Posts by Phil Latz
Cycle Tourist Numbers up 40% in Popular Cycle Region
Victoria’s High Country has experienced a 40 per cent rise in cyclists touring the region in just 12 months, cementing the North East as one of the world’s top trail cycling destinations. This represents an extra 40,000 cyclists coming the region since Victoria’s state government invested $12 million into the North East Cycling Optimisation Project.…
New Survey Reveals Market Rankings for Ebike Drives
Bosch is the number one brand of ebike drive systems based upon a survey of all bikes exhibited at this year’s Eurobike Show, which was held from 4th – 7th September this year. German based specialist ebike media company ExtraEnergy, surveyed every single bike on display at this year’s show. In total there were 3,952…
Shimano Files for Anti-Lock Brakes Patent
Shimano has filed a patent for an ABS braking system for bikes. This move suggests that they may release its own version of the trending technology sometime in the future. In the patent text, it appears the ABS system is designed with e-Bikes in mind (‘a vehicle that at least partially uses human force as…
Major Specialized Dealer Sells to Trek
The Cyclery, a large, extremely well presented store in Fyshwick, ACT has just been acquired by Trek Bicycles Australia. For owners Trevor and Janie Rix, it’s the second time that they’ve successfully sold a bike shop. In 1991, they originally started working in what is now known as Lonsdale Street Cyclery, in Braddon, immediately to…
Founder Puts Australia’s Oldest Ebike Shop on the Market
What is possibly the first specialist ebike shop in Australia has been put on the market. Glow Worm Bicycles is celebrating it’s 10th anniversary on 15th December 2019. Owner Maurice Wells is not definitively claiming that his is the first ebike specialist shop in Australia, as others were starting around the same time, but it…
Annual Kona Bike Count Reveals Triathlon’s Leading Brands
Each year, when all the competitors’ bikes are racked in the transition compound at the Ironman World Championships, a group of bike industry members then study every bike in detail and record the brand, not only of the frame but of many other components. It’s not a perfect market survey, but it gives a good…
Melbourne to Install First Dutch Style Intersection
On Sunday 3rd November the Victorian state government announced a $1.6 million upgrade of cycling infrastructure for the corner of Albert and Lansdowne streets. This intersection is already very heavily used by cyclists. It’s in the inner north of the city, bordering Carlton Gardens and a few minutes from landmarks including the city centre, the…
Renowned Paralympic Cyclist Killed by Motorist
Bernie Jones Cycles to Close After 51 Years
A longstanding independent Adelaide bike shop – known for its landmark big bicycle on the roof – will close its doors at the end of the month. Tracey Loader and husband Jeff have decided to shutter Bernie Jones Cycles at Diagonal Rd, Warradale, in the south western suburbs of Adelaide, SA. The store was started…
eNews – November 2019
Welcome to the second monthly Latz Report Newsletter If you want to read more about our predictions for the future of independent bicycle dealers, please click on the Editorial column link. One bicycle retail business that has been rapidly growing to an unprecedented scale in Australian specialist bike retail history is 99 Bikes. This month co-founder Matt…