FE Sports Distributing Lightweight Wheels

Obermayer EVO wheels

Brisbane, Queensland Brisbane’s FE Sports is partnering with German wheel manufacturer Lightweight to begin distributing its high-performance wheels in Australia and New Zealand from the start of next month. Lightweight has been developing wheels for race bikes for more than 20 years, in the pursuit of “creating the perfect wheel”. Its hand-made wheels are produced…

Taipei Cycle Combines Physical and Virtual Expos For First Time

Taipei, Taiwan One of the world’s biggest B2B cycling gatherings, Taipei Cycle, is preparing to go ‘hybrid’ in March, combining physical and virtual exhibitions for the first time. The annual expo has been held exclusively as an online event for the past two years after the COVID pandemic caused the cancellation of the 2020 and…

How the Stars Aligned for e-Bikes in 2021

Urban e-bikes were among the industry’s greatest growth markets in 2021 and are tipped to experience the highest escalation of sales in the next few years. An expanding array of modern and elegant designs will help boost their popularity among consumers.

Wollongong, NSW 2021 might well have been the most important year in the emergence of e-bikes. Continued sales growth, escalating technological advancements, corporate investment, infrastructure progress and global recognition of their importance to improve our quality of life all combined in an almost perfect storm for the e-bike industry. The validity of this assessment will…

Pushys Purchases Rival Online Retailer BikeBug

Pushys will use its acquisition of BikeBug to accelerate its move into high-end bikes, including expanding the BikeBug range to include premium mountain bikes.

Canberra, ACT Canberra-based company Pushys has purchased another leading online cycling retailer, BikeBug, to accelerate its move into the premium market. Pushys co-owner Shane Wolki confirmed the sale – completed on 1st February for an undisclosed amount – included BikeBug and wholesale company FRF Sports, two companies owned by road cycling identity Frank Fortuna. He…

Specialized Introduces Consumer-Direct Sales in Australia

Specialized Delivery will offer hand delivery, personalised set-up and the chance to ask questions at the point of delivery, for customers who purchase the bike on Specialized.com. Image: Specialized

Port Melbourne, VIC Specialized Bicycle Components Australia is introducing ‘Ship to Home’ and ‘Specialized Delivery’ options for bikes purchased online. Its announcement of the new services last week came shortly after Specialized confirmed it was beginning consumer-direct sales in the US and UK for non-electric bikes. A spokesperson for Specialized Bicycle Components Australia said Specialized…

Wall Street Investor Pays a Record $2.5 Billion Cash for a Bicycle Company!

York-based investment firm KKR’s purchase of Accell Group has expanded the bike conglomerate’s horizons for global growth.

New York, US One of Europe’s largest bike conglomerates, Accell Group, is set to be purchased by New York-based investment firm KKR, in a €1.56 billion (A$2.527 billion) buyout that represents a 21% premium on Accell’s all-time highest stock market valuation. The companies late last month reached a conditional agreement on an all-cash public offer…

BikeExchange Eyes Latin America as Next Focus

BikeExchange is planning a strategic partnership with Auteco - the leading distributor of bikes and electric vehicles in Colombia - as part of the Melbourne-based company’s expansion into Colombia and other Latin American countries. Photo - Auteco

Melbourne, Victoria Melbourne-based company BikeExchange has revealed plans to expand its operations in Latin America, outlining the strategy while unveiling a quarterly business update that shows healthy growth for the company in general. During an online presentation for investors and media late last month, BikeExchange Global CEO Mark Watkin said the company would acquire the…

How’s Business? February 2022

Cyclery Northside’s main store in Chatswood NSW. Photo credit: Google Street View.

Australia and New Zealand Welcome to our first How’s Business column for 2022. Now that we’ve gone to twice-monthly newsletters, you’ll only see How’s Business in every second newsletter. With Omicron in full flight when we interviewed these shops in late January, our follow up question this month was, “In what ways has covid been…

Welcome to 2022! Here’s Why I’m Still Optimistic…

Crossing the Sandy Creek Bridge on the High Country Rail Trail, Victoria

Wollongong, NSW Welcome to this brand new year called 2022. I hope you were able to have at least some holiday time over the New Year period. I’ve just returned from three weeks of travelling through the back roads of NSW and Victoria. Holidays are always a good time to learn, reflect and set yourself…

Industry Demands Crackdown on “Bikes Built to Fail”

A petition is calling for a minimum durability standard for bicycles to last at least 500 riding hours before breaking down.

Denver, US An alliance of US bike stores, mechanics and cycling advocates has launched a campaign to end the manufacture of what they call “built-to-fail bicycles”. The campaign, spearheaded by the program director of Denver-based cycling advocacy group Bikes Together, includes an online petition calling upon cycling industry manufacturers to “stop producing and selling bikes…