World
Vittoria Building World First Innovation Centre
Milan, Italy Italian tyre manufacturer Vittoria has started the construction of what it is calling “the world’s first all-discipline cycling experience, innovation centre and knowledge hub for bicycle tyre development”. Vittoria Park is being built around the company’s headquarters near Milang and is scheduled to be completed by September. The 50,000m2 facility will include more…
Compostable Bidons for Cannondale World Tour teams
Budapest, Hungary Cannondale has unveiled 100% compostable bidons that will be used by its World Tour road cycling teams, starting with this month’s Giro d’Italia. Both the EF Education – EasyPost men’s team and EF Education – TIBCO – SVB women’s team will be using the bottles as a solution the approximately 34,000 bottles that…
Austrian Bikes Sales Top Billion-Dollar Milestone
Vienna, Austria Bicycle sales in Austria topped €1 billion (A$1.467 billion) for the first time in 2021, as rising e-bike and cargo bikes sales negated a slight overall decline in the total number of units sold. Sales totalled €1.03 billion, a 17% increase on the previous year and a three-fold increase compared to 2015. Based…
China COVID Measures and Ukraine Invasion Keep Brakes on Shipping
Shanghai, China Strict Covid lockdowns in several Chinese cities and the ongoing Russian invasion of Ukraine has shipping experts predicting the international container crisis is unlikely to improve soon. “Global fret ensues as several cities in China go into strict lockdown, including Shanghai and Shenzen,” according to a statement by container logistics service xChange. “This…
Spanish Ministry Proposes Compulsory e-Bike Insurance
Spain The Spanish government is considering implementing mandatory insurance for e-bikes, a policy that would put it at odds with the rest of Europe. The Ministry of Economic Affairs and Digital Transformation’s push to incorporate “personal mobility vehicles” within regular motor vehicle regulations would bring a need for compulsory insurance for electric bicycles. The controversial proposal…
Landmark UK Prosecution of Supplier of High-Powered e-Bike
Worcester, UK A UK vehicle standards authority had announced the country’s first successful prosecution of a company for illegally supplying high-powered electric-assisted pedal cycles (EPACS) not approved for road use. The Driver & Vehicle Standards Agency (DVSA) took action against Monsterebikes Ltd for supplying Falcon-branded EAPCs fitted with motors powered up to 8,000 watts and…
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…
Strong Support for 3T Ukraine Special Edition
Presezzo, Italy Italian bike manufacturer 3T has received strong interest in a special edition road bike it has produced to demonstrate support for Ukraine during its invasion by Russia. 3T produced five of the Exploro RaceMax Ukraine – with all proceeds to be donated to Red Cross Italy to support the people in Ukraine –…
Gogoro Solid-State Battery Prototype Brings Capacity Boost
Taoyuan, Taiwan The world’s first solid-state lithium ceramic battery prototype for two-wheel battery swapping has been unveiled by Taiwanese company Gogoro, a leader in battery swapping technology. Gogoro has worked with ProLogium Technology, a global leader in solid-state battery technology and also based in Taiwan, to develop the solid-state battery prototype, which integrates with Gogoro’s…