Bike Europe - Website for Bike Professionals

Accell Group Profit Up By 20%

Wed, 23 Jul 2008 00:00:00 GMT

HEERENVEEN, the Netherlands - The acquisition of Ghost and good sales of bicycle in the higher segment increased Accell Groups turnover by 11% to 306 million over the first half of 2008. The organic growth amounted to 6% (1st half of 2007: 10%). The net profit from ordinary operations increased by 20% to 19.3 million. In many European countries, especially in Germany and France,

Hayes Bicycle Group Restructures Operations

Wed, 23 Jul 2008 00:00:00 GMT

MEQUON, US - Hayes Bicycle Group has restructured its Wisconsin-based operations as part of a re-organization. A number of positions at its Mequon and Milwaukee facilities were affected. The European and Asian operations are unaffected, and no further

Velib Bikes also in Warsaw?

Mon, 21 Jul 2008 00:00:00 GMT

WARSAW, Poland - Warsaw's authorities are seriously looking into the idea of introducing a public bike rental system in Poland's Capital. Several meetings were organized by the Transportation Department with potential operators of the public bike system. Among them JCDecaux who is handling the public bikes in Vienna, Lyon and Paris. Their presentation

Rumour of the Week

Fri, 18 Jul 2008 00:00:00 GMT

MAARSSEN, The Netherlands - The French sporting goods and bicycle giant Decathlon is busy equipping its new facility in the city of Lille. However, it is said that there are delays in starting up the production of bicycles at the new Decathlon facility which was originally planned for

IFMA Changes Course

Wed, 16 Jul 2008 00:00:00 GMT

COLOGNE, Germany - According to the Cologne Messe the 2008 IFMA will be the last edition as a single bike show. The Cologne bike show has been struggling for years and finally has decided to change its course. As of 2010

Correction: ITM Still Negotiating

Wed, 16 Jul 2008 00:00:00 GMT

LORIA, Italy - The news that ITM has found a new owner as published yesterday in the Bike Europe Newsletter is not entirely correct. After ITM told us yesterday that talks with a new owner

Charles Russell Rocky Mountains Sales Director

Wed, 16 Jul 2008 00:00:00 GMT

VANCOUVER, Canada - Charles Russell is the new Director of Sales, Marketing and Product for Rocky Mountain Bicycles. He is very familiar with the global bicycle industry. Most recently, he has held the position of Vice President of Sales for

Tenneco Acquires Marzocchi

Wed, 16 Jul 2008 00:00:00 GMT

LAKE FOREST, US - The Italian suspension fork systems Marzocchi will be taken over by Tenneco Inc. The agreement announced today is the initial step in the purchase process. A final agreement and closing on a potential purchase of Gruppo Marzocchi's suspension business is dependent on

ITM Finds New Owner

Wed, 16 Jul 2008 00:00:00 GMT

LORIA, Italy - ITM has found a new owner who is to continue the renowned Italian producer of handlebars, stems, seatposts and forks. Last month Bike Europe reported the voluntary liquidation of the company. Today it is reported that

Tandem Group Buying Own Shares

Tue, 15 Jul 2008 00:00:00 GMT

BRIGG, UK - "No, it has nothing to do with a financial restructuring, or trying to find additional investors," says Steven W. Bell, MD of Falcon Cycle Ltd. which is part of the Tandem Group. Despite the fact that Tandem's bike business was down last year, the company is

Mobility Week 2008: ETRA Helps To Clean European Air

Mon, 14 Jul 2008 00:00:00 GMT

GENT, Belgium - Next September 16th ETRA will organize a pedelec, bicycle, electric PTWs, components and accessories show on the esplanade of the European Parliament. This show will take place in the framework of the European Mobility Week aimed at promoting sustainable mobility. It will take place

Dorel Incorporates PTI Sports

Fri, 11 Jul 2008 00:00:00 GMT

MONTREAL, Canada - Dorel Industries, parent company of Pacific Cycle and Cannondale, has acquired PTI Sports. The purchase is in line with Dorels strategy to aggressively grow its bicycle and juvenile businesses. Dorel Industries paid

From High Road to Columbia

Fri, 11 Jul 2008 00:00:00 GMT

BREST, France - Last Saturday at the start of the Tour de France the new professional cycling team Columbia presented itself. Team High Road formed the basis for this new team that itself came from

Bike Retail Prices To Drop?

Tue, 08 Jul 2008 00:00:00 GMT

BRUSSELS, Belgium - Are bicycles, bike products and repairs becoming cheaper in 2011? Despite rising costs for raw materials and parts the bike industry can probably look forward to a considerable reduction of retail prices. This is the result of a proposal on VAT rates

Holland: Drop in Sales Despite Booming e-Bikes

Tue, 08 Jul 2008 00:00:00 GMT

AMERSFOORT, The Netherlands - Despite all the jubilant reports on booming e-Bike sales, things were not all rosy on the Dutch bike market during the first six months of 2008. According to market researcher GfK Benelux Marketing Services turnover at the Dutch dealers during the first five months of the year

UK Bicycle Use On the Rise

Tue, 08 Jul 2008 00:00:00 GMT

LONDON, UK - The latest UK statistics show an increasing number of people using bicycles as an alternative forms of getting around. This is reported by Sustrans, the UKs sustainable transport charity. The statistics, compiled in The National Cycle Network Route User Monitoring Report of 2007, shows that over 354 million trips were made on the Network in 2007, an increase of

Troubled Tyre Maker Vredestein Has New Owner

Fri, 04 Jul 2008 00:00:00 GMT

MOSCOW, Russia - The future of bicycle (and car) tyre manufacturer Vredestein has been assured for the years to come. During the past months Amtel-Vredestein found itself in financial problems and had to reorganize. Yesterday it was announced that

Karl Lagerfeld Promotes Bicycle Safety

Fri, 04 Jul 2008 00:00:00 GMT

PARIS, France - Fashion icon Karl Lagerfeld has contributed to the new French road-safety campaign. Wearing his normal attire of a black suit, dark sunglasses, and fingerless gloves, Lagerfeld dons a fluorescent reflective safety vest in the ads in an effort to encourage

Hayes Bicycle Group Recalls Quick-Release

Thu, 03 Jul 2008 00:00:00 GMT

MEQUON, US - Yesterday Hayes announced a voluntary recall of the SunRingle hollow quick release devices. Until now the company received four reports of broken quick release devices. The recall relates to some 800 units, made

TAITRA 'Sets Record Straight' on Taichung Show

Wed, 02 Jul 2008 00:00:00 GMT

TAIPEI, Taiwan - In Bike Europe's Newsletter dated June 17, we reported on the initiatives of organizing a Taichung Int'l Cycle Show in 2009 as a result of the many mini trade shows organized by individual companies in December in Taichung, Taiwan. We headlined our report: