TAIPEI, Taiwan - "Hard times are also a good time to prepare exciting future products and tech from across the industry," Robert Wu, Chairman of the Taiwan Bicycle Association (TBA) told Bike Europe last September. With this message of hope the island nation is hoping for better times as a premium supplier for the bicycle industry. The Taipei International Cycle Show is always a good moment to update the market situation, but this year 'Taipei' prepares the business to become a 'better' industry and put its focus on sustainability and other ESG topics.

AMERSFOORT, the Netherlands - Babboe has announced the inevitable recall of its cargo bikes after receipt of numerous reports of frame breakage as reported last week. For now, it regards the City, City E, Mini and Mini E models only. Whether all other Babboe cargobikes will follow in this recall is not clear yet. "We are currently consulting with the Netherlands Food and Consumer Product Safety Authority (NVWA) on taking further steps."

TAIPEI, Taiwan - Registration has opened for the WBIA Sustainable Supply Chain Principles Event at the Taipei Cycle Show. Being held on 6 March, the event will bring together WBIA members, companies, and other stakeholders in the bicycle industry.

丹麥，哥本哈根（COPENHAGEN）－丹麥自行車市場的銷售趨勢一直以來都較其他歐洲國家不同，不過若參考丹麥自行車經銷商及行業組織Danske Cykelhandlere發佈的2023年1至11月數據，我們可從中推測出其他歐洲國家的銷售表現。

英國，倫敦（LONDON）－在其他歐洲市場，高價單品銷售可能足以彌補銷量減少的損失，但在英國市場情況不一定如此。該國市場在後疫時期銷量衰退，2022年總市值減少18%，2023年更進一步減少6%。此外，最新資料證實，英國市場去年「常規自行車銷量為本世紀最糟」。

日本，大阪（OSAKA）－市場庫存過高加劇對自行車和零件製造商在去年Q4表現的影響。Shimano甚至報告營收年減24.6%，淨利年減52.3%。該公司對2024年做出的預測數字也不樂觀。

台北國際自行車展一直都是一個觀察評估市場狀況的好時機，今年台北展做足準備欲讓自行車行業更上層樓，並將焦點放在永續性及其他ESG（環境保護、社會責任、公司治理）主題。除目前市場趨勢之外，本期Bike Europe英文電子雜誌亦探討幾間已開始在生產製程落實ESG解決方案的台灣企業，以應對行業未來。

AMSTERDAM, the Netherlands - The Dutch market saw a slight decrease of 6% from 833,366 units in 2022 to 804,101 units last year. Thanks to a higher average retail price the revenue was down only 3.7% from 2022 to €1.4 billion in 2023. According to Huub Lamers, chairman of the section bicycles at the industry organization RAI and COO at Pon.Bike, "in times of supply chain constraints, we lack the availability of high quality data. The information we share today is based on sell out data, but we only have estimates on the number of bicycles and e-bikes in the pipeline."

ELCHE, Spain - The 12,000 square meter company headquarters of MTB brand Mondraker is an eye-catcher itself: the round shape inspired by a wheel is intended to reflect the brand image of the premium brand. In Elche in the province of Alicante, administration, R&D, engineering & design as well as production and assembly are all under one roof.

ZEIST, The Netherlands - The February edition of Bike Europe magazine (issue 1/2024) is now available to read online in our digital magazine section. As the industry looks forward to the Taipei Cycle show next week, this will offer an opportunity to gauge the mood in the market. It will also reveal the continued significance of tradeshows for a global industry.

With only one week to go, 950 exhibitors are working hard towards Taipei Cycle 2024, which will feature industry leaders such as Look Cycle, SRAM, Continental and Factor. This year the show, displayed across 3,500 booths, will underline four key themes: Micro-mobility, Culture & lifestyle, Startup & innovation and Green action.

KOBLENZ, Germany - Canyon has reaffirmed its long-term, holistic commitment to greenhouse gas emission reduction by incorporating sustainability into its future business strategy. Going one step further, the bike brand's emissions reductions targets have been verified by the globally recognised body, SBTi.

For the sixth time, Cyclingworld Europe will open its doors - from March 15th to 17th - in the industrial halls of the Düsseldorf Areal Böhler. With up to 500 brands across six exhibition halls and a spacious outdoor area, this year also sees the gathering of the who's who in the international cycling culture, celebrating the world of bicycles.

The Taipei International Cycle Show is always a good moment to take stock of the market situation, but this year 'Taipei' prepares the business to become a 'better' industry and put its focus on sustainability and other ESG topics. Besides the current market conditions, this online magazine also explores several Taiwanese companies who have started adopting ESG solutions in their production practises as the industry prepares for the future.

LONDON, United Kingdom - In contrast to other European markets, where declines in unit sales could be offset against higher sales values, this can't be said for the UK market. The post-COVID downturn in the UK cycling market has seen the total market value fall a further 6% in 2023, following an 18% decline in 2022. On top of that, in 2023 the UK had "the worst mechanical bike sales this century," the latest data confirms.

VALLVIDRERA, Spain - Together with industrial designer Nachos Suárez, US native David Álvarez launched Guava Bikes in Spain. With a new clubhouse just outside of Barcelona and a burgeoning community which includes sporting investors, the niche gravel bike is positioning itself for growth.

COPENHAGEN, Denmark - The Danish bicycle market has always been on its own sales path compared to other European countries. However, the 2023 figures of the dealer intake released by the Danish bicycle dealers and industry organisation 'Danske Cykelhandlere' from January-November could be an indication of what we can expect when other European countries publish their sales reports.

LUDHIANA, India - The shift towards increasing automation in bicycle manufacturing, graduating towards high-end components and the return of major OEMs like Avon Cycles & TI Cycles all marked the recently concluded CFOSE 2024 (Cycle, Fitness & Outdoor Sports Expo). Held from 1-3 February in Ludhiana, India, and with a greater focus on e-bikes, the show highlighted Indian company's urge to spread their footprints globally.