Shimano, Trek, POC Release New Urban Products

Osaka, Japan Bike commuting’s global emergence into the transportation mainstream has been highlighted by the recent releases of three major players in the industry. Shimano, Trek and POC have unveiled new products with features targetting the practical needs of “everyday” cyclists. Shimano says its newly launched Cues line-up of components represents “a brand-new approach to…

Shimano Adopts Blubrake ABS

Blubrake

Frankfurt, Germany Anti-lock brake technology developed by Italy’s Blubrake is set to become widely available in Australia, with confirmation the fledgling company is partnering with Shimano. A smaller and lighter second generation of the Blubreak ABS system attracted the attention of Shimano, which announced the partnership at Eurobike 2022. Blubrake systems are already being used…

Letter from America: Signs of Major Market Contractions

Shimano factory

Santa Fe, US Here’s a prediction and if it’s wrong … well, that’s the way predictions go. Nonetheless, let me go out on a limb and suggest that the US bicycle market will contract, perhaps significantly, over the next 12 months. And the outlines of that trend are starting to emerge. Anecdotal evidence suggest inventory…

Electronic Upgrade for Shimano 105

Shimano group set

Yamaguchi Prefecture, Japan Shimano’s 105 group set has been upgraded to electronic shifting, as the model celebrating its 40th anniversary. The move to Di2 electronic shifting technology for the 105 R7100 group also incorporates a step up from 11 speed to the company’s flagship 12-speed system. Shimano 105’s Di2 utilises a hybrid system, with a…

Trooper Lu’s Searching for Prized Recruits

Trooper Lu’s Bicycles owners Justin and Simone Chisholm are searching for more experienced staff to assist with the continued growth of their business.

~ Sponsored Content ~ Sydney couple Justin and Simone Chisholm steadily established themselves among Australia’s leading Yamaha motorcycle retailers and are now they’re turning their considerable energies and acumen to the bicycle industry. The duo established Trooper Lu’s Bicycles in Liverpool last October, an offshoot of their successful Trooper Lu’s Garage motorcycle business, and have…

Which Bike Company is the Most Valuable?

Shimano easily topped the list as the most valuable specialist bike business listed on stock exchanges around the world.

Wollongong, NSW Bike Europe recently published a table – sourced and updated for many years by journalist Jo Beckendorff – of 45 bicycle-related companies around the world that were listed on a stock exchange as at the end of 2021. With so much money flooding into the bike industry, more outside investors than ever are…

Shimano’s Sales and Profits Soar Higher

Osaka, Japan The third quarter financial update from Shimano, for the first nine months of 2021 to 30th September 2021, has illustrated the world’s largest bicycle component supplier’s rush to fill a void in supply, with net sales in the nine months to September up 49.6%. That acceleration of trading saw the firm’s operating income…

Shimano’s Slow, Steady Arrival to 12-speed

Shimano Dura-Ace release

Shimano’s official launch of its new Dura-Ace and Ultegra group sets was one of cycling’s most long-awaited announcements. The release of the Dura-Ace R9200 and Ultegra R8100 group sets, bringing Shimano into the realm of 12-speed group sets, came two and a half years after its closest competitor, SRAM, made the leap. Campagnolo has already…

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…

Shimano New Factories

An Asian news source is reporting that Shimano plans to invest US$179 million (A$239 million) to build a new plant in Singapore that will open next year. According to the report from Nikkei Asia which you can see here, Shimano also decided to invest another $118 million (A$157 million) in its factories in Osaka and…