DINXPERLO, The Netherlands (August 27) - Raleigh Cycle Limited is starting to license the Raleigh brandname. In The Netherlands Raleigh Cycle Ltd reached an agreement about the licensing of its brand with Lanco BV to distribute Raleigh branded bicycles exclusively to Dutch buyers association 'Bike Totaal' as its home brand. Further questions about the licensing
BREDA, The Netherlands (August 23) - Dutch retail service organisation Euretco Tweewielers is to focus more on IBDs, which wish to subscribe without using its shop formulas. Euretco Tweewielers has around 225 members operating under the Profile 'De Fietsspecialist' and about 60 under the 'Fietswereld' formula. To be not just dependent on these kind of
TAIPEI, Taiwan (June 13) - This trade journal reported in its May edition a reaction from Neobike on the article 'Dahon Jails Neobike Executives' that was in Bike Europe's April issue. According to Neobike it is not true that it has infringed on the patent rights of Dahon California Inc. and Dahon California Inc. did
BOXMEER, The Netherlands (July 17) - Europe's biggest rim maker Rigida has a new Group Managing Director. His name is Jan Willem ten Dam (52) who succeeds Paul Zekhuis. Zekhuis was as an interim manager for eight months involved with Rigida. During this period he restructured the company and scaled down the number of Rigida
BOXMEER, The Netherlands (May 29) - Rigida is bidding at all assets (except for real estate) of the bankrupt Belgian rim manufacturer Alesa, which has been declared bankrupt by a Belgian court on May 1. Sources at Rigida are expecting, that Alesa's trustees will accept the bid. As planned Rigida is to become owner again
KOPENHAGEN, Denmark (May 21) - High-end frame maker Principia A/S partly changed its owners from May 15. Founding owners Gert and Niels Spender-Andersen left the company and have been replaced by Principia distributors RBS Equipment of England and ACS Vertrieb from Germany with a 33.3% stake each. Its third 33.3% owner and former sales and
NUNSPEET, The Netherlands (March 4) - The second Shimano Cycling Concept Award is won by the Belgian non-profit organisation Pro Velo who is aiming to increase bicycle usage in Europe's Capital, Brussels. Shimano donates its budget of € 11.365 that used to be spend on Christmas cards, to the Belgian cycling development project. The winner
COLOGNE, Germany (December 11th) - The ZEG is starting activities in France as of January 1st , 2004. It means Europe's biggest IBD/purchasing-organization is expanding into its fifth country. Currently the Cologne based retail organization is active in Germany, The Netherlands, Austria, and Belgium where its has about 800 member/dealers. Recently the ZEG stopped trading
BRUSSELS, Belgium (October 30) - René Takens, CEO of the Accell Group has been unanimously re-elected as President of the Comité de Liaison des Fabricants Européens des Bicyclettes (COLIBI) which is the association for European bike makers. Mr. Takens has served one previous term as president from 2000 trough 2003. Vice-President of COLIBI is Romano
NOTTINGHAM, UK (November 18th) - Merida, the huge Taiwanese bicycle producer (with stakes in Specialized) is re-launching its own brand bikes in the UK. Although Merida made bikes have been present on the UK market as Halford's own brand, the company now wants it's own name in the limelight. The UK subsidiary will be led
MAARSSEN, Netherlands (November 26th) - Despite the fact that the EBMA did not apply for a renewal of the anti-dumping duties for Taiwan made bikes; Brian Montgomery, keeps on snapping at the heels of the Chinese bike industry. Stating that the Chinese government is actively subsidizing its bicycle industry with exports grants of up to
MAARSSEN, Netherlands (November 5) - The 'Summer of the Century' has helped crank-up bike sales in Germany. A nice 2% rise in sales was recorded during the first six months in 2003 over the same period last year, making a grand total of 3.1 million bikes sold. At the same time the German production was
LONDON, UK (September 24) - The London Metropolitan police has opted for Trek patrol bikes. The first 6 Trek 6500's will be handed to the Met today at the opening of Cycle 2003 at the Business Design Centre in Islington, London. Cycle patrols on fast moving bikes have proven to be a real asset for
COLOGNE, Germany (January 6) - IFMA Cologne 2003 will be held from 11-14 September 2003. The successful early bookers' discount will also offer advantages to exhibitors in the run-up to IFMA Cologne 2003: exhibitors making a reservation before 28 February 2003 will get a 10% discount on their rental fees. The earlier the registration is
SHANGHAI, China (April 28) - The Shanghai International Exhibition Company Ltd. (SIEC) announces that the China Cycle 2003 Show is now planned for mid-August. Detailed dates have not yet been established. Next to the period in which the show will be held, the SIEC also replied on Bike Europe's questions regarding payments made by exhibitors
AMERSFOORT, Netherlands (February 4) - Next to Euretco with its 'Profile' shop formula, also Dutch retail organisation 'Bike Totaal' is looking for an expansion into Belgium. The possibilities to start in the Dutch speaking part of Belgium are currently under review. To seize up the interest from Belgian IBDs as well as Belgian suppliers, 'Bike
TAIPEI, Taiwan (December 9) - Taiwan exported 2.71 million bicycles in the first eight months of the year, up 7.9% from one year earlier, and the export value posted a much higher annual growth of 18.5% to reach US$ 424 million (€ 318.5mn), according to statistics compiled by the Taiwan Bicycle Exporters' Association (TBEA). This
MAARSSEN, Netherlands (December 16) - French Go-Sport has released its figures over the first nine months of the year. The overall results are slightly better than in 2003, but the domestic stores stay behind the overall trend. French Go-Sport stores only realised a 1.5% growth, while the international ones scored 38.8% over the same period.
BIKE EUROPE - HCM CITY, Vietnam (November 19) - According to the Vietnamese Ministry of Trade, Vietnam has a substantial trade surplus with Germany in the first eight months of 2004 as two-way trade jumped 22 % in the period. Bilateral trade reached U$1.12 billion with Vietnams exports to Germany topping $717 million, 30 %
HA NOI, Vietnam (November 2) - During the first eight months of 2004 Vietnam exported for US$ 30 million in bicycles and bicycle parts to Germany. When the average value is estimated at about FOB US$ 100; about 300,000 bicycles were exported to Germany in the January - August 2004 period. In 2003 the EU
