Optima Cycles and Bike&Co have entered a strategic supplier partnership for the German market partnership. Effective from 1 August 2026, the brands Lovens, Dolly and Dutch ID became part of Bike&Co's supplier programme for its affiliated independent bicycle retailers.
Brand founders Susanne and Felix Puello officially retook the reins of Raymon Bicycles in October 2023, when Pierer Mobility divested the business as its ill-fated run in the bicycle industry came to an end. In less than three years, the founders state that "our realignment is working", with sales growth and inventory reduction putting the brand back on track.
German online retailer Bike24 has seen its group revenue increase by 20.1% to €96.1 million in Q2 2026, compared with €80.0 million in Q2 2025. Localised markets delivered a significantly above-average growth rate of 29.7%. The D2C retailer continues to expand its footprint across Europe with new localised online shops in Denmark, Slovenia and Ireland.
For Fundracer Partner René Wiertz, the next decade will not simply be about selling more bicycles; it will be about making two-wheel mobility dramatically safer, smarter and more connected. "Those companies enabling that transformation are likely to create the greatest long-term value," says Wiertz. Bike Europe asked him about the market outlook from the perspective of an investment fund manager.
Contactless torque sensor manufacturer NCTE reports a year-on-year sales increase of 53% in the first half of 2026. One of the biggest drivers of NCTE's expansion has been the e-bike category, while the automotive category performed weakly. Remarkably, the company's stock market performance was much less positive; it suffered a 66.6% decline in the first half of 2026.
The e-bike plays a central role for the brand Velo de Ville. More than 80% of production in Altenberge, Germany, consists of e-bikes. Although general manager and owner Volker Thiemann is positive about the market, he is also concerned about recent technological developments that, in his view, threaten the survival of today's e-bike.
