BikeBiz January 2016

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B I K E

B U S I N E S S

JANUARY 2016

ISSUE 120

ISSUE 120 JANUARY 2016

@bikebizonline | facebook.com/bikebiz

F O R

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E V E R Y O N E

T H E

B I K E

p13 & 21 SHOW GUIDES

p28 Industry predicts

We take you through what’ll be new and unmissable at Core Bike and the Bike Place this January

What are big name trade bosses looking forward to in ’16? We find out on pages 28 & 29…

B U S I N E S S p9 Capital plan ExCeL hosts the latest edition of the London Bike Show.

We take an early look at what the February show has to offer bike traders

What does

2016 have in store?

We can’t accurately forecast whether the sun will shine on the industry this year or not, but we can tell you what shows are not to missed, and what products will be fighting for space on shop shelves in Q1…

p13-26

p36 Together We Ride

p48 Feeling Buff

p63 Training days

p69 Let’s workshop

If you like the sound of Click & Collect for IBDs, you’re in luck

From hats to dog warmers, there’s plenty new from Buff

Think your staff are worth investing in? Good.

Tools, lubes, cleaners and spares for your workshop

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NEWS

FROG MARCHES TO VICTORY LIGHTWEIGHT kid’s bike brand Frog Bikes has won Exporter of the Year at the Startups Awards at the tail end of 2015.

The Award followed a big growth year for Frog Bikes, which are now available in 24 countries across the globe, with more than 700 independent bike retailers in the UK and mainland Europe, particularly Scandinavia.

The family owned business was founded in 2013 and was up against five other brands that have been selected for building a presence overseas, with router software company Netduma and Nespresso-compatible coffee capsule business Cafepod placing second and third respectively. Other finalsits included Popcorn brand, cosmetics firm Scaramouche &

WILL IT BE LIKE 2012 ALL OVER AGAIN? YES PLEASE.

Fandango, and workspace design platform Opendesk.

The judging panel included Cath Kidston, Jon Wright (Innocent Drinks), Holly Tucker (NotOnTheHighStreet.com) and also included Dragon’s Den regular Touker Suleyman.

There’s more on the growing quality children’s bike market on page 50.

CYCLE TO WORK HANGS ON THERE WAS a last minute scare over the future of cycle to work in the days leading to the Autumn Statement. While fears that the initiative would be cut were ultimately proved wrong, the government did say it “remains concerned about the growth of salary sacrifice arrangements and is considering what action, if any, is necessary.”

In the meantime, however, the Cycle to Work Alliance has released new data showing employees’ continued positive attitude to the scheme, including the claim that 62 per cent of the 13,148 employees polled saying they were non or occasional cyclists before signing up.

general fitness; 52 per cent believed that it had contributed to weight loss; and 46 per cent believed that it had contributed to them being less stressed.

Q 77 per cent of employers consider that the scheme has had a positive impact on their organisation in relation to employee health.

Q Over half of employers (56 per cent) identified improving staff wellbeing as the main motivator for offering the scheme.

Q 86 per cent of employees believe that cycling to work has led to health benefits.

Q Of those who had noticed health benefits, 89 per cent believed that it had improved

Q Having joined the scheme 79 per cent described themselves as enthusiastic cyclists.

BIKEBIZ.COM

REMEMBER THE London 2012 Olympics? Your accountant probably does. Turns out we’ve got another one this year.

Admittedly, Rio will struggle to have the local impact that London 2012 had upon the UK, but it is a high profile chance for Team GB’s cyclists to shine and hopefully lead the nation’s fair weather cyclists to dust off their bikes and find they’re in need of a damn good servicing.

2012 was a golden year, thanks to those Olympic medals and Sir Bradley Wiggins’ historic win at the Tour de France.

Now Great Britain is truly used to its cyclists winning on the road, track and trail (although the mainstream press still seems to be wearing MTB blinkers).

We’ve become a bit spoiled, frankly.

Look at the nation’s football fans, poor blighters. They are rightly horrified at the team’s inability to perform in tournaments (ie when it really matters). There will come a time, I’m sorry to say, that we won’t have worldbeating cyclists performing like Manon Carpenter, Laura Trott and Chris Froome are. May that day be a long way off indeed, and for now may the media and us lot continue to shout about those fine riders and their excellent achievements, and ultimately may this momentum for the bike trade continue into 2016 and far beyond.

What are you looking forward to in the next 12 months? We asked some well known bike trade names (page 28) and we want to hear more trade thoughts too. You can email us at jharker@nbmedia.com

Q 60 per cent of employees participating in the scheme believe that cycling to work has improved their productivity while at work.

Q 52 per cent of employers agree that the scheme plays an important role in staff engagement, emphasising the wider benefits to the workplace.

OTHER FINDINGS INCLUDED:

EDITOR’S COMMENT

BIKEBIZ JANUARY 5

NEWS

Cumbria’s cycle traders are open

CUMBRIA WAS one of the regions hardest hit by Storm Desmond last month.

In its recovery from flood damage the area has been keen to encourage visitors with a ‘Cumbria is Open’ viral campaign to alleviate the economic damage as much as possible.

One local bike shop – Cyclewise – opened in Cockermouth on Saturday

5th December, the same day the floods hit. The launch went ahead as planned but the firm, like many other cycle companies in the area, have been keen to support fellow businesses that were not so lucky and were hit by the floods. Director Richard Martin told BikeBiz: “The opening went ahead but we started to realise that

something was wrong when we began to get reports of flooding. I managed to get back to Penrith with two minutes to spare with the A66 closing behind me.”

“The reality is both our premises have got off lightly, others were not so lucky. However, we are all picking ourselves up and getting back to normal as soon as we can.”

Wheelbase director and co-owner Toby Dalton told BikeBiz: “We’re all good here but our thoughts are with all the people who have been affected by these devastating floods, we’ve seen nothing like it before. Cumbrians are hardy and resilient and we’ll bounce back from this.”

Daan van Belzen of Carlisle’s Bike Seven,

commented to us: “When the ACT selected BikeSeven as Shop of the Month we had no idea that the next event would be yet another flooding of Carlisle. We were spared the waters of the River Esk thanks to the disused railway track providing a substantial barrier.

“The weather was horrendous on Saturday and not many ventured out for our Sinterklaas party.

The near gale force wind helped the rain water make an entrance though.”

Many local roads were badly damaged, leading Keswick Bikes owner Amos Doron to suggest that when the A591 is rebuilt it should be upgraded with a cycleway as a “lasting legacy”.

2015 finishes with new mag launch And, shockingly, it’s not a new road bike magazine, for once IN A year that saw the end of the print versions of Dig and Ride, there was a welcome surprise in the form of a new BMX magazine launch.

Endless was founded and edited by Eisa Bakos while senior photographer is Foo Man. The plush 132-page magazine featured interviews with the likes of Ben Lewis, Alex Donnachie (featured on the cover) and Pete Sawyer, among others, in the initial issue.

The first edition is being distributed through CSG and Seventies – and in

Executive Editor: Carlton Reid carltonreid@mac.com Editor: Jonathon Harker jharker@nbmedia.com Deputy Editor: Mark Sutton msutton@nbmedia.com

France through Bros Bike Store/Sparkeys France.

Mag founder Eisa Bakos told BikeBiz: “I wanted the magazine to launch before Christmas as it made sense being the busiest time of the year.

“My ambitions are to keep the quality of the content at its highest and then release four more issues in 2016.

“Print aint dead.”

Meanwhile CSG UK launched a fresh spin on the trade catalogue with a ‘BMX Magalogue’, featuring interviews and exclusive editorial alongside

more typical product guide elements. Headed up by CSG’s Mark Noble – incidentally the founder of Ride BMX in ’92 – 8,000 copies were printed and sent to bike shop dealers. endless-mag.com

“My ambitions are to release four more issues in 2016.”

Eisa Bakos, Endless

Sales Manager: Richard Setters rsetters@nbmedia.com Design: Dan Bennett dbennett@nbmedia.com Production Executive: Elizabeth Parker eparker@nbmedia.com

Content Director: Andrew Wooden awooden@nbmedia.com

Marketing & Circulation bike.subscriptions@c-cms.com

Sales Director: Mark Rankine mrankine@nbmedia.com

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

Managing Director: Mark Burton mburton@nbmedia.com

BikeBiz is mailed FOC to 4,000+ trade addresses every month ISSN 1476-1505

© NewBay Media 2016 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 JANUARY

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NEWS

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Rutland Cycling takes over Station Cycles Cambridge Following move, the Rutland Cycling store empire now stands at nine shops

Rutland Cycling started with one shop in 1981, opened its fifth in Peterborough this year and now has expanded to nine shops with the acquisition of Station Cycles of Cambridge.

The Midlands-based independent bike retailer has now taken over the Cambridge

chain, with stores in the Grand Arcade, Histon and Barnwell Road, as well as Giant Store Cambridge on Hills Road.

Station Cycles was established by local entrepreneur Charlie Warboys, whose original shop was located at the train station (hence the name). By the time his

first shop closed in 2014 as part of the station’s redevelopment, Warboys had built his business into a successful chain of stores, supplying Cambridge with Giant, Specialized, Cannondale, Brompton and Frog. Station Cycles also runs a bike hire operation, a model familiar to Rutland from their award-winning cycle hire in the East Midlands.

David Middlemiss, Rutland Cycling MD, said: “We are delighted to be entering the Cambridge market at an exciting time for cycling in the city. The team at Station have built a fantastic business and we are privileged to be taking on such a strong and dedicated team.

Following a successful rebrand online and instore, this expansion comes at the right time for us.”

Andover shop expands ABBOTTS ANN Cycles of Andover, Hants, has opened a new 3,500 sq ft store this week (January 2nd).

The shop has relocated after seeing 100 per cent growth in 2015, with a coffee shop, guru bike fit and Wattbike studio at the new location. Following the move, the retailer hopes to attract more female riders.

Abbotts Ann Cycles owner William Sawyer told BikeBiz: “Abbotts Ann Cycles was formed in a redundant car showroom at my existing motor trade premises. Having previously owned and successfully run another shop in Andover in the ‘90s I identified a need in this area for a shop that listens to the customers needs and offer unrivalled advice and enthusiasm.

With my background in the retail motor industry I have tried to apply that level of professionalism to our shop.

“We started the shop in November 2013 and have seen growing interest and footfall BIKEBIZ.COM

“We hope to encourage a lot more female riders into the shop.”

William Sawyer, Abbotts Ann Cycles

since that point, the addition of Cannondale as brand saw significant bike sales increase.

With the move to the new shop we are happy to announce the addition of Trek to our brands.

“The new shop will incorporate Tubs cafe, Guru bike fit,Wattbike training room and what must be the most comprehensively equipped workshop in the area with highly skilled staff. With the addition of two female members of staff we hope to encourage a lot more female riders into the shop.” abbottsanncycles.co.uk

CYCLE

SHORTS Hope for Stan’s Cycles Three days after Stan’s Cycles announced it was to cease trading, the bike shop looked to have had a reprieve on its closure. The Shrewsbury shop’s survival will come down to “negotiations that would allow the business to continue and thrive” which, at time of press, are still underway. On Facebook, the firm said it had been “truly humbled” by the level of support it had received after the news broke.

Felt hits the road Saddleback and Felt are ending their decade-long distribution relationship as of December 31st 2015. Felt was an important brand in Saddleback’s rapid development but now the amicable split has arisen, due to “the differing direction that both parties wish to pursue”.

GoPro goes after five years After five years, the high profile Madison/GoPro distribution deal has ceased. Rumours were swift to follow the news over whether Madison would now look to work with the action cameras produced

by Shimano and Garmin.

Mango opens Three year old brand Mango Bikes has opened a flagship showroom and concept store at its global HQ, close to the Cotswold Water park.

Located in South Cerney, Cirencester, Gloucestershire, the showroom features a “doodle wall” where customers are encouraged to leave notes for posterity after their purchase.

Milton Keynes to get UK’s 2nd largest cycle hire scheme London hire bike sponsor Santander is getting behind a brand new cycle hire scheme in Milton Keynes, in spring 2016. There’ll be 500 bikes at 60 docking stations, based in part around the town’s ‘Redway’ network of shared cycle and pedestrian paths spanning 169 miles in the town.

For breaking news visit:

www.bikebiz.com BIKEBIZ JANUARY 7

LONDON BIKE SHOW

More than a BIKE SHOW There’s plenty of event goodness taking place at ExCeL this February.

BikeBiz looks at the combined appeal of the multi-show, er, show…

NEED TO KNOW

3-IN-ONE

The London Bike Show 2016 February 11th to 14th 2016 ExCeL Centre, London www.thelondonbikeshow.co.uk

KEY TO the appeal of the London Bike Show is the fact it runs alongside two other shows, which potentially brings new curious punters into the Bike Show exhibitor stands. Both the Telegraph Adventure Show and the Triathlon Show: London (and International Dive Show) take place at ExCeL just a few steps across the hall.

The Triathlon Show will have a Triathlon Experts Theatre which, in 2015, featured Chrissie Wellington and the Brownlee Brothers (guests are yet to be announced for 2016). There’ll also be a Triathlon Events Village, pulling together key tri events firms where keen triathletes will be able to plan

BIKEBIZ.COM

their competitive year ahead.

The Triathlon Show: London will also feature swim coaching, wetsuit testing, the Surrey Human Performance Training Hub and more.

Over to the Telegraph Outdoor Adventure & Travel Show, where there will be a specific programme of talks (including on Wild Britain Bushcraft & Survival), Climbing Wall, the Outdoor Industry Award finalists, plus plenty of exhibitors to lure in the outdoor-orientated.

Full details on all of the shows can be found at telegraphoutdoorshow.co.uk and also at triathlonshowlondon.co.uk

AIR TO THE THRONE ONE OF the big new features for 2016 designed to pull in the punters is Air to the Throne, a freestyle MTB competition.

Demos run over 11th and 12th, with the competition proper starting on Feb 13th.

Eight world class BMX and mountain bike riders will be demoing their skills and what the progressive AT3 course has to offer, but when it comes to the weekend, 30 of the globe’s finest mountain bike riders will battle for a €10,000 prize pot.

The international invitational already has a host of names confirmed, including Sam Pilgrim and Martin Soderstrom.

BIKEBIZ JANUARY 9

LONDON BIKE SHOW

LET’S WORKSHOP THE LONDON Bike Show will dedicate a considerable space to the workshop. That’s the name of the café within the show, where tips on how to keep bikes road (and indeed off-road) ready will be shared.

The Workshop café stop will have Cytech expert mechanics and trainers on hand to willingly answer questions.

Cytech Fastest Wrench Back by popular demand, the Cytech Fastest Wrench competition is returning to the Show in 2016. For the uninitiated, the Fastest Wrench requires competitors to remove an inner tube from the wheel, replace and inflate and re-assemble the brakes in the shortest time possible.

The current record is from all the way back in 2008 – an impressive 44.62 seconds. Last year’s show saw Jay Hunt, a Cytech Level 3 qualified mechanic from Lewisham, have a good stab at beating the record, completing the task in 51 seconds. There are prizes and pride on offer to the winners and both the trade and public can take part, running over all four days of the show.

10 BIKEBIZ JANUARY

EXHIBITORS HEADING FOR EXCEL Q Cycling Sports Group UK Q Tri UK Q Vulpine Q Schwalbe UK Q Bike Tyre Store Q Cycle Alert Q Chelmer Cycles Q Ison Distribution Q Fibrax Q 2pure Q Clif Bar Q Hope Technology Q Weldtite Q Upgrade Bikes Q Silverfish Q Extra UK Q British Cycling Q Flare Clothing Q Ultimate Sports Engineering Q Juicy Bike Q Science in Sport Q NEOS Cycling Q Cycleguard Q Specialized UK These are a selection of the bike trade companies exhibiting at the London Bike Show 2016.

For the full list head to thelondonbikeshow.co.uk

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CORE BIKE

GUIDE TO CORE BIKE 2016 The long-running trade show will be full to bursting with new product and services. Jonathon Harker provides your guide to Core 2016…

NEED TO KNOW VENUE: Whittlebury Hall, Northamptonshire OPENING TIMES: Sunday 31st Jan 09.00 - 17.30 Monday 1st Feb 09.00 - 17.30 Tuesday 2nd Feb 09.00 - 17.30 Wednesday 3rd Feb 09.00 - 14.00

Q 2PURE The latest the Eddy Merckx range has to offer will be shown exclusively at Core Bike, with the jewel in the crown being the EM525. This new top-of-the-line carbon road bike is available in a Performance and an Endurance version and comes fitted with disc brakes.

The range boasts constant stiffness for each frame size and the 'highest stiffness to weight & right compliance' (900gr/380gr; frame/ fork). There's a Monocoque front triangle and fork with the design integrates the fork and seatpost.

Geometry has been optimised for performance and endurance, and there's seven frame sizes available.

There's internal cable routing (mechanical and electronic) as well as internal disc brake cable routing to keep the EM525 looking clean.

There's clearance for 30mm tyres throughout the range.

Q ASSOS Behind the scenes, Assos has had a busy year, not least because it was sold to a consortium of investors, including the former CEO of ski brand Black Diamond. But Assos' appearance at Core Bike, its debut no less, will be all about the product BIKEBIZ.COM

and service to dealers. At the Whittlebury Hall trade show, ASSOS SBO UK will be showcasing items of apparel from the S16 collection, including the snappily titled SS. campionissimoJersey evo7 – an all-new male specific summer performance jersey. There's an integrated skinFoil baselayer, full mesh highly breathable back and seamless arms as well as a new cut in the shoulder – all designed for performance and comfort even in hot summer weather.

The SS.laalalaiJersey_evo7 – a brand new female specific women's jersey designed for the summer months – will debut at Core too. The product combines the comfort of Assos' type.002 material with added, lighter type.220 material in strategic places. T.laalaLaiShorts_S7 Lady are the brand's first female-specific S7 bib shorts. After causing a stir with the S7 insert for men, they have now developed a women's version of what Assos says are ground-breaking shorts, offering complete comfort on the bike.

Using Assos' S7 generation of shorts as a platform, the brand has created the HK.laalaLaiKnickers_S7 Lady designed to be the most comfortable yet for slightly cooler

days. Meanwhile the OffRoad Rally range comprises T.rallyShorts_S7 complete with impactPads, SS. capeepicXCJersey_evo7 and SS. rallytrekkingJersey_evo7 in both male and female specific variants.

Not only that, but Core will be a chance for existing ASSOS dealers to preview items from W16.

Q BUFF The Helmet Liner Buff is now available in more designs.

Aimed at those partaking in high intensity outdoor activities like MTBing, road biking, climbing, kayaking or any other helmetwearing activity, this technical product has fabrics joined by heat fusion to avoid skin irritation. The 27.5cm tubular is ideal for using under a helmet. They're made of Fastwick Extra Plus fabric, which is highly breathable, absorbs sweat and is fast wicking, offering great breathability and humidity control.

The special knit design keeps the rider very comfortable even during very intense activity, keeping the tubular fresh and dry. It's odour-free thanks for Silver+ technology and those comfort seams have elastic Bonding Technology, for a seamless, threadless garmet with optimal fit

WEBSITE: www.corebike.co.uk For general and accommodation enquiries please contact the Max Bikes team team@maxbikespr. co.uk or telephone 07531627433

and skin irritation prevention. And then there's the Coolmax 1 Layer Hat Buff, a soft and light hat designed to be worn at any time during the year.

It keeps your head dry, comfortable and protected from UV rays (up to 95 per cent UV protection).

Q CHICKEN CYCLEKIT Chicken CycleKit returns to Core Bike with a fine display of products and brands centred around 2016 stockist packages including Campagnolo, Cinelli, Deda Elementi, Flinger, Miche, NET, Selle Italia, Sportourer, Tifosi and Vittoria.

Two notable highlights include the new NET saddles by Selle Italia, and the new disc bikes from Tifosi.

NET is a new urban saddle range.

The saddles are made from a virtually indestructible material, are completely waterproof, are 100 per cent recyclable and are not manufactured with any toxic materials or bonding agents. The unique thermoplastic honeycomb shell was design to allow the ischial bones to move independently and adapt to various riding styles, making this reportedly one of the most comfortable saddles in the urban market. The saddles are competitive at RRP, starting at £21.99, and are BIKEBIZ JANUARY 13

CORE BIKE

Assos: New T.rally shorts for ladies

Buff: There's a new Le Tour range on the way

2pure: The new EM 525

STIFFNESS

STIFFNESS

Chicken CycleKit: Selle Italia's NET is new

made in Italy along with the rest of Selle Italia's range. There's a great margin for stockists and fantastic POS available, we're told. If you can't wait until Core, dealers can speak to their account manager or call the sales office on 01525 381347.

Tifosi gave dealers a glimpse of their new road disc bikes at the Cycle Show in September and for Core the full range will be on display. The retail prices and specifications are said to be competitive, with pre-orders already flying in. Three models have been introduced; two gravel bikes, one aluminium and one carbon version, with a carbon disc road option also available. Visit Chicken CycleKit at Core for information on becoming a Tifosi dealer.

Q CITRUS-LIME Offering ecommerce, retail and stock control systems for specialist independent retailers, Citrus-Lime's team work with cycle shops to build 14 BIKEBIZ JANUARY

user friendly, future-proof solutions to grow retail businesses online and in-store. In the last year Citrus-Lime has invested in developing its online marketing services such as Google Shopping to support the goals of their ecommerce retailers.

Priding itself on delivering a personal relationship along with now well know cycle specific solutions like the Workshop Module, Supplier Integration and Cloud Reports, Citrus-Lime is happy to chat and reveal what it can do for cycle retail operations.

Q EXTRA UK Boutique MTB and road bike brands Intense and Time will be at Core, including some 'Edition Francaise' Time Frames, featuring a classy rendition of the French flag on the frame. New dealers are being sought for the high end frame.

There's plenty coming from Topeak, such as the Ninja Series,

including the super light Ninja P pump which hides inside the seatpost to keep the lines of the bike nice and clean. Included position indicators keep track of the seat height, handily. There's also the new Joe Blow Booster for tubeless tyres among the Topeak highlights.

Sticking with the brand, the Nono Torqbar is a slim and compact preset torque wrench capable of handling exact torque specifications for high end carbon fibre frames. Elsewhere, the Turn-Up Bike Holder is a nifty wall bike holder that allows the storage of one bike, but the clever bit is that it can be swung left or right to optimise storage space.

Maxxis' new Minion SS will feature as well as the complete range of MTB, road, cyclocross, hybrid, BMX and urban tyres.

Then there'll be Clif Bar's newly launched Coconut Chocolate Chip flavour, which will be available to sample along with the rest of the vast

range of Bars, Bloks, Gels and Builders Bars.

Ergon's new additions to the All Mountain and Enduro specific line up of saddles, grips and backpacks will be presented, as will fi'zi:k's boa road and MTB shoes. crankbrothers has new pedals in the range like the Enduro Mallet E, first glimpsed at Eurobike. Brooks will be showcasing the new Cambium C13 plus new grips that have been developed in conjunction with Ergon.

Q HOPE Hope will have plenty to see at this year's Core Bike Show. The newly released Pro4 hubs and wheel sets will be featured along with a dedicated tech area to learn about the features and internal changes on these new hubs. Hope will also have staff on hand to cover hints and tips on fitting and maintenance for their extensive product range. As well as the new hubs Hope will be launching BIKEBIZ.COM

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CORE BIKE

Extra UK: Clif Bar has gone coconuts

Hope: New rear cassettes with 10-40 & 10-44

Moore Large: Bobbin's Gingersnap

the much anticipated rear cassettes with 10-40 and 10-44 configurations in a combination of steel and aluminium sprockets. This cassette will fit onto a dedicated freehub that is available for Pro 2 EVO as well as Pro 4 hubs.

One other major launch will be the Carbon seat post that is 100 per cent manufactured by Hope in Barnoldswick. The firm will be showing the processes involved in production of this exciting new product and also giving hints of possible future products.

Q HOTLINES Hotlines will be displaying brand new product from its vast array of brands, like Lapierre, Ghost, NS Bikes, Ragley and Nukeproof.

This year the distributor will be found in the Grande Prix Suite and the Astons Suite and dealers are welcome to discuss the portfolio with sales staff there.

16 BIKEBIZ JANUARY

Ison: The Light Blue Robinson

Silverfish: EVOC & Macaskill

Q ISON There's plenty to see from Ison, including ORP – a combination dual tone, high decibel bike horn and front beacon light – all in a small, USB rechargeable, weather resistant package. It's designed to make riders more visible and audible and you have to hear them to believe them, we're informed, with a 76dB friendly sound for cyclists and pedestrians, then 96dB sound for cars and traffic.

In addition, Orp's LEDs fire every time the horn is actuated, so you can be seen and heard.

MRP's new G4 and SXg are some of the new products on display this January. Meanwhile Banshee Bikes' Enduro, DH and Freeride bikes have become very popular in the UK, we're told, and for 2016 they offer comprehensive and competitive build kits along with updated geometry and new colours.

Ison is a supplier of Schwalbe to the cycle trade and representatives

The i-BikeShop service will be explained

from Schwalbe UK will be in the Hungaroring room showing the latest that the brand has to offer – Ison carries good stock and a large selection of Schwalbe.

TSG's urban/commuter-friendly line of helmets will be on show alongside its open face range. The lightweight in-mould Status with integrated LED light and a dual-fit system and the Superlight Helmet with a special reflective finish are a couple of stand outs. TSH have also increased their MTB range and now have three helmet designs at various price levels.

Surly's newest member of their fat-tyred omni-terra family, the Wednesday, is a bike built for trail and touring duties and also handles fast and terrifying terrain. The Straggler is a disc-equipped cross/ gravel/road bike and is available in 700c as well as 650b wheels sizes.

Surly will also have many more of their bikes on display at Core.

Genetic's lightweight parts for road, touring, xc racing and more are reasonably priced. Find them with Ison in Hungaroring and Indianapolis.

Q MOORE LARGE Bobbin's new Gingersnap range of children's bikes features balance, 12”, 16” and 20” girls models and is said to have been one of the most photographed at last summer's Eurobike. They'll be among the Cuda line-up and the all-new electric MTBs from Peugeot. Forme has new models in the range and there will also be Onza MTB, Haro and new signing Polygon.

Onto Moore Large's formidable accessory array, most of which will be at Core. There's Lake's 2016 range, including new MTB models, new products from American Classic which also sees updated graphics on all lines and Alpina's first show of 2016 models. New signing InfoCrank will be there too, as will the more BIKEBIZ.COM

Welcome to real margins.

visit www.vel.bike Cooke Components Ltd. www.cookecomponents.co.uk info@cookecomponents.co.uk

We’re at Bike Place 2016 Jan 31st – 2nd Feb Stand 22C

CORE BIKE

Silverfish: Race Face's Turbine Post

Lightweight: Branching into frames...

Citrus-Lime: Ecommerce and retail specialist will be back at Core

Storck: Durnario

familiar Knog, which will debut the new lock lines and extended ranges for the POP, Blinder Road and Blinder ARC. And there'll also be Jagwire and Sako7. Phew.

Q SILVERFISH Danny 'Megaskill' Macaskill has been using EVOC bags for a while and as a trials rider, it's not uncommon for Mr Macaskill to be regularly carting his bike and kit all over the world. Hence him teaming with EVOC travel bags, featuring stable and super smooth wheels, with a super manoeuvrable design. The range celebrates his favourite EVOC travel bags; Street Macaskill, Rover Trolley 80L Macaskill and Bike Travel Bag Macaskill.

New Onza VISCO compound and EDC enduro casing tyres will be available to view at Core Bike too.

The introduction of the brand's latest VISCO compound and EDC casing tyres have been created alongside Switzerland based rubber 18 BIKEBIZ JANUARY

development company VISCO Labs.

They took four years to develop and are designed to offer increased traction and provide a more consistent feel when on the trail.

Running alongside that latest rubber compound is Onza's all-new EDC enduro tyre casing option which has been constructed to offer riders a lightweight, foldable 60TPI tyre casing which provides a high level of resistances to punctures thanks to reinforced sidewalls and a butyl inlay.

Silverfish also has Skratch Labs' newly introduced Energy Chews and Race Face's freshly launched Turbine Dropper Seatpost, which gives riders the ability to 'drop' their saddle down for increased clearance when the trail starts to descend. It is constructed using a patented hybrid system, coupling mechanical and hydraulic locking technologies to give a solid feel when in use. Find all that and more with Silverfish at the Core Bike show.

Q SIWIS Core stalwart SiWIS will no doubt be explaining the i-BikeShop service.

Pitched as a system that will make ecommerce easy, it includes easy to use admin tools, a raft of built-in features and – in short – everything you need to trade online, says SiWIS. The site works on desktop, table and mobile and features intelligent, live integrations with Seanic Retail EPOS. Find out more at Core.

Q UPGRADE Lezyne has entered the GPS computer market. Backed by a powerful website called GPS ROOT and mobile app called ALLY (Bluetooth GPS models only) the range sets out to offer great feature-led hardware and unrivalled data analysis at a great price. Top is the Super GPS, using ANT+TM and Bluetooth Smart simultaneously, allowing for synchronisation with iOS/Android devices, power meters,

heart rate straps and speed/cadence sensors. A unique “Push Notification” means incoming phone calls, texts and emails (with actual message text) can be selected to display on the computer's screen.

The micro USB rechargeable unit can record up to 400 hours of ride data, saved as Strava-compatible .fit files (compatible with Strava and Training Peaks). A superior “X-Lock” bracket locks the computer securely in place on bar, stem or out-front mounts and the unit is cased in a chic aluminium bezel for protection (£159.99).

Kinesis UK's Racelight Aithein Disc is the new disc version of the superlight alloy road frame, reworked to introduce the new Shimano flat mount brake fitting as well as internal hose, cable and Di2 routing. There is also a new Aithein Disc fork up front.

The Kinesium tubing is shaped using SPF (super plastic forming) technique to fine tune a balance of stiffness and strength at the lowest BIKEBIZ.COM

CORE BIKE

Upgrade: DMR Death Grip

Polaris: New men's road lines for ss 2016

Endura: Offering more than just apparel

ISON: ORP horn and light

possible weight. It's internally routed in the downtube with a new threaded BB which has integrated ports providing clean cable routing for easy maintenance. Available in Black or Metallic Cyan, SRP for frame/fork/headset is £749.99.

Pivot's new Mach 429 Trail is pitched as a new take on trail bikes, taking advantage of the best features of 29 but maintaining performance characteristics. Pedalling efficiency and small bump compliance come as standard from the dw-link design whilst a slack front end and a short back end make the 429 Trail fast and flickable. Upgrade Bikes are offering Pivot only as frames with shocks in 2016 with complete builds as special order only but plenty of rolling chassis options from Upgrades extensive catalogue of quality brands including TRP brakes, Reynolds wheels and X-Fusion suspension are avaiable to dealers. SRP for frame and shock is £2,200.

BIKEBIZ.COM

There's loads more highlights from Upgrade, including DMR: Death Grip, Praxis Works' Direct Mount/ Cold Forged Steel chain rings, ISM's PS1.0, Reynolds' MTB wheel line (featuring 27.5 Enduro), TRP's SlateT4 MTB brakes, X-Fusion's Revel X fork, United BMX's Recruit Junior 18.5" and more.

Q WINDWAVE Windwave is focused on an exclusive range of cutting-edge cycling brands. It brings the likes of Colnago, BBB, FSA, Marzocchi, Gravity, Nokon, Vision, A2Z and Dainese to the UK cycle trade. Virtually all of those brands will have new gear to look out for at Core Bike, in the Lounge area.

Q ENDURA In the Magnycours, Endura has a range around the FS260-Pro SL Bibshorts – lightweight, fully seam sealed FS260-Pro SL Shell Jacket

offers protection from the elements and breathability in an athletic race fit, with stretch panels providing freedom of movement. Endura's new FS260-Pro SL Thermal Windproof Jacket, meanwhile, is a super slick performance cycling top layer for high-output winter training that has been inspired by the kit Endura make for the Movistar Team.

Q LIGHTWEIGHT In addition to its wheels, Lightweight will be showing the new Lightweight Weiss.Ed frame at Core Bike show.

SRP for the frame, fork and seatpin is £3,999 for the new Weiss.Ed (White edition). The 'normal' black Urgestalt frame sells at £3,699. In a nutshell, the frame was built to replicate all the technical attributes of Lightweight's wheelsets in a race bike frameset.

Q POLARIS Polaris has new men's road lines for

SS 2016 along with an expanded MTB and children's offering. Those men's ranges include the Force and Infinity line-up, in Navy/Red and Camo that has proved popular across shows this season. The Infinity Collection comes with a jersey, bib, mitts, arm warmers and socks. It is not only the road ranges that get an overhaul this season with a new Men's MTB short, jersey and glove making up the Galaxy collection.

Q STORCK Fresh from its BikeBiz Award for 'Specialist Distributor' the Storck team will present the much awaited Storck Durnario, a completely new design from Markus Storck for riders looking for long distance Gran Fondo style, being highly comfortable, lightweight and fast. Markus Storck will be attending Core Bike once again and presenting dealers with all the technical data on Durnario. Look out for tri and TT bikes too.

BIKEBIZ JANUARY 19

THE INDEPENDENT CYCLE TRADE SHOW

SILVERSTONE

31st Jan - 2nd Feb 2016 THE WING, SILVERSTONE RACE CIRCUIT

NOW IN OUR SIXTH YEAR WITH OVER 50 EXHIBITORS REPRESENTING 100’s OF BRANDS CONFIRMED EXHIBITORS INCLUDE 2x2 4iiii 7 Mesh Anvl Components BETD Bianchi Bikemonger TD Bob Elliot Burgtec Cooke Components Craft

CSG Cooke Components DHW Edco Wheels Empire Bikes Evolution Imports Fli Distribution Fishers Flare Freego Gazebo Shop

Haven Hookit Impact CT Industy Nine ION Jungle Kiddimoto Kinetic LED Lenser Lyon NRG4

Orange Oxford Primal Raleigh Reece Rubena Shore Lines Shoretrax Solo Stolen Goat Teko Socks

Ultrasport USE / Exposure Lights Vam Performance VeloBrands Weldtite Wildoo Witter Towbars Vaude more confirming every day!

for more information, opening times and registration details please visit

WWW.THEBIKEPLACESHOW.CO.UK find us on twitter @BikePlaceShow

THE BIKE PLACE

NEED TO KNOW VENUE: Silverstone, UK OPENING TIMES: Sunday 31st Jan 9.30 – 6.00 Monday 1st Feb 9.30 – 6.00 Tuesday 2nd Feb 9.30 – 5.00 www.thebikeplaceshow.co.uk

HAPPY NEW GEAR Sat down for more than five minutes over Christmas and New Year? Excellent, now back to business. Mark Sutton speaks to The Bike Place organiser Sean Reynolds about the many reasons to sign up for Silverstone…

BIKEBIZ.COM

SIX YEARS on from establishing The Bike Place, how does this year’s show differ from the original vision?

It’s such a huge difference in many ways, but the ethos is still the same, you can still rock up as a sales representative with a sample bag and display your wares on a trestle

suppliers and really speak to them without the distractions you get doing shop visits.

Seeing the scale of this year’s exhibition, what’s the vision for the next five years?

I hope that the show will continue to grow and prosper, but it’s

“Retailers can spend quality time with their suppliers without any distractions.” table, but last year really was a turning point. Some exhibitors are now using contractors to build very professional stands. Our visitor numbers have increased, but so has our space, so retailers can still spend quality time with their

nothing without the support of the exhibitors and visitors, they are what makes it tick and they will determine how the show goes forward, I just facilitate that. There are some plans for expansion and additional ideas in the pipeline that BIKEBIZ JANUARY 21

THE BIKE PLACE

hopefully I can discuss in the New Year.

What does the modern retailer need from a visit to justify time out of the shop?

Everyone is a critic, so I get plenty of feedback. The show’s now made up of exclusively quality, professional exhibitors who have something relevant to show and offer to retailers in the current rapidly changing marketplace.

It’s always important to keep abreast of new products and trends, so we have introduced a start-up area at this year’s show to showcase some product you will not have seen before.

The show is good for getting your cycling mojo back too. New products, old friends, the buzz of a busy stand, taking time out and walking the aisles, meeting new people, relaxing with a coffee (or beer), riding the pump track (yes, 22 BIKEBIZ JANUARY

we have one inside the show) negotiating that cracking deal (suppliers are more than up for a deal at the show), signing up that new brand, or just because you get to drive around in Silverstone. If you haven’t been to a show for a while, make the effort, you will come away with a new lease of life for the trade and new ideas for

for us to expand into, it is a more intimate venue than say the NEC, but there is room for us to at least double in size. It needs to keep hold of what it is trying to achieve and not just grow for the sake of it, however. It would be nice to include some outdoors features, but due to the time of year that’s quite hard to work in.

“If you haven’t been for a while, make the effort, you’ll come away with new ideas...” taking your business into the next season and beyond.

You’re expanding within Silverstone – how big can the show get and what could feature to add value to retailers in future?

Silverstone has plenty more space

How many exhibitors and associated brands are present this year?

Currently we have 56 exhibitors and 179 brands, and a few waiting in the wings who haven’t committed yet.

Having spoken to all of the exhibitors, are there any key launches or products that you would consider a must-see for visitors in January?

Loads, every exhibitor has something new and exciting to tell you about, but too many to list here, please keep checking the website, or even better, find us on Twitter for up to the minute news.

We are giving away 200 goodie bags, worth £150 each, 100 on Sunday, 50 each on Monday and Tuesday, those first to arrive will take them away. Shoretrax will be running some competitions on their pump track too.

Quite a few exhibitors are running early bird competitions, CSG are giving away 25th anniversary GT Zaskar, Reid Bikes’ new distributor 2x2 Worldwide are letting you win a vintage bike of your choice, Vaude want you to travel in style with a full set of travel BIKEBIZ.COM

THE BIKE PLACE

Luggage, ION think you should look sharp in a Head to toe Mountain bike outfit, Just Riding along want you to roll on a set of Industry Nine Hubs, Cromag are giving away a Frameset. All are running early bird competitions, so make sure you arrive before 12 noon and visit the stands to be included.

Furthermore, Seasucker are giving six people the chance to win a Silverstone Hot Laps experience on Sunday 31st Jan. Just be on the Fisher’s stand before 12 noon to be in with a chance of being on the track the same afternoon.

How many press register for the show nowadays?

All the UK cycle magazines have representatives coming, plus some international cycle press around making the trip. We also have some non-cycle specific publishers coming this year.

24 BIKEBIZ JANUARY

What will be available in terms of food and refreshments?

Silverstone’s Media Café will be open for business this year. The Media café is on level two just after the reception, they will be offering different hot food choices each day, along with a selection of sandwiches, salads, cakes, hot and cold drinks.

your passes will be waiting for you to collect as soon as your team arrives at Silverstone.

Registration is possible on the day but, you will be required to produce some proof that you are a member of the trade and you will have to wait to be registered and have your passes printed. I guarantee this will take longer

“We have international press and non-specific bike titles making the trip this year...”

For those who have yet to register – what have they got to do to gain entry?

Registration is via the website, it takes less than a minute to do. I would strongly advise everyone coming along, even just for an afternoon, to do this. It will vastly speed up entry to the show as

than registering online, so log on and get it done as soon as you possibly can.

On arrival at Silverstone Circuit, please proceed to the main security gate, they will give you directions to The Wing. The show will be signposted from this point on.

BIKEBIZ.COM

31st JANUARY – 3rd FEBRUARY 2016 Visit ASSOS SBO UK at Core Bike in S2 for exclusive W16 previews

A L I T T L E B I T O F C Y C L I N G A P PA R E L H I S TO RY BACK IN THE MID-SEVENTIES, ASSOS INVENTS THE NEW ERA OF HIGH PERFORMANCE — SYNTHETIC FIBRE FABRICS, LOW VOLUME, ANATOMICAL CYCLING APPAREL. THESE “SPACE SUITS” MADE BULKY, HEAVY WOOL & ACRYLIC GARMENTS OBSOLETE. STEAM ENGINE VS. COMBUSTION ENGINE. AND NOW, 37 YEARS ON: WELCOME TO RACING HYBRID — THE ASSOS CLIMARANGE SYSTEM OUTFIT.

© PHIL O’CONNOR

info.uk@assos.com

THE ASSOS LAYERING SYSTEM — IS THE TECHNICALLY ADVANCED APPAREL SYSTEM IN WHICH EVERY ITEM IS CONCEIVED AND DESIGNED TO COMPLEMENT THE OTHERS AND FUNCTION WITH THEM, ALLOWING YEARROUND COMFORTABLE CYCLING. THE GOAL IS TO KEEP YOUR BODY’S INTERNAL MICROCLIMATE DRY, STABLE AND COMFORTABLE UNDER A WIDE VARIETY OF CLIMATIC CONDITIONS. FEEL NAKED — FREE BUT FULLY PROTECTED.

WHAT ELSE IS UP FOR GRABS?

THE BIKE PLACE

Q 2x2 Worldwide has recently taken on the Reid Brand from Australia and will be showing the range for the first time at the show. To celebrate they will be giving away a Reid Classic cycle of your choice on Tuesday at 1pm. To be included in the free prize draw, pop by the Reid stand Before 12am on any day of the show and drop in a business card.

Q Shorelines are also running an early bird competition to win a CroMag RootDown Frame.

Q Vaude want you to travel in style with a full set of travel luggage available.

Q ION think you should look sharp in a head to toe mountain bike outfit.

Q Just Riding along want you to roll on a set of Industry Nine Classic hubs, road or mountain.

Win big at Silverstone

Q Seasucker racks are giving six people the chance to win a Silverstone Hot laps experience on Sunday 31st Jan, just be on the Fisher Outdoor stand before 12 noon to be in with a chance of being on the track the same afternoon.

Q Carrera are giving away 200 helmets in conjunction with Ultrasport who have just taken on the distribution.

Q Solo Clothing, Cooke components, Vaude, ION, Weldtite and Muc-Off are just some of the brands that are contributing to this amazing giveaway for attendees.

BUILDING ON previous years where visitors to the show have been able to win laps on the track, the 2016 Bike Place show will take things up a notch further with multiple high value competitions, as well as goodie bags for the first dealers through the door.

Boasting the biggest booth at the show, Cycling Sports Group UK will be introducing Cannondale’s new platforms and following up on its introduction of Sombrio late in 2015.

26 BIKEBIZ JANUARY

In one of many competitions taking pace on the show floor, one of just 100 limited edition 25th anniversary GT Zaskars will go home with a lucky visitor.

The first off the production line was gifted to 30 year-backed GT athlete Hans Rey, while the remaining 99 are being sent around the globe as part of a big marketing drive targeting key journalists and trade people.

Since its introduction in 1991, the GT Zaskar has cemented its

legendary status by being the only bike to have won World Cups in downhill, cross country, slalom and trials.

The 2016 Zaskar Carbon (pictured above right) is a culmination of those 25 years of victories and engineering prowess, having been designed as a modern day ripper that is light enough for race days and strong enough for every day trail thrashing. www.cyclingsportsgroup.co.uk

Q The first 100 customers to arrive at the show on Sunday & the first 50 on Monday and Tuesday will all receive a goodie bag packed with amazing prizes.

Q There will also be the chance to win prizes everyday in the ‘Match the Lap Time Challenge’ with Shoretrax where you’ll get to ride the new bigger bermed pump track and match the time set to achieve to the nearest second.

BIKEBIZ.COM

INDUSTRY OPINIONS

Q

JOIN THE DISCUSSION @BIKEBIZ.COM BikeBiz asks many questions (we’re a nosy lot) about the biggest industry trends and issues each month.

To join the discussion, email jharker@nbmedia.com

28 BIKEBIZ JANUARY

CEDRIC CHICKEN, CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER, CHICKEN CYCLEKIT

“DUE TO a lot hard work, internal investment and a strong market we have enjoyed many years of uninterrupted growth.

2015 was a year of consolidation. Those of us who have been in the game for a while, saw it as a time to re-invest, improve our systems, check out all aspects of our organisation and prepare for a slower rate of growth in 2016.

However, we may be pleasantly surprised with the outcome.

“Distributors like ourselves are able to lay-in stocks of new products from early in the New Year, presenting them at the Core show. We have increased our complement of sales staff in the field and in the sales office.

Newly printed bike trade catalogues have been distributed and a complete component catalogue is due out very soon. This will be a new reference point for our brands, along with a new B2B site which has just gone live.

The consumer will not be overlooked either with strong marketing and promotional work.

“Brands are the name of the game. So many of our brands have withstood the test of time and are now an open book divulging the technology, science and thinking that has helped make them great.

“Best of all, is the way in which new and exciting products continue to regularly arrive in the marketplace.

“How does the dealer decide which to choose? Service has to be top of the list. Far better to keep it simple, thereby reducing the choice and keeping inventories limited.

We offer an improved customer interaction, next day delivery from 3pm and the back-up of a technical sales team selling brands that are very much in demand. Although the internet continues to be of importance to us all, we have many IBD friendly initiatives within our portfolio that we have put in place to support dealers. They are the key to our continued growth.

“Chicken Cyclekit looks forward to a challenging but productive 2016 introducing new brands like Selle Italia NET saddles and more innovations across all of our brands.”

BIKEBIZ.COM

INDUSTRY OPINIONS

Will it be a strong 2016?

Q

SIMON ELLISON, CO-FOUNDER AND DIRECTOR, ZYRO

“WHAT AM I looking forward to in 2016?

“Seeing the ONE Pro Team riding out in Altura.

“Using the new TORQ products to keep me going through the Mallorca 312 sportive in April and my Coast 2 Coast and back in a day ride in June!

“Seeing more time trials being won by riders wearing Giro’s new and fastest ever aero helmet the Aerohead MIPS. “MIPS helmets from ABUS, Bell and Giro – they really give every retailer a great reason to sell their customers a new helmet and Zyro offers the most comprehensive range available to them.

“SKS launching the Raceblade Pro Mudguards. Which offer road bikes the most convenient mudguard solution without the need for frame eyelets.

“ABUS’ new range of Cable Locks which feature a simply amazing bracket system.”

Q

Maybe 2015 didn’t quite measure up to expectations, but there’s nothing to say the next 12 months will be the same: Bosses and top execs from the bike trade tell Jonathon Harker what they are most looking forward to in 2016…

PAUL ELLIOT DIRECTOR, BOB ELLIOT

“AS A Company we will be attending The Bike Place Show at Silverstone Circuit at the end of January. We are very much looking forward to this, and exhibiting our summer portfolio to the trade across a small collection of our brands. We will be showcasing Funkier Clothing, FLR Shoes, Funkier Helmets, Chiba Mitts/Gloves and NRC Eyewear.

“The Rio Olympics will, undoubtedly give great coverage of our cycling disciplines after recent successes at the Games and fingers crossed as a nation we can produce similar performances to keep raising the profile of the sport.

“Aside from this, we are expecting a strong 2016 season with many new additions to our range. Fingers crossed we experience good, consistent weather which gets people out on their bikes which will give IBDs full workshops and an increase in sales to boot.”

Q

Q

WE ARE CAUTIOUSLY optimistic as we look to improve products and operational capability. We turn on SAP accounting system on January 3rd and will have a new and improved B2B site and CRM system installed by mid-year in the UK. “All our bike brands continue to innovate.

Charge is at the forefront of 27Plus mountain, Fabric is going to become a world leading P&A brand, Cannondale has multiple innovative platforms for 2017MY, GT will launch 27Plus and I could go on and on.

“The market is changing and I believe that globally we understand where it has been and where it is going.

“We will continue to support our dealer network and look forward to a successful year in which we hope to grow our business with our retail partners and take market share.”

GEORGE BOWIE, MANAGING DIRECTOR, 2PURE

“I’m looking forward to The Core Bike show. The show did a great job in kick starting our season this year, providing a great showcase for both new and existing brands. In 2016 we will have more space to work with, more brands represented, more suppliers present and maybe one or two surprises – making

BIKEBIZ.COM

RUSSELL MERRY, SENIOR VICE PRESIDENT AND GENERAL MANAGER, CYCLING SPORTS GROUP NORTH AMERICA & UK

this such an important opportunity to connect with our customers. ”I predict there will be opportunities in 2016. Many parts of the industry have found things tough recently, which has put pressure on dealers, distributors, and suppliers. Those who are well managed and well funded should be in a good position to take advantage of the opportunities that arise, whether it be stock looking for a new home, or brands looking for better support.”

BIKEBIZ JANUARY 29

ROULEUR CLASSIC

An instant Classic?

Having recently closed the doors on the inaugural Classic, Mark Sutton talks to MD Bruce Sandell about Rouleur’s first foray into events, the wider business and plans for North America…

Now you’ve had time to unwind, was the inaugural Classic all you’d imagined it would be?

The idea for the show has been gestating in my both mine and Damian Norman’s (Telegraph Events MD) minds for over four years, so we have had lots and lots of time to refine the concept. I had a ‘moment’ on the Wednesday as the fantastic Rouleur and Telegraph Events teams were working really hard to deliver our vision for the show: after all the hard graft and sleepless nights, the Rouleur Classic looked even better than I imagined.

I knew right then that we were in for a fantastic three days.

We wanted to surprise and delight our high-end road cycling audience and deliver a new type of bicycle show aimed directly at them. Based on the overwhelmingly positive feedback we have received from both paying attendees and exhibitors, it delivered on the promise.

BIKEBIZ.COM

Did the format work as you imagined? Were the right customers able to get the one-to-one time they needed with brands?

Like our publication, we wanted to deliver a high-quality, highspending audience and give them an environment with lots of the right brands, so they could start their buying journey for their next

spend quality time with customers discussing the merits of their brands. This is what our customers wanted – what we promised our exhibitors and what we delivered in spades.

Is this a sign of Rouleur’s business strategy diversifying further outside traditional publishing?

Rouleur is a brand centred around

“It’s a natural fit for Rouleur to branch into experiential events.”

Bruce Sandell, Rouleur big purchase. Our entry price point deterred the tyre kickers in search of a free sticker and instead delivered a super-engaged audience who wanted to explore the best that road cycling has to offer. Due to the set-up of the show, exhibitors were able to

our print publication. We already have a thriving online retail operation, with a range of the finest cycling products, exclusively curated. It was natural for us to expand into an experiential concept and the success of the Rouleur Classic proved the appetite

for this. With our partners Telegraph Events we plan to make the show international over the next five years, with North America being our big target. We have some exciting plans for the print publication and our website that will be revealed in the New Year also.

There was the notable debut of contactless technology, the first time we’ve seen this used at a bike show – how did this assist exhibitors and clients alike?

This was very important to the show on two levels. We wanted to be modern and innovative, plus importantly, we want to push people through to retail. It would be impossible for our cash rich, time poor customers to find that many premium brands in one retailer, so having them at the Rouleur Classic means they can discuss and peruse at their leisure in a comfortable environment – BIKEBIZ JANUARY 31

ROULEUR CLASSIC

then through the use of contactless technology, simply pass their details to the exhibitors to book in a test ride, sign up for a newsletter and get more information.

What feedback have you had at present and how will this shape next year’s exhibition?

We‘ve had overwhelmingly positive feedback from both paying attendees and exhibitors, with some amazing unsolicited emails to Telegraph Events and Rouleur.

This one from a paying customer sums it up well: “Just wanted to congratulate you on hosting such a great event. The atmosphere, exhibitors, speakers and even the venue made for a classy, Classic.

These events don’t just happen by magic and you must be very proud of your team who helped deliver on the vision. The Passoni bikes are a real work of art. The craftsmanship in the frames was beautiful. The Gokiso hubs they use are beautiful and certainly on my wish list. I found the Michael Blann photos exceptional and there are a couple of the mountain scenes I will look to fill some gaps on the walls at home. Again, a terrific event and look forward to next year.”

Regarding next year, the feedback is for ‘more of the same’ – so we will be building on what already seems to be like a successful formula.

32 BIKEBIZ JANUARY

Was the ratio of brands to visitors spot on, or could you slip further labels onto the floor plan next year?

We will be moving venue next year, as sadly Vinopolis is being taken over by Westfield and turned into a shopping mall. We are moving to a slightly bigger venue, still in central London, and this will increase the space from 30 exhibitors to around

45 minutes before we opened on Thursday night and was set up in 30 minutes. On breakdown, all exhibitors were out of the venue within one hour. So as well as looking great, the show was made easy for exhibitors and saved the two extra days and all the associated costs that they normally have for show set up and breakdown.

“Press coverage has ranged from Forbes, to The Guardian’s Sport section cover.”

40. However, the success of the show was around it being curated and focused. We plan to keep it boutique and intimate and not change this.

The layout struck us as quite uniform as exhibitions go, with booths roughly all the same size – was this deliberate?

Yes. We were inspired by art shows and Salon QP – the successful luxury watch exhibition put on by Telegraph Events – in the look and feel of this show. There were three stand sizes and exhibitors arrived to find the stand fully built for them: they simply had to add their product. One exhibitor – who will remain nameless – arrived at 17.15,

Get many press along to add value for the exhibitors?

We had lots of press along from style media to national press – coverage to date has ranged from Forbes picking up on the Cipollini RB1k Luxury Edition to The Guardian giving us front cover of the Sport section, through to The Evening Standard interviewing Lord Sugar as he collected his new custom Pinarello.

If you could pick one highlight of the few days, what would it be?

The picture of Eddy Merckx, Alberto Contador, Lizzie Armitstead and David Millar on stage – that was a moment that highlighted the power of the Rouleur brand and

the fact we had delivered 100 per cent on our promise for the Rouleur Classic.

And one thing you’d change?

The success of the show was that it was innovative and a very different offering to existing bicycle shows.

Some friends of mine are behind the music festival Bestival. Events like that are more of an inspiration to me than existing bicycle shows. What makes Bestival so very special is the love and passion the founders put into it, their absolute attention to every detail and creatively they reinvent it every year with new ideas and themes. I want the Rouleur Classic to feel like that.

So we will strive to keep the innovation up and keep pushing ourselves to improve and evolve.

We already some very exciting plans for 2016 that will further establish the Rouleur brand and the Rouleur Classic’s ownership of the top end of the road cycling market.

Plus, next year’s venue means we can have a Maserati in the exhibition – unfortunately the Vinopolis layout made it impossible to get a car in there. As our headline sponsor, that would have been the ‘cherry on the cake’.

Any idea where and when next year’s will take place as yet?

All will be announced before the Christmas holiday.

BIKEBIZ.COM

SPITFIRE DISTRIBUTION Hutchinson, made in France, is Spitfire’s latest signing

French Connection As one of the UK’s busiest ports, Grimsby is no stranger to exotic foreign imports, and Spitfire Distribution’s French brand signings continue in that rich tradition. Jonathon Harker visits the fresh faced firm…

SPITFIRE IS amongst the most patriotic names you could imagine, but this company’s unique point of difference is in fact French – namely they only deal in cycle product that comes from the Gallic land.

Spitfire Distribution has been in the business for two years, operating out of Grimsby Town and, since the summer, from an Enterprise Centre just outside the North Lincolnshire town, but its latest signing is going to help cement its name in the trade – Hutchinson Tyres. That brand’s forthcoming road tyre launch – the Fusion 5 – is a big deal, one that Spitfire co-founder Clement Pichon calls a ‘comeback’ tyre.

The Fusion 5 has been two years in development and uses a new rubber structure. “It’s got performance, puncture protection, grip, rolling performance...It’s had massive pre orders,” Pichon says.

“The quality is 100 per cent. They control the rubber right from the start of fabrication.”

On the MTB side there’s the tubeless-ready Gila, affordably retailing in the region of £30.

Pichon points out it was Hutchinson 34 BIKEBIZ JANUARY

who was the first to put tubeless tyres into production, back in the noughties and believes more wheel manufacturers will accommodate the form in the next two years.

Tubeless is a favourite in France, Pichon’s native land, thanks to the terrain. The market is considerably different too, thanks not least to the impact of huge retailer Decathlon and its dominance of the more affordable end of cycling.

Consequently, IBDs over there tend to be very high end.

So, other than Pichon’s own heritage, why does Spitfire only work with French brands? “We have to specialise and stand out,” he tells BikeBiz. Not only does it help Spitfire carve out an identity in a busy market, but there’s also obvious logistical advantages, which is good news for retailers, Pichon tells BikeBiz. Changing customer expectations has also played into the hands of French brands, he says - those perhaps lured into cycling by the achievements of Sir Bradley Wiggins have been keen to get more technical, playing into the hands of high-end French brands.

Spitfire started out with Osymetric, then Kenny Racing (amongst Europe’s largest clothes manufacturers, the firm reckons).

“Kenny is a fun brand with modest prices and the production line is still in France. It is affordable, but still with the latest in technology in protection and clothing and cleaning.”

Osymetric is one of Spitfire’s biggest sellers, with over £1,000 of product shipping a week. “It was hard for customers to understand initially, but now there have been many articles and we’ve held shop open evenings to give customers better understanding.

“It’s almost the same product from the ‘80s. It gives you a ten per cent performance improvement and the shape has been protected.” Thanks to heightened awareness of power, not least with the furore around Froome stoking journalist interest, the sector has benefitted, we hear.

Then there’s the likes of Cycling Ceramic. Pichon’s French connections helped seal that deal – Cycling Ceramic’s owner was still a pro racer when Spitfire took them

on – the first distributor for the brand. Spitfire helped with translation and now they’re the biggest retailed ceramic bearings brand in the UK, we’re told. Their durability is a point of pride – they’ve had zero per cent returns in two years.

Spitfire is on the look out for brands, including tools, wheels and a bike brand and Pichon is in talks with many of cycling’s French labels: “We want to cover all the specs. There’s not many brands in France now, but they have a prestige and a passion.”

Spitfire also seeks new dealer customers, with exclusive areas for shops. “Then you can support a dealer, that’s very important.” In the near future, Fusion 5 dealers are being sought. “The tyre’s development won’t stop. It will be upgraded over the years and will stay ahead of rivals,” Pichon says.

There’ll be a B2B in early 2016 to support customers and more marketing in the form of supporting teams. “Smaller retailers we love,” Pichon concludes. “They can tell the story behind the brand.” www.spitfire-distribution.co.uk BIKEBIZ.COM

SUPPLIERS OF PREMIUM CYCLING PRODUCTS

31ST JANUARY — 3RD FEBRUARY 2016 Visit us in the lounge for exclusive Core Bike offers

CONTACT US: TEL: 02392 521912 EMAIL: SALES@WINDWAVE.CO.UK

TOGETHER WE RIDE

Mike Thurgood founded Together We Ride to support local independent shops

Click & Collect, available to bike shops via Together We Ride

Levelling the playing field ‘Click & Collect’ is a phrase we hear a lot about, but it’s an area that can be tricky for smaller shops to get into.

Together We Ride founder Mike Thurgood explains to Jonathon Harker why that might be about to change…

WHAT MADE you launch Together We Ride?

The cycle industry is unique in that 55 per cent of all the money spent is with small independent retailers (according to ActSmart statistics).

There is a real demand from cyclists to be able to support their local bike shop but currently it is very difficult for them to do so online.

On the other side of the coin, independent cycle retailers appreciate that there is a huge demand online for cycling goods but they lack the expertise or budget to really compete.

I have always been a keen supporter of local bike shops and it has always bothered me that the industry leaders have the technical capability and marketing budgets to stop smaller players getting a look-in online. Having spent my entire working career in the online industry, I want to bring those skills to bear for the good of the independent community and give 36 BIKEBIZ JANUARY

them access to the increasing online demand for cycling goods.

Is click and collect core to the TWR offering?

Click and collect is very much at the heart of what we do. Our model exists to drive business to independent shops. By sending customers to that shop, we provide

purchase additional products when they are in-store.

We want to help customers connect with their local independent and we feel click and collect is the most effective way of doing this. It is the preferred method for 40 per cent of shoppers, so we are confident this is something that customers want.

“There is a real demand to support local shops.”

Mike Thurgood, TGR that shop with the opportunity to establish a lasting relationship.

Once we have directed a customer to the shop, we encourage the shops to upsell and promote their own products and services – it has been shown that 60 to 75 per cent of click and collect customers

We are not ruling out home delivery in the future but it would be have to be done in a manner which is beneficial to all partners.

What’s the response been like so far? Do bikes shops get it?

So far the response has been very

positive, around 90 per cent of shops we’ve spoken to have signed up. The newer shops all appreciate the demands of the modern consumer and have been very much on board with what we’re trying to achieve.

We have had situations where shop owners have put us in contact with other shops. This is gratifying for us as it shows our partners are buying into the idea and are seeing other shops as potential partners, rather than competition.

We are still working to win over some shops. We appreciate that many older shops have been adversely affected by online retailers, so they are wary of the internet, but we hope they will change their mind once they see other shops benefitting from TWR. The response from the independent brands we’ve contacted has been overwhelmingly positive. Small brands struggle to get off the ground as many shops BIKEBIZ.COM

TOGETHER WE RIDE

are restricted on what they stock by distributors whilst others can only afford to stock items on ‘sale or return’. Selling through TWR allows brands to simply list the items they have in stock, so there’s no bulk orders or risk of items being shipped back end of season. It also allows them to reach new audiences with no cost. If we find that a particular brand is doing well in a certain area or with a particular shop, we have no restrictions on these two cutting us out and working with each other directly, in fact, this is our preference!

Can you tell us about the community aspect?

Everything about TWR revolves around ‘togetherness’. We think by helping the little guys we can make the cycling industry better for all involved. We are truly planning on levelling the playing field and giving the power currently held by the online giants back to the IBDs. We see cycling as a lifestyle, and something that as riders, we all buy into. Therefore we look for shops that appreciate how important the community aspect of cycling is. For that reason many of our shops offer 38 BIKEBIZ JANUARY

something a little more than being ‘just’ a bike shop; be that a café, maintenance classes, shop rides, demo days, or excelling in making cycling accessible for all.

We want to make our website as interactive as possible, so if a question is asked about a product, a new forum post will be created.

Instead of us providing a stock response as you would get on any

shops to dedicate a lot of time to manage this. We still aim to primarily list products sourced from a partner shop, but we are also opening distributor accounts so we can always fulfil orders.

We are not restricted by distributors, which therefore allows us to stock some brands that you may not see on other websites or in the shops. This is something we

“By helping the little guys we can make the industry better.”

Mike Thurgood, TWR

other website, other users and shops will be encouraged to participate in the conversation.

Are you planning to work with distributors and brands too?

We have accounts with a few distributors and several brands.

Initially we had hoped to populate the website entirely with products stocked by the shops, but we realised this would require the

hope to build on to create another thing that separates us from the established online retailers. We are supportive of all independent businesses, not just shops, so we will be stocking as many good independent brands as we can.

Are there any plans to expand beyond London?

Definitely. Eventually we would love to see every good independent

shop in the UK connected and with a great online presence. For the time being though, we will be staying in London.

TWR is still a small team, so we have to be careful not to expand the network to the point where it becomes too difficult to manage.

Expansion will be gradual but is definitely something we plan to do.

Are you looking to grow the number of shops in the network?

Yes, we are actively recruiting more shops. We launched the site with eight partner shops. In the ten weeks since the website went live, this has grown to 30. Our short term goal is to reach 50 shops, which would give us a great coverage across London.

We’re very active on social media, so shops can always chat to us there. We also have a contact page on the website or they’re welcome to drop an email to info@ togetherweride.co.uk Although we are London only at present, we are happy to promote any independent dealer in the UK on Twitter, so please feel free to drop us a message. togetherweride.co.uk BIKEBIZ.COM

POLYGON BIKES

30 stockists are being sought for Polygon nationwide

The DH9, as used by Sam Reynolds here in Red Bull’s Rampage

On the rampage Fresh off the back of two historic wins at this year’s bike-proving Red Bull Rampage, Moore Large has a lot of interest in Polygon to manage. Mark Sutton speaks to Joe Poyzer, Polygon’s UK brand manager...

Pre Polygon, had you been on the hunt for a premium MTB offering?

I wouldn’t say we were on the hunt for a new brand, but in hindsight it does seem like the missing piece of the Moore Large jigsaw. There aren’t really any bikes in our portfolio that crossover with the new Polygon models. We liked both the brand and product, and could see its potential.

Also, Polygon wants its bikes to be ridden by everyone worldwide and reaching out to UK cyclists was one of their 2016 goals. By choosing us for UK distribution they are looking forward to serving consumers and building strong relationships with selected bike shops.

With two wins at Rampage the brand’s presence must have been elevated to consumers?

There was an increase in the demand of all of Polygon’s products, especially in the Asia and Australian markets, which Polygon dominate.

The bike used by Kurt Sorge and Sam Reynolds at the event is the Collosus DH9 and the demand for the Collosus series exceeded all forecasts and completely sold out. They began taking pre-orders which are being fulfilled now.

BIKEBIZ.COM

If people don’t seem to recognise the brand, as soon as you mention the Redbull Rampage they know what you are on about. It also made media around the world take note and they are extremely keen to feature the brand and review products.

Do you have an idea how many stockists you’d like to recruit in the UK and Ireland?

We are looking for 30 stockists across the UK, these will be supported with a

most heavily in the gravity, enduro and trail markets. By focusing on a smaller range it will help the brand get the high-end perception it deserves.

Any plans for demo fleet availability for stockists?

Yes, there is a full demo fleet available.

In addition to that, dealers will be offered competitive demo packages, with huge discounts and preferential terms on those bikes purchased for demo purposes.

“Dealers will be offered big incentives to carry demo units.”

Joe Poyzer, Moore Large new sales and marketing initiative.

Will Polygon’s wider catalogue of road, urban and kids eventually form part of the range?

We are focusing on the full suspension models for 2016, but we will gradually introduce other elements of the Polygon range as and when we see fit.

This is in-line with Polygon’s marketing plans, which will see them investing

Each bike is Polygon’s own creation – tell us a bit more about what goes into the final product?

These bikes are meticulously designed with passion and are manufactured in a world-class factory in Indonesia, ensuring consistent quality.

Their product development engineers are bike enthusiasts who want to be able to push to their riding

and engineering limits. They also work with professional riders worldwide such as Tracey Hannah, Andrew Neethling, Jamie Nicoll, Sam Reynolds and Kurt Sorge.

How will the brand be marketed in the UK to drive demand?

The marketing plan is still to be finalised, but we intend to have a presence at the BDS and Fort William.

We are in the process of media bookings and we have a long list of journalists eagerly waiting to test the products. Polygon is in talks with another well-known downhill team regarding 2016 sponsorship and will continue with sponsorship of the UR Team, including Sam Reynolds. The brand’s investment is huge.

Where can dealers see the bikes in the flesh before stock lands?

I will be out on the road for the rest of January having already made contact with the dealers we want to target. If you haven’t already got an appointment and want to see the range, please contact polygonbikes@ moorelarge.co.uk.

They will also be shown at Core at the end of January and our house show, Geared, in March.

BIKEBIZ JANUARY 41

2016 DIARY

2016 EVENT DIARY

Prone to forgetting when the next big event rolls around and panic planning as a result? BikeBiz comes to the rescue with our pick of the key trade events worldwide...

JANUARY

FEBRUARY

MARCH

APRIL

CORE BIKE January 31st to February 3rd Whittlebury Hall, Northamptonshire www.corebike.co.uk Contact: Keith Jepson, 07891 951055 Description: The annual meet brings together over a dozen industry distributors under one roof at the intimate Whittlebury Hall venue. Evening entertainment and accommodation is provided for dealers.

THE LONDON BIKE SHOW February 11th to 14th ExCeL, London www.thelondonbikeshow.co.uk Contact: Frazer Clifford, 07889 362775 Description: Set alongside the Telegraph Outdoors Show and London Tri Show, this ‘super show’ typically draws crowds with interests in all outdoor pursuits.

BIKE EXPO March 18th to 20th Manchester Event City www.bikeandtri.co.uk Contact: Aaron Dombey, 01923 237799 Description: Standing out in an otherwise largely southern dominated calendar, the Bike Expo draws exhibitors and cycle celebs from all areas of the cycling and triathlon worlds.

SEA OTTER CLASSIC April 14th to 17th Monterey, California www.seaotterclassic.com Contact: Skip Latham, 831-373-1860 Description: The Sea Otter Classic is one of America’s largest cycling festivals, drawing all kinds of cyclists and exhibitors from around the world. If you’re thinking of racing or exhibiting, be sure to visit the website first.

THE BIKE PLACE January 31st to February 2nd Silverstone, Northamptonshire www.thebikeplaceshow.com.uk Contact: Sean Reynolds, thebikeplaceshow@mail.com Description: The Bike Place trade show was started in 2010 by a group of UK bicycle industry wholesalers. The show is run by these distributors for the benefit of their customers, in a rep-style open plan showroom.

IBD SUMMIT January 12th to 14th Tempe, Arizona www.ibdsummit.com Contact: Justin Gottlieb, +01 (949) 226-5754 Description: The IBD Summit is where leading retailers come to sharpen their skills, meet with event sponsors and engage with industry veterans on hot topics affecting our trade’s very existence. It’s never been more critical for retailers and industry leaders to come together, discuss hard questions, debate, cooperate and ultimately plot a better course for the future.

42 BIKEBIZ JANUARY

ICEBIKE* February 23rd to 25th Arena: MK, Milton Keynes www.icebike.co.uk Contact: Madison, 0208 385 3363 Description: Madison’s house show draws the majority of the firm’s customers each year, largely due to the distributor’s ability to throw a cracking party, as well as getting down to business during show hours.

NORTH AMERICAN HANDMADE BICYCLE SHOW February 26th to 28th Sacramento, Ca www.2016.handmadebicycleshow.com Contact: Paul Skilbeck, +01 317 731 4040 Description: An industry gathering of the trade’s frame and bike builders. The exhibition draws crowds old and young, as well as plenty of media attention.

VELO-CITY GLOBAL February 27th to March 1st Taipei, Taiwan www.velo-city2016.com Contact: Marine Morvant, +33 (0)2 51 88 21 58 Description: Velo-City is a conference to ensure that greater consideration is given to cycling

by European Governments in all transport-related policies.

SCOTTISH CYCLING, RUNNING AND OUTDOOR PURSUITS SHOW March 11th to 13th SECC, Glasgow www.scrops.co.uk Contact: PSP Media: 0141 353 22 22 Description: A show for all outdoor adventurers, with special focus on running and cycling. Free coaching and advice will form part of the draw for crowds, as well as a variety of exhibitors.

TAIPEI CYCLE March 2nd to 5th Nangang Exhibition Hall 1, Taiwan www.taipeicycle.com.tw Contact: Rebecca Lee, 886-2-2725-5200 Ext. 2861 / 2862 Description: The Nangang Centre becomes business central for three days in March each year. The show is seen as one of the more important calendar dates for striking up new trade relationships.

BESPOKED BRISTOL April 15th to 17th Brunel’s Old Station, Bristol www.bespoked.cc Contact: Phil Taylor, info@bespoked.cc Description: The UK’s number one handmade exhibition, showing the very best of our homegrown and international framebuilders and much more.

THE NATIONAL TRIATHLON SHOW April 8th to 10th Lee Valley Velopark www.220triathlonshow.co.uk Contact: kane.thomas@ mercuryevents.com Description: Held at the location of the London olympics’ track events, the 220 Tri show hosts brands, expert clinics, velodrome tasters, running seminars and bike trials, among other features.

BIKEBIZ.COM

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2016 DIARY

MAY

JUNE

JULY

SEPTEMBER

SPIN MANCHESTER May 6th to 8th Victoria Warehouse, Manchester www.manchester.spinldn.com Contact: info@spinldn.com Description: As you’ll find in London, just for those cyclists further North.

MOUNTAIN BIKE WORLD CUP June 4th and 5th Fort William www.fortwilliamworldcup.co.uk Contact: Gemma Cobb or Danny Parker, 0131 561 8628 Description: A gathering of all the top riders in downhill and four-cross at Fort William. Set in the Scottish Highlands, the Mountain Bike World Cup is a key calendar date for adrenaline junkies.

TOUR DE FRANCE July 2nd to 24th France www.letour.fr Description: The world’s eyes turn to France through July as professional road cyclists from across the globe tour the country for the famous Tour.

INTERBIKE (Demo and show) September 19th to 23rd Las Vegas, USA www.interbike.com Contact: Andria Klinger, +01 949-226-5745 Description: Beginning with the Outdoor Demo, trade-only show, Interbike is the USA’s largest bicycle exhibition.

Combining seminars with scheduled rides and more, the show is a big hit with mainstream bicycle business, as well as more niche sectors like BMX.

SPIN LONDON May 20th to 22nd London www.spinldn.com Contact: info@spinldn.com Description: A key show for independent labels and artisan builders in the cycling business.

It’s a mini festival that celebrates cycling culture and includes fashion, artwork, talks and demos.

BIKE WEEK May 20th to 22nd Nationwide www.bikeweek.org.uk Contact: Contacts on website Description: Bike Week is an annual opportunity to promote cycling and show how it can easily be a part of everyday life.

Demonstrating the social, health and environmental benefits of cycling, the week aims to get people to give riding their bikes a go all over the UK. BIKEBIZ: WOMEN OF THE YEAR Where: TBC Website: www.bikebiz.com Contact: Richard Setters, 0207 354 6001 Description: BikeBiz’s nod to the growing population of women contributing heavily to progression of the cycling business.

MOUNTAIN MAYHEM June 17th through 19th Gatcombe Park, Gloucestershire www.mountain-mayhem.com Contact: Patrick Adams, 0758 822 4961 Description: Organised by figurehead Patrick Adams, Mountain Mayhem is pitched as a sure way of accessing new customers from all over the UK. The event features all sorts of riding, from drag races to dirt jumping, as well as crosscountry adventures.

AUGUST EUROBIKE August 31st to September 4th Friedrichshafen, Germany www.eurobike-show.de Contact: Birgit Mattmann, +49 7541 708-412 Description: The world’s largest bike exhibition and generally considered a ‘must attend’ show, Eurobike draws exhibitors, press and both trade and consumer visitors from around the globe.

NOVEMBER

DECEMBER

CYCLING MEDIA AWARDS London Contact: Richard Setters, 0207 354 6001 www.cyclingmediaawards.com

SPIN XMAS Dates TBC Shoreditch, London www.spinldn.com Contact: info@spinldn.com Description: Spin Xmas is a free to attend event that will take over Rochelle School in Shoreditch, providing visitors with a venue to buy cyclingrelated gifts for Christmas.

Description: BikeBiz’s event to recognize those in the media and cycling advocacy for their hard work. Voted for by those in the business, the awards take place annually with nibbles and drinks in London.

CYCLE SHOW September 22nd to 25th NEC, Birmingham www.cycleshow.co.uk Contact: Chris Holman, 020 7288 6733 Description: With one day of trade only access and three for the consumer show, the Cycle Show is popular with exhibitors due to the large volumes of trade and end users able to be seen in a short space of time.

ASIA BIKE September 13th to 15th Nanjing, China www.asiabike-show.com Contact: Sophie Hsu, sophie@ nfexpo.com Description: Describing itself as having a focus on the sports and luxury, urban and clothing segments, Asia Bike is great for brands looking to get a foothold in Asian markets.

ROULEUR CLASSIC Dates TBC Venue TBC, London www.rouleurclassic.cc Contact: Ian Chandler, ian.chandler@telegraph.co.uk Description: A ticketed event showcasing a range of premium product and offering one-toone time with bike designers, food and drink, visits from cycling icons, art and a whole lot more.

BIKEBIZ.COM

BIKEBIZ JANUARY 47

BUFF

The Buff trade Ahead of its Core Bike showing and the launch of its Le Tour collection, Jonathon Harker quizzes head of marketing Rosanne Leathers on Buff’s Barcelona base, fabric tech innovations…and dog Buffs…

HOW’S BUSINESS? The past twelve months have been very steady for our neckwear business, however last year’s newly launched hat collection has significantly increased turnover, with great sell in and sell through, even at this early stage and before it has even been truly cold.

Our debut hats collection this year has nicely increased our sales in addition to our usual customer orders. Although we have become well established in the outdoor market with our Buff, everyone is very excited about our brand expansion. It is less common in the market to have technically driven sports and sports lifestyle hat, therefore stores seem to trust our expertise in fabric technology from the long relationships they have had with us.

What’s your strongest product?

The Original Buff is still the best bit of kit on a bike due to the versatility and protection it can offer in hot or cold climates. In addition, our cycle specific helmet liner is great for moisture management, and a visor Buff should you wish to keep the sun out of your eyes, works great under a helmet too.

In terms of road cycling we have various products such as the new helmet liner, visor Buff and cyclone.

But in terms of versatility for road cycling and MTB the original Buff is a winner as it is so can be made into a mask, double layer hat, balaclava and sweat wrist band.

Where is the range made?

The majority of our products are manufactured in-house at Original BUFF, where we do everything from start to finish: Create, design and produce, distributing over 90 per cent of the products in Igulada (Barcelona), where the product originated. Their offices and factory are based in the same building, this way they control all the production and distribution processes, maintaining maximum quality and 48 BIKEBIZ JANUARY

we are the main hub in the UK for distribution.

Few people realise that the manufacturing process of such a broad product range is produced locally in Europe. The majority of the process is in fact carried out by hand. The designs are hand printed using sublimation printing process that transfers designs onto the product as well as the logo being specially hand pressed on many Buff products. Using these hand processes ensure that the material retains its soft feel without the colours fading when either exposed to the elements or during cleaning.

Creating a seamless product is done through a unique proprietary knitting process designed to yield a stretchy fabric tube without irritating seams. This process also allows the fabric to retain its shape without fraying, and gives a tremendous amount of strength to the finished garment.

This spring/summer you’ve got a TDF collection and helmet liners...

The excitement around the event every year has inspired a creative collaboration with Tour de France, giving customers the chance to feel united with the athletes. The inspiration for Le Tour de France collection stems from the competitor’s aspirations towards the symbolic jersey with the colours being a primary influence. The collection consists of: High UV protection original, Neckwarmer windproof pro, Headband and Helmet liner. The helmet liner in particular uses up-to-date bonding technology as well as Fastwick extra plus and the special honeycomb knit to absorb sweat and dry quickly. Le Tour de France Buff collection is available from £14.00 to £31.50 Do you still have the dog Buff?

What is pretty cool for A/W 16/17 is that we are extending our usual Dog Buff range (which is extremely popular) to match with the adult range. So there will be various Dog

Buff’s CoolMax Hat is one of the new spring summer launches

BRANILDE PROF

“The hat collection has significantly increased turnover for us.”

Roseanne Leathers, Buff

designs that have a matching adult original Buff. So those consumers that run/walk with their pooch can now have a matching Buff set!

What are Buff’s expectations?

For 2016 it is important for us to remain product focused and produce on-point products for our customer’s requirements. So the new coolmax insect shield hat, merino wool hat and kids hat collection are just a few of the new items for spring/summer 16. For autumn/winter 16/17 we see more tech fleece fabrics being used and an extension of lifestyle products.

The lifestyle range is driven towards post-ride and everyday wear, as the relationship between biking and leisure gets closer.

So yes, lots of exciting things ahead and we should have a definite adventure along the way!

All of our customers have specific reps and agents who can show samples and talk through the brand and collection. To get in touch, place an order or anything else please email sales@buffera.co.uk or call 01707 648360.

BIKEBIZ.COM

ISLA BIKES

A decade of quality Islabikes successfully carved out a niche in the quality childrens bike market when it set up back in 2006. Ten years on and plenty of brands are aspiring to knock the brand off its perch. Founder Isla Rowntree tells Jonathon Harker how the brand aims to retain its forefront position…

How’s business? How did 2015 compare with 2014?

2015 has been a challenging and exciting year for the business in an increasingly competitive market.

We are continuing to grow the profile of the brand by increased participation at events and by creating engaging content aimed at the family cycling market. Christmas is always our busiest time so we have just had a very exciting time ensuring lots of children’s bikes were supplied in time.

What do you think of all the interest in the quality junior bike market? And the growing number of competitors? Is there room for everyone?

I established Islabikes with the aim of providing a better cycling experience for children. I see the growing number of companies specialising in better quality children’s bikes as a huge success because more children are able to experience the benefits of a correctly fitted lighter weight bike. I think the market will settle down in the coming year and develop three sectors; the good, the better and the best. As the pioneers of this movement our goal is to remain positioned as the best childrens bikes on the market.

50 BIKEBIZ JANUARY

Do you have a perspective on balance bikes starting to hit stabiliser sales? Have you seen that to be the case? Are you seeing any other trends?

We have seen a steady decline in stabilisers sales since the business was launched in 2006.

In our opinion this is very satisfying as balance bikes are a much better way of teaching children to ride.

Our customer service team actually discourage customers from

How long have you been offering cyclo-cross bikes for juniors and is that a growing or stable market?

Cyclo-cross bikes have featured in our range since the launch of the brand in 2006. It is also a discipline that Islabikes is particularly passionate about with many top level riders being part of our workforce. We have found that participation in the sport has grown incredibly in recent years and with it the demand for good quality bikes. As a form of racing it is

“More brands specialising in better quality children’s bikes is a huge success.” purchasing stabilisers as we feel they are a poor way for children to learn. A bicycle steers by leaning and stabilisers prevent this, so the child learns to steer in a way that doesn’t work once the stabilisers are removed; a confusing situation that often leads to them overbalancing and becoming quite frightened, which unfortunately reinforces the fear associated with removing the stabilisers.

fantastic for young riders as it is safe, accessible and encourages good bike handling skills from an early age.

What are the latest technology developments from Islabikes?

Following years of research and development, we now fit all our lightweight starter bikes with a revolutionary chain guard. The patented ChainGlider chain cover

has been specifically designed to enhance safety for very young children. We worked with Hebie, a German bicycle accessory company, to develop a guard that fully encloses the chain and it is now featured on all our Cnoc models. To my knowledge we are the only children’s bike manufacturer in the world to replace the industry standard chain guards. It was very satisfying for me to develop this innovation in collaboration with our customers and as a direct response to parent feedback.

As a business we take a continuous development approach to our design. This means when we see an area of the product we can improve we make the change immediately ensuring children can benefit much sooner.

What are your expectations for 2016 and for the junior bike market in general?

As more competitor entrants come to market with better quality bikes for children, we are expecting a challenging year. Our aim is to cement our position as market leaders in the industry and look to raise the bar further in what is considered to be an acceptable standard for children’s bikes. www.islabikes.co.uk BIKEBIZ.COM

01772 459 887

www.bob-elliot.co.uk @BobElliotOnline

“Distributors of some of the finest brands to cycle shops all over the UK�

Find your Local stockist at: www.bob-elliot.co.uk or contact us on: sales@bob-elliot.co.uk, Tel: 01772 459 887

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

RETAIL

STATS %

-3.4

BLACK FRIDAY: Wasn’t quite as predicted, with shopper footfall on the High Street down 3.4% Y-O-Y.

YOU’RE LOOKING AT YOUR PHONE, AREN’T YOU?

OPINION IF MY calculations are correct, back in October I contributed to my 100th issue of BikeBiz. This, the 103rd, will sadly be my last. As regular readers of BikeBiz.com will see, my job is up for grabs and a large part of me hopes the role goes to someone like the then fresh-faced BMX riding journalism student that was given a shot when I joined heading on nine years ago.

Back then it was a steep learning curve and that trajectory has continued to quarterpipe. The bicycle business is changing. When I began 26-inch wheels were the only real choice for mountain biking, Britain was still training up those who went on to bring great success in the London BIKEBIZ.COM

Olympics and subsequent major tours, while bike retail was a much simpler beast. At the time, just a few were commiting any real resource to online sales. Since then shopping habits have evolved in parallel with technology and in store merchandising often needs to be at least as immersive as the customer’s mobile phone to hold attention long enough to keep them in-store. No longer is a sea of wheels acceptable, modern bike retail space often gives over to changing rooms, bike fitting and in-store iPads or coffee roasters.

“Thanks for explaining eccentric BBs and the point of fixie freestyle...”

But the adaptation doesn’t stop with appearence. We’ve a market that’s flooded with discounted stock, direct to end-user brands beginning to scoop some market share and obligatory workplace pensions, among other fresh new hurdles for the

small business. A monumental shift is now well underway and adaptation remains necessary.

There’s certainly interest in the cycle market, but does that translate into the quick buck many thought cycling would bring? Not often. As tempting as it is to make decisions with your heart in this business, there’s increasingly little margin for error, so it’s those that are using their head that are driving a new era of bicycle retail.

Those who have found themselves a niche, carefully watched the evolution of buying habits and kept their businesses flexible and innovative are those thriving.

Moving on from BikeBiz I leave behind countless happy memories, experiences and some incredibly special people. To my mentors in this business, a huge thank you for your patience and for explaining eccentric bottom brackets, dumping duties and the point of fixie freestyle to me.

The next chapter comes shortly, so I hope to see many of you again in the future. Until then, happy cycling. msutton@nbmedia.com

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CAMBRIDGE: The percentage of Cambridge bike shops which participated in Black Friday sales.

FIXATION POP UP SHOP: p60 NEW PRODUCTS: A round-up of some new cycle products available this month.

p54 SECTOR GUIDE: Training courses p63 SECTOR GUIDE: Tools of the trade p69 COLIN REES: Sales training p72 BIKEBIZ JANUARY 53

RETAIL ONLY

NEW PRODUCTS This month let us introduce you to clean lines, courtesy of Flexroute, Kinesis and Renthal. With full control of its production, EDCO are also about to step up a notch…

FLEXROUTE CABLE GUIDES Southern Distributor: 0208 870 2249 IT’S OFTEN the simple things that make the greatest impact in design and the Flexroute Universal Cable guides are no exception.

The lightweight clips pinch around tubing, guiding dropper post cabling subtly with the frame’s lines. The zip tie that clamps everything

together is unique too and won’t produce a sharp edge once cut.

For retailers, these are sold in four, eight and 1,000 and 5,000 packs, with a healthy margin attached. A tool is also available via Southern Distributors that will give a perfectly clean cut.

KINESIS RACELIGHT ATHEIN DISC Upgrade Bikes: 01403 711 611 COMING IN at £749.99, Kinesis UK’s disc-ready Athein has some key refinements that make it an ideal platform on which to build a fast and ready sportive build.

Reverting back to a dependable threaded BB, the frame is also refined where discs meet the frame, with 54 BIKEBIZ JANUARY

inboard mounting cold forged into the chainstay. An adapter for post mount is included.

Made from Kinesium tubing and shaped using a SPF (super plastic forming) technique, the bike is fine tuned for a balance of stiffness and strength at the lowest possible weight.

RENTHAL APEX STEM Ison Distribution: 01353 662662 TOP TUBES are getting longer, bars wider and frame geometry continuously evolving. As you’ll have sussed out from that intro, we’re introducing to you a super short 33mm stem from Renthal dubbed the Apex.

With just 0.8mm gap between the steerer tube and

the handlebar, this one from Renthal is tipping the scales at just 108 grams.

The stem uses the same 240-degree, twin handlebar clamps, to reduce stem body material and weight, without sacrificing either stiffness or strength. Get in touch with Ison for more details.

EDCO Cambrian Tyres: 01970 626777 WHILE WE won’t flag up just one new product from EDCO, there has been some developments that are already having benefits to the entire portfolio.

Having received fresh investment, the firm has opened a new Taiwan-based factory, allowing it to produce its own rims, each using an upgraded

carbon weave and less resin. The result, says EDCO, is a better all weather 3K braking surface.

With the hub construction remaining in Switzerland, they’ll roll just as good as they used to, while the final build takes place in the Netherlands. Wheels come supplied with brake pads, Continental tyres and wheelbags.

BIKEBIZ.COM

ELECTRIC BIKES

Not seen much of Shimano STEPS yet?

There’ll be chance to put that right in 2016

Show time for e-bikes Thinking of dipping into electric bikes but not sure where to start? Jonathon Harker looks at some of the upcoming opportunities to see global e-brands in the flesh in Q1 2016…

IF YOU needed convincing that the UK trade truly is gearing up for electric bikes then look no further than the range of e-bike tech featuring at key industry shows at the start of 2016. Heavy hitters like Shimano, Peugeot, Bosch and many more will be appearing in and around the UK, giving dealers chance to get up close and get to grips with the market…

56 BIKEBIZ JANUARY

Q CORE BIKE Core Bike looks to have a decent e-bike presence at the end of January, not least with Core debutants Moore Large and big name e-bike brand Peugeot. By the time Core comes around, it’ll be just over a year since the two started working together. Peugeot e-bikes have plenty of experience in the field – Cycleurope of France has been the exclusive licensee of Peugeot Cycles since 2010 and the firm has supplied La Poste – the French Post Office – with a fleet of e-bikes for commercial use for over a decade.

The Whittlebury Hall-set event will also see electric specialist EBC attend, featuring assisted cycles from Bergamont, Bosch-powered AVE and own brand EBCO. Potentially, Hotlines may be bringing along Lapierre’s e-bike models, though that is yet to be confirmed (at time of press).

Q THE BIKE PLACE FreeGo Wisper will be found at Silverstone for the Bike Place, running at the same time (and just down the road from) Core Bike. FreeGo Wisper (FWG) sell BlueLable, Riese & Muller, Birdy – and FreeGo and Wisper – electric bikes, having been servicing the UK market for many years.

Austrian super brand KTM are to take a pit stop at the Bike Place too, courtesy of UK distributor Fli. Q ICEBIKE* 2016 Madison and Sportline’s house show is in its tenth year in 2016.

At the Arena: MK you’ll find more space dedicated to Shimano’s Steps system. Madison said: “With the expected growth of e-bikes in the UK next year, Shimano STEPS will be on show with a demo track for visitors to get to grips with the technology and speak to the brand about its plans for 2016.

“A seminar on Shimano STEPS and the e-bike industry will also be scheduled during the exhibition.”

Q LONDON BIKE SHOW Also in February comes the London Bike Show, where you’ll find Batribike amongst the e-bike offerings at ExCeL. It’s likely other big name exhibitors, like Cube, Cannondale and Specialized, among others, will bring along some electrically assisted rides too.

The Bikes Etc-sponsored demo track will provide space to try them out too.

Q BIKE EXPO The EventCity Manchester show is still a little way off (March 18th to 20th) but we wouldn’t like to bet against there being a fairly significant electric bike presence.

We’ll keep you updated on that and events further into ‘16 here at BikeBiz. www.bikebiz.com/events BIKEBIZ.COM

ELECTRIC BIKES

OPINION: Why is the UK lagging behind?

Outspoken e-bike retailer and advocate Ray Wookey asks why the UK’s electric bike market is stubbornly remaining in the burgeoning, rather than the rampant, stage…

EVERY MORNING and every night, I become a ‘minority’. Unlike 97 per cent of people going to and from work, I take a few moments to pop on over-trousers, a helmet, gloves and a high-vis top before taking to the roads and bridleways to cycle to work on my e-bike.

I am in my sixties, yet every day I climb 500 feet – for approximately two miles – back home from work, often sharing the road with neighbours who drive the short distance to the train station for their commute.

Out of office hours, whenever my wife and I arrive for dinner on our e-bikes, we are considered ‘pioneers’ (read ‘nutty’): “How amazing/brave/strange!” When we leave, we hear: “Will you be alright on the half mile ride home? Ring us when you get home.”

We enjoy our e-bikes to keep fit, side-step motoring costs and avoid parking hassles. So why is it that people look at my wife and I with a bemused look because we are cycling, and even more so for using power-enhanced pedal bikes, when in Europe such bikes are common?

In Germany sales of e-bikes are now running at around 600,000 a year, Holland 250,000 and even countries like Austria are zooming up to 100,000. Sales in Europe in 58 BIKEBIZ JANUARY

general are topping one million e-bikes. With the UK selling a meagre 40,000 e-bikes, why are we so far behind?

NO GOVERNMENT SUPPORT Back here in the UK, unlike the electric car industry, there is no specific government support for e-bikes. Sustrans research has revealed the differing per capita

that respect, high tech plants also receive significant manufacturing grant assistance.

Perhaps our roads are not as safe as those in Europe. However, e-bikes are inherently safer than conventional bikes because pulling out at junctions is quick and consistent from stationary. You can often match the speed of traffic in built up areas. You can comfortably

“We in the UK seem to be stuck on the same old points.”

Ray Wookey government spending for transport: HS2 will cost £1,250 per head, while cycling spend is only £10 per head. E-bike spend is zero.

The cycle to work scheme allows employees to pay for a bike over 12 months with tax benefits but is limited to £1,000. A reliable, electric commuter bike starts at £1,000. Meanwhile, German cities often give straightforward grants (€600) to help someone buy a new bike. With this kind of uncomplicated support – surprise, surprise – e-bike manufacturing plants in Germany struggle to keep up with demand. Even in

wear a hi-vis jacket, as e-cyclists don’t get as hot or sweaty as conventional cyclists.

“WE SEEM TO BE STUCK” People in Europe understand this.

We in the UK, however seem to be stuck on the following points: “I am not old enough yet to ride an e-bike”, “e-bikes are cheating”, “what’s the point of riding an e-bike, surely it’s all about exercise” “I’d feel ashamed and my friends would laugh at me”. These are comments I hear all the time.

What is better: to climb on a bike and ride it often or sit in a car or

use public transport? Our customer survey from 2014 revealed that e-cyclists are on their bike over three times a week, many times more than the UK average.

Even keen, fit, regular cyclists can benefit from an e-bike. Other halves are sometimes not quite so enthusiastic or fit or quite as drawn to cycling as the ‘keenie’. The purchase of an e-bike changes this dynamic. Couples are able to cycle together and the daunting hills are not such an obstacle. It is a bit like a golf handicap – it enables people of varying ability to play together and have fun.

Although a quality e-bike is likely to cost £2,000-plus, this cost is soon covered by the savings made against the routine alternatives.

Think of car outgoings with petrol, tyres, insurance, depreciation, VED tax and parking. A full charge from the mains enables you to travel 60 miles or so, costing six pence.

Over five years ago, I put my money where my mouth is and started selling e-bikes. My business ‘Cycling Made Easy’ has outlets in London and Kent and we only sell e-bikes. The e-bikes we sell change people’s lives.

My advice to the UK is: Give e-bikes a try and re-discover a new you! www.cyclingmadeeasy.co.uk BIKEBIZ.COM

FIXATION LONDON

A Fixation for the city Opening a pop-up shop proved a game changer for Fixation London, helping establish the brand while changing how the bike label did business. Jonathon Harker speaks with founder Alex Bodini for the full story…

IT’S OFTEN said that bricks and mortar shops have a hugely important role to play in establishing a brand in the first place, and Fixation London is a fresh-faced fixie bike brand that has exemplified that phenomenon in a short space of time.

It was just over a year ago that Fixation set itself up as an onlineonly fixed bike label.

“We launched our brand in December 2014, originally looking to be an online only urban cycling company,” Fixation founder Alex Bodini explains to BikeBiz. “Things were going very well online but to make it a bigger band we opened up our pop-up shop in Seven Dials, Covent Garden in May 2015 and ran it for six months. It was overall a massive success, we sold a lot of 60 BIKEBIZ JANUARY

bikes, we learnt a lot and met a lot of people.”

The shop’s impact on the Fixation business saw it shift the way it was reaching the end consumer, Bodini explains: “It allowed us to grow a brand profile and large social

“It changed everything for us.

We learnt a lot in the process and it took us from being nothing to being at least a ‘thing’ in a fairly saturated segment of the market.”

Now Fixation London has a new range and is looking for stockists.

“Opening the pop-up shop changed everything for us.”

Alex Bodini, Fixation

media following. We are growing as a company now and are looking forward to shifting from B2C to a B2B focus now that we have a platform to work from.”

The urban range has steel framed single speed/fixie bikes, for the time being, with prices starting from £325 and topping out at £450.

“We have eight different colour

combinations, ladies step through frames and recently launched the ‘Mixie’ (mini fixie) which is good fun to ride.”

Fixation is split across two ranges: Classic and Deluxe, the former being the entry level bike.

The Deluxe has upgrade componentry from big names like Maxxis tyres and Shimano chain.

The frames are built in Hi-Ten Steel and come in at around the 12kg mark “strong and sturdy but lightweight and nimble enough to zip through town and carry up stairs”. The bikes are named after London areas.

In the aforementioned crowded market, Fixation has a fairly unique feature to help carve itself out some space: “All our bikes come with the Fixation London stem BIKEBIZ.COM

FIXATION LONDON

The stylish stem clock is available to buy separately

The Holborn is one of many London-inspired bikes in the range

clock which add a touch of class and always make people smile!” So popular are the clocks that they are actually sold separately (as well as a range of other gifts including a leather wine holder).

Fixation’s bikes are all made in Taiwan and UK assembled: “We are trying very hard to distance ourselves from the cheap Chinese fixies,” Bodini says. “There is a lot of them around and they are full of all sorts of problems. We know we have a great product that stands up really well compared to similar priced bikes. We have invested in the bits that matter (bottom bracket, hubs, tyres etc) as we know that you can’t survive if you start to build a bad reputation!”

Now a second large set of stock has been taken on and Fixation BIKEBIZ.COM

London is looking for shops in the capital and UK to take them on.

“We are well aware that we are better suited to cities. We have proved very popular in the major student cities – Cambridge, Manchester, Bristol.”

seem a bit of a fad and that perhaps has faded, however due to the simple nature of single speeds we really feel like the market has a lot of potential for growth.

“There are so many more single speeds out on the roads compared

“Fixies may seem a fad, but we feel the market has potential to grow.”

Alex Bodini, Fixation

The fixie market was making the headlines a few years ago, but is the sector still doing business?

“It is an interesting one,” Bodini admits. “We know that they may

to last year and I think that is because they are so simple – no maintenance, no worrying about what gear you are in and all-round ‘no fuss’. As a way to get to work,

to the shops or even to the pub you just can’t go wrong and for that general hop on/hop off use I think the market will continue to grow.

“We were surprised by the types of people who have bought our bikes in the end – we expected lots of youngsters to be buying them, but in fact we sold loads to the ‘second bike’ market – like those with a lovely road bike who don’t want to use it on city centre roads so they pick up a no-nonsense Fixation bike!”

Following its pop-up shop experiment, Fixation now has a showroom (visited by appointment) in Putney, South West London. The brand backs cycle charities, including Re-Cycle – which ships old unwanted bikes from the UK to Africa. www.fixation-london.co.uk BIKEBIZ JANUARY 61

TRAINING COURSES

‘Investment, not expenditure’ But that is what a training provider would say, right? Or is training, in fact, an essential weapon in the arsenal of shop and workshops? While you’re mulling that over, Jonathon Harker has some of the key bike trade offerings available…

ATG & CYTECH CYTECH IS the internationally recognised training and accreditation scheme for bicycle technicians. It delivers training and promotion of technical skills to the cycle trade and enthusiasts worldwide. Since its creation, over 8,000 technical courses have been delivered to over 3,500 candidates including staff working for some of the world’s leading bicycle distributors. Over 2,000 Cytech qualified staff are currently employed worldwide.

Cytech courses encompass the basics of cycle mechanics right through to dealing with the most advanced and high-tech components and parts.

Pitched at seasoned professionals, business owners or mechanics just starting out on a career in the trade, there is a Cytech training course to suit. From a Cycle Maintenance Apprenticeship, though Cytech One, Two and Three and on to Specialist Wheel building,

THE BICYCLE ACADEMY

INFO@CYTECH.TRAINING Group Set, Brake Technology, Suspension Setting, MTB and road bike specific training, there are courses running throughout the year. Bespoke courses are available from ATG too.

As a Government Funded Notfor-Profit charity, ATG Training helps alleviate the cost of Apprenticeship programmes.

ATG provides the largest number of Cytech courses in the UK with workshops based in Stafford, London and Aylesbury.

All three are fitted out with Park Tools equipment, and racked and boarded on PAF benches.

ATG Training says that the workshops are equipped with all the stock and equipment required for smooth running training sessions and most importantly the training officers themselves are all qualified trainers who are keen riders in their spare time. Many are club riders and compete on the circuits, road, cyclocross and mountain bikes.

01373 473767

THE BICYCLE ACADEMY provides frame building courses and skills masterclasses for novices, enthusiasts and pros alike, with a fully equipped workshop for those who don’t have their own. The company started out in 2011 with the intention of making framebuilding more accessible.

The workshop is based in cycle hotbed Frome and has everything needed to make a frame from scratch: brazing stations, a lathe, a pillar drill and a kettle, obviously. The firm also offers Brazing and TIG Welding Masterclasses and more besides.

Find out more by heading to www.thebicycleacademy.org.

BIKEBIZ.COM

BIKEBIZ JANUARY 63

TRAINING COURSES

MOJO Mojo Suspension has announced the launch of its in-house Fox Technical Dealer Training Programme. Based on feedback from dealers and Mojo’s own vast experience gained from almost 20 years of working with Fox Suspension, it became apparent to the firm that a more dynamic approach to training was required: “The reality is that with such a vast range of products and technologies spanning two decades it’s simply not possible to offer one complete training course to cover every aspect of Fox products without it lasting months or years. Combine that with vastly different competency levels throughout our dealer network, it was clear a different approach was required.”

01633 615815 Mojo added: “What we are offering is time in our workshop with our experienced technicians showing you or your mechanics exactly what they would like. If it’s changing lower legs seals or re-valving the latest downhill shock or fork. It may be that you’ve been rebuilding forks for ten-plus years but would like to learn about the latest fork damper technologies. You simply pay us for our workshop time and we’ll teach you what you’d like to know.”

Interested? The cost per day is £250 plus VAT. Prior to your visit, Mojo can discuss training requests to ensure attendees receive maximum value for their time. Booking in advance is essential, by contacting Mojo on 01633 615815.

THE BIKE-INN LET’S KICK OFF with some history: When Teresa and Alf Webb started teaching bicycle mechanics back in June 1991 as full day-time courses, the two would no doubt have been surprised to see how that would develop over the years into what has become a major part of the bicycle industry.

Their advice was taken on by some of the best known companies in the cycle trade training sector, they tell BikeBiz. Alf Webb says: “In fact there are three or four teaching establishments around the country in which the instructors were taught by us first and took up teaching at a later date.

“Aylesbury College invited us to teach there for two years during the mid-1990’s. During this time we initiated the setting up of the NVQ for bicycle mechanics and were the very first to be appointed D32 and D33 verifiers.”

The duo have taught to City & Guilds accreditation bicycle mechanics since 1993 – first at their shop near Buckingham, two years at Aylesbury College, a short period at Peterborough College and at their current workshop for the last 14 years.

Webb continues: “City & Guilds award 3993 was far behind modern requirements so we re-wrote the modules in 2004. C&G did not take them up so we re-wrote them again in 64 BIKEBIZ JANUARY

www.bike-inn.co.uk 2009. This time C&G used our notes but re-formulated them – all at a level below what we were aiming at in terms of their ‘level 2’ accreditation. They did not want our ‘level 3’ modules.

“So what should we do? Folks coming on our courses invariably want first class instruction to a level at which they could confidently take up work or business in the bike trade.

C&G level 2 is a good start and sufficient for such.“ Still feeling that a C&G level 3 would be desirable, the Webbs stepped in to supply their version of it – a Certificate of Attainment.

“We have taken it beyond even what we envisaged as a level 3 skill.“

people that are running their own successful businesses, the firm tells BikeBiz. Neil Exton and Jon Colborne (taught by Alf and Teresa Webb) “are excellent instructors, assisting us for the past number of years. Their extensive workload and experience in bike repairs and other skills make them outstanding assets to our courses,” Alf Webb says.

In the early days the majority of people were interested in maintaining their own bikes, he says. “Now, we have around 95 per cent of people that attend our courses going into the bike trade for a variety of reasons; opening shops, repair businesses, charities and also many others.”

GLOBAL APPEAL The internationally recognised C&G accreditation offered

by The Bike-Inn has attracted people from all over the world, Webb says.

“There have been many times over the years that others have said we should expand.

“Well, yes, if we can find the time, the energy and the people with sufficient knowledge and experience to teach to our standards.”

The firm takes a maximum of seven people with four very experienced instructors on every course. This ensures all receive full and adequate instruction by

EXTRA-CURRICULAR COURSES At long last, the Bike-Inn maintenance instruction offering is expanding.

The ten day courses are always fully booked months in advance of the start date, we hear, and the company has had difficulties fitting in five and two day seminars because of this. The Bike-Inn has, in the past, even been obliged to fit in extra-curricular courses in an endeavour to accommodate those that only want to learn DIY bike mechanics.

After so many years in the training business, it’s not uncommon for people to ask

The Bike-Inn Teresa and Alf Webb if they are thinking of taking a break from their teaching roles. ”People keep telling us we should retire. To do what? Sit and watch omnibus editions of Coronation Street and EastEnders?

“There is a great sense of achievement when folks leave us and come back quickly with news of their success following what little we have done for them.

Perhaps one day we will.”

The courses are offered at The Bike-Inn head quarters in the Lincolnshire countryside.

Find out more about The BikeInn and what it can offer at the official website www.bike-inn.co.uk BIKEBIZ.COM

FREE SHIPPING ON ALL BIKES I

as standard

FREE SHIPPING ON ALL ORDERS I 24/7 ORDERING VIA B2B I

Visit us at CoreBike 2016 I

over ÂŁ50

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Sun 31st Jan - Wed 3rd Feb

www.hotlines-uk.com I sales@hotlines-uk.com I 0131 319 1444

TRAINING COURSES

COLIN REES COLIN REES has been training in the bike industry for 16 years having visited well over 500 stores all over the UK and Ireland. His training sessions are non-threatening, he does not use role playing and the entry sales training course has produced some startling results, he says.

One store said it recovered the cost the same day, another said it doubled the average sale value per customer.

In addition, Colin has worked with the great and the good in terms of manufacturers and suppliers including Giant,

GREYVILLE

GREYVILLE ENTERPRISES offers SR Suntour Suspension Fork Service Training to the UK’s bicycle shops.

Greyville can provide a full service and/or warranty facility on all SR Suntour products including suspension forks for both aftermarket and OE supply. To back up this service Greyville also provides training days free of charge at its Lichfield offices for any

66 BIKEBIZ JANUARY

colinrees7.wordpress.com Specialized, Chicken, Raleigh and Madison to name a few.

The website has a great deal of free information, guides and tips specifically for the bike trade and this is added to frequently.

Checkout colinrees7.wordpress. com. Courses available are all bike specific and include an introduction to selling in bike shop, advance bike sales, management and a number of others. They are all described and costed on the website.

“Bike specific sales training is investment, not expenditure – you get it back over and over.”

www.greyville.com

shop owner or staff member, whether a customer of Greyville or not.

Instruction is offered on stripping down, servicing, tuning and repair of all models of SR Suntour forks. Greyville also includes a free buffet lunch. Dates are set as demand arises so if you’re interested, dealers can get in touch via the website www.greyville.com

VELOTECH CYCLING VELOTECH CYCLING is now into its eighth year of operation, offering mechanics training services at all levels from the introductory (suitable for participants aged 12 and up) to advanced (suitable for skilled technicians looking for manufacturer-approved or partner-supported training).

Velotech offer two routes to training. Entry and intermediate levels are offered via audited partners across the UK. There are around 25 ‘Velotech Training Workshops’ or partner centres. All levels of training, including ‘Train the Trainer’ courses, are available at Velotech’s main training workshops in Staffordshire.

Velotech is also used in Her Majesty’s Prison Service and within some other specialist training institutions.

Training courses are modular, emphasising a good understanding of why equipment is designed and made the way it is, providing procedures that give repeatable results in preparation, assembly and adjustment of components from all manufacturers.

Modules can be accumulated over time to form complete accreditations at a series of levels, with key waypoints comparable to recognised UK Qualification and Credits Framework levels.

At the entry and intermediate levels Velotech is committed to removing simple technical barriers to children and adults cycling (how to lubricate a bicycle, how to

velotechcycling@aim.com

repair a puncture safely and reliably, how to adjust gers and brakes), as an important step towards making cycling more accessible.

At the advanced levels, as the chosen training partner of companies such as Campagnolo and Miche, Velotech is developing courses for others on an exclusive basis, always and only with the direct co-operation of the factory.

There is a long-standing level of support and approval from The Bicycle Association as the representative body of manufacturers and distributors.

Companies such as Bianchi UK, Clarks, Fibrax, Sapim and Weldtite directly support courses with materials and technical knowledge. Work is at an advanced stage to bring Velotech back under the UK Qualification and Credit Framework, where it operated for the first year and a half of its life, until the sale of its Awarding Body. Full details of courses and dates can be obtained by emailing Graeme Freestone King (velotechcycling@aim.com or +44 7802 758469) or a good overview can be found at www.velotech-cycling.ltd.uk

BIKEBIZ.COM

OUT NOW

Extra copies are available for purchase by contacting Richard Setters on 0207 354 6000 or email rsetters@nbmedia.com

WORKSHOP ESSENTIALS

Keep it clean Customer come in with forks facing backwards and seatpost seized into a place it shouldn’t be? Mark Sutton rounds up some of the market’s top workshop solutions for the shop floor and mechanic’s wishlist…

MADISON As is always the case with Park Tool’s catalogue, the clue’s in the name with the brand’s MK-257.

Boosted with 11 extra tools over last year’s comprehensive 246 tool kit, the 2015 edition puts level tools, cutters and reamers, gauges, and countless accessories at the fingertips of the workshop.

Available from trade distributor Madison, the Park Tool £6,999.99 complete set is a must-have for any workshop business and we’re told it saves hundreds on buying tools individually.

WELDTITE

ISON

A staple for any workshop and compatible with nearly all hydraulic disc brake styles on the market, Cyclo’s universal bleed kit is a great bit of kit for any workshop arsenal. Brands that the kit will service will include Shimano, Magura, Clarks and Hayes, among others.

Another tool the mechanic might like to start the new year with is the mistake limiting Torque Wrench from Cyclo.

For bike cleaning and lubrication Purple Harry offers a comprehensive range of products for retailer and rider.

The Bike Floss (large and medium bristle, plus large fleece) is ideal for a pro clean between cassette sprockets or other hard to reach areas.

The Cleaner/Degreaser and Maintenance Spray are both dispensed from nonaerosol trigger bottles for the environmentally-conscious workshop.

Aimed primarily at roadies, Purple Harry also has Wet & Dry Lube, Bike Polish/Frame Protector (and a unique Wash & Polish Mitt for its application).

BIKEBIZ.COM

So what about that quirky item found within the catalogue – the wash and polish mitt? With its bold two-prong design it’s ideal for throwing up Star Trek signals and polishing bikes and as such this could easily be one of our workshop favourites.

BIKEBIZ JANUARY 69

WORKSHOP ESSENTIALS

MUC-OFF

KOOL STOP

Developed by Muc-Off’s researchers and given the stamp of approval by Team Sky, the new Hydrodynamic Chain lube is hand blended in the UK and as such is perfect for our changeable conditions.

Designed for high workloads, the sophisticated lubricant contains synthetic polymers that have great longevity.

The pipette allows precise application. A 50ml bottle comes in at £16.

Also recently added to the Muc-Off line-up is the brand’s Carbon Gripper. A 75ml tube comes in at £15 and will keep carbon parts from slipping.

Kool-Stop is well-known for manufacturing a wide range of bicycle brake pads. Less well known may be that they also supply some very practical ‘tools’.

A clever unit recently added is the valve adaptor that converts Sclaverand, Presta or Dunlop valves into a Schrader valve. This allows the rider to pump their tires at all gas stations.

This small and useful adaptor is totally sealed by a rubber O-ring and available in brass or aluminium.

MOORE LARGE

JUNGLE PRODUCTS

Relentless on muck, grease and road grime, Duck Smart’s Earth mover is safe for use on anything from your customer’s rusty old vintage right through to carbon and titanium. A one litre bottle comes in at £6.99 retail and is dispensed via a lockable trigger. Once clean, Duck Smart recommend a coating of Bike Eeze, the brand’s mess prevention spray. Designed to offer a shine finish, the 500ml of Bike Eeze contains no nasty PTFEs and will leave the bike with a light scent of banana and chocolate.

New kids on the block, though already with some incredible praise from the industry, Wickens and Soderstrom now has a home with Jungle Products.

Developed alongside industrial chemists, there’s plenty of science packed into every solution.

The No.5 Nano drive train lube protects and cleans at the same time, while reducing friction and vibration. Retail price is £14 per 125ml bottle.

Next up, the No.2 grease comes in two variations. The No.2 TF grease is for general bike usage, keeping parts

COOKE COMPONENTS

ZYRO

VEL is Cooke Components own label offering what they tell us is high quality construction, coupled with sensible retail prices and strong margins. For the shop floor it’s tools like the strong value £16.49 nine-piece Hex set that are ideal sales to the home mechanic.

Meanwhile, those brave enough to bleed their own brakes can take home a £24.99 universal bleed kit if

Fenwicks is one of those labels that’ll see your workshop doing the business and offer plenty on the shop floor.

The British label recently introduced some clever new brushes to sit alongside a deep portfolio of lubricants, cleaners, greases and plenty more.

For 2016, new items include a high performance Carbon Assembly Paste, a non-staining PTFE Anti-Seize, Stealth High Speed Grease, Stealth

70 BIKEBIZ JANUARY

they so choose.

On the spares front, VEL’s Contingency Hanger is priced at just £9.99. It is an emergency hanger that is fitted to the bike using the QR skewer and will get the rider home following a pesky hanger failure.

01423 780088 rust-free and protecting from water ingress to moving parts.

This one’s £14 for 142ml and £42 for 500ml.

Invisible Frame Protector, automotive-grade DOT 5.1 and Mineral Disc Brake Fluids, a long-handled gear cleaning brush, ideal for those dinner plate rear cassettes, and the world’s first flow-through bikecleaning brush.

On the inflation front, check out Blackburn’s Airtower at £99. This do it all unit detects the valve type saving time. What’s more, it’s designed to work with valve clearance as low as 15mm.

BIKEBIZ.COM

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 ÂŁ92 1000 ÂŁ120 2000 ÂŁ165 Origination ÂŁ30

www top tube stickers up to 20x150mm. 1 colour on clear 500 ÂŁ105 1000 ÂŁ145 2000 ÂŁ190 Origination ÂŁ20

(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

BIKE SHOP TOOLS

HOW’S YOUR COMPLAINING TECHNIQUE? It’s the moment everyone dreads: When an irate customer comes into the shop. Are your staff prepared to deal with angry punters? Sales trainer Colin Rees gives us his thoughts…

ALL BUSINESSES are concerned when someone complains. How far will they take it? Will it affect our reputation? Will it be in the local paper? But one concern they sometimes may not think about is the effect on the staff.

In training staff in bike shops, often there are young people who have not had wide exposure to life, so may not know what to do with a ranting customer who may be threatening and abusive. They don’t have experience and so only have their common sense and personality to deal with it. They have not been trained in how to deal with someone standing in front of them shouting and angry because the owner has not bothered to help and foster the person he has employed to make his living for him.

One shop I went to was effectively a small space in which to have a blazing row and the course member relating his story was physically threatened during the process. He was on his own and had no idea what was the best thing to do except try not to provoke the customer more. He did not know what to do because no one had told him.

Training staff is not only very productive but it has been proven 72 BIKEBIZ JANUARY

to help people become more confident and the main purpose is to make each person who works for you more productive. You would imagine we all know that – so why is it I can still question owners in the bike trade to be told they have no induction programme as new starters “will ask questions if they want to know”.

A new person starting knows nothing. They do not know the other people they will work with, how busy it can get, what diversity of products are sold there – they know nothing. They are delighted when they hear they have the job but frightened to death when they start it as they have to do well to keep it. So perhaps those of us who have been at it 30-plus years are going to need empathy. The more effective staff are, the more comfortable they become in their tasks, the more they will make for the business. Sales training has a role and owners of retailing businesses who want to succeed in a big way will be training staff on an ongoing basis. One 30 minute chat won’t do. It has to cover every area of the business and the more skilled they become, the more productive and useful they will be.

How many owners think this way?

How many have a weekly meeting

where some training can be done?

How many owners see it as vital to the business, as important as regularly changing the window, for instance? Training is investment, not expenditure, because you get it back. The time spent on talking about what we do and how we do it is not just critical to outcomes but a direct investment into the well-being of the business and the bottom line.

So, how would you deal with an angry complaining customer? On the training course, we explain that you cannot converse sensibly with anyone in that emotional state of mind, you have to start by bringing it down to a level where the problem can be solved, so you say nothing. You wait until he has burned out, totally, then you do something he doesn’t expect so as to ‘cement’ the change in attitude.

You say: “Thank you. Thank you for being kind enough to bring the matter to our attention. If customers did not do that, we wouldn’t know if we can be making improvements so thank you”.

You are on the same level. Now you establish exactly what the complaint is. You repeat the complaint after he agrees so you both know you understand and have established the problem.

Then, you tell him what you can’t do: “Well obviously I can’t give you a new bike but...” Then you tell him what you can do, how long that will take, when you will next contact him about it and ensure you have the correct details.

It is said, this is the very best time to sell. Psychologically, you have calmed him, he is satisfied you have listened properly, and understand why he came in. There may be some small guilt at his behaviour as you have been so sweet about it all so he is in the frame of mind to be open to a sales suggestion. I have heard people tell me they have cemented that person into a core customer by dealing with matters properly and professionally, a very different outcome to what could have happened with such an initially angry, worked up individual.

If we do not help our staff to do their jobs effectively, comfortably and without too much stress, how can we reasonably expect them to perform at the top of their ability contributing to our net profit?

COLIN REES Sales Trainer and business consultant E: Colinrees7 @gmail.com P: 07540 351530 W: colinrees7.wordpress.com BIKEBIZ.COM

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Jungle Products Ltd New York Mills, Summerbridge Harrogate, HG3 4LA

01423 780 088 info@jungleproducts.co.uk | jungleproducts.co.uk

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2PURE 46c Bavelaw Road, Balerno, Edinburgh, EH147AE Tel: 0844 811 2001 | Web: www.2pure.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

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

PITBITZ LTD Unit 6 Thorpe Drive, Thorpe Way Industrial Estate, Banbury, Oxon, OX16 4UZ Tel: 01295 269333 | www.gazeboshop.co.uk www.thebikeboxcompany.co.uk

I-RIDE 7-8B Mid Sussex Business Park, Ditchling Common Industrial Estate, Folders Lane East, Ditchling, Sussex, BN6 8SE Tel: 01444 243000 | 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 www.santacruzbikes.co.uk

CONTINENTAL North Parade, Aberystwyth, Ceredigion, Wales, SY23 2JR Tel: 01970 626777 | Web: www.conti-tyres.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 CYCLEMILES 9 Queen Anne’s Drive, Havant, PO93PG Tel: 02392 455 355 | Web: www.cyclemiles.co.uk MAXXIS TYRES Unit 3 Cobalt Centre, Siskin Parkway East, Middlemarch Business Park, Coventry, CV34PE Tel: 024 7688 9775 | Web: www.maxxis.com DYNAMO COVER Drake House, Plymouth Road, Penarth, CF64 3TP Tel: 0333 358 33 20 | Web: www.dynamocover.com

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

EDCO COMPONENTS North Parade, Aberystwyth, Wales, SY23 2JR Tel: 01970 626777 | Web: www.edco-wheels.co.uk

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

MDI LIMITED Unit 4, Wellington Point, Amy Johnson Way, Blackpool Business Park, Blackpool, FY42RG Tel: 01253 343090 | Web: www.mdib2b.co.uk

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

If you’d like to find out more or require additional copies please contact rsetters@nbmedia.com or call him on 020 7354 6000

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

NORTH SPORTS 38 Kingston Avenue, Neilston, Glasgow, East Renfrewshire, G783JG Tel: 07746 933795 | Web: www.northsports.co.uk

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

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

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

RUBENA Unit N & M, Tyburn Trading Estate, Ashfold Farm Raod, Birmingham, West Midlands, B24 9QG Tel: 0800 281413 | Web: www.rubenacycle.co.uk

SCHWALBE TYRES UK LTD Schwalbe Centre, Hortonwood 30, Telford, Shropshire, TF1 7ET Tel: 01952602680 | Web: www.schwalbe.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

The BikeBiz Directory 2016 is out now, providing the industry with a must-have guide to the UK’s retailers, distributors, manufacturers and related businesses.

DISTRIBUTION AND WHOLESALE

E-COMMERCE AND EPOS

EVENT ORGANISERS, HOSTING, HOLIDAY AND HIRE

MANUFACTURERS

MARKETING, PR AND CONSULTANCY

MEDIA AND PUBLISHING

ORGANISATIONS, CHARITIES AND ASSOCIATIONS

RETAILERS, WORKSHOPS AND MAIL ORDER

SERVICES AND TRAINING

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

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

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

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

MAVIC Theta Building, Lyon Way, Frimley, Surrey, GU16 7ER Tel: 01276 404870 | Web: www.mavic.com

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

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

BIKE SOUP 55a North Wharf Road, London, W2 1LA Tel: 020 7298278 | Web: www.bikesoup.com

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

ASSOS 57 Farringdon Road, London, EC1M 3JB Tel: 0203 2862225 | Web: www.assos.com

BUFFERA LIMITED Cranbourne House, Cranbourne Road, Potters Bar, Hertfordshire, EN6 3JN Tel: +01920 460754 | Web: www.buffwear.co.uk

MAXXIS TYRES Unit 3 Cobalt Centre, Siskin Parkway East, Middlemarch Business Park, Coventry, CV34PE Tel: 024 7688 9775 | Web: www.maxxis.com

MET HELMETS / BLUEGRASS 22-24 Ely Place, London, EC1N6TE Tel: 0207 1937 496 | Web: www.met-helmets.com

MITAS Tyburn Trading Estate, Ashold Farm Road, Erdington, Birmingham, B24 9QG Tel: 0800 281 413 | Web: www.mitascycle.com

X-BIONIC Trerè Innovation s.r.l. Unipersonale Via Parma, 70 C. 46041 Asola (MN). Italy Tel: +39 0376 718623 | Web: www.x-bionic.com

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

insuring the UK’s cycle retailers

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

ONE WAY DISTRIBUTION Tel: 0031 10345 3510 | Web: shop.o-w-d.nl

QUELLA Unit 1 & 2 Breckenwood Road, Fulbourn, Cambridgeshire, CB21 5DQ Tel: 01223 782 039 | Web: www.quellabicycle.com

BikeBiz Directory 2016 is now available to view online at

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

ROZONE LIMITED Queen Street, Darlaston, Wednesbury, West Midlands.

WS10 8JB Tel: 0121 526 8181 | Web: www.rozone.co.uk

DISTRIBUTION AND WHOLESALE

DISTRIBUTION AND WHOLESALE

IMPORTERS, DISTRIBUTORS AND WHOLESALERS

IMPORTERS, DISTRIBUTORS AND WHOLESALERS

2WT Ltd 63 Baddow Hall Crescent, Chelmsford, CM2 7BX Tel: 07885 788203 Web: www.2wtuk.com

All-City 6400 West 105TH Street, Bloomington, USA, MN 55438 Tel: 1-888-4AC-BIKE Web: www.allcitycycles.com

2x2 Worldwide Unit 6, Hall End Business Park, Dordon, Tamworth, Staffs, B78 1SX Tel: 01827 331099 Web: www.2x2worldwide.com

Always Riding Ltd Riverside Business Centre, Haldone Place, London, SW18 4UQ Web: www.alwaysriding.co.uk

4 Down Distribution Unit 6 North Ridge Business Park, Haywood Way, Hastings, East Sussex, TN35 4PP Tel: 01424 433 074 Web: www.4downdistribution.com

Amba Marketing (UK) Ltd 5 Budlake Units, Budlake Road, Marsh Barton, EX2 8PY Tel: 01392 829903 Web: www.amba-marketing.com

50cycles Unit M, Little Moor Lane, Loughborough, Leicestershire, LE11 1SF Tel: 01509 217775 Web: www.50cycles.com

Andy BrayAgencies T/A Gearmechhanger.com 36 Middlecroft Lane, Gosport, Hampshire, PO12 3DJ Tel: 07896 124968 Web: www.gearmechhanger.com

Assos 57 Farringdon Road, London, EC1M 3JB Tel: 0203 2862225 Web: www.assos.com ATB Sales Ltd Whitworth Road, St Leonards on Sea, East Sussex, TN37 7PZ Tel: 01424 753566 Web: www.atb-sales.co.uk

A Action Cameras The Light Box, PC127, 112 Power Road, London, W4 5PY Tel: 02089657680 Web: www.actioncameras.co.uk

# 2 Wheel Distribution GmbH & Co. KG Erich Blum Str. 33, D 71665 Vaihingen an der Enz, Germany Tel: +49(0)7042289000 Web: www.2wheel-distribution.com

Action Cameras Limited Unit 36 Park Royal Business Centre, 9-17 Park Royal Road, London, NW10 7LQ Tel: 020 89657679 Web: www.actioncameras.co.uk

2 Wheel Electric Haskins Garden Centre, Mansbridge Road, West End, Southampton, Hampshire, SO18 3HW Tel: 02380476929 Web: www.2wheelelectric.co.uk

FREEGO ELECTRIC BIKES 3 St Denys Rd, Southampton SO17 2GN Tel :0800 077 8711

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

Active Life Logistics The Barn, Structons Heath Farm, Great Witley, Worcestershire, WR6 6JA Tel: 01299 890101 Web: www.activelifelogistics.co.uk

2pure 46c Bavelaw Road, Balerno, Edinburgh, EH147AE Tel: 0844 811 2001 Web: www.2pure.co.uk

BIKEBIZ DIRECTORY

All Round Wheels (Wholesale) Ltd Unit 020 Gracechurch Centre, Sutton Coldfield, West Midlands, B72 1PH Tel: 0121 354 5451

8

BIKEBIZ.COM

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

Atom Cycles Unit 2, Kirkburn Industrial Estate, Lockerbie, DG11 2SE Tel: 01576 203611 Web: www.atomcycles.com

AOB Distribution 57 Exeter Road, Kingsteighton, Newton Abbot, Devon Tel: 07596 100615 Web: www.aobdistribution.com

Autostrada Engineering Forge Farm, Forge Lane, Footherley, Staffs, WS14 0HU Tel: 01543 483155/483225

Assess Todociclismo S.A Mitre 972, San Jose, Guillen Tel: 054-261-4456639

Avocet Sports Ltd Unit 7 and 8 Shield Drive, Wardley Industrial Estate, Worsley, Manchester, M28 2QB Tel: 0161 727 8508 Web: www.coyote-sports.com (B2B) and www.avocetsports.co.uk (Consumer)

Assist Creative Resources Ltd Unit 7 Ash Road South, Wrexham Ind Est, Wrexham, LL13 9UG Tel: 01978 664743 Web: www.assist.co.uk

BIKEBIZ.COM

Axel Imports Ltd 4 Wimborne Road, Poole, Dorset, BH15 2BU Tel: 01202 785864 Web: www.axelimports.co.uk

9

BIKEBIZ DIRECTORY

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COMMUNITY

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

Online: Friend or foe?

STAR COMMENT Online auction site eBay doesn’t have a great reputation in the cycle trade, despite being a lifeline for some shops. In particular, the practice of distributors using the site is not a PR winner with retailers...

LIKE MANY retailers, we have website. It’s tucked away somewhere in a distant corner of the World Wide Web. Almost unnoticed, unloved and oblivious to most of Google, it is rarely seen and minimally successful. However, we do have an eBay Anchor shop, which, after many hours of attention, is the complete opposite.

Now I realise eBay has been the topic of discussion on many occasions. But for us it has been a lifeline; almost a job saving solution following our local Council choosing to build a tram station a few years away from us, closing the

“It hurts the retailer and our industry, yet the consumer wins.” road and town centre for months at a time. Not good news for a retailer relying on footfall. Hence our re-invention as an online seller and premises converted to a warehouse. EBay has (almost) be come a family friend.

The transition was not easy. Some wholesalers and suppliers, it seemed, disliked eBay and chose restrictive selling practices. Others embraced the opportunity to supply end of range, obsolete and over-stocks at a suitably discounted price. In the main we have advertised a nice, varied and sustainable range of cycling product for the cycling enthusiast to enjoy. All OK so far.

And then it starts. Initially we discover one large, award winning, wholesaler with an eBay shop, selling direct to the public at below trade prices.

Then another is found, and then some more. All hidden behind false names. (Luckily, they can’t

hide their address). Some even have a retail web site (possibly hidden in the depths of another WWW corner). What on earth is going on? Is it satisfactory for a wholesaler, distributor or importer to supply direct to a consumer? Indeed, do they have the relevant and appropriate insurance cover should a product fail? Are they that short of sales they have to pinch them off retailers? Some may say they are just clearing old stocks or perhaps product is short dated. Some may say items have been advertised by mistake. Either way, a retailer has lost a sale and it hurts. It hurts the retailer and our industry, yet the consumer wins.

Every time a buyer looks at my item, but buys off somebody else I’ve lost a sale and a potential loyal customer. If I’ve lost to another retailer with a special offer or just simply better buying power then fair enough – I can react and deal with it.

However, if I loose out to a wholesaler I need to deal with it accordingly. That might be by not buying from that wholesaler, or by buying their entire stock to stop it happening again. Extreme solutions but perhaps necessary.

We need some clarity, definition and organisation. EBay is becoming stronger, bigger, better. With it comes increased competition and only the strong, creative and industrious will survive and make a profit (oh yes by the way, that’s what we’re trying to achieve). It’s a battle, so wholesalers, distributors and importers need to provide us with the ammunition to succeed, not shoot us down. Friend or foe? The war goes on.

Julian Dumelow Tornari-Sports Have you got something to say on this topic?

Email us at BikeBiz@nbmedia.com

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

@bikebizonline “We know it is a long way but will be going and dreamin! RT Line-up revealed for UK’s Handmade Bicycle Show” Cycle-re-Cycle (@recycled_bikes) “Conference calls should be listed right after “wear suits and ties” under the heading: Things People In The Bike Industry Don’t Have To Do...”

Thom P. (@BigBikesThom) “I will shortly be taking forward orders for my autobiography now I’m famous!”

Wildoo (@wildoolimited) on how an appearence in our Trade Account article cn change your life (probably).

“December’s issue of @BikeBizOnline is now on my desk, well worth the read!.” bike-shed.com (@bikeshedcom: ) Editor’s note: Cheque’s in the post “Sometimes I think companies just throw numbers in geo charts and hope no one is really looking. #bicycleindustry #JustTellMeTheTrail.”

Dan Cavallari (@BrownTieDan) VeloNews Tech Editor

MARKETPLACE BIKES & ACCESSORIES

WORKSTANDS Respected by pro-teams and enthusiasts - Feedback Sports engineer market leading bicycle workstands.

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BIKES & ACCESSORIES

78 BIKEBIZ JANUARY

BIKES & ACCESSORIES

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MARKETPLACE BIKES & ACCESSORIES

BIKES & ACCESSORIES

FREE SHIPPING

on all parts via www.madisonb2b.co.uk

Hangers, BB solutions, Bearing presses, Sealed bearings and Workshop solutions 6USPUL OHUNLY Ä UKLY! www.wheelsmfg.co.uk

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BIKE BOTTLES & PROMOTIONAL GOODS

BIKE FRAME LABELS & GENERAL PRINT

80 BIKEBIZ JANUARY

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CONTACT - info@use1.co.uk Become a stockist of award winning product Book your Demo Night Ride and Order your POS

CUSTOM CLOTHING & ACCESSORIES

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CUSTOM MUSETTES

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DEALER MANAGEMENT SYSTEMS

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

www.wildoo.co.uk info@wildoo.co.uk 01908 374555 BIKEBIZ.COM

As worn by Team Mule Bar Girl – Sigma Sport

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EPOS & ECOMMERCE

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WEBSITE SERVICES

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OFF TRACK

OFF TRACK

THE TRADE’S ROUND UP OF STATS, VIEWS AND RANDOMS

NUMBER CRUNCHING Ever wondered what consumers are spending on their bikes? Or if there’s a future in wearables? Well wonder no longer, reader – the answers are here

£3.6M

Bobbin Bicycles sold over 10,000 bikes in 2015, equating to more than £3.6 million. The firm signed with Moore Large in December 2014.

£873 The average amount spent on new bikes in a UK Cyclists Study (Nov 2015) was £873.51.

(Source: SPORTS MARKETING SURVEYS INC)

£3 0M

$10bn

d illiam Worl The Fort W r fo m 0 rned £3 Cup has ea y m o n co nd e the Highla CI when the U , 2 0 0 2 since e m Cup ca MTB World gion. re e th to

That’s how much the fitness wearables sector will be worth by 2020, which is good news for the likes of Sigma Sport, Recon Jet and others (Source: Juniper Research)

£3 0 0M

be made t that will The amoun ing the cling follow e split cy to le b a avail at will b tement. Th Autumn Sta ar, or £1.39 per head ye ons). A to £60m a TC calculati C to g d in rd (acco 10 per hea ort of the £ ake a sh r fa l ta to quired to m thought re to cycling dif ference e UK . levels in th

BIKEBIZ.COM

30°C Rapha’s newest Cycle Club is in Spitalfields with a ‘vault’ where customers can try out new kit in simulated conditions, from 0 to 30 degrees and up to 30 mph.

BIKEBIZ JANUARY 83

OFF TRACK

IN THE SADDLE I N

A S S O C I AT I O N

W I T H

B R O O K S

Steve Edgell, Director of Cyclesolutions.co.uk Where’s your favourite place to ride?

Having lived in South Wales for the past 22 years, I have been blessed with trails right on the doorstep. I used to love getting up to Afon Argoed, Brechfa and Cwm Carn on my (now ageing) Scott Genius. These days, with a couple of young children in tow, I tend to ride my Cannondale Bad Boy hybrid on the many great cycle paths we have in the Swansea area. It’s also perfect for the six-mile commute to work.

I always try to take a folding bike to meetings in London, and I am currently using a Bickerton Junction.

Tell us about your background in the cycling business: After graduating from Swansea University in 1995 I jumped at the chance to work in cycling.

I was involved in building Wheelies’ insurance replacement business and developed relationships with all of the UK’s general insurance companies. We wanted to ensure that their customers, wherever they are in the UK, could access the best choice of brands. The model works well, and has provided a good basis for us to develop our solution for the cycle to work scheme.

Nowadays I focus on the Cycle Solutions business.

With over a million employers in the UK, we are (as an industry) still only scratching the surface of opening the cycle to work scheme up to all employees.

Why should retailers choose Cycle Solutions for C2W? When considering who to use as their C2W provider, employers are usually hoping to offer employees the best choice, service and value on their C2W package. Cycle Solutions grew out of retail. We tailor our solution for each employer and in many cases they want to offer a “best of both worlds” solution. Many customers choose our online solution, particularly when they find it difficult to travel to a bike shop. Others prefer the personal, faceto-face touch a shop can provide. This is where our Bike Store Partner network comes in to its own. We nearly always achieve scheme take-up levels that outshine our competitors, so we get more new riders onto bikes.

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CYCLESPORT RAISES £270,000

© PIC CREDIT : Phil O’Connor

The Champions of CycleSport Dinner at Battersea Evolution raised an impressive £270,000 for Action Medical Research, with a starry lineup of Sir Chris Hoy, Chris Boardman CBE, Dani King MBE (left), Alex Dowsett, David Millar and more helping buoy up the proceedings.

Hosted by Ned Boulting and Sky’s Dermot Murnaghan, the evening had support from Maserati, among others. www.action.org.uk/ champions-cyclesport

BRIXTON’S GOING GREEN Brixton Cycles’ crowdfunding campaign to stay in business (after being forced to relocate) has captured the imagination of politicians as well as the many who have stumped up cold hard cash. Green Party Leader Natalie Bennett visited the soon-to-berelocated venue to raise further PR for the campaign, which has seen over £62,000 raised for the move. www.brixtoncycles.co.uk

© PIC CREDIT : Puiyin Wong

NEW YEAR RESOLUTION Like most of us, Bruce ‘Cycle Doctor’ Berkeley has a New Year resolution for 2016. Probably unlike most of us, he’s planning to ride over 120,805km in one year, which will be a world record. Berkeley is already a twice world record holder, with the ‘Weeks Riding’ (2,825km) and ‘Most Kilometres Ridden in a Month’ (9,751km), so he’s no stranger to super human feats.

Follow his progress at twitter.com/cycle_dr1

SANTINI STAYING DOWN UNDER The Santini and Santos Tour Down Under relationship has been renewed for 2016, with the apparel brand supplying official race jerseys and three commemorative jerseys for the most significant stages of the race. The duo have been working together since 2007 and stock has already arrived with distributor Fisher Outdoor Leisure. www.santinisms.it

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OFF TRACK

Stephen Holt, Commercial Director

TR ADNET ACCOU

’S INSIGHT CYCLE TRADER

AN EASY WAY TO BOOST SALES IN THE NEW YEAR WELCOME TO the start of a new year! What is going to boost your business this year?

Well, read on and I will explain further.

We are used to seeing images on the news of panicked shoppers, worried they will miss out on savings on their favourite items in the January sales. Other industries must wish they had access to a year-round sale, as that’s exactly what Cyclescheme is.

Does every customer coming through your store door know about Cycle to Work being a great way to save on a bike and on safety accessories too? Now is the time to make the most of people having up to

£1,000 to make those savings of up to 32 per cent for basic rate taxpayers and 42 per cent for higher rate taxpayers, and get everything they need for their cycle commute in 2016.

Our own research tells us that over 30 per cent of all Cyclescheme requests have nothing but a bike on them.

Make one of your New Year’s resolutions to sell more cycling packages, particularly lights, locks, helmets and clothing – which are great for profitable sales – and get 2016 off to a flying start for your store. www.cyclescheme.co.uk

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

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

“This Government made a manifesto commitment to double cycle use and reduce serious and fatal injuries for cyclists and other road users. Yet it is hard to see how they can achieve this with such a tiny budget.”

Paul Tuohy, CEO of CTC

Sponsored by the brands of Moore Large 01332 274252

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Richard Todd, UK Sales & Marketing Director, ASSOS HOW LONG HAVE YOU BEEN AT ASSOS? Since April Fool’s Day last year. Hopefully not an omen! ASSOS SBO UK, the subsidiary of Assos of Switzerland, took over sales and distribution in the UK on August 1st 2015.

HOW LONG HAVE YOU WORKED IN THE INDUSTRY? Almost ten years. I previously developed Ergon’s OEM sales and their international distribution.

WHAT’S THE BEST THING ABOUT WORKING IN THE CYCLE INDUSTRY? The people and the opportunities presented.

WHAT ARE THE BEST AND WORST PARTS OF YOUR JOB? The best bit is knowing that somehow, every day, I helped someone have a better experience on the bike, because the products I am involved with genuinely are market leading, and so will enhance their cycling.

The worst part is trying to communicate this without it sounding like ‘blah’.

WHAT ARE YOU WORKING ON AT THE MOMENT? I’m looking to Core Bike, where we will be able to meet with our existing and new trade accounts to show our new product, and discuss the brand’s new approach in the UK. HOW CAN THE TRADE GET IN TOUCH? You can email us at infouk@assos.com to enquire about selling clothing, chamois crème or both!

BIKEBIZ JANUARY 85

LAST WORD

Cycle-proofing of A-roads could boost bike use Trunk-road separated cycleways to be paid for from the roads budget, not cycling funds, could get more people on bikes, suggests Carlton Reid

SOME OF your customers no doubt use the local A-roads to go-faster on their time-trial bikes. Many people would consider this need for speed on butter-smooth asphalt (ha! in our dreams!) to be close to lunacy. Why risk life and limb just to get a PB thanks to the backdraft from an HGV or two? Thing is, and I’ve even written a book about it, roads do not belong to motorists – cyclists have every right to use Britain’s trunk-road network.

In some places, as I mentioned last month, A-roads are often vital links for everyday transportation cyclists, too, but the Government wants some of the more major of the A-roads to be turned into Expressways, motorways in everything else but name. Cyclists will be excluded from these roads just as they are already banned from a great many A-roads. Now, of course, the presence of fast motor traffic means A-roads are awful places to cycle and even hardened cyclists already avoid them though sometimes there’s little choice but to use what, since the 1920s, have been labelled as “motoring roads”.

And from the 1920s onwards motorists – and the powers-thatbe – have wanted cyclists off these roads. When new trunk roads were built in the 1930s many were outfitted with ok-for-a-fewmonths cycle tracks. Some still exist but most were grubbed up to make more room for motorists.

Now however there’s to be a concerted push to “cycle proof” some of our A-roads, with cyclespecific crossings and even some protected cycleways.

Significantly, the new cycleways won’t be paid for out of the small pot of cash cycling announced in the Chancellor’s recent spending review; they will be paid for out of the road construction budget.

“There’s now a concerted push to ‘cycle proof’ some of our A-roads.”

Let’s examine one of these newbuilds, a £221m five- mile link road in the Tatton constituency. The A556 “improvement scheme” near Knutsford in Cheshire was given the nod in 2014 despite fierce local and national opposition. However, the local MP supported the scheme.

Quite what influence the MP for Tatton was able to bring to bear on the Department for Transport may never be known but as the MP for Tatton controls the nation’s pursestrings it’s likely that this is

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86 BIKEBIZ JANUARY

one road scheme that was destined to be built no matter how high the costs. George Osborne, the Chancellor of the Exchequer and MP for Tatton, even helped to cut the road’s first sod.

As road schemes have been known to go over budget it’s possible the five-mile dual carriageway in Osborne’s constituency may cost £300m. It just so happens that Osborne’s small pot of cash for cycling, to be eked out over five years, is £300m.

But, looking on the bright side, that £300m cycling budget won’t be used to build the cycleways being planned to run beside or close to the trunk roads in the £15.2bn road building programme.

It’s not yet clear how many of these new-builds will be “cycle proofed” to high standards by Highways England but perhaps if the A556 “improvement” is anything to go by cyclists can look forward to some decently separated routes.

When the old A556 is downgraded following the opening of the new version there will

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be a separated and protected route for cyclists, pedestrians and equestrians. This will be four metres wide, part of a “roadspace reallocation” scheme. The four-lane dual carriageway will be “detrunked” and split in three. There will be two lanes for motorised use, a central protective grass berm, and a route for “non-motorised users”. There are three “NMU track” treatments planned – one separated with wooden fencing and two separated by a grassedover berm. Nearly two-thirds of the route will get the most substantial.

OK, so this is just one short stretch of road and unless your shop is in Cheshire’s chianti-belt it won’t have direct impact on your bottom line. But this is just the start, many more A-roads will be getting similar treatments, perhaps boosting cycle use in your area.

There’s usually little to cheer when the words “George”, “Osborne” and “cycling” are in the same sentence but, for once, there’s now a faint glimmer of hope (unless you’re a time trialler).

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Bigger and better than ever before 23rd - 25th February 2016 Location: Arena:MK, Milton Keynes, MK1 1ST iceBike* is returning for its 10th year with a bang. With some of the biggest cycling parts and accessory brands in the UK exhibiting and offering exclusive show deals this is an event not to be missed! Tickets also include entry into the neighbouring iceTackle* and Sportline Show.

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