Jack Oortwijn

DOETINCHEM, the Netherlands - First indications show that the sale of e-bikes started well this year. At least, this is reported for the Netherlands by dealer cooperative Dynamo Retail Group.

BERLIN, Germany - The 2019 e-bike market will above all be dominated by models equipped with smaller and lighter mid-motors. In particular Brose focused its developments on such distinctive features. The company launched at Eurobike 2018 the new Smag drive with which it took "A bold step forward".

OSAKA, Japan - The last Tuesday published Shimano Inc. 2018 financial report holds positive statements on the performance of the European bike market. However, Shimano is less positive on the outlook for 2019 as Brexit looms as well as rising fiscal instability in Italy.

SCHAFFHAUSEN, Switzerland - Last Tuesday Garmin Ltd. announced that one of its affiliates has signed a definitive agreement to acquire all of the outstanding shares of Tacx Onroerend en Roerend Goed B.V., a privately-held Dutch company.

ZURICH, Switzerland - Trek Bicycle Europe announces the appointment of Harald Schmiedel to a newly created role as European Director of Sales. Harald will take up this role with responsibility for Trek's sales in its European subsidiary markets with immediate effect.

A small but significant growth showed the 2017 import of conventional bikes into the EU 28 member states from countries outside Europe. Was this a first sign of a rising demand for regular bicycles? Import figures for the first nine months of 2018 do not show continued increases. However, neither are big

PHILADELPHIA, USA - Performance Bicycle, once the biggest bike retail chain in the U.S. with 104 stores and 1,700 employees, is closing all its outlets. The company is to continue as an e-commerce business. It's the latest development in the collapse of Patrick Cunnane's Advanced Sports Enterprises (ASE).

HELSINKI, Finland - Amer Sports has published its financial 2018 report in which the company announced that it is now actively seeking for a potential buyer of its Cycling asset, consisting of Mavic (wheels, rims, tyres, apparel and foortwear) as well as Enve (wheels, hubs, bars, stems, posts and forks).

FRANKFURT, Germany - Is the buzz surrounding shared micromobility overwhelming its real-world potential? The business model has gained tremendous attention recently, as interest builds and new investment dollars flood into the space.

OIÃ, Portugal - A brand-new company is currently being set-up in Portugal by industry veteran Sergio Ramos. He is the man behind Avantisbike which has been operating as an OEM bike maker since 2001. His newest venture is named Unibike OEM Factory SA. The new company is already providing services to customers.