Orange
July saw Orange Mountain Bikes release updates to its ever-popular trail bike combo; the Five and Crush. Both models see a number of modifications for 2014 with the move to a 27.5inch wheel size being the biggest change, along with the adoption of 1.5inch headtubes and E-mount front mech mounts.

The best-selling 140mm travel Five will be offered in the usual S, Pro and SE specifications along with a new RS version which comes equipped with SRAM’s 11 speed X01 groupset, RockShox suspension and routing for a Reverb Stealth dropper post. Initially limited to just 50 bikes, the RS sells for £4,199.99 and is expected to be a very much in demand version of a very in demand model.

Prices start at £2,499.99 for the S through to £4,499.99 for the SE with plenty of upgrade options in between.
The Crush offers all the thrills of the Five just without the rear suspension. Built to take a beating yet scale the climbs with ease, the Crush packs a lot of lightweight grunt between its 140mm RockShox Sektor Gold fork and its 10 speed SLX rear mech. The Crush retails for £1,299.99.

Both models are available to order now from Orange. For more details go to www.orangebikes.co.uk
01422 311113

Met
Met’s Bluegrass Grizzly Lite back protector hits the £119.99 price point and amounts to a lightweight d3o core inside a stretch vest that keeps it in place. The Grizzly Lite is pitched as ideal for enduro riders and anyone who gives high priority to freedom of movement. The lightweight d30 insert has parallel grooves that increase its capacity to follow the body’s movement. There’s additional lower back protection courtesy of a high density EVA form insert and it all has a minimalist design, allowing for a hydration pack to be worn comfortably.
All enquiries should be directed to met.uk@met-helmets.com

Moore Large
The Forme MTB range has expanded to 14 models for the 2014 season. The 2013 Winscar 29 series has performed well in practise, being part of Mountain Bike National Series victories from Kenda sponsored athletes. The three 2014 Winscar models range from £1,600 topping out at £3,500 with the flagship Winscar 29C model featuring a Shimano XTR groupset, Rock Shox Sid World Cup Fork and Mavic Crossmax SLR wheel set. Forme will also be revealing seven brand new 650B sized models for 2014. The full range can be viewed across the UK at the Forme Product Launch Roadshow taking place in September and October.

Kenda has new tread patterns in ‘Honey Badger’ and ‘Tri Bite’, great for braking performance and optimised grip. This all-rounder tyre is designed to be pushed hard and push back harder and is available in 29”, 27.5” and 26”. The ‘24 Seven’ is a new lightweight low profile tyre. Nearly all of Kenda’s tyres are available in sealant compatible versions. As well as having a full range of 29er tyres, Kenda have this year introduced a huge range of 650b tyres.

For more information on the ranges contact your area manager or email sales@moorelarge.co.uk.

Zyro
Abus’ Hill Bill (£89.99) is aggressively designed with an additional rear spoiler, coming with a double shell in-mould construction for durable fusion of two pieces outer shell and shock absorbing EPS. Fitting comes with the new ZoomPro 2 slider adjustment system, while increased stability is provided through Abus Safety Tech (AST) structure strengthening. Excellent ventilation is achieved through 12 air inlets and seven outlets while removable and washable padding provide maximum comfort.

Abus’ S-Force Peak (£59.99) is pitched at the trail, inspired in styling by the Canadian MTB mecca of Whistler. This in-moulded, 24 vent offering has a reflective trim and ZoomPro precision adjustment system.

Bell’s Super helmet (£99.99) straddles the difference between DH and XC for an all-mountain offering. Incorporating eyewear and goggle management, camera integration, lower rear coverage and advanced ventilation, the Super is purpose-built for the enduro racer, aggressive trail rider and epic rides.

Tifosi Optics has had another bumper year with Zyro, we’re told, thanks to an expanded range and new point of sale units both being snapped up by retailers throughout the UK and Ireland. To capitalize on the summer season, Zyro have launched Tifosi’s new Clarion collection now. Four interchangeable models, including the all-new Podium XC, are now available and all include a Clarion lens.

Find out more about those directly from Zyro on 01845 521742

Cube
The new Stereo line has a number of 650b-sized rides arriving. Agile and fast due to newly designed geometry and kinematics, suspension stays neutral whether climbing or pedalling on the flats and even the paint has been specially selected to be super light. Without rear shock, the 650b frame is close to 1,800g, the frame being 700g light than last year. Of course there’s 29ers too, like the HPC 140 SLT, with 140mm of travel.

Cube also has offerings for protective clothing, namely knee and elbow pads which make use of Armourgel material. Unfamiliar with Armourgel? This material is new on the market and is becoming more popular among bikers because the material stiffens upon impact to provide protection, but flex with the musculature of the body when protection is not required, making the pads safe and comfortable. Clever, eh?
0031 103 403 500

Fli
O'Neal’s STV compression jerseys come in two options: short or long sleeve. Both feature chest and rib biofoam protectors with SaS-Tec foam protectors on the back, shoulder and elbows (no elbows on the short sleeve obviously).

Super lightweight, the jerseys are comfortable and breathable – ideal for enduro racers or anyone looking for a lightweight body armour alternative.

Also via Fli in the MTB protection sector comes the Orbiter AM helmets. They feature the Fid-lock magnetic chin strap closure, operated by a single hand and a crown lock with tightening dial. It look aggressive and we’re assured it’s a comfortable fit with good airflow. Find out more from Fli.
01457 873 923

Sealskinz
Mountain bikers might not need these so much while the heatwave persists, but SealSkinz’ lightweight waterproof overshoes will surely be a tempting option once things get back to normal in the UK. In-store from August, the overshoes are light, soft and easy to roll up and carry. Obviously they are made of waterproof material. They’re also fleece lined and open under foot with strong and long adjustable Velcro straps under arch. A silicone leg gripper ensures they are close fitting and keep water out, while a storm flap inside the zip aids water protection. The kevlar toe offers all-important abrasion resistance. There’s reflectivity too, via the YKK brand reflective zipper.
www.sealskinz.com

Coyote
There are 19 models in the 2013 Coyote range retailing from £199.99 up to £529.99. Hitting that top price point is the 27-speed 29er Turnpike. Featuring lightweight alloy tubing with a hydroformed down tube, the Turnpike is kitted out with a Suntour XCT V3 29er fork with disc mount, mechanical lock out and 100mm travel. It comes in three frame sizes (16, 18 and 20-inch).

There are four other alloy gents 29ers available and a hi ten 29er too. The rest of the range includes hi ten dirt jump bikes, as well as steel and alloy 26-inch for men and women. For more details or to become a stockist call 0161 727 8508

Paligap
The Montari 29 (£600) is an all-rounder, catering for all types of MTB riding from a full day of single track to a relaxed cruise on local paths. On the Montari riders benefit from a bunch of design cues borrowed from the Aggressor range, but can still enjoy a bike built for all skill levels.

The Montari 29.2 comes with 29-inch wheels, hydraulic disc brakes and a 27-speed Shimano component group.

For a more substantial slice of cash, Avanti’s Coppermine (priced at £2,500) is designed to take on more than most 29ers. Sporting upgraded Fox suspension and fast rolling 29-inch Mavic wheels, the bike smooths out everything it encounters. Named after one of New Zealand’s most iconic trails, the Coppermine enjoys 120mm of plush rear travel from the Tru4 suspension system. It’s also strong and durable with custom formed tubes, a tapered 1.5 inch head tube and a rear triangle firmly bound with a Syntace X12 axle system.
01454 313116

Madison
The Genesis High Latitude 2x10 uses the 2013 Shimano SLX drivetrain including the Shadow Plus rear mech. This 29er has been specced with dedicated trail riders in mind, with durability and reliability high on the agenda. The fork is a Rockshox Recon Gold TK Solo Air 80mm and the RRP is £1,499.

Saracen’s Kili Expert (17-inch) retails at £1,199.99 and is trail focused too. Using Saracen’s more conventional race frame and geometry, with 100mm travel in the Rockshox Recon Silver TK Solo Air, the lowered front end has a taped headtube and added 10mm to the reach.

Protection is covered by Forcefield, offering the Zeus Elbow protector for £69.99 (large). Perfect for MTB, it is ergonomically designed for top comfort, reacting to the body’s natural movement while still protecting from impact. It’s fitted with the all new CE level 2 approved Forcefield NeT Armour which is removable, light, flexible and breathable. It’s held in place with compression and adjustable elasticated straps, backed with non-slip rubberised gripper tape. The brand also provides the Zeus Knee Protector, at £74.99 (large).

www.madisonb2b.co.uk

Hotlines
Ghost’s AMR Lector 2978 is a 29er with a completely redesigned frame. The geometry has been adapted to the larger wheels through a shorter head tube and a low bottom bracket. Short 440mm chainstays maintain an agile riding performance and thanks to the 29 inch wheelset, Ghost was able to reduce the travel to 100 mm at the rear and 110 mm up front. This makes the AMR even more responsive without compromising on comfort. The AMR 29 range is available in either an aluminium or carbon (Lector) frame in sizes 40-56 cm. In addition, the carbon models will also feature electronically controlled E:I  shock suspension.

For protection, iXS’ has answered the call of the all-mountain and enduro riders with this new ultra-light Flow Knee and Elbow Pad range. The Flow pads take minimal protection to a whole new level weighing in at about 300g per pair (knee) but still with enough padding for serious abuse. Meanwhile the Carve is ideally suited to Gravity-orientated riders, offering greater protection with a larger coverage X-Matter impact material over knees and elbows. 0131 319 1444

2pure
Ibis’ new Ripley 29 retails at £2,629 RRP for frame and shock, coming in blue or black and green. Hot on the heels of the Ripley, Ibis has just released the Mojo HDR, the successor to the popular and highly regarded Mojo HD, taking its technology and versatility a few steps further. The HDR and the HD feature identical travel (160mm), the same suspension (the dw-link), and the same proven geometry.

The HDR adds more diversity to its menu – you can set it up with 160mm or 180mm front forks. The Mojo HD is the longer travel bigger brother to the Mojo and Mojo SL. The HD has 160mm of rear wheel travel, up 20mm from the other Mojos. The Mojo Carbon, introduced in 2005, pioneered efficient, lightweight long travel suspension, blurring the lines between those previously separate categories. The Mojo HD takes this concept a step further still, giving riders another level of skill and confidence. 0844 811 2001

Tiger Cycles
Tiger Cycles’ new range of alloy and steel framed mountain bikes are tailored for the rider on a budget but still looking for the quality components. Every bike is fitted with sealed cartridge B/B and fully Shimano equipped throughout. Sizes now available are from 15-inch all the way up to 22-inch frames.
For details please call 01683 220837 or email info@tigercycles.com

Is your brand missing from this guide? It's simple to make sure you are included in future – just email us at BikeBiz@intentmedia.co.uk. Once we've got your details we'll add you to our monthly mailing list alerting you to future feature opportunities, so you'll never miss out again. As the meerkats say, 'simples'.

Zyro has launched a new consumer website aimed at raising their brand's profile online.

The new site has been rebuilt from the ground up giving consumers and for launch a number of brands including ABUS, Camelbak, Cateye, Bell, Giro, and Easton have all got their own microsites.

Consumers also have the ability to navigate via brand or category, allowing them the freedom to search for product in a way that best suits their needs. The dealer locator has also been upgraded, and now uses an interactive map to highlight consumers nearest approved dealers.

“The new consumer website is an exciting step for Zyro," said Zyro marketing manager Jonathan Sherwood. "We have put a lot of effort into making our brands the hero of the site, and we will continue to add content rich features for all of our brands. Developing the site in house has given us a lot of flexibility, and means we can continue to add functionality to the platform as we move forward."

Along with the brand and product information consumers can also stay up to date on the latest news and reviews, as well as link to Zyro’s social media channels.

The site is now live at www.zyro.co.uk

London Mayor Boris Johnson, in Melbourne, Australia, for a book festival, has ridden on one of the city's share bikes, but without a helmet. In Australia, people are legally obliged to wear helmets when cycling. Australian versions of city bike share schemes have largely failed to take off because of this compulsion.

Johnson told reporters Melbourne's bike share scheme could be rescued if Australia ditched its helmet law for cyclists.

He warned that enforcing a head protection policy threatened to kill off the initiative.

"It's not how we would have done it," he said, reports the Herald Sun.

"Obviously, it's up to Melbourne to decide what they want to do, but we took a very clear decision that it would be counterproductive," said London's mayor.

"I wanted to put the village back into London and create an environment where people felt safe cycling and safe cycling in numbers."

He added: "More and more of us will be living in cities over the next 50 years. But people want cities that are clean, green and which have a village feel."

Hundreds of bike shops across the UK have been enlisted to offer free bike health checks – 'an MOT for your bike' – as part of the Cycle to Work Day, taking place Thursday September 12th.

Bikes will be assessed by the shops where they'll be given a simple rating of either Green, Amber or Red: Green indicates the bike is in tip-top condition, whereas Amber or Red means it'd be advisable to book the bike into the workshop before the rider tackles their commute.

Participating retailers are listed here. Potential riders looking for a free bike health check can download a form here.

Launched by Cyclescheme and supported by British Cycling, Sustrans, Bicycle Association, Business in the Community and championed by multiple gold medal winning Paralympian Dame Sarah Storey, Cycle to Work Day aims to highlight the benefits of cycling as a means of transport and encourage more people to cycle, more often

The Cycle to Work Day website offers would-be commuters the ability to pledge to ride on September 12th. All those who have pledged to ride on the day will be entered into a free prize draw to win hundreds of prizes, including a top prize of a Raleigh Revenio 2.

 www.cycletoworkday.org for a range of cycling advice, resources and hundreds of prizes up for grabs.

Dame Sarah Storey has shared some tips for those taking part on a safe and enjoyable commute:

1.    Go at your own pace – Over 50 per cent of commuting journeys are under 5 miles, so don’t worry that you won’t make it into work on time – most cycle commutes are less than 30 minutes.
2.    Take a healthy snack – Keeping your energy up when you’re cycling is important. Have a healthy snack when you get into work and drink plenty of water and you’ll start the day feeling fantastic.
3.    Be aware – Always make sure you can hear what is going on around you. If you are making a turn,
left or right, always look, look again and then signal.
4.    Enjoy it! – Cycling is fantastic for health and fitness. It really makes you feel alive and wakes you up if you’re feeling a little bit tired. It’s a fantastic way of being and staying fit.

Hotlines has revealed a brand new shop in shop concept available to current and prospective Lapierre dealers.

With the road catalogue having grown over 100 per cent during the 2013 season under Hotlines, the distributor is now offering retailers the chance to host dedicated for 5, 10 and 30 square metre plots in store, with the cost of the installation and POS shared between Hotlines and the dealer. Dealers have access to the programme from as little as £1,050.

Ed Ibbetson, Lapierre brand manager commented: “As the market becomes ever more cluttered with brands it’s more important than ever to have a strong presence in store. The shop in shop concept is both flexible and affordable and offers good use of space allowing the dealer to present a good number of bikes per square metre and still have strong branding. The quality of these displays is also fantastic and makes it easy for staff to access a bike if a customer wishes to look in more detail.”

Hotlines are taking orders for the shop in shop concept right now for delivery in January 2014.  Interested dealers should contact their area sales rep on the numbers below. 

South West and Wales: Kelvin Lawton 07878 361841

South East: Paul Lasenby 07713 097695

North: Graham Moore 07791 844138

Scotland: Gregor Wilson 0131 319 1444

Northern Ireland: Declan Deehan  0131 319 3617

www.hotlines-uk.com

sales@hotlines-uk.com

The GoCycle G2 frame has to carry a Bluetooth chip that will allow users to control the output of the e-bike's motor via a downloadable mobile phone app.

Released today, GoCycleConnect - free for both Android and iPhone users - will allow the user to flick between one of three pre-set driving modes (City, Eco or On Demand), or edit in 'Custom' mode to fine-tune the motor assistance for a workout, or a no-sweat commute.

Additional features of the app include the ability to set the legal speed for the rider’s local region, remotely view the charge status and health of the Gocycle battery, download the latest software to the Gocycle’s controller, and upload the Gocycle’s “maintenance log” to the tech support team for remote diagnostics.

CEO Paul Stratta commented: “With Gocycle, it’s all about maximising the comfort and enjoyment of the commute to meet the demands of a particular day, which can include many different factors such as distance, weather and wind, weight carried and the intensity of exercise desired.”

Gocycle's G2, with its suggested retail price of €3,499, is available for purchase through select resellers throughout the European Union and Switzerland (see www.gocycle.com/resellers), and directly through www.gocycle.com for UK customers.

Taiwan is full of companies that specialise in one thing, and do it well for the rest of the bike industry.  There are companies that just make mudguards, companies that only make chains and companies that only manufacture Titanium bolts.  Chia Cherne is one of these companies that has elevated the ‘mundane’ into a fashion statement. They started out making control lines (brake, gear cables and outers) – you'll know them as Jagwire, though these products are just one of their brands, they make OEM and other branded products too, expanding beyond simple cabling.

Chia Cherne was founded in 1986, and created the Jagwire marque in 1995, with the cachet of being ‘Designed in California’. Chia Cherne has three factories in China, one in Vietnam, one in Taiwan and a US and European office. Outwardly facing, the business is ‘All American’, inwardly the focus is accurate and controlled manufacturing.

There is a strong focus on the family within Chia Cherne, both with sharing and collaborating with other companies, and in fostering good relations with the employees and with the local community. Bike riding, both commuting and competitive is encouraged within the business.

Jagwire (a play on Jaguar and Wire – where Jaguar is considered a quality brand with a powerful image) has evolved from just ‘outers and cables’, and offers a multitude of specific control systems for road, race, improved sealing MTB cable and Hydraulic applications. This range of products also come in a broad palette of colours to suit customisation at assembly and after market. 

One of the key reliability issues when servicing and maintaining a bike is control system performance, a poorly changing rear derailleur or dirt infested sticky cable can ruin a ride, even worse a race. Jagwire develops products designed to have better performance and better aesthetics than you are replacing, that are designed to be easy to work with, and come in kits so that everything you need is there in one place. The ethos is that if you have to replace, why not upgrade to a better performing brand, or add that touch of colour to accessorise and personalise your steed.

Jagwire also offer a range of workshop tools and accessories such as hose cutters, crimpers, brake pads, brake bleeding kits and fasteners for the home mechanic and the professional workshop. With very few exceptions, they have systems to cater for all your control needs. Oddly, I have MTB brakes that are an exception in terms of hose kits.

Chia Cherne became part of the Taiwanese 'A-Team' in 2004 (apparently you don't ask to join) and has learnt a lot about improving production, reducing waste and managing supplier relationships through links with Merida, Giant and other members of the A-Team. This collaborative approach has provided significant benefits to Chia Cherne, with a focus on quality, cost reduction and looking at the product needs of emerging categories (such as 29ers, E Shifting and Hydraulics), with the catchy philosophy of “Don’t wait – Innovate”. Now Chia Cherne deploys Total Quality Management, the Toyota Production System, Total Participative Management and 6 Sigma throughout the various facilities. These are all classic traits of highly evolved ‘A Team’ members, developing a lean, collaborative, waste reducing and ‘right first time’ approach to manufacturing. This is a very industrial environment with lots of heavy machinery, soap (lots of soap in Wire Manufacturing), heat, noise and sparks flying.  Whilst it is clean, this is not the typical clinical clean of the A-Team.

In the global marketplace, Jagwire recently had a ‘direct competitor’ pull out of control systems. As we reported, Gore Cables quit the business for a second time.  When I say direct competitor, I mean collaborator, as Gore was produced by Jagwire.  With less (almost no) aftermarket competition, Jagwire appear to be the de-facto choice in the sector, if you don’t want OE, or you want customisation.

You'll notice a change to the Jagwire logo too, in the cycling market, brand awareness is key.  The change is not revolutionary, which is probably a good thing, however it refreshes the brand while retaining the key identifiers within the packaging.

Jagwire is distributed in the UK via Moore Large

The brand new Sutton Bank Bikes cycling centre will open in the autumn thanks to a partnership between Pace Cycles and the North York Moors National Park Authority.
 
Located at the picturesque Sutton Bank top, the centre aims to encourage more people to cycle and enjoy the  landscape of the National Park which is, the blurb says, 'probably the best Park in the country for family cycling'.

The centre will include a café, visitor centre, retail sales, tuition and generally be a hub for cycling. Key to the project is the combining of a new 4.5-kilometre family cycle route taking cyclists along Sutton Bank cliff with the existing bridleway network. Built by National Park staff with permission of landowners in the area, the family trail links into many kilometres of waymarked and managed routes suitable for a wide variety of abilities.

"Two years in development this unique project reinforces North Yorkshire’s position as England’s premier cycling destination," said Adrian Carter of Pace Cycles. "Positioned at nearly 1000 feet high Sutton Bank Bikes spectacular location combines road rides on quiet country lanes with wild rides on the open moor, family friendly trails with technically challenging natural riding and a great café and visitor centre."

Building on the Tour de France legacy and the National Park getting behind cycling for all on the Park’s numerous scenic bridleways, roads and lanes, Sutton Bank Bikes will offer:

• Cycle hire
• Retail sales of mountain bikes and road bikes with a range of clothing and accessories as well as high quality repair and servicing
• Cycling tuition and skills development
• Events
• Guided and self-guided cycle rides for cyclists of all abilities, but particularly families and those returning or new to cycling
• Trailers and Tag-A-Long bikes for young children
• Tandem and Electric bikes
• A purpose built skills area 
• Bikewash arranged around the existing visitor centre, café and parking areas
• Due to its central location within a network of cycle friendly lanes, a series of road riding loops will be mapped out for the visitor. (Sutton Bank is also on Sustrans National Cycle Network route no. 656 see www.sustrans.org.uk for details).

Sutton Bank Bikes, which will be open all year round, aims to stress the educational side of the venture by engaging with the wider community, local authorities, schools, colleges and independent organisations. The partnership has the potential to make the new business a leading cycling centre of the north and to make Sutton Bank a ‘must visit’ destination, Pace said.

British Cycling has congratulated Southwark Council and its Olympic legacy following the launch of a new national standard BMX track in Burgess Park, London.

The £1.1 million track officially opened on Friday 16th, with Olympic hopeful Tre Wyhte and the Peckham BMX Club among the first to have a spin. Funding came from British Cycling, Mayor of London: Sports Facilities Fund and London Marathon Trust.

CK Flash, Peckham BMX club founder, said: "This is without a doubt nothing short of a blessing to Peckham BMX. I’m overwhelmed by the support from local people and businesses and I’m so grateful to Southwark Council, British Cycling and all the other funders who helped make our dreams.”

Former local resident Tre Whyte and promising Olympic rider, said: “I started out training at the Peckham track so I know what this means to the club and to young people in the area. Personally, it would have been amazing to have such a great facility in my local area when I was growing up. I’m sure so many young people are going to want to take up BMX riding, it’s a great sport and I’m proud that the borough I grew up in is investing in it in such a major way.”

Better Bankside, a business-owned promotional organisation, has installed an outdoor work station for the cyclists using Cycle Superhighway Seven through the Bankside district of London. Better Bankside's corporate colours are grey and pink so the BanksidePitstop has been painted an unmissable pink. The tool station - which is free to use - has its own Twitter account and is billed as "the UK's 1st on-street cycle fixing station."

BanksidePitstop uses the work stand and on-street pump designed by Cyclehoop of London. The work stand has eight tools, including tyre levers, adjustable spanner, multi-tool and screwdriver, tethered by cable.

Better Bankside is a Business Improvement District, a non-profit company limited by guarantee, run by and for its members. It has no share capital. Any surpluses generated are reinvested into the company's services. Better Bankside is the third BID in the UK. Better Bankside's members are the 480+ companies in the BID area who pay its annual levy.

Satellite navigation guru Garmin has today announced its first step in the action camera market.

The VIRB can record more than three hours of 1080p HD ('true HD') on one charg. It features a 1.4-inch Chroma colour display andon-board enhancement features like image stabilisation and lens distortion correction. High quality stills can be captured during filming. 

The VIRB Elite incorporates all those features, but in addition has built-in WiFi, data sensors and a high-sensitivity GPS. Both VIRB and VIRB Elite feature ANT+ connectivity for remote control with other compatible Garmin products, and VIRB Elite will support data transfer with other fitness sensors in addition.

VIRB and VIRB Elite will be widely available for purchase October 2013. The RRP for VIRB will be £269.99, and the RRP for VIRB Elite will be £349.99.

“Action cameras are growing rapidly in popularity, and VIRB has some game-changing key features—like a colour viewfinder display, extended battery life, optional GPS and compatibility with existing Garmin products—that set it apart from other cameras on the market,” said Martin Resch, product manager outdoor EMEA.

“Our customers already embrace an active lifestyle, whether they’re hikers, mountain bikers, skiers, boaters, or pilots, so a Garmin action camera is a compelling option to them. With GPS and enhanced wireless capabilities in VIRB Elite, users can capture not only what they were doing, but also where they were and how they did it—and then share it with their friends and family.”

• VIRB has a sleek, aerodynamic design and recording is simple via a slider switch.
• The rechargeable lithium-ion battery can record more than three hours of HD (1080p) video with one charge, and can be easily changed on the go.
• Features WideVü lens and high-res Chroma display to makes it easy to change menu settings, set-up and playback shots
• Display uses reflective technology so it doesn’t drain the battery. The 1.4-inch screen uses ambient light (instead of a battery-draining backlight) to illuminate the screen and make it easy to see in bright sunlight.
• VIRB has an IPX-7 waterproof rating and can withstand accidental immersion in one meter of water for up to 30 minutes. An optional dive case is available for deep-sea adventures, as well as a wide variety of other rugged mounts to secure VIRB to handlebars, helmets, surfboards and more.
• An industry standard mounting adapter, making it easy for existing action camera users to get started with VIRB.

Video enhancement:

• The digital image stabilization technology corrects camera shakiness for smoother footage
• Lens distortion correction feature gives users the option to automatically remove the fish-eye look that is common with action cameras.
• VIRB can take 16 megapixel stills with photo burst and time lapse options, including taking stills while recording video.
• VIRB also has a micro HDMI output for convenient video playback and a microSD slot that can hold up to 64GB card (64GB microSD card can hold over seven hours of 1080p video).

VIRB Elite incorporates all these features, as well as:

• High-sensitivity GP, accelerometer, altimeter and WiFi. WiFi capabilities allow users to connect to the free mobile applications for iPhone and Android.
• VIRB Elite comes equipped with specific activity profiles so users can track location, speed, elevation, heart rate (monitor sold separately) and more while recording. This data can be reviewed right on the device, or can be embedded into their video during the editing process to take the VIRB experience to the next level.

To complement VIRB Elite, Garmin is launching a free mobile application for preview, playback and remote functionality on your smartphone, along with a free desktop software application to edit and upload VIRB and VIRB Elite videos. With this software, users can easily edit their footage and embed sensor data in the video, then share with family and friends or upload to social media sites such as YouTube, Facebook and Instagram.

Zyro has launched a new consumer website aimed at raising their brand's profile online.

The new site has been rebuilt from the ground up giving consumers and for launch a number of brands including ABUS, Camelbak, Cateye, Bell, Giro, and Easton have all got their own microsites.

Consumers also have the ability to navigate via brand or category, allowing them the freedom to search for product in a way that best suits their needs. The dealer locator has also been upgraded, and now uses an interactive map to highlight consumers nearest approved dealers.

“The new consumer website is an exciting step for Zyro," said Zyro marketing manager Jonathan Sherwood. "We have put a lot of effort into making our brands the hero of the site, and we will continue to add content rich features for all of our brands. Developing the site in house has given us a lot of flexibility, and means we can continue to add functionality to the platform as we move forward."

Along with the brand and product information consumers can also stay up to date on the latest news and reviews, as well as link to Zyro’s social media channels.

The site is now live at www.zyro.co.uk

London Mayor Boris Johnson, in Melbourne, Australia, for a book festival, has ridden on one of the city's share bikes, but without a helmet. In Australia, people are legally obliged to wear helmets when cycling. Australian versions of city bike share schemes have largely failed to take off because of this compulsion.

Johnson told reporters Melbourne's bike share scheme could be rescued if Australia ditched its helmet law for cyclists.

He warned that enforcing a head protection policy threatened to kill off the initiative.

"It's not how we would have done it," he said, reports the Herald Sun.

"Obviously, it's up to Melbourne to decide what they want to do, but we took a very clear decision that it would be counterproductive," said London's mayor.

"I wanted to put the village back into London and create an environment where people felt safe cycling and safe cycling in numbers."

He added: "More and more of us will be living in cities over the next 50 years. But people want cities that are clean, green and which have a village feel."

Hundreds of bike shops across the UK have been enlisted to offer free bike health checks – 'an MOT for your bike' – as part of the Cycle to Work Day, taking place Thursday September 12th.

Bikes will be assessed by the shops where they'll be given a simple rating of either Green, Amber or Red: Green indicates the bike is in tip-top condition, whereas Amber or Red means it'd be advisable to book the bike into the workshop before the rider tackles their commute.

Participating retailers are listed here. Potential riders looking for a free bike health check can download a form here.

Launched by Cyclescheme and supported by British Cycling, Sustrans, Bicycle Association, Business in the Community and championed by multiple gold medal winning Paralympian Dame Sarah Storey, Cycle to Work Day aims to highlight the benefits of cycling as a means of transport and encourage more people to cycle, more often

The Cycle to Work Day website offers would-be commuters the ability to pledge to ride on September 12th. All those who have pledged to ride on the day will be entered into a free prize draw to win hundreds of prizes, including a top prize of a Raleigh Revenio 2.

 www.cycletoworkday.org for a range of cycling advice, resources and hundreds of prizes up for grabs.

Dame Sarah Storey has shared some tips for those taking part on a safe and enjoyable commute:

1.    Go at your own pace – Over 50 per cent of commuting journeys are under 5 miles, so don’t worry that you won’t make it into work on time – most cycle commutes are less than 30 minutes.
2.    Take a healthy snack – Keeping your energy up when you’re cycling is important. Have a healthy snack when you get into work and drink plenty of water and you’ll start the day feeling fantastic.
3.    Be aware – Always make sure you can hear what is going on around you. If you are making a turn,
left or right, always look, look again and then signal.
4.    Enjoy it! – Cycling is fantastic for health and fitness. It really makes you feel alive and wakes you up if you’re feeling a little bit tired. It’s a fantastic way of being and staying fit.

Hotlines has revealed a brand new shop in shop concept available to current and prospective Lapierre dealers.

With the road catalogue having grown over 100 per cent during the 2013 season under Hotlines, the distributor is now offering retailers the chance to host dedicated for 5, 10 and 30 square metre plots in store, with the cost of the installation and POS shared between Hotlines and the dealer. Dealers have access to the programme from as little as £1,050.

Ed Ibbetson, Lapierre brand manager commented: “As the market becomes ever more cluttered with brands it’s more important than ever to have a strong presence in store. The shop in shop concept is both flexible and affordable and offers good use of space allowing the dealer to present a good number of bikes per square metre and still have strong branding. The quality of these displays is also fantastic and makes it easy for staff to access a bike if a customer wishes to look in more detail.”

Hotlines are taking orders for the shop in shop concept right now for delivery in January 2014.  Interested dealers should contact their area sales rep on the numbers below. 

South West and Wales: Kelvin Lawton 07878 361841

South East: Paul Lasenby 07713 097695

North: Graham Moore 07791 844138

Scotland: Gregor Wilson 0131 319 1444

Northern Ireland: Declan Deehan  0131 319 3617

www.hotlines-uk.com

sales@hotlines-uk.com

The GoCycle G2 frame has to carry a Bluetooth chip that will allow users to control the output of the e-bike's motor via a downloadable mobile phone app.

Released today, GoCycleConnect - free for both Android and iPhone users - will allow the user to flick between one of three pre-set driving modes (City, Eco or On Demand), or edit in 'Custom' mode to fine-tune the motor assistance for a workout, or a no-sweat commute.

Additional features of the app include the ability to set the legal speed for the rider’s local region, remotely view the charge status and health of the Gocycle battery, download the latest software to the Gocycle’s controller, and upload the Gocycle’s “maintenance log” to the tech support team for remote diagnostics.

CEO Paul Stratta commented: “With Gocycle, it’s all about maximising the comfort and enjoyment of the commute to meet the demands of a particular day, which can include many different factors such as distance, weather and wind, weight carried and the intensity of exercise desired.”

Gocycle's G2, with its suggested retail price of €3,499, is available for purchase through select resellers throughout the European Union and Switzerland (see www.gocycle.com/resellers), and directly through www.gocycle.com for UK customers.

Orange
July saw Orange Mountain Bikes release updates to its ever-popular trail bike combo; the Five and Crush. Both models see a number of modifications for 2014 with the move to a 27.5inch wheel size being the biggest change, along with the adoption of 1.5inch headtubes and E-mount front mech mounts.

The best-selling 140mm travel Five will be offered in the usual S, Pro and SE specifications along with a new RS version which comes equipped with SRAM’s 11 speed X01 groupset, RockShox suspension and routing for a Reverb Stealth dropper post. Initially limited to just 50 bikes, the RS sells for £4,199.99 and is expected to be a very much in demand version of a very in demand model.

Prices start at £2,499.99 for the S through to £4,499.99 for the SE with plenty of upgrade options in between.
The Crush offers all the thrills of the Five just without the rear suspension. Built to take a beating yet scale the climbs with ease, the Crush packs a lot of lightweight grunt between its 140mm RockShox Sektor Gold fork and its 10 speed SLX rear mech. The Crush retails for £1,299.99.

Both models are available to order now from Orange. For more details go to www.orangebikes.co.uk
01422 311113

Met
Met’s Bluegrass Grizzly Lite back protector hits the £119.99 price point and amounts to a lightweight d3o core inside a stretch vest that keeps it in place. The Grizzly Lite is pitched as ideal for enduro riders and anyone who gives high priority to freedom of movement. The lightweight d30 insert has parallel grooves that increase its capacity to follow the body’s movement. There’s additional lower back protection courtesy of a high density EVA form insert and it all has a minimalist design, allowing for a hydration pack to be worn comfortably.
All enquiries should be directed to met.uk@met-helmets.com

Moore Large
The Forme MTB range has expanded to 14 models for the 2014 season. The 2013 Winscar 29 series has performed well in practise, being part of Mountain Bike National Series victories from Kenda sponsored athletes. The three 2014 Winscar models range from £1,600 topping out at £3,500 with the flagship Winscar 29C model featuring a Shimano XTR groupset, Rock Shox Sid World Cup Fork and Mavic Crossmax SLR wheel set. Forme will also be revealing seven brand new 650B sized models for 2014. The full range can be viewed across the UK at the Forme Product Launch Roadshow taking place in September and October.

Kenda has new tread patterns in ‘Honey Badger’ and ‘Tri Bite’, great for braking performance and optimised grip. This all-rounder tyre is designed to be pushed hard and push back harder and is available in 29”, 27.5” and 26”. The ‘24 Seven’ is a new lightweight low profile tyre. Nearly all of Kenda’s tyres are available in sealant compatible versions. As well as having a full range of 29er tyres, Kenda have this year introduced a huge range of 650b tyres.

For more information on the ranges contact your area manager or email sales@moorelarge.co.uk.

Zyro
Abus’ Hill Bill (£89.99) is aggressively designed with an additional rear spoiler, coming with a double shell in-mould construction for durable fusion of two pieces outer shell and shock absorbing EPS. Fitting comes with the new ZoomPro 2 slider adjustment system, while increased stability is provided through Abus Safety Tech (AST) structure strengthening. Excellent ventilation is achieved through 12 air inlets and seven outlets while removable and washable padding provide maximum comfort.

Abus’ S-Force Peak (£59.99) is pitched at the trail, inspired in styling by the Canadian MTB mecca of Whistler. This in-moulded, 24 vent offering has a reflective trim and ZoomPro precision adjustment system.

Bell’s Super helmet (£99.99) straddles the difference between DH and XC for an all-mountain offering. Incorporating eyewear and goggle management, camera integration, lower rear coverage and advanced ventilation, the Super is purpose-built for the enduro racer, aggressive trail rider and epic rides.

Tifosi Optics has had another bumper year with Zyro, we’re told, thanks to an expanded range and new point of sale units both being snapped up by retailers throughout the UK and Ireland. To capitalize on the summer season, Zyro have launched Tifosi’s new Clarion collection now. Four interchangeable models, including the all-new Podium XC, are now available and all include a Clarion lens.

Find out more about those directly from Zyro on 01845 521742

Cube
The new Stereo line has a number of 650b-sized rides arriving. Agile and fast due to newly designed geometry and kinematics, suspension stays neutral whether climbing or pedalling on the flats and even the paint has been specially selected to be super light. Without rear shock, the 650b frame is close to 1,800g, the frame being 700g light than last year. Of course there’s 29ers too, like the HPC 140 SLT, with 140mm of travel.

Cube also has offerings for protective clothing, namely knee and elbow pads which make use of Armourgel material. Unfamiliar with Armourgel? This material is new on the market and is becoming more popular among bikers because the material stiffens upon impact to provide protection, but flex with the musculature of the body when protection is not required, making the pads safe and comfortable. Clever, eh?
0031 103 403 500

Fli
O'Neal’s STV compression jerseys come in two options: short or long sleeve. Both feature chest and rib biofoam protectors with SaS-Tec foam protectors on the back, shoulder and elbows (no elbows on the short sleeve obviously).

Super lightweight, the jerseys are comfortable and breathable – ideal for enduro racers or anyone looking for a lightweight body armour alternative.

Also via Fli in the MTB protection sector comes the Orbiter AM helmets. They feature the Fid-lock magnetic chin strap closure, operated by a single hand and a crown lock with tightening dial. It look aggressive and we’re assured it’s a comfortable fit with good airflow. Find out more from Fli.
01457 873 923

Sealskinz
Mountain bikers might not need these so much while the heatwave persists, but SealSkinz’ lightweight waterproof overshoes will surely be a tempting option once things get back to normal in the UK. In-store from August, the overshoes are light, soft and easy to roll up and carry. Obviously they are made of waterproof material. They’re also fleece lined and open under foot with strong and long adjustable Velcro straps under arch. A silicone leg gripper ensures they are close fitting and keep water out, while a storm flap inside the zip aids water protection. The kevlar toe offers all-important abrasion resistance. There’s reflectivity too, via the YKK brand reflective zipper.
www.sealskinz.com

Coyote
There are 19 models in the 2013 Coyote range retailing from £199.99 up to £529.99. Hitting that top price point is the 27-speed 29er Turnpike. Featuring lightweight alloy tubing with a hydroformed down tube, the Turnpike is kitted out with a Suntour XCT V3 29er fork with disc mount, mechanical lock out and 100mm travel. It comes in three frame sizes (16, 18 and 20-inch).

There are four other alloy gents 29ers available and a hi ten 29er too. The rest of the range includes hi ten dirt jump bikes, as well as steel and alloy 26-inch for men and women. For more details or to become a stockist call 0161 727 8508

Paligap
The Montari 29 (£600) is an all-rounder, catering for all types of MTB riding from a full day of single track to a relaxed cruise on local paths. On the Montari riders benefit from a bunch of design cues borrowed from the Aggressor range, but can still enjoy a bike built for all skill levels.

The Montari 29.2 comes with 29-inch wheels, hydraulic disc brakes and a 27-speed Shimano component group.

For a more substantial slice of cash, Avanti’s Coppermine (priced at £2,500) is designed to take on more than most 29ers. Sporting upgraded Fox suspension and fast rolling 29-inch Mavic wheels, the bike smooths out everything it encounters. Named after one of New Zealand’s most iconic trails, the Coppermine enjoys 120mm of plush rear travel from the Tru4 suspension system. It’s also strong and durable with custom formed tubes, a tapered 1.5 inch head tube and a rear triangle firmly bound with a Syntace X12 axle system.
01454 313116

Madison
The Genesis High Latitude 2x10 uses the 2013 Shimano SLX drivetrain including the Shadow Plus rear mech. This 29er has been specced with dedicated trail riders in mind, with durability and reliability high on the agenda. The fork is a Rockshox Recon Gold TK Solo Air 80mm and the RRP is £1,499.

Saracen’s Kili Expert (17-inch) retails at £1,199.99 and is trail focused too. Using Saracen’s more conventional race frame and geometry, with 100mm travel in the Rockshox Recon Silver TK Solo Air, the lowered front end has a taped headtube and added 10mm to the reach.

Protection is covered by Forcefield, offering the Zeus Elbow protector for £69.99 (large). Perfect for MTB, it is ergonomically designed for top comfort, reacting to the body’s natural movement while still protecting from impact. It’s fitted with the all new CE level 2 approved Forcefield NeT Armour which is removable, light, flexible and breathable. It’s held in place with compression and adjustable elasticated straps, backed with non-slip rubberised gripper tape. The brand also provides the Zeus Knee Protector, at £74.99 (large).

www.madisonb2b.co.uk

Hotlines
Ghost’s AMR Lector 2978 is a 29er with a completely redesigned frame. The geometry has been adapted to the larger wheels through a shorter head tube and a low bottom bracket. Short 440mm chainstays maintain an agile riding performance and thanks to the 29 inch wheelset, Ghost was able to reduce the travel to 100 mm at the rear and 110 mm up front. This makes the AMR even more responsive without compromising on comfort. The AMR 29 range is available in either an aluminium or carbon (Lector) frame in sizes 40-56 cm. In addition, the carbon models will also feature electronically controlled E:I  shock suspension.

For protection, iXS’ has answered the call of the all-mountain and enduro riders with this new ultra-light Flow Knee and Elbow Pad range. The Flow pads take minimal protection to a whole new level weighing in at about 300g per pair (knee) but still with enough padding for serious abuse. Meanwhile the Carve is ideally suited to Gravity-orientated riders, offering greater protection with a larger coverage X-Matter impact material over knees and elbows. 0131 319 1444

2pure
Ibis’ new Ripley 29 retails at £2,629 RRP for frame and shock, coming in blue or black and green. Hot on the heels of the Ripley, Ibis has just released the Mojo HDR, the successor to the popular and highly regarded Mojo HD, taking its technology and versatility a few steps further. The HDR and the HD feature identical travel (160mm), the same suspension (the dw-link), and the same proven geometry.

The HDR adds more diversity to its menu – you can set it up with 160mm or 180mm front forks. The Mojo HD is the longer travel bigger brother to the Mojo and Mojo SL. The HD has 160mm of rear wheel travel, up 20mm from the other Mojos. The Mojo Carbon, introduced in 2005, pioneered efficient, lightweight long travel suspension, blurring the lines between those previously separate categories. The Mojo HD takes this concept a step further still, giving riders another level of skill and confidence. 0844 811 2001

Tiger Cycles
Tiger Cycles’ new range of alloy and steel framed mountain bikes are tailored for the rider on a budget but still looking for the quality components. Every bike is fitted with sealed cartridge B/B and fully Shimano equipped throughout. Sizes now available are from 15-inch all the way up to 22-inch frames.
For details please call 01683 220837 or email info@tigercycles.com

Is your brand missing from this guide? It's simple to make sure you are included in future – just email us at BikeBiz@intentmedia.co.uk. Once we've got your details we'll add you to our monthly mailing list alerting you to future feature opportunities, so you'll never miss out again. As the meerkats say, 'simples'.

It has been 15 months since Accell purchased Raleigh. Has there been one significant change that stands out for you above all others?
Accell’s management style is very low touch, so the biggest change has been behind the scenes in terms of financial and operational.

Culturally they are very IBD-orientated. You can see that if you look at their other operations in France, Holland, Germany, Italy, etc, and that culture starts to permeate into Raleigh, whereas Raleigh has always had feet in various camps.

Their style of management and approach to market has started to permeate too. That’s a big, but subtle thing. You don’t wake up in the morning and think ‘Right, we’re going to do it differently today’. If you were to pin it down to one thing I’d say it’s that.

In terms of marketing and the shift in our development period and timescales – they were underway anyway. We’ve recognised that we need to be on the same launch timescales as the other global brands so we compressed our lead times down to allow that to happen. Thankfully we’ve not sacrificed development opportunity or improvement to do it.

What can you tell us about the new Raleigh ranges and how they’ve been received?
The reaction has been fantastic – I know everyone who sits in front of you says that – but we moved on a big step with the ‘13 range. The 2014 line-up is about consolidating that position and filling in the missing gaps in the range. We’re happy enough to say that we’re now at the point where it is evolution, not revolution. In the last two years we’ve massively changed our personnel, moving new people in and got more suppliers.

For our 2014 range, quite a lot of our bikes will come out of Accell’s factory in Turkey. So we are shifting production nearer to Europe – not because Accell says we have to do it, but because economically it makes sense. We’ve got an improved factory capability, better quality control and at as good a price as we were buying before. From a supplier viewpoint, that’s another Accell change. They’ve unlocked brands for us too, like Haibike and XLC. It’s not been gargantuan, but we are starting to see the effects of being part of a larger group.

The introduction of Haibike this year was a little late for the marketplace, but it has given us back that proposition to be a one-stop-shop. That’s what the dealers want. We’ve got Raleigh, Diamondback, Haibike, Dahon and the ever-widening accessory base. At this rate we’ll need a larger warehouse. But that’s what we want – to offer a one-stop-shop for the dealer. We don’t ram that down everyone’s throats but we do want to offer everything they need.

There’s a SRAM angle too? The doors to that brand have been opened through the relationship Accell has?
Accell’s relationship with SRAM is very strong and that’s definitely improved our links with them. We are starting to see a heavier emphasis with SRAM on our bikes and I think that will continue.

How has the Accell acquisition affected Raleigh’s target for recruiting more retailers to Cyclelife?
I still believe there is a place for a Cyclelife operation in the UK IBD base. It makes sense for the German market, it makes sense for the Dutch market, it should make sense for the UK market. It is still in our hearts.
We had dealers move away from Cyclelife – not because they fell out with us, but because they are moving to a boutique status and are having to stock a more expensive range of brands which we’ve not had access to. Now, however, with Haibike in the range we are back to that credible one-stop-shop status.

 

"It’s alright saying you’ve got lots of advertising, but if stock stays on the shop floor, you are knackered."

The job of the Raleigh brand is to move up the food chain in terms of 700c road commuter and city bikes. Diamondback’s job is to move up in the BMX and MTB market. Having Haibike gives us a quick injection of having a credible product range. We’ve got to build brand awareness in the public eye, but the dealers who have taken on Haibike find it is selling for them. It’s alright saying you’ve got lots of advertising, but if stock stays on the shop floor, you are knackered.

We’ve got 20 Haibike stockists at the moment and we want to double that for ‘14 and ultimately probably go to 60, but those 20 are selling these bikes. That’s encouraging because we’ve had false starts with the likes of Corratec where we had an established dealer base, but the product just sat on the shop floor. I think the Haibike stuff is sufficiently different to what else is out there to have an appeal.

We see Cyclelife as part of our offering. We’re not trying to change the culture of a dealer who doesn’t want it, but it’s great for those coming to the market and feel they want a helping hand. We can do everything to get them up and running in a cost effective way for them and us. It’s part of our kitbag.

There are more dealer services you’re offering that you have already touched on, like Raleigh TV…
From a marketing viewpoint we see digital communications as being an area of focus. This time last year we didn’t have a guy who was solely focused on social networking. We have just recruited someone whose sole job is e-commerce and he’s improving the professional look of our websites, but also to help the dealers.

With Raleigh TV we set ourselves a budget for a creative solution we could afford to roll out to as many people as possible and we’ve achieved that. It ticks all the boxes for utility, durability and ease of maintenance in terms of content, which we can manage centrally.

It’s out with 50 stores and we’ll partner with interested dealers to work on improvements. There are exciting things we can do with it. There are opportunities to experiment and keep what works, ditch what doesn’t.

Then the flip side of the digital support is the web. There’s two aspects to that; My Shop Online and Drop Ship Vendor. We’re saying to dealers, everyone should have a website, but not everyone should or wants to get into e-commerce. In my opinion the barriers to getting into e-commerce are getting bigger as the big boys get better and stronger. If you want e-commerce but not the overheads we provide My Shop Online, which is a hot link from a dealer’s website into the full Raleigh shop, but liveried as if it is the shop’s site. They source that customer, they make full margin and have access to the full Raleigh portfolio. We’re saying, ‘don’t mess about selling a few bits on eBay, we’ve got the full suite here’. The e-commerce guy’s job is to improve that service – that helping hand.

For those that are into e-commerce then the other service is Drop Ship Vendor, where we offer the entire portfolio to a partner – they can list the entire suite of products if they want, with no stock risk. Every order they take comes through to here and we then ship the product to the customer on their behalf to their service timescales. We have a solution for different types of customer.

Raleigh’s product offering to bike dealers has broadened too?
That’s right. There are two aspects to the market now; performance and lifestyle. In performance we’ve got to be on the money with trends, specs, looks. That’s an uphill struggle because the competition is fierce. It’s a market we abandoned ten years ago, but we’re pushing back into it and we’re now supporting the race team…we’ve got to be there for brand credibility.

Where Raleigh can win commercially is in the lifestyle sector. Again you have to be on trend with looks, finish and specification, but with something like the Red or Dead bikes we are looking to introduce a fashion element. We’ve had partnerships in the past with the likes of Ben Sherman and there are other opportunities there to keep Raleigh in the public domain.

Look at the Beano Chopper. It’s a bit of fun, we’re not hanging our hat on it commercially, but again it keeps us high in the public eye.

I want Raleigh to own the lifestyle cycling sector. There’s a lot of competition in that space with brands that are as good as we are and we’ve got to work hard to prise that market from their grasp. That’s where our heritage is and with a bit of style and engineering we can conquer. Whether we do that with the ‘14 range…again we made a step forward with the ‘13 range, but I think ‘15 is when I’ll feel we’re bringing true differentiation in there. That’s bloody difficult to achieve in the bike market. If you look at the German market particularly, the refinements in aesthetics that German lifestyle bikes have is something we can bring to the UK market. By that I don’t mean transplanting German specifications into the UK market, but the use of new materials and giving it a distinct personality. We want people to be able to say ‘that’s a Raleigh bike’, not a Giant, or a Ridgeback…that’s the mission of the team.

Generally, how is the state of the market?
Well it’s not raining at the moment, so that’s good. I think market conditions are tough. I think the hangover from 2012 makes it tough. I think we’re seeing an ongoing trend – the boutique dealers are doing reasonably well irrespective of weather and the mainstream dealers are finding it tough. That was the case last year and that has continued this year.

So that’s largely down to the weather?
When it is raining the hobby cyclist will still go out and ride, but the family market won’t, so it’s definitely a big factor. Given that it has been much dryer in recent months I think it has been disappointing that the family market doesn’t seem to have bounced back.

That makes you ask questions of yourself: Is that the state of retail? Mainstream dealers’ repair businesses are booming. Parts have done very well because of the workshop – all dealers, bar none, are saying that the repair business is doing great. That says something. I think there is a long-term decline issue that family bike shops are facing. The multiples aren’t getting any stronger, but they are strong. Like Halfords, they are good at what they do at that price.

Then there’s the internet continuing to nibble away at the edges. That’s the one that is coming up, squeezing that family bike market further. The reality is that Raleigh has a traditional strength in that market. So because it should do and needs to, Raleigh is seeking to improve its capability in the performance market. That is where the market is going.

And the value of bikes is rising…
Absolutely, my task is to move Raleigh’s average sales up the food chain, having a credible offer with decent marketing support and availability.

What about accessories?
There are no major shifts going on at the moment, other than the fact dealers are generally looking to stock less. That’s a truism across bikes and accessories and our systems are being fine-tuned to meet that requirement. Squire locks have done very well, Dare2b has had a building year and XLC is getting a proper launch in July. XLC is a comprehensive range and we should be able to take some share.

There are brands we are acquiring that I can’t talk about yet. Watch this space.

www.raleigh.co.uk

FSA has revealed that it is to broaden its catalogue beyond road rim brakes and cantilevers for cyclocross with the introduction of both K-force and Afterburner hydraulic discs for mountain bikes.

Utilising both tool-free stroke and reach adjustability, these brakes can be set-up on-the-fly for a wide range of bite control and hand sizes. Each brake is offered with front and rear specific hoses, which, according to FSA, results in exceptionally balanced braking performance. The flip flop lever features a integrated asymmetrical reservoir making them extremely compact on the handlebar and easy to bleed.

The build makes good use of magnesium castings, carbon composite levers, and titanium hardware, which results in individual wheel weights of around 300 grams. The two models will sell for US$369 (K-Force) and US$289 (Afterburner) and will be available in Q1 2014 via UK distributor Windwave.

To get a first hand look at the product, visit FSA's booth next week at Eurobike (booth A1-402-403), or at Interbike from September 16th to 20th.

The Repair Rebel by Chicago-based graduate Thomas Smafield is an 85 gram (3oz) circular 24-function multi-tool made from titanium. It can attach to underneath saddles with an elastic cord. Smafield sought $10,000 on Kickstarter and has so far raised over $16,000, guaranteeing his project's success. The project has another nine days to run.

Tools include nine Allen key heads (from 3mm to 15mm, also known as Hex keys), both Philips and flathead screwdrivers, a T25 tork head, plus four spoke keys to cover most models. Just pack one along with a spare tube, pump, plus a couple of tire levers and you’re all set.

"Repair Rebel is half the weight, has twice the amount of features, and costs a fraction of what is on the current market," claims Smafield on his Kickstarter page.

The tools on the Repair Rebel are:

3mm Hex Head
4mm Hex Head
5mm Hex Head
5.5mm Hex Head
6mm Hex Head
7mm Hex Head
8mm Hex Head
3mm Hex Bolt Wrench
3.5mm Hex Bolt Wrench
4mm Hex Bolt Wrench
5mm Hex Bolt Wrench
5.5mm Hex Bolt Wrench
6mm Hex Bolt Wrench
9mm Hex Bolt Wrench
9.5mm Hex Bolt Wrench
10mm Hex Bolt Wrench
15mm Hex Bolt Wrench
Phillips Screw Driver
Flat Head Screw Driver
T25 Tork Head
3.23mm Spoke key (DT/Wheelsmith Nipples)
3.30mm Spoke Key (Most European)
3.45mm Spoke Key (Most Asian)
3.96mm spoke key (Larger Sizes)