Perfect for the gathered crowds to have a spin on the latest rigs, ATB Sales pitched up in Chipping Norton last month, with scenic country lanes in all directions for miles around.

Good thing too, as there was plenty of buzz surrounding the direction the distributor’s brands are heading, with Willier’s high-end technology ‘trickling down’ into mid-range price points and Whyte designer Ian Alexander having added three new disc equipped road rigs, as well as a handful of new sporty builds for the ladies.

Alexander told BikeBiz: “The emphasis for the 2014 bikes has been durability. We’ve used wheels that a wheelbuilder wouldn’t be shy of running, there’s no corners cut. We’ve used deep-section, eyeletted rims with brass nipples and our own locked skewers to ease theft concerns. The rim decals are reflective too and won’t be coming off with no rim-brake to scupper the finish.”

There will soon be matching Whyte mudguards at £29.99 a piece for those using the bikes through the winter. These will be plastic with an alloy inner to prevent damage.

The three 6061 hydroformed T6 rigs all come disc equipped, with the £1,199 top model – the Suffolk – carrying TRP’s new HY-RD cable/hydraulic brakes. The frame material is much the same as that used on Whyte’s cyclocross builds, so it’s built to last and with a tapered headtube carrying 1 1/8 up top and 1 1/2in at the bottom it’s a responsive front end. The mountain bike influence is evident in the inboard chainstay mounting of the discs, which frees up space on the outside for rack and pannier additions.

The entry build – the Sussex – comes in at £799 and carries many of the same features as its upgraded counterpart, such as a compact ergonomic bar, internally routed cables with rubber ports to keep the seal tight. This is the only model of the three that doesn’t carry the straight-bladed carbon fork, instead featuring an alloy one with the same eyelets.

With the progression in women’s cycling both on the performance and comfort fronts, Whyte has been busy. The Strawberry Hill is the new sit-up-and-beg style bike in the catalogue. At £599 the 6061 hydroformed T6 frame is custom drawn and butted, as is the fork.

Both carry colour-matched mudguards with good coverage. As with the men’s rigs, internal cable routing bumps up the style points, with ergon grips on a swept back handlebar providing a relaxed riding position. There’s some nice touches to keep the weight down too, with Selle Royal supplying  mag railed Milo saddle. Another subtle detail, but a practicval one is the Tektro levers with built-in bell.

On to Wilier and the key talking point from the manufacturer is the value for money aspect, now particularly evident in the middle of the line bikes. As a result of ‘trickledown’, customers can now get their hands on the entry spec Gran Turismo  for just £1,499. Going back two years, this bike would have been a flagship build in the Wilier catalogue, say ATB Sales.

At the entry-level, Wilier also now has a new alloy frame, as well as a full-carbon build  at £1,299.
Leading the charge for the serious cyclist is the Centro1Air, a foray into bikes with aerodynamic credentials at the forefront of the design. You’ll find brakes sheltered by the frame, clever cable routing and an integrated aero fork.

Three builds are set for the UK, beginning with a Ultegra 11 speed spec at £3,750, Ultegra di2 at £4,249 and the range topping Dura-Ace at £5,499. Geometry and sizing will be much the same as the predecessor – the Centro1SR.

ATB will also be bringing in Wilier’s new mountain bike line for the first time this year, which spans £2,399 for the 501 XNXT, through £3,999 for the 11-speed XN XTR, built with high-strength 60 ton carbon. You’ll also find a full carbon rigid hardtail version of the range topper in the 101XN Rigid.

Finally, we unfortunately were forbidden from taking some snaps of what’s to come from Marin, but if you missed out this time around, you’ll be able to catch the label launching the range come Eurobike.

What we can say, is that Marin appears to now to be seeing the benefit of the brand acquisition that took place a few short years ago. There’s a new ‘Pro’ 650B version of the Mount Vision, which looks very tidy, with an internally routed Reverb post, among other high-spec features.

Another bike to look out from Californian brand Marin is the Rocky Ridge with its lay back seat tube, allowing the rider to really get behind the post on a descent for greater pedal efficiency.  

To view a gallery of images from the event, see here.

www.whytebikes.com
www.wilierbikes.co.uk
ATB sales: 01424 753566

It feels an all too obvious point to make, but there’s definitely a correlation between well designed cycle infrastructure, the number of cyclists and in turn, the number of bike shops in a region.

Seaside towns, which typically have segregated coastal routes for cycling and walking, always seem to have a greater density of bike stores than towns with less to offer the cyclist. I returned from Berlin last month, having pedalled a large chunk of the city and there were as many bike shops as there were ping pong tables (and there’s a handful of those on nearly every side street).

Nine times out of ten, the key roads had segregated cycle paths. Cars give way to bikes here and not reluctantly, it’s just standard procedure in a city where two wheel transport has been allowed to flourish. From what I saw, cyclists don’t run reds nearly as much, either, which helps.

As many women cycle as men and if window displays are anything to go by, the bike shops recognise and embrace that fact. It’s an eye opener and not something we could replicate overnight here.

As you may have read, TRL are currently trialling ‘Dutch style’ infrastructure at its enormous Bracknell facility. By the end of summer their report is expected to end up in front of the Department of Transport with a recommendation, based on what methods work with UK drivers and cyclists in realistic and thorough as can be simulations. Funding changes on a large scale is another issue altogether, but this is something we as an industry should keep a keen eye on.

If rubber stamped, local authorities nationwide will be granted permission to ‘Go Dutch’, but some no doubt will need a firm nudge to do so. Without wading into the advocacy debate too far, it’s time for each and every one of us in the business to lobby for change while the momentum exists for it to realistically happen.

Talk to your competition about what can be done in the area for the common good. Have a relationship with the local cycling club and lobby those in charge of local highways to plan cycle infastructure into every new and exisiting road tended to.

If your business doesn’t yet contribute to the Bike Hub industry levy, look into it. It’s for the common good and is without doubt providing a return to the wider industry.

For more information, contact Pat at the Bicycle Association via www.bicycleassociation.org.uk

Fix Distribution has launched to the trade with a portfolio of brands including Atomlab, Corsair, Loeka and One Ghost Industries.

With roots in the gravity race scene, the new business is headed up by David Mellor who told BikeBiz: "I feel strongly that the future of these brands is with quality IBD’s and we are committed to supporting independent shops. We will not be supplying these products to online discounters and we’re offering some great incentives, on top of already competitive margins, to dealers who get on board with our brands early. Margins are competitive, especially for such high-end brands and extra discount available as incentive for shops who order stock early."

After a few years absence from the UK, the Corsair label returns, exclusively through Fix. There are five models, three full suspension and two hardtail currently available as frame only or complete builds. Hardtails start from £399 retail price and full suspension models from £1,199, frame only.

The other exclusive to the upstart's stable is Atomlab. The component brand owned by BMX legend, Mike Flaherty produces a vast range of finishing kit including bars, stems and flat pedals, as well as the bombproof wheelsets, hubs and rims Atomlab is probably best known for. These are now available in 26”, 650B and 29” sizes with all hub dimensions catered for.

Loeka boasts to be one of the few mountain bike labels designed exclusively for women. Handmade in Canada, the company’s ethos is simple - 'Encouraging women to be part of something by creating a complete line of recyclable apparel that captures the biking lifestyle.'

Stock of Corsair and Atomlab will be landing later this month with One Ghost Ind frames and completes available later in the year. Loeka Clothing is available to order immediately.

Fix Distribution: 07974 198664

Dave@fixdistribution.com

www.fixdistribution.com

In a market where the workshop is king – especially now that we hear reports that customers are looking to modify and repair rather than purchase a new bike – one of the best known componentry brands in the business like SRAM should be doing OK. Turns out, SRAM is.

However, it has been challenging winter and spring for everyone in the trade, rues Tim Bayley, brand manager for SRAM Road for UK distributor Fisher Outdoor Leisure. SRAM’s performance comes in spite of that. He tells BikeBiz: “Overall business has been good on SRAM service lines but the bike build and upgrade business has seen strong growth. We have seen essentials, SRAM chains and cassettes taking more wall space.

“A lot of what we stock is perfect upgrade componentry, which adds significant sales opportunities to IBDs.”

Coordinated launches have added to SRAM’s aftermarket arsenal this year – RockShox, Reverb, XX1, Quarq, Red and Force 22…the list goes on. Bayley explains: “Rock Shox forks for example, with the launch of the new Pike, has hit the upgrade market at the right time for the growth of the gravity and enduro scene.

“On the road, Zipp has a complete range of bars, stems and seat posts – perfect bike build territory – and combined with the success of the 202 Firecrest carbon clincher we have the perfect product for all riders.”
Being a favourite of one of the most famous riders on the planet hasn’t hurt the brand.

When Mark Cavendish used SRAM’s new hydraulic road rim brakes just a few weeks ago on Le Tour, there was a flurry of interest, Bayley reveals: “We had calls into the office within six hours of the images appearing! When we look at Red, Quarq, Zipp they are all associated with him and that certainly helps, he is the fastest rider in the world.

“To be honest even when he was not supported by Zipp he was still using them (unbranded) and most people knew, which was great with the launch of the Firecrest."

Power generation
The introduction of Quarq to the SRAM stable has added a new dimension to the SRAM offering in the power meter category, says Bayley. It’s an area that is gathering speed, he explains: “IBDs have really bought into the category and there is now significant expertise on the shop floor. Quarq’s updated product offering has now established the Riken and Elsa as technology leading.”

User-friendly set-up and LED communication was a key innovation from Quarq, while the consumer or dealer being able to change the chain rings without a re-calibration proved a huge plus too – as did the simple user battery change.

Aside from Quarq, launches like Red22, Force22 and XX1 have kept the brand flying high, inspiring retailer and consumer demand, we’re told.

In fact, over the past 12 months, SRAMs focus right the way across the cycle disciplines has paid dividends. Fisher tells BikeBiz that the brand has grown market share in the whole mountain bike sector with riders immediately adopting 1x11. It’s not just product launches though – a joined up approach to communication as well as investment in teams and riders has been a success story. Bayley explains: “The pro tour is a great example: SRAM Red was launched last year, it was an aftermarket product and the timing from launch to delivery to the retailer was six weeks.

“This co-ordinated approach will certainly drive sales of all aftermarket launches in future as the IBDs will have stock while the media is still talking about the product.”

Customer service and how Fisher and SRAM work closely with dealers remains a key focus, not least with the SRAM Technical Centre which was set up in 2010. “Apart from the warranty and servicing they do with an aim of 48 hour turnaround they [SRAM Tech Centre] have played a major role in educating the dealers with shop training visits and training days in-house. This has been a real focus this year and will continue to develop through 2014.”

Speaking of the forthcoming year, what’s next from SRAM?

“SRAM is renowned for innovating at the highest levels of cycling and I think the next 12 months are going to be pretty exciting.”

Fisher Outdoor Leisure: 01727 798345

Has the government got a hidden agenda to get more people cycling working across its policies? That's a very charitable take on the news that there will be yet another rail fare increase hitting the UK's cash-strapped workforce.*

Coming in the same week that the Coalition announced a multi-million pound investment in cycling, it was revealed that rail fares will increase by an average of 4.1 per cent as of January 2014. Sustrans has blasted the rise (the eleventh consecutive increase), saying many people will struggle to access jobs and healthcare.

Sustrans’ Policy Adviser, Matt Hemsley, said: “This will be the 11th year running that commuters have been forced to endure an above-inflation increase in rail fares, preventing many people from accessing employment and essential services.

“Train travel is becoming unaffordable as ticket price rises outstrip wages at the same time as many more people are struggling with the costs of running a car.

“Yesterday’s investment in cycling must be coupled with a fully-funded plan that provides affordable and accessible public transport for everyone.

“Young people and part-time workers, in particular, risk being priced out of using the train to get to work, which will harm the economic recovery.”

Giving up on rail?
But maybe those increases are leading more commuters to give up on the UK's underperforming, expensive rail network and get on their bikes instead?

Figures published this week by the Cycle to Work Alliance (consisting of Cyclescheme, Cycle Solutions, Evans Cycles and Halfords) highlight a 22.5 per cent increase in take up in the second quarter of 2013, when compared to the same period in 2012. This follows a similarly large 19.3 per cent year-on-year increase for the first quarter of 2013.
 
Overall, the second quarter has seen the scheme encouraging over 29,000 new cyclists to commute to work by bike*, with over 44,000 new cyclists signing up to the scheme in the first half of this year.
 
With MPs set to debate the findings of the Get Britain Cycling report in Parliament on September 2nd, these latest figures highlight the desire and interest among the UK population to take up cycling and demonstrates that the cycle to work scheme remains a proven, cost effective and affordable way for individuals to do so - argues the Alliance.

Director of Cycle Solutions and Chair of the Cycle to Work Alliance Steve Edgell said: “These latest figures are hugely encouraging. With rail fares continuing to rise above inflation, they show that there is a popular, affordable alternative to train travel – commuting to work by bike.

"With more and more people signing up to the scheme, despite the cold start to the year, these figures demonstrate that the cycle to work scheme is hugely effective in increasing cycling take-up.

"With over 44,000 new cyclists signing up to the scheme this year, 2013 is looking like the year that cycling becomes ever more mainstream.”

*UK's rail network is taking record numbers of passengers at the moment (which perhaps is not suprising with the overall population increasing). Arguably, that might be down to those increasing fuel prices.

York University has linked with Cycle Alert to kit its Transdev Unibus fleet and student's bikes out with radio transmitter devices, designed to let the bus driver know when a cyclist is approaching.

With a large proportion of the University's students choosing to cycle as a mode of transport, the educational facility jumped at the chance to be the first in the country to adopt the system.

The Cycle Alert system has three elements: a unit that is fitted to the bicycle (or worn
 by a cyclist on their person or helmet), sensors that are fitted to the HGV or other vehicle, and a cab-mounted device to alert the driver. The three units work in sync to form a communication network between
 all parties, alerting the driver – with maximum advance notice – of a cyclist in proximity.

The device alerts the driver when a cyclist comes within two metres of the vehicle.

Fiona Macey, travel plan co-ordinator, University of York, said: “We are thrilled to be working in partnership with Transdev Unibus and the City of York Council to be the first UK city to pioneer the use of Cycle Alert on our University bus fleet. The University is committed to promoting sustainable modes of travel and Cycle Alert will be a huge benefit to our cyclists and city wide.”

A surge in cycling in York has been attributed to better cycling networks over the years, with the district having replaced train-tracks with Sustran cycle routes and providing both an extensive network of off-road cycle paths and on-road cycle lanes.

Raleigh yesterday launched the first of 50 planned hire bike schemes at Liverpool South Parkway.

Having purpose built 600 'Amsterdam' bikes alongside Batavus, also part of the Accell Group, the hire bike roll out will be complete by the end of the year on lines run by Merseyrail, Northern Rail, and Greater Anglia.

A full schedule and list of train stations set to benefit from the hire bikes, to cost £3.80 per day to hire, can be found here. An annual fee is also available.

Yesterday's launch event was attended by executive director of the Bicycle Association Great Britain, Phillip Darnton OBE and Parliamentary Undeer Secretary of the State for Transport, Norman Baker MP.

Mark Gouldthorp, Raleigh Managing Director, said: "Bike & Go is a simple and effective concept which comes at a time when millions of us around the country are falling back in love with cycling, whether we're riding for pleasure or as a means of getting from point A to B.

"We're proud to support a scheme which encourages cycling as a convenient and eco-friendly mode of transport with added health benefits, something which Raleigh has sought to do throughout its 126 year history."

The bike itself is kitted out with dynamo activated lights and luggage carriers front and rear, two integral locks, seven gears and an ergonomic saddle, among other features.

Availability of bikes is to be kept updated via an online feed so commuters can be sure there will be a bike at both ends of their journey.

Find out more at www.bikeandgo.co.uk and to register, click here

Public Health Minister Anna Soubry wants more people to get active and get healthy, with children being a key focus. In order to get more children active, the Department of Health wants to encourage outdoor play.

Only a third of boys and a quarter of girls meet the recommendation for at least 60 minutes of physical activity a day. The Department of Health has today announced £5m of funding to encourage children and families to exercise more, including £1.1m for 'Street Play' and £1m for walking initiatives.

Play England will use the £1.1m to help residents and encourage children and families to play together on their streets, reviving old favourites like hopscotch and hide-and-seek. This funding will enable Play England help residents close their roads from time to time to allow children and families to play out in a safer environment.

Director of Play England Cath Prisk said:

"Active kids become active adults and we know one of the places kids are most active is on the streets outside their own houses when they are able to simply go out there and play, like most adults did.

"Everyone can do something to make their own communities more playful and we are very happy to be given this opportunity to support residents and local voluntary groups across England in making their own streets playful again.

The £1m for walking initiatives is only available to the eight Cities - including Manchester, Birmingham and Norwich - which were recently awarded the Department for Transport Cycling Cities Ambition Grant.

The build up to Cycle Show has begun in earnest with more brands signing up to the NEC event. BikeBiz took the opportunity to quiz event director Chris Holman on what he and the Upper Street team have in store for the bike industry and its consumers this year...

Since moving to the NEC, Cycle Show has seen more big names come back to the show year-after-year. Did the move pay off for the event?
Yes, there’s no question now that it was the right decision. If the brands that people want to see are at the show and we surround the stands with exciting and engaging feature content, then the right kind of visitors will make the effort to come in large numbers. Jumping on a train from London is so quick and easy and two hours drive time from the NEC takes in a huge amount of real estate, so it’s not surprising that last year was the busiest ever show.

It’s fantastic to have companies like i-Ride, Cube and Bianchi back at the show and they just add even more fuel to the marketing message. Madison’s decision to take nearly six times more space this year really says a lot about how good last year’s show was. With two months to go, more space has been sold than we ended up on last year.

What are the key changes in the show from last year?
This is going back a bit, but there was a quote in Dirt about Future’s first NEC Bike Show basically saying that it felt like there was something brilliant around every corner. Clearly that show had quite a few issues, but creating that buzz and excitement is something that all show organisers should be striving for.

We took the decision after last year’s show to add another track for premium road bikes. The existing road track will be just for e-bikes and commuter type bikes. The new one will be for riders in kit who want to have a serious test ride. There’ll be a changing area with lockers and there’ll be pros on the track offering advice.

There’ll also be an area showing the World Championships live where people can relax in deckchairs with a drink. Sweetspot will be bringing the Tour of Britain podium (complete with this year’s podium hostess), which will have a big screen on it, and it will be the focal point for rider appearances and signings.

The mountain bike Airbag will be making its first appearance at the show, which should create some fun moments and photo ops.

For the BMX shops, the Shop Battle now has a £1,000 cash prize for first place. It created an amazing camaraderie last year so the contest hours have been extended to allow a few more shops to enter.

It’s now confirmed that there’ll also be a GoDutch conference running alongside the show this year on the trade day. The organisers are just finalising the seminar content

Have you got any expectations in terms of growing visitor numbers?
It’s going to be very busy.

What feedback did you get from last year that you fed into the 2013 show?
We had companies that wanted to meet trade visitors on Thursday, but the public days weren’t of interest so an area has been created for them which will be converted into a café on Thursday night. It’s full up already so we’ve added extra space and it looks like it will have 15 stands in it this year which is great.

The E4 group convinced us that electric bikes should have a proper village with their own registration area for the track. As of now there are 23 e-bike companies at the show so I’m glad we listened to them.

You’ve got a full seminar schedule again? Can you give us some of the highlights?
Future is hosting two really interesting sessions for the trade this year. They will be discussing the results of their global cycling sponsorship report produced in association with Repucom and also their biketrack research which this year looked into accessories buying behaviour plus a general market overview.

Anything else you’d like to draw our attention to?
Yes, I’m sure many trade visitors will be pleased to hear that Doom Bar are bringing their pub back to the show and Nintendo will be alongside them this year.

And the trade can register for tickets now? 
Yes indeed – shops can register at www.cycleshow.co.uk/register

Perfect for the gathered crowds to have a spin on the latest rigs, ATB Sales pitched up in Chipping Norton last month, with scenic country lanes in all directions for miles around.

Good thing too, as there was plenty of buzz surrounding the direction the distributor’s brands are heading, with Willier’s high-end technology ‘trickling down’ into mid-range price points and Whyte designer Ian Alexander having added three new disc equipped road rigs, as well as a handful of new sporty builds for the ladies.

Alexander told BikeBiz: “The emphasis for the 2014 bikes has been durability. We’ve used wheels that a wheelbuilder wouldn’t be shy of running, there’s no corners cut. We’ve used deep-section, eyeletted rims with brass nipples and our own locked skewers to ease theft concerns. The rim decals are reflective too and won’t be coming off with no rim-brake to scupper the finish.”

There will soon be matching Whyte mudguards at £29.99 a piece for those using the bikes through the winter. These will be plastic with an alloy inner to prevent damage.

The three 6061 hydroformed T6 rigs all come disc equipped, with the £1,199 top model – the Suffolk – carrying TRP’s new HY-RD cable/hydraulic brakes. The frame material is much the same as that used on Whyte’s cyclocross builds, so it’s built to last and with a tapered headtube carrying 1 1/8 up top and 1 1/2in at the bottom it’s a responsive front end. The mountain bike influence is evident in the inboard chainstay mounting of the discs, which frees up space on the outside for rack and pannier additions.

The entry build – the Sussex – comes in at £799 and carries many of the same features as its upgraded counterpart, such as a compact ergonomic bar, internally routed cables with rubber ports to keep the seal tight. This is the only model of the three that doesn’t carry the straight-bladed carbon fork, instead featuring an alloy one with the same eyelets.

With the progression in women’s cycling both on the performance and comfort fronts, Whyte has been busy. The Strawberry Hill is the new sit-up-and-beg style bike in the catalogue. At £599 the 6061 hydroformed T6 frame is custom drawn and butted, as is the fork.

Both carry colour-matched mudguards with good coverage. As with the men’s rigs, internal cable routing bumps up the style points, with ergon grips on a swept back handlebar providing a relaxed riding position. There’s some nice touches to keep the weight down too, with Selle Royal supplying  mag railed Milo saddle. Another subtle detail, but a practicval one is the Tektro levers with built-in bell.

On to Wilier and the key talking point from the manufacturer is the value for money aspect, now particularly evident in the middle of the line bikes. As a result of ‘trickledown’, customers can now get their hands on the entry spec Gran Turismo  for just £1,499. Going back two years, this bike would have been a flagship build in the Wilier catalogue, say ATB Sales.

At the entry-level, Wilier also now has a new alloy frame, as well as a full-carbon build  at £1,299.
Leading the charge for the serious cyclist is the Centro1Air, a foray into bikes with aerodynamic credentials at the forefront of the design. You’ll find brakes sheltered by the frame, clever cable routing and an integrated aero fork.

Three builds are set for the UK, beginning with a Ultegra 11 speed spec at £3,750, Ultegra di2 at £4,249 and the range topping Dura-Ace at £5,499. Geometry and sizing will be much the same as the predecessor – the Centro1SR.

ATB will also be bringing in Wilier’s new mountain bike line for the first time this year, which spans £2,399 for the 501 XNXT, through £3,999 for the 11-speed XN XTR, built with high-strength 60 ton carbon. You’ll also find a full carbon rigid hardtail version of the range topper in the 101XN Rigid.

Finally, we unfortunately were forbidden from taking some snaps of what’s to come from Marin, but if you missed out this time around, you’ll be able to catch the label launching the range come Eurobike.

What we can say, is that Marin appears to now to be seeing the benefit of the brand acquisition that took place a few short years ago. There’s a new ‘Pro’ 650B version of the Mount Vision, which looks very tidy, with an internally routed Reverb post, among other high-spec features.

Another bike to look out from Californian brand Marin is the Rocky Ridge with its lay back seat tube, allowing the rider to really get behind the post on a descent for greater pedal efficiency.  

To view a gallery of images from the event, see here.

www.whytebikes.com
www.wilierbikes.co.uk
ATB sales: 01424 753566

It feels an all too obvious point to make, but there’s definitely a correlation between well designed cycle infrastructure, the number of cyclists and in turn, the number of bike shops in a region.

Seaside towns, which typically have segregated coastal routes for cycling and walking, always seem to have a greater density of bike stores than towns with less to offer the cyclist. I returned from Berlin last month, having pedalled a large chunk of the city and there were as many bike shops as there were ping pong tables (and there’s a handful of those on nearly every side street).

Nine times out of ten, the key roads had segregated cycle paths. Cars give way to bikes here and not reluctantly, it’s just standard procedure in a city where two wheel transport has been allowed to flourish. From what I saw, cyclists don’t run reds nearly as much, either, which helps.

As many women cycle as men and if window displays are anything to go by, the bike shops recognise and embrace that fact. It’s an eye opener and not something we could replicate overnight here.

As you may have read, TRL are currently trialling ‘Dutch style’ infrastructure at its enormous Bracknell facility. By the end of summer their report is expected to end up in front of the Department of Transport with a recommendation, based on what methods work with UK drivers and cyclists in realistic and thorough as can be simulations. Funding changes on a large scale is another issue altogether, but this is something we as an industry should keep a keen eye on.

If rubber stamped, local authorities nationwide will be granted permission to ‘Go Dutch’, but some no doubt will need a firm nudge to do so. Without wading into the advocacy debate too far, it’s time for each and every one of us in the business to lobby for change while the momentum exists for it to realistically happen.

Talk to your competition about what can be done in the area for the common good. Have a relationship with the local cycling club and lobby those in charge of local highways to plan cycle infastructure into every new and exisiting road tended to.

If your business doesn’t yet contribute to the Bike Hub industry levy, look into it. It’s for the common good and is without doubt providing a return to the wider industry.

For more information, contact Pat at the Bicycle Association via www.bicycleassociation.org.uk

Fix Distribution has launched to the trade with a portfolio of brands including Atomlab, Corsair, Loeka and One Ghost Industries.

With roots in the gravity race scene, the new business is headed up by David Mellor who told BikeBiz: "I feel strongly that the future of these brands is with quality IBD’s and we are committed to supporting independent shops. We will not be supplying these products to online discounters and we’re offering some great incentives, on top of already competitive margins, to dealers who get on board with our brands early. Margins are competitive, especially for such high-end brands and extra discount available as incentive for shops who order stock early."

After a few years absence from the UK, the Corsair label returns, exclusively through Fix. There are five models, three full suspension and two hardtail currently available as frame only or complete builds. Hardtails start from £399 retail price and full suspension models from £1,199, frame only.

The other exclusive to the upstart's stable is Atomlab. The component brand owned by BMX legend, Mike Flaherty produces a vast range of finishing kit including bars, stems and flat pedals, as well as the bombproof wheelsets, hubs and rims Atomlab is probably best known for. These are now available in 26”, 650B and 29” sizes with all hub dimensions catered for.

Loeka boasts to be one of the few mountain bike labels designed exclusively for women. Handmade in Canada, the company’s ethos is simple - 'Encouraging women to be part of something by creating a complete line of recyclable apparel that captures the biking lifestyle.'

Stock of Corsair and Atomlab will be landing later this month with One Ghost Ind frames and completes available later in the year. Loeka Clothing is available to order immediately.

Fix Distribution: 07974 198664

Dave@fixdistribution.com

www.fixdistribution.com

In a market where the workshop is king – especially now that we hear reports that customers are looking to modify and repair rather than purchase a new bike – one of the best known componentry brands in the business like SRAM should be doing OK. Turns out, SRAM is.

However, it has been challenging winter and spring for everyone in the trade, rues Tim Bayley, brand manager for SRAM Road for UK distributor Fisher Outdoor Leisure. SRAM’s performance comes in spite of that. He tells BikeBiz: “Overall business has been good on SRAM service lines but the bike build and upgrade business has seen strong growth. We have seen essentials, SRAM chains and cassettes taking more wall space.

“A lot of what we stock is perfect upgrade componentry, which adds significant sales opportunities to IBDs.”

Coordinated launches have added to SRAM’s aftermarket arsenal this year – RockShox, Reverb, XX1, Quarq, Red and Force 22…the list goes on. Bayley explains: “Rock Shox forks for example, with the launch of the new Pike, has hit the upgrade market at the right time for the growth of the gravity and enduro scene.

“On the road, Zipp has a complete range of bars, stems and seat posts – perfect bike build territory – and combined with the success of the 202 Firecrest carbon clincher we have the perfect product for all riders.”
Being a favourite of one of the most famous riders on the planet hasn’t hurt the brand.

When Mark Cavendish used SRAM’s new hydraulic road rim brakes just a few weeks ago on Le Tour, there was a flurry of interest, Bayley reveals: “We had calls into the office within six hours of the images appearing! When we look at Red, Quarq, Zipp they are all associated with him and that certainly helps, he is the fastest rider in the world.

“To be honest even when he was not supported by Zipp he was still using them (unbranded) and most people knew, which was great with the launch of the Firecrest."

Power generation
The introduction of Quarq to the SRAM stable has added a new dimension to the SRAM offering in the power meter category, says Bayley. It’s an area that is gathering speed, he explains: “IBDs have really bought into the category and there is now significant expertise on the shop floor. Quarq’s updated product offering has now established the Riken and Elsa as technology leading.”

User-friendly set-up and LED communication was a key innovation from Quarq, while the consumer or dealer being able to change the chain rings without a re-calibration proved a huge plus too – as did the simple user battery change.

Aside from Quarq, launches like Red22, Force22 and XX1 have kept the brand flying high, inspiring retailer and consumer demand, we’re told.

In fact, over the past 12 months, SRAMs focus right the way across the cycle disciplines has paid dividends. Fisher tells BikeBiz that the brand has grown market share in the whole mountain bike sector with riders immediately adopting 1x11. It’s not just product launches though – a joined up approach to communication as well as investment in teams and riders has been a success story. Bayley explains: “The pro tour is a great example: SRAM Red was launched last year, it was an aftermarket product and the timing from launch to delivery to the retailer was six weeks.

“This co-ordinated approach will certainly drive sales of all aftermarket launches in future as the IBDs will have stock while the media is still talking about the product.”

Customer service and how Fisher and SRAM work closely with dealers remains a key focus, not least with the SRAM Technical Centre which was set up in 2010. “Apart from the warranty and servicing they do with an aim of 48 hour turnaround they [SRAM Tech Centre] have played a major role in educating the dealers with shop training visits and training days in-house. This has been a real focus this year and will continue to develop through 2014.”

Speaking of the forthcoming year, what’s next from SRAM?

“SRAM is renowned for innovating at the highest levels of cycling and I think the next 12 months are going to be pretty exciting.”

Fisher Outdoor Leisure: 01727 798345

Has the government got a hidden agenda to get more people cycling working across its policies? That's a very charitable take on the news that there will be yet another rail fare increase hitting the UK's cash-strapped workforce.*

Coming in the same week that the Coalition announced a multi-million pound investment in cycling, it was revealed that rail fares will increase by an average of 4.1 per cent as of January 2014. Sustrans has blasted the rise (the eleventh consecutive increase), saying many people will struggle to access jobs and healthcare.

Sustrans’ Policy Adviser, Matt Hemsley, said: “This will be the 11th year running that commuters have been forced to endure an above-inflation increase in rail fares, preventing many people from accessing employment and essential services.

“Train travel is becoming unaffordable as ticket price rises outstrip wages at the same time as many more people are struggling with the costs of running a car.

“Yesterday’s investment in cycling must be coupled with a fully-funded plan that provides affordable and accessible public transport for everyone.

“Young people and part-time workers, in particular, risk being priced out of using the train to get to work, which will harm the economic recovery.”

Giving up on rail?
But maybe those increases are leading more commuters to give up on the UK's underperforming, expensive rail network and get on their bikes instead?

Figures published this week by the Cycle to Work Alliance (consisting of Cyclescheme, Cycle Solutions, Evans Cycles and Halfords) highlight a 22.5 per cent increase in take up in the second quarter of 2013, when compared to the same period in 2012. This follows a similarly large 19.3 per cent year-on-year increase for the first quarter of 2013.
 
Overall, the second quarter has seen the scheme encouraging over 29,000 new cyclists to commute to work by bike*, with over 44,000 new cyclists signing up to the scheme in the first half of this year.
 
With MPs set to debate the findings of the Get Britain Cycling report in Parliament on September 2nd, these latest figures highlight the desire and interest among the UK population to take up cycling and demonstrates that the cycle to work scheme remains a proven, cost effective and affordable way for individuals to do so - argues the Alliance.

Director of Cycle Solutions and Chair of the Cycle to Work Alliance Steve Edgell said: “These latest figures are hugely encouraging. With rail fares continuing to rise above inflation, they show that there is a popular, affordable alternative to train travel – commuting to work by bike.

"With more and more people signing up to the scheme, despite the cold start to the year, these figures demonstrate that the cycle to work scheme is hugely effective in increasing cycling take-up.

"With over 44,000 new cyclists signing up to the scheme this year, 2013 is looking like the year that cycling becomes ever more mainstream.”

*UK's rail network is taking record numbers of passengers at the moment (which perhaps is not suprising with the overall population increasing). Arguably, that might be down to those increasing fuel prices.

York University has linked with Cycle Alert to kit its Transdev Unibus fleet and student's bikes out with radio transmitter devices, designed to let the bus driver know when a cyclist is approaching.

With a large proportion of the University's students choosing to cycle as a mode of transport, the educational facility jumped at the chance to be the first in the country to adopt the system.

The Cycle Alert system has three elements: a unit that is fitted to the bicycle (or worn
 by a cyclist on their person or helmet), sensors that are fitted to the HGV or other vehicle, and a cab-mounted device to alert the driver. The three units work in sync to form a communication network between
 all parties, alerting the driver – with maximum advance notice – of a cyclist in proximity.

The device alerts the driver when a cyclist comes within two metres of the vehicle.

Fiona Macey, travel plan co-ordinator, University of York, said: “We are thrilled to be working in partnership with Transdev Unibus and the City of York Council to be the first UK city to pioneer the use of Cycle Alert on our University bus fleet. The University is committed to promoting sustainable modes of travel and Cycle Alert will be a huge benefit to our cyclists and city wide.”

A surge in cycling in York has been attributed to better cycling networks over the years, with the district having replaced train-tracks with Sustran cycle routes and providing both an extensive network of off-road cycle paths and on-road cycle lanes.

Raleigh yesterday launched the first of 50 planned hire bike schemes at Liverpool South Parkway.

Having purpose built 600 'Amsterdam' bikes alongside Batavus, also part of the Accell Group, the hire bike roll out will be complete by the end of the year on lines run by Merseyrail, Northern Rail, and Greater Anglia.

A full schedule and list of train stations set to benefit from the hire bikes, to cost £3.80 per day to hire, can be found here. An annual fee is also available.

Yesterday's launch event was attended by executive director of the Bicycle Association Great Britain, Phillip Darnton OBE and Parliamentary Undeer Secretary of the State for Transport, Norman Baker MP.

Mark Gouldthorp, Raleigh Managing Director, said: "Bike & Go is a simple and effective concept which comes at a time when millions of us around the country are falling back in love with cycling, whether we're riding for pleasure or as a means of getting from point A to B.

"We're proud to support a scheme which encourages cycling as a convenient and eco-friendly mode of transport with added health benefits, something which Raleigh has sought to do throughout its 126 year history."

The bike itself is kitted out with dynamo activated lights and luggage carriers front and rear, two integral locks, seven gears and an ergonomic saddle, among other features.

Availability of bikes is to be kept updated via an online feed so commuters can be sure there will be a bike at both ends of their journey.

Find out more at www.bikeandgo.co.uk and to register, click here

Public Health Minister Anna Soubry wants more people to get active and get healthy, with children being a key focus. In order to get more children active, the Department of Health wants to encourage outdoor play.

Only a third of boys and a quarter of girls meet the recommendation for at least 60 minutes of physical activity a day. The Department of Health has today announced £5m of funding to encourage children and families to exercise more, including £1.1m for 'Street Play' and £1m for walking initiatives.

Play England will use the £1.1m to help residents and encourage children and families to play together on their streets, reviving old favourites like hopscotch and hide-and-seek. This funding will enable Play England help residents close their roads from time to time to allow children and families to play out in a safer environment.

Director of Play England Cath Prisk said:

"Active kids become active adults and we know one of the places kids are most active is on the streets outside their own houses when they are able to simply go out there and play, like most adults did.

"Everyone can do something to make their own communities more playful and we are very happy to be given this opportunity to support residents and local voluntary groups across England in making their own streets playful again.

The £1m for walking initiatives is only available to the eight Cities - including Manchester, Birmingham and Norwich - which were recently awarded the Department for Transport Cycling Cities Ambition Grant.

London's Cycle Systems Academy has begun tutoring Campagnolo EPS specific courses.

As the UK's only certified Campagnolo EPS course, the module is said to be the “highest level currently achievable short of spending an internship at the Campagnolo factory itself," according to Cycle Systems director Sean Lally.

He added: “With equipment constantly updating it can be difficult for a mechanic to be right up to date with the latest technologies in the market. With this qualification, students will only be working on the very latest kit from the factory.”

Students will be shown how to install and remove the groupsets, set up the different types of EPS group and be shown how to troubleshoot and diagnose any issues.

With spaces now available on a course beginning on September 25th, dealers and mechanics are encouraged to get in touch to secure a place early.

As an additional bonus to stores whose staff members achieve the accreditation, the business details will be passed to both Campagnolo and to the relevant importers and wholesalers. The accredited stores will then be given access to the EPS product and all EPS systems that they fit and maintain will be covered under the terms of Campagnolo’s warranty.

To be considered for the course, students should be qualified to a Level Three Diploma in Cycle Maintenance and possess mechanical experience in the field. However, those without this qualification will be accepted if they have considerable advanced road bike experience.

The course is a one-day intensive run by expert Campagnolo accredited and approved tutors and costs £200 + VAT which includes a Cycle Systems Certification and a Campagnolo accredited certificate.

Please call Sean Lally at Cycle Systems Academy on 020 7608 2577 for more details and to book your place.

www.cycle-systems.co.uk

Oh, we do like to be beside the seaside. The sea air really puts Mystery Shopper in the mood for applying some pier pressure to the retailers of Hastings. With varied terrain, we’re in search of something speedy, yet capable of tackling some steep inclines…

High Tide Cycles
Purely a business handling second-hand refurbished cycles, High Tide were a sociable bunch, talking Tour de France, cycling Hastings and much in between.
With chit chat flowing nicely, it was time to talk about a bike to get Mystery Shopper from A to B in the minimal amount of time. With just one yet to be refurbished bike in stock, there wasn’t a whole load to sell on, though the assistant pulled the cycle from the window and began to detail what was right and what was wrong with the bike. The garish paintjob could only be described as ‘technicolour dreamcoat’, but the shop assistant wasn’t shy of pointing out the paint defects and suggested a respray by the new owner.
Having done his best to help me see past the aesthetics, the helper began to sell on the positives, pointing to the sturdy wheels adorned to the bike and telling me ‘they’ll last and last’.
Sensing this particular bike might not be my cup of tea, he urged me to check back regularly, as racing bikes ‘come and go like buses’. Helpful throughout, but a bit of a lottery as to whether you’ll find the right bike here.

Hasting Cycles (Seafront)
Hosting a closing down sale, the seafront store has until now provided a hire bike and sales service to the town’s population.
With the clearout well underway, I was browsing some vintage stock when the assistant approached with a friendly “excellent bike in its day, that one”. From there the conversation flowed freely as the helper shared his knowledge of the 1957 Raleigh gents bike. I was informed of the wheel and tyre upgrade that had been added by the shop and the workings of the gearhub, which given the bargain price, began to make the bike seem like a steal.
It became hard to resist the knowledgeable sales pitch, nonetheless, I was after something a little ‘faster’ and as such was pointed to the town centre branch of Hastings Cycles.

Hastings Cycles
Having just come from the seaside branch where I had found some bargains for the eagle-eyed vintage bike shopper, I was told to expect the answer to my needs at the town centre store.
It was perhaps a bit disappointing that the assistant missed out on my hints that I had a budget nearer to £1,000 than the £300 bike largely focused on. Once I had made it clear I was after a certain level of performance, we moved onto a number of catalogues, though I was advised that I shouldn’t ‘spend too much’ as I’ll only be paying for less weight past the £500 mark.
I was handed a business card and told to have a look at the shop’s website for more detailed information and a wider range. This technique could easily lead to the shopper going elsewhere while Googling bike details.
To his credit, the assistant was knowledgeable and accurately described subtle differences in material specs and how they would affect a bike’s characteristics.

Halfords
As a Metro branch, stock was limited and as expected staff pointed me to the larger Bexhill branch.
Despite the larger, better stocked, neighbour, my helper didn’t hesitate to have a go at selling me a Carrera Kraken at £449. It wasn’t long before the helper was using my quoted budget to show me what a greater investment could see me riding on the store’s computer.
Comparing and contrasting against the Carrera, I was steered towards the Boardman range and was told that, should I choose to spend at the upper end of my budget, the upgraded components would quickly change the enjoyment I could get from the ride. Jargon began to slip into the pitch, yet it’s actually quite refreshing to receive a such a level of knowledge in Halfords. Understanding my geometry preferences and taking on board my expectations of the bike, it was wisely suggested I head over to Bexhill to see the bikes in the flesh. It was advised that I could order a bike into the Metro branch for my convenience if needed.

Bells Bicycles (Star Store)
Boutique bike shop Bells Bicycles has been in a number of locations in Hastings prior to settling on a busy side street just off the promenade.
Selling purely on style and function, the store was busy with both window shoppers and genuine custom during our visit. Joining the back of the queue, I had plenty of time to browse, but the store owner approached me as soon as she had a spare moment.
Telling me that she had spotted the Tokyo Bikes brand while in London and has since added one to her own stable of bikes, the assistant grabbed a set of allen keys and asked me to sling a leg over. Adjusting the saddle height while discussing her own experiences of the bike, I was quickly re-assured that my maintenance concerns were not to be worried about due to the simple spec of the bike and the puncture resistant tyres.
If I was being picky, the only fault I could pick with Bells would be not asking for any form of ID while offering me a test ride. Other than that, the owner’s enthusiasm and knowledge of her stock had me sold.

Summary
If a defining word had to be picked to sum up Hasting's cycle stores, it would be enthusiasm. Each store displayed service with a smile and while that doesn't sell bicycles on its own, it certainly helps warm the customer to a store.
Halfords' assistant proved once again that employing the right people for a role can make a real difference with a chain store business.
Lots of second hand bikes for sale on this visit and why not? They may not be all bells and whistles all of the time, but in this economy where budgets are stretched, refurbished cycles can be a lifeline for many.

The Prime Minister has announced his plan to provide a National Schools Award Scheme to promote more cycling and walking to school. 

This will be funded by the cycle industry through its Bike Hub levy, and the project will be led by the Bicycle Association with the Department for Transport.

The Prime Minister’s initiative will bring together a number of national organisations which already have wide experience of working with schools in cycle training, walking projects, and in programmes to encourage behaviour change in travelling to school. The aim will be to capitalise on, and enhance, existing schemes, such as the “Big Pedal” and Cycling Scotland’s “Cycling Friendly Schools”, as well as Walk to School Week, to generate a new national momentum for cycling and walking to school through the leadership of the Prime Minister.

The Schools Award Scheme is intended to provide a lasting and practical legacy for everyday cycling inspired by the UK’s cycling success at the 2012 Olympics.

Phillip Darnton, executive director of the Bicycle Association, told BikeBiz that the details of the programme have yet to be finalised: "We are very pleased to be working with the DfT to develop the scheme; as yet we have not settled any of the details. We are planning to work with TfL, Cycling Scotland (who run a cycle-friendly schools scheme already), with Living Streets (who have a walk to school week) and, of course, with Sustrans who already run the Big Pedal with funding from Bike Hub. 

We are also engaging with the Youth Sports Trust, the Association of Bikeability Schemes (cycling instructors nationally) and other organisations such as the CTC to design a scheme which will appeal to as many schools as possible up and down the country."

In case you missed the announcement earlier this week, the Secretary of State for Transport also revealed that funding for Bikeability, the National Standard Cycle Training programme, would continue at least until 2016. This is a key component in training children to ride confidently and safely. About 50 per cent of young people expressing the wish to cycle to school – and with most schools being within walking or easy cycling distance – the National Schools Award Scheme will provide a new incentive to revive the cycling habit, with an immediate impact on children’s health and wellbeing, as well as a reduction in congestion and pollution from the school run.

On behalf of the cycle industry, the Bicycle Association is committed to help deliver the Prime Ministers ambition for cycling.