Letter From America: Rationale Behind the Great White Feeding Frenzy

Wheat Ridge Cyclery shop front

Santa Fe, New Mexico It’s as if someone tossed a ton of chum into the turbulent waters surrounding independent bicycle dealers, attracting a scrum of swift-moving sharks snapping up prime retail locations in the prosperous suburbs of major metropolitan areas. Look at a map and it’s easy to see where the Great Whites — Trek,…

Igus Unveils First Bike Constructed Entirely From Recycled Plastic

igus plastic bike

Cologne, Germany The world’s first urban bike made entirely from recycled plastic has been unveiled by German company igus. The igus:bike, scheduled for release later this year, is being promoted as “tomorrow’s mobility from yesterday’s waste”. With recycled plastic used to construct everything from the frame to the bearings and toothed belt, igus says the…

Leading NZ Retailer Adds New Store in Wellington

Evo’s Wellington Centre store interior

Wellington, NZ NZ retailer Evo Cycles opened its 29th showroom recently and is already foreshadowing the creation of its 30th outlet. The country’s largest family-owned chain of bike stores launched its latest showroom at Wellington Central on 28th May, maintaining its exponential growth since its original store opened in Waikato in 2007. “The 30th Evo…

340km Range for New Swiss e-Bike

The Opium 6 bicycle

Fehratorf, Switzerland Two new bikes by Swiss start-up Opium are raising the bar for e-bike range, with its 6 LR promising a maximum range of 340km on a single charge. Its 1,670Wh battery can be complemented by a 470Wh range extender, which is necessary to achieve the full 340km range. On the eve of the…

New Models and First President for VanMoof

VanMoof bicycles

Amsterdam, Netherlands High-profile Dutch e-bike manufacturer VanMoof appointed its first president last month, in the wake of launching two new models. A former CEO of leading online travel agency Booking.com, Gillian Tans, has been appointed to the role recently created to aid the next phase of VanMoof’s growth. “Tans’s experience combines years at the highest…

3D Carbon Structure to Boost Road Tyre Performance

The Ere Genus CCX tyre

Ostermundigen, Switzerland Swiss company Ere Research recently unveiled what it called new tyre technology featuring a 3D carbon network structure. The Ere Genus CCX, launched at the Tire Technology Expo in Hannover on 19th May, was developed in collaboration with Dutch firm CarbonX, a spin-off of the Delft University of Technology. A statement from the…

Gravel Keeps Urban Eurobike Focused on Sporty Cycling

Cycling on gravel path

Frankfurt, Germany Gravel bikes are set to take a greater prominence at the world’s biggest bicycle trade fair, Eurobike 2022, balancing the event’s shift this year from its former country setting to the urban surrounds of Frankfurt. Organisers have indicated the move to Frankfurt will coincide with an increased emphasis on “the new dynamics of…

Dutch Cargo Appoints Manager for NZ Expansion

O2Feel bicycle

Auckland, NZ Dutch Cargo Bike’s expansion into NZ is well underway, with the e-bike and micromobility specialist appointing a country manager to head operations in that country. A former digital marketing manager for NZ frame manufacturer Chapter2, Chris Young, was appointed to the role for Dutch Cargo NZ in April. His recruitment has been followed…

Globe Lights Specialized Path to Everyday Commuting

Globe e-bike

California, US Australian buyers will have to wait patiently to access a new commuter e-bike venture launched by Specialized this month. The new business unit, Globe, will initially focus exclusively on the US market when it starts taking orders in late 2022, and Specialized Australia has confirmed there is no identified time frame for its…

New Cinelli and Columbus Owner Pledges to Restore Brands

Cinelli bike frame

Milan, Italy Italian heritage brands Cinelli and Columbus are part of a business takeover by a US company with its roots in fashion and reputation for building and restoring brands. Asobi Ventures this month confirmed it has now acquired 100% of Gruppo Srl, which includes Cinelli and Columbus – two brands with a combined history…