. There’s plenty of superfl uous product, of course, but there’s a sense that as technology evolves, shrinks and reduces in cost that bikes and accessories will become a lot more interactive with the rider, at least at higher price points. You’ll no doubt have seen BMC’s Eurobike concept bike, by no means a production item as yet, but a strong and heavily papped indicator of the direction that the label sees the market going. If you ask me (and you probably shouldn’t) I’d say there’s nothing like

the simplicity of the bicycle minus any gadgets. There are those purists who ask ‘why’ every time a new gadget lands. And then there’s the masses, who – as is evidenced by fi ve minutes in public – will demonstrate that technology is both mesmerising and addictive. But it could also be incredibly practical for cycling, particularly for those who need encouraging outside of their comfort zone.

Will the dealer of the future have to have a fi rm grasp of built-in computers, cope with a far wider availability of power assist and perhaps even be able to program the shop number on a bike’s speed dial before every sale? Time will tell, but as is the case with modern cars, you can bet there will be specialist diagnostics equipment aplenty. Perhaps the bike of the future belongs with the independent retailer.

RETAIL STATS

“With technology evolving, perhaps the bike of the future will be serviced best by the specialist...”

NEW PRODUCTSA Eurobike themed round-up of some brand new cycle gear.

p75

STORE OFTHE MONTH

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SECTOR GUIDE

Road bikes and P&Ap69

SECTOR GUIDE

Trailers and racksp67

OFF TRACKStats, columns and interviews.

p88

It’s crystal ball time: Technology is shrinking, becoming lighter, adding power and becoming more readily available and adaptable. So what

does the bike and the dealer of the future

look like?

OPINION

[email protected]


BIKE TO THE FUTURE

The amount spent online increased by 11.2 per cent in July 2014 over July 2013’s fi gure (Source: ONS)

The number of fi rms who scooped Eurobike’s top design awards. Winners included Canyon, Cube and Topeak.

12

11%

RETAIL ONLYTHE TRADE’S GUIDE TO SOURCING STOCK, UP-AND-COMING IBDS AND THE VERY LATEST PRODUCTS

S E A L S K I N Z . C O M

S E A L S K I N Z W I S H E S A L L T H E F I N A L I ST S

O F T H E B B A’ S T H E B E ST O F L U C K

E N D U R A N C E A C C E S S O R I E S

T H O S E T H AT

K N O W K N O W


STORE OF THE MONTH

A hand with your hillstartRenowned for being one of the few specialist electric bike retailers in the UK, Cycling Made Easy is a benefi ciary of the overdue emergence of the power assist bikes domestically. Mark Sutton talks to Ray Wookey about his store’s service and a possible franchise startup…

Tell us about Cycling Made Easy and why you decided to go e-bike only?Our store came about as a result of my thinking that it seemed a good idea to have employees travelling by bike. While exploring where my staff came in from I found many lived in hilly areas, so I looked at e-bikes, which presented the solution. Having said that, eight or so years ago the quality disappointed me.

When I sold my business in 2008, I noticed the market had become buoyant in Europe, but had no strength here in the UK.

I thought we could be pioneers in the market and initially we had considered pedal cycles, but thought it lacked focus. As a result we have a 2,000 square foot showroom within a stones throw of a large population selling just electric powered product.

How’s business? How many staff are on the books now? We’ve got nine staff on board

and have doubled our sales each year for the past few years. What’s surprising us is the uptake of quality bikes stretching into the thousands. People are prepared to travel to get specialist knowledge too. Buying an e-bike is a signifi cant purchase, so customers demand the correct level of expertise. It’s not a knee jerk, bike in a box

experience, with us the service is tailored to customers.

You’ve been open long enough to watch the market’s evolution. What key changes have affected sales in past years?An important thing for us is that we offer a broad range of different branded bikes. If you offer just

the one brand when somebody arrives you are limited in meeting their criteria. We deal in all the sub sections of electrics. Importantly, our suppliers can deliver excellent back up service to us in store. Commuters don’t want to be without their bike, so it’s important to have a well-stocked and prepared workshop.

We’ve found an increased tendency to sell crank driven units, particularly the reliable Bosch system, which we are confi dent in recommending. Our mechanics have all been in for the Bosch training so we’ve become a bit of a service hub. We also have the software here to determine fault codes on a variety of bikes.

We don’t just ship a box out to anybody, we will do a full PDI and test ride on every bike, so that any problems are pre-diagnosed.

Demo days are a big part of engaging new customers – tell us about your events:It’s not just demo days, we take all customers on an accompanied test ride. This enables us to explain the bike on a one-to-one basis and we assist in any confi dence issues or tweaks needed to tailor the experience to the buyer. An awful lot of conventional cyclists are dismissive of e-bikes until you touch on whether other family members could benefi t. We appeal to quite a cross section of people, sometimes you get regular and perhaps previously experienced cyclists who just would like to keep up with a faster fi eld.

As a specialist, can you tell us is the ‘older rider’ stereotype true?We’re seeing now an increased availability of bikes that you’d be

“We take all customers on accompanied test rides so as to explain the product.”Ray Wookey, Cycling Made Easy


STORE OF THE MONTH

hard pushed to tell are electric. Commuters in particular are looking at bikes capable of powering them over a modest distance and the suitable bikes can be quite stripped down and minimalist. The technology is integrating and reducing in weight, so is aesthetically more appealing. The advent of things such as the Nyon e-bike technology from Bosch that allows in-built navigation and fi tness assessment via the on-board display will draw new plugged-in audiences over time. The system also alerts the rider to text messages.

The product has amplifi ed out to become so much more than just a power assisted bike. It will get to the stage where cyclists will ask, why would I not buy an e-bike as my next ride, it offers so much more than a standard cycle.

How lucrative is an e-bike sale in comparison to a standard cycle? The advantage of selling e-bikes is that the product is naturally of a higher retail value, but on the counter you must back this with the resource to manage a more complex sale, including qualifi ed staff and the right diagnostics equipment.

A husband and wife team will often come in and buy a pair so both are on the same playing fi eld when they go for a leisurely ride. We always ask the purpose of the customer’s use of the bike. We will assess the level of technical need

with every customer and so each sale is tailored to the customer’s skill level and budget.

And how about the workshop, what’s the most common job for an e-bike specialist?Our workshop time is largely spent PDI’ing new bikes and setting them up. The old issues don’t exist so much nowadays as the product has become plug and play. It’s a much more grown up product now. We have the battery testing equipment here, which is a big plus.

What steps must the industry take to further educate the consumer on the e-bike?We are a BEBA member, but only pitch in here and there on nationwide ideas and legislation discussion. What we do often is promote the market to local councils and organisations. We provided 12 bikes for a staff pool for Croydon Council for people to assess how they get on with power assisted cycling.

What’s coming up next for Cycling Made Easy?In future we hope to roll out more stores and would like to partner with others who are interested in joining as part of a Cycling Made Easy franchise. We’ve been so incredibly busy this season, but this is the next step for the business to branch out in 2015.

If Eurobike is anything to go by, e-MTBs are popular, is this the case on the ground?We do a lot with Scott, KTM and Haibike e-MTBs upward of £2,000 and all are performing above expectation. They all look cool and are surprisingly agile on the trail. I myself get to work and back on a Scott electric MTB. That’s 500 feet every evening.

How popular is the Cycle to Work scheme with the e-bike buyer?Largely it’s over the threshold. We’d like to get legislation through for up to £2,500 tax-free, but that’s something we’d like the providers to nudge the Government toward.

“A husband and wife team will often

come in and buy a pair of bikes so as to be on a level

playing fi eld...”Ray Wookey, Cycling

Made Easy


STORE INFO:TELEPHONE:020 8660 8823

WEB:cyclingmadeeasy.co.uk

EMAIL:[email protected]

TWITTER:@cyclingmadeeasy

LOCATION:Leo House226-230 Brighton Road, CoulsdonCR5 2NF

Ray out on a spin with a customer

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SECTOR GUIDE


Trailers & Car Racks

Whether your customer’s after a rack to take the family cycling in the Lakes

or a suction cup to transport their electric bike, it’s all available. Mark Sutton explores some of the carrier product currently proving popular...

DISTRIBUTOR:MOORE LARGE

CONTACT:01332 274200

The Outeredge cargo range starts with a trailer base frame and wheel set, retailing at £158 and then a choice of standard or delux ABS trailer box, wooden trailer platform and wire basket platform. All trailers conform to EN15918 when fully assembled.

DISTRIBUTOR:ZYRO

CONTACT:01325 741200

Minoura’s new Vergo Excel, retailing at £109.99, offers a sleek profi led aluminium body with two quick release fork supports. These can be positioned sideways, and forwards/backwards with quick release fi xings to attach to your customer’s van or MPV.

DISTRIBUTOR:PENDLE

CONTACT:01282 699555

Producing just racks and trailers, Pendle are experts in the fi eld. The fi rm produces type approved trailers for six or 12 bikes. There’s a wide range or tow bar mounted racks. There are heavy duty versions for e-bikes and even an option for carrying trikes too.

DISTRIBUTOR:PALIGAP

CONTACT:01454 313116

The Saris Bones 3, as the name suggests, will cart three bicycles around on its engineered resin frame, which boasts to have been built with 100 per cent recyclable and non-rusting materials. The Bones 3’s arced design will fi t over a car’s spoiler in many cases and will comfortably attach to most sedans, hatchbacks and minivans. A lifetime warranty is offered as standard with Bones 3.

DISTRIBUTOR:MADISON

CONTACT:01908 326 000

Thule has added the VeloCompact 926 three bike carrier. It’s the fi rst equipped with the next generation tow ball coupling. Thanks to the increased load capacity the Thule VeloCompact 926 can carry up to four bikes by adding an adapter.

DISTRIBUTOR: FISHER OUTDOORSCONTACT: 01727 798345

New to the UK, SeaSucker are an all-American company who began making chairs for boat decks back in 2005. Today, they focus their attention on creating premium bike racks that are suitable for cars of any size. Innovative vacuum formed fi xtures lock racks incredibly securely with the pump of a button. All racks are tested on tracks at 140mph, so you can be sure they are safe for your customer’s car.

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Road bikes andaccessories

Still the headlining category on the cycle retail stage, road has a wide ranging selection of product on offer. Jonathon Harker steers through some of the stocking options

DISTRIBUTOR:BOB ELLIOT

CONTACT:01772 459887

Bob Elliot brings Zefal to the trade, including road focused Air Profi l Micro Mini Pumps, made from 100 per cent aluminium for durability and weight. At just 165mm it can easily fi t in the pocket, while packing a 7bar/100psi puff. Also hitting the road market is the Shield R30 mudguard set, covering 80 per cent of the wheel and earning the respect of your fellow, unsplashed riders. The fi rm also distributes Velox Guidoline ‘High Grip’ bar tape.

DISTRIBUTOR: CHICKEN CYCLEKITCONTACT: 01525 381347

The new 2015 Tifosi range has been given a fresh look, with new logos, graphics and brand new POS. Four new models have been added which fall under the £1,000 mark and include Campy builds, broadening appeal to a much wider audience with bikes at competitive retail prices, and with all important good margins, says Chicken. The bikes are due to land around October.


DISTRIBUTOR: CONTACT:FISHER OUTDOOR LEISURE 01727 798340

LOOK is among Fisher’s key road bike offerings. The brand has been forging frames from carbon fi bre for over two decades and can consider itself a bit of a specialist in the material having built the fi rst carbon fi bre frame to win the Tour de France (back in 1986). The 796 Aerolight is amongst the latest from the brand, available in two versions – Aerolight (integrated brakes) and Light (conventional brakes).

DISTRIBUTOR: CONTACT:2PURE 0844 811 2001

The all-new NeilPryde Nazare2 aero road bike promises wind cheating aerodynamics, using NeilPryde’s C6.9 ultra-high modulus carbon fi bre and tipping the scales at 920g. 2pure also supplies Eddy Merckx and the brand new Mourenx69, a high performance bike designed for endurance racing. Elsewhere in the portfolio there are La Sal gloves from Lizard Skins, DSP Grips and Mio Global heart rate monitoring (with no chest strap).


SECTOR GUIDE

DISTRIBUTOR: SPORTLINECONTACT: 0870 034 7226

Sportline’s road bike offering has broadened this year with the launch of Rapide, a nine-bike line-up from the makers of Ridgeback. The adult range starts at £649.99 and reaches £2,999.99 for the range topping Rapide RC4. Two kids bikes are in the range – 24-inch and 26-inch – both for £399.99.

DISTRIBUTOR: I-RIDECONTACT: 01444 243000

Argon 18 and De Rosa are two of i-ride’s primary road bike offerings. The Nitrogen is Argon 18’s fi rst aero road bike, upholding the brand’s ‘optimal balance’ philosophy of lightweight, rigidity and comfort with enhanced aerodynamics. De Rosa has released a new colour for the slightly unhealthy sounding Super King, based on the Vini Fantini-Nippo race team. Look out for the Idol Disc Bike at the forthcoming Cycle Show.

DISTRIBUTOR: CONTACT:HOTLINES 0131 319 1444

The Cratoni C-Blaze Road follows the success of the MTB version. Rapid Lock Adjustment System can be adjusted by one hand and an in-moulded insect net keeps critters out. Meanwhile, Lapierre’s Sensium frame combines elements of the Race and Sports series. The 2015 Sensium 400 (£1699) features a full Shimano Ultegra drivetrain and Mavic Aksium One wheels. Also from Hotlines comes Gaerne’s G.Stilo Shoes, handmade leather Italian shoes featuring Boa closure, injection mounted plastic anatomic heel cup and an EPS Light Weight full carbon sole.

DISTRIBUTOR: CONTACT:MOORE LARGE 01332 274200

Forza has a full complement of road-based components from wheels and saddles to handlebars, forks, stems, seatposts and more. The Belgian brand splits its components over three levels: Stratos, Cirrus and Cirrus Pro, with Stratos at the entry-level and featuring trickle down tech.

Thursday 16th October 2014The Bloomsbury Ballroom, London

With an audience including over 150 media guests, including representatives from:IPC, Factory Media, Singletrack, Dennis Publishing, Rouleur, road.cc, The Guardian, The Times, The

Independent, Telegraph, Metro, Time Out, GQ, Men’s Health, Esquire, Marie Claire, Elle, FHM, Top Sante,

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For media enquiries contact: [email protected]

For sponsorship opportunities, contact: [email protected]

SECTOR GUIDE

DISTRIBUTOR:ZYRO

CONTACT:www.zyrob2b.co.uk

Abus’ Combifl ex Pro (90cm, £19) is a lightweight lock ideal for café stops or for securing accessories. Cateye’s Strada Slim (£49) is a super sleek aerodynamic computer, even using less battery and a sensor that is 47 per cent thinner. Camelbak’s Podium 610/710ml (from £8.99) features improved squeezability (says Cycling Weekly), while Fenwick’s Road Lube (£9.99) keeps the running smooth, clean and silent. Genuine Innovations’ Hammerhead Compact CO2 infl ator (£19.99) is on hand to re-infl ate on the road, while SKS’s Spaero Sport Alu pump (£34.99) has a presta screw on head that attaches to an extendable hose.

DISTRIBUTOR: CONTACT:ORBEA www.orbea.com

Orbea’s 2015 Orca is said to be 24 per cent stiffer and 20 per cent lighter than the 2014 model. How has it managed that, you might reasonably ask? One reason is thinner seat tubes and a minimised number of aluminium inserts, redesigned to cut down on unwanted bulk too. A traditional seat collar replaces the aero collar of the 2014 Orca – the top tube is robust at the head tube where it contributes to torsional stiffness, but tapers to limit unnecessary material.

DISTRIBUTOR:POWERBAR

CONTACT:(FISHER) 01727 798340

Energize Wafer is one of PowerBar’s newer concepts, launched earlier this year, an easy to eat wafer/energy bar combo. Easily split into two pieces, it comes in Berry Yoghurt or Chocolate Peanut. Another 2014 launch for the high profi le brand was the Performance Energy Blends, which feature a tasty fruit smoothie taste due to natural fruit ingredients and, via PowerBar’s own C2Max Carb Mix, is effective as a gel.


DISTRIBUTOR: PALIGAPCONTACT: www.paligap.cc

While best known for its mountain bikes, Marin also covers the road with the Argenta and Ravenna WFG bikes, the latter designed for women riders, with frames constructed from lightweight 6061 aluminium-alloy. Argenta frames feature Endurance Fit geometry – a longer wheelbase, shorter cockpit and relaxed head tube angle, for greater comfort and stability. Paligap also brings Avanti and MEKK to the trade, the latter of which has increased its line-up for 2015.



RETAIL ONLY

This month we trawled the halls of Eurobike, cornering brand managers

to bring you...


NEW PRODUCTS

CUBE BACKPACKS Direct to retail: 01905 798692

Having linked with backpack specialist Deuter, you can be sure that Cube’s new backpack lines pack in the features. There are two ranges for 2015 – the smaller Pure line and a larger capacity AMS Series where you’ll really start to notice the subtle details.

CLARKS M2

Zyro: 01325 741200

A product of note from Eurobike is the new M2, Clarks’ fi rst mineral oil unit carrying a dual 22mm piston. The lightweight nylon lever provides fi rm two-fi nger action, capable of 112 NM stopping power. IS and post mount fi ttings will be included.

SEND PRODUCT DETAILS INCLUDING A HI-RES PHOTO AND BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PRODUCT TO…

[email protected] or call 01992 535646 for a chat

BOMBTRACK HOOK

Triton imports: 02085080682

Bombtrack has added the Hook, set to retail at £1,399.99. Developed with Olaf Wit and made from Columbus steel, there’s a carbon fork up front, as well as Continental Cyclo Cross Race 35c tyres and Mavic’s Crossone disc hubs. The WeMakethings produced range is found with Triton Imports.

NORTHWAVE AERO EXTREME i-ride: 01444 243000

Designed for the track, Northwave’s new fl agship Extreme Aero shoe looks the part with a dimpled effect that minimises drag. Built around a full carbon sole, the shoe takes either Speedplay or SPD cleats and features a quickly adjustable Boa dial that makes sliding on and off a doddle.

MOUSTACHE

Direct to retail:+33 603 803810

With designer Philippe Starck, Moustache Bikes has added the M.A.S.S line – short for mud, asphalt, sand and snow. The snow, pictured here, has a mono arm fork to reduce snow build up.


RETAIL ONLY

CEEPO MAMUSHI XC Velotech Services: 01789295470

Ceepo’s fi rst MTB has been produced for Ceepo athlete Guy Crawford. The XC bike concept has now become a production model rolling on 27.5 wheels and built to an XT spec, with fi nishing kit from Deda and Rock Shox.

WETHEPEOPLE CADENCE CSG UK: 01202 732288

WeThePeople has tweaked plenty of its frames for 2015, including subtle touches like the taller head tube on the Sterling. Dan Foley’s signature Cadence frame is the only fresh addition and will land with CSG during November, with a retail price of £289.

SEND PRODUCT DETAILS INCLUDING A HI-RES PHOTO AND BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PRODUCT TO…

[email protected] or call 01992 535646 for a chat

SRAM GUIDE RSC

Fisher: 01727 798345

The new Guide brake line is made up of three tiers – the R, RS and RSC. Described as a brake capable of all applications, even downhill, the key thing about the series is the level of reliability and modulation SRAM has built into a highly detailed brake lever.

ORBEA ORDU

Direct to retail:01449 711632

The Ordu platform is an eye-catching prospect for dealers with a large triathlon customer base for 2015, with builds starting at £1,699 for the 11-speed 105 clad M30, and at the top of the pile, the £7,999 Ordu M-LTDi.

KNOG QUDOS

Moore Large:01332 274200

Once again Knog’s fi rst to the party with a nifty little idea for the fi lm enthusiasts among us.

Introducing the 400-lumen Qudos to the Eurobike crowds, the fi rm has come up with a rechargeable unit tailored to the lighting requirements of not only helmet cameras like the GoPro, (whose dimensions it matches) but DSLRs and many others. A Sony helmet cam specifi c mount is also in the works.

GIRO ALPINE DURO

Zyro: 01325 741200

One of the new shoes drawing interest on the Giro stand was the new £149 AlpineDuro, a weatherproofed shoe sporting a Vibram IceTrek sole that is bound to add plenty of traction underfoot. There’s subtle refl ective detailing and a waterproof liner clad with PrimaLoft insulation. Scuff guards add toe and heel longevity.

NEW ORCA.Luz Ardiden. Alpe d’Huez. Empire. Mortirolo. Flagstaff. Marmolada. Hautacam. La Pandera. Galibier. Angrilu. La Linea. Navacerrada. Maybe you’ve experienced some of these cycling monuments. Perhaps they are only jagged lines the maps and

– these names incite passion and memories of heroic struggles between the giants of cycling, impossible feats made painfully real by competitors who refused to surrender. It’s these storied climbs and the riders who made them sacred that inspired the newest Orca. An Orca born from competition and love of cycling, ready to write history on pavement everywhere.

CONQUERMOUNTAINS,CLIMBPODIUMS.


COMMUNITY

Community mattersWhat’s got the BikeBiz community talking? We spill the beans…

WHICH STORIES DIDTHE BIKEBIZ.COM COMMUNITY CLICK ON THE MOST?> 1. Cycle Clothing Firm enters

Dragons’ Den> 2. Bike shop invest £750,000

into new superstore> 3. Kryptonite creates Messenger Collection

after listening to messengers> 4. Bike Shop hit by £50,000 bike theft> 5. Allegedly stolen bikes seized from shop

BIRMINGHAM COUNCILLOR SAYS CYCLING IMPROVEMENTS BENEFIT ONLY ‘WHITE YOUNG MEN’ IF CLLR Alden was simply commenting on the status quo, then it is true that the current cycling environment is “discrimatory”, deterring most old, young, female or disabled people from cycling.

Yet the whole point of the Birmingham Cycling Revolution funding is to start transforming Birmingham into a cycle-friendly city for all. By objecting to it, she is in effect arguing for the *retention* of a discriminatory environment.

There is a huge appetite from young and old people, women, health patients, people with disabilities and so on to give cycling a try, if only our roads, streets and junctions supported this.

In Leicester, 64 per cent of those taking part in CTC’s community cycling programmes last year were women, 51 per cent were from ethnic minority backgrounds and 20 per cent were aged over 50. Local authorities all around Britain are gagging for the funding needed to run projects like this. It would be better for the health of Birmingham’s residents, its streets and communities, its economy and its environment, if Councillors like Dierdre Alden were to support this type of investment, rather than disparaging it. Roger Geffen,Campaigns & Policy Director,CTC

WHICH FACEBOOK POSTS GOT THEMOST EYEBALLS?> 1. BikeBiz’s snaps from Friedrichshafen> 2. Did Torch get investment in

Dragons’ Den? > 3. Bike shop owner confronts burglars

Sponsored by

This month the lucky winner will receive a precision engineered tool for on the go and workshop use, for

a wide variety of repair tasks

The Mighty 14 RRP £19.99

STAR COMMENT

“Bet a few palms were greased in that deal RT WD-40 acquires GT85 Limited.”(@UrbanManc )

“Finally working in the bike industry with @BikeBizOnline if anyone needs any-thing let me know #lovingmyjob.”@richiesetters

“Love the BikeBiz Bible...just what you need on every occasion: bikebiz.com/bikebiz-bible.”@ChillBikes

@bikebizonline

BikeBiz is keen to publish your opinions, whether you send them via email, Facebook, Twitter, BikeBiz.com or post…

BIKES & ACCESSORIES

Ansmann 0870 609 2233 www.ansmann.co.uk

BTR Direct 01273 205 945 www.btrdirect.co.uk

DMR Bikes 01404 711 611 www.upgradebikes.co.uk

M&J Distributors Ltd 01613 379 600 www.mjdist.co.uk

Madison 01908 326 000 www.madisonb2b.co.uk

The Cycle Division 0845 0508 500 www.thecycledivision.com

BIKE FRAME LABELS & GIFT VOUCHERS

Peter Dobbs 01482 224 007 peter.dobbsdesignandprint@

hotmail.co.uk

BIKE MAINTENANCE

Clarks Cycle Systems 01827 382 800 www.clarkscyclesystems.com

Weldtite 01652 660 000 www.weldtite.co.uk

CARRIER BAGS & GENERAL PRINT

Peter Dobbs 01482 224 007 peter.dobbsdesignandprint@

hotmail.co.uk

CLOTHING

Wildoo 01908 374 555 www.wildoo.co.uk

COMPONENTS

Pace Cycles Ltd 01751 460 599 www.pacecycles.com

Sonic Cycles 0207 2432 848 www.soniccycles.co.uk/b2b

USE Ltd 01798 344 477 www.use1.com

DEALER MANAGEMENT SYSTEMS

Evopos 0845 644 9424 www.evopos.com

EPOS & ECOMMERCE

Bike Rental Manager +33 686 451 310 www.bikerentalmanager.com

Citrus Lime 0845 6039 254 www.citrus-retail.com

Seanic Retail Software 01926 338 932 www.seanicretail.co.uk

RACKS

Pendle 01282 699 555 www.pendle-bike.co.uk

TYRES & TUBES

Rubena 0800 281 413 www.rubenacycle.co.uk

WATER BOTTLES

Bottlesport 08456 029 267 www.bottlesport.com

WEBSITE SERVICES

SiWis Limited 01709 511 766 www.siwis.co.uk

MARKETPLACECONTACTS

GET YOUR COMPANY FEATURED IN THEBIKEBIZ MARKETPLACE BY CONTACTING:

Richard Setters on 01992 [email protected]

TO ADVERTISE IN THESE PAGES PLEASE CONTACT [email protected] OR CALL 01992 535647


A NUMBER OF BIKEBIZ MARKETPLACE COMPANIES WILL BE AT CYCLE SHOW THIS SEPTEMBER, INCLUDING…

AnsmannK130

EVOPOSStand J140

DMR BikesStand H11

Madison(GoPro, Garmin and Lazer) Stand C11

Madison (Shimano, PRO and Elite)Stand B11

Ultimate Sports Engineering (USE)Stand G140

Citrus-LimeStand J147

Rubena TyresStand A7

25th to 28thSeptemberBirmingham NECwww.cycleshow.co.uk

CYCLE SHOW 2014

MARKETPLACE

BIKES & ACCESSORIES BIKES & ACCESSORIES

BTR Direct Ltd, 148 Portland Road, Hove, East Sussex BN3 5QL

Register for your free B2B Trade Account atw: www.btrdirect.co.uk/account/trade-applicatione: [email protected] t: 01273 205 945

Buy 4 get 1 free

on orders placed before

30 November 2014

Free Samples

available

Flexible Terms

crossbar & triangle frame bags | underseat wedge bags | accessories | covers

BIKES & ACCESSORIESBIKES & ACCESSORIES


MARKETPLACE TO ADVERTISE IN THESE PAGES PLEASE [email protected] OR CALL 01992 535647


BIKES & ACCESSORIES BIKES & ACCESSORIES


MARKETPLACE


BIKE MAINTENANCEBIKE FRAME LABELS & GIFT VOUCHERS

discpads

Online:Email:

VX

VRX

VRS

Bearing presses, Hangers and Sealed bearingsNow with double sealed Enduro bearings

wheelsmfg.co.uk

BOTTOMBRACKETSOLUTIONS 33 integrated, CNC machined aluminium complete BB Solutions




wildoo.co.uk [email protected] 01908 374555

Custom Cycle Clothing

Custom Sports Bottles

NEW! Custom Velopac Protective Smartphone Cases

THECUSTO

M

SPECIALISTS

CLOTHINGCARRIER BAGS & GENERAL PRINT

Workshop quality toolsfor the home mechanicChain Tools Including wear indicators and rivet extractorsChain Wear Indicator 07902 Rivex Chain Tool 06003Rivoli Chain Tool (5-9 speed) 06300Rivoli Chain Tool (9-11 speed) 06312Workshop Quality Spanners for all parts of your bikeSingle Headed Cone Spanners Available in sizes from13mm-22mm 15mm Pedal Spanner 06382 Forged 15mm Pedal Spanner 06371Plus a wide range of Open/Ring, Bottom Bracket andHeadset SpannersSprocket Removers Heat-treated chain whips with long cushioned handles for ease of use5,6,7 & 8 Speed 06383 9 & 10 Speed 06385Torque Wrench Ensures nuts are tightened correctly3/8” Drive, 2-20 Nm Torque Wrench 06317Multi Tools Folding allen key and screwdriver setsMulti Tool 06320 Deluxe Multi Tool 06321Basic Tools All the essentials that no toolbox should be without – including pliers, screwdrivers, cable cutters, hammers and files

WE ARE BIKE MAINTENANCEweldtite.co.uk • weldtite.co.uk/twitter • weldtite.co.uk/facebook

The ultimate range ofmechanic approved total bike cleanersDirtwash Bike CleanerCleans safely with minimum scrubbing1 Ltr Spray 03028 5 Ltr Refill Tub 03031Citrus DegreaserSpecially formulated to degrease oily parts400ml Aerosol 03002 75ml Liquid 03017 1 Ltr Refill Tub 03022 250ml Spray 03023 Disc Brake CleanerA heavy duty disc brake cleaning spray 250ml Aerosol 03042 Cleaning KitSprocket Brush 06012 Softwash Brush 06023Cleaning Brushes: Set of 2 06020 Set of 3 06013Chain Driven Degreaser Machine 06017G String Gear Cleaning Strings 06006

WE ARE BIKE MAINTENANCEweldtite.co.uk • weldtite.co.uk/twitter • weldtite.co.uk/facebook

MADE IN THE UNITED KINGDOM

BIKE MAINTENANCEBIKE MAINTENANCE

MARKETPLACE


use1.com

BE PART OF EXPOSUREBECOME A STOCKIST

EMAIL: [email protected]

use1.com

Built For SpeedR1 Aerobar & TR2 clip on Aerobar, designed for ultimate aerodynamics and adjustability to

maximise power and speed.

COMPONENTSCOMPONENTS

COMPONENTSCOMPONENTS



DEALER MANAGEMENT SYSTEMS EPOS & ECOMMERCE

EPOS & ECOMMERCE EPOS & ECOMMERCE

Calendar management . Barcode scanningTrue multi-user support . Point of sale Online booking . Integrated maintenanceClient database . Transaction histories

MARKETPLACE


TYRES & TUBESRACKS

WEBSITE SERVICESWATER BOTTLES

To find out more about dealer opportunities and Rubena pricing structure contact Rubena UK Trade Distributor

BIKE TYRESTORE.

Freephone: 0800 281413 • Email: [email protected] www.rubenacycle.co.uk • www.worldofbiketyres.com

THE WINNER’S CHOICE – MADE IN EUROPEComprehensive range of high-quality tyres and tubes

covering all disciplines from road to MTB.

Competitively priced with healthy trade margins and reliable dealer after-sales support.

KEEP YOUR CUSTOMERS IN THE LOOP WITH GAADI

Part of the Rubena cycle tyre product line-up, this easy-change tube eliminates the hassle of removing the wheel when tyre changing. Remove the sidewall of the tyre from the rim, take out the old tube and insert the open-loop tube into the tyre. Then rotate wheel

until the ends meet. GAADI can be used on any bike with a size range from 20” to 29er. Recommended retail price £12 with dealer margins of around 60%!

OFF TRACK


It’s not just the riders that were busy at Le Tour, with the anti-doping foundation collecting literally hundreds of samples at the race...

SAMPLE STATISTICS

719The Cycling Anti-Doping

Foundation said that of the

719 blood and urine samples

collected at this year’s Tour, no

‘Adverse Analytic Findings have

been recorded’. 622 samples

were collected in 2013.

I N A S S O C I A T I O N W I T H E R G O N

What bikes do you own?Ok...so, this is awkward. I don’t own a bike and haven’t

since I was knee-high to a grasshopper! I’m not against

the idea of cycling but it never seems to register highly

enough for me to give it a whirl. Each year our new BMX

ranges come out and one of two models which make me

think “Hmmmm – maybe this is the year.”

What’s your role at Split Second?It’s UK sales manager, now in my seventh year. Prior to

that I’d been in sales roles. This was my fi rst introduction

to the cycle industry. In some ways my lack of prior

knowledge helped me be open-minded about how to

approach different types of retailers, rather than having

a ‘my way or the highway’ attitude.

Which brands does Split Second represent now?Ruption, Blank, Eastern, Stolen, Colony, Academy,

Failure, SNAFU, Alienation, Division, and not forgetting

everyone’s favourite, Total BMX.

Split Second has just added a new label...Cruzee! It is a new American brand of balance bikes (or

“running bikes” as they prefer) which is hands-down the

lightest of its type in the world, weighing just 1.9kg – I

can hold one on the end of my little fi nger. Our guv’nor

Rob met the guy behind Cruzee and was bowled over

by the superb product, but the chap’s enthusiasm too.

Are you seeking new dealers in particular territories? Always! We are looking for more UK dealers and

distributors for our house brands, Blank and Ruption.

The last year or two has seen both of those brands

spreading worldwide and things are building up nicely.

At home, with the perceived downturn in BMX in recent

years, a number of dealers will always drop-off and lose

interest in the category which opens the doors for new

up-and-comers. We still believe there is room for BMX in

every town and city in the UK. Our phone is always on,

so call on 01934 743888.

IN THESADDLEDaniel Haynes, UK sales manager,

Split Second Imports

Dorel Group saw Q2 revenue rise 9.2 per cent and half year revenue rise 9.1 per cent. Dorel owns Cannondale, Schwinn, GT, Mongoose, Caloi, Iron Horse, Sugoi and Cycling Sports Group.(Source: Dorel fi nancials)

40 TO 50How old are your customers?

The 40 to 50 age group represents39 per cent of participants at

UK-based sportives in 2013(Source: SPORTS

MARKETING SURVEYS INC)

9.2%

39%


OFF TRACK

HELP US HELP YOU

Daniel Gillborn is director of Cyclescheme, the UK’s leading provider oftax-free bikes for work. You can reach him on Twitter @cycleschemeltd

WE ARE a nation of small

businesses. For every blue chip

organisation, there is a fl edgling

start-up opening its doors and

trading for the very fi rst time.

According to the Offi ce of

National Statistics there are

over two million VAT registered

businesses in the UK, and research

from the Department for Business

Innovation and Skills tells us that

99.9 per cent of private sector

organisations are SMEs who

collectively employ an estimated

14.4million people nationwide.

I’m sure you’ll agree that those

are some big numbers! These

statistics help us get a sense of the

scale of the opportunity that the

Cycle to Work scheme presents.

Right now, Cyclescheme works

with over 38,000 employers –

including some of the UK’s biggest

organisations – but there are still a

vast number of SMEs out there that

we have not been able to reach.

That’s where you can really

help us both take advantage

of this untapped market. When

you consider that 65 per cent of

Cyclescheme participants would

not have bought a bike had it not

been offered through the Cycle to

Work scheme, you begin to realise

the importance of the scheme itself

and of the opportunity available in

the SME organisations out there.

That’s why we’re urging bike

shops to ‘help us help you’. Speak

to local businesses, fi nd out if

people are aware there is a tax

break available and how easy it is

to set up a scheme. We are here to

help: Let us know what you need,

what questions you are asked and

what obstacles you come against.

Only then will we be able to tackle

this lucrative market together.

Daniel Gillborn,Director

QUOTE UNQUOTE

E X C L U S I V E B R A N D O F

Sponsored by the brands ofMoore Large 01332 274252

For more on these stories, head to www.BikeBiz.com

“I‘ve committed to delivering a cycling revolution in Northern Ireland.

Part of that goal is to establish a cycling culture that gives everyone

the freedom and confi dence to travel by bicycle.”

Transport Minister Danny Kennedy

BELL HAILS WHEEL GOOD TIME AT HAMSTERLEY FOREST RIDE FREE EVENTThe second Bell Ride Free event saw 200 riders take advantage of free uplifts, courtesy of Descend Hamsterley and Bell, riding over 30 miles of trails. The Black downhill run saw the riding get really serious, we hear, with young Morgan Webb and Adam Subbaby said to be putting in some eye-catching riding. There was a free swag bag with Bell kit for all the riders for their trouble and even chance to fi nd a golden ticket and win a helmet. There’s more Bell Ride Free events coming up, so head over to the offi cial site to fi nd out more:www.bellridefree.co.uk


LAST WORD

IT’S BEEN apparent for some time that Eurobike could knock out the “uro” in its name and rebrand as Ebike. The amount of electric bikes in Friedrichshafen would certainly allow the Messe to organise a standalone “pedelec” show. Eurobike started as a mountain bike expo, and adding motors to MTBs has created a product category that’s highly lucrative – some parts of the European bicycle business are making an awful lot of money out of e-MTBs. It’s not a category that’s impacted here in the UK yet. Sales of any electric bikes remain small beer compared to sales of non-electric bikes but here’s a prediction for you: e-MTBs have the potential to do a great deal of damage to mountain biking as a whole.

Let me get something straight – in this column I’m talking about electric mountain bikes not electric bikes used for transportation. Many e-bikes are perfect for some consumers, and the biggest thing holding them back in the UK (apart from the price) is not demand per se but infrastructure. Countries with lots of separated cycling infrastructure – such as the Netherlands and Germany – have very strong markets for e-bikes. Power-assisted bicycles can bring many new people into cycling or, just as likely, attract back those who felt cycling was no longer for them. The worries I’ll expound on here do not concern cycle-to-work electric bikes or those used on asphalt recreational trails.

Electric mountain bikes are a whole different kettle of coconuts. They currently have access to off-road trails that are meant to be used by non-motorised users. Many of

the e-MTBs on display at Eurobike were powerful beasties, motorbikes in all but name. (Fat bikes were everywhere at Eurobike, too, and, of course, there were electric fat bikes there as well. Next year at the show we’ll probably see a folding electric fat bike.)

Years of diligent land management diplomacy, by organisations such as IMBA, could be wiped out overnight by a few twats on e-MTBs. In Germany, epicentre of e-mountain biking, hikers complain of being spooked by mountain bikers riding uphill, fast, on heavy DH machines. They also complain about mountain bikers on XC machines but at least XC MTBs are human powered.

Perhaps Germany has enough mountain trails to please everybody, but in countries where trail access for cyclists is more fragile, the appearance of motor-powered mountain bikes could lead to blanket

bans for all bicycles, whether they are electrifi ed or not.

Mountain bike magazines will come under increasing pressure, from publishers and consumers, to increase coverage of the e-MTB sector and it’s likely we’ll see editorial rifts appearing as “traditionalist” human-powered stalwarts kick back against commercial pressures to give more editorial space to batteries and the like. Such rifts are already appearing. In America, veteran editor Jimmy “Mac” McIlvain resigned his long-time editor’s post at Mountain Bike Action due to his publisher’s insistence that more space had to be allocated to e-MTBs. (On his Facebook page Jimmy Mac wrote “The publisher is expanding the magazine’s coverage to motorized mountain bikes and I just can’t go along with his logic. Mountain biking is a human-powered activity.”) At Eurobike I overheard a conversation between a mountain bike magazine publisher and two of his editorial staff, with the writers chided for publishing an online story mocking electric bikes.

My beef with e-MTBs isn’t just their speed – if it was I’d also fret about bans for whippet mountain bikers, and on descents, let’s face it, e-MTBs won’t go quicker than DH machines – it’s the possibility they will sow land-management confusion. E-MTBs will be confl ated with MTBs. Down the (off) road this could lead to access restrictions for all MTBs. Suppliers with shed-loads of e-MTBs to sell will no doubt dismiss my concerns but, at the very least, I hope they will be careful how they market these machines.

“Years of diligent land management, by organisations

such as the IMBA, could be wiped out almost overnight.”

Electric mountain bikes have the power to harmCould e-MTBs create confusion over land access rules? Carlton Reid explores some of the potential issues…

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BikeBiz October - Issue 105

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