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B U S I N E S S
JULY 2016
ISSUE 126
ISSUE 126 JULY 2016
@bikebizonline | facebook.com/bikebiz
F O R
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E V E R Y O N E
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B I K E
B U S I N E S S
p19 Zéfal factory tour
p42 Queen of the Mountains
p67 Women’s products
Team Bikebiz take a trip to France to see how Zéfal keep production quality high.
Founder Alicia Bamford tells us why she started an independent clothing company.
This month we look at the best new products created specifically for women.
You spin me right round
p29-33
Team BikeBiz heads to East London to check out one of the hottest events in the calendar.
p9 Zyro-Fisher
p41 Carlton in Leicester
p49 Highway Cycles
p56 Managing Stock
The brand talks about the aftermath of the giant merger.
Our resident guru heads to the 2016 Advocacy Conference.
Our dealer profile of the month goes to the historic shop.
Citrus-Lime talk us through stock management.
15th anniversary show
NEC Birmingham 22-25 September 2016 22 Trade & Press only Make sure you’re part of the UK bike trade’s biggest gathering of the season Claim your free trade pass
cycleshow.co.uk/bikebiz
NEWS
Britain now has 60 cycle-themed cafes
EDITOR’S COMMENT IN WITH THE NEW
ACCORDING TO the Bicycle Association and the Association of Cycle Traders, Britain now has upwards of sixty unique cycle cafes. This does not mean sixty cafes that cyclists like to visit, it means sixty cafes festooned with cycle memorabilia or serving up Grand
Tour-themed pizzas. Some of the cafes are based in bike shops – Bristol’s Mud Duck Cycleworks and café, or London’s Look Mum No Hands are the granddaddies of them all – but many are on popular cycle trails or in urban hotspots where cyclists congregate.
FUNDING BOOST FOR BIG BIKE REVIVAL IN SCOTLAND
In March 2009, we published an article drawing attention to the apparent shortage of women working in cycling. At the time, BikeBiz’s annual industry salary survey showed that as little as six per cent of the industry was comprised of women. What a disheartening statistic. Thankfully, the trade is making way for more women. It’s no secret that sporting professionals feel most at ease when people who understand their needs manufacture their kit. In turn, the increased number of products aimed at both casual and experienced female cyclists reflects the upsurge of women employed in the industry –fantastic news! The more kit designed for the female body available on the market, the more girls whose early experiences on bikes will be positive, and the more women who will choose to pursue cycling at a professional level. If this pattern continues, we can hope in the next few years to bridge the gap in this male-dominated industry. It’s worth mentioning that in 2009, the average woman’s base salary was notably higher than those of their male counterparts in the industry. The relevant article speculated that this might be due to the climate that women in the industry face, necessitating that in order to make it in cycling, they be very assertive and perhaps even “a little pushy”. As much as these are positive personality traits, it would be great to see women reporting in 2016 that, as more of us join the trade, there is less demand for us to play a part. It’s in light of this that BikeBiz presents its 2016 women’s product guide. hferguson@ nbmedia.com
CYCLING UK has been awarded £450,000 by the Scottish Government, through Transport Scotland, to run the Big Bike Revival. Funding for the Big Bike Revival in Scotland was announced by Humza Yousaf during his keynote address at the eighth National Active Travel Conference at ‘Our Dynamic Earth’ in Edinburgh, outlining how integrated sustainable transport will be supported in the next session of the Scottish Parliament. www.bigbikerevival.org.uk
BIKEBIZ.COM
BIKEBIZ JULY 5
NEWS
Brompton Bike Hire Cycle Revolution takes over the Design Museum FOR THE last eight months, the London Design museum was awash with a plethora of cycling paraphernalia, celebrating the diversity of contemporary cycling in Britain. Amongst the many items on display was Sir Bradley Wiggins’ 2015 Hour Record bike and 2014 World Championship Time Trail bike, a number of Team Sky’s
Pinarellos from the 2015 Tour de France, as well as kit and equipment from the team’s 2015 Tour de France win and Sir Chris Hoy’s Great Britain Cycling Team London 2012 Olympic Track bike. There was also a range of bikes ridden by the likes of Eddy Merckx, Francesco Moser and Chris Boardman.
AA publishes Cyclist’s Highway Code with the help of BikeBiz Brompton bike hire, coming to a city near you!
ALONG WITH the myriad of changes happening over at Brompton (See our piece on the brand’s new factory on pages 13 and 14), the brand has also rolled out the initial stages of a broad concept that promises to rival the quality of many British cycle hire schemes. The new Brompton Bike Hire system was born out of a concept developed in 2011. As Brompton put it: “Brompton Bike Hire was created to address the
clear need for a cycle hire scheme that is accessible to all, easy and cheap to install and run, economical to use.” Priced at £2.50 per day, the bikes are accessible from one of the forty current locations in cities across the UK. In Birmingham, the bikes are gaining serious traction, with encouragement coming from the local council, and making a significant contribution to increasing local cycling numbers. www.brompton.com
THE AA has published the first ever Cyclist’s Highway Code, and it did so with the help of BikeBiz. The publication’s foreword was written by BikeBiz executive editor Carlton Reid, who also checked the book for accuracy. The AA Cyclist’s Highway Code contains the cycling-specific information from the standard Highway Code as well as cycle maintenance tips and guidance for new cyclists based on Bikeability teachings. British Cycling’s Chris Boardman welcomed the book: “The bicycle is such a simple tool, but one which can improve your health, reduce congestion and make our towns and cities more liveable. British Cycling welcomes the AA Cyclist’s Highway Code as it should
Executive Editor: Carlton Reid carltonreid@mac.com
Sales Manager: Richard Setters rsetters@nbmedia.com
Sales Director: Mark Rankine mrankine@nbmedia.com
Editor: Hayley Ferguson hferguson@nbmedia.com
Production Executive: Warren Kelly wkelly@nbmedia.com
Managing Director: Mark Burton mburton@nbmedia.com
Staff Writer: Kieran Howells khowells@nbmedia.com
Content Director: Andrew Wooden awooden@nbmedia.com
Marketing & Circulation bike.subscriptions@c-cms.com
Design: Dan Bennett dbennett@nbmedia.com
Events Director: Caroline Hicks chicks@nbmedia.com
encourage new cyclists and help parents get their children into cycling.”
Editorial: Saxon House, 6A, St. Andrew Street, Hertford, Hertfordshire. SG14 1JA Tel: 01992 515 307 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 JULY
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NEWS
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Marin Bike Launch
“MTB legend Eric Carter put the bikes well and truly through their paces.”
IN EARLY June, Marin launched the brand’s new 2017 range. The announcement coincided with a weeklong residency at the newly opened Flyup 417 Project trails. On top of giving journalists and IBD’s a chance to test out the new range of bikes on 417’s impressive collection of expertly crafted downhill trails and indoor dirt jumps, the brand flew in the
US Marin crew and mountain bike legend Eric Carter to put the bikes well and truly through their paces. Amongst the bikes debuted at the event was the full suspension Hawk Hill, which along with the rest of the range, was developed with the input of Eric Carter and the UK based Marin / Stans Racing team. John Oldale, Brand Manager for Marin
Bikes, UK commented: “We’re super excited to launch the Hawk Hill here in the UK. It’s a bike that is built to encourage new riders into the sport, give them a great fun experience on the trail and grow with them. It has massive upgrade potential and rides way above its price tag - we can’t wait to see it out on the trail”. www.marinbikes.com
Cervelo/British Cycling unveil new Olympic track bike THE CERVÉLO T5GB has been collaboratively developed by the manufacturers and British
The Cervelo T5GB team bike
BIKEBIZ.COM
Cycling, bringing together world-leading experts from both organisations. The British-made
bike, developed over the course of hundreds of hours of windtunnel analysis, stress testing and computer simulation, will be the most aerodynamic model the Great Britain Cycling Team has ever ridden. Despite being extremely light, the bike is built to withstand the power and force produced by some of the world’s best track riders. Tony Purnell, Head of Technical Development for the Great Britain Cycling Team, said: “The intelligence and expertise brought together by the partnership between British Cycling and Cervélo is unparalleled and, in record time, has delivered a bike which we are very excited about as we get closer to Rio.” www.cervelo.com
CYCLE
SHORTS Commuter revolution The European investment was won by cycling and walking charity Sustrans, through Interreg NorthWest Europe, to take forward a project worth €720,000 focusing on the Comber Greenway in east Belfast. Locals will be surveyed to identify barriers to cycling, cycle storage units using modern tech like security swipe cards will be installed, bike service points will too and an e-bike pilot programme are among the iniatives planned. Flux Bike becomes highest crowd funded e-bike in history Funding for Flux Bike’s crowd funding campaign currently stands at $1,434,681 with over 2322 unique backers donating in return for various different rewards. All three models of the bike are fitted with the same batteries as the Tesla Model S, and feature a mid motor in the crankshaft to increase user power. Sustrans: Government will break cycling promises Calculations by Sustrans show that over the next 10 years an investment of £8.2bn will be needed to meet the target of doubling cycling levels - annually this is equivalent to 10% of the Government’s Transport budget for 2016/17. Raleigh goes direct to Irish bike dealers Raleigh is to support Irish IBDs directly from its Nottinghamshire HQ, with effect from June 1st. For the past 15 years Raleigh has worked with Dublin-based Eurotrek Group to service dealers in the country, and the move marks the end of this partnership. CORRECTIONS Apologies to the good people of Datatag, who’s PRO Security System was incorrectly priced in the last mag. It is in fact priced at £29.99. Also needing a hearty BikeBiz apology is Cycle Surgery. The brand’s name featured an impromptu change in our mystery shopper. Woops!
For breaking news visit:
www.bikebiz.com BIKEBIZ JULY 7
ZYRO-FISHER How long has the deal been in the works? It started in Q3 2015. Zyro’s belief was that as the market continues to grow and professionalise, distributors needed to ensure they were able to continue to invest and develop to provide first-class service to the rapidly changing retail landscape and be able to exceed the expectations of our brand partners. We believed this was only realistically achievable via consolidation. Bringing Zyro and Fisher together provides the foundations to ensure we are in the best place to enact this.
“We’re focused on ensuring as smooth a transition as possible.” Matt Barker, Zyro-Fisher What does it mean for the retail customers of Zyro and of Fisher? The benefits will vary from customer to customer but the following are some of the key benefits: Q Continual investment in the services we offer, for example home delivery, margin support, and the SRAM Platinum Club. Q Improved ease of ordering and interacting with Zyro-Fisher and our market leading brands, the first stage of this will be the launch of the new Zyro-Fisher B2B. Q Using our scale to invest in the Zyro-Fisher brands, for example marketing and stock availability, driving increased sales for our customers.
Things are on the up for Zyro-Fisher The emergence of the Zyro-Fisher deal is one of the largest mergers in recent years. BikeBiz talks to Matt Barker about how the deal will affect the future...
BIKEBIZ.COM
Q Developing stronger partnerships to grow with our customers. Can you explain some of the new key roles for those and how the new management structure will work? In terms of business structure, the main change is the consolidation of the back office operations of Zyro and Fisher into our head office in Darlington, whilst retaining separate sales and brand management teams. For example Andy Budd leads the Zyro field sales team with Martin Murray BIKEBIZ JULY 9
ZYRO-FISHER
leading the Fisher field sales team. At a board level, we are leveraging the combined experience of both businesses, retaining key individuals from within both Zyro and Fisher with James Browning, Simon Ellison and Julie Ellison joining the Zyro-Fisher board.
It’s not our plan to lose brands. Zyro-Fisher will be value enhancing for Fisher and Zyro brand partners. We are currently meeting our partners to introduce them to the wider Zyro-Fisher team and communicate the benefits of bringing the businesses together.
What are the implications in terms of location – will most of the business relocate to Yorkshire? The back office will relocate to Darlington. Zyro moved over 2013/4 to a multi-million pound 100,000 sqft facility in Darlington which was a statement very early on of Zyro’s growth ambitions. We will bring the benefits of the facility and its investment to Zyro-Fisher. There’s no change to the SRAM Tech centre and we plan to source premises for Zyro-Fisher in the south to act as a second base.
Private equity firm LDC was involved in the deal; can you explain in what way?
What are the implications for the brands – will there be a period of smoothing out post-deal where some brands will move on? 10 BIKEBIZ JULY
working with the LDC team to help to develop Zyro-Fisher which will benefit our customers and our brand partners. Does the deal make Zyro-Fisher the biggest distributor in the trade now? I don’t believe it does in terms of turnover, but I think it would be difficult to find a larger number of market-leading brands covering
“It’s not our plan to lose brands. ” Matt Barker, Zyro-Fisher
We brought in investors to ensure we had the financial resources not just for this deal but to invest for the future. LDC, a part of Lloyds Banking Group, are a very supportive partner – we know them well so we approached them directly. Their track record of supporting businesses speaks for itself and we are looking forward to
such a broad range of products under one roof. It’s not size that motivates us though, it’s being the best in the eyes of our customers and our brand partners. Finally, what’s the plan for the future of Zyro-Fisher? Is there a five year strategy? What can dealers expect?
We’re focused at the moment on ensuring as smooth a transition of operations as possible whilst retaining focus on our brands and our customers. We will continue to invest in improving what ZyroFisher offers, whether that be enhanced services, improved marketing or increased stock availability. We will also look to add further market-leading brands to complement our existing brands and enhance our proposition to our customers. Anything else to add? We’re looking forward to launching the new B2B and providing single points of contact for the Zyro-Fisher support teams, which is expected to be in August. This will start to demonstrate the benefits ZyroFisher will bring and we will be keeping our customers updated as we approach this milestone. In the meantime, it’s business as usual, focusing on helping our brands and customers to achieve long-term sustainable growth. www.zyro.co.uk BIKEBIZ.COM
PROTECT WHAT YOU VALUE.
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BROMPTON Brompton’s famed brazing process sets the brand apart
Brompton unfolded With a brand new warehouse running smoothly, and a few special plans in the works, Kieran Howells went to see how things are going at Brompton HQ... FOUNDED IN 1975 by enigmatic inventor Andrew Ritchie, Brompton was initially based out of the originator’s bedroom in South Kensington, and named after the church he could see through his window. Forty years, and many defining events later, the brand is moving from strength to strength and investing massively in the future. Around three months ago, Brompton made a historic move from its previous premises in Brentford to a newly renovated 84,000 square foot factory space in Greenford. Although the new factory is mere miles up the road, the move cost the brand a projected two million pounds. Despite the massive undertaking in moving the company’s whole BIKEBIZ.COM
production line, industrial machinery, offices and 250 strong staff into the new space, production on the bikes stopped for just two days. The move has given the brand a chance to reshuffle, and the shiny new workstations that inhabit the initial section of the factory, in which the company’s forty-four famed brazers are hard at work, are laid out in regimental fashion. The brazing process is one that Brompton is very proud of. Brazing consists of melting extremely hot liquid brass between the two metal pieces, making each attachment far stronger and high-quality than a conventional weld. This traditional craft is one of the main reasons the brand was so determined to stay in London, says
Nick Charlier, Brompton’s PR & communications executive. Brompton’s brazing programme takes a staggering eighteen months to complete, and a massive amount of investment goes into the training of each new member of staff. A move away from London to a
“Brompton’s brazing programme takes a staggering eighteen months to complete.” cheaper location would mean risking losing these integral members of the Brompton team. A side room leading off from the main space holds the equipment
Brompton use to polish the newly-brazed components. The process, called ‘rumbling’ involves placing the components in large cylindrical vats of constantly moving silicone pellets circulating citric acid, until the metal is smooth and highly-polished. Brompton frequently receive requests for un-powder coated and polished metal frames that show off the brand’s famed craftsmanship. Whereas the space taken up by various areas of production are bustling and utilized to their full potential, vast areas of the factory currently remain either unused, or simply currently hold surplus components. Charlier tells us that these areas are the ones in which the major changes will soon occur. Brompton is known for its wide BIKEBIZ JULY 13
BROMPTON
Brazed parts waiting to be ‘rumbled’
Large areas of the factory remain undeveloped
The production line is set to double in 2016
array of colourful powder-coated frames, and currently this process is contracted out to a different company located in Wales. The inefficiency in this process hasn’t gone unnoticed by those in charge, and by early 2017, Brompton will be introducing the powder coat spraying process in-house, cutting down thousands of hours of needless transport and the company’s carbon footprint. Elsewhere, another empty open space holds the place in which the company plans to expand its production line. Currently, the production line is staffed by twelve to fourteen employees at a time, each of whom are capable of constructing their portion of the 1,200 parts that go into each bike in under three-and-a-half minutes. 14 BIKEBIZ JULY
This swift construction fuelled the manufacture of 45,000 bikes in 2015. As the factory expansion progresses, and with a second production line set to come into effect in the near future, that number is projected to rise to 47,000 in 2016. For Brompton, safeguarding against the future doesn’t just mean expanding the factory and production. The rising popularity of e-bikes in the commuter market has sparked possibly the biggest development in Brompton’s products, which despite many improvements, has remained similar in design since it first went into mass production. Although the bike is still in the early stages, Brompton have confirmed that an electric version
of the folding bike will enter the market in the near future. Whereas details on the new bike are still under wraps, it is confirmed that the engine that runs the system will be a collaboration with Formula 1 team Williams, therefore utilizing technology currently used in high-performance racing cars named ‘KERS’ (kinetic energy recovery system). Brompton has also confirmed that the as-yetunnamed e-bike will be firmly rooted in pedal-assist technology, with an easily removable battery pack located on the frame for charging. “We see it as a product that will change the way people live in cities, it will still have the traditional compact Brompton fold and will considerably lighter than most electric bikes on the market,”
said Nick Charlier. How this new development will affect the brand’s worldwide market is unknown. Whereas it is common to see Brompton bikes in heavy circulation in central London and other built-up English cities, surprisingly the UK accounts for a mere 20 per cent of the brand’s yearly sales. The other 80 per cent is shipped off to one of the other forty-four countries to which Brompton distributes, with Germany and South Korea contributing massively to that amount. Regardless, commitment to the electric bike concept such as this from Brompton will undoubtedly aid in Britain’s embrace of e-bikes. www.brompton.com BIKEBIZ.COM
Keep your customers cycling And with you. The Cycleguard Partnership Scheme aims to help cycle retailers generate extra revenue through the passive promotion of Cycleguard Insurance.
How does it work? You’ll receive a commission share for each new business policy taken out following a referral from your store
If a customer renews their policy you’ll receive a further commission share
If a policy referred by you submits an approved claim, we give your store the option to repair/replace their bike
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Email partners@cycleguard.co.uk quoting ‘BikeBiz’ Cycleguard is a trading style of Thistle Insurance Services Limited. Lloyd’s Broker. Authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority. A JLT Group Company. Registered office: The St Botolph Building, 138 Houndsditch, London EC3A 7AW. Registered in England No 00338645. VAT No. 244 2321 96. TPD0526 2 0416
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For every nasty in the road, there’s the new Durano Double Defense. Advanced cut resistant SnakeSkin sidewalls and RaceGuard puncture protection. More than a match for your city’s streets.
ZÉFAL
Fabriqué en France Zéfal is proud of making the majority of its cycle product in its native France and has plans to move more production back home, as Jonathon Harker learns during his factory visit in Jargeau, Orleans…
BIKEBIZ.COM
THE PICTURESQUE surroundings of France’s Loire Valley provide little clue that Zéfal is industriously producing bottles, mudguards and more from its factory in Jargeau, Orleans to be delivered around the world and into the UK cycle trade via Bob Elliot and Chicken. Zéfal employs 110 staff in its Orleans HQ (30 in the office, the rest in the factory) and churns out a whopping 200 different products across seven categories. 65 per cent of Zéfal’s output is still made in France and the proud manufacturer is keen to not only maintain that, but also to claw more production back to its heartland, where it can make the numbers work. BIKEBIZ JULY 19
ZÉFAL
The firm moved to its current HQ, 130km south of Paris, shortly before World War II. 78 years later, BikeBiz is guided past the flood defences from the nearby Loire (“we’ve never flooded”) and into the factory to examine the raw materials, drawn in from the EU and elsewhere. That material goes through a quality control process, and is dried out then coloured. Next it heads to the customised injection moulding machines to shape the material for purpose. One of the more swanky moulding machines is coupled with a robot. Creating mudguards, the mould is naturally much larger than most of the rest of those in the room, and the robot picks out the moulded guards to avoid scratching the supple material. “We couldn’t make this mudguard in France without the robot,” explains Aurelian Brunet, Zéfal director. Next BikeBiz is taken through the all-important tooling department, 20 BIKEBIZ JULY
responsible for modifying those moulds and maintaining them. Then it’s onto the the bottle workshop, dominated by two machines. It takes just five minutes to set up the machines for a new bottle, which – bizarre as it may sound (it looks pretty odd too) – inflates the plastic that is then turned and cut. A conveyor – long, in order to let the bottles cool down – takes the bottles out of the
Zéfal’s insulated bottle range, a low-energy laser is used to weld the unit together. LIKE THE WIND The name Zéfal is a portmanteau of aluminium and wind, Zephyr being the god of wind (and slang for wind in French). Undoubtedly sounding better than the English equivalent (Wilium), the name is closely linked with something that we’ve all had
We couldn’t make this mudguard in France without the robot.” Aurelian Brunet
machine, and the tops are cut off and recycled into the process. Printing on the bottles is completed in the factory and dried quickly by ultraviolet light. The machine in question can apply two colours at any time – if more are required, the bottle simply goes through the process again. For
in our hands – the Presta valve – created way back in the 1880s by one of the companies (PoutraitMorin) that merged and took on the name of their most popular range, Zéfal. The firm also claims responsibility for the first mini-pump; unsurprisingly, all of its pumps were
made from aluminium. Pumps were originally at the core of the business, but by the 1920s, it had moved into toe clips, and in the past three decades stretched into hydration, mudguards and then safety devices (like mirrors and bells), as well as frame protection, now available to the UK trade through distributors like Bob Elliot. While the majority of production takes place in France, the brand has a project underway to bring more of that back from the Far East. Part of that scheme is the Profil Max FP60 floor pump, which is now made in France. Featuring an alloy body and beechwood handle, BikeBiz gets to see the pump being put together by a team of four. The only aspect of production not completed in-house is the paint job, a heavily-regulated process that is prohibitively expensive. The pump was, we’re told, three years in the making and prompted not only by a desire to make product in France, but also the cost BIKEBIZ.COM
PLATINUM
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FREE PRODUCT PLAN The i-ride Platinum D-LER Programme is a place for loyal dealers, where by signing up to a selection of brands from our portfolio, we reward you with free product throughout the season. This is in addition to the other incentives such as guaranteed lowest prices on all of our brands, extended credit, free carriage on every order, and many other beneďŹ ts. Our platinum dealers are currently enjoying ÂŁ1772 of free product from the following premium brands:
Talk to your i-ride rep about joining the Platinum D-LER Programme now.
ZÉFAL
of shipping a floor pump from Asia – reportedly close to £1 for a single floor pump. Packaging is kept to a minimum and the pump promises high volume at a low price point. Post-production, BikeBiz noses around Zéfal’s warehouse and spies postage labels for not just France, but all around the world, including the Philippines, customised products for Spain, Poland, and many more besides. Among the consignments ready to go is a bulk load of mirrors that are surprisingly popular in its UK destination, we hear. PRODUCT PROMOTION Zéfal has plenty of new marketing plans in place to push the latest ranges. They are back by a newly-launched website, which is a responsive affair with new graphics and design. A retailer locator has been included, covering the UK market, and there is also an online bottle customisation for retailers (in 3D) which are then provided through the firm’s distributors. 22 BIKEBIZ JULY
Additionally, the French manufacturer has produced videos in English and French, split between short product presentations or tutorials. Sponsorship is also in the offing, with French pro-teams getting the support of Zéfal in-road and MTB. With ads in place, you’ll see Zéfal at Cycle Show (following its debut at the 2015 edition) with a larger booth, at Eurobike, and at
“Globally, we want to improve in our core categories and be seen more as a high-end brand.” In terms of new product, there’s a broad range from Zéfal, including the aforementioned France-made Profil Max FP60. Then there are new Deflector Light lightweight MTB guards to fuller tyres, tubeless kits for 27.5-inch tyres, eyecatching Crank Armour and the broadening of the Z Mount range,
“Globally, we want to be seen more as a high-end brand.” Interbike. “We’re seeing the benefit of our new marketing strategy and stronger marketing team. It’s paying off,” Zéfal director Aurelian Brunet tells BikeBiz. “We’re pleased with our UK distributors and the last year was good for us. Our ambition is to see more growth and take more market share in the UK.
now including armbands and a universal mount. The Arctica insulated bottle now comes in a smaller size and Zéfal’s road mini pump uses a direct pump method to reduce the chances of damaging the valve. Zéfal’s updated Air Profil Micro is a universal pump, with a Presta and Schrader valve switch.
The expanded high-end Z dry pack range uses welded seams and there’s a new size of the Bike Bio Degreaser (1litre, used to be 500ml). In the summer you’ll be able to get your hands on Zéfal’s Skin Armour. The firm admits it can be hard to sell a product that is, essentially, invisible, but those who care about their bike’s appearance and want to protect frames and details will be easier to convince. A promo will be in place to help the sales message too. An exciting development from Zéfal will be shown off at Eurobike this year. In the works for four years, the Tubeless Tank provides super fast tubeless inflation. Based on the assumption that most people using such a device will already have a floor pump, the innovative product significantly undercuts its few rivals which are mostly at least 50 per cent more expensive, Zéfal says. Pressure can be adjusted, and the Tubeless Tank is made in France. BIKEBIZ.COM
MODEL B FLOOR STAND Q ROBUST Q RELIABLE Q DURABLE THE FEATURES: Height: 76” | Base assembly: 32”x20” | Weight: 24Kg Available in these colours: Q Black | Q Green | Q Blue
KESTREL was founded in 1980 and has developed a nationwide reputation in the cycle trade for well designed quality products.
Our products are manufactured in house and therefore we are able to modify our standard products when required.
Get the e job don
In May 2011 Kestrel was taken over by Pressco Precision Engineering.
WHAT OUR CUSTOMERS SAY ABOUT OUR STANDS: Hannie 08/08/2014 We have been waiting on this new clamp system for years where you no longer need to glue in the pads the best has got better. Raimond mertyl 09/10/2013 Best stansds ever, we have used between 2-3 repair every year to cope with our work of servicing Bikes and these stands are not that good so we invested in a Kestrel Model B Stand 2 years ago they cost a little more than the stands we were using but not much more,the Model B Stand Has paid for itself when compared to the others within the first year. we have now taken delivery of three others now and will only use Kestrel when repairing our Cycles. jamie fox 30/07/2013 I have been buying 2 repair stands per year due to them not being able to stand up to the tusk, i am now confident after buying this stand that it will give many years of service. an outstanding repair stand thank you Kestrel. J Spratt 23/07/2013 What a Repair Stand love it.
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1947
1969
Q Frenchman Gustave Trouvé modifies an electric motor made by Siemens and fits it to a James Starley tricycle, inventing the electric ‘Trouvé Cycle’. The bike went into production for only a single year.
Q American Hosea W. Libbey invents and patents an e-bike with a double electric motor that sits inside the hub of the crankset.
Q Mathew J. Steffens is granted a patent for an e-bike system that features an electric motor propelling a belt drive around the rear wheel, much like many e-converter kits currently available.
Q Jesse D Tucker patents an electric motor that houses internal gearing, and the ability to freewheel. The idea would become essential to the invention of the modern e-bike.
Q G. A. Wood, Jr builds on the work of inventor John Schnepf and invents a four motor friction system, focussing the fractional horsepower on the bikes front wheel, which connected through a series of gears.
1983 Q The British government introduces the ‘Electrically Assisted Pedal Cycle Regulations’ laws, standardising the rules on what acceptably constitutes a road legal e-bike in the UK.
1992 Q Inventor of the famous ‘Sinclair C5’, Clive Sinclair produces one of the first modern e-bikes called the ‘Zike’. The bike was a commercial failure and production halted after just six months.
Electrickery Is 2016 the year of the e-bike? With UK sales on the rise, Kieran Howells looks into the historical events that pushed the concept forwards… WITH A long history dating back to the 1800’s, the on-going debate surrounding electric bicycles is one that in the past has almost marred the idea into extinction. Modern e-bikes are high quality, effective and simple to navigate. With the major industry players finally paying attention to the mass potential of the concept, and the strong embrace of the European market, the future seems bright for the e-bike.
1989 Q Michael Kutter develops the first generally perceived ‘pedelec’ e-bike or pedal assist system. The throttle free e-bike applied power directly via the user’s drivetrain. The bike went into commercial production in 1992.
1997 Q Raleigh release the ‘select’ e-bike in conjunction with Sanyo. The bike took a form very similar to modern e-bikes, and had a re-chargeable battery on the down tube. The bike was considered commercially successful.
2002
2007
2012
2015
2016
Q SRAM release the 16v five speed Sparc electric bike system. Although the system is sophisticated, sales the unit it criticised for being underpowered.
Q E-bikes are believed to make up twenty per cent of all two wheeled bicycles on the streets of major Chinese cities.
Q The London Olympics boosts the popularity of cycling in the UK, including the e-bike market.
Q Some of the largest leading component brands including Brompton and Giant invest in e-bike technology.
Q E-bike specific brand Batribike is established in Lincolnshire, UK and manufactures bikes purpose-built for the British market.
Q E-bike advocates complete the first 4,000 transcontinental e-bike tour from New York to San Francisco to promote e-bikes in the U.S.
Q The European electric bike market grows four per cent, almost double that of traditional bikes, resulting in an import growth of twenty six point five per cent to over 550,000 units.
Q Production of electric bikes grows by 40% as new technologies are developed including lighter and better performing NiMH and Li-ion batteries.
BIKEBIZ.COM
Q Rideback releases the brand’s first electric bike into the UK market.
Q Shimano officially release the 36v STEPS e-bike system, solidifying the current trend and committing to further growth in the future.
BIKEBIZ JULY 25
COMMENT
‘Our association is the right avenue for IBDs’ Ruth Hargreaves, ACT board of directors, responds to Carlton Reid’s think piece in our May mag, discussing retailer representation by organisations in the industry. I READ with interest your article, “United we stand, divided we fall”, and felt as a director of the ACT that after discussions with my fellow board members I would like to put forward the board’s view on this issue. Your comments about our industry being cyclical are so very true, those of us that have been in the industry for a long time have the confidence to know that, as you say, another boom will be along in two or three years. Your remarks about buying groups within the UK really struck a chord with me too, and as a relatively inexperienced IBD back in those days my shop joined COBR, I have always had in mind that buying groups didn’t work in the UK because of the varied and very independent nature of the people in our industry, but in fact your theory that the suppliers didn’t play ball has a ring of truth to it. It would make a great deal of sense for everyone in the supply chain in our industry to pull 26 BIKEBIZ JULY
together, as you say we all have bikes in common. Although I would hope if the BAGB has important market data that is of benefit to IBDs in the running of their business that this information would be made readily available to everyone in our industry whether members of the BAGB or not. The success of the suppliers in our industry ultimately relies on the success of those of us selling their products.
retailers who run their own schemes, they aren’t giving away their margin either, and it’s obviously of benefit to the C2W providers for example in their last published accounts Cyclescheme made a profit before tax of £5.3m, this money has come at the expense of the bottom line of the IBD. As you say new bike sales are down at least ten percent, so is this a barometer that C2W schemes are no longer stimulating the market?
“It would make a great deal of sense for everyone in our industry to pull together ” Ruth Hargreaves, ACT I wonder though if the interests of the BAGB’s existing members have parity with those of the IBD? Is the continuation of C2W schemes actually in the interest of the IBD? I’m sure it’s beneficial to the bike manufacturers, it isn’t them that are giving away a big percentage of their margin. I’m sure it’s also beneficial to some of the large
It’s good to hear the BAGB is beavering away on e-bike regs. The ACT has also seen the need to address this niche within our market with the launch of a Cytech Technical E-bike course which is available now, and internationally since June. The ACT are in complete agreement with the BAGB in the
need to represent our members interests within government, and we have joined the All Party Parliamentary Cycling Group with a commitment to be involved for a minimum of three years. Although the article published on BikeBiz on May 3rd quotes some alarming statistics with regard to funding for cycling with the spend per person being significantly reduced from 2020, if this is the case then the answer to stimulating a flat market might not lie within the corridors of power either! The ideas put forward in your article “United we stand, divided we fall” have been thought provoking for the board of the ACT. We do however believe our association is the right avenue for the IBD, and that the interests of the members of the BAGB and the IBD do not always have parity. Ruth Hargreaves Association of Cycle Traders directors@theact.org.uk 01273 427 700 bicycleassociation.uk BIKEBIZ.COM
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SPIN LONDON
In a Spin Returning for a fourth year in 2016, the Spin expo has fought for its place in what some may argue is an overcrowded events calendar. Bringing together a winning selection of exhibitors, talks from industry leaders and an award ceremony, it looks like Spin is here to stay... THE ANNUAL Spin cycling shindig finds its spiritual home in the prestigious Truman Brewery complex located in the heart of East London’s trendy Brick Lane area. Now in its fourth year, the Spin expo has grown and matured into an essential milestone in the event circuit. With a broad and diverse range of exhibitors, Spin has a wide appeal that caters to all those with a passion for cycling. Q CLOTHING Following in the tradition of bigger players in this arena such as the tongue-in-cheek Fat Lad At The Back are the LGBT conscious BIKEBIZ.COM
House of Astbury, who is not only at Spin to show off its range, but also to take part in a panel discussion on starting a small cycling company hosted by the London Bike Kitchen’s Jenny Gwiazdowski. Its clothing and patches feature slogans such as ‘Cats Against Cat Calling’, printed on fabric in reflective ink. Brand new tri-gear specialist Threo has been a brand for under a year, and has made leaps and bounds in that time, presenting a range of colourful and highly breathable women’s specific performance gear including jerseys, leggings and tri-suits.
Also representing the women’s independent market is new clothing brand Queen of the Mountains, whose soft pink and blue patterned lightweight jerseys are sure to turn heads over the weekend. Velo Vixen is out in force this weekend displaying its impressive range of women’s clothing, with everything from brightly coloured red, blue and pink cycle jerseys, to sweat wicking socks and anti-chafe underwear. Q BIKES The brand-new and yet-to-be launched JIVR folding e-bike is
grabbing the attention of the crowds with its sleek fluid chrome design. Almost every element of the bikes mechanical components are hidden inside the simplistic frame, leaving simply the cranks and wheels exposed. The 750w peak motor and 3:1 gear ratio, coupled with the JIVR’s compact dimensions when folded make the bike ideal for the city based commuter market. Also displaying bikes of the small-wheeled variety is historic British brand Moulton, who has brought with it a range of unique spaceframed bikes in chrome and blue colourways. The spaceframe BIKEBIZ JULY 29
SPIN LONDON
design is build on the concept of replacing the top and downtubes with a series of steel ‘pylons’ which it says increases the strength of the design. Also appealing to the commuter market is compact bike maker Alpini, whose range of fixed gear rigid framed road bikes are ideal for short commutes to the office, or any short a to b journey. All three models feature 20” wheels and flip flop hubs meaning unlike standard fixies they will coast. Elsewhere Forge custom cycles is bridging the gap between bicycle and motorbike with a range of fat tyre cruisers in a myriad of custom shapes and sizes. Primarily a custom made to measure company, its rage of ready-to-ride bikes are relatively small, and start at around £470 in price. Whereas e-bikes are taking centre stage in the media, 2016 appears to be the year of the 30 BIKEBIZ JULY
wooden bike, with the amount on display at Spin venturing into the double figures. Copenhagen based COH&CO is exhibiting their GUS racer and AAGE touring bikes, both of which feature hollow frames and are constructed primarily from carbon and wood. A little more on the primitive side design wise is the Beamz Betula hybrid bike, which features non-hollowed birch logs bound by hemp fibre and bio-derived resin. Mechanically, the bike features Shimano components and 1-10 derailleur gearing with single lever control and disc breaks. Q SAFETY Whether focused on innovations in lighting, or producing lightweight and effective helmets, the industry is always striving to produce the best and most effective forms of safety for cyclists. For the past year Lumos has been working on
combining the two key safety concerns for cyclists by integrating a light signalling system into their helmet design. Super bright LEDs form large arrows on the rear side of the helmet, which can be controlled via a set of buttons that attach to the users handlebars. The helmet can be charged via a USB port in the rear, and on a full charge can last up to three hours. Speaking of integrated lights, the similarly named brand Lumo has created a range of style focused and safety conscious cycling jackets. Included in the men’s Regents Parka coat, which is made of a Shoeller patented waterproof wool material, and features a strip of powerful LED lights, which can be operated via a pressure pad in a front facing pocket. Pressing various times triggers either a soild beam from each LED, or a strobe effect. The jacket is available now via the
brand’s website, and retails at a very specific £333.33. Intelligently designed, the stealth Sherlock safety system fits snugly into a users bar cavity, and when coupled with the brands spartphone app, can determine the location of a stolen bike via a localised internet signal. The Sherlock is inserted into the handlebar and adjusted via a personalised custom key, which expands a ring in the centre of the device and fastens it in place. It can be released by reversing the key. The brand is in the middle of a substantial crowd funding campaign, and are currently aiming to raise €80,000. Goldhawk Bikes has a dealt with the issue of security slightly differently. Instead of creating a device to keep its bikes safe, they’ve built the safety feature into the frame. A small cap on the front of the frame can be slid open BIKEBIZ.COM
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SPIN LONDON
to reveal a hidden lock, which when turned using a unique key, separates the headset from the forks, rendering the bike useless to those trying to steal it. Hiplok commandeered a booth at Spin to display its ever expanding range of security devices, which now include the original belt device, the DX shackle lock in a vast range of colours, and the ultra portable FLX device, which is a micro combination lock small enough to fit in the average pocket, with 1m of retractable braided steel cabling, weighing in at just 100g. Q ART Towards the back of the exhibition space, an adjoining room had been allocated to cycling related creative art based brands. The space aptly titled the ‘art hub’, played host to a number of print making companies, t-shirt brands BIKEBIZ.COM
and a few niche companies with unique products. The bright and colourful frames on display at the Cole Coatings stand display a range of its custom paint jobs effectively, and with relocation to a much larger warehouse currently in the works, the brand seems to be going from strength to strength. Fluffy Tractor’s screen-printed art depicts cycling scenes from around the French Alps stylised in angular shapes deep rustic reds and oranges. The A1 sized Giclee prints are produced on 310gsm ultra smooth pure white paper and retail at around £170.00 each. Also producing stunning art is Massif Central. The brand produces art that from far away appears abstract, but up close the bold spiky shapes depicted in the prints actually represent statistical information captured from races or other similar events. The brand
are able to make such prints based on any captured data, and will work to a brief set out by the client such as times, dates results and routes. Prices for prints of major events such as the London Marathon can be purchased for around £30.00, although customised prints are POA. Turning away from more traditional forms of art, Pro Cycling Trumps has produced a vast range of glossy stylised playing cards based on a cycle specific version of the game top trumps. With seven limited edition packs of cards to collect, and a vast array of art prints, pin badges and framed limited edition cards, the brand has cornered an area of the market that remains sorely under-developed. One pack of the cards is dedicated to famous climbs that feature in races such as the Tour De France amongst others, with other packs covering
subjects such as ‘legends’, ‘track edition’, and 2015 ‘women’s edition.’ Also straying from the conventional art path is new brand Target Velo. The brand does produce fully working bikes, but unless the rider is around seven inches tall, the bikes aren’t massively practical for anything other than art. With metal frames, forks and rims, working breaks and even functional chain systems, the DIY bike kits would make great presents for enthusiasts. The standard kits start at around £25, whereas more advanced kits sell for upwards of £45.00 Few could ignore the heavy footfall at Spin ‘16. Anticipation for the event set a tone that carried throughout the weekend. With a strong list of exhibitors, there is little doubt that we’ll see Spin return in Summer 2017. BIKEBIZ JULY 33
HIPLOK
A lifetime on the Hips
Hiplok DX features a 14mm hardened premium steel shackle
500,000 bikes are stolen in the UK each year, and Hiplok is determined to change that. Kieran Howells speaks to the brand about the essentials of safety and security... Can you tell us about the history of the company? British Industrial Designers and cycling enthusiasts Ben Smith and John Abrahams identified a gap in the market for portable-yet-tough bicycle security. They set up a company to bring their first wearable chain lock design to market in 2011 to much praise from riders across the world. Five years on and Hiplok now offers an award-winning range of bicycle security to include chain, D and cable locks each offering unique blend of security, portability and design. Are you working on any new products at the moment? We have just launched the new Hiplok DX Gold rated D-lock with CLIP+RIDE and also the new FLX wearable café-style lock with integrated light and so our key focus this month is on getting these in to stores. We will also say that, we have shown something new at Eurobike every year and we wouldn’t expect this year’s show to be any different. How was the partnership with Fisher formed? Since launch, we had been working directly with stores in the UK but as our range and volumes started to 34 BIKEBIZ JULY
grow it became difficult for our small team to provide the levels of service we wanted to and had built Hiplok on. We knew we needed to find the right partner to help us take the business forward with independent bike stores across the UK. Ben had worked with Fisher in his previous role as Bicycle Director at Troy Lee Designs and was impressed with both the organisation and experience of their sales team. We announced our
store. And they have also proven to be great at giving our team feedback from the stores which helps drive our decisions on things such as future product development and marketing. With a reported 500,000 bikes stolen each year in the UK, why should people be using Hiplok products over competitors? The majority of bikes are stolen because people didn’t take a lock
“The majority of bikes are stolen because people didn’t take a lock with them at all.” partnership on the eve of The Cycle Show last year with a display on the Fisher stand. How has that relationship been so far for Hiplok? We feel the team at Fisher truly believe in the unique benefits and quality of our locks and want to help stores to promote Hiplok in its entirety. By offering dedicated point of sale packages and materials, they want to see the brand and range properly communicated to the consumer to ultimately drive sell-through for the
with them at all. We offer a range of locks at different security levels including the new Hiplok DX and Hiplok GOLD which are both Gold Sold Secure rated. But the unique thing about each Hiplok lock is that they are designed from ground-up to be as easy to carry as possible while being as secure as possible. From the patented belt fastening on the Hiplok chain locks to the CLIP + RIDE system on the D-locks, it’s the unique design features which make our locks so practical and leave the rider with no excuse for not taking a good lock with you.
What are the best selling products in the Hiplok range? Globally the Hiplok LITE wearable chain has been the most popular over recent years as priced at rrp £44.99 and with a Bronze Sold Secure rating, it offers the right level blend of security and affordability for most people. However, as we saw at the SPIN London Show last month, the brand new Hiplok DX with GOLD Sold Secure rating and CLIP+RIDE system (RRP £69.99) is becoming very popular for those needing maximum security, particularly in big urban areas while the new FLX is gaining momentum as an essential product amongst road and MTB riders. We’ve seen Hiplok at various tradeshows this year, what has the reaction been like at these shows and what did you think of Spin ’16? We love doing shows as it gives our team a chance to directly engage with consumers and get genuine rider feedback. We have always supported SPIN as not only is it a really fun show to attend but we share their vision of growing urban cycling in the UK. Spin fast becoming an essential date in the show calendar. www.hiplok.com BIKEBIZ.COM
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CLIF BAR
Good Health We have nutrition on the brain this month, as Kieran Howells talks to CLIF senior marketing manager David Smith about the brand’s rich history and what the future holds… CLIF HAS a great history; can you give our readers the abbreviated version? CLIF Bar was born on an outdoor adventure. In 1990, Clif Bar & Company founder Gary Erickson embarked on a 175-mile bike ride in California. Exhausted and famished he realized that he still had miles to go and he needed more energy to complete the ride. He couldn’t take another bite of the only energy bar on the market at this time. Gary’s epiphany was to make something that tasted better. A baker by trade, competitive athlete and a foodie at heart, Gary spent six months in his mum’s kitchen before he created an optimal recipe for a great-tasting energy bar made with a nutritious blend of rolled oats and wholesome ingredients for sustained energy. In 1992, CLIF Bar was launched and named after his father Clifford, who inspired his love for the 36 BIKEBIZ JULY
outdoors and nurtured his passions in life. In 2006, we launched in the UK with CLIF Bar, our leading energy bar, as part of the company’s expansion in Europe. Almost two decades later, we still look forward to trying out new trails with our food and our people. CLIF products are widely used by cyclists, but what is it specifically about the bars’ ingredients that are beneficial to cyclists?
crafted to meet those energy demands. CLIF Bar provides carbohydrates and a blend of protein, fat and fibre providing the energy needed for such activities. 70 per cent of CLIF products use organic ingredients, how are those ingredients sourced? We source certified, sustainable ingredients from around the world. Organic and sustainably grown ingredients are the link between
“Gary’s epiphany was to make something that tasted better.” David Smith, CLIF Cyclists, athletes and active people have high energy demands; whether you’re on a 100-mile bike ride, running your first race, or hiking with friends, CLIF Bar is
people’s wellbeing and a healthy planet. For that reason, we work with our suppliers and third party certifiers to source ingredients that meet our environmental and
socially responsible standards CLIF boasts a zero waste policy – how is this achieved? Our commitment to zero waste means rethinking many of the ways we do business, and we welcome the challenge. Our journey toward zero waste – and sustainability in general – began on Earth Day 2001. It wasn’t long before employees suggested all kinds of creative ways to reduce waste. Our office switched to recycled paper; we set up desk-side recycle bins; and we discouraged disposable dishes – offering more planetfriendly options. We’ve learned that one small step leads to another. Those early office innovations led us to think beyond our walls, for instance, how to improve our packaging system. The result: our caddies – the boxes that contain our bars – are no longer shrink-wrapped, and they’re BIKEBIZ.COM
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now made from 100 per cent recycled paperboard. Our zero waste goal is by the end of 2020, we hope to achieve 90 per cent diversion at our headquarters and Supply Chain facilities. What promotional tools for dealers do you find are most effective for CLIF worldwide? Some of the tools that we find most effective are those that are turnkey for dealers. For instance, we’ve collaborated with distributors to create starter kits with products and information on appropriate usage of those products. This helps create awareness among dealers and consumers of when to eat our foods, ie., before / during / after fitness activities. These kits normally include CLIF SHOT Gels and CLIF BLOKS Energy Chews (before & during activity), CLIF Bar energy bar (before, during and after activity), and Builder’s Bar protein bar (after activity). We also devise incentives and discounts for multiple purchases, for high-consuming athletes and endurance needs (for example, caddy promotions, 4 for 5 pounds). BIKEBIZ.COM
In-store display racks and educational information like brochures and shelf tags have also been helpful in driving visibility and helping consumers – especially newer athletes / cyclists – understand how to think about their sport nutrition needs and regimen.
flavour Shot Gels. Are new flavours and/or products something we’ll see more of in the near future? Yes, we’re thrilled about these two great additions of Coconut Chocolate Chip CLIF Bar and CLIF SHOT Gel Mocha flavours to the current line-up of products in the
“A huge investment for CLIF is in grass roots marketing.” David Smith, CLIF Lastly, a huge investment for CLIF is in grass roots marketing (as in all markets), which drives trial. In 2016 we’ll see over one million samples of our products going out to UK consumers, driving traffic into stores combined with communications and marketing initiatives such as dealer locator and sponsored events calendar on the ClifBar.co.uk website. We have recently seen the introduction of the new Coconut Choc Chip bars and Mocha
UK. We’re technically still in ‘launch mode’ with these two new flavours and want to make sure we properly nurture their growth in the market. But we’re always looking at new products and flavours for the UK with respect to what’s doing well in the US, and pulling over the best of the best. Stay tuned for more in early 2017! CLIF is now the Official Sports Energy Bar and Gel Supplier of the 2016 Prudential RideLondon event. Can you tell us a bit more
about this partnership and how important it is for the brand? We’re thrilled to be sponsoring Prudential RideLondon! The partnership includes a three-year CLIF Bar sponsorship as the Official Sports Energy Bar and Gel Supplier of the Prudential RideLondon beginning in 2016. This partnership is very important to us and it was strategically selected because of our passion for the sport of cycling. Events like Prudential RideLondon are a great way to connect with consumers at their “point of sweat” and introduce CLIF Bar to new UK consumers who are not aware of CLIF Bar’s athletic nutrition. RideLondon is also a key opportunity to work in partnership with a great property that allows CLIF Bar to bring the brand’s core values of feeding and inspiring adventure “alive” during the activation. Also, thanks to CLIF Bar’s big distribution gains in the UK, the time was right to work with a marque event in the UK like Prudential RideLondon. www.ClifBar.co.uk BIKEBIZ JULY 39
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CYCLE CITY CONFERENCE
Sir Peter Soulsby Mayor of Leicester
Industry dips a toe in advocacy conference Carlton Reid reports… LEICESTER’S MODERNIST Curve Theatre in May was the venue for the fourth annual staging of Landor’s Cycle City conference. Industry figures who gave talks at the conference included Ian Beasant, managing director of Giant UK, and the company’s marketing director Collette Clensy. Raleigh took a stand in the expo area, exhibiting electric bikes. Another e-bike at the show was the one from Bewegen of Montreal, Canada. This is a bike share e-bike and could be the e-bike used for London’s Santander Cycles. The conference was attended by 500 cycle advocates, road engineers and other transport professionals, including a large contingent from Transport for London. Fifty or so of the leading experts – including Beasant – were BIKEBIZ.COM
invited to an evening round-table discussion hosted by British Cycling’s Chris Boardman. In his talk Beasant told delegates he was impressed by the “dedication, energy and enthusiasm” on show at the
of advocacy and lobbying efforts, especially through the Bicycle Association’s Bike Hub levy fund and is also a core-funder of the All-Party Parliamentary Cycling Group. (Beasant is a board member of the Bicycle Association.)
“A closer working relationsip between advocates and the industry would pay dividends.” two-day conference and said he believed that a closer working relationship between advocates and the industry would pay dividends. Beasant reminded delegates that, contrary to popular perception, the industry was a strong behind-the-scenes supporter
“Through the Bike Hub program the industry contributes £350,000 each year to efforts to get more people on bikes,” said Beasant. He also briefed delegates on the changing nature of the industry, especially at the retail coal-face, and how consumer tastes were also
changing. “Total unit sales has remained around three and half million for each of the past five years, and it’s anticipated that last year and this there will probably be an overall reduction in bike purchases.” He added that the bike industry is facing many challenges. “There’s a vast segmentation within the industry – there are over 45 different styles of bike available, and this segmentation looks set to continue.” Cycle City attracted speakers from the US too, including Jon Orcutt, director of communications and advocacy at New York’s Transit Centre, and Kate Fillin-Yeh, bike share programme director at the New York-based National Association of City Transportation Officials. BIKEBIZ JULY 41
QUEEN OF THE MOUNTAINS
Keep Climbing… …is the motto behind this years latest women’s cycling performance brand ‘Queen of the Mountains’. Here is why road cyclist and founder Alicia Bamford got it all started… ALICIA BAMFORD felt the full addictive force of cycling up mountains in 2010, when she joined a group called the Fireflies on a grueling nine-day ride from Évian to Cannes over the French Alps. She was immediately struck by the awe-inspiring peaks as the route took her on a journey up and over the most revered and difficult climbs of the Tour de France . She fell in love with the mountains and with the feeling of having to push herself beyond her known limits, beyond the red zone. It was a journey of selfdiscovery and at times an emotional rollercoaster, as each day was over ten hours in the saddle with at least four mountains to summit. It was during this ride she realized she wanted to share this experience with other women and inspire them to ride, as at the time there were only a handful of women and 75 men touring with her. Whilst clocking up the miles on subsequent tours and racing, Alicia started to notice that there were certain things missing from her 42 BIKEBIZ JULY
cycling kit that she thought women’s road cycling needed. From this, the idea came about to start a fresh new cycling brand for women which offered high-quality performance apparel, without compromising on style. Having experienced first-hand the limited kit options available for women over the years and
women in terms of cut and colour that appealed. Queen of the Mountains’ purpose is just that – to build a community for women through rides and an online dialogue, and to create beautiful, functional apparel that will make women want to ride more and not less!” Queen of the Mountains
“The reaction from women and retailers to the brand has been incredible.” suspecting that it was a barrier to some women riding, she wanted to change this. “Talking to many women over the years in the lead-up to launch, I found there were several key reasons as to why there weren’t as many women on bikes as compared to men. They are 1. Finding others to ride with, essentially a community where women felt comfortable; and 2. A severe shortage of cycling clothing that was specifically tailored for
launched in February this year with a capsule collection of performance race jerseys, classic jerseys, padded shorts, gilets and accessories through Kickstarter. The brand has since been picked up by some of the leading independent bike shops in London. “The reaction from women and retailers to the brand, style and ethos has been incredible. I’d say even better than what I was expecting. Women have been
craving a women’s-only cycling brand for sometime now, a brand that is going to pave the way and that talks specifically to women. I have been focusing over the past year on growing our women’s rides and building a community, to encourage women to get out on their bikes. For example, we offer weekly rides in Regent’s and Richmond Park, and also a monthly Bike & Brunch ride which roams all over the UK. It’s through these initiatives I’ve been able to find out what matters to women from an apparel perspective and these little hints are all starting to come through in the designs, cuts and fabric choices.” The next twelve months are set to be incredibly exciting for Queen of the Mountains, with a further rollout within the UK and Europe planned for mid-summer, the development of an Autumn/Winter range, and a women’s week cycling retreat in France planned for August. Alicia will no doubt be applying her own brand philosophy to each step of the journey. www.queenofthemountains.co.uk BIKEBIZ.COM
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TR ur original E N O o PADRn the legacy otfyre is the
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GIRO
Giro The brand reports on increasing sales in-store, and on redirecting consumer behaviour with purposeful retail presentation
A BRAND synonymous with high-quality cycle helmets, Giro has seen incredible success since diversifying into footwear and clothing in recent years. In an increasingly challenging climate for IBDs, Giro’s Brand Manager Stuart Hayes tells us of an exciting trend that is emerging across stockists in the UK. Retailers stocking Giro apparel, softgoods, and footwear alongside helmets are seeing their helmet sales increase significantly. Creating gamechanging and iconic products is no doubt part of the success, but the emerging trend suggests a major part of the increased sales is attributed to how the range of products are presented at retail. The purpose behind Giro’s innovation is always to enhance the riding experience, achieved with a philosophy of blending science and soul in the development of new product ideas. To create compelling collections, Giro use complimentary colour stories and graphics across the entire line, the inspiration drawn from cycling culture across all styles of riding. With categoryBIKEBIZ.COM
defining accessories in helmets, footwear, apparel and softgoods, Giro provides head-to-toe solutions for all consumers, allowing riders to truly outfit themselves in a coordinated way. Since going to retail with this head-to-toe model, Giro have identified that not only does a retailer’s turnover increase when categories of complementary
consumers are inspired to consider additional products that complement their main purchase. It is proven that basket values go up and helmet turnover increases when a retailer sells multiple categories from Giro.” FIGURES TAKEN YTD 2016: Overall Giro turnover increase year-on-year
“Statistics show that ranging head-to-toe collections in-store drives sales across all categories” Stuart Hayes, Giro Brand Manager
products are displayed, but sales of the core categories also increase as customers choose to buy across the whole collection. According to Hayes: “Statistics show that ranging head-to-toe collections in-store drives sales across all categories, not just an increase in added styles. Even if the representation is a simple colour lockup that demonstrates how the products might look together,
n Single category retailer:14.9% n 3 category retailer: 51.6% n 4 category retailer: 111.4% (helmets, shoes, apparel & softgoods) Giro helmet turnover inrease year-on-year: n Single category retailer: 13.7% n 3 category retailer: 28.1% n 4 category retailer: 66.2% (helmets, shoes, apparel and softgoods) Many stores choose to merchandise
all brands together in categories, so customers can weigh up the different styles on offer. This is a functional sales technique, but it doesn’t always inspire customers. The retail space should be a showcase for the products on offer: somewhere the brand can be experienced. In a changing retail climate where service, community and experience are key to the success of IBDs, we need to understand what compels a consumer. Good ranging decisions and merchandising are incredibly powerful tools; they allow retailers to convey product stories more effectively, strengthening both overall sales and upsell potential. Distributor Zyro offers retailers merchandising solutions that allow accessories to be presented together as collections, rather than standalone products, across Road, Urban, MTB and Venture markets. For more information on the complete Giro product line and for details about merchandising solutions, please contact your Zyro account manager. www.zyro.co.uk BIKEBIZ JULY 47
DEALER PROFILE
R DEALE ILE PROF
The shop has a wide selection of cycling apparrel
HIGHWAY CYCLES Address: 9B Great Nothern Works, Hartham Lane, Hertford, SG14 1QN Tel.: 01992 536 007 Web: www.highwaycycles.co.uk Facebook: facebook.com/highwaycycles/
The vast Hertford branch of Highway Cycles
Life is a Highway This month Kieran Howells finds out how Highway Cycles has been serving the cycle market in Hertfordshire for over thirty years. Highway Cycles has a long and rich past in Hertfordshire, can you give us a brief history of the company? The current owner Steve’s brother in law founded the business in 1978 on the Enfield highway, hence the name. The shop then moved to Ware in 1980, and it’s been in Ware for a little over 30 years. We’ve been in Hertford for a little over four years. We had one unit and we’ve expanded a bit in that time. We deal in mid to high-end stuff, and we’ve always tried to cater for everyone really, men women and children. What factors lead to downsizing into two stores? When we opened the Hertford shop we moved the Stevenage shop on. The market in Stevenage BIKEBIZ.COM
was extremely competitive, and we were trying to market mid range products, good quality but relatively inexpensive, and there was just no demand for those products. It made more sense to just close and focus on the other two shops.
cycling, these days? Not so much. Summer is still great and very busy. Right now I can’t move for repairs, but the last few winters we’ve taken a real hit. We’re positioned just off a major cycling route and a lot of custom comes from that. I helped a couple out last week that were
“IBD’s need to diversify and be more forward thinking.” George Corbett, Highway Cycles
Recently the market as a whole has experienced a tough patch, has that affected Highway Cycles? It’s definitely affected us. In the winter months people used to just soldier on through and keep on
from London, headed down to Cambridge and got a bit lost. They were using the major cycle route. We get that a lot! How do you think that giant mergers such as Zyro-Fisher and
Wiggle-Chain reaction will affect IBD’s? Zyro-Fisher, we’re not too bothered. We haven’t been best pleased with Fisher’s support and stock level the last few moths so having them merge with Zyro will improve the way they run. The Wiggle-Chain Reaction thing? I don’t think it’s going to change much to be honest. They were already operating on such slim profit margins I just don’t think they can do any better than they already are in terms of driving sales prices down. On a broader note I think things need to change. The thing we notice is Shimano pricing. It’s ridiculous that we can buy Shimano parts on Chain Reaction for cheaper than we could get them from the supplier. If we want to charge full retail on a part and a BIKEBIZ JULY 49
DEALER PROFILE
The shop has a large female dedicated area upstairs
customer looks online, they’ll just buy it for a big discount online. What can I do? Were is that heading then? I honestly don’t know. I think there will always be a place for local bike shops, we provide services that online retailers just can’t. But I think there will be a lot more IBD closures. That market share will reduce a lot. It’ll get to a point that it just can’t shrink anymore because those shops are needed. It’s a shame, but that’s where things are heading. How integral is your online presence? It’s not very, really. We’ve tried the online sales thing but that doesn’t really bring anything in. We have the odd customer who will, have a look online to see what we have in stock and then pop down and buy it. Sales wise, online we do nothing. It’s great to show people that we’re here and we’re open, but we just cant complete with the cutthroat 50 BIKEBIZ JULY
pricing which is available online. How successful is the workshop side of the business? I wouldn’t know without looking at the figures how much our workshop contributes profit wise, but it’s a lot. The majority is still the part sales and bike sales but the
to the fitter and give them a discount. That’s not going to change any time soon. What products are selling well at the moment? Low to mid end mountain bikes are becoming a bit more popular again. Obviously a few years ago
“There will always be a place for local bike shops.” George Corbett, Highway Cycles workshop sales are a consistent profit every week that we need. I’d say it’s a little under half of our profit margin. Do you do bike fittings in house? We don’t do full fittings in house. We can do fittings in house, but for a full fit, we have some very good friends in the local area who we always send people to. If we sell a nice enough bike we’ll send them
we had the road bike craze after the Olympics and that dented MTB sales slightly. More people want to get off the beaten track. Even kids who would normally be buying BMX bikes are choosing to buy mountain bikes, which is great to see. Still, entry to mid range road bikes sell really well. That’s the majority of our sales at the moment.
Do you participate in any cycle to work schemes? We try to take part in all cycle schemes. We do all of the main schemes and if someone comes in requesting a specific scheme, we’ll do whatever we can to accommodate them. Quite a lot of business comes through schemes. There are currently two bikes in store that are in the process of being sold for different schemes. What advice would you give to struggling IBD’s? It’s a difficult one. The problem with IBD’s is that if you look at most shops that are owned by your middle aged or slightly older gentleman, they want to sit back and let the business run the same way it has for the past thirty years and its just not working anymore. The main thing people need to do is diversify and be forward thinking. That’s certainly something that’s lacking in the bike world right now. BIKEBIZ.COM
‘THIS IS NOT A CHAIN LUBE’ BUT IBD’S ARE SELLING IT That’s because WD-40 Multi-Use Product has the highest brand awareness of any multi-purpose lubricant available in the UK. It’s as relevant today for the industries ever evolving cycling technology as it has ever been. (It drives out moisture and protects electrical circuits with a dialectric strength of 38Kv). If you’re selling e-bikes or electrical shifting systems, this familiar blue and yellow can is always worth having around (again). It lubricates and protects, but we can all agree that it isn’t a chain lube, what it is however is an easy-to-sell bicycle maintenance product.
THOMPSON
Future-proof cycling Greenover Sports run through the history of Thompson racing bikes, offering the latest news in manufacturing SET UP IN 1921, Thompson has just celebrated its 95th anniversary. With numerous presitigous accolades and titles to its name, many famous riders are enthusiastic about the brand. Briek Schotte, who won his first Tour of Flanders in 1942 on a Thompson racing bike, went on take five more Tour victories. Schotte wasn’t the only rider who took advantage of Thompson bikes. In 1954, Roger Decock won the Tour of Belgium riding a Thompson. In an interview he gave later in life, he said: “The Thompson bike I rode in ’54 was the best racing bike I ever had.” Unlike many historic brands, Thompson has chosen to move with the times, creating a modern solution that enables the user to build their bike from the ground up. The new online custom-build feature enables riders to select the 52 BIKEBIZ JULY
frame, wheelset, componentry and the intricate paintwork, as well as to share their creation on social media. The ability to create a bespoke, ‘build-your-own’ bike is a breath of fresh air to not only the rider, but to bike shops and retailers. It eradicates year-on-year models
on one website, within a few clicks, enables retailers to give their customer a bespoke service, and a bike that’s completely unique to them. We are also supplying our Thompson stockists with a totally unique display stand, which shows off the 140 colour options so the customer can see
“Removing yearly models will also alleviate the need to discount bikes when they are still technically new.” and the need to discount old colourways. The only colours that will ever be available are the colours you choose. Jason Burkett, Sales Manager for Greenover Sports commented: “Choosing the frame, wheelset, componentry and colourways all
what’s on offer. “Removing yearly models will also alleviate the need to discount bikes when they are still technically new. Once a new frame, groupset, wheelset and finishing kit are released, it will be a rolling change, securing
Thompson as a firm favourite with our customers!” The high-quality frames are made with a Monocoque mould using high modulus 3000 Woven Toray Carbon. Toray Carbon is the worldwide leader in the carbon fibre industry. Having pioneered development of PAN-based carbon fibres for over 30 years, the brand is globally recognised for its outstanding performance, quality, and processing consistency, making it the preferred choice for Thompson designers and engineers. With high modulus Monocoque Woven Toray carbon fibre, years of proven heritage, and multiple awards, Thompson offer the optimum balance between quality, performance and individuality, a package often compromised with other leading brands. www.greenoversports.com BIKEBIZ.COM
THESE ARE CHAIN LUBES FROM A BRAND THAT NEEDS NO INTRODUCTION The famous WD-40 ‘Shield’ Logo is instantly recognised around the world and trusted to perform. All of our chain lubes have additional ingredients such as PTFE to improve lubrication. Our Wet Lube has high-corrosion resistance and our Dry Lube is highly penetrative and ready to ride in minutes. We also offer a convenient aerosol option designed to help people use chain lube on their bike in a delivery system they’re probably already familiar with! Clean, Lube, Protect with WD-40 BIKE.
MOVING BIKE BUSINESS
AUG. 31 – SEPT. 4, 2016 For Professionals
BUSINESS DAYS AUG. 31 – SEPT. 2
FRIEDRICHSHAFEN, GERMANY
For Consumers
FESTIVAL DAYS SEPT. 3 – SEPT. 4
WWW.EUROBIKE-SHOW.COM
CITRUS-LIME
Citrus-Lime Retail Talk: Managing stock mid-season Citrus-Lime talk stock control management and tell BikeBiz about their new reporting tool Cloud Reports… WHETHER BUSINESSES are experiencing stock shortages or surpluses, poor stock management is costly. Being out of stock during peak sales seasons causes missed sales opportunities, and overselling can lead to frustration and brand mistrust in customers. Retailers who are overstocked and have ‘aged stock’ taking up valuable space on warehouse shelves have less money to invest in better selling lines. Don’t let poor stock management restrict your business growth, run your reports and do the analysis to manage your stock more effectively. STOCK MANAGEMENT IS AT THE HEART OF EVERY RETAILER Today’s retailers are focusing on selling across multiple channels, not only to grow their businesses, but to compete with larger retailers. Cycle retailers are using a variety of online tools to drive sales and sell products via multiple channels. These channels are increasing in importance. As a cycle retailer, you have to offer certain features, at the risk of not selling bikes at all. Important options include Click and Collect, Google Shopping online finance. The importance of the Google Shopping marketplace is huge, as are other online marketplaces, such as Ebay and Amazon. They all have 56 BIKEBIZ JULY
their part to play in multichannel retail. In addition to these tools, multiple delivery and collection options all add to the commercial offering of a good cycle retail operation. As you begin to sell across multiple channels, it becomes increasingly important to have an integrated and wellcontrolled stock system. If your stock is off-balance, the implications are exaggerated, but if you get it right, the rewards are
definition of retail – if you do this well, you will succeed. BE OPEN WITH CUSTOMERS AND SHOW STOCK AVAILABILITY Retailers are opening up stock availability to customers. Whilst browsing, customers are able to view how many are available and where the product in question is. They know exactly when they will receive their goods, and are provided with the option to buy
manage stock throughout the season, to ensure optimum levels of product and to maximise profit. The Stock Turn Optimizer report is a key tool to aid pricing and stock replenishment decisions. Its intended outcome is to manage demand versus profit margin. This live report forecasts which items are overstocked and which are soon to be out of stock. Taking into account external factors, the report is extremely useful for FMCG/smaller items. The results show the value of stock, how many items are in stock and available, how many have been sold in the last three months, average profit made per item, and whether there will be a surplus or shortage of items in the immediate future. Depending on the achieved profit of items and their sellthrough rate, the software shows whether prices need amendment. If you need any more information about stock management and Citrus-Lime Cloud Reports, please call 01229 588628. Ask to speak with Grant if you’re not already a customer. If you are an existing customer, please ask to speak with Suzy, our Cloud Reports expert and newest retail consultant.
“As you begin to sell across multiple channels, it becomes increasingly important to have an integrated and well-controlled stock system.” enormous. Do you have the right number of weeks’ cover to see you through the current season? Do you need to replenish? Do you have the tools you need to access this information? In order for retailers to take control of stock management for their multichannel businesses, they must integrate all the essential tools and information throughout the retail system. A streamlined and automated stock management solution allows retailers to track and plan much better. Buying and selling is the very
online and reserve or collect in-store. This is now a key aspect in meeting the expectations of the modern consumer. CITRUS-LIME TAKE RETAIL ANALYSIS TO THE NEXT LEVEL WITH CLOUD REPORTS Cloud Reports is a user-friendly reporting tool developed by retailers, for retailers. Our retail consultants put the tool together to give customers all the relevant reports they need to run their business. The reports can be used to
BIKEBIZ.COM
ELECTRIC BIKES
Xxxxx xx xxxx xxxxxx xxxx xxx xxxxx xxxxxx xxxx xxx xxxxx
Power to the people E-bikes are increasingly becoming a viable option for cyclists of all ages. Kieran Howells headed down to the Lea Valley park to test out Shimano’s new STEPS system... SHIMANO’S NEW STEPS system marks a commitment made by the brand to continue its efforts in establishing e-bikes as a legitimate choice for cyclists. As part of this commitment, Shimano and Madison invited team BikeBiz to test out STEPS (or Shimano Total Electric Power System), and told us a little more about the new system. The event was held at the new Pave Velo bike shop located a short distance from the velodrome, where we were introduced to the Shimano team and briefed about the new system. We were told that the STEPS groupset, which has been in development for over six years, sports a myriad of clever features integrated into the design, such as the ability to set the device into automatic shifting mode. This means that the system will detect when to deliver optimum gear changes based on the user’s cadence and speed. When activated, the Shimano STEPS system sends a signal to the Di2 BIKEBIZ.COM
hub to shift to the matching gear, essentially turning the bike into an automatic at the press of a button. At present, Shimano believe STEPS to be the only e-bike system capable of automatic shifting, which may be enough reason for some to convert to the system alone. Weighing in at 3.1 kilograms, the light design of the drive unit is also
mode. The battery charges to full in around four hours, and retains charge for over 1,000 cycles. The system does adhere to EU regulations on e-bikes, meaning it doesn’t come under the scrutiny of the electric moped debate, and it does this by automatically cutting the pedal assist regardless of power mode when the bike reaches roughly 15.5 mph.
“Users will find that the compact unit still delivers on power distribution” a big selling point for many users, who will find that the compact unit still delivers on power distribution when coupled with the included 418Wh battery. The eco mode has a range of up to 120km, whereas normal mode can achieve up to 100Km and up to 80Km in high
When the talk finished, we embarked on a large communal ride around the Lea Valley. With e-bikes, there is no better demonstration of how efficient the system is than taking one for a ride. The team of journalists invited to the exclusive event
Sponsored by
tested STEPS assisted e-bikes for over an hour on a range of surfaces and inclines. It was here that we witnessed the benefits of pedal-assist. Not one person in the group seemed to be even slightly out of breath by the time we returned. The simplified power distribution system is displayed and operated conveniently from a large black and white screen on the handlebars of the bike, and the difference in pedal resistance when in high power mode is easily noticeable. When riding, the sharp drop in power caused by the 15.5 mph cap can feel slightly alarming, and it takes a while to adjust. As a journalist at the event pointed out, beyond that speed limit, the user is simply riding a reasonably weighty bike. Regardless, this will be the case for all road legal e-bikes and as such is an issue unavoidable to developers at Shimano. At the end of the day, this is a small price to pay for the benefits that the STEPS system presents. BIKEBIZ JULY 59
ELECTRIC BIKES
BHF pulls the plug on e-bikes Does the latest e-bike decision from the British Heart Foundation alienate disabled people from events? Kieran Howells hears from both sides of the fierce debate…
IN 2013 a team of riders representing the popular e-bike retailer Cycling Made Easy took part in the London to Paris off-road bike ride and in the process, raised over £3000 for the British Heart Foundation. Half the participants took part on conventional bicycles, whilst the other half, who suffered from various impairments, took part on electric bikes. In 2016 the same group of riders prepared to once again take part in a BHF ride, this time riding from London to Brighton with the intention of raising yet more money for the charity. When the group applied to enter the event, BHF officials informed them that no riders would be allowed to take part on an electric assisted bike. Outraged, the riders contested the issue on the grounds that e-bikes were legally classified as bicycles in the UK, and as such should be 60 BIKEBIZ JULY
allowed to enter, only to be told that the decision was final. This debate has been fiercely contested as long as e-bikes have existed. Many would argue that e-bikes are the only way for people with cardiovascular conditions, arthritis, fatigue and many other
Made Easy commented on the decision: “I had spoken directly to decision makers at the BHF last year who assured me that pedelecs would be allowed to join in their events; and why shouldn’t they? Pedelecs are legally classed as bicycles. That’s not just my opinion,
“I helped raise £3000 for the BHF riding on a pedelec” Ray Wookey physical impairments to participate in charitable events, and that by excluding e-bikes from its events, the BHF are essentially excluding disabled people from raising charity money. Ironically, it may be the case that many people who the BHF has pledged to help, are the ones that it is alienating. Ray Wookey, director of Cycling
that’s fact, not only here in the UK but across Europe. You can see why I am not only confused but frustrated by their decision, not least as I helped raise £3000 for the BHF riding on a pedelec.” Others may contest that in the case of this event, a large organisation like BHF is within its rights to regulate the event by
Sponsored by
safeguarding against issues that may arise from the inclusion of e-bikes, which they have no way of fixing on site, or insuring the event and ensuring its future on the cycling calendar. Whereas injuries at cycling events are expected, the power and technology behind e-bikes could lead to issues that the organisers aren’t familiar with. In response to the comments of Ray Wookey, head of events at the British Heart Foundation Nancy Smyth explains: “The British Heart Foundation’s terms and conditions for all cycling events currently limits those who participate to non-powered bicycles, therefore excluding electric bicycles, to ensure rider safety on all our cycling events. This has always been a pedal-powered event and any change to this would considerably alter the nature of this event.“ BIKEBIZ.COM
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LIGHTS
Light up your life This month Kieran Howells takes a broad look at a selection of the most illuminating cycle specific lights currently on the market, including offerings from Knog, Ledlenser and Cycl...
BLACKBURN CENTRAL 200
www.blackburndesign.com
The swivel mounted Central 200 front facing light from Blackburn (RRP £34.99) is designed to attach easily to bike handlebars and has an optimum output of 200 lumens. The device is micro USB rechargeable and has a battery indicator display built in to the design. The device can be fully re-charged in three hours.
MOON ARCTURUS AUTO PRO www.moon-sport.com The new one-piece rectangular ring COB LED light from Moon features an integrated alloy heat sink, light sensor and mode memory (a day flash mode being a popular addition). The small but powerful device can output up to 1000 lumens and has a built in one hour safety mode. It ships with Cree LED’s and retails at £32.99.
GLOWORM CX URBAN LIGHT SET www.lowormlites.co.nz The CX urban is a duel optics light, meaning that the user can alternate between various light modes including spot/ spot, spot/wide or wide/ wide optics. The light can also be programmed to adjust the 900 lumen output. The light is rechargeable via a USB port, and can be used as a piggyback phone charger via the same port. RRP £99.99.
BIKEBIZ.COM
BIKEBIZ JULY 63
F O R
E V E R Y O N E
I N
T H E
p54 Brompton boss gets honoured
2016
Will Butler-Adams is to become an OBE. We caught up with him en route to Buckingham Palace.
FORWARD FEATURES
SEPTEMBER 2016 Children’s Bikes, Trailer Bikes, Helmets & Accessories Indoor Training Clothing & Accessories: Winter & Reflective OCTOBER 2016 Regional Spotlight: The Midlands Cycle Show issue: Extra distribution NOVEMBER 2016 Cycling Media Awards 2016 DECEMBER 2016 Retail Survey 2016 Includes the BikeBiz Directory 2017
Regional Spotlight: Northern Ireland & Republic of Ireland JANUARY 2017 Core Bike Show issue: Extra distribution Bike Place Show Issue: Extra Distribution
p50 Go-Ride What has a year of bike industry support achieved at the Go-Ride grass roots?
What is Fisher Outdoor Leisure doing to back independent dealers?
Show business
p34 Innovation Lab
p62 Soho Bikes
Who is innovating at the London Bike Show?
p66 Urban bikes
We speak to the months-old London business
p71 Helmets
Folders, city bikes and more are covered in our round-up
Products to cover your noggin for the road, MTB and beyond
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ISSUE 112 MAY 2015
@bikebizonline | facebook.c
om/bikebiz
E V E R Y O N E
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T H E
p17 Energy to burn
Includes Eurobike Supplement
B U S I N E S S
We bring you reports and previews from a huge range of bike shows, including Core Bike, the Bike Place, iceBike*, the Bike Show, Bike Expo, Claud Butler, Dawes Cycles…a London nd more
F O R
AUGUST 2016 Eurobike issue Regional Spotlight: North England & Scotland
B I K E
p48 Fisher lines up Zipp support
Are there too many nutrition brands in the cycle market? We get down to the nitty gritty with some of the sector’s big names…
FEBRUARY 2017 London Bike Show issue: Extra distribution Made in Britain: Manufacturing Special BikeBiz Awards at The London Bike Show
B I K E
B U S I N E S S
p25 Chicken rides the wave
p47 X-treme apparel
BikeBiz paid a visit to Chicken CycleKit, which has been making the most of the road cycling wave
Verona-based X-bionic is seeking a bigger presence in the UK. We headed to their factory to see the gear first-hand
Made in
the UK
British manufacturers big and small are covered in our special feature, as are the highlight builds from the Bespoked UK handmad e bike show, starting page 44.
p33
MARCH 2017 Innovation Lab special Cycle Media Focus: Magazines & Websites
p61 Cycling celebs
p14 Head-to-toe
A brand new location for this month’s quirky Spin London
p75 Women’s cycling
Giro is pitching its full apparel line-up to the trade
We round-up bikes and P&A pitched at female cyclists
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ISSUE 115 AUGUST 2015
APRIL 2017 Regional Spotlight: Wales & South West
F O R
@bikebizonline | facebook.c
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E V E R Y O N E
I N
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p13 Eurobike previews
B I K E
B U S I N E S S
p27 Pumped up
p35 Northern exposure
Find out how SKS turned into a €50 million company as BikeBiz is let loose in the brand’s head quarters in Sundern, Germany
BikeBiz was among a select bunch of UK cycle journos that made it to Eurobike’s new preview media days in Austria
Businesses in Scotland and the North of England speak out in this month’s spotlight
SHOW SPECTACULAR
Includes Brit List supplement
It’s new products galore and more show coverage than you can shake a mini pump at, including pre-Eurobike previews, brought to you from across the world (well, Europe and the US)…
MAY 2017 The UK’s Top 20 IBDs Energy & Nutrition JUNE 2017 Cyclocross Bikes & Accessories Regional Spotlight: London & South East
p53 In a Spin
Velorution is the place to be to spot starry-riders, it seems...
p8–9, p13–p24, p27–2 8 and p48
p51 Hub and Spoke
Harlow’s social enterprise has become a focal point for locals
p67 LIGHTS!
p63 CAMERAS!
Our guide to some of the latest lights for dealers to stock
Cameras and other gadgets now available to retailers
p59 AND MTBS!
Some of the latest bikes and clothing built for off-roading
03 BB115 EditorialCover_fina l.indd 1
ISSUE 116 SEPTEMBE R 2015
JULY 2017 Women of the Year issue: Extra distribution Cycle Lights Drive Train: Chains, Gears & Cranks
F O R
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E V E R Y O N E
I N
p11 The BA’s A-Team
T H E
B I K E
B U S I N E S S
p26 Fabric unpicked
Bicycle Association boss Paul Stewart tells us why the BA is reaching out to the industry to strengthen its ranks
Didn’t go to Eurobike? We bring you new product from GT, Cannondale and Fabric, only without the flights
p53 You be the judge
RECOGNISING EXCELLENCE WITHIN THE UK CYCLE TRADE
How do you plead? Guilty of not getting around to judging the BikeBiz Awards? There’s still time!
UK SHOW
RECORD BRE AKERS
Cycle Show 2015 is set to be the biggest yet, meanwhile Core Bike debut, proving the UK Live has an impressive trade’s appetite for cycle events shows no sign of fading…
p19–29 & p36–42
p8 Out in the country
The UK’s largest outdoor trade show takes place next month.
p49 i-ride around
p63 Winter clothing
The Velodrome Tour is back. We went along to i-ride’s show
It’s cold ‘oop North and ‘daan South too. Time to layer up
p73 Children’s bikes
There’s life in the kid’s market yet with plenty to stock in
03 BB116 EditCover_final.ind d 1
ISSUE 110 MARCH 2015
Want to advertise in any of these issues? Contact Richard Setters 0207 354 6028 or email rsetters@nbmedia.com
F O R
E V E R Y O N E
@bikebizonline | facebook.c
om/bikebiz
I N
T H E
p41 The show’s not over
B I K E
B U S I N E S S
p16 Most Excel-lent bikes
Bike Expo rounds off the early show season off. We provide a preview of what to see at the revamped Manchester event
p61 Assisted sales We’ve something of an electric bike extravaganza this month, with a sector guide, opinion and news.
BikeBiz trawls the London Bike Show for hot new product and fresh deals. Also includes scooters.
Hold the front page It’s been a big 12 months for the cycle world’s media, with takeovers and launches galore. We wrap up the deals and go in-depth.
Want your company or product to be involved with any of these features? Contact Hayley Ferguson hferguson@nbmedia.com or call 0207 354 6002
p45
p13 Raleigh your resources
News from the brand’s
own
p24 Pearson’s Cycles
p61 Uby
p75
LIGHTS
CYGOLITE DASH 320 USB
www.cygolite.com
The Dash 320 (RRP £59.99) is a 320 lumen enhanced cycling optic light. The light features 24/7 safety technology and side illumination ports that highlight the users presence to nearby motorists. The unit is powered by a rechargeable Li-ion battery, which is sealed into the unit making it water resistant.
LEDLENSER XEO19R
www.ledlenser.com
The 2000 lumen light the Ledlenser XEO19R (RRP £249.99) produces can be individually adjusted and focussed via two LED cannons. The LED’s adapt to the users performance, meaning that faster the user goes, the brighter they will appear. The unit houses a five way switch with three power levels, an adjustable dimmer and an emergency light.
CYCL WINGLIGHTS MAG
www.cycl.bike
The new illuminated bar ends from Cycle are intended to combat late night accidents, and allow drivers to see when a cyclist is turning. The units fit universally into most handlebars, and are held in place with mounted magnet inserts. The lights are activated by pressing a button on the bar ends, and can be deactivated the same way. When not in use, the lights can be attached to a key ring for alternate use. RRP £34.99
BIKEBIZ.COM
KNOG FROG STROBET
www.knog.com
The lightweight (19g) rear bike light from Knog is fixed into a clippable industrial silicone casing, meaning the user can attach it to their bike in various different ways. The 2.5-lumen output has upto a seventy-hour run time, and can be used in four different configurations including a strobe mode. RRP £8.99
LIGHT & MOTION SECA 2200 ENDURO lightandmotion.com The versatile 2200 lumen Enduro features a range of four highpowered LED’s. Custom engineered reflector/ optics diffuses the bottom LED to cover an ultra-wide spread in front and focuses the top LEDs to penetrate the darkness and maximize riders’ depth perception. The unit is compatible with the standard GoPro mount. RRP £299.00
VELOMANN BLUEFIN 1W LED FRONT LIGHT www.velomann.com The Bluefin front light is secured to handlebars via a tool-less mounting ring. The unit features one front, and two rear facing LED’s, and also includes two red side-warning lights for increased visibility. The unit has a maximum 45 hours of usage when used with three AAA batteries. The design is water resistant, and is available in both black and silver. RRP £15.99
BIKEBIZ JULY 65
www.bob-elliot.co.uk
01772 459 887
@BobElliotOnline
Zefal Profil Max FP60 Floor Pump SRP: £36.99 Ref: 37568 Find your Local stockist at: www.bob-elliot.co.uk or contact us on: sales@bob-elliot.co.uk Tel: 01772 459 887
WOMENS PRODUCTS
Women cycle too! Gone are the days when the only gear available to a woman was a poorly-fitted saddle and men’s clothing that drooped forlornly off the female figure. In celebration of a new age, BikeBiz have put together this guide to ladies’ cycling equipment...
RALEIGH NEW LOOXS www.raleigh.co.uk
SELLE SAN MARCO ERA RACING GLAMOUR www.sellesanmarco.it Selle San Marco have designed a select range of Italian handmade ladies’ saddles designed to fit the female body. The Era Racing Glamour (RRP £78.53) features Ti/Carbon Xsilte rails, responsive foam padding, and a micro-feel cover.
Available in two designs – the Tosca (RRP £38.99) and the Lilly (RRP £40.99) – and in either polka dot or floral print, Raleigh New Looxs bags are designed for the modern lady. Thanks to carrier hooks concealed within the fabric, these bags are easily attached and detached from bicycles. Combining practicality with sophistication, the Tosca can be used both as a rear carrier bag and as a handbag. The Lilly doubles up as a single pannier and day-today shopping bag, and features reflective strips for additional road safety.
GIRO EMPIRE WOMEN’S ACC
www.giro.com
Empire W ACC women’s cycling shoes (RRP £206.99) showcase the look and feel of a laced cycling shoe with seven points of adjustment complementing the breathable Evofiber synthetic upper. With a premium Easton EC90 ACC carbon outsole for efficient power transfer, and the adjustable support of the Super Natural Fit System, these shoes offer a comfortable, direct connection to the pedal.
BIKEBIZ.COM
BIKEBIZ JULY 67
WOMENS PRODUCTS
THREO www.threo.co.uk
THE HERNE HILL HARRINGTON
www.lumo.cc/
A contemporary twist on the iconic Harrington style, the Herne Hill has been crafted with signature LUMO polka detailing. Sleekly cut specifically for women, the jacket has a fleece-lined collar with magnetic closure and a vented back for breathability. The London Collective’s jackets feature 28 x 4 lumen waterproof LED lights on the front placket and rear hem, which increase visibility to traffic by up to 400m, and are concealed until switched on. Powered by a 1100mAh 3.7v lithium polymer battery, the device is USB rechargeable and comes with a connector lead. LEDs are fully waterproof and washable; the two energy settings allow for between six and 14 hours of operation time.
Threo’s launch range for Summer 2016 features eight core styles. From the flagship Hyde Park trisuit (RRP £115), to the Regent’s and Richmond Park cycling jerseys (RRP £80) and shorts (RRP £75), London Fields leggings (RRP £55), Holland Park crop top (RRP £35) and St James’s Park training t-shirt (RRP £35), all the products have been cut to flatter a range of female forms. Thoughtful product features, such as the incorporated race belt, high-cut waistbands and extra-wide grippers, provide excellent functionality for female triathletes.
AVOCET RYEDALE www.avocetsports.co.uk Avocet’s new ladies’ bike range is available exclusively to independent bike dealers. The traditionally-styled range is aimed at casual female riders, blending classic and contemporary design. Four different styles – Holly (RRP £249.99), Harper (RRP £279.99), Harriet (RRP £299.99) and Harlow (RRP £349.99) – are available in a range of colours. Featuring a traditional low step-over top tube, Ryedale bikes feature a fully lined wicker basket, colour coordinated front and rear mudguards, double wall rims with shaded tyres, non-slip pedals, and a pump. Each bike comes with a ladies’ sprung saddle and sweeping handlebars, enabling the rider to adopt a natural, relaxed riding position.
68 BIKEBIZ JULY
BIKEBIZ.COM
HYKEHAM WHOLESALE BICYCLE SPARES AND ACCESSORIES WHOLESALER WIDE RANGE: Q Vintage & Retro or Modern & New BIG BRANDS: Q Shimano, Sunrace, Fibrax, Weldtite, Sturmey Archer, Velo, Beto, Oxford, TAYA, Impac, Schwalbe LOW PRICES(from): Q Tubes £0.93, Sealed Bearing Alloy Wheels £6.37, 10 Speed Chains £7.65, 7 Speed Sprockets £4.67, Stainless Steel Brake + Gear Wire £0.36 and many more… LARGE SETTLEMENT DISCOUNT: Q 10% or 15% for orders over £150 (Order quoting BB0716 to get an extra 5% discount) QUICK DELIVERY: Q Next day if ordered before 2pm TELEPHONE: 01522 801550 B2B: www.hykehamwholesale.co.uk EMAIL: sales@hykehamwholesale.co.uk Terms & Conditions
48$/,7< v 5$1*( v 9$/8( An extensive selection of mid range parts and accessories well priced to offer excellent value for money and good margins for dealers. Available for next day delivery on our easy to use B2B ordering system.
ASG-21608 Acor PU Eva Shock-Proof Handlebar Tape
ABR-21504 Acor Hydraulic Disc Brake Set (Incl. Rotors & Post Mount Adapters)
AHB-2307 Acor Double Bracket Alloy Bar Extension
ATL-21404 Acor Inner Cable Puller
IF YOU DON’T DEAL WITH US YET THEN WHY NOT GIVE US A TRY – CONTACT DETAILS BELOW…
0845 1661983
www.greyville.com
sales@greyville.com
WOMENS PRODUCTS
BIKE NICKS
www.bikenicks.com
Featured on our website in May 2016, Bike Nicks’ cycling knickers (RRP £26.99) have certainly caused some social media controversy amongst our readership. Despite that, we’re still very much in support of products designed to prevent soreness in the saddle. With the garment featuring a polyester/elastane blend and an incorporated padding of 80% latex, 10% cotton, and 10% polyester, the pants are both hand and machine-washable. They’re available in two styles, knicker and thong, and two colour looks, black, and black on pink.
VELOVIXEN OVERSHOES
www.velovixen.com
VeloVixen’s award-winning gaiters (RRP £45.00) slip right over cycling shoes, boots, flats, and even heels, keeping the rider dry and protecting them from draughts. The waterproof Georgia in Dublin Leggits are designed to complete a female cyclist’s outfit. The overshoes can be worn as boots, with an all-purpose aesthetic that isn’t exclusive to cycling. Reflective strips on Velcro straps and a range of bright colours enhance road visibility. With the purpose of keeping the feet and legs dry, the product features a longer-than-standard cut and an elastic/Velcro combination.
CLASSIC WICKER BIKE BASKET WITH LINER, BICYCLE STICKERS www.bikebelle.com Cycling doesn’t always have to be practical! Bike Belle’s accessories are just a bit of fun for the casual female cyclist – this classic wicker bike basket (RRP £18.00) with liner is available in navy and mint. The liner is made from natural cotton, and can be washed and tumble dried. Weatherproof, waterproof, and long-lasting, Bike Belle’s retro bicycle stickers (RRP £2.20) are equally whimsical.
BIKEBIZ.COM
BIKEBIZ JULY 71
TO ADVERTISE For more details and to advertise, contact Richard Setters on 0207 354 6028 or email rsetters@nbmedia.com
THE CATEGORIES RETAILERS, WORKSHOP AND MAIL ORDER DISTRIBUTION AND WHOLESALE
GET LISTED Email your updated details NOW to khowells@nbmedia.com
MANUFACTURER, STANDALONE BRANDS, FRAMEBUILDERS AND AGENTS SERVICES AND TRAINING E-COMMERCE AND EPOS EVENT ORGANISERS, EVENT HOSTING, HOLIDAY AND HIRE MEDIA AND PUBLISHING MARKETING, PR AND CONSULTANCY ORGANISATIONS, CHARITY AND ASSOCIATIONS
DRIVETRAINS
Pedal to the metal It may not be as aesthetically pleasing as a glossy new frame, but without it you’d be stuck in the mud. This month, BikeBiz are exploring the world of the drivetrain...
SRAM XX1 EAGLE 12 SPEED GROUPSET www.sram.com This cross-country-optimized drivetrain combines SRAM 1X drivetrain technological advancements with lightweight materials. XX1 Eagle offers precise shifts and durability with the new Eagle direct mount chainrings. Carbon tuned crank technology provides extreme stiffness and is light weight. All-new X-Sync 2 chainring technology is designed specifically for Eagle chains and drivetrains, providing quieter performance.
KMC X11 SERIES
wwww.kmcchain.eu
All chains from KMC’s X11 series are compatible with any 11-speed system and can be used in either direction. This makes assembly easy, with no compromise to the shifting performance. Weighing in at 239 grams (114 Links), the X11SL is the lightest chain available in KMC’s range, which when combined with the product’s high durability, shifting performance and the option of the gold Titanium Nitrate coating, makes it a high quality upgrade.
BIKEBIZ.COM
BIKEBIZ JULY 73
DRIVETRAINS
GUSSET TAPE REAR CASSETTE www.gussetbikes.com The Gusset TAPE rear cassette features 14mm Cr-Mo axles (36H is drilled front axle) running on precision sealed bearings. The four bearing system allows easy inter-changability of sprockets and can reliably run small sizes. The rear hub uses O/S pawls for positive engagement. The unit includes a 1/8” 14T cog and retails at £79.99 each.
SHIMANO DEORE XT SHADOW PLUS DERAILLEUR www.shimano.co.uk
RENTHAL 1XR CHAINRING www.rental.com Renthal recently launched the 1XR retention chainring. The unit is available in 32 to 38t options, and features a reduced frontal profile on the 3.5mm wide teeth to increase mud clearance. Durability of the 7075 T6 aluminium construction is maximised with a hard anodised surface treatment and mud evacuation grooves in the tooth bed. RRP £49.95
TAYA SIGMA LINK 11 SPEED
Shimano’s new direct mount rear derailleur system gives more space around the rear frame dropout resulting in easier rear wheel removal but also allows frame designers to shorten chain stays, increase axle sizes and move suspension pivots. The low-profile Deore XT Shadow Plus features a chain stabilising switch that reduces chain bounce in rough terrain, maintaining more stable drive and shifting. RRP £69.99.
www.tayachain.com
The TAYA brand is a world leader in chain technology, with patents which include Diamond Hard Technology, which the brand say increases durability up to 25 per cent. The 11 speed Sigma links (RRP £12.99) snap together making assembly fast without requiring an air rivet-staking tool. Sigma’s pinhead groove interlocks positively with the top plate, providing substantial riveting strength.
74 BIKEBIZ JULY
SRAM RED CRANKSET www.sram.com The new 609 gram SRAM Red crankset is the driving force behind what the brand claim is the lightest groupset in the world. The carbon arms and aluminum chainset feature a graphics overhaul, with a matte and gloss black finish. The Exogram hollow carbon crank arms and X-Glider chainrings are recommended for use with SRAM Red 22 and PC-1170 chains, and retail at £391.00.
BIKEBIZ.COM
Six reasons why IBDs are stocking Elivar, the only Sports Nutrition brand for over 35 year olds 3. Elivar Endure ensures that middle-aged cyclists donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t consume excess sugar s %XCESS SUGAR CREATES INDIGESTION AND PREVENTS FAT BURNING
1. Elivar is a retail-lead brand! s %LIVAR COM DOES NOT UNDERCUT RETAIL PRICING s (EALTHY MARGINS AND PRICE POINTS FROM 220 a s 7E DON T SUPPLY ONLINE DISCOUNTERS s 4WO YEAR DATE LIFE n WE DON T LEAVE YOU WITH AN INVENTORY HANGOVER AT THE END OF THE SEASON 2.
4. Elivar Recover ensures that older cyclists get enough protein to recover effectively s #ONSUMING LOW PROTEIN RECOVERY BLENDS RESULTS IN POST TRAINING ACHES LEAVING YOUR CUSTOMER EXPOSED TO INJURY 5. Elivar is a premium quality product s 'LUTEN AND #AFFEINE &REE s 0ROTEIN SOURCED FROM GRASS FED DAIRY HERDS
Over 60% of IBD customers are over 35 years old s 4HEY HAVE DIFFERENT SPORTS NUTRITION REQUIREMENTS VERSUS YOUNG CYCLISTS s 4HEY ALSO HAVE HIGH DISPOSABLE INCOME
6. Promotion packages are available for new stockists to generate awareness and sell-through
#ONTACT Windwave 023 9252 1912
P R O D U C E D
I N
www.windwave.co.uk
B E L G I U M
FOR THE BIKE 53 MAINTENANCE PRODUCTS LUBRICANTS . GREASES . CLEANING . MAINTENANCE
FOR THE RIDER 15 MASSAGE PRODUCTS
WA R M U P O I L S . WA S H E S . C R E A M S . U S I N G N AT U R A L I N G R E D I E N T S
FOR THE WORLD TOUR TRIED & TESTED C H I N A T O A U S T R A L I A . N O R W AY T O S O U T H A F R I C A . U S A T O J A PA N
PRO CYCLING TEAM
Contact: Windwave 023 9252 1912
www.windwave.co.uk
THE ESSENTIAL GUIDE TO RETAILERS, SUPPLIERS AND SERVICES WITHIN THE CYCLE TRADE
DOING MORE TO SUPPORT UK IBDS B2B SERVICES
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YOU SELL IT, WE’LL DELIVER IT.
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PRICE MATCHING & FREE DELIVERY b2b.fisheroutdoor.co.uk
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
DISTRIBUTION AND WHOLESALE
ROZONE LIMITED Queen Street, Darlaston, Wednesbury, West Midlands. WS10 8JB Tel: 0121 526 8181 | Web: www.rozone.co.uk
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
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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
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Axel Imports Ltd 4 Wimborne Road, Poole, Dorset, BH15 2BU Tel: 01202 785864 Web: www.axelimports.co.uk
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THE TRADE’S ROUND UP OF STATS, VIEWS AND RANDOMS
NUMBER CRUNCHING Ever wondered how many e-bikes were sold in the UK last year, or how many people think e-bikes will surpass conventional bikes? It’s all here...
75%
g due to ts occurr in Of acc iden ions. n ity at ju ct poor v isibil
30% The expansion of Bob Elliot’s warehouse space
43% Of people over the age of five own a bike
25,0 0 0
£72m
heme in by cycle sc Generated year. enefits per economic b
14%
According to a recent poll conducted via OnePoll, 14% of Brits believe e-bikes will replace conventional bikes
es sold in electric bik Number of year. the UK last
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IN THE SADDLE
FOLDING ROAD BIKES?
Alex Rowling, Chicken Cycles How many bikes do you own? Three. A Mutiny Conjurer, a Rocky Mountain Altitude and a Dedacciai Ran. Where are your favourite places to ride? For MTB it would be Woburn, to have something that good only 30 minutes down the road is great. For BMX it would be any skate park in Sydney, Australia, they’re all insane. And for road, anywhere that’s not a city centre! What’s your role at Chicken and what does it entail? I’m the Marketing Coordinator at Chicken CycleKit so I look after everything marketing related, both traditional and digital.
WITH STRICT rules on what bikes are and aren’t allowed on national rail and underground trains, team BikeBiz got thinking about cyclists who aren’t ready to relinquish their beloved road bikes on daily commutes. The concept we deemed theoretically sound was to simply chop a road bike in half, and weld on S&S couplers, transforming the frame into a split bike. We asked National Rail for an official stance on this concept, and received confirmation that any such bike would indeed be considered a folding bike and would therefore be fine to carry on and off trains. Our research tossed up an average £300 price tag for the modifications.
HAUL OF STOLEN BIKES RECOVERED IN TOWER HAMLETS
How long have you been in the trade? About 7 years now, I’ve worked at Chickens for 3 of those, before that I worked at various bike shops all over the place. What’s the latest news from Chicken HQ? We’re investing heavily in digital across all of our key brands, and for the first time in many years, we’ve sponsored an elite amateur race team, Spirit Bikes, who have had an amazing 2016 season so far. Are there any developments on the cards that dealers need to hear about? We’ve got huge plans for Tifosi (our own bike brand), I wouldn’t want to ruin any surprises… How can the trade get in touch? For any general enquiries, email sales@ chickencyclekit.co.uk or phone the office on 01525 381347. For any marketing related enquiries, email me directly at alex.rowling@ chickencyclekit.co.uk
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A TOTAL of 23 bikes have been recovered and returned to their owners in Tower Hamlets thanks to two Met PCSOs and an ASB officer at a local estate. The first set of bikes was discovered by PCSO Lynn Peck and her colleague PCSO Karen Bell from the Met’s Roads and Transport Policing Command. The second set of recoveries involved 15 stolen bikes from Urban Adventure Base, an outdoor education facility in east London. The bikes had been stolen early one morning and placed in a secure lock up on the nearby Colebrook House estate.
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Stephen Holt, Commercial Director
THE ELEPHANT IN THE E-BIKE ROOM ONE OF the most important factors for your customers in choosing to cycle to work is the ability to arrive at their destination on time, fitter and having saved money. Electric bikes allow a wider group of people to experience this and are the perfect way for us all to grow the cycling category in the UK. When the weather becomes warmer, e-bikes are ideal for travelling to and from work in smarter or everyday clothes, allowing customers to dress for the destination and not the journey. The elephant in the room however, is the reality that electric bikes cost more than standard bikes. Cycle to work schemes are a great solution to help overcome this barrier… just let customers know that they can save money on £1k of the total cost through Cyclescheme. It is an ideal way for employees to get hold of one of the latest desirable, technology-laden bikes. Whenever you have a potential electric bike sale, put it through Cyclescheme. You could significantly grow your transaction value thanks to the employee savings. Don’t forget to search for registered employers in your area through your Cyclescheme B2B.
MAKAYA’S AT IT AGAIN AVID BIKEBIZ readers will remember that we covered EliptiGO maverick Idai Makaya’s trip from London to Edinburgh and back in 2013. They achieved their goal of making the 1,419km trip within the time limit of 116 hour and 40 minutes. Well, Makaya has been at it again, this time riding from Land’s End to John O’Groats on an elliptical cycle. His goal was to beat the world record time of six days and ten hours, but managed to complete the ride in an astonishing five days and four minutes. The 42 year old dad of two is currently awaiting the official word from the Guinness World Records to verify his trip as a world record. Commenting on the ride, Makaya commented: “My attempt almost ended in the Scottish Highlands after 600 miles of riding, when I experienced a bearing failure. It took 9 hours to find a bike shop with the particular bearing in stock and able to fit it on the day, and that lost me 9 hours of riding. However, I was so far ahead of record schedule that I was still able to complete the ride 1 day and 10 hours under the old record.”
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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
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SPOKESMAN
Giz a job (it’ll boost cycling) Getting more people on bikes could be boosted by getting more people employed in the cycling business, argues Carlton Reid. I GET around a bit, and at a recent talking gig I shared a platform with Laura Shoaf, the managing director for Transport for West Midlands. She’s responsible for delivering the combined authority’s strategy to develop a transport system that integrates the region’s road, rail, bus, cycle and tram networks. In her talk she said something that jumped out at me: “Politicians are now taking more notice of cycling.” Fantastic! It must be all those benefits of cycling we’ve been banging on about for so long – you know, health, anti-congestion, social equity, speed-through-town and so on. Nope, none of that. It’s jobs. More specifically, 150 jobs at a distribution centre next to a pig-ugly trunk road junction that must be awful to cycle on to get to work. She meant Wiggle, of course. Last year the Portsmouth company moved into The Citadel, a 30,000m2 building beside the Black Country New Road in Bilston, near Wolverhampton. This is situated two miles from the M6 and six miles from the M5, and the warehouse has 95 lorry parking spaces and 32 loading bays. It’s therefore logistically efficient, but not exactly green. But it generates jobs. And it’s jobs that pique the interest of local and national politicians, a fact often wheeled out by Kevin Mayne, development director at the European Cyclists’ Federation. In 2014, the ECF released a study that showed Europe’s cycling economy sustained 655,000 jobs, and had the potential to create many more. This, as I’ve talked about in this column previously, has – for
150 jobs may appear small beer, but not so in the West Midlands. Jobs are jobs, and “cycling” becoming associated with “employment” has the potential to shift attitudes. good or bad – far more power to influence politicians than cycling’s health, social and environmental benefits. Cycling is bigger, in jobs terms, than “European heritage” industries, which have often been cosseted by the EU, says Mayne. Europe’s cycling economy’s jobs – which includes bicycle production, tourism, retail, infrastructure and services – exceeds the 615,000 jobs in mining and quarrying, and is
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almost twice the number employed in the steel sector. In that light, 150 jobs may appear small beer, but not so in the West Midlands. Jobs are jobs, and “cycling” becoming associated with “employment” has the potential to shift attitudes. When Wiggle opened its Bilston distribution centre, the City of Wolverhampton Council Cabinet Member for City Assets said: “Having a leading national brand like Wiggle in the city is huge, and has already delivered further investment and new jobs for Wolverhampton people.” Councillor John Reynolds continued that 80 per cent of the jobs went to locals, and he hoped that the dual-carriageway-sited business would “inspire people here to become more active and lead healthy lifestyles.” That’s not so much up to Wiggle,
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of course, but it is very much in the power of councillors, managing directors of transport authorities, and planners. In her talk, Ms Shoaf said that catering to motorists was an easy sell because JLR was in the area. That’s Jaguar Land Rover, and is just one of the Midlands companies involved in car manufacturing. And it’s making stuff that usually leads to the greatest number of jobs. Responding to Ms Shoaf, one of the audience members said: “Bikes are perceived to be built in China, not locally.” For the most part this is true, but there are signs that Brompton and Pashley will soon not be the only bicycle manufacturers in Britain. There are not yet a flood of manufacturers wanting to physically make bikes in the UK – it’s best not to even call it a trickle – but if washing machines can be profitably made in Britain, then sometime soon so can bikes. Wages in China have been on the up and up for some years, resulting in low-to-mid-level bikes being made in Vietnam and other Asian countries yet to “suffer” from higher wages for workers. The natural next step is for factory owners to up sticks and move to another low-wage economy, and that will remain the case for factories making Bicycle Shaped Objects, but for higher priced bikes it’s getting likelier and likelier that some production will – slowly – move back to Britain. In the meantime, it’s always worth shouting about the cyclingbased jobs that are already here, bike shops included.
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