Jan-Willem van Schaik

PARK CITY, USA - Only two and a half year after the three founders sold Kona Bicycles to Kent Outdoors, the new owner has put the iconic Canadian bicycle brand up for sale. Due to drastic market changes since early 2022, Kona, like so many other bicycle brands, could not live up to the high expectations set for the future cycling market.

OSAKA, Japan - Bicycle component manufacturer Shimano reports that demand for bicycles continued to be weak at the start of the year. In the first quarter of 2024, net sales decreased by double digits compared to last year. Also for the rest of the year the outlook will remain uncertain for Shimano.

EMSTEK, Germany - Bicycle brand Hercules has built on a firm base on its home market Germany as well as some export, including a new head office and show room in the north of Germany. Export manager Michael Honkomp and sales manager Joep Stumpe want to take the brand into Europe and discussed their ambitions with Bike Europe.

SCHARMEDE, Germany - Known for pioneering the birth of the action sports movement in the early 80s, Haro Bikes is embarking on a new journey forward in Europe. "We are currently building our new European sales network," explains Verena Begemann, general manager of Haro Bikes Europe GmbH.

STOCKHOLM, Sweden - Nordic Bike Shows has announced the premiere of the Stockholm Bike Show, set to take place in the Swedish capital on 29-30 March, 2025. "We aim to bring together cycling enthusiasts, industry professionals, and innovators, showcasing the latest trends, technologies, and to experience in the world of cycling," says organiser Christian Ritter.

PHNOM PENH, Cambodia - The plunge in demand for bicycles made in Cambodia which started last year has not yet come to an end. Cambodia's bicycle export value fell 43% year-on-year in the first quarter of 2024, a General Department of Customs and Excise's report confirms today.

BRUSSELS, Belgium - The results of the 2023 Business Impact Survey surprised Cycling Industries Europe (CIE) who has conducted this holistic look at the state of the industry since 2020. According to the study, 52% of its members reported similar or better performance in 2023 compared with 2022.

BRUSSELS, Belgium - The international bicycle industry has embraced the initiative of the Taiwan Bicycle Association to agree upon a set of 10 sustainable supply chain principles. Three of these, education, energy and eco-design, were prioritised by the World Bicycle Industry Association (WBIA) at the 2024 Taipei Cycle Show.

AMERSFOORT, the Netherlands - Accell Group subsidiary Babboe has issued a recall and replacement program for in total 22,000 cargo bikes. The first batches will be collected in the Netherlands and Germany in mid-April, after which the recall campaign will be rolled out in the other countries. All owners of these models will be offered a new bicycle or cargo bike.

BRUSSELS, Belgium - The interinstitutional European Declaration on Cycling was signed on Wednesday 3 April at the Informal Council meeting of Transport Ministers led by the Belgian EU presidency at Egmont Palace in Brussels. The European Declaration on Cycling is the most ambitious EU-level policy initiative on cycling to date, recognising cycling as a strategic priority and acknowledging its power to generate enormous benefits for Europe.