Jan-Willem van Schaik

台灣，台北－2024年台北國際自行車展備受矚目，可惜辜負眾望。台灣自行車零件製造商迫切期待訂單量增加，不過自行車品牌受到庫存影響而面臨龐大財務壓力。今年台北自行車展正如預期所料，無法為這些挑戰帶來緩解作用。

TAIPEI, Taiwan - The 2024 Taipei International Cycle Show will go in the history books as the edition of high hopes, but low expectations. The Taiwanese component manufacturers are eagerly waiting for more order volume while the bicycle brands are confronted with a huge financial burden due to the inventory issue. As expected, the 2024 Taipei Cycle Show did not bring any relief to these challenges.

HEERENVEEN, the Netherlands - The financial situation for KKR owned Accell Group is becoming increasingly challenging. A group of lenders decided to select advisers to assess options for the bicycle manufacturer amid struggles spurred by waning demand and operational hurdles. Accell is also facing an expensive recall of the Babboe cargobike and at the same time the union might shut down one of the Heerenveen factories later today.

SKI, Norway - reTyre claims to be the first manufacturer able to mass produce pneumatic tyres without rubber. "Our uniquely patented production method differs significantly from the existing production process that takes place today with vulcanised rubber," says Ben Evans, CCO of reTyre. In this interview he unlocks the potential to reduce the carbon footprint of vulcanised tyres massively.

REDDITCH, England - In a trading update Halfords Group announced to expect a significant drop in like-for-like revenue growth in its retail business. The company reports a further material weakening in three of its four core markets, including cycling.

ULFT, the Netherlands - The growing market for accessories like baskets, bags and child seats also resulted in an increasing number of different quick fastening systems. Concerned about the consumer's interests, Basil owner Martijn van Balveren developed an open-source mounting system. Today it is specified by over 100 bicycle and accessories brands.

TAIPEI, Taiwan - Taiwan's bicycle industry had hoped for better times on the eve of the opening its annual leading event, the Taipei International Cycle Show. The support for the show with 950 exhibitors is big, but can't mask the difficulties faced by the industry.

TAICHUNG, Taiwan - Operating a production facility in Taiwan and Vietnam, plus service centers in Italy and the United States, Glory Wheel (GW) has established a firm position in the market as component manufacturer. Founder and CEO Charles Lee has planned an IPO in 2025 depending on the market conditions.

HAARLEM, the Netherlands - In times of excess stock or supply shortages, Blomson international has been in the market for many years to either provide the necessary floating capital or missing components. An online marketplace is now available for the industry to source those missing components to finish bicycle assembly.

TAICHUNG, Taiwan - The extent to which companies in the Taiwanese bicycle industry have adopted sustainable practices into their manufacturing varies greatly. Jeff Chen, general manager of Joy Group, told Bike Europe that this is one of the reasons why his company decided to take on the challenge of the Bicycle Alliance for Sustainability (BAS): "This project is to the benefit of the whole industry."