Jan-Willem van Schaik and Rosie Burgin

ZEIST, the Netherlands - "It seems like almost everyone is playing the game now," e-commerce specialist, Scott Montgomery says when looking at the direct to consumer (D2C) activities of the top 10 bicycle brands in the US. In this first podcast from Bike Europe, he explores the changing bicycle retail market and paints a picture of how e-bikes, bicycles and accessories might be sold in the future. Listen to the podcast via Spotify, Apple, SoundCloud and Google Podcasts.

BRUSSELS, Belgium - With the EU legislation concerning batteries currently being discussed in Brussels, the industry organization CONEBI has voiced its concerns on e-bike battery repairs. "CONEBI is a strong supporter of only using original OEM certified batteries on e-bikes, we highly discourage end-users to make use of any repair services," the industry association says in a position paper.

The official 2021 EU import statistics show that it is still the e-bike above all, while also the import of regular bicycles is increasing for the first time in years as well. Still demand could not be fulfilled easily.

SYDNEY, Australia - "What Covid giveth, Covid can also take away," laments Mina Nada, CEO and co-founder of utility e-bike provider, Zoomo. While investment support continues to roll in for the e-bike delivery-fleet provider, Nada discusses with Bike Europe how the supply chain has hampered budding

The official 2020 sales statistics show that it was about the e-bike above all. Sales accelerated by double digits in many European countries. Also for 2021, industry insiders expect e-bike sales to expand rapidly.

DOETINCHEM, the Netherlands - In 2020 the industry news was dominated by either the temporary closures of factories due to the lockdown or booming sales, but what was the real impact on the market? With the help of EU import statistics and market data, Bike Europe editor-in-chief, Jan-Willem van Schaik explains.

SIAULIAI, Lithuania - Baltik Vairas has taken the next step in the modernisation of its e-bike production. This week an all new assembly line became operational in Lithuania's only e-bike and bicycle factory.

COLOGNE, Germany - "I'm a little bit nervous for 2021, but 2020 was ok," was the summary of Zweirad Einkaufs Genossenschaft eG (ZEG) chairman Georg Honkomp as this year's extended dealer show event came to an end. In a year like no other, how is the German bicycle cooperative anticipating future developments?

PRZASNYSZ, Poland - The country's largest bicycle manufacturer Kross kept its production running through March and April despite supply chain constraints and staff lay-offs. "Sales are now booming but they have not yet made up for earlier losses," says Kross president Zbigniew Sosnowski about the impact of coronavirus.

AMSTERDAM, the Netherlands - Yamaha Motor is responding to the rapidly expanding market of urban mobility by introducing the PWseries CE drive unit and the External Crossover 500 battery to the Model Year 2021 line-up. Yamaha says it has, "created its lightest, quietest and most compact drive unit - and a battery that provides increased versatility and practicality."