International
How’s Business – A Berlin Special
Berlin, Germany Germany continues to be the biggest market for bicycles in the European Union and e-bikes are steadily growing towards claiming 50% of its total unit sales. However, it doesn’t take much searching in the nation’s capital, Berlin, to find examples that buck the trend completely. While major city commuting and e-bikes appear to…
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…
Schrader Unveils Tyre Pressure Monitor for Bikes
Frankfurt, Germany Schrader, the German company responsible for the pneumatic tyre valves on virtually every car in the world and many of its bicycles, has turned its attention to developing tyre pressure monitors for e-mobility. The Munich-based firm used Eurobike 2022 to effectively unveil its AIRsistant system, although it is already working with a number…
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…
LeBron James Investment Boosts Canyon’s US Ambitions
Koblenz, Germany Basketball superstar LeBron James has stepped up his status as one of the world’s most high-profile cycling advocates, with his ventures company investing US$30 million (A$42.9 million) in rising German bike company Canyon. A leading direct-to-consumer manufacturer of premium bikes, Canyon last month announced a strategic equity investment led by LRMR Ventures –…
Two More E-Bike Ventures for Porsche
Ottobrunn, Germany German performance car manufacturer Porsche has further escalated its involvement in the bicycle industry, launching two ventures his month as it seeks to launch a new generation of Porsche electric bikes from the middle of this decade. It has partnered with Dutch company Ponooc Investment B.V. to create Porsche eBike Performance GmbH, based…
SiDI Bought by Italian Investment Corporation
Maser, Italy Italian investment holdings company Italmobiliare last month purchased prized cycling and motorcycling footwear company SiDI Sport. The purchase of the 62-year-old Italian company is the latest in Italmobilaire’s strategy to invest in companies with “major innovative Made in Italy brands”. “SiDI Sport is an Italian success story as its founder, Dino Signori, has…
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…