BikeBiz June 2015

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JUNE 2015

ISSUE 113

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ISSUE 113 JUNE 2015

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p11 Get Primal

p21 Braking news

p49 Due South

We secured Primal Europe boss Judith Smith as a keynote speaker for the BikeBiz Women of the Year Event this month, to share the story of her rise in the bike trade

We step inside the HQ and factory of Britain’s only sintered bike brake pad manufacturer

What makes London such a hotbed of cycling?

Why would you put up with high rents for business space?

We find out in this month’s Regional Spotlight

Up and coming Young, keen, full of energy... we highlight some of the fresh-faced rising stars of the UK bicycle trade who’ll probably be running the business in a few years time

p41

p17 In a Spin

p15 Wahoo hoodoo

p25 Lazer sights

p75 Stopping power

We report back from the latest edition of the quirky show

What’s the secret behind Wahoo’s eye-catching growth?

We shine a light on a big few years for Lazer and Madison

A round-up of brakes now available for dealers to stock

NEWS

Assos and Yellow EDITOR’S part ways COMMENT ONE OF the longest distribution deals in the trade, between Yellow and Assos, is to end on August 1st 2015.

Assos is setting up its own distribution arm in the UK, ending a 30 year-plus relationship with Yellow Ltd. “Changing distribution is always difficult and we are very grateful for the enormous work and dedication that Yellow Ltd and its owner Phil Griffiths have put into distributing ASSOS in the UK for over 30 years,” said Peter Hammerschmidt, international sales director at ASSOS. Phil Griffiths, owner of Yellow Limited, added: “We take great satisfaction from the

position that we hand over distribution. In an increasingly competitive market it is understandable that Assos needs to evolve its business model to be able to continue its huge R&D investment to remain ahead of the curve.

“Assos has been and remains a significant part of our lives. We thank them and send Assos and owners the Maier family our best wishes in all future endeavours. We now look forward to our next chapter with great anticipation and excitement.”

ASSOS SBO UK can be contacted by telephone at 0203 2862225 or via email at InfoUK@assos.com

Outdoor Trade Show hits ten

CELEBRATING ITS tenth anniversary, this year’s Outdoor Trade Show is returning to Warwickshire’s Stoneleigh Park, starting Tuesday September 15th.

Bringing together clothing, footwear and accessory products in the two exhibition halls, retailers and other trade visitors will also be able to peruse over 500 tents on the grass outdoors.

100 exhibitors have signed up to take advantage of retailers looking to diversify, including clothing brands Craghoppers, Trespass and Regatta, and a variety of accessory distributors BIKEBIZ.COM

INCREMENTAL CHANGES WELL WE’VE got the same Minister for Cycling and the same Prime Minister, so on the face of it the General Election hasn’t exactly rung the changes. Instead we’ve the same lot as before (minus the Lib Dems) who talk a good cycle race but haven’t always delivered, he said diplomatically. But in true Team Sky ‘incremental change’ fashion, promises have been extracted from MPs that edge us closer to more support for cycling.

British Cycling managed to get Cameron to pledge to “aim to increase spending further” on cycling, albeit with a caveat (turn the page for more on that). Meanwhile the CTC polled all the new MPs and found one sixth of them strongly supported cycling. Little-by-little.

The truth is, any ‘cycle revolution’ was never going to come from Westminster. Parliament is hampered with MPs scared of upsetting motorists (ie most of the country and probably most of the people reading this column, me included). Instead we can look forward to politicians slowly (probably very slowly) daring to do a little more for cycling here and there, usually after the nation and industry have been crying out for it. That’s what my crystal ball says, anyway.

The London Mayoral election, only a year away, feels like it has more chance of affecting cycling.

We’ve had a couple of Mayors who’ve recognised cycling can keep the city moving. Likely the next one will too, just let’s not be expecting a revolution. jharker@nbmedia.com

including cycle trade stalwart Extra UK, Burton McCall and Lyon Equipment.

Around 1,500 retail visitors are expected to attend the OTS, running until Thursday September 17th.

OTS organiser Marta Williams said the show’s cross-industry appeal makes it more and more vital: “The show has become increasingly relevant for brands that want to present their ranges to a new customer base, making OTS a must for all retailers looking for crossover products, with many products relevant to the cycling market.” 0161 437 4634 BIKEBIZ JUNE 5

NEWS

CONSERVATIVES PLEDGE TO DOUBLE CYCLING BY 2025 The new British government has been installed: Will it manage to live up to its pre-election vow of raising the spend on cycling per person to £10 per person to save the NHS money and back the UK bicycle business?

THE NEW British government has promised to aim to increase spending on cycling to £10 per person – so long as it can “afford to”.

Prime Minister David Cameron made the pledge pre-election, saying he wants cycling to be “the natural choice for shorter journeys” and stating his aim to boost cycle spend per person to £10 – the golden number widely seen by cycle advocates (and the Transport Select Committee) as necessary to build a robust cycle nation.

However, the Conservative Party included the potentially significant caveat: “This is something we can only afford if we continue to secure a strong economy” – adding it is sticking with its long term

economic plan to cut the deficit, rather than taking the view that supporting cycling now would have long term benefits for the economy, NHS, et al, and also in cutting the deficit.

Cameron made the pledge in response to British Cycling’s #ChooseCycling network –

MPs, 114 of which (over a sixth) strongly support cycling, according to the CTC. The organisation has been working to identify cycling’s allies before the new Parliament returned to Westminster, and give cycle campaigners the means to hold government to account should this level of

“This is something we can only afford with a strong economy.”

David Cameron, Prime Minister a group of major British businesses that believe more cycling would boost business and employees who wrote to party leaders on the topic.

Post election, UK Parliament has 650 new

support slip, as part of ‘Vote Bike’. Since the election, the CTC has been contacting new MPs to encourage them to join the All Party Parliamentary Cycling Group. allpartycycling.org

UK’S BIGGEST BIKE RETAIL CHAIN SNAPPED UP MONTHS OF speculation finally ended in the acquisition of the UK’s largest cycle-specific retail chain, Evans Cycles.

PAI Partners – owner of Cotswold Outdoors – were among the groups linked with Evans but it was ECI Partners, a UK growth-focused, midmarket private equity firm, that agreed terms with owner Active Private

Equity, the growth capital firm specialising in consumer brands.

On completion, ECI will hold a significant majority stake in Evans with the remainder held by management. Further details were not disclosed.

Despite the significant move, it’s business as usual for Evans Cycles, with the Evans management team,

headed by Nick Wilkinson, continuing to lead the business, in partnership with the new owners.

“The combination of an integrated, nationwide store footprint and strong ecommerce capabilities makes Evans uniquely positioned to be the cycling retailer of choice as multi-channel shopping habits evolve,” a press statement read.

THIS MONTH WE ASK THE BIKEBIZ TEAM: How many bike do you currently own?

Executive Editor: Carlton Reid carltonreid@mac.com

Production Executive: Elizabeth Parker eparker@nbmedia.com

Publisher: Mark Burton mburton@nbmedia.com

Editor: Jonathon Harker jharker@nbmedia.com Answer: Three, but only the sit-up-andbeg is rideable.

Deputy Editor: Mark Sutton msutton@nbmedia.com Answer: Three at present.

When there’s room, more…

Account Manager: Richard Setters rsetters@nbmedia.com Answer: Three. Two road bikes and one mountain bike. Limited by space in the flat.

Design: Dan Bennett dbennett@nbmedia.com Answer: I own one Mountain Bike and one Beach Cruiser :) Marketing & Circulation bike.subscriptions@c-cms.com

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

© NewBay Media 2015 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.

6 BIKEBIZ JUNE

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NEWS

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Euro reports turn up statistics galore REPORTS BY both the European Cyclists’ Federation and various Euro trade associations have turned up some juicy facts about the cycle market this month. Sadly, the UK is still lagging behind in terms of verifiable figures, so for now at least, here’s a feast of highlights from mainland Europe: Q The average bike sale value in the Netherlands is a whopping €844, while the market is valued at 0.89bn, with 1.05 million bikes sold annually. E-bike sales are up 16.15 Y-O-Y to 223,000.

Q Germany has churned out some 4.1 million sales annually, up 7.9per cent Y-O-Y. The growth of the market now puts the value at €2.16 billion, with the average sale worth €528.

Q French industry organisations UNIVELO and FPS report that bicycle sales in 2014 reached 2.38 million units, an increase of 7 per cent. The average price also rose, by 1.5 per cent to €307.

Q Finland has been ranked number one in the world for cycle tourism, according to the ECF.

Q The same report suggested that Slovenia is the most lucrative country in which to own a bike shop, with nearly 120 bike sales per 1,000 inhabitants. Bulgaria ranks lowest in Europe with less than 20 per 1,000. The UK sells around 55 per 1,000.

Q Unsurprisingly, it’s the Netherlands that on a typical day sees the highest bike usage at 36 per cent of the population taking to two wheels daily.

Q Department for Transport stats released this month suggest Brits are cycling further, posting a 3.8 per cent mileage increase year-on-year. The stats suggest we rode 3.25 billion miles, but we’re unsure how that could possibly be measured accurately.

SHORTS Cycle Republic now in Nottingham Halfords’ sub-brand Cycle Republic is opening its fifth shop – the second outside London. The new outlet will be in Nottingham on Maid Marian Way, a few doors down from an Evans Cycles branch.

Is weight loss affected by exercise or not?

Q If it’s cycle safety that interests you, going by the ratio of fatalities to cyclist numbers, Portugal and Cyprus are, by some margin, the most dangerous places to ride.

Luxembourg, Malta, Sweden, the Netherlands and Denmark are statistically the safest, with the latter two known for quality infrastructure and high usage.

Q The average sale price of a bike in the UK is said to be just £233 or €326.

For much more cycling news and statistics, keep an eye on BikeBiz.com

Largest cycle event in the UK coming this month OVER HALF a million people are due to take part in Bike Week, running this month from June 13th to 21st.

Bike Week events take place across the nation, from leisure rides to cycle to work ‘buddy’ rides, and bike breakfasts, with this year’s lead theme being ‘ride to work’.

The purpose of the week is to demonstrate that cycling is a convenient way to get around and capitalising BIKEBIZ.COM

CYCLE

on the rising number of people taking up two wheeled travel.

According to the National Travel Survey, over 4.6 million people cycle three or more times a week.

Cyclescheme and Cycling Scotland are among the businesses and organisations that have already pledged their support.

There are opportunities for bike retails to get involved at www.bikeweek.org.uk

The British Journal of Sports Medicine busted the “myth” that physical activity could prevent obesity last month. However it didn’t mention one of the report authors has a number of best-selling books on healthy eating, so it pulled the story for a number of days, before re-publishing it noting the author’s interests. Meanwhile the University of East Anglia published a report stating switching from a car to cycling or walking was associated with an average BMI reduction of 0.32kg/M2 – a rough average of 1kg per person.

Jobst Brand RIP Jobst Brandt, the legendary does-not-suffer-fools-gladly author of The Bicycle Wheel has died. He was 80. Brandt of the San Francisco Bay area was an engineer who loved cycling, but didn’t work in the bicycle industry directly – his famous book was published in 1981 by tyre company Avovet, for whom he consulted.

Canary Wharf goes Bespoke The new Crossrail Mall in Canary Wharf has seen its first cycle shop open. You’ll find Bespoke on level minus two, complete with three fitting studios that will also double as treatment rooms. Over 5,000 square foot, Bespoke will use Retul and its own proprietary software to fit clients.

Don’t stress, get on a bike Stanford University’s Calming Technology Lab found that cyclists are 40 per cent less likely to be stressed during and after their commutes compared to those who drove or took public transport. Data was gleaned from 20,000 commutes made by 1,000 commuters.

For breaking news visit:

www.bikebiz.com BIKEBIZ JUNE 7

KIRKLEY CYCLES

Tim Irwin, owner at Kirkley Cycles

From sheep to cycles, from farm to bike shop Carlton Reid rides out to a rural bicycle business that, from Google Streetview, still looks like a farm.

LOCATION, LOCATION, location.

That’s the aphorism that’s said to be essential for business success. If you can afford it, High Street is believed to be best. But how about creating a bicycle business on a farm, some miles distant from a major city? That’s what Tim Irwin did. Thorneyford farm in Northumberland, twelve miles from Newcastle, is now Kirkley Cycles, and there’s no honeypot off-road trail nearby, no Rutland Water style reservoir to attract the punters. Trading since 2012 (and planned out, in detail, in the three years before that) Kirkley Cycles is a bike shop and workshop with a cafe, and has grown by becoming a social hub. Kirkley Cycles stages cyclo-cross races; it was the start venue for this year’s Tour of Northumberland road race; it hosts Go-Ride coaching sessions for kids on Saturday mornings; it has hands-on sessions for would-be mechanics; and it has become the out-of-town rendezvous for a number of road clubs.

“I’ve lived on the farm since I was a child,” said Irwin. “It always used to be busy when I was little but then it went though hard times, and I was the only one left to look after it. It’s great now that it’s busy again.”

I visited on a (sunny) weekday and it was busy. This is impressive because, as a scroll-past on Google 8 BIKEBIZ JUNE

Streetview would attest, Kirkley Cycles isn’t an urban farm it’s very much an out-in-the-sticks Northumbrian farm, with sheep still grazing in the fields that separate the farm buildings from the road.

This road might be one of the key recreational routes favoured by Tyneside roadies but there are numerous cyclist-friendly cafe stops in the area to choose from and so Irwin has had to work hard to

carbon rims while we talked) and has been a cyclist since his youth.

“I’ve always ridden a bike. At first it was to get to Pont [i.e., Ponteland, the local village] from seven-years old because my parents were busy working on the farm. Sometimes I used to cycle to school in Newcastle, too.”

After he left school a friend suggested he should move to London and work as a cycle courier.

“Farming is tough.

Working in a bike shop is comfortable.”

Tim Irwin, Kirkley Cycles magnetise his business, and he’s done this with cycle-specific conviviality.

However, the graft he’s put in doesn’t even begin to compare to his former life. He said: “Farming teaches you resilience. You may think you’ve reached the end of your comfort zone but farming takes you way beyond that. No matter how many hours I work on Kirkley Cycles, it’s nothing like the hours I’d have to work as a farmer.”

Irwin is a cat-4 roadie (he was glueing Conti tubs to Shimano C34

“I couldn’t believe it – getting paid to ride a bike all day? I loved it.”

Starting in 1990, he was a messenger – on a Cannondale mountain bike – for two years. “On a good week I was taking home £600, a fortune. Even now people don’t believe I could have been making that much, but it was the golden years of being a messenger, before email, when everything in London still had to be carried around.”

After travel time in Australia Irwin returned to the farm in 1993 following the death of his father, and

studied agriculture at the nearby Kirkley Hall agricultural college. He took over the running of the farm after the death of his uncle, who had run up large debts thanks to a “gentleman farmer” lifestyle. Irwin had to run the farm almost by himself. “It’s only a couple of miles to Pont but when you’re out looking after sheep all day you may not see anybody else for days. It can be a lonely life, with little in the way of money to show for it. If I was to keep the farm I knew I had to do something different.”

Now with four staff, and a steady stream of customers, Irwin has like-minded people for company, not sheep. And customer footfall is on the up and up. Part of the farm’s barn has been turned into a pump track, and a fitness business uses another part of the barn for “boot camp” sessions. Much of Irwin’s land has been tenanted out to a neighbour, and to further diversify the business Irwin has plans for some other parts to be turned into a nature trail.

Does he have any regrets, any desire to go back to farming?

“No. Farming is tough. I couldn’t go back to that life now. Working in a bike shop is comfortable, and I like riding my bike too much.” www.kirkleycycles.com BIKEBIZ.COM

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PRIMAL EUROPE

Starting from scratch

Judith Smith, Director at Primal Europe

Primal Europe director Judith Smith has had an impressive career trajectory in the bike trade. Ahead of her keynote speech later this month at the BikeBiz Women of the Year event, Jonathon Harker quizzed the Primal Europe boss on how she built up the business…

Are you looking forward to the Women in Cycling event? And your keynote speech?

I am excited, and also very thankful for the invite. Truthfully, I am also a little nervous if I am honest! The awards are a celebration of all women within the industry, and their successes, and I am very proud to be a part of it.

Whenever people ask me about Primal and how it all started, I tell them the whole story and people do seem to be amazed, and really interested in how it all started. I do sometimes find it hard to comprehend what I have achieved to date, as I am just the same person I was before all this started – married with children, a dog, doing a job I love, to the best of my abilities.

However, I wouldn’t be where I am today, without the love and support of my family though – helping me to stay grounded and supporting me through the highs, and lows of setting up and running a new business.

BIKEBIZ.COM

How big was the Primal Europe operation when you took it on back in 2011?

I set the company up from scratch from home, whilst juggling being a mum, and a having a husband away in the Navy. Never one to shy away from a new challenge, I embraced the experiences and the new opportunities in front of me. Skype

build a platform for the brand to grow from. I set myself sales goals to reach each month, whilst still getting to grips with the business side.

Over the following few weeks I was researching business fundamentals such as setting up bank accounts, merchant bank accounts, using couriers, understanding and dealing with multi currencies, import tax,

“I set myself sales goals to reach each month, while getting to grips with business” became my new best friend, where all my training on computer packages and software, and accounting happened – usually late at night due to the seven hour time difference! I did have a few accounts transferred over to me which were Europebased, but the main objective for me was to start on the UK market, and

training myself in Sage, VAT, import and exporting to list just a few.

Staff training took me to Las Vegas and Interbike in September 2011, and a great chance to see where the brand sat in the US market. I remember returning and going to the NEC Cycle Show a few weeks later and thinking ‘wow’ life is a little

surreal now – from then it’s been a whirlwind of shows, meeting people, stats, adventures, new skills, networking – along the way I have met some amazing people, and worked with some great people, which I am truly grateful.

By the summer of 2012, James (my husband) had been made redundant from the Navy, and was key to enable the business to expand further.

Within six weeks, the extra growth meant that we had to employ our first member of staff to join us, and to date we now have a team of seven amazing people, who are great advocates for the Primal brand, and everything we want to achieve within that. Our staff are a mix of sporty people, who also includes two apprentices, who have completely changed my view on working with younger people, and what they have to give to a company they are passionate about.

And how big is the Primal Europe operation now? You’ve had four office moves?

BIKEBIZ JUNE 11

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PRIMAL EUROPE cycling, with business, and both have grown together and evolved. We have a great mix of male and female riders on the team, and normally on race days I can be found loading and unloading the team’s equipment on the day, setting up gazebos, stood in the feed zone or passenger in the team car. Not the most glamourous part, but a crucial of the support set up over all.

I am not one for sitting back and watching others, and believe you should never expect others to do a job, you wouldn’t be happy to do yourself. I like to be able to support and help the team, and love to see the riders achieve their goals. Having tried racing once, I have totally respect for the amount of hard work and training involved, but I do get satisfaction in knowing I have helped them in achieve their goals.

KEY INFO The inaugural BikeBiz Women of the Year event takes place on June 25th at Look Mum No Hands, Old Street, London at 3pm. Featuring guest speakers – including Judith Smith – networking drinks and three awards: Rising Star, Pioneer and overall Woman of the Year.

Tickets cost just £35 and limited sponsor opportunities remain.

Find out more from Richard Setters, contactable on rsetter@nbmedia.com

Moving house is hard enough, when it comes to moving a business, that’s another level of stress and organisation skills. To date we are on office move four, and a long way from where Primal started back in 2011 when I used to work from home.

After James left the Royal Navy 2012 he joined me in working at Primal. We realised that living and working together was not a great mix long term, so we ventured into our first offices together in August 2012.

We only lasted there about six months before we were asked to move on, we had basically outgrown our hosts, who were a start up business centre.

Our current new office, which we have been in since June 2014, has plenty of extra growing space, so hopefully this will be the last for a while. Every day we get to enjoy the mountains and green space of Plymbridge Woods and Dartmoor mountains. Makes cycling to work very easy when you can explore these areas on route to the office.

We have a great mix of staff, who are all a great asset to the company.

We currently have seven of us at Primal, and I believe this will rise to nine by the end of the year as we plan further growth, both in the UK and Europe.

We have already grown an additional 30 per cent this year to BIKEBIZ.COM

date, and sun has only just started shining! The growth in cycling as a whole is amazing; it’s great to see so many cyclists out riding, and using the bike as a form of transport, as well as for leisure.

We have also are partnered and support some amazing companies including the International Mountain Bike Association (IMBA Europe), European Cyclist Federation (ECF) and VOXwomen (a channel dedicated to all things women’s

from Primal Wear Inc., who loved our passion for cycling. In 2011 our first Road race team was launched called Primal Europe. We were sponsored with clothing from Primal for our 12 person team, but ended up with an additional 15 people all wearing and supporting us in this project.

At the end of the 2011 season, we had all these people that had spent money on kit, and wanted to make sure as we progressed, we did not leave the original team behind. So

“To date we are on office move four and a long way from where we started...” cycling) to name a few, which allows us to give back something to the cycling community.

How are you involved with the team?

The team is how I met Primal. In September of 2010 James and I went off to the Cycle Show at Earls Court to see who was interested in our vision for the future, to create a road race team with a lasting legacy within our local community. After several hours at the show I found myself chatting to some friendly Americans

we set up a new cycling club in Plymouth called RUTrainingToday CC. This club still runs today, and has over 60 members. It has achieved Go-Ride status, and has an amazing team of volunteers who give up their time, to get more people on bikes.

In 2013, we first used the term #peoplesteam, a reference to where the team started, a local club organized by fans. The cycling team has continued to grow and professionalise, and we have plans to keep that going forwards into 2016.

We have mixed our passion of

What’s next for Primal Europe? Are you looking for more dealers to take the brand on?

There’s always something going on in Primal, and 2015/2016 will be no different. We never take anything for granted and understand that we are in the toughest part of the cycling market. Eurobike this year will see some great new products launched, and a key time for us to build upon the success we have achieved to date. Pop in and see us at the show and we would be more than happy to go through all the new lines with you!

We will continue to grow the custom side of Primal, both in the UK and Europe: Building on past successes, and the current business model.

We are always looking for new dealers to take our brand, both in the UK and Europe. If you are interested please email us on judith.s@ primalwear.com or call 01752 696290, where one of the team will be able to help you.

Any final thoughts for the trade?

Sport England found that participation in cycling expanded by 27 per cent between 2006 and 2014.

The UK bicycle market was worth just over £950m last year, and Mintel think by 2019 this will rise to £1.3bn.

So although we are placed in a very competitive market, this can be seen by all the new brands coming to market, each with their own vision of where they sit; but I truly believe Primal has something different to offer and is definitely a brand to watch in the future. #ChoosePassionChoosePrimal BIKEBIZ JUNE 13

WAHOO

® StuartPearce

Kevin Abt, Sales and Marketing Director for Wahoo Fitness Europe

WATCHING WAHOO Wahoo’s rise has been eye-catching, seeing it appear in Apple Stores and link up with Team Sky. Jonathon Harker grills Kevin Abt, sales and marketing director for Wahoo Fitness Europe on the firm’s future The UK is the biggest market for Wahoo behind the US. Why? The UK is seeing impressive growth for us. We are only five years old but we had a big success with getting into Apple Stores three years ago. We went from being a local US brand to going global quickly – straightaway you could buy Wahoo in any Apple Store.

The UK market is easily number two for us, for a couple of reasons.

First, the UK market is growing.

There’s great awareness of cycling and a fantastic community.

Secondly, we’ve been with Team Sky for 15 months and while the brand has cache around the world, it is particularly strong in the UK. We’re an official supplier to Team Sky and they work with us – it’s a huge deal and they have supercharged our growth.

From 2013 to 2014 we grew eight times over. We’re a young company so we started from a low base, but 2014 was spectacular.

2015 won’t see that level of growth again but our ambition is to double business in 2015 – that’s without any new products this year – it’s just about us telling our story better.

We are very excited about it.

BIKEBIZ.COM

Rumour has it there are two significant launches coming up...

For the last four years at Eurobike Wahoo has had some presence and there will be some announcement at the show connected to the cycling market. It will be a logical addition to our existing range.

Wahoo won a Eurobike award last year – was that a big deal?

It had a great effect. With so many new launches at the show it’s a case

we did a lot of groundwork on it before it launched. Now we are seeing that story play out.

Is it fair to say connectivity with plenty of other devices is integral to Wahoo products?

Connectivity is at the heart of us.

When we came into the sector we took a view on the market that there were some fantastic, wellestablished brands but they had not embraced smartphones.

“Apple’s Watch will benefit everyone in the wearable market.”

Kevin Abt, Wahoo of how do you stand out? The Eurobike Awards add legitimacy.

Our European dealers were excited but it was also helpful in new markets outside the region. It is a great conversation starter.

What’s your best seller?

The Kickr Power Trainer is our biggest performer. It’s been on the market for two and a half years and

In the [Apple] App store there were many apps, and just a handful of top notch ones.

If you buy Wahoo you have a selection of apps to choose from including Strava, Map My Ride, Cyclemeter and more. We did not want a closed system. We’ve had plenty of people reaching out to us so we now support App developers with a development kit.

It’s hard to be good at both hardware and software. If you’re big like Apple you can manage it, but we’re obviously not that large so we chose to focus on hardware.

Have you any thoughts on the future of cycling tech? What about the growth in wearables?

We’re at the very start – there’s so much more to go.

Apple’s Watch will benefit everyone in that space – they have started the wearable device conversation with consumers.

The question now is: Who can own a niche in that market? We are dedicated to a high level attitude – the serious cyclists, serious runners, etc and we will look at gym-goers. The hours they spend exercising – how can we help you make the most out of the time you spend working out and training?

How can we give you accurate data so you can see how you progress?

When they have the numbers and statistics, what do they do with it?

We deal direct with retailers and we’re looking for quality over quantity, for well trained partners who appreciate premium. www.wahoofitness.com BIKEBIZ JUNE 15

BIKEBIZ.COM

BIKEBIZ XXXXXXX XX

SPIN LONDON

Tratar, now with Yelowland

Yelowland’s bronzed saddles

Quella’s new belt drive rig

A Temple Cycles complete

Spin has spun…

Spin is done for another year leaving us pondering whether some smaller fish are about to become much bigger players in the industry. Mark Sutton rounds up some of the key points from the London exhibition…

MANGO BIKES An emerging star in the direct sale market, Mango has further bolstered its market challenging position with the recruitment of Brant Richards as a design consultant, as well as gathering investment from former Planet X backers David Hanney and Toby Baxendale.

With a sub-£1,000 focus, the brand has a catalogue of standard and customisable fixed, road and commuter bikes, starting from as little as £229.

Ben Harrison and Jezz Skelton, the pair who created Mango Bikes at University told BikeBiz: “We’re two years in now and have 13 staff handling our orders, marketing the brand and helping out. So far we’ve seen a bike of ours gonged BikeRadar’s best value urban bike, but that’s not to say we’re not BIKEBIZ.COM

exploring potential higher up. In the pipeline at the moment we’ve our first full carbon frameset due July, which will sell at £800, as well as potential to develop folding bikes and more.”

Mango also told us that the business turned over £1,000,000 worth in the past year and has forecasts to more than treble that in the near future.

“We’re looking at rolling out an own-brand store next year,” concludes Harrison.

QUELLA Sticking with suppliers of fine fixed goods, Quella has also been busy hooking up collaborations, including one with a yet-to-named high-end fashion brand, launching June 5th. Set to be adorned with both the retailer and Quella’s branding, the only details a

tight-lipped Quella could offer was that we should expect a vintage lugged build.

With a site relaunch due this summer, there’s to be the introduction of a new tab for independent resellers to log on and arrange B2B trade. A custom bike builder will be a big part of the site.

Also set for an introduction will be the brands first ever belt driven bike, coming in at just shy of £800.

Finally, an overdue addition to the catalogue – a women’s bike – will also come in the form of a new eight-speed rig.

RESOLUTE BAY Having met a Kickstarter target earlier in the year, Resolute Bay are now shipping their Leicester-made jeans to early adopters.

So, what’s special about these?

Noticeably, they get longer. With a

zip across the bum, the trouser expands when unzipped, revealing a reflective panel that’s impossible to miss when lit up by the flash of car headlights.

With the expanded posterior, the jeans adapt to an in the saddle posture, with the waistline rising with your position. When off the bike, simply zip up and nobody will know the difference.

Two versions, a Japanese Selvedge Demin and a Cordura fabric, are for sale at £159 and £130 per pair, respectively.

With a German distributor already lined up and the firm in discussion with bike shops, the brand is very keen to hear from bike stores interested in upping their urban clothing stocks. In the near future Resolute also tells BikeBiz it is looking at merino tees and sweatshirts with a cycling angle.

BIKEBIZ JUNE 17

SPIN LONDON Accessories from Temple

E2pod’s E-conversion kit

Peloton making the teas

Resolute Bay’s reflective jeans

Pilgrim soft goods

Fresh additions for Bobbin

VULPINE Having had a 99 per cent waterproof jacket in the line for some time, Vulpine has decided it was about time they added a fully weatherproof garment in the form of the new Utility jacket, complete with zip-off hood.

Available in a mens or women’s cut, this multi-layer garment is a response to Vulpine customers asking for a lightweight jacket suitable for a British winter. Lighter than the prior Epic-Cotton made jacket, the Utility is fully taped, yet can be worn next to the skin thanks to a super soft inner layer.

Breathability is delivered via side fins that channel the air around the body.

Six colours, three for men and the same for women, are now on sale at £229.

E2POD Designed and produced by the 18 BIKEBIZ JUNE

UK’s ARCC Innovations, the E2Pod is a retrofittable electric bike system, currently sold adorned to either a Moulton or Cinelli complete bike package – or, by special request, to any bike of your customer’s choice.

Based around a 36V Bosch battery, which as an added bonus bears USB recharge ports, the power supplies a 250W motor capable of offering 12 levels of power. The system is designed to compensate for the terrain, adjusting itself in the hills and on the flats to save battery power.

With an output of 15.5 mph, the system will offer between 30 and 45 miles range, depending on the landscape.

Interestingly, the batteries are just £100 a pop, making the E2Pod system one of the cheaper power sources out there.

At present the firm is offering the two complete bike builds

kitted out with the power-assist kit, with the Cinelli Mystic Rob costing £2,750 and the Moulton £2,900.

For individual retrofit requests, the firm is contactable on roger. phillips@arcc.co.uk.

PILGRIM CLOTHING Pilgrim Cycling is a new casual clothing product from graphic designer Tom Probert. Printed in Bermondsey, the t-shirt collection features artwork from a number of different illustrators.

In the long term Probert hopes to turn the brand into a fullyfledged clothing brand, but in the meantime is happy for independent bike stores to get in touch if they like the designs and would like stock.

He sells coffee too, for any bike cafes interested in a link up. Email tom@pilgrimcycling.com for more details on trade prices and availability.

Vulpine’s new waterproof

BOBBIN BICYCLES With celebrity chef Deliciously Ella now rolling about on a Bobbin Birdie and showing it off in her new best-selling book, demand for Bobbin Bicycles continues to grow and grow.

For ladies considering a purchase, the new Blackbird at £400 is one for cycling the city in comfort, with a more upright position, flat bar and eight Shimano Altus gears to play with.

Specced with kickstands and carrier racks, as well as puncture resistant Kenda tyres, it’s practical for the commuter, but the stockist will also be pleased to hear that there is a sealed bottom bracket and a Weinmann wheelset that should last a fair few miles without any trouble.

For those taking part in events like the Eroica Britannia, the downtube shifter clad Scout may also be worth a look.

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DP BRAKES

THE GREAT BRITISH

BRAKE OFF DP Brakes might be new to the cycle trade, but the UK manufacturing stalwart has decades of experience in putting a stop to wheeled travellers. Jonathon Harker finds out first-hand at the Nuneaton HQ… THE GREAT British Brake Off? DP Brakes is said to be the only manufacturer on these shores producing sintered brake pads for the cycle and motorbike markets.

Over at its Nuneaton base, technical director Frank Edwards tells BikeBiz that the manufacturing process has some similarities to baking: You mix the material, including a few secret ingredients, blend them, then compact them into a ‘biscuit’. Once they are placed onto a back plate it’s into the furnace and voila – one sintered brake pad ready for packaging, which is also handled in-house.

DP Brakes’ background is in motorbikes and going further back still, in aircraft. Ironically, it was due to poorly performing motorbike brakes that the firm got its start.

Back in the late ‘70s, disc brakes had come to the motorbike market in a big way, with imports streaming into the UK. The trouble was, they were no good in the wet – some brands even had the nerve to put a warning label on its bikes saying so.

Eventually the government got BIKEBIZ.COM

involved and the search was on for motorbike disc brakes that could handle the wet.

Enter Dunlop Aviation, which had produced disc brake pads for aeroplanes since the 1940s.

Sintered pads turned out to work just as well for motorbikes as for aeroplanes and after some tinkering Dunlop turned out its first

manufacturing and distribution in-house.

“So we’ve been making sintered brake pads for a long time,” says tech director Edwards. “85 to 90 per cent is exported to around 25 countries, the United States being our main market.”

DP Brakes began to look for new markets to move into and develop

“We always try to support local firms.”

Frank Edwards, DP Brakes

sintered brake pads for motorbikes in the early ‘80s – the Dunlopad – through a new arm of the business called DP Brakes. After Dunlop restructured, DP Brakes broke away from its former parent and a few years further on took production in-house in Nuneaton away from Dunlop, so it now was in control of its own destiny, with

product for, including the snowmobile and cycling sectors.

“We’d been developing the bicycle brakes for some time, trying to offer a simple range.”

Brakes aren’t just about developing material, Edwards explains: “We have high bond strength – that is the most important thing in braking, but not

a lot of people understand that.”

DP Brakes now has around 15 employees and has been based in the same trading estate since June 1983, though the technology has moved on vastly since then.

“Initially we mimicked what Dunlop did, but we went on to improve it so we’re more efficient.

We more than halved manufacturing time to between three and a half to four hours by developing fast heating and cool down methods. And we’re looking to reduce that again.”

DP Brakes started working with Claud Butler last year, offering the distributor a full brake range for the first time, not to mention based in the UK with all the lead-time advantages that implies. DP Brakes is mindful of its position as a UK manufacturer, says Edwards.

“We always try to support local firms. The copper plating is done in the UK over in Birmingham’s jewellery quarter.

“For the powders we use UK distributors wherever we can. We have 13 different powders bought BIKEBIZ JUNE 21

DP BRAKES A local firm provides DP Brakes with bespoke tooling

Pads are carefully placed in the stack ready for the 8000C temperatures of the furnace

in and there’s a maximum of eight per product.”

The technical director goes on to reveal overseas companies have offered to make product and put the DP Brakes label on. “That has been pretty tempting, but in the long term it’s not attractive. You can’t control the quality. We’re well established and have a high level of skill. We have in-house training and specialised kit that people won’t have worked on before.”

The DP Brakes team appreciate that brands don’t necessarily sell brakes. “People just want pads to work well, so it’s often down to the person in the shop. If they know it and you’ve got the product in their hands then they’ll recommend it.”

RECIPE FOR BRAKING “We could have produced the brakes on a conveyor belt system, where you can churn out a higher volume of product, but we are looking for high quality product.

That’s the principle we built the company on.”

Production begins with the back plate. Mostly made in nearby Leicester then sent to Birmingham for copper plating, plates are tested for thickness and integrity to make sure they won’t blister.

22 BIKEBIZ JUNE

The 250 tonne press creates the ‘biscuit’ ready for the furnace

DP’s cycle pad packaging will be co-branded with Claud Butler

Next it’s time to mix those powders, mostly copper, graphite, iron, aluminium and some secret additions. They’re individually weighed, checked, then it’s into the blender for half an hour (“you don’t want to over blend them”). Next a (250 tonne) hydraulic press creates the ‘biscuit’ where getting it super flat and density is key – with no glue to keep them together,

pad take to cool at room temperature?). Temperature probes in the stack will help cut the time down further. Once they’ve cooled, everything is batched for traceability and checked again.

In-house packaging means the sintered brake pads leave the premises all ready for the shop.

The DP Brakes team reckon they make around 200,000 motorbike

“You could churn out higher volumes, but we focus on quality.”

Frank Edwards, DP Brakes remember. The pads are built up in a stack ready for the furnace in a special sequence. For motorbike pads they are stacked in 700s, but cycle brakes are much smaller – and fiddly. The firm is looking into bring a robot in to handle cycle product.

Once inside the vacuum furnace, current is sent into graphite rods which then radiate heat – a whopping 800C – for three hours.

Rapid cooling via circulation of liquid nitrogen brings the temperature down quickly (just how long would it take for a 800C brake

and cycle products a year. That’s a lot of product to fit into DP Brakes’ modestly sized unit, but thanks to the canny team, space is not a problem. A sizeable investment was made into an automated storage box (or vertical warehouse) that handles 32 tonnes of stock. It took a week to set up, but it has opened the factory out with fewer racks and a reduced mezzanine level.

Edwards is keen to impress that the privately owned firm is happy to plough investment into innovations like that to keep DP at the fore.

Despite all the advancements, DP isn’t short on continuity, with plenty of staffers having worked there for over a decade, and all based in the same trading estate it was set up over 30 years ago.

Back then the brake manufacturer’s catalogue was a simple seven-paged laminated leaflet. Now they’re at 268 pages in the motorbike catalogue alone.

So, is DP simply looking to the cycle market while the motorbike market is reportedly having a tougher time of late?

Not so, Edwards says: “The motorbike market is always changing and while some parts have dipped, others have grown in their place. In the US, seven years ago our lead product was for a quad bike and now our bigges seller is a Harley Davidson replacement.

“To a point you are distributor dependent too – a good one can make all the difference.”

That longevity and experience is something DP Brakes is hoping to bring to the cycle market, taking learnings from the motorbike world to the cycle sector – not unlike how it all began for the firm, bringing aeroplane technology to the motorbike world. claudbutler.co.uk BIKEBIZ.COM

LAZER

Lazer sights Nailing a deal with British Cycling and Team GB has been the icing on the cake for Lazer. Madison and Sportline CEO Dominic Langan takes Jonathon Harker through the brand’s two year rise in the UK… It’s been a whirlwind 24 months since Madison took on Lazer. Has becoming official helmet supplier to British Cycling and Team GB been the stand out achievement in that period?

Lazer is a great brand with huge potential in the UK and globally.

We took the brand on with our eyes wide open. Its performance had been lacklustre in the UK through a succession of distributors. We knew we needed to invest and we knew we needed a supply partner who was open to change, wanting to invest in their brand and a brand that was pushing helmet design and innovation. Lazer ticked all these boxes.

Madison has for many years been selling the biggest volume of cycle helmets to specialist retailers in the UK than anyone else and had helped build helmets brands, which are now household names. We know what needs to be done and we know how to create the demand and get brands placed in store. So we hit the ground running BIKEBIZ.COM

and we’ve been working the Lazer brand at full gas since the launch.

Madison has enjoyed many years of close cooperation and partnership with British Cycling and Team GB. Lazer was therefore an obvious match for British Cycling as they are always looking to get the best equipment from companies who continually push the

Madison had spent years building the Giro and Bell brands in the UK and we had been very successful at it. Lazer had pretty much no market share and some legacy issues in the market. As I said, we went in with our eyes open. We have the belief in the Lazer brand and Lazer believes in us and our ability. Our relationship with Lazer transcends

“I get a buzz every time I see top athletes using Lazer helmets.”

Dominic Langan, Madison boundaries and strive for the best performing products. It was a very personally proud moment to see Lazer become the official helmet of British Cycling and Team GB and I get a buzz every time I see these top athletes using Lazer helmets.

What has been the biggest challenge over the two years?

just business. We work together fantastically well, with mutual respect and we are driven to take Lazer to the top.

Yes, there are lots of challenges but I think what we have achieved with Lazer in the UK in the last two years in phenomenal and this is just the start. Lazer is also growing globally and the products just keep

getting better. Lazer is a personable company that cares about the sport and the people that use their products. People enjoy being part of the Lazer community. Lazer are not a global corporate obsessed with short-term sales, profits and management bonuses and they have a highly motivated and supportive network of international distributors who are all working together. We may not yet be making the same sales numbers on helmets as we used to, but I have no doubt we will but unlike the past the journey and the experience now is a pleasure.

Have there been any big surprises?

There haven’t been any negative surprises, which is always nice!

From the very first time I met the owner of Lazer, Sean Van Waes, we hit it off and he has great team around him too. Sean is one of the most energetic people I have met with a clear vision for where he wants to be and because of this he BIKEBIZ JUNE 25

LAZER

The MTB range is one to watch in 2016

takes everything on board and respects our experience of our market and has reacted quickly to everything we have requested.

What are your current Lazer best sellers?

We have certainly enjoyed some very healthy volumes with the very competitively priced Cyclone family of products – a really good looking helmet with great features. The top of the range Z1 has exceeded our market expectations and the new Blade has absolutely flown. In fact each new helmet that Lazer introduce just keep moving the brand forward and bring in new customers. The kids helmets, especially the P’Nut has enjoyed good numbers too.

Are you looking for more dealers to take on Lazer? Got any funky POS options?

Of course! Lazer has a comprehensive range of helmets, which means there is something for every specialist retailer. We are also ensuring that the Lazer core range is exclusive to specialist retailers, allowing them to sell the brand with confidence. This is backed up with substantial marketing support and 26 BIKEBIZ JUNE

point of sale offers. We have branded headers, sails, hero POS, helmet holders, talker cards, tape measures, helmet towers, dealer stickers, t-shirts, caps and more stickers! All this is backed up with product demonstrators to train staff in store or to attend local events and our Grow with Lazer and Crash Replacement initiatives.

And what about the next 24 months and beyond? Are you expecting significant uplift during the 2016 Olympics?

Lazer is growing at a rate ahead of our initial expectations and so far

Rio and I have no doubt that the Olympics will have a positive impact on the brand as we are already seeing with Team GB riders out using the product now.

Should we keep our eyes peeled at Eurobike for fresh Lazer product this August?

Yes, Lazer are constantly innovating and developing new product. If last year was all about road helmets then 2016 will be the year of the MTB range. We have the new Magma and Phoenix+ helmets, plus a new Carbon Full face helmet as developed with the Madison

“Lazer is growing at a rate ahead of our initial expectations.”

Dominic Langan, Madison this year we are seeing that growth accelerate. Over the next 24 months there will be further new and exciting additions to the range and other developments, which will undoubtedly drive interest and demand for the Lazer brand. My fingers are crossed for Team GB in

Saracen WC DH team. There will also be some other models but I just can’t talk about them yet.

Anything else coming up for Lazer we should know about?

Certainly it is worth talking about Lazer building on the success of the

Genesis LifeBEAM heart rate monitor helmet. We’ll be offering LifeBEAM in even more models, as well as our first stock deliveries of helmets with the I-Sensor technology which ensures the rider keeps their optimum riding position. There will also be an expansion of the MOi! Collection for women, plus more product updates and additional eyecatching graphic options on current models. Plenty going on to keep driving the momentum.

Have you got any messages for the trade to end on?

We are doing everything we can to develop and promote the best possible range of helmets for the specialist retailer and to give them the confidence to stock and sell Lazer and most importantly of all, to make money with the brand.

That said, we’re always keen to hear feedback. If there is anything else you’d like to see us do or range, or indeed any improvements that we can make, then just let us know. Please email our Lazer senior brand manager at Oliver.Collins@ Madison.co.uk or talk with their account managers. www.madison.co.uk BIKEBIZ.COM

TOPEAK

TOPEAK GETS YOU

PUMPED UP Topeak has been exclusive with Extra UK since 1994, just a few years before the brand launched.

21 years on, Chris Stuckey, marketing and comms manager for Extra UK, gives Jonathon Harker a rundown on the latest with the brand…

For anyone unfamiliar with Topeak, can you sum up the philosophy behind the brand?

Topeak is focused on designs that add value by making a better functioning product. This integrity, combined with the creative imagination of their design boffins explains Topeak’s ability to produce market leading products across a wide range of categories like tools, pumps, bags, mudguards, lighting, bottle cages and more.

Inevitably for a company that challenges itself to ‘think outside the box’, not every idea is a winner, but a big percentage of them have gone on to become industry standards. Few people realise just how many key features taken for granted in the products of leading brands actually originate from Topeak innovations.

For the 2015 season Topeak’s introduced over 40 new or updated products to the range. This may sound like a lot but it’s in line with most years.

Topeak’s no stranger to prizes, with Eurobike and Red Dot Awards…

Topeak has won a Red Dot Design Award for at least one product every year for the past 11 years and seven Eurobike Awards since 2005.

28 BIKEBIZ JUNE

Recent awards include a TAIPEI CYCLE d&i Gold Award 2015 for the Transformer Series pumps.

Transformer X is an integrated version and also won a Gold Award at Eurobike last year as well as a Red Dot Design Award this year.

Other products to receive Awards at the Taipei Show this year were the Prepstation Pro and the iGlow Series which integrates a super bright LED with optical fibre technology to glow on select

The development of the Joe Blow Series really set the standard for affordable, high quality floor pumps that ‘just work’ so you can get on with enjoying the ride.

For those not taking the trip to Eurobike, where will they see Topeak exhibiting next?

We will have a full Topeak display at the NEC Cycle Show in September.

We will then be exhibiting at Core Bike and the London Bike Show in

“Few people realise how much originates from Topeak designs.”

Chris Stuckey, Extra UK accessories like the MiniRocket iGlow pump, DeFender iGlow X fenders, AeroWedge iGlow saddle bag, iGlow bottle cage and bottle.

On top of this there’s been Red Dot Awards this year for the iGlow Bottle Cage and the Tool Monster.

What’s the current best seller?

The Joe Blow Sport II track pump.

Aero Wedge Packs sell very well as do Multi Tools such as the Hexus II and Mini 18.

early 2016 where you will be able to see all the new products.

Can you take us through Topeak’s revamped POS options?

The Topeak POS system was launched at Core and has been very popular. In fact demand was so high that our initial supply was fully allocated just a few weeks after the launch. We have recently placed a second order and availability is estimated at mid to late-June.

Dealers love the design because, whilst it has high impact, it is also compact and extremely versatile.

One design accommodates multiple product categories that can be placed together or separately. The modular nature means it can be as large or as small as required depending on the size of the range in store and the amount of space available. It is also very easy to install and comes with matching black hooks.

It has helped create impact, while reflecting the high-end, quality of the brand. Most importantly it has produced an uplift in sales.

Are you looking to grow the Topeak dealer base?

We are always looking to support the IBDs who want to work with us to represent the brand in the best possible way. For a lot of IBDs Topeak is a core part of their accessories business and we currently have a very well established, strong distribution base for Topeak within the IBDs. We are looking to offer a number of seasonal promotions to IBDs on Topeak so please keep an eye out for e-shots with great offers on Topeak and other products from Extra. www.extrauk.co.uk BIKEBIZ.COM

INNOVATION? NATURALLY.

THE POWERBAR® INNOVATION FACTORY Ironman? Tour de France? Or just a Sunday training ride? PowerBar® products have been providing athletes the power to push through boundaries for almost 30 years.

In 1986 PowerBar® developed the world’s first energy bar and we haven’t stopped pushing since.

In 2015 PowerBar® releases a whole bunch of new products e.g. the Natural Protein bar and the Performance Smoothie packed with taste and natural ingredients.

POWERBAR® is a registered trademark of Premier Nutrition Corporation, used under license.

Distributed in the UK by: b2b.fisheroutdoor.co.uk Tel; +44 (0) 1727 798 340

www.PowerBar.de www.PowerBar.co.uk

Distributed in Ireland and Northern Ireland by: lifecycleb2b.com Tel; +353 1 843 3712 email; info@cycle.ie

THULE Whether you’re a photographer, rider or climber Thule now has you covered

Freedom fighters If you’ve a business in any outdoor industry, Thule’s relentless evolution won’t have escaped your attention. With more product debuts than ever this year, Mark Sutton speaks to Thule CEO Magnus Welander about conquering Everest, investing in talent and the wider business…

How’s business for Thule?

Business is good and has been growing steadily since we became a publically listed company. Our recently released quarter one report showed a sales growth of 11.5 per cent and bottom line growth of 30 per cent, so I’m very happy.

The company must have grown its staff and facilities in recent years then?

We’ve grown the product development, sales and merchandising teams globally.

These new staff additions are largely focused on driving growth in our new product categories, of which we have a few. In terms of facilities, we opened a Polish distribution centre, costing seven million Euro, that will serve the Eastern European market. We have also doubled the size of our global test centre with a 2.5 million Euro investment. The testing and development process is extensive and we go through climate, quality and user testing both pre and post-production.

How many countries are carrying Thule nowadays and which are the largest markets?

BIKEBIZ.COM

We sell in 136 markets worldwide and in terms of size it’s roughly as to be expected, with the US top, followed by Germany, France and UK. Sweden, our homeland makes up just three per cent of sales. The rest of Europe makes up around 51 per cent, while North America counts for 37 per cent and the remainder comes from the rest of the world. It’s encouraging to see strong growth across all markets,

In recent years the brand has drastically expanded its product catalogue and direction – what provoked this?

I got the chance to take on some new challenges when I joined Thule five years ago. At the time we had been growing well with carriers, with by far the highest market share. Product that further helps people expand their horizons was a logical expansion. Our philosophy

“We’ve been around for 73 years and are in it for the long haul.”

invest our time into creating a product it will be because we think we can improve the market’s current offering. In order to progress into tech backpacks, we started over three years ago by employing new designers from the industries now served. We combined those hires with our own expertise and as a result have been able to attack these new categories.

We’ve had great reviews in the likes of Backpacker magazine and other outdoor titles, but it’s still early days.

We’ve been around for 73 years, so we’re in it for the long term and will launch a lot of new product in future to expand our commitment.

Magnus Welander, Thule but Europe is developing particularly well.

Cycling is our biggest category, with the core of trade coming from bike carriers. As a sector we invest heavily in the bike world. On the back of the Chariot takeover, active with kids is another key area of development for us, particularly in recent times. Sport and travel technical packs provide outdoor retailers with some overlap with bike industry too.

now is to create goods that make it easier for people to bring their lives with them when they travel.

With some of your product now boasting to be capable of conquering Everest, have you had to bring in fresh expertise to manage technical fabrics and design challenges?

As always, we start with product competence. We do not make cheap copy products. If we are to

Will the expansion continue beyond luggage – what’s next in the pipeline?

I like expansion as most do, but at the same time 15/16 will be crucial.

We’ve never shown so many new products as we did last year. We’re keeping a keen eye trained on this year’s launches, including child carriers and GoPro camera bags as we’re expecting a good level of success. This year’s focus is to gain traction in these new territories. It’s a very exciting time to work here, we all love our own products.

BIKEBIZ JUNE 31

THULE

Progress continues on the car rack front as Thule adapts to new market innovations

In the past few years what segments of the portfolio have you been particularly pleased with? Are there any standout products for you?

I would say if you look at the classical bike carrier area, we are still the most excited by these new products. We are undisputed number one for a reason here. I love the innovation, my own family uses the VeloCompact product regularly.

The carrier category is still growing for Thule as electric bikes and downhill bikes are prompting us to design for heavier and more complex bikes.

Fresh ideas on how to distribute weight and secure the bikes have been required.

With Chariot now part of the Thule range, how much business has come from the active parent market?

It’s still relatively small, but again is a rapidly growing segment. We 32 BIKEBIZ JUNE

think we have the best solution on the market for the type of active customer we’re targeting. It has a high potential growth rate and a lot of crossover between outdoor markets. We will continue to invest here. I will say that I wish

guessed a few years ago when Surly introduced the fat bikes we’d be designing in big tyres on the drawing board. As a global brand we are more capable than most to make sure we have a solution to new trends. Without

“Without the bike market’s innovation it’d be a less exciting sector to design for.” some of these products were around when I was younger, it would have made life much easier.

The traditional car racking product seems to be stronger than ever – what challenges have new bike industry standards posed to designers?

We actually love the bike industry.

There’s a constant focus on design and innovation. Who would have

these innovations the market for us would be less exciting.

We’ve noticed a GoPro collaboration backpack line now available – how has the action sports market responded to these products?

We’ve had a great response to the Legend series. It’s a nifty product that GoPro themselves love, as well as our sponsored

athletes. We often heard of athletes criticising their bags and so the project was born.

YouTube sensation and GoPro athlete Matthias Giraud sat down with our design team and helped deliver his perfect product. With such first-hand input we’ve been able to develop what we consider an accessory that will sell very well and to a variety of customers.

With all the GoPro accessories available it’s surprising better cases aren’t on the market.

Anything in particular that you’d recommend UK cycle retailers take stock of this year?

In the UK, as with Nordic regions, the ongoing trend of e-bikes in all formats is emerging, so I’d say be prepared for that. The different demands that these put on racks is important. It’s been slow in the UK, but all of a sudden it’s now picking up in Scandanavia. I think that will be a winning trend in 2015 and onwards.

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ALTURA

BRANILDE

Clint Vosloo, Altura’s brand director

PROF

Altura amplified Further boosting its weather-beating product portfolio, Altura continues its evolution with some freshly recruited talent. Mark Sutton talks to brand director Clint Vosloo about some key developments…

What drew you to the Altura role?

I had spent 16 years at Mizuno, working within a global role across all apparel and accessory categories in Europe, North and South America, and felt ready for a change in career. I had known Simon and Julie Ellison for a few years and we had been chatting about the role at Altura for some time. After working within a large global brand environment, like Mizuno, it was refreshing to see how the Altura/Zyro way of working was quicker, more agile and driven.

Add to that the potential that the Altura brand has within the UK market, as well as potential export markets and it was a simple decision.

Can you tell us what changes you have already implemented?

I established a clear direction for the Product Creation and Marketing Teams to follow for SS16. We now have a very concise brand direction with clear brand and design DNA, vertical messaging, performance silos and a clearer marketing voice.

We also have a brand strategy of ‘Simplify to Amplify’ that allows Altura to have a stronger, simpler branded foundation and deliver a clearer identity and voice to market, with the intention of growth into export markets.

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Have you made additions to the team since you joined?

I am pleased to say that we have recruited some great people to the Altura team. Our design and development manager, Sophie Laliberte, joined Altura shortly after I joined the team. We had worked together on my previous brand, so we knew each other’s working methods well. She has worked hard to boost the team and we now have a small team of specialists working

brand in the UK market, with a very healthy business, which we are building on. But our largest challenge is how to grow into export markets. It is a challenge that we are embracing and I am working with the team to establish our 2020 Road Map that outlines key milestones to achieve our end goals.

both Asia and Europe to source and develop new fabrics to use in all future collections to deliver on this new premium identity.

We will also be supporting the product direction with improved marketing collateral to drive the new brand direction home in the 2016 seasons.

You talk about a new brand direction, tell us more about this.

Our brand direction is based on

What are the highlights of the new AW15 range?

We have launched a new Commuter Collection, based on our leading NightVision Technology that is really exciting. Research provided the Product Creation Team with a clear direction for retroreflectivity that we believe offers improved visibility when riding in low light conditions.

Most accidents between cyclists and motor vehicles occur when a cyclist turns in front of traffic, and is not visible. We have launched a range of Altura products, dubbed NV360, that offer 360˚ NightVision reflectivity using ‘Flow Zone Reflective’ detailing located in strategic dark-zone areas for maximum visibility.

Our head of marketing, Jon Sherwood, created an ingenious campaign ‘Darkproof’ that delivers the message of the Altura brand and the NightVision product category perfectly. www.altura.co.uk

“The Altura team is agile and able to react quicker to change...”

Clint Vosloo, Altura within Altura, and I’m really happy with that. At my previous brand, we had huge teams within each of the global performance categories and it created problems with direction and decision making.

The Altura Team is smaller and more agile and we can react quicker to changes.

What are the biggest challenges faced by Altura currently?

Altura is a very well known cycling

delivering products to improve the cyclists experience in the saddle. All products, in future collections, are based around the DNA of ‘Engineered Performance’ to support our Brand Vision – To make Altura a leading performance cycling brand.

The Product Creation Team is working to deliver products with a more premium technical brand identity and we are working with some of the leading fabric mills in

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CYCLE SHOW

TRADING PLACES Considering popping out to visit the NEC this September 24th to 27th? Mark Sutton talks to Emma McKay, Marketing Manager at Upper Street Events about the show’s growing importance on the trade calendar…

The Cycle Show’s a few short months away, how’s 2015 shaping up?

After selling out at the end of August in 2014, we had to be a bit creative with the space this year so we added another 600m to the floor plan. The new plan is now 92 per cent full, so stands are disappearing pretty fast.

From a trade point of view Hotlines, Schwalbe, Ison Distribution and CSG are the big new exhibitors.

We also have some interesting smaller companies and brands represented this year. For instance, Foffa are adding several new models and also creating an urban clothing range.

Gioma bike stands are coming from Italy for their first toe in UK waters and Chicken CycleKit has booked a separate stand on behalf of Ryde, Zefal and Sapim.

On the bike front, Polish company Kross are exhibiting for the first time with reasonably priced, well-designed machines and are looking to expand their dealers in the UK market.

Another interesting brand are Olmo Bikes, who have a strong cult following in Italy. Noticeably absent from the UK scene for some time they are now steadily rebuilding a dealership network back in Britain.

Staying with the Italian road theme, Andy Miners Cycles are bringing two Italian super brands, Pantani and Scappa, for the first time.

Add those to the likes of De Rosa, Wilier, Colnago, Pinarello, Bianchi and Cinelli, there’s a mouth-watering line up of Italian road machinery on display.

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Of the lesser-known brands that have signed up, have you spotted any early signs of product innovation in the bunch?

Andy Miners is launching his new in-house UK-built brand, AMC Velo, which includes a ground-up aero disc model incorporating Verve’s InfoCranks as standard – which is an interesting first in this sector.

Any seminars booked in for 2015’s trade day?

The ACT is helping to shape this for us and the list of sessions will be out next month. Subjects included will be: An overview of the financing

even if a new or junior member of the shop team wants to visit, they should be encouraged to do so because it’s a great opportunity for them to see what’s new in the industry and what consumers are interested in. Visitors to shows are intriguing consumers because they are much more likely to adopt trends and be opinion formers than the rest of the population.

What test tracks will feature on the floor plan this year?

We’re creating a new format for the MTB track whereby groups of riders can sign up in advance to be taken

“Shops can bring junior members for free. It’s a great chance to mix with the industry... ” options available out there for bike shops. We’ll also have a merchandising session looking at store layouts and hot spots and the dos and don’ts of setting up a robust e-commerce system Can more than one representative from a store come along for free?

Yes they can, and it’s free for them on any day of the show, so the owner can stagger who’s out of the store at any one time. I would suggest that

out on a led ride with some skills training on offer and so they get more time on the bike to see if it’s right for them.

The beauty of the premium road bike track is that the riders all get 20 to 25 minutes on the bikes and we ask them to bring kit to ride in. It means that we see a quality throughput (of just over 600 test riders) rather than trying to get as many people as possible through who often just want a quick blast on

a bike which they’d probably never go on to buy.

Roughly how many trade are coming along nowadays?

The total trade attendance last year was 3,610 with 1,755 of those from IBDs or multiples, which was a nine per cent increase on the previous year. Also, visits from owners, partners and MDs of businesses increased by 9.2 per cent. Clearly there is only a finite amount of bike shops in the UK, but the figures are very encouraging and the research feedback we’re getting is that the number of senior staff from quality shops is increasing too.

How can the trade register for their free ticket?

The trade can register online at www. cycleshow.co.uk/trade. Trade registration is free as long as it’s done in advance of the show, before Wednesday 23rd September. On the door entry is charged at £13 per person. We encourage trade to visit on the trade and press preview day on Thursday 24th September, but passes are valid for all four days of the show.

How can interested brands register for an exhibition space?

They can contact the Cycle sales team on 020 7288 6733, via the online enquiry form at www.cycleshow.co.uk/ enquire, or email cycleshowteam@ upperstreetevents.co.uk.

BIKEBIZ JUNE 37

THIRTY UNDER THIRTY

Move over Grandad and Nan, it’s time to share a bit of the limelight with the trade’s younger members for once. BikeBiz lists some of the industry’s rising stars...

BIKEBIZ.COM

Q ADAM BIGGS Boardman Bikes Biggs began at Boardman as UK business development manager in 2013, tasked with growing the IBD network, which has grown at an impressive rate.

Biggs has now become global sales manager for the brand, responsible for Boardman’s worldwide sales strategy, with ambitious global goals.

Q AIMEE DIX Mojo Suspension A former World Cup Down Hill racer, Dix is one of Mojo Suspensions’s technical gurus, in the role of senior fork technician. Dix still spends time out on the trail, however, with plenty of YouTube videos showing off her DH skills.

Q ALEX MILLS Dynamo Cover Mills’ familiar face might take you back to a series of the BBC’s Apprentice a few years ago, but he’s now more familiar to the trade as operations director and co-founder of Dynamo Cover, a fresh insurance offering for the trade that promises a hassle-free and value product.

Q ALEX ROWLING Chicken CycleKit Rowling is one of distributor Chicken CycleKit’s key press contacts, keeping media types up to date with the latest on the brands in the portfolio as well as supporting dealers with promo materials. Rowling’s been with the Bedfordshire firm for over two years.

Q ANDREW HARGROVES Hargroves Cycles Hargroves is a key member of the family business, not only driving sales but helping forge the future path for the 35 year old retailer. Originally a champion cyclocross racer, he’s tipped as one to watch, rolling out original concepts and new ventures for the business.

Q ANTONIO FIORE Silverfish Fiore joined Silverfish’s internal sales department in 2013 and as such is often the first point of contact for those calling in.

Having spent years on the IBD shop floor previously, he’s already accumulated plenty of bike trade experience despite being shy of his 30th birthday.

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THIRTY UNDER THIRTY

Q BECKY SMITH Cyclescheme Smith was recommended for this list with a simple sentence, which we’ll repeat here: “Her unquenchable zeal for promoting the cycle to work scheme across over 2,000 independent bike shops has unquestionably helped increase the UK’s love affair with cycling.” Sounds good to us.

Q BEN AMER Bikmo Amer is the driving force taking the Bikmo Plus brand to new levels through not only a general adoration of bikes, but a cheeky manner too, we’re reliably informed. He has helped partner Bikmo Plus with key brands and sponsors and has a background in sports nutrition and performance.

Q BEN STOWE Fisher Outdoor Leisure Ben Stowe has been with St Albans-based distributor Fisher Outdoor Leisure for a number of years but his progress through the firm has seen him recently take up the key role of team leader for the Outbound Telesales team.

Q BRUCE DALTON Upgrade Bikes Keen blogger Dalton was bitten by the bike bug back when he was ten years old (when he rode with childhood friend and now Olympian Annie last, fact fans).

Having gone on to compete internationally in cyclocross in the winter and XCO MTBing and road in the summer, he’s now with Upgrade Bikes.

Q CHANTELLE MATTHEWS Polaris Bikewear Matthews designs clothing lines at Polaris, using multiple garment tech and manages overseas contacts and orders in China and Pakistan. Involved in every aspect of the business, Matthews is praised for being full of good ideas and for a hard work ethic. She’s been in the trade for three years.

Q CONRAD LEWIS Velorution The destination store has Lewis as a company director (of two years, taking the title at 23).

He’s truly worked his way up, starting as an apprentice back when he was 16. He project manages everything the retailer does and has been commended for having tonnes of energy and personality.

Q DAVE WALTERS Boardman Bikes The unflappable Walters is responsible for a number of key roles at Boardman. He’s the dedicated warranty manager but also picks up on UK sales support. Not only that, but Walters also finds time to work with the international team to support and secure new worldwide business.

Q DAVID WALLACE Cyclescheme Wallace has been praised for making a significant contribution to the Cyclescheme business since he joined, helping them double audience size, triple Cyclescheme’s engagement and boost the firm’s all-important brand relationships.

Q ED WARD Veglo Ward cooked up the Commuter X light and founded Veglo after being knocked off his bike on a busy London road. The unmistakeable and eyecatching light has gone on to be picked up by distributor Oxford Products, making it widely available to the bike trade.

Q EMILY DUNLOP Bikmo Dunlop preaches the Bikmo Plus gospel to the people as social champion. That includes curating content for the blog, filling the feeds with fun or schmoozing real actual people in the real world. In just six months, Dunlop has connected Bikmo with the likes of Team Sky, Sir Chris Hoy and more.

Q EMILY BROOKE Blaze Brooke’s safety boosting Blaze light (it shines a floodlight in front of the cyclist to give an early warning to other road users) has gained plenty of column inches in the trade and also in the coveted national press after it blazed a trail and smashed its target over on the Kickstarter funding site.

Q GRAEME MCKAY Rutland Cycling McKay has held a number of roles in the much praised Rutland Cycling business, including running the workshop and managing the P&A category. His commercial drive and stock management skills have helped Rutland on the way to success.

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THIRTY UNDER THIRTY

Q JAMES RYAN Boardman Bikes Ryan’s got plenty of bike trade experience, having worked at local bike shop Samways of Derby and then with Eurobike (the distribution firm). After the merger, Ryan moved to Moore Large, a key figure guiding the Moda brand. Ryan has now moved on to work at the growing Boardman Bikes brand.

Q JOHN MOSS Stolen Bikes UK Moss is founder of Stolen Bikes UK, a free service that has helped thousands of bike theft victims and identified over £1m of stolen bikes. Not only that, but the busy Moss has also been campaigning for the police to release stolen bike data to further help the nation’s bike crime victims.

Q JORJ IVES Bikmo Lead developer and ‘MTB geek’ Ives is a founding member of Bikmo Plus. He’s responsible for building the Bikmo Plus tech responsible for the user experience, merging his passions of cycling and web development. His colleagues told us he was a ‘breath of fresh air’ in the insurance world.

Q LAUREN SMITH Moore Large Smith is best known to the trade as product and brand manager at Moore Large, but she is also a key figure on the local cycle scene, having launched the Derby BMX Club and co-founded Go BMX, providing girls-only BMX coaching sessions for all ages.

Q MARK BAINES Chicken CycleKit One of Chicken’s most senior account support managers, Baines provides excellent customer service to a network of retailers across the UK and Ireland. Also a keen Cat 1 racer for Spirit Bikes, he holds a Masters degree in sport, exercise and nutrition.

Q MATT WRIGLEY Account manager Wrigley is a sales agent for Solo and Orbea in the North of England. Praised for going out on the road as an independent agent at a young age, Wrigley is keen, pro-active and helpful as well as being down to earth with dealers, we’re told.

Q MATTHEW DUDLEY Silverfish Devon native Dudley has plenty of experience working in bike shops and last year joined Silverfish’s internal sales team.

In the past he’s helped run cycling events across the South West. A keen rider himself, his knowledge and friendly manner have made him an asset for the South West distributor.

Q NATASHA BOOTH All Terrain Cycles Booth is a key part of the team taking this retailer from strength-to-strength in Yorkshire, now with a £4m turnover. As lead on purchasing and customer service at All Terrain Cycles, Natasha works with father Tony, holding big ambitions for the retailer.

Q PAT CAMPBELL-JENNER Ison Distribution Campbell-Jenner joined Ison full time in 2008 but before that was a team rider with Identiti.

At Ison he’s moved from telesales to brand managing MRP and now represents Ison in London and the SE. He’s a significant rider in the Enduro scene and brand manages Banshee. (PIC: Jacob Gibons)

Q RUTH SCHOFIELD Madison and Sportline Schofield is trade marketing and events manager, integral to putting on huge trade show iceBike*. The show has got bigger and bigger, moving this year to a football stadium, and it’s thanks in part to Schofield’s knack of overcoming any issues the show has thrown up that it is such a roaring success.

Q STEVE LARKING Hotlines A demon on the bike with some great Scottish Enduro Series results this year, Larking is sales and tech support adisor at Hotlines Europe in his day job.

With a Maths Degree and plenty of retail experience behind him, he combines his training and background in his Hotlines role.

Q TREVOR HUGHES Storck Raddar The Storck Raddar brand is brought to the UK via the father and son team of Ian and Trevor Hughes. Trevor brings experience from telecoms and at Stock Raddar looks after finance and logistics as well as the all important website.

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LIMELIGHT SPORTS

LIMELIGHT’S KEY CYCLE PERSONNEL Leyanne Jenkins, cycling account director at Limelight Sports Previously responsible for the technical and operational delivery of BMX at the London 2012 Olympic Games, and former British Cycling’s major events team, delivering Track Cycling, MTB and BMX world cups and championship events.

Also nominated one of BikeBiz Top 50 Women in Cycling.

Gary Willis, race director on Royal Bank of Canada V Series.

Former British Cycling Coach, Scottish Cycling Performance Manager and responsible for the technical delivery of London 2012 Olympic Road Cycling Race and Time Trial.

IN THE CYCLING LIMELIGHT

With an events portfolio that is increasingly cycle-orientated, Limelight Sports’ cycling director Leyanne Jenkins found time in the busy schedule to speak with Jonathon Harker…

BEFORE SKY RIDE became Sky Ride, it was the London FreeWheel. Based on the idea of bikes taking over the capital across a traffic-free route, it was a storming success and set in motion the Sky Ride programme.

Limelight Sports was one of the players who helped put together that formative first Freewheel event back in 2007 and has continued to work with Sky Ride since.

Since then the company’s cycle portfolio has continued to grow.

Fresh off the back of its Royal Bank of Canada V Series on the closed roads of Canary Wharf, and with the Prince’s Trust Palace to Palace ride and London Duathlon coming up in a packed event schedule, BikeBiz speaks with Leyanne Jenkins, director of cycling at Limelight Sports to find out more…

How long has Limelight Sports been established?

Limelight Sports is a participation sport engagement agency, we have been delivering sports participation experiences for over 20 years. We see participation as a journey, with events being a milestone within that timeline. We bring brands and BIKEBIZ.COM

communities together through sport, offering multiple touch points throughout the participants’ journey.

Which events is Limelight best known for?

Capitalising on the ever-increasing popularity of mass participation

half marathon in London.

Additionally, the agency owns properties such as Race the World, the first fully supported round the world cycling race for amateurs and London Duathlon, the world’s biggest Duathlon.

“We bring brands and communities together through sport...”

Leyanne Jenkins, Limelight sporting events, the agency has created and delivered some of the most high profile, and most talked about sports participation experiences including the Sainsbury’s Sport Relief Mile, Sky Ride and J.P.Morgan Corporate Challenge London and Sydney. We also work with major global brands such as Nike, J.P.Morgan, Wiggle and Virgin Australia. Limelight Sports also organises Swimathon, the world’s biggest fundraising swimming challenge, and works with the Royal Parks Foundation to stage a unique

You’ve an arm in Australia too – did that come before or after the one in the UK? Yes, we have offices in London, UK; Melbourne, Australia and Dubai, UAE. The Australian arm was established in 2004, with Dubai launching earlier this year.

Has the amount of time and events you run dedicate to cycling increased over that period?

Yes, we have seen an explosion in the popularity of ‘doorstep’ sports, and cycling is a sport which has increased

hugely in popularity over the course of recent years. The demand for mass participation cycling experiences has increased accordingly, with many of our clients and partners recognising this popularity and wishing to offer quality cycling experiences. Limelight Sports has been at the forefront of the development of mass participation cycling experiences, designing and delivering events such as London Freewheel, the first central London closed road cycling event, and continuing to develop the event as it became Mayor of London Sky Ride, and working with clients such as the Prince’s Trust, delivering the annual Palace to Palace cycle ride.

The agency continues to develop bespoke cycling experiences, partnering with Royal Bank of Canada on V Series to deliver an exciting programme of cycling training and racing, which draws on the experience of Shane Sutton OBE, Technical Director at British Cycling.

Race the World, offering amateurs a fully supported bike race in unique places around the World, begins in November in USA. limelightsports.com BIKEBIZ JUNE 47

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REGIONAL SPOTLIGHT

REGIONAL SPOTLIGHT: London and the South East Trailblazers in retail, eye-wateringly high rates of bike crime and a political lead on cycling…Jonathon Harker analyses the bike trade in London and the South East

IT’S OFTEN said that London is like another country, separate from the rest of the UK, and with the apparent political thirst for breaking up unions left right and centre, who is to say we will never see passport control when you pass the M25?

It’s true that cycling in the capital has dwarfed the rest of the nation, in the main. London’s large-scale bike share scheme has been a runaway success, seeing a whopping 10million hires last year (2.1m in year one – 2010). Inner London has seen cycle commuting rise from 3.8 per cent to 7.2 per cent of workers in ten years (2001 to 2011). Cycling levels along London’s main roads were ten per cent higher in Q3 2014/15 than in the same quarter the year before.

But the stat that will likely really get the rest of the nation jealous is that bikes now make up 16 per cent of traffic in Central London, rising to a quarter or even half of all journeys on some routes during peak hours. That’s a staggering statistic that looks likely to be just the start, with £913million being dedicated to improving infrastructure and safety for cyclists – including largely segregated cycle lanes in key locations.

It’s a far cry indeed from the UK’s second largest city, to name one, where Birmingham’s local councillors have squabbled over BIKEBIZ.COM

the £17m given to the city to get locals cycling, and questioning whether cycling is worth the cash.

CHALLENGES That’s not to say everything is rosy in the capital. Diversity of cyclists is a challenge, with Transport for London and British Cycling teaming up to tackle the disparities with guided cycle rides to encourage women, disabled cyclists and black and minority ethnic (BAME) groups to get in the saddle.

“The stolen bike trade will not be tolerated and we’ll work with business to dismantle it.”

Other challenges include the predictable rise in the stolen bike trade. Transport for London stats reveal that around 20,000 bikes are reported stolen in London each year.

Last month City of London Police raided a Brick Lane market stall suspected of being part of a criminal network behind the theft, dismantling and sale of stolen bikes – seizing 20 bikes in the process and arresting seven men. At the BIKEBIZ JUNE 49

REGIONAL SPOTLIGHT time Detective Inspector Doug Blackwood of the City of London Police said: “[The] arrests show that the trade in stolen bikes will not be tolerated and we are working with our partners to dismantle these businesses.” Though the sheer scale of the problem and the resources available to tackle it suggest the trade and consumers would do well to get into bike marking and insurance.

Safety is problematical too, remaining a highly contentious topic. Accident blackspot the Elephant and Castle roundabout saw 80 incidents involving cyclists between 2009 and 2013, way ahead of Trafalgar Square at 46 incidents in the same period (reported the BBC). TfL has been heavily criticised for failing to get to grips with the problem, though their increased investment is hoped to help tackle it.

RETAILER STATS If you had a map and were planning where to open a bike shop, chances are your eyes would be drawn to the population centres of the nation. And it turns out that the biggest cycle retailers in the business are no different, with Cycle Surgery and Evans particularly centring business in London and the South East – where around one third of the population reside.

Cycle Surgery and Evans are by no means the only ones, with smaller chains Cycle King and Cycles UK also largely based in the capital and the South East, which is clearly the UK cycle retail chain store heartland.

Proportionally, and perhaps curiously, Halfords has not built its business on London and the South East like some of its cycle chain rivals, with just 25 per cent of its portfolio based in the region. While its new Cycle Republic shops may partially address this, they too are set for a nationwide roll out with three stores in London and two already launched in Norwich and Nottingham respectively.

We put these stats together using online store finders and our own records.

Cycles UK London - 2 South East - 8 Region total - 10 (90% of UK total) UK total - 11 50 BIKEBIZ JUNE

Cycle King London - 5 South East - 13 Region total - 18 (72% of UK total) UK total - 25 Cycle Surgery London - 18 South East - 4 Region total - 22 (69% of UK total) UK total - 32 Evans Cycles London - 23 South East - 10 Region total - 33 (59% of portfolio) UK total - 56 Decathlon London - 4 South East - 5 Region total - 9 (47% of UK total) UK total - 19 Halfords* London - 41 South East - 71 Region total - 112 (25% of UK total) UK total - 458 *Not including Cycle Republic The independent sector is, as ever, harder to pin down with solid statistics, but doubtless there are a number of trend-setting IBDs set in the region, some of which have been operating for decades – Condor Cycles, Sigma Sport, Pearson’s and Velorution are among

“TfL has been heavily criticised for failing on safe cycling in London.”

Boris got the credit, but whose idea was it?

POLITICAL WHILE BORIS Johnson seems destined to join the cabinet and perhaps even take leadership of the Conservative Party at some point, he’s still firmly settled in his London Mayor role, where he regularly speaks up for cycling.

While he rarely gets the credit, it was under Boris’ predecessor Ken Livingstone’s Mayor-ship that two of the best known measures for cycling in London were announced. In 2007 Livingstone announced the introduction of a central London bike hire and in Feb 2008 he confirmed a scheme of 6,000 bikes would be available every 300 metres as a fully-funded part of the public transport network. He also announced

new commuter cycle routes/ cycle corridors or the Cycle Superhighways they became known as.

But it’s under Boris Johnson that both came to fruition and Johnson has continued to bang the cycling drum, never shy of a photo opportunity, but helping making cycling the norm not least with the flagship protected cycle routes in London that are now being built in the capital, even in the face of opposition.

Encouragingly, with Ken and Boris at technically opposite ends of the political spectrum, it seems the cause of promoting cycling – in London at least – has cemented itself as essential to the powers that be.

the stand out names. The region isn’t just a hotbed for cycle retail – some of the biggest names in the distribution game are based in the South East, including Madison and Sportline, Fisher Outdoor Leisure, Chicken CycleKit, Upgrade, Seventies and ATB. CAFÉ CULTURE The High Street has been through a tumultuous few years, with former stalwarts like Woolworths, Game, Blockbuster, Comet, Borders, JJB and Zavvi, to name a few, either severely downsized or shut altogether. It’s left a gaping hole in shopping precincts across the land,

Perhaps it was Ken’s...

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REGIONAL SPOTLIGHT many of which have been filled with discount shops, charity stores and bookies, among others.

It’s has brought the knife edge between survival and success into sharp focus for many retailers, with some opting to adapt their business to ensure they don’t go the way of those ‘too big to fail’ retailers. Incorporating new revenue streams and dwell time boosters like cafes has almost become a cliché for the bike shops of the land, but for good reason – they seem to work.

London has more than its fair share of cycle cafes with some of the earliest and best known cycle cafes are found there, not least Look Mum No Hands.

Measuring the value of a cycle cafe is ticklish, but Strava has handily revealed the top stops for cyclists. Those stops are overwhelmingly cycle café-related.

While the numbers are naturally limited to the type of rider that will use Strava, there is substance to the numbers, with Strava recording over 10.1million London-set Strava activities and an average 78,000 rides in London each week. The data shows that on average cyclists take a coffee break after 90 minutes of riding, stopping for only 16 minutes, inline with the global average, says Strava. Here’s the top 15 stops, with six of the businesses specifically cycle cafes (rather than cafes cyclists happen to frequent): 01. Roehampton Gate Café – Richmond Park 02. Box Hill Café (National Trust) – Tadworth 03. Peaslake stores – Guildford 04. Cadence Cycling Performance Centre – Crystal Palace* 05. G!RO – Esher* 06. Old Village Café – Hayes 07. Dish – Hampton Court 08. look mum no hands! – Old Street* 09. Garden Café – Regents Park 10. Rapha Cycle Club – Soho* 11. Cafe St Germain – Crystal Palace 52 BIKEBIZ JUNE

12. Bike Beans Cycling café – Ashtead* 13. Pretorius Coffee Bar – Hoxton* 14. Grind Coffee Bar – Putney 15. Artisan Coffee – Putney G!RO of Esher may have come fifth on that list but the cycle café has just picked up a 2015 UK Coffee Stop Award for ‘The UK’s Best Coffee Stop for Cyclists’ (sponsored by road.cc) with fellow South East cycle cafes Bicicletta and Velo House named runners up.

The Home Counties are well located to hoover up any good ideas London has and the same goes for the cycle café culture, with the likes of The Velo House in Tunbridge Wells, Kent and Brighton’s Velo Café picking up the coffee shaped baton.

Cyclists now outnumber cars on some stretches in peak hours

EVENT CITY Naturally London has long been a hub for cycle events. Cycle Show used to be based in Earl’s Court before it left for the NEC and the move saw Telegraph Events (Vos Media at the time) step in to offer a bike show in the capital.

“Over 50,000 people came along in 2015.”

Ian Chandler, Telegraph Events

“Since launching the event in 2011, the Show has seen consistent year-on-year growth in terms of the number of exhibitors and the number of visitors attending, resulting in the UK’s largest cycling exhibition just five years later,” says Telegraph Events group marketing manager Ian Chandler. “Cycling in London continues to boom, fuelled by the success of the Olympics, ‘Boris Bikes’ and events such as Ride London, and ExCeL has allowed the Show to grow quickly within this space. It’s excellent transport links allow people from across London and the South East (which makes up 63 per cent of the audience) easy access to the event.

With over 50,000 people attending in 2015, and the quality of audience improving year on year, we’re

London has a higher than average cycle club participation

CYCLISTS IN A CLUB

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Cycleguard Partnership scheme – sign up today!

Keep your customers cycling… and more importantly keep them cycling with you.

Our goal, like yours, is to keep our customers happy, and cyclists cycling. At Cycleguard we arrange insurance cover for thousands of cyclists, and over the past 15 years we have worked hand in hand with hundreds of Independent Bike Dealers just like yourself.

Contact us today and find out more about our Insurance Partnership Scheme:

cycleguardsupport@thistleonline.co.uk

01452 222120 Cycleguard is a trading style of Thistle Insurance Services Limited. Lloyd’s Broker. Authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority A JLT Group Company. Registered office: The St Botolph Building, 138 Houndsditch, London EC3A 7AW. Registered in England No 00338645.

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REGIONAL SPOTLIGHT hearing some fantastic feedback with multiple exhibitors seeing a large number of bike sales directly attributed to the Show.”

Spin London provides a quirky take on cycle events in the capital, while the wider South East region includes bike trade essentials like Bucks-based trade-only iceBike*

and also the Esher-based 220 Triathlon Show.

Typically, this article has seen London dominate the South East, but there’s clearly enough to fill several articles or a book deal on the bike trade in the region. If you want to have your say let us know at BikeBiz@nbmedia.com.

PROFILE: CYCLEHOOP Anthony Lau, Cyclehoop director

THE RELATED overheads of setting up in and near London have not managed to put off a number of manufacturers working in the trade, such as Brompton, Sugru and Cyclehoop, among others.

The latter sees its London location as intrinsic to the brand.

“London inspired Cyclehoop,” founder Anthony Lau tells BikeBiz. “I trained in London at the Bartlett School of Architecture and had a bike stolen, which led to me designing the first Cyclehoop.”

Cyclehoop designs and produces innovative indoor and outdoor cycle parking infrastructure. Since the company set up in 2008, Lau has been keen to work with local suppliers, sourcing materials from Kent and working with fabricators based in the South East.

“Since we started we’ve seen a real change in London. The increase in numbers – in commuters particular – has been really inspiring. There’s lots of new infrastructure too.

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“We design a lot of products for the London Boroughs and they tend to come to us, the Lambeth Bikehanger is a good example.

“When you design something for the local government is has to work! Our products are tested in London, so they’re robust.

“We’re trying to grow exports.

They are at ten per cent at the moment. We go out to Nordic countries, including Sweden, Norway and Denmark. They appreciate the design. We’ve even started to get into New Zealand.”

Cyclehoop now employs 25 people and as well as working with the boroughs (over 40 councils across the UK) it also supplies to residential and business addresses.

“We are passionate about cycling here. Separate to Cyclehoop, we created I Bike London to promote and celebrate cycling in London, organising free and fun rides and bike parties.”

Find out more at www.ibikelondon.com

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

RETAIL

STATS

120

SLOVENIA: Per 1,000 inhabitants, Slovenia sells nearly 120 bikes per year – the highest in the EU.

WITH CUSTOMERS LIKE THESE...

OPINION FINALLY, AFTER years of hearing about the practice, I recently came across a retailer who will only service bikes sourced from their store alone.

As well as refusing to fit parts sourced from elsewhere, London’s Velorution (profiled in the last edition) told us that they stand firm on the policy, which, without doubt, does see custom lost, but in favour of a workshop that’s always available in an instant for its own customer base.

Is such a model sustainable for all bike retailers? Probably not, but at the very least it’s my feeling BIKEBIZ.COM

that parts sourced from outside your four walls should come fitted at a premium. Certainly, such instances should not be attended to at “mate’s rates” in a bid to encourage more of the same behaviour, or ‘repeat custom’ as I’ve heard it called. That’s not the kind of customer that you can earn a living from, rather one that’ll eat up your man hours and expect an even better deal next time around.

“Parts sourced from outside your walls should come fitted at a premium...”

Earlier this month a retailer told me of a Twitter dialogue in which a ‘customer’ had expected him to leave the shop in order to fix a puncture at the roadside. A handsome reward waiting for such a service? Nope, the chap wanted it done for free as it was “only a small job”. You don’t need customers like that either.

The point I’m slowly coming round to is that, while you can’t screen them before they come through the front door, frothing at the mouth, clutching a slashed tyre and shouting “warranty”, you can choose your customer to a certain extent.

Your job as a bike shop owner is to make a net profit. All things considered, is the customer staring you down and demanding a price match on a perhaps alreadydiscounted bike worth investing in? Are they going to be back in ten minutes having had a mishap with an endo gone wrong, telling you “I was just riding along and it buckled.” You know the customer; they’ll expect you to adjust the saddle height on a seized in post, but will forget to tip the mechanic with as much as a thank you on their way out.

With all the time and energy saved from turning away bad business, the next loyal customer through the door will get the best of you, and you the best of their trade. msutton@nbmedia.com

15

BULGARIA: At the other end of the scale, Bulgaria sells around 15 per 1,000 – the lowest in the EU.

STORE OF THE MONTH: p63 NEW PRODUCTS: A round-up of some fresh cycle products available this month.

p60 SECTOR GUIDE: BIKE SECURITY p69 SECTOR GUIDE: EPOS p73 SECTOR GUIDE: BRAKING GOODS p75 BIKEBIZ JUNE 59

RETAIL ONLY

NEW PRODUCTS

This month we’re loading up a Zefal Dry Pack with some Science and Fitness Nutrition, tightening our Restrap Belt and putting in the miles with Endura’s new blinky lid.

ENDURA HELMETS Direct to retail – 01506 497749 Introduced in sample form at Core Bike and now available to retailers, Endura’s Luminite and Xtract helmets prioritises visibility with a clip-in rechargeable USB light in the rear, as well as reflective detail on the former. Set to fast flash mode, the light will offer a 40hour run time.

ZEFAL DRY PACK L-DS Various distributors To cater for a wide variety of head sizes and offer maximum comfort to noggins, both models are available in three sizes.

The fit can be fully finetuned via the rear one-hand dial micro-adjuster and also through the three position vertical adjustment.

Nice and simple and designed for the worst the elements can throw at it, Zefal’s new Dry Pack is a 1.2 litre saddlebag with one large chamber. It’ll easily take a handful of tubes, gels or tools and attaches via two Velcro clasps.

For added night visibility, the sub £20 pack is adorned with

both rear and side reflective panels, as well as a rear strap for added lighting.

Weatherproofing is taken care thanks to welded TPU waterproof material, including a sealed zipper.

The dimensions of the 114 gram saddlebag are 175 x 80 x 100mm.

RESTRAP LINK BELT UnionOfPedallers – 01132451128

SCIENCE AND FITNESS NUTRITION Principle Healthcare – 0800 021 0020

Having racked up more than double its funding goal in a matter of days on Kickstarter, Restrap’s introduction of the Link belt has been met warmly by the cycling world.

With heading on 500 paying customers having pledged at the time of writing, the Magnetic belt appeals to

Looking to build relationships within the cycling industry, Principle Healthcare’s product is developed by leading sports scientists, primarily around what it calls Glycosource.

Designed to encourage continuous synthesis of glycogen in the muscles and liver, the formula offers both

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cyclists in particular thanks to its flexibility when in the saddle. Thanks to the unique clasp, the belt is able to move with the hips easily and won’t pinch like some belts can.

The Union of Pedallers expects to have stock by July if you’d like to take some for your shop.

recovery and energy benefits.

Utilising a unique blend of carbohydrates, protein and amino acids, the solution will restore Glycogen to optimum levels in just four hours.

With zero saturated fat it will also not have negative effects on your customer’s training goals.

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VVD10 VD10 (BLE 4.0) Wireless Computer With Smartphone Integration

VV128 V1.28 Wireless Computer With Altimeter, Heart Rate & Cadence

VST126A Velomann ST1.26 Wireless Touch Computer Touch Screen Interface, With Altimeter

VS120 S1.20 Wireless Computer With Cadence

Veloman offer a great range of computers from a wireless 41 function to a 7 function wired model so there’s something for everyone’s pocket. All models in stock for immediate next day delivery with excellent dealer margins so why not check out our website with easy to use B2B ordering.

GREYVILLE ENTERPRISES

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0845 1661983

www.greyville.com

sales@greyville.com

BIKEBIZ.COM

STORE OF THE MONTH

On the trail…

Just over one year ago Swinley Bike Hub underwent a revamp. Under fresh ownership, Mark Sutton catches up with the trail centre head honcho Tristan Taylor about his vision for the business and the surrounding trails…

OCCUPYING A focal point of Swinley Forest with neighbouring attractions such as Go Ape and an inland Coral Reef, Swinley Bike Hub has for the past 20 years been the go to destination for any local family outing into the wilderness.

As inclusive as Swinley’s facilities are for the parent who hopes to drop kids at the play centre and shoot out into the woods for a few hours, family

Crown Estate, but we’re growing the network through a combination of dig days and staff input after hours. At the last count, spanning the 1,000 acres of woodland, we had 24 kilometres of waymarked trails and growing. There’s the beginner friendly green loop at just one kilometre, a ten kilometre blue and 13 kilometre red loop. The further into the woods you go the more technical the trail becomes.”

“Increasingly, many hires are coming with coaching services...”

Tristan Taylor, Swinley Bike Hub cycling is growing in popularity, much thanks to the Swinley Bike Hub team who maintain a variety of trails for any skillset. Now under the management of Tristan Taylor and his team, the trailside firm has undergone a revamp that has seen both an improvement on the premises and the singletrack.

Taylor tells BikeBiz: “The trails began with investment from the BIKEBIZ.COM

With an ever growing network and a close proximity to the city, it’s a destination of choice for the capital’s mountain bikers and increasingly, riders from much further away.

“One thing that’s surprised us since taking over is the number of groups that travel out from London and hire a chunk of our fleet for the day,” says Taylor. “The profile of the trail BIKEBIZ JUNE 63

STORE OF THE MONTH

Tristan Taylor (Swinley Bike Hub owner) and Brecon (the dog), are two regulars on the trail. Swinley’s fleet offers Whyte and Mondraker demos, among others

STORE INFO: TELEPHONE: 07810 025907

WEB: SWINLEYBIKEHUB.COM

EMAIL:

TWITTER:

info@swinleybikehub.com

is without doubt growing. In recent times MBUK have been in the woods for their Trail Centre Guide, while Olly Wilkins and Brendan Fairclough filmed a great United Kingdom of Dirt profile on the woods last year.”

Though there is an increasingly strong retail offering at the Bike Hub, it’s hires that are driving business at present. Increasingly those hires are coming with coaching, explains Taylor.

“We’ve really been growing the coaching side of the business, with lots of school work, as well as a programme to get London’s disadvantaged youth into bikes. We offer coaching at a ratio of one coach to six riders to ensure everyone stays safe and has enough one-to-one tutoring, for those who need it. By this summer we will have three of our own coaches in place.”

Since taking the reins, Taylor has also brought on board two local riders as full time staff, both of whom have since trained to Cytech level 2. With the Hub just metres away from the trail, there’s also now a £1 bike wash service for anyone who hasn’t the time or space when they get home.

It’s off-shoot business like this that’s part of Taylor’s plans to expand.

“We hold the rights to events in the woods, so that opens up new social opportunities. We’ve already hosted a local craft brewery, which came to the woods one evening to offer samples to riders. There’s plenty of scope to host demo days. In the near future we’re also looking at the possibility of becoming a service centre.”

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The one kilometre beginner loop at Swinley

@swinleybikehub

LOCATION: Swinley Forest, Bracknell RG12 7QW

The Hub also last month began hosting shop rides to further build on the firm’s focal point in the woods.

With all this in mind, the business is open seven days a week, from 9am until 6pm, to meet demand and all of this from a mountain bike scene that was reported to be flat.

Signs of a slow down in the offroad market haven’t materialised in Swinley, says Taylor.

“We’ve become one of the larger Mondraker dealers and have demo units for any rider considering a purchase. Custom build in particular is something we’re specialising in. We don’t carry loads of stock, but sales of Hope, DMR, Maxxis and RaceFace aren’t going too badly through custom builds and general sales. “ Also doing well at the performance end is Swinley Bike Hub’s own team, which has three enduro and three downhill riders spanning veteran to junior. Sporting the shop’s custom jersey, the team scored its first podium in a recent Red Kite race.

So, what’s the best part of owning a store right on the trail?

“I get to ride more than most shop owners,” says Taylor. “Particularly with the growth of skills coaching and team management, I’m out in the woods quite often with various skillsets. That’s quite rewarding. I hope it’s evident to our customers that we ride the very products that we sell. We’re very much behind our brands and that first hand experience is particularly useful when pairing a customer to their dream bike.”

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Sponsored by

ELECTRIC BIKES

Chainless e-bike scores awards Latest edition ‘electric car on two wheels’ arrives THE SECOND generation of the Mando Footloose e-bike is coming to the UK market this month.

Designed by Mark Sanders and built by automotive tech expert Mando, the Footloose is undoubtedly is a slinky looking bit of kit, at least according to the esteemed juries of the Red Dot Award 2015 and the Good Design awards, two prizes the bike has already picked up.

The first Mando Footloose was also nominated for a Design Museum Award back in 2013. Like its successor, the bicycle combines manual and electric power as per your usual e-bike, but unlike its peers it was chainless and claimed to be the first of its type.

Taking advantage of motoring know-how from Mando, the bike sees the chain totally eliminated, transforming the pedaling motion directly into electricity to power the wheels, with the energy then stored in a lithium-ion battery inside the bike frame, before it is converted back into kinetic energy by an electric motor which drives the rear wheel.

This latest edition boasts a removable battery, tucked away near the suspension seatpost, and ‘Human Machine Interface’ 2.4” colour LCD display, featuring serial key matching.

The cycle combines both manual and electric power

The bike’s removable battery

Volt Steps over to Shimano VOLT HAS joined the growing number of e-bike firms using the new Shimano Steps system, becoming one of the first British brands to do so in the process.

Steps, coupled with the Sony 36V battery provides a range of over 80 miles, says the brand.

“Steps with a Sony 36v battery, offers an 80 mile range.”

The new Volt – the Infinity – sticks with Shimano for the Di2 electronic gears. Other notable specs include SR Suntour NCX suspension, CST puncture resistant tyres and a lightweight, high-grade reinforced aluminium 6061 T6 frame. www.voltbikes.co.uk BIKEBIZ.COM

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SECURITY

Lock it or lose it Locks are an essential accessory for your customers. Here’s a selection of the latest on the market, secured for you by Jonathon Harker…

BOB ELLIOT

www.bob-elliot.co.uk

The AXA Set Solid Plus Framelock & Newton PI (Plug-in) 150 Mudguard Lock Set is a high quality frame lock with an extra wide opening. The set, which retails at £34.99, comes with the option to link a plug-in cable or chain to the lock so a bike can be locked to a fixed object.

An anti drilling cylinder and hardened steel bracket makes life hard for would-be thieves, while an ergonomic push button and online key service look after the user too.

Also from AXA is the Newton 150, a 10mm cable combination lock pitched as a basic safety solution for a quick stop.

Automatically locking, the combination lock comes with a universal bracket for easy storage and a matt finish cable cover, retailing at £14.99.

VOICE OF INSURANCE IS BIKE crime worrying enough to put a customer off an expensive purchase?

It’s hard to know for sure, but insurance can help to calm a nervy punter. Providers include Cycleguard, which has been prooffering specialist cycle insurance for all types of cyclist for over 15 years.

“Whether riding on the road, track or for leisure we know how much a bike can mean to its owner. And we understand how they would feel if something happened to it,” the firm says.

“That’s why at Cycleguard, we take bike security seriously, as we recognise the importance of making sure that your customers have the cover they need.

“Through our Cycleguard Partnership scheme, we work with independent bike dealers to ensure that, should the worst happen and your customer needs to claim against a theft, we will give your customer the option to replace their bike with you.

“So working together, we can help keep your customers cycling, and remain cycling with you.

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“To try and protect your customers against bike theft, remind them of these simple security measures” I //: ,35/= 38 + =+0/ place, preferably in a dedicated storage area, I $/-?</ ,35/= >9 +8 immovable object using a specialist bike lock, I &=/ + ,35/ 69-5 >2+> 3= suitable for the value of the bike.

“Of course we can’t guarantee that these actions will stop bikes being stolen. But by keeping your customers aware of the risks and highlighting the security equipment they may need, it will hopefully help reduce the likelihood of a theft taking place.

“To find out more about the Cycleguard Partnership scheme and how we work with independent bike dealers, email us at cycleguardsupport@ thistleonline.co.uk. You can also visit www.cycleguard.co.uk to receive an instant quote for cycle insurance cover.”

FISHER OUTDOOR 01727 798 345 Master Lock’s 14mm Premium Security Mini D Lock is a Gold Sold Secure rated lock with a carrier bracket. The thick 14mm shackle is manufactured from treated hardened steel and the dual locking mechanism is made to withstand pry and pull attacks. The brand confirms the high security disc cylinder is very difficult to pick and has an anti-drill plate to withstand such assaults. There’s a generous shackle clearance of 280mm x 110mm and an antidust keyway shutter to protect the mechanism from grime. The shackle has a rubber cover to prevent scratching and a robust carrier bracket is included for convenient storage. It comes supplied with four keys.

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Motorsport heritage exclusive to Claud Butler Telephone 01652 656 000 To Motorcross fans DP Brakes need no introduction, a world leading UK manufacturer of sintered pads have applied their racing pedigree and introduced a range of pads, discs and adapters for mountain biking.

The range includes sintered and organic pads to suit most fitments and a range of both fixed and floating cryogenically treated rotors from 140 to 203mm.

Call us now for prices and offers.

claudbutler.co.uk

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DISTRIBUTED BY

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SECURITY

MADISON

www.madisonb2b.co.uk

Kryptonite’s Messenger Mini with U-lock extender is based on the Evolution Mini-5 U-lock but with a wider and longer shackle to increase the number of places it is possible to lock up a bike.

Despite that, it still fits in a back pocket.

The MAX-Performance steel shackle allows for a reduced diameter, while maintaining the same security as the Mini-5.

Durability has been increased with the addition of the new DuoCore cylinder featuring anti-rotation discs, reducing the chance the key will get stuck or break in the cylinder. It comes supplied with keys on a convenient wrist band and the Mini wheel extender for more variety in how and where the bike can be locked up.

SQUIRE

01902 308050

Squire’s heavy-duty combi locks have achieved top level approval by the official UK police initiative Secured by Design and by Crimestoppers. Not a bad selling point for a range that includes the MAKO Combi line-up, pitched as the world’s only integrated range of combination products awarded Sold Secure approval to Bronze and Silver standards. The nine products in the range have been awarded ‘Police Preferred Specification’ status having passed tests to meet the high standards specified by Secured

by Design. For example, Squire’s MAKO Combi Armoured cable lock with hardened steel cups delivers attack resistance. Squire’s Hammerhead Combi is said to be the world’s first combination D lock to achieve Sold Secure Silver rating, offering 1m combinations.

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OXFORD PRODUCTS

trade@oxprod.com

Oxford’s new Sentinel high security lock is in stock now. Boasting what it says is a unique and clever carry bracket, the Sentinel features special hardened steel heavy duty construction to resist attack, all vinyl coated to protect bicycle paintwork. The three range series starts at £34.00 and rises to £44.99.

ZYRO

www.zyrob2b.co.uk

ABUS’s ULTRA 410 series starts at £24.99 with an entry level D-lock, complementing the Super Ultimate and Ultimate range.

The simple design conceals tech like a double layered key, decoy cuttings and a cylinder with special wafers. Every variant is Sold Secure Silver certified and the 12mm thick double bolted, hardened steel shackle extends through the body. The Ultra 410 comes in mini and standard sizes (140 – 300mm) shackle lengths.

The Pitlock (£59.99) protects valuable bike parts; from wheels and seat posts to forks and drop outs. Using high quality stainless steel, this set is ideal for securing wheels when parked but also perfect for a bike that would be left on a car’s bike rack. For £39.99 this set is cheaper than the cost and hassle of replacements.

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Pump up your proďŹ ts Design-driven: Unmistakably High-quality: Absolutely Innovative: Always Topeak sets the standard for innovative, highly functional design in more categories than any other brand.

Topeak Prepare to Ride Distributed in the UK by Extra UK, www.extrauk.co.uk

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EPOS

Taking stock Confused about electronic point of sale and building an e-commerce platform?

Mark Sutton rounds up some of the market’s best options for cycling retail…

EVOPOS

www.evopos.com

CITRUS-LIME www.citruslime.com With a focus on the cycle market and the unique set of problems bicycle retail can throw up, Citrus-Lime are themselves cyclists behind computers, with many staff having been sourced from independent stores.

Some of the firm’s cycle specific modules include Workshop Module and a Supplier Integration Module (SIM) which integrates the retail system to potentially every supplier.

CYBERTILL

www.cybertill.co.uk

Business management suite Evopos combines all the programmes and features you need into one easy to use package and all for a monthly subscription fee.

Catering for the cycling industry, you can add items on the fly so that if you sell a bike with a different saddle you can put the original one into stock on the same invoice.

With Google having announced that it will now favour mobilefriendly websites, retailers that haven’t invested in their sites may lose out in search engine rankings.

In response to this, Cybertill has announced it can now offer fully responsive websites that seamlessly link to its EPoS system for a one stop clicks and mortar solution for bicycle retailers.

ASCEND

BIKE RENTAL MANAGER

www.ascendrms.com

Ascend’s recently launched MT-4008W provides retailers with the mobility of a tablet combined with the powerful functionality of a stationary POS in one hybrid system.

The MT-4008W is an eight-inch mobile tablet which supports an MSR attachment and can be integrated with the choice of a detachable pistol grip or a hand strap depending on the application. Powered by an Intel processor, this tablet runs Windows Embedded 8.1 Industry with a 1,024 x768 screen resolution; therefore most Windows-based applications can be ported over with minimal modification.

BIKEBIZ.COM

bikerentalmanager.com Live since 2011, Bike Rental Manager has in recent times reported strong year-on-year growth for its clients.

Having recently analysed its customer base’s records, the average rental revenue had risen by 19.35 per cent year-on-year. In fact, in 2014 the firm handled over £1.4 million worth in rentals over nine countries. For 2015 BRM is working on a new BRM ‘app’ for Android.

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Produc t Code

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03028

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BRAKES

MOORE LARGE 01332 274200

Unless you don’t mind wrecking your new Vans in the back wheel, brakes are quite important.

Mark Sutton looks at what the market’s distributors have in stock for those looking to feather, skid and stop.

Newly introduced by Jagwire, the Road Elite Link cable kit is designed to offer a long lasting, hassle free experience.

As part of its performance advantage claims, the cable fights compression, which means precise braking, but also allowing for tight bends without kinking. It’s also some 50 per cent lighter than your traditional cable housing. The inner cable is Teflon coated to allow for friction-free actuation.

MADISON

UPGRADE

01908 326000

01403 711 611

With a strong reputation for consistent and powerful braking, Shimano’s XT hydraulics are a popular choice on the MTB scene.

Oversized 22mm twin phenolic pistons are paired with ergonomic Servo Wave levers that offer a high power output and a tool-free reach adjust among other features.

The kit also contains sintered pads, plus spare olives and inserts should your customer wish to adjust the length of the standard 1,000mm hoses.

TRP has introduced a new affordable mountain bike brake dubbed the Spyke.

At £79.99 per unit, the Spyke is a twin piston mechanical disc brake that offers superior performance over other single piston brakes with both pads actuating to provide a precise clamping force. This translates into even pad wear and, with the addition of a simple cable barrel adjuster, the pads can be adjusted easily and hassle-free.

CHICKEN CYCLEKIT

01525 381347

Miche’s Primato brakes are a great ‘made in Italy’ upgrade for your customers to improve their braking at an affordable price.

A strong dealer margin is another fantastic reason to consider stocking Miche, say Chicken.

Many OE customers choose Miche brakes as they are a top quality, Italian alternative to the bigger brands. For more information phone the sales office on 01525 381347.

BIKEBIZ.COM

GREYVILLE 01543 251328 Acor now supplies both mechanical and hydraulic disc brakes. ABR21405 offers a complete set front and rear cable operated mechanical disc brakes, including 160mm rotors for an RRP of £46.95.

New for 2015 Acor have introduced the ABR21504 hydraulic disc brake set for front and rear (including rotors) with a RRP of £119.95.

Weighing in at 142 grams per wheel it is one of the lightest on the market.

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BRAKES

HOPE

ZYRO

01282 851200

01325 741200

With over 25 years experience, Hope is synonymous with braking.

The current mountain bike brake, the Tech 3, is offered with three different calipers depending on the application.

The X2 is a lightweight XC brake, the E4 offers the optimum balance of power and weight for all mountain use and the V4 is their most powerful downhill brake.

Hope also has the V-Twin made specifically for road and CX bikes.

Having both Clarks and Magura within its portfolio, Zyro has one of the industry’s more complete solutions, particularly for the mountain biker.

New to the Magura catalogue, but with only 2,000 units to be produced, is the limited edition MT7 Raceline edition. Weighing just 375 grams, the MT7 revision carries the same race proven forged four-piston caliper and an ergonomic two finger lever with laserengraved Raceline logos.

SILVERFISH

RALEIGH

01752 843882

01773 532600

Italian braking experts Formula provide Silverfish customers with a range of stoppers spanning just £79.99 for the C1, through £209 for the ultra-light R1 Racing brake.

This year the CR3 joins the portfolio, combining the brand’s cartridge master cylinder technology with oval caliper pistons, as featured on the R0. Easy to maintain and providing great performance at a weight of just 345g the CR3 Is available now at

Arriving with Raleigh this month is SRAM’s trail tearing Guide Ultimate brakes. Engineered to dissipate heat through a lightweight caliper, the Guide features tech such as the four-piston S4 calliper, a carbon lever blade, Bleeding Edge technology and Titanium hardware too.

The new caliper design also incorporates a re-designed seal and aluminum piston interface for ease of setup and improved consistency.

SRAM

Various distributors

CLARKS: 01827 382800

At the forefront of developing road discs, SRAM now offers four new hydraulic brakes for tarmac bikes. With a new lever body, refined to accommodate the HydroR shifter body, the ergonomic shape improves internal architecture and material placement around the reservoir.

There’s new bleed ports too, designed with ease of service in mind. At 449 grams per wheel, including hoses and rotors, the forged aluminium caliper and Ti hardware of the RED 22 won’t worry weight weenies.

One of the best value entry-level disc sets around comes from Clarks, who offer a front and rear package for under £50.

Rated 4.5 out of 5 by MBUK mag, the M2 is now a commonly specced by OEMs, as well as being a strong on a budget upgrade choice. Offering 160, 180 or 203mm rotors included in the price, the caliper will take Shimano style replacements, including the finned heat dissipating ones to further up the performance on long descents.

76 BIKEBIZ JUNE

BIKEBIZ.COM

RECOGNISING EXCELLENCE WITHIN THE UK CYCLE TRADE

WEDNESDAY 23RD SEPTEMBER 2015 CROWNE PLAZA, NEC

Now in their eighth year, the BikeBiz Awards celebrate the UK cycle industry and the people and companies whose hard work behind the scenes keeps the cycle world’s wheels turning There are retail prizes to honour high achieving chain stores, local independent shops and giant online retailers; awards for the distributors and wholesalers; accolades for the brands themselves and also for those providing essential services to the industry, from training to advocacy and beyond.

The BikeBiz Awards night is also the perfect opportunity for the trade to make new business contacts and hobnob with the rest of the industry.

Set the day before the NEC Cycle Show’s trade day – located just a stone’s throw away at the Crowne Plaza hotel at the NEC – it’s ideal for anyone after a hard day of setting up their stands or for anyone travelling up to the show.

SEE YOU THERE For information on trade tickets contact: jfarnan@nbmedia.com.

For sponsorship opportunities contact: rsetters@nbmedia.com or call +44 (0)1992 535647

If youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;d like to find out more or require additional copies please contact rsetters@nbmedia.com or call him on 01992 535647

In association with

atg training for your future...

ATG TRAINING - HEAD OFFICE Future Centre, Smeaton Close, Aylesbury, Bucks, HP19 8SZ Tel: 01296 737815 Web: www.atg-training.co.uk

ANSMANN UK e-BIKE centre, Unit 12, RO24, Harlow Business Park, Harlow, Essex, CM19 5QB Tel: 0870 609 2233 Web: www.ansmann.co.uk

CYCLEGUARD INSURANCE Southgate house, Southgate Street, Gloucester, GL1 1UB Tel: 0844 826 2297 Web: www.cycleguard.co.uk

CYCLEPLAN The Royals, Altrincham Road, Manchester, M22 4BJ Tel: 08000 92 92 68 Web: www.insure4sport.co.uk/cycleplan proudly presents

BIKE SOUP 55a North Wharf Road, London, W2 1LA Tel: 020 72982784 Web: www.bikesoup.com

BOB ELLIOT AND CO LTD Unit C4 Binary Court, Matrix Park, Western Avenue, Buckshaw Village, Chorley, PR7 7NB Tel: 01772 459 887 Web: www.bob-elliot.co.uk

BUFFERA LIMITED Cranborne House, Cranbourne Road, Potters Bar, Hertfordshire, EN6 3JN Tel: 01707 852244 Web: www.buffwear.co.uk

BTR DIRECT LTD 148 Portland Road, Hove, East Sussex, BN3 5QL Tel: 01273 205945 Web: www.btrdirect.co.uk

CYCLING SCOTLAND 24 Blythswood Square, Glasgow, G2 4BG Tel: 0141 229 5350 Web: www.cyclingscotland.org

EBCO 5 Pegasus House, Olympus Ave, Warwick, CV34 6LW Tel: Tel +01926 437700 Web: www.ebco-ebikes.co.uk

DARE2B Unit 8-9 Mercury Park, Mercury Way, Urmston, Manchester, M41 7LY Tel: 0844 811 2939 Web: www.dare2b.com

EVOLUTION IMPORTS 27 Widmore Road, Bromley, Kent, BR1 1RW Tel: 0208 290 0807 Web: www.evolutionimports.

CONTINENTAL North Parade, Aberystwyth, Ceredigion, Wales, SY23 2JR Tel: 01970 626777 Web: www.conti-tyres.co.uk

FAT BOY IMPORTS Unit 10, Weavers Corner, Hampson St, Horwich, BL6 7JH Tel: 07966 401165 Web: www.fatboyimports.com

CUSTOM SPORTS CLOTHING LTD Tel: 07875 095 793 Web: www.customsportsclothing.com

FISHER OUTDOOR LEISURE LIMITED 8/9 Brick Knoll Park, Ashley Road, St Albans, Herts, AL1 5UG Tel: 01727 798345 Web: www.fisheroutdoor.co.uk

FROG BIKES Tel: 01784 557300 Web: www.frogbikes.com

HARDNUTZ Unit 8 Rocheview off Millhead Way, Purdeys Industrial Estate, Rochford, Essex, SS4 1LB Tel: 01702 530090 Web: www.hardnutz.com

HOTLINES EUROPE LTD Unit 17 The Loan, Viewforthbank Industrial Estate, South Queensferry, EH30 9SD Tel: 0131 319 1444 Web: www.hotlines-uk.com www.hotlines-europe.com

I-RIDE 7-8B Mid Sussex Business Park, Ditchling Common Industrial Estate, Folders Lane East, Ditchling, Sussex, BN6 8SE Tel: 01444243000 Web: www.i-ride.co.uk

JUNGLE PRODUCTS LTD Unit 3, The Cedar, New York Mills, Summerbridge, HG3 4LA Tel: 01423 780088 Web: www.jungleproducts.co.uk and www.santacruzbikes.co.uk

LEATHERMAN Aynam Mills, Canal Head North, Kendal, Cumbria, LA9 7BY Tel: 01539 729573 Web: www.whitbyandco.co.uk

M & J DISTRIBUTORS LTD Unit A, Hanix Buildings, Windmill Lane, Denton, Manchester, M34 3SP Tel: 0161 337 9600 Web: www.mjdist.co.uk

MARA MEDIA Unit 5 Teach na Rosann, Annagry, County Donegal, Rep of Ireland Tel: 353 (0) 74 954 8935 Web: www.maramedia.ie

The BikeBiz Directory 2015 is out now, providing the industry with a must-have guide to the UKâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s retailers, distributors, manufacturers and related businesses.

DISTRIBUTION AND WHOLESALE

E-COMMERCE AND EPOS

EVENT ORGANISERS, HOSTING, HOLIDAY AND HIRE

MAVIC Theta Building, Lyon Way, Frimley, Surrey, GU16 7ER Tel: 01276 404870

MEALOR-CLARKE CYCLE SPARES LTD Unit 1, Eastlands Road, Leiston, Suffolk, IP16 4LL Tel: 01728830055/01728605970 Web: www.mealorclarkecyclespares.com

MERIDA BICYCLES LTD Unit 13, Nottingham South and Wilford Industrial Estate, Ruddington Lane, Wilford, Nottingham, NG11 7EP Tel: 0115 981 7788 Web: www.merida.com

MOORE LARGE AND CO LTD Sinfin Lane Industrial Estate, Sinfin Lane, Derby, DE24 9GL Tel: 01332 274252 Web: www.moorelarge.co.uk

MANUFACTURERS

MARKETING, PR AND CONSULTANCY

MEDIA AND PUBLISHING

ORGANISATIONS, CHARITIES AND ASSOCIATIONS

RETAILERS, WORKSHOPS AND MAIL ORDER

SERVICES AND TRAINING

RALEIGH UK LTD Church Street, Eastwood, Nottingham, NG16 3HT Tel: 01773 532600 Web: www.raleigh.co.uk www.cyclelife.com www.diamondback.co.uk

CYCLE SHOW, THE 58 White Lion Street, Islington, London, N1 9PP Tel: 020 7288 6733 Web: www.cycleshow.co.uk

RED CLOUD MARKETING & COMMUNICATIONS Delfan, Llangyniew, Welshpool, Powys, SY21 0JS Tel: 01938 810873 Web: www.redcloudmc.com

VELOTECH SERVICES LTD 26-27 Western Road, Stratford-upon-Avon, Warwickshire, CV37 0AH Tel: 0845 475 5339 Web: www.velotechservices.co.uk

REECE CYCLES PLC 100 Alcester Street, Birmingham, B12 0QB Tel: 0121 622 0180 Web: www.reececycles.co.uk

WALKERS CYCLE COMPONENTS LTD 22 Holywell Road, Leicester, LE2 8SG Tel: 01162 833885 Web: www.walkerscycles.co.uk

SCHWALBE TYRES UK LTD Schwalbe Centre, Hortonwood 30, Telford, Shropshire, TF1 7ET Tel: 01952 602680 Web: www.schwalbe.co.uk

WELDTITE PRODUCTS LTD Unit 9 Harrier Road, Humber Bridge Industrial Estate, Barton-on-Humber, Lincs, DN18 5RP Tel: 01652 660000 Web: www.weldtite.co.uk

SEE.SENSE (LIMEFORGE LTD) Sketrick House, Jubilee Road, Newtownards, BT23 4YH Tel: 02891 800536 Web: www.seesense.cc

WINDWAVE Unit D2 and D3 Heritage Business Park, Heritage Way, Gosport, Hampshire, PO12 4BG Tel: 02392 521912 Web: www.windwave.co.uk

SILVERFISH UK LTD Unit 3C and 3B Woodacre Court, Saltash Parkway Industrial Estate, Burraton Road, Saltash, Cornwall, PL12 6LY Tel: 01752 843882 Web: www.silverfish-uk.com

ZYRO LTD Roundhouse Road, Faverdale Industrial Estate, Darlington, DL30UR Tel: 01325 741200 Web: www.zyro.co.uk / www.zyrob2b.co.uk

cc

PALIGAP LTD Unit 2 Danbury House, Great Western Park, Armstrong Way, Yate, Bristol, BS37 5NG Tel: 01454 313 116 Web: www.paligapltd.co.uk

PARKLIFE (HAVANT) LTD Unit 5, Butterick Building, New Lane, Havant, P09 2ND Tel: 02392 475895

PEAK DEVELOPMENT 2 Flanders Park, Hedge End, Southampton, Hants, SO30 2FZ Tel: 01489 796979 Web: www.peak-uk.com

POWACYCLE Akhter House, Perry Road, Harlow, Essex, CM18 7PN Tel: 01279 821243 Web: www.powacycle.co.uk

SQUIRT Unit 10 Quadrum Park, Old Portsmouth Road, Peasmarsh, Surrey, GU3 1LU Web: www.in2dust.co.uk

THE CYCLE DIVISION Unit 27 Gatehouse Enterprise Centre, Albert Street, Lockwood, Huddersfield, West Yorkshire, HD1 3QD Tel: 01484 456137 Web: www.thecycledivision.com

BikeBiz Directory 2015 is now available to view online at www.bikebiz.com

80 BIKEBIZ JUNE

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Sponsored by

COMMUNITY

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

In praise of PEDAL ON PARLIAMENT Bike-Inn STAR COMMENT

DEAR Editor, I’d like to congratulate the many women who took to their bikes for Pedal on Parliament last month. Many hundreds of those arriving at Holyrood were women and I believe that they, more than any other, have the power to change people’s attitudes to cyclists on our roads.

The more women who cycle to work in skirts and heels, who cycle with their kids to school on their sit up and beg bikes or who simply use two wheels to get from one place to another, the more a sense of normality and acceptance of cyclists in towns and cities will ensue. Where their numbers are on the rise, cycling is seen as a regular part of everyday life.

With government investment in cycling and active travel increasing, and the emergence of many female cycling groups such as Filles a Velo and Belles on Bikes, there is more and more encouragement for women to take up cycling. Long may it continue.

Brenda Mitchell Cycle Law Scotland / Belles on Bikes – Scottish Borders

I FELT compelled to write to you about my son, Ben and his attendance at The Bike-Inn Ben had not had a good start to the year. When on holiday in South East Asia he was attacked by a gang wielding machetes. His left arm was badly damaged and he faced the complex surgery to repair the nerves to his hand. As a result, the next stage of his education was on hold. Ben has Aspergers and has not found conventional school easy. In particular he could not cope with large classes and prefers to be ‘doing ’rather than ‘listening’. He had managed successfully to re-sit English and Maths, that added to the PE he already had, gave him three GCSE’s at grade C, but needed a fourth to qualify for the course he wanted.

The issue we faced was twofold: how to fill the rest of the year and how to gain the final GCSE he needed. His passion is cycling, but after the attack he couldn’t even ride his bike. However, seven months on, he is fit and, through sheer willpower, has regained enough movement in his arm for further surgery to be unnecessary. His grandfather had been researching and found out about Cytech. In doing this he chanced upon The Bike Inn, whose courses lead to a City and Guilds level 2 qualification, the equivalent of a grade C GCSE. We exchanged emails and I was very open about Ben’s learning issues. Alf, the owner, was sure they could cope and we booked him on to the two-week course. The business is run from their home, by husband and wife team Alf and Teresa Webb. The normal class size is seven and there are three to four tutors there most of the time. Most students arrive at 8.30 in the morning and leave after 5.30 in the evening. The degree of personal attention given to each participant is remarkable. They are not a ‘nine to five’ closed door situation and are prepared to work as long as is required to ensure students succeed.

I have, thanks to Bike-Inn, my son back as a confident, bright and cheerful young man, looking to succeed in life.

Bryony Johnstone

This month the lucky winner will receive a Commuter X4 personal illumination system…

@bikebizonline “Was recently #cycling in Luxembourg and agree it’s one of the nicest and safest places to cycle. Top roads; polite motorists...” (@Okahkonen) “Statistically Malta might be top of safety leagues i.e. less accidents but also few cyclists. I’m not sure I’d feel too safe there.” (@chrisgjcooley) “We’ve waiting for the BikeBiz Veterans award! Celebrating the unemployable in any other industry! :-)” (@prendas) “Awesome to be featuring in @BikeBizOnline – Great mag, take look.” (@DukeoftheDowns) “Great review of the STEALTH in @BikeBizOnline Magazine @TJLawson says the nutrition industry is “due a shake up.” (@secrettrainingcc) “Hmm so the 4,000 calories I eat daily isn’t counteracted by the cycling and running I do? News to my scales” (@tom_a_jeffs)

MARKETPLACE BIKES & ACCESSORIES

TO ADVERTISE IN THESE PAGES PLEASE CONTACT RSETTERS@NBMEDIA.COM OR CALL 01992 535647

BIKES & ACCESSORIES

Actual Size

INTRODUCING THE SMALLEST CYCLING GPS DEVICE IN THE WORLD. Mini GPS is compact, powerful and ideal for the cycling minimalist. Sharp, easy to read, customisable display. Up to 100 hours of data is easily accessed. Cross-compatibility with

Reads USA and Russian satellites for ultra-reliable data collection ANT+T M and Bluetooth®

Lezyne GPS Root web site as well as Strava™ and Training Peaks®. SRP £109.99

(BLE) connectivity. SRP £159.99

PROUDLY DISTRIBUTED BY UPGRADE BIKES LTD. | UPGRADEBIKES.CO.UK

PROUDLY DISTRIBUTED BY UPGRADE BIKES LTD. | UPGRADEBIKES.CO.UK

BIKES & ACCESSORIES

BIKES & ACCESSORIES

Sync with Bluetooth® Smart enabled iOS and Android devices. Briefly displays incoming texts, emails and phones calls. Record 200 hours of data. SRP £139.99

PROUDLY DISTRIBUTED BY UPGRADE BIKES LTD. | UPGRADEBIKES.CO.UK

82 BIKEBIZ JUNE

The GPS Ally is more than just an app; it’s the centerpiece of our interactive GPS platform.

Using Bluetooth Smart technology, saved rides can be seamlessly synchronized to the app from the Lezyne Power and Super GPS units and subsequently analyzed at the Lezyne Root website. The app can also communicate with the Power and Super GPS computers, sending notifications of incoming phone calls, text and/or emails.

PROUDLY DISTRIBUTED BY UPGRADE BIKES LTD. | UPGRADEBIKES.CO.UK

BIKEBIZ.COM

MARKETPLACE BIKES & ACCESSORIES

BIKES & ACCESSORIES

GPS Root is a user-friendly website created to organize and analyze ride and training information. Data can be uploaded directly from any Lezyne GPS computer and then shared (optional) on Facebook® or Twitter®. Examine route details in low, high or ultra resolution in the map feature and view specific training informationfor comprehensive evaluation.

PROUDLY DISTRIBUTED BY UPGRADE BIKES LTD. | UPGRADEBIKES.CO.UK

BIKES & ACCESSORIES

BIKES & ACCESSORIES

BOTTOM BRACKET SOLUTIONS

33 integrated, CNC machined aluminium complete BB Solutions

Bearing presses, Hangers and Sealed bearings Now with double sealed Enduro bearings Online BB Adaptor finder: wheelsmfg.co.uk

BIKEBIZ.COM

BIKEBIZ JUNE 83

MARKETPLACE BIKES & ACCESSORIES

TO ADVERTISE IN THESE PAGES PLEASE CONTACT RSETTERS@NBMEDIA.COM OR CALL 01992 535647

BIKES & ACCESSORIES

EXPOSURE LIGHTS NEW SPRING COMMUTER & POS DISCOUNT

Now available by contacting info@use1.co.uk or 01798 839 300

BIKE FRAME LABELS & GENERAL PRINT

BIKE FRAME LABELS & GENERAL PRINT

Bike Frame Stickers Visit our new website

Get your name around, remind your customers where they bought their bike or accessories and where to take it for a service.

Any size, shape up to 60x40mm, 1-3 colours include laminate so no scratching.

500 £92 1000 £120 2000 £165 Origination £30

www top tube stickers up to 20x150mm. 1 colour on clear 500 £105 1000 £145 2000 £190 Origination £20

(IGH 7YCOMBE WWW FREEWHEELIN BIKES CO UK

www.cycle-world.co.uk Serviced By -

Tel. 01479 870 050

LONGHAM, 01202 590414 RINGWOOD, 01425 470835

Sales - Service - Setup - Repairs

Gomm Road, High Wycombe, Bucks, HP13 7DJ

Telephone: (44) (0) 1494 530761 email: sales@adcal-labels.co.uk

adcal-labels.co.uk/labels/bicycle-retailers 84 BIKEBIZ JUNE

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MARKETPLACE CLOTHING

COMPONENTS (c) crankphoto

CUSTOM CLOTHING

CUSTOM CAPS

CUSTOM BOTTLES

CUSTOM MUSETTES

CUSTOM SOCKS

CUSTOM PHONEPACS

Wildoo is the only UK based supplier that can offer a full range of quality custom cycling products.

ULTIMATE SPORTS ENGINEERING available till the end of May for USE stockists.

For information contact info@use1.co.uk or 01798 839 300

for more information visit wildoo.co.uk

DISTRIBUTION

BIKEBIZ.COM

GIFT VOUCHERS, CARDS & PROMOTIONAL GOODS

BIKEBIZ JUNE 85

MARKETPLACE RACKS

TO ADVERTISE IN THESE PAGES PLEASE CONTACT RSETTERS@NBMEDIA.COM OR CALL 01992 535647

TYRES AND TUBES

High-quality and ultra-reliable bicycle tyres and tubes, made in Europe

Rubena by Mitas has a tyre suitable for all disciplines covering road to MTB and everything in between, including the new and revolutionary GAADI open-loop tube.

■ GREAT TRADE MARGINS ■ OVERNIGHT DELIVERY ■ ORDER VIA FREEPHONE OR ONLINE ■ AFTER-SALES TRADE SUPPORT To find out more about dealer opportunities and pricing structure, or to arrange a visit from our brand specialist, contact the Rubena UK Trade Distributor BIKE TYRESTORE FREEPHONE 0800 281 413, Email: sales@biketyrestore.com To place an order online, or open a trace account, visit www.biketyrestore.co.uk For product information, visit www.rubenacycle.co.uk or www.mitascycle.co.uk

WEBSITE SERVICES

86 BIKEBIZ JUNE

WEBSITE SERVICES

BIKEBIZ.COM

OFF TRACK

OFF TRACK

YOUR MONTHLY ROUND-UP OF STATS, VIEWS AND RANDOMS FROM THE TRADE

NUMBER CRUNCHING Yet more bike pilfering, doubling sales, cash spent on bikes and even a few mystery figures are presented for your numerical enjoyment

£1,700 The average amount spent on bikes by Wiggle Dragon riders in 2014 was £1,700, according to Sports Marketing Surveys INC.

?

We don’t know how much ECI paid for its majority stake in Evans Cycles, announced last month, but we do know that under previous owner Active, Evans saw £44m annual revenue and sales growth over 300 per cent since 2008.

4AM

ate e approxim That was th y May 10th nda time on Su team er of Whyte first b m u n a n e h w ng the stolen duri bikes were y Enduro e UK Grav it round of th erset o S n and m Series. Avo ng ti a ig st ve Police are in ress. at time of p

X2

According to distributor Zyro, Bell helmets and Giro sales have doubled year-on-year. While not revealing specific numbers, the firm said Giro’s Empire shoes and Bell’s Super 2 and 2R helmets have been key drivers.

3 0%

perative’s Bicycle Co-o ning to Edinburgh lan r store is p Mancheste cent in the r e least 30 p t a y b w ro by a 3 0 g ars, backed next five ye ent in m se in invest t rise per cent ri n ce r e p and 25 at marketing ff a st in t en in investm .

0 y 202 the shop, b

BIKEBIZ.COM

BIKEBIZ JUNE 87

OFF TRACK

IN THE SADDLE I N

A S S O C I AT I O N

W I T H

#BICYCLESCHANGELIVES TEAM MTN-Qhubeka p/b Samsung – the one that is set to make history as the first African-registered team to take part in the Tour de France – has teamed up with Qhubeka and World Bicycle Relief. It’s all in aid of the #BicyclesChangeLives.

The team has committed to raise funds for 5,000 bicycles for students in Africa through WBR’s programme in South Africa. Read more at www.bicycleschangelives.com

B R O O K S

Damian Hackett, Head of marketing and sales for UK and Ireland, Orbea What bikes do you own and where’s your fave place to ride ‘em? At the minute I only own an Orca and an urban Carpe. Because I’ve just moved from Ireland, my favourite place would still be in Ireland. I lived at the foot of Carrick mountain in Whitlow. In recent years, on the road, Sallygap would be my preferred loop. That’s anything from 70 to 120km with super views and little traffic. I’m yet to bed into cycling life in Wimbledon.

How did you get into the cycling industry?

I’ve been around, previously looking after KTM and Exteondo in Ireland. Catlike and MET too. Going right back, I started in journalism and I published the Irish Marketing Journal. I sold that business in 2002 to begin Outsider magazine, spending a lot of my time reviewing product and became familiar with the industry.

Can you tell us about your role at Orbea?

Orbea offered me the sales manager position for the UK and Ireland one year ago. Since then we’ve made big strides in recruiting a strong team and refining our dealerbase. One year on from taking the role we’ve found the right dealers, the right people to support those dealers and helped Orbea understand the UK market’s needs better. We had some excellent and some critical feedback from dealers and we took that to Spain. Orbea has shown an enormous willingness to adapt to the market’s needs, from range, pricing, delivery and investing in a team of seven in the UK. At this point I’m ensuring that all the cogs turn together. Our support team in Windsor, factory in Spain and reps on the road are all working seamlessly.

Any territories in need of a Orbea presence?

We just got a new guy Andrew Hastings who is managing East Anglia to North London. Formerly from Madison, he’s well known in the trade already. That’s currently the biggest geographical gap. We’re not actively looking for more shops, though are open to conversation. 01753 851111

88 BIKEBIZ JUNE

PRIOR TO RIDE ENGLAND TEST cricketer and cycling enthusiast Matt Prior will bring his newly formed professional team – ONE Pro Cycling – to the North East as part of this year’s Virgin Money Cyclone Festival of Cycling, running June 19th to 21st.

Running across Newcastle and Northumberland and recognised by the UCI, the summer race will be one of the independent team’s first appearances in the North East and may see rider Yanto Barker join the team.

SHED FUND RAISER HUDDERSFIELD’S OWN Bike-Shed.com is backing a local charity-fund raiser that will see riders wheel over from Highburton, Yorkshire, to Aberffraw, Anglesey, Wales. The fundraiser will produce cash for the RNLI and local skate park in memory of 12 year old Isaac Nash who tragically died after being swept out to sea at Aberffraw while on holiday. www.localgiving.com/charity/theisaacnashtrust

BIKEBIZ.COM

OFF TRACK

Daniel Gillborn, Director

BRITAIN IS A NATION OF SMALL BUSINESSES CYCLESCHEME IS proud to have over 2,150 retailers spread across Britain. The average cycle retailer will have lots of distinguishing features that ensure their customers keep coming back but there are also several commonalities that unite them with the wider trade. Today I will focus on one of the defining features that is at the core of nearly all our stores propositions – location.

Employers are a big part of any community and with a staggering 1m VAT registered companies in the UK, we are truly a nation of small businesses. These micro, small and medium sized businesses are the lifeblood of their communities.

Cyclescheme will continue to encourage the behemoths into the saddle (Morrisons being a current example) but we will never be able to visit every local employer in the

UK. We can however help you engage with them and make that all-important sale.

As the lowest cost provider of cycleto-work schemes to the trade and with a smorgasbord of tools and resources available to help sign up local employers; are you doing all you can to take advantage of the benefits cycle to work can bring from the businesses and organisations that surround your store or are in your local area?

If you do nothing else, request some flyer packs using your B2B login (one pack will include flyers for employers and employees).

If you want to do more, update your website with Cyclescheme webtext or embed our videos, head out with some posters for local employers staff rooms or even encourage your customers to ‘invite their employers’ to sign-up using the tool on our website.

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

QUOTE UNQUOTE

TR ADNET ACCOU

’S INSIGHT CYCLE TRADER

Wes Doyle, BikesEtc How long have you been at BikesEtc? I’ve been editor on BikesEtc since its launch in October 2014, although I’ve worked for Dennis for a number of years as a regular contributor to our sister title Cyclist.

How long have you worked in the industry?

As a journalist I come from a health and fitness/ men’s lifestyle background but have always been keen cyclist. So while I only really started working in the cycling industry when I began at Cyclist in 2012, I was always trying to shoehorn features about bikes and pro riders into the magazines I was involved with. I managed to get Bradley Wiggins into Men’s Health in ‘09 as he was promoting an online meat store and could talk about the benefits of eating more protein!

What’s the best thing about working in the cycle industry? There are obvious perks to what we do on BikesEtc, especially when it comes to testing kit. But really the best thing is seeing how the industry has grown in the UK; the attendance of sportives and events is unbelievable and the profile British cyclists is something no one could’ve predicted nine or ten years ago.

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

“Demand for cycling is swelling every year and the government must do more to help keep them safe.”

Jason Torrance, Sustrans policy director

Sponsored by the brands of Moore Large 01332 274252

BIKEBIZ.COM

What’s the best and worst part of your job?

I shall be very diplomatic. The best part is seeing the ideas that come out of editorial meetings take shape in the magazine. And the worst part?

Probably when a new issue lands on my desk and I read through it for the first time, hoping there’re no glaring typos or mistakes that were missed.

What are you working on at the moment?

We’re currently finishing off our ninth issue (on sale 10 June) which as well as the usual reviews, tips and advice includes a free Tour du France magazine, which we’re really proud of. In keeping with our approach to content in the mag we’ve put together a guide that gives the reader much more than just reprinting the routes and profiles. wesley_doyle@dennis.co.uk.

BIKEBIZ JUNE 89

LAST WORD

Looking on the plus side Is that settled then? Is 27.5+ the platform for most riders?

Carlton Reid travels to California to find out.

I DON’T want to get too romantic about this but the dirt on my MTB shoes was kicked up from Mt Tam

by Joe Breeze. I was recently in America for a speaking tour but had time to play, too. And, for a mountain biker with a love for history, there’s no better place to play than Mount Tamalpais, the spiritual home of modern mountain biking.

Joe Breeze – maker of the Breezer mountain-bike back in the day, and still in the business today with the ASI-owned Breezer line of bikes – was one of the founding fathers of mountain biking. We rode for three hours. Joe wanted me to see the view from the rustic West Point Inn, a view that takes in the sweep of the San Francisco bay. Fog and low cloud put paid to that. I wasn’t bothered about the scenery, the view that mattered to me was seeing Joe ahead of me.

For the record, he’s still a very good descender, and he doesn’t ride retro. Joe much prefers the latest tech, including intelligent suspension and the newest wheel sizes, such as 27.5+.

Except, of course, the 27.5+ – or 650b, if you prefer – is not terribly new at all. The “plus” wheel is seemingly a good compromise between the 26in and the 29er, especially when shod with 3in tyres, and thereby appealing to those who might otherwise have gravitated to fat bikes.

The 650b size, and not 26in, could have been the de facto MTB wheel size had a Finnish phone company got its act into gear. In 1980, Geoff Apps of

Sign spotted at Sea Otter Classic, 2015

“Nokian of Finland was also Nokia, the mobile phone maker and was in no mood to expand its obscure and expensive tyre size.”

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Wendover – maker, in 1979, of the first British “cross country bicycle” and who had been experimenting with off-road bicycles since the late 1960s – corresponded with Californian pioneers Gary Fisher and Charlie Kelly, and sent them Nokian Hakkapeliitta 650x54B and 700x47C snow tyres to experiment with. Tom Ritchey made bikes to fit these tyres – they were found to be faster and more nimble than 26inwheel bikes.

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Nokian of Finland was also Nokia, the maker of mobile phones, and was in no mood to expand production of its obscure and expensive bicycle tyres – supply dried up and the world got used to the 26in tyre size. But the larger tyre size idea didn’t die. In 1988 Bruce Gordon reproduced the Hakkapeliitta tyre as his 700x43c Rock ‘n’ Road tyre, and a decade later Gary Fisher supported the production of the first 29er mountain bike tyre, the WTB Nanoraptor of 1999.

It took some years before consumers warmed to 29ers and by the time they did another size was waiting in the wings. This was the 650b again, this time introduced by Kirk Pacenti, in 2007. For the last couple of years the 27.5+ platform has been said to be the “next big thing” in mountain biking.

For bike shops it means having to stock at least three MTB tyre sizes.

For consumers it seems like yet another way for the bike business to drum up sales.

WTB’s Trailblazer – a tyre that fits on 27.5+ rims and on 29er frames – was a bridge-builder but the public perception that the MTB industry flops around with tyre sizes in order to gouge consumers has taken hold. And no wonder, really.

But looking at it another way each tyre size platform has its merits and there’s now a size for everybody, with the 27.5+ being perhaps the best of all worlds for most riders.

When I was riding on Mount Tamalpais with Joe Breeze what wheel size was I riding? I didn’t look, I just rode.

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