LJUBLJANA, Slovenia - Rog was country's biggest bike manufacturer in old days of Yugoslavia and later in Slovenia. Some years ago it was joined by Elan Bikes, but that story didn't have a happy ending. Now, after years of silence, it looks like the brand will be back on the market.
ALLENTOWN, USA - Despite the fact that during the first nine months of 2014 the US imports of bicycles increased by almost 11 percent, "The overall bicycle industry and business is again heading for a mediocre year."
COPENHAGEN, Denmark - Cycling is hot in Denmark. Regular news report on cycling events in Copenhagen might look as if all Danes are cycling. Although Denmark is one of the leading cycling countries, fewer Danes use their bicycles. That's one of the conclusion in Denmark's national bicycle strategy published last July.
MIJDRECHT, the Netherlands - After nearly 60 years Sturmey-Archer Europe is leaving Amsterdam. The historic component maker that was taken over by Taiwan's Sun Race in December 2000 has moved to a new HQ in Mijdrecht, the Netherlands.
LAUSANNNE, Switzerland - The World Federation of the Sporting Goods Industry (WFSGI) continues to put effort into manufacturing challenges, also in the bicycle industry. Following the 2013 edition on 'The Future of Manufacturing' and in 2014 on 'Integrating Design & Manufacturing' WFSGI will host a new conference on 'Beyond Lean Manufacturing' in 2015.
BERN, Switzerland - Last week, on May 20, we informed you about the latest developments relating to the use of UCI approved disc brakes at WorldTour professional road races. In this report we mentioned 2016 as the year of implementation. However, stakeholders now wish not to mention any approval or employment date.
SANGERHAUSEN, Germany - Loss-making German bike maker MIFA Mitteldeutsche Fahrradwerke AG is seeking a delay of interest payments for a € 25 million bond issue in order to ensure the development and implementation of the overall reorganization concept.
WOLHUSEN, Switzerland - The ski company Stöckli, founded in 1935, remains the last traditional Swiss ski manufacturer. Besides skis the company also makes bikes which were sold in the past 18 years. All the more the news of the company sale two weeks ago was really surprising.
REDDITCH, UK - Bike and car parts retail giant Halfords UK recently acquired Olympic champion Chris Boardman's bike company. UK media reports suggest a price of between GBP 10m (euro 12.5m) and GBP 20m (euro 25m) was paid for Boardman Bikes, though Halfords have refused to confirm this.
FRIEDRICHSHAFEN, Germany - It was not the first time today that the name Pon popped up when talking about the future of the bicycle industry. Pon's Director of Future Technology & Public Affairs Raymond Gense gave a speech at the third ECF Advocacy Summit on the importance of collaboration within the bicycle industry to reach common goals.
FRIEDRICHSHAFEN, Germany - Bike Europe and the bike dealer magazine for the Netherlands and Belgium, Tweewieler (both trade journals published by Reed Business Media), will be on hand at Eurobike.
LE BOURGET, France - Easybike signed a letter of intent with Matra owner Lagardère for the acquisition of the e-bike factory in Romorantin. The Matra e-bike production will be moved to Easybike's new plant which is under construction in Saint-Lô and expected to be ready in 2015.
LAUSANNE, Switzerland - After a UCI request to provide scientific information on the development of bicycle saddles from a performance and a medical perspective the World Federation of the Sporting Goods Industry (WFSGI) put in a dedicated committee.
TAIPEI, Taiwan - Cheng-Shin Rubber Industries, the world's largest bicycle tire manufacturer and maker of Maxxis tires, recently reported the opening of a new factory in Southeast Asia.
CLOPPENBURG, Germany - Money wise the country's largest bike maker - Derby Cycle Werke - joined the German industry association Zweirad-Industrie-Verband (ZIV). According to Derby Cycle's CEO Thomas Raith, "It is important for major companies in the industry to cooperate in ZIV."
LYON, France - As part of its continuing effort to position itself as the leading financial services firm in the global cycling industry Vélo Capital Partners (VCP) has announced the launch of its Merger and Acquisition (M&A) Services.
TOKYO, Japan - Private equity firm The Riverside Company has acquired Y. International, a Tokyo-based bicycle retailer with 29 company-owned stores across Japan, with a particular focus on metropolitan Tokyo.
MADRID, Spain - It is called "UNIBIKE, The Bicycle Trade Show" and its 1st edition is to take place 19 - 21 September 2014. This new event replaces Festibike and Expobike; the two shows that took place during the same weekend in Madrid in the last two years.
NEW DEHLI, India - Through acquisitions in Germany and on a longer term in the US, India's Hero Cycles is to grow the brand globally. The goal is to reach a 5% value wise share of the 36 billion euro global bike market. This vision expressed Hero MD Pankaj Munjal recently in an Indian business paper.
LONDON, UK - In the UK an online initiative has been launched which intends to offer bike dealers a platform against webshops like ChainReaction and Wiggle. It's called Bikesoup.com. In 2015 it's ready for a push into Europe, starting in Germany and The Netherlands.
