How Accurate Were Our Covid Bike Industry Predictions?

Empty shipping container

During the Covid pandemic I wrote two articles predicting what would happen in the future of the bike industry as a result of Covid’s ‘big disruption’. The first one was posted on 17th December 2020 and the follow-up was posted on 23rd September 2021. There’s a strong chance you might have read either or both…

Shut Shop a Major Loss for Eaglehawk’s Cycling Lifeblood

Interior of bicycle store

Eaglehawk, Victoria Central Victorian town Eaglehawk lost an institution when Major’s Eaglehawk Sports & Cycles store officially closed its doors last week, after more than 50 years in business. The store’s owner operators, Norma Major and her son Peter, have decided they’re ready for a more relaxing life and the store – the only sports…

October Midweek Dates Confirmed for 2023 Micromobility Conference

Royal Randwick Racecourse

Sydney, NSW Dates have been confirmed for this year’s Micromobility Conference, with a new delegate-friendly schedule that is midweek and earlier in the calendar. The 2023 event will be held on 24th-25th October and will return to Sydney’s Royal Randwick Racecourse. “It’s an important shift to mid-week dates to be more convenient for business and…

Scott Sports Buys Bicycle Superstore to Preserve Partnerships

Bicycle shop front exterior

Melbourne, Victoria Australasia’s largest bicycle company, Sheppard Cycles, is purchasing Victorian retailer Bicycle Superstore Group, to help secure Sheppard’s position in the market. “An opportunity arose to retain the Bicycle Superstore Group within our business while we find the right independent retailer to take the reins – one that we can partner with for the…

Bicycle Imports in Freefall but Unit Value Soars

Bicycle store interior

Canberra, ACT Bicycle import numbers in Australia were on an earthbound trajectory when The Latz Report last reported on the data late last year. My article on the data to the end of September 2022 reported: “It appears that after two years of stratospheric bicycle imports, numbers are starting to fall back to earth.” One…

Tern Announces New Australian Distribution Partner

Ben and Dan Carr standing with e-bikes

Melbourne, Victoria Urban e-bike specialist Tern and Melbourne-based company LEVA Group, headed by Lug+Carrie owners Ben and Dan Carr, have announced a new partnership for the distribution of Tern bicycles to independent bicycle dealers across Australia. LEVA Group will have Tern bicycles and accessories available from 1st March 2023, and will take over all service…

YearBook Listings Now Open For Updates

Yearbook 2023

Wollongong, NSW Updates are now open for the 2023 Latz Report YearBook and it’s more convenient than even for businesses to ensure their details are up to the moment. We’ve been busy making our own updates – to the online registration process – so bike industry wholesalers and other relevant business can quickly review and…

Top European Manufacturer Launches New E-Bike Subsidiary in Australia

Man standing on mountain with mountain bike

Wels, Austria Europe’s leading manufacturer of powered two-wheelers, Pierer Mobility Group, has launched an Australian subsidiary of its “new mobility” division. Pierer New Mobility Australia has established a headquarters in Sydney and has launched the business this year with its brands Husqvarna E-Bicycles and Gas Gas, a Spanish motorcycle manufacturer that moved into e-bikes in…

How’s Business – February 2023

Giant Bicycle store in Hobart

Welcome to our monthly round up across Australia and New Zealand, where we talk to independent bicycle dealers to ask them “How’s Business?”. The entire global bike supply chain has gone from famine to feast in most, but not all, bike categories, with manufacturers, wholesalers and retailers all struggling with high inventory levels. With that…

Pon’s Global CEO is Upbeat About Industry’s Future

Two men standing at bicycle event. Pon Bike CEO

Adelaide, SA At the start line of Stage 3 of the 2023 Tour Down Under, all eyes of the huge crowd were on the elite professional cyclists. Few people would have noticed the casually dressed Janus Smalbraak unobtrusively visiting some of the teams. A study of his online media shows that Janus likes it that…