Posts by Phil Latz
MCH Embrace a Multi-Channel Strategy
Melbourne, Victoria MCH Sports is one of Australia’s newer bicycle and P&A importers and distributors. It focuses upon high-end Italian brands including ALE apparel, De Rosa bikes, SIXS undergarments, Vision components, BLIZ eyewear and DMT shoes. Having met founder James Kristie previously at the Handmade Bike Show Australia, I recently had the opportunity to visit…
Mixed Response to New Melbourne Bike Show
Melbourne, Victoria A new consumer bike show was held in Melbourne on the weekend of 10th – 11th September at the Melbourne Exhibition Centre, on the south bank of the Yarra River and across from Melbourne’s CBD. The event was organised by Javier Tellez. At just 20 years of age, this was the first event…
TQ Creates a Much Smaller, Lighter, Quieter E-Bike Drive System
Frankfurt, Germany It’s a sign of how attractive the bicycle industry has become to outside players when a world leading company which already has 1,700 specialists working in robotics, aerospace and rocket science decides to invest heavily into developing new bicycle components. Not only that, it then works secretly for four long years with one…
Bicycle Imports Still Near Record Levels
Canberra, ACT Australia’s bike import figures for 2021/22 appear set to remain near the lofty numbers set during last year’s record-breaking period. While import data for June 2022 is yet to confirmed, figures for the previous 11 months are enough to confirm the 2021/22 financial year will finish second only to the previous financial year’s…
Bosch Takes the Brakes Off
Frankfurt, Germany Despite there being plenty of available function rooms at Messe Frankfurt, Bosch chose to hire a more character-filled hall on the other side of the city for its 2023 season launch. Ironically, the bus sent to collect members of the media from Messe Frankfurt (as the showgrounds that now host Eurobike are called)…
Could This be a Breakthrough in Chain Durability?
Frankfurt, Germany In a relatively small booth at Eurobike 2022 was a company claiming to have invented a new bicycle chain design that will triple the wear life compared to conventional chains. That’s certainly a big statement for a product that’s only experienced incremental improvements over the past century. So what is the basis of…
Sometimes Perceptions Don’t Match Reality
Frankfurt, Germany Many Australian bicycle industry members have probably not even heard of Riese & Müller. Although the brand has been available here for quite a few years, it’s only sold through about a dozen dealers across Australia and NZ who are supplied direct from R&M’s head office in Germany, rather than through a local…
Commercial Cargo Requirements Define a New Category
Frankfurt, Germany The entire cargo bike market is still in its infancy in Australia. But shows like Eurobike give us a glimpse into what the future holds. The European cargo market has already reached 500,000 units per year. Given the high unit price of each bike, particularly as most of them are electric, that would…
Look Inside Seven Radically Different Bike Shops
Frankfurt, Germany It’s amazing how varied bike shops can be and still trade successfully. Arriving in Frankfurt with a day to spare before Eurobike-related activities, gave me the opportunity to visit seven radically different bike shops spread throughout the city and suburbs. My three modes of transport between the shops were metro, trams and shared…
Aussies & Kiwis Return to Eurobike
Frankfurt, Germany After two missed years due to Covid, a large contingent from Down Under made the most of their first opportunity to return to the world’s leading bike show. This year’s show was the largest ever – more than 1,500 exhibitors spread throughout seven huge halls plus outdoor exhibit areas. So it was very…