Last month we ran a straw poll to see how independent bike dealer business has been so far in 2015. Of the respondents, 32 per cent said they were significantly down on sales, with some saying they’d had lower footfall in the first half of the year. We received a letter through the post from a reader who found the figures troubling…

Sir,
The recent ‘Straw Poll’ figures (BikeBiz August, issue 115) may appear to give some satisfaction to a certain proportion of the trade reporting an increase in bike sales. But what should give cause for concern is that over half of those polled (56 per cent) claim no increase at all.

Considering a huge number (32 per cent) of those polled report a serious downturn in sales, then surely that must stand closer scrutiny as to the possible reasons.

Being a very friendly, wide contact trade, personal experiences and situations are easily shared and the talking point this year is “why are things so quiet?” And, no conclusive answers.

As with many outdoor activities, the weather does play a major part, and many cold, wet weekends this year have not helped.

That apart led many to observe the increasing number of our own suppliers and importers that are selling direct to the public via their ‘own brand’ outlets or at least some having seasonal direct sales.
Does that indicate over production and supply of bicycles chasing fewer customers?

For many IBDs, there may or may not be the resultant serving and aftermarket gains, as many purchasers feel obliged to return to the original point of sale.

‘Bikes for work’ have helped a certain segment of the trade, but allegations of abuse abound. Is a £1,000 carbon fibre product really for travelling to work? And there are claims that children’s bikes are being bought this way too. Surely this is not within the spirit in which it was meant. Maybe there should be a more sensible limit? Some IBDs have ceased selling new bikes and turned to second hand and/or components only. The numbers game leaves many wanting.

Name and address supplied

Have your say be adding a comment underneath the story or by emailing us at BikeBiz@nbmedia.com

It seems like a while ago now, but i-ride’s three-date Velodrome Trade Tour reached the auspicious surroundings of 2012 Olympics venue Lee Valley Velopark last month, sandwiched between showings around the nation at Manchester and then Newport.

First up, in-house brand Orro has launched the custom Signature series. As the name suggests, customers can literally get their signatures plastered to the frame (a new take on security bike marking, maybe) and the team can colour match virtually anything – but ideally with a splash of gold to keep it consistent with the Orro range.

The team told BikeBiz that Signature bikes are hand painted at the Sussex HQ and are “something special and something that we are proud of”, pointing out that Orro delivers branded components at a reasonable price point.

Orro’s new Terra Gravel range includes a model which may come in at the cycle to work threshold (TBC). There are three main models including two alloys and one carbon and a disc option. There’s also a new model in the Orro Pyro, which is available now.

There’s plenty new from De Rosa, with new models throughout including the R838-replacing Vega. There are different build options, new Superkings and entry level carbon offerings in this latest range update. De Rosa is, we’re told, one of the few bike manufacturers still making bikes in all of the four main materials, with some models still being made in Italy.

BikeBiz first came across Pioneer in a cycle context at Interbike in 2012. It’s not been the most visible brand in the UK cycle market, but now the household name’s foray into cycling will get a boost thanks to a new distribution deal with i-ride to bring its power meters to the trade. The system measures ‘pedal force vectors’ at 12 points, providing riders with detailed information about how to improve their stroke. i-ride tells BikeBiz it has high hopes for Pioneer, not least thanks to its brand power.

Northwave’s latest footwear will see plenty of shoes sporting Michelin-designed soles, a grippy option that helps stop riders slipping off pedals, even if they aren’t clipped in. There are new colours throughout the range and more of those micro-release dials that allow for minimal adjustments, particularly for when feet swell during long rides. The shoe range makes use of proprietary tech, including Northwave’s own closure system, and the range is still made in Italy with, it says, reliable sizing. Ventilation holes are now laser cut, so NW’s squeezed more of them in. And it’s worth watching out for super reflective materials that show up in the range, especially under headlights, using the logic that a moving reflective object is especially visible. Speedplay soles are used in the range too, helping pedalling efficiency thanks to keeping the foot closer to the axle.

On the Fulcrum stand were the first UK showing of the new carbon clinchers, the latest edition of the Racing 5 disc. Embracing road discs, they have future-proofing interchangeable hubs, and i-ride is predicting them to be big sellers. There are three new models of the aero Racing Quattro wheelset too, in carbon and disc options.

Catlike has an updated version of the Kompact’o and there’s been subtle design tweaks in the range including in the Mixino, now featuring black polystyrene inners rather than the ubiquitous grey you tend to see across the market in vents and the like.

Speedplay’s Syzr is an off-road/go-anywhere clipless pedal system that has been in development for a number of years. It comes in titanium and stainless steel and features ‘Direct Power Transfer’ so power transmission comes through the cleats rather than the dampening soles.

Sticking with Speedplay, the show saw the minimalist Zero Aero pedals as used by Wiggo in the World Hour Record recent. Sadly the great unwashed will have to wait to get their hands on these single sided pedals, with aero golf-style dimples.

GUEE was also showing off its range, making use of medical-grade silicone in its array. Doubtless you are already familiar with the all-in-one G-Mount, a declutterer for the handlebar from which you can attach lights and action cameras. There’s also a tiny bell that clips onto the brake lever and the perhaps more familiar light range feature ambient sensors so the rider doesn’t have to click them on and off to preserve battery.

Argon 18 has relaunched its tri models, including the E117 while the Nitrogen has been redeveloped, revamping an enormously successful model for the distributor.

An intruding Merida team bike sneaked into the show. No, not a new distie deal in the works (we don’t think) but actually a great choice for i-ride’s show seeing as it uses many of the finest components stocked by the distributor.

Get the full Velodrome Trade Show rundown from the i-ride team: www.i-ride.co.uk

The consumer part of Cycle Show 2015 is now in full swing, running until Sunday 27th, and we've got our first pics from the show online for your perusal on our Facebook pages.

There are products from Whyte, Mason, Nukeproof, FSA Cube and more. We'll have a round-up of the show in our November edition and stories emerging from the show over the coming days, but until then why not have a browse in the gallery.

And we've more on Cycle Show 2015 online.

There's a small but maybe significant collection of green and ecologically sound product and brands featuring at this year's Cycle Show.

Caveat alert, this article will not mention each and every one of those eco-friendly ranges at the show (if we've missed you let us know), but they include Green Oil, Weldtite's Pure range and Muc-Off's Bio-chain range.

Teko and GRN are among the eco-friendly list too.

Teko’s Econyl line forges sports socks from recycled fishing nets (and car mats). It turns out that there are thousands and thousands of tonnes of damaged fishing nets adrift in the sea, so there’s no shortage of material for the brand to utilise in the manufacture of its socks. And to stop those damaged nets ending up in the oceans, Teko is attaching a worth to them so it is worth a fisherman’s time to bring it back to shore.

The nets are turned into polymer and the multiple yarns are twisted until they’re ready to be woven into sock form.

Teko’s been strong in the outdoor market, but is using the Cycle Show to get into the cycle market in a bigger way.

More people are embracing the eco-message, the brand reckons and ultimately Teko will be able to recycle the already recycled socks themselves too once they're aged and well used.

GRN is back at the Cycle Show following its debut there last September, with a significantly larger stand this time around.

GRN is probably best known for their jerseys and tops made from recycled bottles, with custom teamwear a speciality of the firm.

There's bamboo-based apparel too from GRN and they tell BikeBiz that they've now accessed a government grant to do research and development in using recycled materials for clothing. 

tekoforlife.com

www.grnsportswear.com

The enormity of the Dirt Factory project is quite staggering. If you’d not heard, plans are well underway to open what would be the UK’s first indoor trail centre just a stones throw from Manchester’s city centre and it’s pitched as “like an indoor snow park, but for bikes.” 

It’ll feel real, with water from the roof irrigating the trail and grit stone from the Pennines shipped in to replicate the outdoors near perfectly.

Inescapable from the attention of any city dweller and bang in the Northern heartlands of the BBC, among other big media, the Dirt Factory is the brainchild of a pair of bike industry trail enthusiasts – Danny Makin and IMBA representative Mark McClure.

The proposals will see the build become the first in the UK of its kind, hosting a 32,294 square foot  XC flow loop, 14,424 square feet of dirt jumps, a freeride area of some 9,150 square feet, two pump tracks at 6,889 square feet for the adults and 979 square feet for the kids, as well as a foam pit and proposed BMX and trials areas. And these are conservative estimates, BikeBiz was told. Two locations – a 86,000 and 160,000 square footer are being mooted as you read this. Both can house the pair’s proposals and are city centre based.   

We can hear the trail of thought – shall I keep dry weather tyres on a little longer? 

From a rider’s perspective, it’s a dream come true. Finally, the UK winter can’t touch us. But from a business angle, the opportunities are equally as exciting. Retail space totalling at least 4,198 square feet will all be part of the framework. With shipping containers making up the bulk of the terrain’s height change, the Dirt Factory have a lot of storage space to play around with and that presents opportunities for both long and short term lease business.

“We’ll have leases starting from just six months,” explains McClure. “Rents will be available from around £10,000 a year with electricity included, so that’s incredibly good value given that your customer is delivered to your doorstep daily.”

With a funding goal of £500,000, both Makin and McClure have been busy rallying support from the industry and there will soon be a CrowdCube, going live at the end of October, to see the pair hurtle down the home straight.

“We’ve already £240,000 in the pot from private investment and Eurobike has potentially seen that stack up further. We presented our plan to a financial advisor at Deloitte and received his personal backing, so we’re expecting to hit our investment target and be ready for a May 2016 opening. There are loose ends, but they’re tying up nicely,” explains Makin.

“Once we’re open, the project becomes about so much more than just revenue generation. We’ve both got a background in cycle training and are qualified to train others in coaching. We expect to open with 20 part and full time staff and many of those will be manning 

the courses, making sure everyone’s safe, but also offering personalised advice. We’ve previously done tutoring with special needs kids and kids from disadvantaged backgrounds. There will be a big social element and it’ll all be very inclusive. I’ve a background in trail building, so we’d like to offer classes on that too. Your membership or entry fee will offer real value for money.” 

With such installations as a foam pit in the building, progression will not only be natural, but scientific, says Makin.

“We plan to have an interactive display that will allow users to review their riding and where they’re going wrong. Cameras linked to TVs will without doubt help talent flourish, that’s another goal. For those coming in from out of town, another plan is to offer accommodation. We’ve tossed around plans to offer day trips to trail centres for anyone who wants to explore outside our walls, so in a sense we become a holiday package for serious mountain bikers.”

The attention to detail in the business plan is comprehensive. Avenues as diverse as opening some of the walls up to graffiti artists and hiring out GoPros are being explored. Parents will be able to use a viewing area free of charge, while younger toddlers will have access to an adjacent balance bike area, which doubles as a playground. It’s a family day out, whether you cycle, are considering slinging a leg over, or simply fancy watching with a coffee.

ABOVE: Danny Makin and Mark McClure - Dirt factory

Research has been key to the planning, however. 

“Throwing together a project that’s not been done before requires knowledge, where available. We found out that Manchester’s snow centre gets 450,000 visitors annually. Our very conservative estimate is that 25,000 mountain bikers will come through our doors in year one, but the mountain biking population in the UK, particularly in a radius around us, is obviously quite large. We’ve seen the figures from the UK’s larger indoor skateparks, many of which are declared as charities and so we’ve some good insight into our potential. Our demographic doesn’t mind spending the money if it’s worthwhile too.”

An annual membership will come in at £100, allowing riders to come and go at will, while single entry fees start at just £5. Everyone passing through will have access on a card system, which will also grant access to changing rooms, showers and even physio. Weekends are expected to be busy times, so the Dirt Factory plans to make use of weekdays by opening up access to educational facilities, corporate fun days and bike industry events. 

All sounds very ambitious, right? That’s not the half of it.

“If all goes to plan, we hope to extend the Dirt Factory. Two more, likely set for London and Edinburgh, would ideally be our goal and we’d like to move on that by the end of this decade, at the latest,” conclude the pair. 

dirtfactory.org

Hotlines has added BMX to its range of products with Stolen Bikes.

The rider-owned Stolen Bike Co is a manufacturer of BMX bikes, frames, build kits and components for street, dirt and park riding, with its headquarters at Wimborne in Dorset UK and their design/marketing office in La Habra, California. The company was founded in 2003 by Anthony Revell with the aim of making the best possible products at a price real people could afford. Revell still owns the company to this day, along with business partner David Wootten.

The brand offers a full range of complete bikes from 16” through to 26” wheel sizes.  The range of STLN products also includes a variety of frames including the 24” ‘Gold’ and the team-endorsed ‘Legion’ with new signature team frames on the horizon. STLN parts range from the affordable to the exotic which include rims and hubguards, bar ends, bottom brackets, seats and seatposts, brakes, chains, cranks, pedals, forks, grips, handlebars, stems, headsets, pegs, rims, sprockets, tyres and wheels.

Dealers can expect to see stock hit the shelves from the 1^st of October. For further information please contact Hotlines on +44(0)131 319 1444 or sales@hotlines-uk.com. Respective area reps can also be contacted on the details below.

Scotland / Ireland Julie Dominguez – Julie.dominguez@hotlines-uk.com   +44 (0)131 319 1444

North East - Mike Ellis  Mike@hotlines-uk.com  07590 982 853

North West – Graham Moore Graham@hotlines-uk.com  07791 844 138   

South East – Paul Lasenby  Paul@hotlines-uk.com  07713 097 695   

South west – John Large John@hotlines-uk.com  07878 361 841

Back in 2005 Jim McGurn of the Company of Cyclists proposed to open Bikeland in Derbyshire, a £33m bicycle-based theme-park. Despite a feasibility study grant of £65,000 it never got off the ground. McGurn was ahead of his time. Today, such a theme-park would ride on the back of cycling’s popularity. At least that’s what Shimano is banking on. The Japanese component maker is to open a Shimano-based theme-park in 2017, converting a former brewery site in the Netherlands into a multi-activity centre. As well as feet-on cycling activities there will be hands-on fishing exhibits, and there will also be a lot of rowing, which is apt because cyclists are great at rowing – cyclists row about helmets, separated cycle infrastructure and whether it’s economically wise to buy inner tubes from bike shops. 

The Shimano Experience Centre will also house a café, a museum and, no doubt, a shop. And Shimano isn’t the only one getting into the all-under-one-roof game. BikeVille in Belgium is rising from the ground as we speak. It’s a collaboration between Ridley, BioRacer and a whole bunch of other bike companies. As well as sporting a wind tunnel BikeVille will house a concept store and a “sport restaurant”. 

BikeVille is the centrepiece of the Flanders Bike Valley, a tech collective created with financial support from the government of Flanders, and modelled on Flanders Drive, a cluster of automotive companies. Fifty cycle-related companies are now members of Flanders Bike Valley, with some of them based within one kilometre of BikeVille.

In reality, neither BikeVille nor the Shimano Experience Centre are theme-parks as most people would understand them but they’re fascinating nevertheless. BikeVille, in particular, is a concept worth watching, partly because of the cooperation between the organising companies. And the Flanders Bike Valley isn’t the only example of such “clustering”. There are at least two other “Bicycle Valleys” – one in Portugal, and one in Romania.

Bike Valley Portugal is a collaboration between Rodi, Miranda, Polisport and others, and is based in the small but hilly city of Agueda. Brought together by ABIMOTA (the Portuguese association of bicycle, motorcycle and accessories producers) Bike Valley Portugal is organised around the production of aluminium frames and parts.

Unlike the Flanders Bike Valley which is a cluster of companies in close proximity the Romanian Bike Valley is made up of bike and component makers spread a little bit further apart.

Why cluster? It gives the companies involved competitive advantages. Banks have been doing it for hundreds of years, and car companies have been doing it since the early 1900s, copying the bicycle industry which kicked off the clustering around Birmingham and Coventry.

In an era of global competition, rapid transport and high-speed telecommunications there should be little need for geographical clusterings but they still offer benefits such as a pool of skilled workers and economies of scale. But they can also stimulate innovation, even between what would normally be considered competing businesses.

And if clustering is so effective and if other countries are doing it for bikes, the obvious question has got to be why isn’t there a British Bike Valley? In a way, there is. The Mountainbike Centre of Scotland, based at the Glentress trail centre in the Scottish Borders, is a bike cluster of sorts. It has a business incubation service, and is already the go-to place for MTB product testing. Supported with Scottish enterprise money it gives grants to Scottish bike companies. The Mountainbike Centre of Scotland also offers market research, development links with academia and, of course, testing on the world-class MTB trails of Glentress. 

OK, so there’s a Scottish Bike Glen isn’t it about time a few companies got together to form an English Bike Valley? Brompton, Muc-Off, Hope, Pashley, Brooks, Carradice, Charge, Fabric and others are not geographically close (three are kind of in Poole, mind) but they don’t necessarily have to be. The secret is cooperation rather than being sited on the same industrial estate.

Earlier in the summer, Trek invited the trade to its home town and the MK Dons stadium, which is fast becoming an industry favourite, for its Trek World event.

View the gallery on our Facebook pages.

Trek bought Electra back in 2014, so it was also opportunity to see Electra’s latest line-up too. The lifestyle brand’s electric bike – Townie Go – is switching to Bosch and has a revised frame. Like it’s non-electric Townie sister range, it uses flat foot technology – thanks to some unique frame angles, giving the rider an upright posture, wide view of the road and full extension of the leg during pedalling – the fact you can place a foot flat on the ground while in the saddle is a side effect. Another compelling side effect is that shops have fewer sizes to stock.

There’s lots of lime green in the new range and more 20-inch bikes, including some designs that echo the full size versions, so parents and children can ride matching bikes.

Amsterdam’s fashion-orientated range comes with new designs while the flagship Ticino 20D is one of Electra’s more pricey bikes, a more sporty bike that comes with eye-catching hammered alloy mudguards. The Loft range is effectively a more affordable version. Elsewhere there is still plenty of fun to be had with Electra’s brand-defining cruisers, not least with the Glam Punk 3i, complete with leather handlebar tassles and saddle studs.

While the samples didn’t come through early enough to make the show, Electra has a broader clothing line-up on the way, fittingly for a lifestyle brand. While it has run a few t-shirts in the past, this will be a much-expanded line-up, including hoodies, many more t-shirts and absolutely no lycra, we are assured.

The female market is big news for Trek. If you’ve been glued to BikeBiz.com you may have seen company boss John Burke recently predicted that women’s bikes would make up 50 per cent of Trek turnover inside five years. Forecasts aside, Trek’s UK branch has seen 14 per cent growth in women’s bikes this year, which is interesting news for any bike shops out there still wondering if it’s worth tweaking their approach to bring in more female customers. There’s been upsurge in sales of smaller sized men’s models too and the brand is keen to help shops. Encouraging dealers not to pigeon-hole customers, Trek tells BikeBiz it visits dealers and rates how they appeal to the market, then offers help for them to address it. No doubt your Trek rep would happily fill you in on the details.

Onto product: Bontrager has new road helmets including the aero road Ballista and fresh colours for the MTB-focused Specter, with MIPS safety system now found in the Bontrager helmet range.Bontrager shoes are shuffling away from ratchet closure towards Boa and micro-adjustments. There are new road shoes (Velocis, Meraj, Anara) and MTB footwear alike (Rovv Women’s, Tinari Women’s) and the excellently named OMW, or Old Man Winter.

There’s change on the chamois front too, with a completely new development set to arrive spring/summer 2016. The new tech will actually be largely hidden as there’s a flat top sheet, but we’re assured the new chamois has far less hot spots and has applied saddle thinking to the chamois itself. Style-wise there’s lots that is new too, with fresh styles, colours and designs that take their cue from the wider fashion world, rather than the bike ‘runway’.

BikeBiz’s own Mystery Shopper was always banging on about good signage giving customers something to go on while waiting for assistance, and Trek has taken that logic into its own Trek World, clearly labelling up ‘Focus’ bikes which it believes hit the sweetspot and are no brainers to stock, giving dealers a starting point when faced with the vast swathes of gleaming new bikes.

Fuel EX is Trek’s full sus race platform and a staple for the brand, featuring further trickle-down tech lower in the line-up. Lush is the women’s equivalent. Fast trail range Top Fuel has been reintroduced as has Procaliber SL, featuring the IsoSpeed decoupler which increases vertical compliance without sacrificing efficiency, according to Trek.

Stache is a new big bike for Trek. This 29+ MTB range can accommodate 27.5, 27.5+ and 29 wheels, whereas the Farley (also new) is all about fat tyres. The category is huge in the US, but also handy for all weather riding on the trail in the UK, we hear.

Skye Women’s is a new fun trail bike, built to inspire confidence. Trek’s e-bike Powerfly+ is Bosch-backed, with Trek singing the praises of Bosch’s service, dealer training and backup.

Jack-of-all-trades Dual Sport is happy on the road and trail, and the most searched for bike on the Trek site, we’re told. Speaking of which, FX is one of Trek’s most popular ranges (the 7.1 is Cyclescheme’s most popular bike) and it has been revamped for 2016 with tube shapes borrowed from Trek’s road rides.

The Fuel EX Jr is a new mountain bike for the junior market, the Domane 6.5 is now available with Project One customisation and the Lexa is available in a second colour – Miami Green – which is said to be a bit of a Marmite colour (though BikeBiz approves, you’ll doubtless be pleased to hear). The entry-level Silque has been upgraded to Shimano Tigra. For more head to www.trekbikes.com/uk

View the gallery on our Facebook pages.

This article first appeared in September's BikeBiz. Dozens of our previous editions are available online. If you're in the bicycle trade then you can get BikeBiz magazine through the post for free.

Belfast-based business See.Sense has placed its upgraded LED unit on Kickstarter and is again using the crowdfunding website to generate interest in the “intelligent” bike light. Like its predecessor, the ICON flashes stronger at roundabouts and when tailgated by cars at night. The upgraded light can now sense when a rider has crashed or when a bike equipped with the light is being stolen – in both cases the “connected” LED light rings to alert a designated smartphone. 

See-sense released its first LED light on Kickstarter in 2013. It received £33,826 in crowdfunding from 504 backers and was subsequently made available to the bike trade. See.sense assembles the lights in Northern Ireland and employs nine people. The company is currently exhibiting at the Cycle Show at the Birmingham NEC and started its latest Kickstarter campaign earlier this evening.

See.sense has sent details of the campaign to an email list of 5000 and after an hour on Kickstarter was already nearly half way to it target of £24,000.

Speaking from the Cycle Show CEO and co-founder Philip McAleese said:

“We’re confident we’ll reach our Kickstarter target. The early bird specials are extremely good value for money.”

Should the campaign succeed backers will get their lights in November. A number of pre-production lights are in the process of being made and the company is working on a smartphone app that will access the light’s many features. McAlleese said the main production run for the light will take place in January 2016.

ICON uses patent-pending sensor technology to allows it to increase its brightness and flash rates at times the cyclist most needs to be seen. As well as flashing stronger at roundabouts it also does so at road-junctions, and when filtering in traffic.

McAlleese said the ICON also has the potential to collect data that local authorities could use to record near-misses and collisions as well as identifying potholes before they fully develop.

He said: “ICON enhances the cycling experience by opening up a world of possibilities through a smartphone, and it also empowers cyclists to influence councils and municipalities to improve cycling infrastructure and roads to benefit everyone.”

Bianchi have teamed up with cycle insurer Bikmo Plus to offer free insurance for 12 months on their high-end bicycles.

This 12-month deal is believed to be the first of its kind in the UK and has launched at this week's Cycle Show at the NEC.

The bikes that include 12 months’ free insurance upon purchase are the Bianchi Oltre XR2, Specialissima CV and the Aquila CV.

David George, CEO of Bikmo Plus had this to say: “For us, this partnership was a no brainer. Bianchi share many qualities with Bikmo Plus in terms of attention to detail, quality and answering the needs of cyclists”.

Bianchi had this to say: “For 130 years, we’ve been making bicycles. We’ve had many firsts in racing and innovation, and giving our customers 12 month’s free insurance is another first for service.“

As one of the world’s most recognisable bike brands, Bianchi have played a core role in leading some of the greatest cyclists to victory in events such as the Tour de France, the Giro d’Italia and the Vuelta a Espana.

Bikmo Plus on the other hand, have been revolutionising a typically stagnant sector since their launch, exactly one year ago, with the innovative use of technology, a forward thinking approach to cycle insurance, and excellent customer service.

Last month we ran a straw poll to see how independent bike dealer business has been so far in 2015. Of the respondents, 32 per cent said they were significantly down on sales, with some saying they’d had lower footfall in the first half of the year. We received a letter through the post from a reader who found the figures troubling…

Sir,
The recent ‘Straw Poll’ figures (BikeBiz August, issue 115) may appear to give some satisfaction to a certain proportion of the trade reporting an increase in bike sales. But what should give cause for concern is that over half of those polled (56 per cent) claim no increase at all.

Considering a huge number (32 per cent) of those polled report a serious downturn in sales, then surely that must stand closer scrutiny as to the possible reasons.

Being a very friendly, wide contact trade, personal experiences and situations are easily shared and the talking point this year is “why are things so quiet?” And, no conclusive answers.

As with many outdoor activities, the weather does play a major part, and many cold, wet weekends this year have not helped.

That apart led many to observe the increasing number of our own suppliers and importers that are selling direct to the public via their ‘own brand’ outlets or at least some having seasonal direct sales.
Does that indicate over production and supply of bicycles chasing fewer customers?

For many IBDs, there may or may not be the resultant serving and aftermarket gains, as many purchasers feel obliged to return to the original point of sale.

‘Bikes for work’ have helped a certain segment of the trade, but allegations of abuse abound. Is a £1,000 carbon fibre product really for travelling to work? And there are claims that children’s bikes are being bought this way too. Surely this is not within the spirit in which it was meant. Maybe there should be a more sensible limit? Some IBDs have ceased selling new bikes and turned to second hand and/or components only. The numbers game leaves many wanting.

Name and address supplied

Have your say be adding a comment underneath the story or by emailing us at BikeBiz@nbmedia.com

It seems like a while ago now, but i-ride’s three-date Velodrome Trade Tour reached the auspicious surroundings of 2012 Olympics venue Lee Valley Velopark last month, sandwiched between showings around the nation at Manchester and then Newport.

First up, in-house brand Orro has launched the custom Signature series. As the name suggests, customers can literally get their signatures plastered to the frame (a new take on security bike marking, maybe) and the team can colour match virtually anything – but ideally with a splash of gold to keep it consistent with the Orro range.

The team told BikeBiz that Signature bikes are hand painted at the Sussex HQ and are “something special and something that we are proud of”, pointing out that Orro delivers branded components at a reasonable price point.

Orro’s new Terra Gravel range includes a model which may come in at the cycle to work threshold (TBC). There are three main models including two alloys and one carbon and a disc option. There’s also a new model in the Orro Pyro, which is available now.

There’s plenty new from De Rosa, with new models throughout including the R838-replacing Vega. There are different build options, new Superkings and entry level carbon offerings in this latest range update. De Rosa is, we’re told, one of the few bike manufacturers still making bikes in all of the four main materials, with some models still being made in Italy.

BikeBiz first came across Pioneer in a cycle context at Interbike in 2012. It’s not been the most visible brand in the UK cycle market, but now the household name’s foray into cycling will get a boost thanks to a new distribution deal with i-ride to bring its power meters to the trade. The system measures ‘pedal force vectors’ at 12 points, providing riders with detailed information about how to improve their stroke. i-ride tells BikeBiz it has high hopes for Pioneer, not least thanks to its brand power.

Northwave’s latest footwear will see plenty of shoes sporting Michelin-designed soles, a grippy option that helps stop riders slipping off pedals, even if they aren’t clipped in. There are new colours throughout the range and more of those micro-release dials that allow for minimal adjustments, particularly for when feet swell during long rides. The shoe range makes use of proprietary tech, including Northwave’s own closure system, and the range is still made in Italy with, it says, reliable sizing. Ventilation holes are now laser cut, so NW’s squeezed more of them in. And it’s worth watching out for super reflective materials that show up in the range, especially under headlights, using the logic that a moving reflective object is especially visible. Speedplay soles are used in the range too, helping pedalling efficiency thanks to keeping the foot closer to the axle.

On the Fulcrum stand were the first UK showing of the new carbon clinchers, the latest edition of the Racing 5 disc. Embracing road discs, they have future-proofing interchangeable hubs, and i-ride is predicting them to be big sellers. There are three new models of the aero Racing Quattro wheelset too, in carbon and disc options.

Catlike has an updated version of the Kompact’o and there’s been subtle design tweaks in the range including in the Mixino, now featuring black polystyrene inners rather than the ubiquitous grey you tend to see across the market in vents and the like.

Speedplay’s Syzr is an off-road/go-anywhere clipless pedal system that has been in development for a number of years. It comes in titanium and stainless steel and features ‘Direct Power Transfer’ so power transmission comes through the cleats rather than the dampening soles.

Sticking with Speedplay, the show saw the minimalist Zero Aero pedals as used by Wiggo in the World Hour Record recent. Sadly the great unwashed will have to wait to get their hands on these single sided pedals, with aero golf-style dimples.

GUEE was also showing off its range, making use of medical-grade silicone in its array. Doubtless you are already familiar with the all-in-one G-Mount, a declutterer for the handlebar from which you can attach lights and action cameras. There’s also a tiny bell that clips onto the brake lever and the perhaps more familiar light range feature ambient sensors so the rider doesn’t have to click them on and off to preserve battery.

Argon 18 has relaunched its tri models, including the E117 while the Nitrogen has been redeveloped, revamping an enormously successful model for the distributor.

An intruding Merida team bike sneaked into the show. No, not a new distie deal in the works (we don’t think) but actually a great choice for i-ride’s show seeing as it uses many of the finest components stocked by the distributor.

Get the full Velodrome Trade Show rundown from the i-ride team: www.i-ride.co.uk

The consumer part of Cycle Show 2015 is now in full swing, running until Sunday 27th, and we've got our first pics from the show online for your perusal on our Facebook pages.

There are products from Whyte, Mason, Nukeproof, FSA Cube and more. We'll have a round-up of the show in our November edition and stories emerging from the show over the coming days, but until then why not have a browse in the gallery.

And we've more on Cycle Show 2015 online.

There's a small but maybe significant collection of green and ecologically sound product and brands featuring at this year's Cycle Show.

Caveat alert, this article will not mention each and every one of those eco-friendly ranges at the show (if we've missed you let us know), but they include Green Oil, Weldtite's Pure range and Muc-Off's Bio-chain range.

Teko and GRN are among the eco-friendly list too.

Teko’s Econyl line forges sports socks from recycled fishing nets (and car mats). It turns out that there are thousands and thousands of tonnes of damaged fishing nets adrift in the sea, so there’s no shortage of material for the brand to utilise in the manufacture of its socks. And to stop those damaged nets ending up in the oceans, Teko is attaching a worth to them so it is worth a fisherman’s time to bring it back to shore.

The nets are turned into polymer and the multiple yarns are twisted until they’re ready to be woven into sock form.

Teko’s been strong in the outdoor market, but is using the Cycle Show to get into the cycle market in a bigger way.

More people are embracing the eco-message, the brand reckons and ultimately Teko will be able to recycle the already recycled socks themselves too once they're aged and well used.

GRN is back at the Cycle Show following its debut there last September, with a significantly larger stand this time around.

GRN is probably best known for their jerseys and tops made from recycled bottles, with custom teamwear a speciality of the firm.

There's bamboo-based apparel too from GRN and they tell BikeBiz that they've now accessed a government grant to do research and development in using recycled materials for clothing. 

tekoforlife.com

www.grnsportswear.com

The enormity of the Dirt Factory project is quite staggering. If you’d not heard, plans are well underway to open what would be the UK’s first indoor trail centre just a stones throw from Manchester’s city centre and it’s pitched as “like an indoor snow park, but for bikes.” 

It’ll feel real, with water from the roof irrigating the trail and grit stone from the Pennines shipped in to replicate the outdoors near perfectly.

Inescapable from the attention of any city dweller and bang in the Northern heartlands of the BBC, among other big media, the Dirt Factory is the brainchild of a pair of bike industry trail enthusiasts – Danny Makin and IMBA representative Mark McClure.

The proposals will see the build become the first in the UK of its kind, hosting a 32,294 square foot  XC flow loop, 14,424 square feet of dirt jumps, a freeride area of some 9,150 square feet, two pump tracks at 6,889 square feet for the adults and 979 square feet for the kids, as well as a foam pit and proposed BMX and trials areas. And these are conservative estimates, BikeBiz was told. Two locations – a 86,000 and 160,000 square footer are being mooted as you read this. Both can house the pair’s proposals and are city centre based.   

We can hear the trail of thought – shall I keep dry weather tyres on a little longer? 

From a rider’s perspective, it’s a dream come true. Finally, the UK winter can’t touch us. But from a business angle, the opportunities are equally as exciting. Retail space totalling at least 4,198 square feet will all be part of the framework. With shipping containers making up the bulk of the terrain’s height change, the Dirt Factory have a lot of storage space to play around with and that presents opportunities for both long and short term lease business.

“We’ll have leases starting from just six months,” explains McClure. “Rents will be available from around £10,000 a year with electricity included, so that’s incredibly good value given that your customer is delivered to your doorstep daily.”

With a funding goal of £500,000, both Makin and McClure have been busy rallying support from the industry and there will soon be a CrowdCube, going live at the end of October, to see the pair hurtle down the home straight.

“We’ve already £240,000 in the pot from private investment and Eurobike has potentially seen that stack up further. We presented our plan to a financial advisor at Deloitte and received his personal backing, so we’re expecting to hit our investment target and be ready for a May 2016 opening. There are loose ends, but they’re tying up nicely,” explains Makin.

“Once we’re open, the project becomes about so much more than just revenue generation. We’ve both got a background in cycle training and are qualified to train others in coaching. We expect to open with 20 part and full time staff and many of those will be manning 

the courses, making sure everyone’s safe, but also offering personalised advice. We’ve previously done tutoring with special needs kids and kids from disadvantaged backgrounds. There will be a big social element and it’ll all be very inclusive. I’ve a background in trail building, so we’d like to offer classes on that too. Your membership or entry fee will offer real value for money.” 

With such installations as a foam pit in the building, progression will not only be natural, but scientific, says Makin.

“We plan to have an interactive display that will allow users to review their riding and where they’re going wrong. Cameras linked to TVs will without doubt help talent flourish, that’s another goal. For those coming in from out of town, another plan is to offer accommodation. We’ve tossed around plans to offer day trips to trail centres for anyone who wants to explore outside our walls, so in a sense we become a holiday package for serious mountain bikers.”

The attention to detail in the business plan is comprehensive. Avenues as diverse as opening some of the walls up to graffiti artists and hiring out GoPros are being explored. Parents will be able to use a viewing area free of charge, while younger toddlers will have access to an adjacent balance bike area, which doubles as a playground. It’s a family day out, whether you cycle, are considering slinging a leg over, or simply fancy watching with a coffee.

ABOVE: Danny Makin and Mark McClure - Dirt factory

Research has been key to the planning, however. 

“Throwing together a project that’s not been done before requires knowledge, where available. We found out that Manchester’s snow centre gets 450,000 visitors annually. Our very conservative estimate is that 25,000 mountain bikers will come through our doors in year one, but the mountain biking population in the UK, particularly in a radius around us, is obviously quite large. We’ve seen the figures from the UK’s larger indoor skateparks, many of which are declared as charities and so we’ve some good insight into our potential. Our demographic doesn’t mind spending the money if it’s worthwhile too.”

An annual membership will come in at £100, allowing riders to come and go at will, while single entry fees start at just £5. Everyone passing through will have access on a card system, which will also grant access to changing rooms, showers and even physio. Weekends are expected to be busy times, so the Dirt Factory plans to make use of weekdays by opening up access to educational facilities, corporate fun days and bike industry events. 

All sounds very ambitious, right? That’s not the half of it.

“If all goes to plan, we hope to extend the Dirt Factory. Two more, likely set for London and Edinburgh, would ideally be our goal and we’d like to move on that by the end of this decade, at the latest,” conclude the pair. 

dirtfactory.org

Hotlines has added BMX to its range of products with Stolen Bikes.

The rider-owned Stolen Bike Co is a manufacturer of BMX bikes, frames, build kits and components for street, dirt and park riding, with its headquarters at Wimborne in Dorset UK and their design/marketing office in La Habra, California. The company was founded in 2003 by Anthony Revell with the aim of making the best possible products at a price real people could afford. Revell still owns the company to this day, along with business partner David Wootten.

The brand offers a full range of complete bikes from 16” through to 26” wheel sizes.  The range of STLN products also includes a variety of frames including the 24” ‘Gold’ and the team-endorsed ‘Legion’ with new signature team frames on the horizon. STLN parts range from the affordable to the exotic which include rims and hubguards, bar ends, bottom brackets, seats and seatposts, brakes, chains, cranks, pedals, forks, grips, handlebars, stems, headsets, pegs, rims, sprockets, tyres and wheels.

Dealers can expect to see stock hit the shelves from the 1^st of October. For further information please contact Hotlines on +44(0)131 319 1444 or sales@hotlines-uk.com. Respective area reps can also be contacted on the details below.

Scotland / Ireland Julie Dominguez – Julie.dominguez@hotlines-uk.com   +44 (0)131 319 1444

North East - Mike Ellis  Mike@hotlines-uk.com  07590 982 853

North West – Graham Moore Graham@hotlines-uk.com  07791 844 138   

South East – Paul Lasenby  Paul@hotlines-uk.com  07713 097 695   

South west – John Large John@hotlines-uk.com  07878 361 841

Back in 2005 Jim McGurn of the Company of Cyclists proposed to open Bikeland in Derbyshire, a £33m bicycle-based theme-park. Despite a feasibility study grant of £65,000 it never got off the ground. McGurn was ahead of his time. Today, such a theme-park would ride on the back of cycling’s popularity. At least that’s what Shimano is banking on. The Japanese component maker is to open a Shimano-based theme-park in 2017, converting a former brewery site in the Netherlands into a multi-activity centre. As well as feet-on cycling activities there will be hands-on fishing exhibits, and there will also be a lot of rowing, which is apt because cyclists are great at rowing – cyclists row about helmets, separated cycle infrastructure and whether it’s economically wise to buy inner tubes from bike shops. 

The Shimano Experience Centre will also house a café, a museum and, no doubt, a shop. And Shimano isn’t the only one getting into the all-under-one-roof game. BikeVille in Belgium is rising from the ground as we speak. It’s a collaboration between Ridley, BioRacer and a whole bunch of other bike companies. As well as sporting a wind tunnel BikeVille will house a concept store and a “sport restaurant”. 

BikeVille is the centrepiece of the Flanders Bike Valley, a tech collective created with financial support from the government of Flanders, and modelled on Flanders Drive, a cluster of automotive companies. Fifty cycle-related companies are now members of Flanders Bike Valley, with some of them based within one kilometre of BikeVille.

In reality, neither BikeVille nor the Shimano Experience Centre are theme-parks as most people would understand them but they’re fascinating nevertheless. BikeVille, in particular, is a concept worth watching, partly because of the cooperation between the organising companies. And the Flanders Bike Valley isn’t the only example of such “clustering”. There are at least two other “Bicycle Valleys” – one in Portugal, and one in Romania.

Bike Valley Portugal is a collaboration between Rodi, Miranda, Polisport and others, and is based in the small but hilly city of Agueda. Brought together by ABIMOTA (the Portuguese association of bicycle, motorcycle and accessories producers) Bike Valley Portugal is organised around the production of aluminium frames and parts.

Unlike the Flanders Bike Valley which is a cluster of companies in close proximity the Romanian Bike Valley is made up of bike and component makers spread a little bit further apart.

Why cluster? It gives the companies involved competitive advantages. Banks have been doing it for hundreds of years, and car companies have been doing it since the early 1900s, copying the bicycle industry which kicked off the clustering around Birmingham and Coventry.

In an era of global competition, rapid transport and high-speed telecommunications there should be little need for geographical clusterings but they still offer benefits such as a pool of skilled workers and economies of scale. But they can also stimulate innovation, even between what would normally be considered competing businesses.

And if clustering is so effective and if other countries are doing it for bikes, the obvious question has got to be why isn’t there a British Bike Valley? In a way, there is. The Mountainbike Centre of Scotland, based at the Glentress trail centre in the Scottish Borders, is a bike cluster of sorts. It has a business incubation service, and is already the go-to place for MTB product testing. Supported with Scottish enterprise money it gives grants to Scottish bike companies. The Mountainbike Centre of Scotland also offers market research, development links with academia and, of course, testing on the world-class MTB trails of Glentress. 

OK, so there’s a Scottish Bike Glen isn’t it about time a few companies got together to form an English Bike Valley? Brompton, Muc-Off, Hope, Pashley, Brooks, Carradice, Charge, Fabric and others are not geographically close (three are kind of in Poole, mind) but they don’t necessarily have to be. The secret is cooperation rather than being sited on the same industrial estate.

Earlier in the summer, Trek invited the trade to its home town and the MK Dons stadium, which is fast becoming an industry favourite, for its Trek World event.

View the gallery on our Facebook pages.

Trek bought Electra back in 2014, so it was also opportunity to see Electra’s latest line-up too. The lifestyle brand’s electric bike – Townie Go – is switching to Bosch and has a revised frame. Like it’s non-electric Townie sister range, it uses flat foot technology – thanks to some unique frame angles, giving the rider an upright posture, wide view of the road and full extension of the leg during pedalling – the fact you can place a foot flat on the ground while in the saddle is a side effect. Another compelling side effect is that shops have fewer sizes to stock.

There’s lots of lime green in the new range and more 20-inch bikes, including some designs that echo the full size versions, so parents and children can ride matching bikes.

Amsterdam’s fashion-orientated range comes with new designs while the flagship Ticino 20D is one of Electra’s more pricey bikes, a more sporty bike that comes with eye-catching hammered alloy mudguards. The Loft range is effectively a more affordable version. Elsewhere there is still plenty of fun to be had with Electra’s brand-defining cruisers, not least with the Glam Punk 3i, complete with leather handlebar tassles and saddle studs.

While the samples didn’t come through early enough to make the show, Electra has a broader clothing line-up on the way, fittingly for a lifestyle brand. While it has run a few t-shirts in the past, this will be a much-expanded line-up, including hoodies, many more t-shirts and absolutely no lycra, we are assured.

The female market is big news for Trek. If you’ve been glued to BikeBiz.com you may have seen company boss John Burke recently predicted that women’s bikes would make up 50 per cent of Trek turnover inside five years. Forecasts aside, Trek’s UK branch has seen 14 per cent growth in women’s bikes this year, which is interesting news for any bike shops out there still wondering if it’s worth tweaking their approach to bring in more female customers. There’s been upsurge in sales of smaller sized men’s models too and the brand is keen to help shops. Encouraging dealers not to pigeon-hole customers, Trek tells BikeBiz it visits dealers and rates how they appeal to the market, then offers help for them to address it. No doubt your Trek rep would happily fill you in on the details.

Onto product: Bontrager has new road helmets including the aero road Ballista and fresh colours for the MTB-focused Specter, with MIPS safety system now found in the Bontrager helmet range.Bontrager shoes are shuffling away from ratchet closure towards Boa and micro-adjustments. There are new road shoes (Velocis, Meraj, Anara) and MTB footwear alike (Rovv Women’s, Tinari Women’s) and the excellently named OMW, or Old Man Winter.

There’s change on the chamois front too, with a completely new development set to arrive spring/summer 2016. The new tech will actually be largely hidden as there’s a flat top sheet, but we’re assured the new chamois has far less hot spots and has applied saddle thinking to the chamois itself. Style-wise there’s lots that is new too, with fresh styles, colours and designs that take their cue from the wider fashion world, rather than the bike ‘runway’.

BikeBiz’s own Mystery Shopper was always banging on about good signage giving customers something to go on while waiting for assistance, and Trek has taken that logic into its own Trek World, clearly labelling up ‘Focus’ bikes which it believes hit the sweetspot and are no brainers to stock, giving dealers a starting point when faced with the vast swathes of gleaming new bikes.

Fuel EX is Trek’s full sus race platform and a staple for the brand, featuring further trickle-down tech lower in the line-up. Lush is the women’s equivalent. Fast trail range Top Fuel has been reintroduced as has Procaliber SL, featuring the IsoSpeed decoupler which increases vertical compliance without sacrificing efficiency, according to Trek.

Stache is a new big bike for Trek. This 29+ MTB range can accommodate 27.5, 27.5+ and 29 wheels, whereas the Farley (also new) is all about fat tyres. The category is huge in the US, but also handy for all weather riding on the trail in the UK, we hear.

Skye Women’s is a new fun trail bike, built to inspire confidence. Trek’s e-bike Powerfly+ is Bosch-backed, with Trek singing the praises of Bosch’s service, dealer training and backup.

Jack-of-all-trades Dual Sport is happy on the road and trail, and the most searched for bike on the Trek site, we’re told. Speaking of which, FX is one of Trek’s most popular ranges (the 7.1 is Cyclescheme’s most popular bike) and it has been revamped for 2016 with tube shapes borrowed from Trek’s road rides.

The Fuel EX Jr is a new mountain bike for the junior market, the Domane 6.5 is now available with Project One customisation and the Lexa is available in a second colour – Miami Green – which is said to be a bit of a Marmite colour (though BikeBiz approves, you’ll doubtless be pleased to hear). The entry-level Silque has been upgraded to Shimano Tigra. For more head to www.trekbikes.com/uk

View the gallery on our Facebook pages.

This article first appeared in September's BikeBiz. Dozens of our previous editions are available online. If you're in the bicycle trade then you can get BikeBiz magazine through the post for free.

Belfast-based business See.Sense has placed its upgraded LED unit on Kickstarter and is again using the crowdfunding website to generate interest in the “intelligent” bike light. Like its predecessor, the ICON flashes stronger at roundabouts and when tailgated by cars at night. The upgraded light can now sense when a rider has crashed or when a bike equipped with the light is being stolen – in both cases the “connected” LED light rings to alert a designated smartphone. 

See-sense released its first LED light on Kickstarter in 2013. It received £33,826 in crowdfunding from 504 backers and was subsequently made available to the bike trade. See.sense assembles the lights in Northern Ireland and employs nine people. The company is currently exhibiting at the Cycle Show at the Birmingham NEC and started its latest Kickstarter campaign earlier this evening.

See.sense has sent details of the campaign to an email list of 5000 and after an hour on Kickstarter was already nearly half way to it target of £24,000.

Speaking from the Cycle Show CEO and co-founder Philip McAleese said:

“We’re confident we’ll reach our Kickstarter target. The early bird specials are extremely good value for money.”

Should the campaign succeed backers will get their lights in November. A number of pre-production lights are in the process of being made and the company is working on a smartphone app that will access the light’s many features. McAlleese said the main production run for the light will take place in January 2016.

ICON uses patent-pending sensor technology to allows it to increase its brightness and flash rates at times the cyclist most needs to be seen. As well as flashing stronger at roundabouts it also does so at road-junctions, and when filtering in traffic.

McAlleese said the ICON also has the potential to collect data that local authorities could use to record near-misses and collisions as well as identifying potholes before they fully develop.

He said: “ICON enhances the cycling experience by opening up a world of possibilities through a smartphone, and it also empowers cyclists to influence councils and municipalities to improve cycling infrastructure and roads to benefit everyone.”

Bianchi have teamed up with cycle insurer Bikmo Plus to offer free insurance for 12 months on their high-end bicycles.

This 12-month deal is believed to be the first of its kind in the UK and has launched at this week's Cycle Show at the NEC.

The bikes that include 12 months’ free insurance upon purchase are the Bianchi Oltre XR2, Specialissima CV and the Aquila CV.

David George, CEO of Bikmo Plus had this to say: “For us, this partnership was a no brainer. Bianchi share many qualities with Bikmo Plus in terms of attention to detail, quality and answering the needs of cyclists”.

Bianchi had this to say: “For 130 years, we’ve been making bicycles. We’ve had many firsts in racing and innovation, and giving our customers 12 month’s free insurance is another first for service.“

As one of the world’s most recognisable bike brands, Bianchi have played a core role in leading some of the greatest cyclists to victory in events such as the Tour de France, the Giro d’Italia and the Vuelta a Espana.

Bikmo Plus on the other hand, have been revolutionising a typically stagnant sector since their launch, exactly one year ago, with the innovative use of technology, a forward thinking approach to cycle insurance, and excellent customer service.