Australian News Briefs: Lusty In Transition, Threat to Future E-Bike Sales

Transition Bicycle Company’s global website home page

Lusty Becomes New Distributor of Transition Transition is a high-end enthusiast MTB brand that was founded in 2001 in Washington State, USA. For many years the brand has been distributed in Australia by Brisbane based importer wholesaler SuperSports, owned by Rodney Jess. Newcastle, NSW based Lusty Industries has recently taken over as the exclusive distributor.…

Should We Make Our Industry More Sustainable?

Group of presenters on stage

Adelaide, SA In terms of their environmental impact, bicycles are already far more sustainable than other means of transport so should we bother to try to further lower the footprint of our industry? Some members already think so and attended the first annual Sustainability Forum run by Bicycle Industries Australia (BIA) on Wednesday 17th January…

E-Bike Battery Forum Focuses on Fire Risks and Recycling

Presenters on stage

Adelaide, SA E-Bikes have transformed both the Australian and global bicycle industries in terms of making them larger and, at least potentially, more profitable than ever before. But two serious challenges are threatening to derail this growth. Of these, fire is the most acute right now. The second, battery recycling, is only just entering many…

Bicycle Industries Australia Members Vote to Increase Fees

Group of people

Adelaide, SA Bicycle Industries Australia (BIA) which is the national industry body for the Australian bicycle retail and wholesale sectors held its annual general meeting in Adelaide on Thursday 18th January. Retailers currently pay $99 + GST in annual membership fees, while wholesalers pay a flat rate of $1,800 + GST, regardless of their size.…

E-Bike Import Value Is Approaching Conventional Bikes Value

Canberra, ACT As all Australian bicycle industry members know, for more than a year now we’ve been in a situation of overstock, leading to discounting that is eroding profit margins for both wholesalers and retailers. Therefore, while it would normally be a concern to see import levels falling, right now it’s good news. We recently…

Rob Eva Retires After Over 25 Years Leading SRAM Australia

Group of cyclists

Warburton, Vic One of the best known faces, and voices… in the Australian bicycle industry is retiring on Friday 15th December after a lifetime of deep immersion in all aspects of cycling. When I first started Bicycling Australia magazine, Rob featured prominently as a mountain bike racer, including our front cover photo in late 1993…

Tasmania Becomes First Australian State to Subsidise E-Bike Purchases

Person cycling on Intercity Cycleway

Hobart The Tasmanian Government has launched a rebate program for e-mobility devices. The program is a national first and aims to reduce greenhouse gas emissions from transport, particularly from daily commuting. The program is an initiative of Tasmania’s Climate Change Action Plan 2023-25. Rebates of 12 percent of the purchase price are available for e-bikes,…

Dirt Works Co-Founder Goes Bush!

People cycling in remote area

Yarralin, NT Dirt Works co-founder Wayne Chapman just let us know that he and his wife Kyria are moving to one of the most remote corners of Australia Yarralin, in the Northern Territory is five hours’ drive from the nearest towns, Katherine NT to the east and Kunanarra, WA to the west. Kyria has always…

Handing Over the Editorial Reins of The Latz Report

Wollongong NSW As every business owner knows, sometimes you have to make tough decisions, especially when it comes to controlling costs and keeping them less than income. So it was with great regret that I decided to at least partially let go of our superstar Editor, Scott Green. I’ve included a farewell note from Scott…

CAKE Celebrates New Partnership with Deus Ex Machina

CAKE utility ebike

Sydney, NSW Cult motorcycle and lifestyle brand Deus Ex Machina has become the Australian distributor for a much younger but equally chic company, CAKE, a Swedish manufacturer of premium lightweight electric mopeds and motorcycles. CAKE, whose range includes utilitarian mopeds for tradesmen, along with ultra-modern offroad motorcycles, declared the new partnership and strategic entry into…