Australia
JetBlack’s Bright Future Beyond Wahoo Settlement
Sydney, NSW A recently concluded patent dispute between global indoor trainer heavyweights Zwift and Wahoo has left Australian manufacturer JetBlack with a significantly reduced international market for its latest smart trainer. However, JetBlack founder and managing director, Tony Simmonds, remains optimistic the Australian and export markets that remain open for its JetBlack Volt V2 trainer…
Cycling Economy Report Offering Update on Value of Industry
Canberra, ACT The second instalment of a national report on the state of Australia’s bike and scooter sector will be officially released at a cycling industry awards function in Canberra this month. The second Australian Cycling and eScooter Economy Report will provide critical data to all governments on the size and importance of the bicycle…
Staff-Starved Store Finds Solution as Shop With No Bikes
Geraldton, WA Northern WA bike store owner Leighton Thomas has received plenty of puzzled expressions in recent weeks, as he outlined plans to reinvent his business as a “bike store with no bikes”. “I’ve never stumped so many people before,” according to the industry veteran of 33 years, including stints as some of bicycle retail’s…
Inside Australia’s Largest New Bike Shop
Lilydale, Victoria The Latz Report recently wrote about Yarra Valley Cycles purchasing a 1,500 square metre premises to be transformed into one of Australia’s largest bike shops. On 13th September, we had the chance to visit the almost completed store to take photos and interview co-owner Ash Swann. Lilydale is 42km east of the Melbourne…
How to Sell Nearly $1 Million in Apparel Annually
Brookvale, NSW Back in early 2021, I phoned Sticky Bottle as part of our monthly How’s Business column, in which we speak to bike shop owners and managers across Australia and NZ. As you can see in that column, owner Justin Roscoe made the rare revelation that they sold a lot of cycling apparel through…
Revolve Alliance Restores Pedal Club Momentum
Sydney, NSW Two relatively young Sydney organisations – one a subscription business specialising in children’s bikes and the other a recycling operation created to serve the bike industry – have joined forces to strengthen the sustainability objectives of both ventures. Bike leasing company The Pedal Club last month announced it is partnering with Revolve Recycling…
Shimano Australia Launching App for Crank Inspections and Replacements
Sydney, NSW Authorised Shimano dealers in Australia will soon have access to an app to help deal with a voluntary inspect and replace program for the brand’s HOLLOWTECH II road cranksets. Shimano will launch access to the Shimano app during the week starting Monday 16th October, after Shimano Australia and the Australian Competition and Consumer…
Final Days for Retailer Recycling Survey
Melbourne, Victoria Bike retailers have one more week to complete Bicycle Industries Australia’s survey on the recycling habits of stores throughout Australia. The survey is the latest initiative by BIA’s newly formed Sustainability Committee, comprising delegates throughout the industry, and asks retailers whether they recycle products such as batteries, tyres, oils, frames and cardboard. BIA…
Patrick Jonker Joins TEBCO as SA Rep
Adelaide, SA One of Australia’s highest general classification finishers at the Tour de France, South Australia’s bike industry veteran Patrick Jonker, has been appointed as the State’s sales agent for TEBCO. The Melbourne-based brand confirmed last month it has appointed Patrick, who has just clocked up four decades working in the bike industry. He was…
It’s Time for the Tour Down Under to Say No to Santos
Adelaide, SA If you look back through the Opinion section of The Latz Report, you’ll see I use my prerogative as publisher to voice an opinion very sparingly. There are only a couple of dozen opinion pieces since we started in 2019, most of which are non-controversial and two of which were written by guests.…