Eurobike 2021 a Different Show to Mark End of Era

Eurobike 2021

By Christopher Jones  It was up in the air as to whether Eurobike 2021 would be cancelled, after last year’s event was abandoned because of COVID-19.  However, most of Europe has adapted to the COVID situation and good vaccination numbers have made it possible to conduct large-scale events, with the necessary precautions.  Under new German COVID provisions, known…

Vietnam Shut Down Impacts Australian High End Bike Supply

Vietnam

When you think about bicycle and component manufacturing countries in Asia, chances are that your list would start with China, Taiwan and perhaps Japan. But Vietnam has become an increasingly important production hub over recent years. This has been partly as a way for global brands to avoid the ‘anti-dumping’ measures imposed upon Chinese manufacturers…

Why Has Global Shipping Become So Chaotic and Expensive?

Shipping bikes via containers has become expensive during COVID-19

If you’re a wholesaler, you know first-hand that shipping prices have gone through the roof since covid hit. If anything, the situation is getting worse, not better. It’s not just the price that’s problematic. There are long delays, fewer ships sailing to Australia and New Zealand and our ports are chocked with empty containers while…

How’s Business? Stock Supply Special! October 2021

How's Business - October 2021

Welcome to our monthly chat with bicycle shop owners and managers across Australia and New Zealand where we simply ask ‘How’s Business?’ In keeping with our stock supply theme for this month, our follow up question was, ‘How much bike stock do you have now and how confident are you that you’ll have enough for…

Two Major New Agencies for Advance Traders

Assos of Switzerland

Brisbane-based distributor Advance Traders has been busy boosting its presence in the industry, signing up with two heavy-hitter brands during the past month. On 15th September, Advance Traders announced it was taking on the role of distributor for premier clothing manufacturer ASSOS of Switzerland. “The Addition of ASSOS to the Advance Traders Portfolio is an…

French Innovation Brings New Feel for Dutch Cargo Bike

O2Feel Dynamic Vern Urban Power

Pioneering cargo bike importer Dutch Cargo Bike is broadening its horizons into more mainstream models, by bringing e-bikes from French manufacturer O2Feel into Australia for the first time.  Dutch Cargo Bike founder and Managing Director Jürgen Heikamp said it would be importing much of the O2Feel range but with a particular focus on its Vern, iSwan and iVog ranges…

IAA Mobility ‘Essential to Bridge Rift Between Bikes and Cars’

IAA Mobility show

Organisers of the revamped International Mobility Show Germany (IAA Mobility) have emphasised the event’s value in fostering greater harmony between automobiles, bicycles and other road users. The biennial IAA event was rebadged in 2021 as IAA Mobility to incorporate micromobility exhibitors for the first time, attracting a considerable number of e-bike and e-scooter manufacturers. In…

Australia’s Richest Partner Invests in Bike Industry

Factor Bikes website home page

Think of Australia’s richest people and Gina Rinehart, Andrew ‘Twiggy’ Forest and Clive Palmer might come to mind. They are certainly in the mix at numbers one, two and seven on the Australian Financial Review’s 2021 Rich List, with Gina topping the bill at $31 billion. But two relatively young business partners actually combine for…

BikeExchange Reveals Strong Growth for 2020/21

BikeExchange.com.au home page

BikeExchange is one of a very small number of Australian bicycle industry related companies that is publicly listed on the Australian Stock Exchange (ASX). This requires them to regularly publish detailed financial statements and reports outlining any significant changes to staffing, operations and any other changes that may materially impact their financial performance. As we…

Have 3D Printed Bicycle Frames Finally Become a Viable Reality?

Arevo has released a range of 3D printed bike frames

In global engineering and manufacturing, 3D printing has been big news for quite a while. In the case of bicycle frames, this means rather than joining pre-made tubes together with some form of welding or gluing, the entire frame is built from scratch in one process, by adding many fine layers in quick succession of…