World
World Briefs: Giant, VanMoof, Zipp, MINI, Greyp, Trek & POC.
Giant has released fifth-generation ranges for both its Defy endurance road bikes and Avail Advance line-up, featuring totally reengineered frames and purposed built components for each line. The Avail range, released under the company’s Liv brand of female-specific bikes, trims more than 100 grams off its framesets compared to their predecessors – 128 grams for…
Lithium Iron Battery Closes Performance Gap to Nickel Cobalt Systems
Michigan, US A US energy storage technology company recently announced further progress in the range and energy density of its lithium iron phosphate (LFP) battery system, as a safer option to nickel cobalt manganese (NCM) and with greater availability of raw materials. Michigan-based Our Next Energy (ONE) says its Aries II LFP battery pack has…
E-Bike Material Innovations: Ossby, Cyclik & My Esel
Frankfurt, Germany Bicycle manufacturers continue to experiment with new materials – in their quests for greater sustainability, durability or just a better ride – with several major innovations on display at Eurobike 2023. While Madrid company Ossby attracted attention for the radical design of its Geo folding bike – and very rapid folding mechanism –…
Bosch Smart System Tweaks for Enhanced Flexibility
Stuttgart, Germany Greater flexibility in lock activation and more opportunities to customise displays and drive modes are among Bosch’s tweaks of its Smart System for the 2024 season. Updates by Bosch eBike Systems to its eBike Flow App will allow riders to use their Bosch Kiox 300 and Kiox 500 displays to turn their bike’s…
VanMoof Bankrupt and Rad Power Retreats from Europe
Amsterdam, Netherlands A former beacon heading the rise of urban e-bikes, VanMoof, has been declared bankrupt. On 17th July, the Court of Amsterdam declared the Dutch legal entities VanMoof Global Holding B.V., VanMoof B.V. and VanMoof Global Support B.V. bankrupt, confirming rumours about the Netherlands company that has been a darling of the industry and…
High-Tech Kids Bikes Now Main Focus for Pro Tour Greats
Frankfurt, Germany Two former German pro-cycling greats have now stepped up the pace for children’s bike offerings from their country. Multiple world road time trial champion Tony Martin and prodigious Grand Tour stage winner Marcel Kittel have joined other co-founders to create specialist children’s bike manufacturer Li:on, which unveiled its first models at Eurobike 2023.…
Applications Open for Taipei Cycle Exhibitors
Taipei, Taiwan Booth applications opened this week for 2024 Taipei Cycle, which will focus on four themes: Green Action, Micromobility, Innovation & Startups and Culture & Lifestyle. Next year’s event will be held from 6th to 9th March and will introduce digital advancements such as a Cycling e-Sports Pavilion and an immersive E-bike Demo Test…
Global Trade Show News: IAA Mobility and Eurobike
Munich, Germany IAA Mobility has firmed its challenge as the premier micromobility trade show in Germany – and, potentially, the globe – by announcing two significant partnerships for its second instalment this September. The biennial Munich-based show, part of the long-standing IAA Summit automobile show, late last month announced it will again host the World…
High Quality Return for China Cycle
Shanghai, China A quantum leap forward in the quality of Chinese bicycle products was on display when China Cycle 2023 was held in Shanghai this month – the first time the event has been held since 2019 because of Covid restrictions. TEBCO managing director Tony Morgan reported back to The Latz Report when he returned…
Giant Profits Halved But Mid-Term Optimism Remains
Taipei, Taiwan Giant Group’s nett profits have halved in the first quarter of 2023, compared to the same period in 2022, the Taiwan-based company revealed in a financial report released last week. Its consolidated financial report for the 2023 first quarter shows the group’s nett profit after tax was NT$836 million (A$40.49 million), a decline…