32 Growing out of a crisis - Show Daily
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The Official Eurobike Newspaper | www.bikeshowdaily.com Day 3 & 4 | Aug 28 & 29, 2015
9 A marriage made in Scotland
Pon and Santa Cruz got serious there 32 Growing out of a crisis
Greek exhibitors seek more exports
22 ‘Attack during chaos’
Q&A with Vittoria’s Rudie Campagne 34 Top of the charts
Ex-Polish rocker turns brand builder
Friday, August 28, 2015 3
What's on today Table of Contents
All Day Events Scheduled Events Vox Pop
Who is showing interest in your e-bikes? .............................................. 4
Curana (B4-206) 09:00
Limenvisual – Alexander Stragier Room Berlin (Foyer East)
Young Belgian artist creates an art installation, MIPS Brain Protection System Good kids deserve a belting
projecting some of the company’s latest New helmet design with MIPS’ Johan Thiel. Early Rider wins Eurobike gold for its belt-drive kids’ MTB …… ........... 8
developments.
09:00
Guru (A6-201) Room London (Foyer East) A match made in Scotland
Matt Steinmetz and Simon Van Langenhove The Return of the Bicycle That’s where the courtship between Pon, Santa Cruz got serious .......... 9
Two fit specialists and sports scientists working The renaissance in urban cycling globally, with
at the highest level join Guru for the day. Burkhard Storck. In German.
Lo and behold
Foyer East (1st floor) 09:30-10:00 Taiwan’s bike industry bounces back into the good books …… ........... 12
LEV components special exhibition ExtraEnergy Stage (Foyer East, 1st floor)
Store Infrastructure and/or about EB Smart-
Nutcase (FG-AK2) Charger und EB Datenlogger Hook a bike with Yueni’s saddle ring
Nutcase Unframed – Live Art for World Bicycle In German.
Bike stand maker goes to town with its Speedy Parking Ring …......... 18
Relief
Three internationally renowned artists will paint 10:00
canvases throughout the show to be auctioned
Open Air Grounds West Rudie awakening
Q&A with Rudie Campagne, president of Vittoria … ........................... 22
Pool Patrizi Showtime
for World Bicycle Relief on Saturday.
Jumps and maneuvers from Paolo ‘Pool’ Patrizi,
six-time Italian elite champion.
10:00
Speed pedelec disharmony
Room Rom (Foyer East) The UK’s e-bike industry risks being throttled …. ................................ 24
Future Market China: current market figures,
trends and developments
With Richard Li, organized by AsiaBike.
New Products
Eurobike’s brightest and shiniest … ...................................................... 38
10:00
Room London (Foyer East)
Qualified Mechanical Labour as Competitive
Naked bikes need protecting
Advantage A family holiday leads to sales success for Bop Worx … ...................... 49
With Uwe Vol, organized by VSF.
10:00-10:45
Can a fender make you go faster?
ExtraEnergy Stage (Foyer East, 1st floor) Birzman says it has created the first aero fender … .............................. 52
EnergyBus – Advantages and Implementation
Possibilities
In German. From guitar hero to Sports Nut
Ex-Polish rock star now builds international bike brands … ............... 54
10:30
Travel Talk (Room Berlin)
Welcome
TONIGHT
Berlin Trefected
Join Pedelec Adventures on Friday
Hosted by Eurobike and Veloconcept Saade
GmbH, and English/German translation. TODAY 16 C (61 F)
0 0
lunchtime as they launch the Berlin 10:45 August 28 Generally clear
Travel Talk (Room Berlin)
Trefected film, featuring trials star
Marco Hösel on the new, powerful
Investments in Cycling – identifying and
exploiting the potential for tourism
Friedrichshafen TOMORROW
Trifecta e-bike around Berlin. Hösel With Michael Adler of Tipping Points, and
will make a guest appearance on the
Foyer East stage, and the film starts
English/German translation. 29 C (84 F)
0 0
30 C (87 F)
0 0
at 12:55. Continued on page 6... Mostly sunny Mostly sunny
A GUIDE TO EUROBIKE STAND NUMBERS
A & B = MAIN INDOOR HALLS
FG = OUTDOOR AREA WEST “FREIGELÄNDE”
FG-0 = OUTDOOR AREA EAST “FREIGELÄNDE OST”
FW = FOYER WEST
F0 = FOYER EAST
ZH = ZEPPELIN HALL EXIT THROUGH THE SOUTH END OF HALL A2 ZEPPELIN HALL
ÜO = EAST PASSAGE
EAST ÜO OPEN AIR AREAS WEST
ENTRANCE
MAIN ENTRANCE
4 Eurobike Show Daily LIVE FROM THE SHOW Friday, August 28, 2015
Join Eurobike for drinking,
dancing and daredevilry
Vox Pop
Outside of Germany and the Netherlands,
You’ve worked hard all week at Eurobike, and Messe
Friedrichshafen knows you deserve a treat. So join your who is showing interest in your e-bikes?
friends from the show for the annual Eurobike Party, starting
at 6:30 p.m. Friday in the Open Air Grounds West — which
show officials describe as not just an outdoor concert arena,
but the “largest dance floor on Lake Constance.”
Ulrich Henz Markus Theil
Technical Marketing Coordinator Quality Control
SRAM Deutschland KTM
We just have a small stand here in the We’ve seen more interest from American
test area this year to try out the new dealers this year, but of course Germany
SRAM e-bike system. The majority of the is still leading the market. I think the
inquiries we’ve had are from Germany interest is building quite quickly now in a
and The Netherlands. The system that we large number of countries.
have here at the moment is best suited to We are seeing more and more interest
regular town riding. in our e-bikes. The new KTM model
There’ll be music, friends, food, unconventional contests and Macina Kapoho is getting a lot of
and, of course, great German beer. showdowns, and they’ll have bikes on attention here so far. It is a lightweight
For a change of pace, visit the hand to borrow if you don’t have one. full suspension 650b Plus MTB, powered
outdoor Atrium, next to Foyer West, Non-cash prizes are waiting to be won. by a Bosch battery. It’s really suited to
for a party zone sponsored by Five “I’m pretty sure it will be a cool mountains and trails.
Ten. event,” Eurobike head Stefan Reisinger
And for something completely said. “We will have the Red Cross
different, head to the new close by,” he laughed.
TrackLounge in Room Österreich Eurobike will even make sure
(above Foyer West) where Eurobike you get home: The show organizer is
and Fahrstil are setting up a running free shuttle buses to hotels Junyoung Park
34-meter(111-foot) indoor velodrome. and neighboring towns at 12:30 a.m. Sales Manager
They’ll be hosting fun and from the west entrance. Mando Corporation Europe
Our e-bike range is aimed towards the
urban market, as an alternative to the car Frank Rodenbusch
for commuting and city trips. We’ve had Technical Service Representative
a stand at Eurobike Show for four or five Shimano
years now. We have had people testing out
bikes from everywhere really, especially Eurobike attracts dealers from many
the older generation, who like the simple countries and we are seeing that here
style of our product. at our stand. The stand has been visited
However, sales are still coming mainly by dealers from Spain, England, Italy,
from Europe, and Germany is still our among others. The growth of the e-bike
biggest market. We’ve noticed that the in Germany was huge, but in the last two
London area is now a growth market for years or so, we have also seen growth in
our bike. Our home market of Korea is the e-mountain bike area.
still strong and we are also entering the For 2016 we have introduced a light
U.S. market. off-road version, which is based on the
original system but is suited to more
rugged conditions. It’s so much fun!
When you ride it your teeth will be
black - thanks to all the flies you’ll catch
because you’ll be smiling so much.
Andreas Claassen
Event Team
Giant
Gerhard Binder
Our sales are still mostly in Europe. We Sales Representative
find that the U.S. market is very different. Haibike, Winora-Staiger
Most of the interest for test rides here at
our Eurobike stand has been in the new We’re seeing e-bike sales taking off now
2016 model, the Giant Dirt-E+O. It’s got a in Italy, Spain, France and even Poland,
Yamaha battery, which is now integrated the Czech Republic and Russia. Germany
into the frame. We’re getting great was very quick to embrace the concept of
feedback for this bike and it’ll be interest- the e-bike and is probably about two to
ing to see what public visitors think when three years ahead of the rest of Europe.
they get to try it on Saturday! The e-bike market has changed
immensely in the last year. We now
produce a 24-inch e-bike because we
found there are a lot of young people
starting to look at e-bikes. We now have
models suitable for ages 14-18.
6 Eurobike Show Daily LIVE FROM THE SHOW Friday, August 28, 2015
... Continued from page 3...
.
Saturday, Aug. 30
10:45 Nipper Race
ExtraEnergy Stage (Foyer East, 1st floor) Watch the next
10:00
generation of
EnergyTube and EnergyLock Open Air Grounds West
In German. two-wheeled stars
Pool Patrizi Showtime
race balance bikes
Jumps and maneuvers from Paolo ‘Pool’ Patrizi,
on Saturday. Fun for
11:00 six-time Italian elite champion
all the family on the
Foyer East
Open Air Grounds
Eurobike Fashion Show 10:00-11:00
West at 14:00, and
See the latest collections at Eurobike’s famous Canyon (B4-404)
registration is free.
high-energy Fashion Show. Canyon Factory Enduro Team
Meet and greet at the stand.
11:00
Open Air Grounds West 10:00-11:00
Danny MacAskill’s Drop and Roll Tour Born (B1-407)
Fun with the legendary daredevil. Emanuel Buchmann
The German national champion and Team
11:00 Bora-Argon18 signs autographs.
Travel Talk (Room Berlin) 13:00-14:00 15:00
What Moves the Germans? Origin, function, Sports Nut (B3-100) Room London (Foyer East) 11:00
intensity and passion for cycling Hans Rey, Darren Berrecloth, Richie Schley Hooray, a Complaint! Open Air Grounds West
With Bernd Holzhauer of Motorpresse and Cedric Gracia With Marius Gräber. In German. Danny MacAskill’s Drop and Roll Tour
Signing session. Fun with the legendary daredevil.
11:00 16:00
Room London (Foyer East) 14:00 Open Air Grounds West 11:00-12:00
The Store from a Customer Perspective – Foyer East Danny MacAskill’s Drop and Roll Tour Amplifi (B5-207)
opportunities for retailers in the Internet age Eurobike Fashion Show Fun with the legendary daredevil. Guido Tschugg
With Phillip Menzel. In German. Meet the German FR legend, and grab freebies
14:00 16:00 like signed water bottles, tees and posters.
11:15 Travel Talk (Room Berlin) Travel Talk (Room Berlin)
Travel Talk (Room Berlin) European Cycling Policy / graubündenBIKE / Presentations and summary 12:00
Luxury or Value for Money? Strategies from Bremen Bike It! Bike Trails Worldwide / From Adventure to Open Air Grounds West
successful cycle tour organisers Presentations and panel discussion, English/ Luxury in Southeast Asia / Bike Tourism 4.8 Pool Patrizi Showtime
With Thorsten Haase of Landpartie, and German translation. – Fatbikes / Summary. With English/German Jumps and maneuvers from Paolo ‘Pool’ Patrizi,
English/German translation. translation. six-time Italian elite champion
14:00-15:30
11:30 Travel Talk (Room London) 16:00 12:00-14:00
Travel Talk (Room Berlin) Experience and Emotion – tourism as an Room London (Foyer East) Simplon (A1-405)
Bike racing for Everyone – a benefit for cycling opportunity for the bike trade Location Marketing and Search Engine Yvonne van Vlerken and Per Bittner
and the region? Featuring Movelo and Derby (Derby Cycle) / Optimisation for E-bike Traders Signing session with Simplon’s top triathletes.
With Bert Hallerbach of T.I.P. Biehl and Partner, MTB Techniques and Adventure (Bike Loft) / With Sacha Nachtnabel, organised by
and English/German translation. E-bike Adventure World (Fahrrad Fuchs). Greenfinder UG. 12:30-12:50
GoPro (B2-400c)
11:45 14:00-15:00 16:00 Sam Pilgrim and Martin Söderström
Travel Talk (Room Berlin) Marzocchi (B1-302) ExtraEnergy Stage (Foyer East, 1st floor) Signing session.
E-MTB Potential – how regions can exploit the Sam Pilgrim EnergyBus – Advantages and Implementation
E-MTB market successfully Autographs from the freeride MTB pro. Options 13:00-14:00
With journalist Ulrich Stanciu, and English/ In English. Sports Nut (B3-100)
German translation. 14:00-16:00 Hans Rey, Darren Berrecloth, Richie Schley
ExtraEnergy Stage (Foyer East, 1st floor) 16:45 and Cedric Gracia
12:00 Pedelec Technologies ExtraEnergy Stage (Foyer East, 1st floor) Signing session.
Open Air Grounds West With Rehau AG, DLR, EnergyTube, Velotech, Standardization, Legislation, Trends
Pool Patrizi Showtime KOMSA, Battery University. In English. 13:30-15:00
Jumps and maneuvers from Paolo ‘Pool’ Patrizi, Osram (A3-808)
six-time Italian elite champion 14:45 17:00 Sabine Spitz
Travel Talk (Room Berlin) Travel Talk (Room Berlin) The Olympic medallist signs autographs.
12:00 International MTB Destinations Compared / Eurobike Live
Travel Talk (Show Stage, Foyer East) Conflicts between MTB, e-Bikes and Hikers / Small-group discussions with industry leaders 14:00
Business Speed Dating Bike Parks and Family Destinations on the topics of e-MTB, Navigation and Open Air Grounds West
10 innovative start-ups and companies for bike Presentations and panel discussion, English/ Innovation. Nipper race
tourism (5 x 8 minute speed dates). German translation.
18:30 15:00
12:30-13:30 15:00 Open Air Grounds West Open Air Grounds West
Foyer East Northwave (B5-601) Eurobike Party Pool Patrizi Showtime
Pick your Pedelec: The Show - Stories, Diego Ulissi and Rui Costa Jumps and maneuvers from Paolo ‘Pool’ Patrizi,
Products and Usage for a new Generation of Come see the road stars clad in the latest 18:30 six-time Italian elite champion
Bikes Northwave kicks. Atrium
Pedelec testing on the Fashion Show Stage, Five Ten Party 15:00-16:00
moderated in German. 15:00 THM-Carbones (A2-205)
Open Air Grounds West 19:00 Sabine Spitz
13:00 Pool Patrizi Showtime Room Österreich (Foyer West) Another chance to meet Sabine.
Room London (Foyer East) Jumps and maneuvers from Paolo ‘Pool’ Patrizi, TRACKlounge presented by EUROBIKE &
Outdoor Navigation in the Bicycle Trade – a six-time Italian elite champion. fahrstil 16:00
business segment or just a waste of your Open Air Grounds West
staff’s time? Danny MacAskill’s Drop and Roll Tour
With Thomas Froitzheim. In German.
8 Eurobike Show Daily LIVE FROM THE SHOW Friday, August 28, 2015
Early Rider bikes are for Next on UCI wish list:
really, really good kids weight limits, 3:1 rule Now that the issue of disc brakes in road racing is being resolved,
Does your kid deserve a belt-driven, disc-braked shiny 20-inch-wheeled
bikemakers are moving on to the next items on their UCI wish list:
bike, with a suspension fork and Ritchey Components?
road bike weight and modifications to the 3:1 aerodynamics rule.
parents don’t want
oil everywhere,”
spokesman Dave
Olinski said. “Also,
they don’t want the
maintenance aspect,
and the belts have a
ridiculously long life.”
The company
makes a lot of its own
components, sized
correctly for kids’
reach and hands. This
year it benefits from
a partnership with an
industry legend. From left: Mark Schroeder of Specialized, Yves Möri of the WFSGI and Jeremy Thompson
“Tom Ritchey of Specialized after the WFSGI meeting this week.
is a good friend of
A new working group met at Eurobike Materials and construction technology
the company. He
this week for the first time to start the has advanced light years since the UCI’s
loves what we do
process. Called the Aerodynamics and 2000 rule — most notably in frame
Belter 20 Trail 3S to get kids on bikes
Weight Limitation Working Group, the design — which means the limit is no
at a young age,”
committee is under the umbrella of the longer justified for safety reasons.
If so, then there’s a Eurobike Gold Olinski said. “We’ll be using Ritchey
World Federation of the Sporting Goods It has not been unknown, for instance,
Award-winning mountain bike, the componentry on a lot of the bikes in the
Industry. for team mechanics to put entire bicycle
Belter 20 Trail 3S, at Early Rider. A2-500 range. That will come through during
The UCI, the governing organization chains down the seat tube of a bike just to
The company is exhibiting in the Urban the latter part of this year.”
for bike racing, since 2000 has limited make the weight.
Corridor. Olinski said Early Rider’s customers
road bikes to a minimum weight of 6.8kg The UCI’s 3:1 rule, meanwhile,
Founder Andy Loveland created the — the ones who are paying for the
(15 lbs.), even though technology has decrees what makes a tube a tube. It says
U.K. brand nine years ago after trying bikes — typically are avid cyclists.
since moved on. The industry believes the that every part of a UCI-legal bike must
to find a quality children’s bike. “They can look at a bike and
rule is hampering product advancements. be no more than three times deeper than
From wooden balance bikes, the appreciate what’s gone into it. One of
“We’ve been working within the its wind-facing aspect, to stop excessively
Early Rider range has expanded to fat the big selling factors is the weight. We
boundaries of this rule for a long aerodynamic construction.
bike-inspired alloy balance bikes, and keep it very low, using 6061 aluminum,
time and we’ve all adapted to it. But The UCI’s technical manager, Mark
pedal bikes. Each one is thoughtfully because weight for a child is a huge
innovation has caught up with that rule,” Barfield, said the governing organization
designed. For example, the 12-inch factor,” he said. “Some children’s bikes
said Jeremy Thompson of Specialized, is open to discussions.
Alley Runner also accommodates on the market would be the equivalent
one of the three heads of the new group. “It is the UCI’s intention to further
14-inch wheels, for when your little one of adults riding a 50kg [110 lb.] bike,
“In the bike industry we’re focused develop the rules to allow new and
grows up a bit. which is crazy.”
on opening up innovation as best as reasonable innovations,” Barfield said in
Specifications are interesting, too: The 20-inch Belter, with optional
possible. We’ll address each rule with that a statement.
All pedal bikes are belt-driven (though suspension fork, has a three-speed
in mind, and do what the group thinks is The industry’s relationship with the
the company is launching a SRAM hub gear, disc brakes and Ritchey
best,” Thompson continued. “We’ll look UCI has improved under Brian Cookson,
1x9-equipped chain-driven 20-inch finishing kit, and will be on the market
at it from the perspectives of what’s best elected to the top UCI position in 2013.
model next year). for Christmas. Prices start at £475
for the industry and what’s best for the For example, the first UCI road races
“Belts mean low maintenance and (€665/$745), with final dollar and euro
consumer, and keep focused on how we involving disc brake-equipped bikes took
cleanliness. Very often, kids’ bikes prices to be established by distributors.
can keep the most innovative products in place this summer. n ML
get thrown in the back of the car and n ML
the field.”
Friday, August 28, 2015 LIVE FROM THE SHOW 9
A match made in Scotland: Santa Cruz and Pon
It was during a week of mountain biking around Lochcarron, in the
Scottish Highlands, that a takeover agreement between Santa Cruz
Bicycles and the Pon Bicycle Group began to take shape.
While taking in breathtaking at Schock Therapy, the brand’s German
landscapes on the May trip, three distributor, whose contract is expiring at
managers of the California mountain the start of September.
biking brand heard out Armin Landgraf, Santa Cruz will assume distribution
who had just assumed the leadership at for the Czech Republic and Slovakia.
Pon . ÜO-2 Landgraf convinced them that Race Company remains the French
the Dutch conglomerate would support distributor for Santa Cruz and Juliana,
the brand, instead of just gobbling it up. its women’s brand, but Santa Cruz will
The deal, finalized in June, added assume responsibility for the Benelux
Santa Cruz B1-308 to a Pon stable that region of Belgium, the Netherlands and
includes Gazelle, Cervélo, Focus, Luxembourg. Santa Cruz is stronger in
Kalkhoff, Univega, Union, BBB Cycling Britain.
and more. Rob Roskopp and Rich Novak, Santa Cruz will employ the same
who founded Santa Cruz in 1993, sold approach in Europe that has helped it
Pon their 95 percent ownership interest. succeed in the U.S.
While Santa Cruz is mostly a U.S. “We focus on performance mountain
brand, the agreement will hasten its biking and we will continue to do that,”
expansion in Europe. Santa Cruz will Graney said. Apart from products, the
lean on the resources behind Derby company was built on its “very authentic
Cycle, the German company that owns voice” and an emphasis on racing and
Focus, Kalkhoff and other brands. But the customization, enabled by assembly in
Californians say Santa Cruz will continue Santa Cruz. Sales have more than tripled
to have responsibility for strategy and will in five years.
have direct contact with the European The Scottish setting provided a suitable
market. setting for Roskopp, Graney and global
“We’ll be using some of the operational marketing director Will Ockelton to
strengths that the group allows us,” explain to the Landgraf what Santa Cruz
Joe Graney, the chief operating officer is all about. Joe Graney with the Nomad, Santa Cruz’ flagship enduro bike.
at Santa Cruz, said yesterday. “But the The Scottish Isle of Skye was the
purpose is not to integrate the Santa Cruz setting for a video of Danny MacAskill amassed billions by doing just that in the the people who made it so.
brand into Derby or into other group riding a Santa Cruz bike on a ridge — a car industry, where it has a distribution “We’re trying to support the brand, to
operations. It’s to help Santa Cruz to clip seen by more than 30 million, agreement with the Volkswagen group help it get the right attention and the right
achieve its own goals as a brand.” including members of Pon’s board. for brands as diverse as Lamborghini, partners in Europe,” he said yesterday.
Santa Cruz has hired Gjovalin Pepaj Landgraf, the trio’s riding companion, Porsche, Audi and more. Pon has said that it expects to sell
to handle sales in Germany and Austria. explained Pon’s strategy to build up Landgraf said the “super-iconic” Santa about 800,000 bicycles this year totaling
He was the sales and marketing manager brands separately. The Dutch group has Cruz brand would continue to be led by about €600 million ($674 million). n BS
10 Eurobike Show Daily LIVE FROM THE SHOW Friday, August 28, 2015
Bobbin over the Channel Evoc trials luggage set
in deal with Cycleurope by Danny MacAskill
Bobbin Bicycles is preparing to ink a distribution deal with Cycleurope
for the French and Belgian markets, adding to the quirky urban bicycle Being the world’s foremost street trials star requires thousands of
brand’s swift expansion in the last two years. The deal is expected to be miles of travel each year for filming, appearances and riding trips,
finalized this morning at Eurobike. and each adventure means lugging along heavy bike bags and
development. “This suitcases.
year we’ve had a lot of
by MacAskill.
interest from retailers
Over the past year, Evoc’s
in France. Something is
Simon Scherer designed the
building.”
new Street backpack from the
Cycleurope has a
ground up with MacAskill’s
particularly strong
input.
presence in France, as
It features a side pocket
the company behind
lined with soft material to
Gitane and the licensed
store a small camera, phone
Peugeot Cycles range,
or other electronic gadgets. A
a production plant
helmet carrier is zipped into
in Romilly-sur-Seine
the bottom of the pack and
and more than 150
allows a helmet to be affixed
specialized “partner
to the outside of the pack
stores” trading as Velo
during downtime. The laptop
& Oxygen.
sleeve can be reached from
Bobbin’s Sian Emmison shakes hands with Tony Grimaldi, Bobbin was Street Backpack
Cycleurope’s president and chief executive. launched by Emmison
a side zipper or the top main
zipper.
and Tom Morris, Über-talented Scottish trials rider
The pack also includes an accessories
Bobbin A4-808 was established in an artist and marketing manager, Danny MacAskill partnered with
compartment with specially designed
London as a cycling boutique with its respectively. She says this background has travel-bag pros Evoc B4-401 to design a
pockets for SD camera cards, pens and a
own brand, drawing mostly female urban helped them to develop bikes for urban three-piece luggage set that emphasizes
mobile phone.
cyclists with its retro bikes. It started consumers who were after original and lightweight, but durable, features.
“Everything has its place,” Evoc
wholesaling four years ago, chiefly to colorful products. MacAskill launched the bags at the Evoc
co-founder Jan Sallawitz said. He added
independent retailers with an edgy and Emmison is targeting sales of 10,000 booth yesterday, before signing posters
that the pack reflects Evoc’s calling card
design-driven offering, but the brand took units this year, up from 6,500. The uptick for a long line of fans.
— good pocket management.
on another dimension this year when it comes after the company attributed U.K. The range consists of the Bike Travel
The luggage set will be available at
began to supply retailers such as Wiggle distribution to Moore Large and began Bag Pro, Rover Roller bag and a new
retail by the end of the year. The bike
and Evans Cycles. to build up international sales. It already Street Backpack. The bike case and
bag retails for €420 ($470), the roller
“We are becoming mainstream,” has a distribution partner for Spain and roller bag already existed in Evoc’s
bag is €230 ($260) and the Street pack is
said Sian Emmison, Bobbin’s managing Portugal, as well as customers in Norway line, but got a new subdued gray color
€90 ($100). n NF
director, who is in charge of business and New Zealand. n BS scheme with orange accents, as selected12 Eurobike Show Daily LIVE FROM THE SHOW Friday, August 28, 2015
Taiwan’s bike exports to Europe surge
Bicycle industry powerhouse Taiwan bounced back strongly this year, Giant Bicycles presented its all-new aggressive riding styles.
with complete bike exports in the January-April period up 10 percent 2016 TCR road bike, while e-bike maker Tern had three new models on display,
Besv showed its Smart App dashboard, including a folding cargo bike.
and overall shipments climbing by nearly 14 percent.
which allows riders to transfer data and Developed in partnership with
more from the e-bike to all Bluetooth- Xtracycle, the Cargo Node folds in
compatible devices. The Smart App can 10 seconds. The Tern Verge S81 was
record the bike’s parking location and described as a maintenance-free Super-
display real time weather and nearby Commuter.
popular places. KMC showed its new e-bike chain
Kenda unveiled three new tires, line — the XE-Bike Series x11e, X10e
including the Honey Badger with ECC, and X9e. The chains have the highest pin
an e-bike-specific model with casing power and are 20 percent more stable
designed to cope with the additional than others on the market, according to
weight of an e-MTB, higher speeds and KMC. n AH
2015 started well for Taiwan's bike industry according to Tony Lo, chairman of Taiwan's Bicycle Association.
Speaking at yesterday’s Taiwan were valued at $1.721 billion globally
Excellence press conference at Eurobike, in 2014, including 58,000 e-bikes to the
Tony Lo, chairman of Taiwan’s Bicycle European Union alone.
Association, said that despite the weaker The European Union is the largest
euro, shipments to Europe grew 24.3 recipient of bike exports from Taiwan. In
percent in value compared to the same 2014, exports to the EU hit over 2 million
period in 2014 and exports to North units, accounting for 55.4 percent of total
America were up 15 percent. exports of assembled bikes. The second
Japan was another bright spot, with largest market was NAFTA (the United
bike imports from Taiwan up 25.7 States, Canada and Mexico), accounting
percent. Overall the island exported 1.48 for 18.7 percent of total exports (700,000
million bikes during the period. units).
Agnes Hwa-Yue Chen of the Taipei The Taiwan Excellence event is also a
Representative Office in Germany told chance to see the best products from the
assembled journalists that Taiwan exports country’s bicycle industry. Leading products from Taiwan were also presented at
'Excellence on Wheels – Taiwan Bike Show' in Foyer East yesterday.14 Eurobike Show Daily Friday, August 28, 2015
Bring the clan together
at the Scottish pavilion
A retro 1950s-style backpack and a bicycle repair station for the
public are just two of the products on display at the Scottish
pavilion.
Trakke Mule Carousel messenger bag
The Scottish Development whisky — to improve with age.
International pavilion FG-B8/8 is Also exhibiting is Grease
underwritten by Scottish Enterprise, Monkey Cycles. In business for four
a government-backed economic years, Grease Monkey is seeking
development agency. distributors and media coverage for its
Seven companies are exhibiting, freestanding bicycle repair station.
while principals from 10 more are The rock-solid bicycle stand is
visiting Eurobike “on a learning equipped with a track pump and
journey,” said Danny Cowe, business other wire-attached tools. It’s tough
development executive at the enough to be set up for public use.
Mountain Bike Centre of Scotland, Grease Monkey says it has sold the
which serves as a business incubator repair station to local governments,
Mountain biking is a big draw for universities, and companies that have
Scotland, and officials are trying to a lot of workers who commute by
figure out how to better promote it. bike.
“With the notable exception of “Our bicycle station has all the
Endura, Scottish companies haven’t tools necessary for quick repairs, and
tended to take full advantage of the has a QR link on it for smartphone
economic opportunities presented ‘how to' videos on the most common
by mountain biking,” Cowe said, repairs,” said David Wray, managing
referring to the Scottish apparel director of Grease Monkey Cycles.
maker that is a regular at Eurobike. The company also markets an
He said the pavilion’s exhibitors inner-tube vending machine that’s
“are great examples of how our made from a recycled cigarette sales
support pathway, from innovation unit.
to internationalization, can help a “This stocks over 170 inner
company grow.” tubes and offers organizations and
The Mountain Bike Centre of bike shops an out-of-hours revenue
Scotland offers business advice and source,” Wray said.
mentoring to Scottish and English Other companies at the booth
cycling companies. include women’s clothing brand
One of these companies, start-up Findra, lubricant companies Free
luggage brand Trakke, is making its Flow Technologies and Scottoiler,
Eurobike debut. footwear and sock brand Teko,
Alec Farmer started Trakke and Dirt School, which produces
as a graphic design student at the a smartphone coaching app for
Glasgow School of Art. Trakke is a mountain bikers.
proud throwback to an earlier era: As well as showcasing innovative
It produces weatherproof bags of cycling companies, the Scottish
durable British materials, including Development International booth is
waxed cotton made in an English mill also promoting Scotland as a world-
that has been in operation since 1864. class mountain biking destination.
“We currently export around 50 The Mountain Bike Centre of
percent of our products, many of Scotland is based at the Glentress trail
these to Europe,” Farmer said. “We’re center in the Scottish Borders.
at Eurobike to provide a touch point n CR
for the European press
who might not usually
get a chance to meet us in
person. Our product is very
high-end, and seeing the
bags in the flesh makes our
message about quality and
longevity more tangible.”
The Trakke collection
includes a satchel,
backpack, duffel, tote
and pouch, all designed
and constructed to last a
lifetime and — like Scotch Grease Monkey bicycle repair stationFriday, August 28, 2015 17
Corratec’s prescription for good health
Electric bikes have long been marketed to people who may not be
healthy enough to ride traditional bikes. Now, Corratec has teamed up
with a German physician on a line of e-bikes that it promotes explicitly
for health reasons.
step-through frame that accommodates
The two are selling the pedelec line,
riders who weigh more than 150 kg (330
called LifeBike, as “a therapeutic training
pounds) and may be bicycling novices.
tool for better health.”
The distinctive frame incorporates
Ludwig Vincent Geiger is the doctor
two downtubes. The bigger tube has an
behind LifeBike. He’s a well-known
internal reinforcement, while a smaller
sports physician and the author of books
round downtube boosts side-to-side
on health and endurance training.
stabilization.
“In Germany alone, around five
Rims have reinforced spokes, and the
million people suffer from diseases of
bike’s balloon tires let riders go on and off
affluence such as obesity, metabolic
road. Because the tires don’t offer enough
disorders, cardiovascular problems and
damping for the heaviest riders, the
osteoarthritis,” Geiger said, noting that
LifeBike also includes an air suspension
most Western countries suffer from
fork, along with a rigid Racktime rear
similar health problems.
carrier that houses the battery and also
Geiger says cycling and other
can carry heavy shopping loads.
endurance sports can reduce the risk of
A Bosch mid-drive motor supplies the
such “affluence diseases. Cycling, he said,
power.
is especially beneficial because it doesn’t
“Last but not least, we put two
put a lot of stress on the joints, and even
180mm disc brakes on the bike” to assure
short training sessions have a big health
solid braking performance, even for
effect.
heavy riders, said Günther Schoberth-
Corratec B1-300 worked with Geiger to
Schwingenstein, Corratec’s sales and
develop a pedelec they say is better suited
marketing director. The front brake lever Dr. Ludwig Geiger and the Corratec LifeBike. (Photo:JB)
for people with health problems. For
has a red mark as a warning to novice
example, the LifeBike uses a rigid, low-
riders against applying stabilizers inside the ends of the the cost for people with certain medical
too much front brake handlebar,” Schoberth-Schwingenstein conditions.
pressure. said. “These stabilizers minimize Corratec is selling LifeBike in other
The LifeBike frame vibrations and therefore provide more German-speaking countries as well as
has been engineered to stability at higher speed.” Australia.
overcome the well- The stabilizers and other frame “At the present time LifeBike is sold
documented structural modifications make LifeBikes heavier in Australia, Austria, Germany and
weaknesses of some than many e-bikes, but Corratec noted Switzerland. We are confident that more
e-bikes with low-step- that bike weight isn’t an issue for the kind Western countries will ask for these kinds
through frames. of users it is trying to reach. of products,” Schoberth-Schwingenstein
The weight of the In Germany, Corratec has partnered said.
rear battery can create with one of the country’s biggest health As a sign of its ambitions, the LifeBike
uncontrollable front insurers, AOK. website, www.lifebike.de, is in English
vibrations that can AOK promotes LifeBike to its and German. With the LifeBike line,
causes crashes at speed. 18-million-plus members, who receive a Corratec believes it can reach a consumer
Life Bike
“Corratec solved this €100 ($112) discount on purchases. The group that rarely steps foot in a bike
problem by mounting insurance company underwrites more of store. n JB
A 25th anniversary party — with 550 close friends
After 25 years in business, Corratec has made a lot of friends around
the world — so many that some 550 of them showed up for a 25th
anniversary party in July at the company’s headquarter in southern
Germany.
Konrad Irlbacher, founder and headquarters.
general manager of Corratec, B1-300 “I spent all of my free time in that
used the party to reflect on the store,” Irlbacher said. As a teenager,
company’s history and look to its future. he dreamed of doing something on his
He introduced limited anniversary own.
editions of two high-end mountain bikes “I wanted to impress my father, who
and one road bike, which are also on was a very strict man. I was thinking
display at Eurobike. about high-end road bikes,” he said. “My
Irlbacher said Corratec plans to father gave me a free hand. First I went
sell 50 of the anniversary road bikes to Italy and imported from there, but
— which retail for €11,000 ($12,270) — then got the idea of my own brand.”
and 25 each of the mountain bikes. He sold his first road bikes in 1990
The first road bike sold for €17,000 under the name “Corrado” (Italian for
to Paul Lange, Shimano’s German “Konrad”) but changed it to Corratec
importer, with the proceeds benefitting because Volkswagen owned the Corrado
the Corratec Charity Mission. Irlbacher’s name.
wife, Cielo, oversees the charity, which Irlbacher also made the early
donates aid to her native Philippines. acquaintance of Italian framebuilder Corratec is a family affair for the Irlbacher family. From left:
Corratec is still a family business, Mauro Sannino. Today, Sannino Konrad, Johannes, Tessa, Melanie, Konrad, Jr., and Cielo. (Photo:JB)
and Irlbacher paid homage to his father, works with Corratec in its German high-end carbon frames that are made Cielo Irlbacher oversees international
Konrad Irlbacher Sr., a former German headquarters. in Italy to his specifications. Corratec sales, while two of their four children
ski race champion and inventor who “When Mauro’s wife passed away he markets the bikes under the ”Handmade work full-time at the company. The
died in 2012. wanted to give up his frame building. by Sannino” name. other two are students but help
The senior Irlbacher founded a ski We convinced him to move over to Corratec now sells some 80,000 whenever they can, and no one will be
and sporting goods store, Iko Sport, us and to start something together,” bicycles a year to 40 countries, with surprised if they, too, join their siblings
in 1962. The retail store is still in Irlbacher said. Germany accounting for about 25,000 at the bike brand where everyone is
business and is next door to Corratec’s Sannino now oversees production of units. family. n JB18 Eurobike Show Daily Friday, August 28, 2015
Yueni runs rings around
competing display racks
Yueni is racking up business with the display racks that it makes for Yueni uses the
OEM customers and, increasingly, for its own aftermarket brands. Aquadock brand on
bottle holders and the
The company has won plaudits for change this,” Hsu said. “In the future Corso name for indoor
its Speedy Parking Ring, an elegant our investment will focus on our Taiwan trainers.
bike stand that can be used indoors or production. They do a better job.” “Our next step
mounted side by side for outdoor use on He said Yueni’s two Chinese factories is to rely on ‘made
city streets. will concentrate on its OEM business in Taiwan’ products
The Speedy Parking Ring holds the for the Japanese and North American for our aftermarket
nose of the saddle within a ring that is markets, while the Taiwan plants will business,” Hsu said.
padded with a soft rubbery material. A manufacture for its aftermarket brands. n JB Yueni’s Johnny Hsu (left) and Wallis Huang
“lock slot” in the support provides room with the Speedy Parking Ring. (Photo: JB)
for a lock.
Yueni A5-103 sells the Speedy Parking
Ring in three versions. One is suitable for
indoor use, a second stands up to outdoor
use, and a third is a patented design
that allows any number of units to be
installed side by side. Yueni won a Taipei
Design and Innovation Award earlier this
year for the outdoor version.
The Taiwan manufacturer has
also been expanding its Ultrastand
aftermarket label, which it launched five
years ago.
“We came out with our first display
racks about 15 years ago. Five years ago
we created Ultrastand and expanded
this product segment step by step,” said
Johnny Hsu, vice general manager of
Yueni. “Our indoor display racks got a
facelift. Today they are recognized not
just for their quality, but for their design.”
Founded in 1981, Yueni makes
kickstands as well as racks for several
international brands. But as it moves into
aftermarket business under such brands
as Aquadock, Corso and Ultrastand,
Yueni plans to expand its Taiwan
production capacity with a second factory
and deemphasize production in mainland
China.
“Over the last 20 years all our
investment went to China. We will
Argon 18 debuts
four tri frames
The Canadian bikemaker is
launching four new frames in its
latest line-up of triathlon bikes.
Argon 18
E-119 Tri
“These bikes have been first and
foremost designed to renew and enrich the
racer’s experience by supplying him with
simple and clever solutions for hydration
and nutrition, while transcending
expectations in terms of performance,
comfort, and aerodynamics,” said Martin
Faubert, the company’s R&D director.
Argon 18 A1-207 offers two models in its
Tri+ line, with storage for hydration and
nutrition, and two models in its Tri line.
Its new flagship model is the E-119 Tri,
the successor to the E-118 Next. Proprietary
brakes are concealed on the fork and seat
stays to minimize frontal area, while still
allowing easy access for maintenance. n20 Eurobike Show Daily Friday, August 28, 2015
It’s called Lion, but it German retailers invited to
shrieks like a banshee join a Taiwan factory trip
German bike shop owners will have the opportunity to go on a
The Japanese accessories maker Crops has spent four years cutting “study trip” to Taiwan and look behind the doors of the Taiwan
manufacturing costs and streamlining deliveries by moving more of its bicycle industry.
operations to Taiwan.
Lion Alarm, which
Crops sells under its
Crops Pro brand for
premium products. The
Lion pairs a bicycle lock
with an alarm.
The alarm unit is
compatible with Crops
Pro-branded locks.
If someone touches
a Lion-equipped
bike, the alarm beeps German retailers will have a chance to visit Taiwan factories
twice as a warning. If next year, like these Dutch retailers from a recent study trip.
contact remains, the
system sounds a shrill The trip will take place in the fall of The retailers will have the chance to
eight-second alarm. 2016. It is organized by Velobiz.de, talk with people from the factories
Keiji Taiga with the Crops Lion Alarm and a compatible Crops lock. (Photo:JB) And if the intruder tries FW-109 a trade magazine and website, directly,” Hackmann said. “This
to take the bike, the and by Arnauld Hackmann, who experience can be used afterwards
Now, general manager Keiji Taiga said alarm continues to blare in eight-second has organized similar trips for Dutch when they sell these products to their
Crops A5-202 is focusing more on function intervals at 60, 90 or 120 decibels. retailers. clients.”
and technology, not just design, to boost “I was brainstorming this idea for three “This will be a great chance for our Hackmann, a contributor to the
his products’ appeal in Europe. years,” Taiga said. The Lion Alarm has readers to gain a real insight into the Show Daily, has organized several
“For Germans, technology is the No. been on the market since March. Crops manufacturing of the products they sell factory trips for the Dutch industry,
1 issue. Then comes design,” Taiga said. sells it with the slogan “Nothing to fear.” in their shops every day,” said Markus but this is the first time a similar
“We Japanese have a different view. We Taiga, a Mandarin-speaking Japanese Fritsch, the publisher of Velobiz.de. opportunity has been available for the
look first to design and then work to make designer, oversees Crops offices in three The Velobiz.de Study Trip is German industry.
the product most compact. In the future, locations. In April, Crops moved its scheduled for Nov. 13-21, 2016, and “This is an ultimate networking
Crops will focus more on technology. headquarters from Tokyo to Kobe, Japan. will include visits to six factories event,” Hackmann said. “Dealers will
Therefore our entire product line has Its R&D department and warehouse are in combined with sightseeing. get to know each other very well and
received a tremendous technical upgrade.” Changhua, Taiwan, and the company has “It is impossible for dealers to they can discuss actual topics from the
The highlight of this new focus is the a factory in Taicang, China. n JB organize such a trip by themselves. industry.” n22 Eurobike Show Daily Friday, August 28, 2015
Q&A: Rudie Campagne
‘Attack during chaos and retreat
in order, so you can attack again’
Road racers and triathletes have been racing on Vittoria tires for
years. But mention Rudie Campagne’s name and most will ask,
“Who’s he?”
Rudie Campagne
Campagne is the president and professional cycling. He rides some
CEO of the Vittoria Group A7-309 and, 3,000 to 5,000 miles a year (4,800 to
at age 71, is the driving force behind 8,000 km) on a Specialized S-Works
the company’s success. — a gift from his longtime friend
What keeps him up at night? Mike Sinyard, Specialized’s founder.
“I think about those racers who As a young man, Campagne
are on my tires descending at 80 or joined the Royal Dutch Navy in 1963
100 kph, and they are riding on a and served as an officer in the Dutch
contact patch that’s 1 centimeter by 2 Marine Corps.
centimeters. He entered the University of
“The risk of product failure at this Amsterdam, graduating in 1970
point is colossal — for the rider and with a law degree, and promptly
for our company. This is far more joined one of the country’s biggest
dangerous than Formula One; they companies, Philips Consumer
have no protection except a helmet,” Electronics. He held several junior
he said. management positions and was later
Pondering issues like globalization assigned to Philips’ corporate offices
and industrial competition also keeps in Singapore.
him awake. He quickly recommends Campagne left Philips, describing
a book to read — Exponential its management as “too stiff,” and
Organizations: Why New Organizations moved to Thomson Consumer
are Ten Times Better, Faster and Cheaper Electronics, a French company, as its
Than Yours (And What to Do About It). product and commercial director in
“You must read it,” he urges. Singapore.
How does he think about He later became managing
the complexity of today’s global director of its audio product division
economy? in Paris and promptly moved the
“The world is very small but still division’s headquarters and R&D
very big physically, yet it’s completely to Singapore to better control
globalized. Globalization has been an manufacturing operations in
engine for change, but if you don’t Singapore, Malaysia, Hong Kong,
embrace it you will be wiped out as a Taiwan and South Korea.
business,” he said. “To succeed, you The French government later
must attack during chaos and retreat nationalized the company and he
in order, so you can attack again.” left. “Why would I work for in the
That last sentence holds as true French civil service?” he quipped.
in racing as it does in business, and “I just didn’t want to work for big
Campagne is in the tire business to companies anymore; I had lost my
win. But, he admits, getting into the confidence in them,” he said.
business of manufacturing high- That was his midlife crisis. He
performance tires was driven by a decided to become an entrepreneur.
midlife crisis at age 45 rather than a In 1988, while living in Singapore,
burning desire to make tires. he joined a Hong Kong company and
Campagne was born in the with several investors bought a local
Netherlands in 1943 and, as he put tire manufacturer making cheap
it, Dutchmen learn to ride a bike tubulars. The price was right.
before they learn to walk. Like In 1990, Campagne and his group
most Europeans he’s an avid fan of bought Vittoria SpA, a strugglingFriday, August 28, 2015 23
Italian company founded in 1953. launched wheels made with graphene of late, do you see a shakeout
Campagne, steeped in global last year and these have already had a looming in the next few years?
manufacturing from his years in positive effect on performance among Campagne: As far as a shakeout,
consumer electronics, shut down the triathletes. The Vittoria Qurano is a my experience leads me to
Italian factory and moved production to a graphene-enhanced carbon race wheel believe that companies that
new factory on the outskirts of Bangkok, with a tubular bed that perfectly matches are compelled, like Vittoria,
Thailand. Vittoria tires. to innovate and embrace new
“I just jumped into this, but if I had With the use of graphene, it became technologies will thrive and
known the difficulties and obstacles that possible to offer significant performance survive.
I would face, I’d never have done it,” he increases for these wheels: 10 percent
said. more heat dissipation; 15 percent weight ESD: As a global brand how have
Today, the factory, known throughout reduction; 26 percent increase in material you managed the strength of the
the industry as Lion Tire, is the most strength; 18 percent more impact dollar against the euro?
highly specialized bicycle tire factory in strength; 20 percent more spoke-hole
the world. It produces only premium tires strength; 24 percent more flexibility; and Campagne: Our sales are roughly
for the market and, in partnership with 50 percent more lateral stiffness. split 50/50 in U.S. dollars and
brands like Continental, Michelin and In the near future [Eurobike the euro, so we are not impacted
others, makes premium tires for them as and Interbike] we will announce much by the exchange rate. As
an OE manufacturer. advancements we’ve made using a global operating company we
Campagne estimates that over the past graphene in tires. For now, though, I can have a number of instruments
several years the company has invested say graphene in tire compounds will start to dampen foreign exchange
upwards of $60 million [ 53 million] a revolution. mutations.
building a new facility where it makes its The traditional compromises we have Moreover, we can’t be
own Kevlar and spins its own cotton for had to make no longer apply in the same sidetracked by foreign exchange
tire casings. Today, Vittoria employs some way. Before graphene, an extremely fast issues, which are highly
1,500 people worldwide including its tire would be much less durable and we unpredictable and subject to
office staff in Boston. would have to compromise on grip and sudden changes including
Marc Sani recently interviewed strength. Our innovations in this area geopolitical situations. We adapt as we go The Vittoria Qurano 46
Campagne on behalf of the Eurobike have never been seen before. along.
Show Daily. Here are excerpts from their product range in the future, triathlon will
conversation: ESD: How important are IBDs for the ESD: Vittoria is a legendary brand and is continue to be an important part of the
Vittoria brand? as popular with road racers as it is among dedicated products we offer. Of course,
ESD: Vittoria has introduced a new nano- triathletes. How important is triathlon to Vittoria has been around for a long time
material into its wheels called graphene. Campagne: IBDs are the cornerstone for Vittoria? and has built a solid reputation with
A professor at Columbia University has the Vittoria brand. They are in the front triathletes.
described graphene as so strong it would line of sales and are the initial contact Campagne: Vittoria is one of the very But if I may speculate, I think
take an elephant, balanced on a pencil, with the consumer. They are entrusted few cycling tire brands that still has a triathletes appreciate that we spend the
to break through a sheet of graphene the with representing our products and dedicated product range for triathlon time and make the investments to create
thickness of Saran Wrap. How is Vittoria brand value to the consumer and with — the Vittoria Triathlon Evo and Open specific products that perfectly suit their
currently using the material? And will providing the necessary knowledge and Triathlon Evo. I think this proves how needs. n MARC SANI
you use it in tires? service in the Vittoria tradition. important we consider this discipline in
cycling. A version of this article originally appeared
Campagne: As you are aware, Vittoria ESD: Given the proliferation of brands As we streamline and optimize our in Bicycle Retailer and Industry News.24 Eurobike Show Daily Friday, August 28, 2015
The UK harmonizes e-bike regulations,
creating disharmony from throttle fans
The United Kingdom will no longer be odd man out in the European tandems and tricycles. apply to bikes sold before January 2016,
Union when it comes to regulating e-bikes. And the U.K. will no longer restrict so anyone who bought a throttle bike
e-bikes to vehicles with two or three until then can merrily twist and go down
wheels. That will allow the use of the road even after the regulations take
heavier, four-wheeled e-cargo bikes. effect.
“I see this legislation as a step forward And U.K. regulators have indicated
for an industry that's gathering more that they may let throttle bikes remain
and more momentum in the U.K.,” said on the market — but they’ve been in
Ben Hillsdon, a spokesman for Shimano no hurry to promulgate the necessary
Europe. Shimano sells the pedal-assist- regulations, known as “type approval.”
only Steps system. That delay could mean a “huge
“We welcome the clarification of what potential setback for the electric bike
constitutes an electric bike,” he added. industry in the U.K.,” said David Miall, a
“This has been a grey area in legislation director of Amps Bikes. Amps owns the
that dealers and some consumers have Wisper e-bike brand, which was once
been aware of for several years.” fitted with twist-and-go throttle systems.
It also imports Riese and Müller e-bikes
Twist-and-no-go. The new regulations from Germany, which are pedal-assist
will make the U.K. more attractive to only.
European e-bike brands, which sell only Miall said that at meetings with
pedal-assist bikes. But some in the U.K. government officials on the new
industry also believe they could leave regulations, “we were told that the
London pedicabs should benefit from the lifting of weight limits on British e-bikes
fans of throttle-only bikes in the lurch, by authorities wanted to keep our unique
putting the risk of riding an “illegal” bike twist-and-go bikes, specifying type
Beginning in 2016, the U.K. will fall The new regulations, which update
on the consumer. approval for manufacturers.”
into line with the European Union by the U.K.’s original 1983 e-bike law, are
“I think the market for throttle-only Type approval would, in effect, give
outlawing throttle-only e-bikes, also the final stage in bringing the U.K. in line
bikes will continue, either with some the U.K. industry permission to sell
known as “twist-and-goes,” in favor of with the EU e-bike regulations.
kind of ‘secret switch’ fitted or with a specific twist-and-go models that fit
pedal-assist bikes, or pedelecs. Other smaller, but potentially
retrofit option offered,” one industry government specifications — in return
Yet despite e-bike industry pressure, significant, changes for the U.K.
insider said, adding that consumers for a fee. This would give consumers a
there will be no immediate official market include the removal of weight
would assume all risks if they used a legal way of buying twist-and-goes just as
recognition of speed pedelecs, although restrictions. E-bikes will no longer be
throttle bike on a public road. they’re doing now.
industry officials expect they will limited to a maximum weight of 40 kg
Twist-and-goes won’t disappear
continue to be widely sold. (88 pounds), or 60 kg for electric-assist
immediately. The new regulations don’t According to Miall, the DepartmentYou can also read
