Global Bike Manufacturers are Still Booming

Shimano Shimonoseki Factory floor

With more bicycle companies than ever now publicly listed and required to post regular financial reports, it’s plain to see that the bike industry boom is showing no signs of slowing up just yet. Despite covid-induced logistical challenges such as factory closures or restrictions and shipping issues, most are increasing their production. Shimano In its…

Sustainability Report Lifts the Lid on Bike Industry

Trek - 10 Areas to focus to reduce our footprint

Many bicycle industry members feel good about the idea that they’re selling environmentally sustainable products. But exactly how environmentally friendly is the process of manufacturing, distributing and selling bicycles? Trek Bicycles have just released their first annual Sustainability Report, which answers some of these questions. In his introduction to the report, Trek’s President, John Burke…

Australia’s Leading Scooter Player Eyes the Bicycle Market

Scooter Hut and Freestyle Distribution are two names that might have flown under the radar of many bicycle industry members – until now. Both are owned by founder Scott Mackintosh who spoke candidly with The Latz Report about his hugely successful current business and plans for rapid expansion. As both Scott’s name and accent suggest,…

Exclusive Interview with an Aussie Bike Expert Stranded in Taiwan

Aldo Contarino would be best described as an inventor and manufacturing expert who’s been in the Australian bike industry for over three decades.  Through his Quantum Bicycles workshop in Perth, he and his team have manufactured and repaired frames and taken on all sorts of tricky jobs that most bike workshops would pass on.  He’s…

Inside Information: Trade Show Wars and Industry Trends in Europe

Pre-covid, many Australian bicycle industry members made an annual pilgrimage to Eurobike, hosted by the scenic, small city of Friedrichshafen, Germany. Recently major changes been announced regarding the dates, ownership and host city for Eurobike, which will be hosted in July in Frankfurt from 2022. Plus, there’s a huge new competitor, in the form of…

Influencers! Launching 1st August with Osher Günsberg

Influencers Interview series

On Sunday 1st August we’re launching a brand new YouTube Channel and interview series called influencers!  Through influencers! we’ll be interviewing a wide range of people, both face-to face and via video link, throughout Australia and around the world.  Everyone that we speak to in influencers! is making a difference in some aspect of cycling…

Matt Turner Details the Pedal Group’s Massive Growth

99 Bikes Macgregor Shop front

Matt Turner is founder of 99 Bikes and Managing Director of the Pedal Group, which also includes wholesaler Advance Traders. As we documented in this related article, the Pedal Group’s latest full year financial figures show rapid growth to become Australia’s largest bicycle business, with a fraction under $200 million in sales for the financial…

Shimano’s Malaysia Factory Closed Due to Covid Wave

Shimano Factory

The Shimano component factory in Malaysia has not yet restarted its production following a forced closure. The factory had to shut down completely last week after the Malaysian government issued a total lockdown from June 1 to June 14 considering the situation of COVID-19 in the country. Further delays in the supply chain are now…

Inside Australia’s First $200 Million Bicycle Business

Pedal Group webpage

The Pedal Group has just reached a major milestone for Australian bicycle businesses. It has become the first to reach $200 million in annual sales. This business is best known by its two major components, Advance Traders and 99 Bikes. Because a major shareholder of The Pedal Group, Flight Centre Limited, is a public company…

Inside NSW’s Newest Bike Shop

Riding for Life eBike Store

Andrew Larkham has just opened Riding For Life, in the northern Wollongong suburb of Corrimal, about 70 km south of Sydney. But until recently, opening a new bike shop was not even on his radar as the next stage of his long and varied career. “I first rode an ebike in January down in Kiama,”…