On-Line Retail Pioneer Celebrates 10th Anniversary

Bicycles Online founders James van Rooyen (left) and Jonathon Allara. Photo credit: Bicycles Online

Sydney, NSW Australia’s largest online bike retailer, Bicycles Online, recently celebrated a decade in business, prompting its founders to reflect on their modest and “naive” beginnings. In 2011, Jonathon Allara and James van Rooyen questioned why none of the major brands were sold online. “We had come from running a very modest bike tour business…

$6 Million Federal Budget Boost for Amy Gillett Foundation

Amy Gillett Foundation chair Lisa Jacobs and her team are celebrating the organisation’s $6 million allocation in last month’s Federal Budget. Photo credit: Amy Gillett Foundation.

Melbourne, Victoria National cycling safety charity the Amy Gillett Foundation (AGF) received $6 million in last week’s Federal Budget, after flagging several initiatives to improve cycling infrastructure and mapping. The Melbourne-based organisation outlined four recommendations in its pre-budget submission, including updating road design guidelines, training for local decision-makers and practitioners to deliver best-practice cycling infrastructure, improved…

BIA Challenges e-Bikes Omission from ACT Sustainability Loan Scheme

ACT households can purchase energy efficient electric stove tops through the Sustainability Loan Scheme, when most cost less than $2,000, even though the Territory Government has stated e-bikes have not been included in the scheme because there are many options available for under that minimum loan amount.

Canberra, ACT Bicycle Industries Australia is challenging the ACT Government’s omission of e-bikes from its Household Sustainability Loan Scheme. BIA General Manager Peter Bourke will this week meet with the office of the Chief Minister Treasurer and Minister for Climate Action, Andrew Barr, to call on the Government to include e-bikes in which scheme. The Household…

Pirelli Returns Tyre Manufacturing to Italy

Bollate, Italy Large-scale bicycle tyre manufacturing returned to Italy last month, with Pirelli resuming production at its factory in Bollate. The historic factory, first opened by Pirelli in 1962, is located a few kilometres from Milan and has been overhauled and modernised. “The plant will be dedicated to the production of high-tech tyres, including all…

European Industry Bands Together for Packaging Reduction

Brussels, Belgium Nearly 70 companies have signed up to a European industry commitment to address ballooning packaging waste. By the start of this week, 67 businesses had joined the Cycling Industry Sustainable Packaging Pledge, coordinated by the Confederation of the European Bicycle Industry (CONEBI) and Cycling Industries Europe (CIE) to reduce plastic packaging and eliminate…

WA Greens Take Up Campaign to Scrap Maximum Width Law

WA Greens Upper House Member Dr Brad Pettitt, a former director of West Bike, with one of his cargo bikes.

Perth, WA Lobbying for the abolition of a maximum width law for bicycles in WA is set to go to the State’s parliament, after Australian Greens politician Dr Brad Pettitt took up the cause. Dr Pettitt has joined Bicycle Industries Australia (BIA) and WA bike industry representatives in calling on the WA Government to scrap…

Push to Lift Mechanics Skills Rating

Canberra, ACT Bicycle mechanics should be ranked higher than trolley collectors and leaflet deliverers on the nation’s skills training rankings, according to a campaign by Bicycle Industries Australia. BIA is lobbying to have bike mechanics raised from Skills Level 5, the bottom rung, on the Australian and New Zealand Standard Classification of Occupations (ANZSCO) –…

Trek Buys Eight Melbourne Stores

The Cycles Galleria chain, both this month by Trek Bicycle Australia, includes four stores in inner-city Melbourne and three in the city’s suburbs.

Melbourne, Victoria One of Victoria’s largest bike store chains, Cycles Galleria, has been purchased by Trek Bicycle Australia this month. The purchase, including all seven Cycles Galleria stores, is the latest of two purchases by Trek in recent weeks to bolster the company’s presence in Melbourne. In late February, Trek bought Essendon store Rapido Cycles.…

Show of Respect for Handmade Bike Giant

Ewen front and centre during a group photo of participants at the inaugural Handmade Bicycle Show Australia in 2018.

Bend of Islands, Victoria This year’s Handmade Bicycle Show Australia (HBSA) will feature a tribute to a giant of the industry, Ewen Gellie, who died suddenly of suspected heart failure earlier this month. A display to remember the 53-year-old will be featured at the heart of the exhibition space, when the 2022 HBSA is held…

Sea Otter Australia Debut Delayed Again Until 2023

The four-day Time Life Sea Otter Classic at Leguna Seca, in California’s Monterey County.

Canberra, ACT Australian cycling enthusiasts and industry members will have to wait another 12 months for the Sea Otter Bike Expo to come to this country, with organisers announcing the maiden Sea Otter Australia will now be held from 28th September to 2nd October 2023. However, spin-offs of the cycling extravaganza will begin to appear…