Patent protection sits at the intersection of market competitiveness and innovation in the bicycle industry. In global supply chains, intellectual property (IP) rights can determine who controls a technological advancement and who gets locked out of it. Companies interested in getting ahead are turning to patent protection for both hardware and, increasingly, software.

In close partnership with industry organisations such as Shift Cycling Culture as well as industry leaders, Canyon initiated the development of the Supply Chain Code of Conduct. For this process, expertise on human rights due diligence and environmental responsibility was also brought together.

The spike in oil prices has drastically changed the market outlook. Raw material prices plus the costs of production and logistics have been affected by the geopolitical situation. The high fuel prices worldwide could also attract more people to start cycling. Are you prepared to adapt to the new situation? The Global Bicycle Purchase Index (GPBI) will provide you with these insights next month.

Companies with a 100-year history in the bicycle industry are pretty hard to come by. Gazelle in the Netherlands, owned by Pon since 2011, is one such company. The company is so proud of its craftsmanship, which dates back to 1892, that a public walkway hangs over its factory in the Netherlands. This expertise extends across the entire chain, including its relationship with dealers, making it a leading brand in the Benelux. A heritage site with modern, state-of-the-art production — that's what Bike Europe found when it visited the Factory Floor at… Gazelle.

Merida Industry's first quarter 2026 results show the company is absorbing a significant year-on-year sales decline as it works to mitigate the industry downturn. The Taiwanese company reported Q1 revenue of NT$5.49 billion (€147 million), down around 27% year-on-year, following a rollercoaster start to the year. Sales fell sharply by 44% in January and 22% in February, before easing to a 17% decline in March, hopefully an early indication that the steepest phase of the downturn is passing.

The China Cycle Show 2026 can count on more international interest than before. Driven by the sports market and the country's fifteenth five-year plan (2026-2030), local manufacturers have recognised the value of brand building, a trend quickly being adopted by other categories. The nation's shop window to the rest of the world showcases the progress of its bicycle industry.

British bicycle manufacturer and industry barometer Halfords Group UK reports strong performance in its bicycle segment for FY26 (April 2025 - April 2026). The Group says sales have increased across its core industries of automotive, retail and leisure, but none have seen as much progress as its cycling division, which climbed 6.4%.

Ask ten people in a bike brand how profitable their assortment is, and you will get ten different answers. Ask the product manager and she will point to margin per unit. Ask the supply chain lead and he will talk about complexity cost. Ask the retailer, and the conversation shifts entirely to sell-through and floor turns. Everyone is right. Everyone is also looking at a different piece of the value chain. And because no one has agreed on a shared picture, the product line keeps growing — SKU by SKU, season by season — until it takes an AI chatbot to explain the difference between two models to a confused customer at home.

The Italian bicycle market closed 2025 in negative territory, confirming what now appears to be a structural downturn. Data released by Confindustria ANCMA and presented at Pirelli's advanced bike tyre manufacturing facility in Bollate near Milan, show total sales of 1.3 million units, down 4% year on year.

To achieve its long-term goals in the Asia-Pacific region, German Canyon Bicycles GmbH is strategically investing in logistics, digital and commercial activities. The company is focusing on markets like China, Japan, South Korea, Singapore, Australia and New Zealand.

As the industry seeks to align the supply chain and match demand more effectively, reliable market data becomes essential. To provide the much-needed sourcing information and mid-term outlook, the Global Bicycle Purchasing Index (GBPI) serves as an indicator that anticipates future trends. Bike Europe discussed with Schwalbe's Head of Supply Chain Management, Vanessa Schulte, how the GBPI supports Schwalbe in the planning process.

From late September 2025 through early 2026, the bicycle industry saw an unprecedented wave of human rights-related actions centred on Taiwan. The United States government's import ban on Giant products made in Taiwan triggered not only rapid remediation and reimbursements, but a broader shift toward systemic human rights due diligence in Taiwan's bicycle supply chain. Bike Europe takes stock of the changes.

Schwalbe is modernising and expanding its warehouse capacities in Vietnam in close cooperation with its long-term logistics partner Kuehne+Nagel. The project is part of their long-term strategy to supply customers even faster and more reliably in the future.

Pacific Glory Worldwide Ltd (PGW), owned by the Taiwan-based manufacturer Ideal Bike Corporation, has opened a new United States distribution channel, PGW USA. It will oversee sales and support for the Fuji, SE and Tuesday bicycle brands in the US market. It says it will focus on retailer success and long-term sustainability, but open questions remain regarding the current distributor, BikeCo.

CHICAGO, United States — Performance component brand SRAM has announced two critical expansions to its distribution networks this winter season, enhancing service proximity and global reach through strategic distribution partnerships. These new distribution networks in South Africa and Eastern Europe reflect the company's focus on capturing growing demand in the bicycle aftermarket.

AMSTERDAM, the Netherlands - The e-bike is evolving rapidly and new user groups are entering the market, writes editor-in-chief Jan-Willem van Schaik in his editorial. "The question is whether the e-bike can keep the same classification and will continue to be seen as a bicycle. The classification as a bicycle has important legal implications."

TAIPEI, Taiwan — Giant has made significant progress toward repairing its relationship with the United States in the aftermath of the US Customs and Border Protection's (CBP) embargo on shipments from the company's Taiwan factories. In the meantime, outside of Giant's facilities, an even larger change is taking place.

PESCANTINA, Italy - Pon.Bike Italia, the Italian subsidiary of the Pon.Bike group, has announced its exclusive distribution of OneUp Components in the Italian market. Under the new agreement, Pon will become the sole authorised distributor of OneUp Components in Italy starting January 2026.

While the long-awaited GPSR guidelines have finally appeared, offering disappointingly little clarity, the next regulation is already lining up for everyone involved in selling products in the EU: the Packaging and Packaging Waste Regulation (PPWR). The PPWR entered into force on 11 February 2025 and will start to apply from 12 August 2026, with many design and documentation obligations ramping up further between 2026 and 2030. Just as companies are still implementing the GPSR, the PPWR is already demanding attention.

BAUNACH, Germany - Despite its long-standing history and supplying to over 2,500 customers in more than 60 countries, Messingschlager's key activities were largely known only to industry insiders. In the past decade, the company expanded into various business fields, which became very distinct over time. "Demand from customers these days is so much more diverse than just a product at a competitive price," says Messingschlager CEO Christoph Bantle.

HANGZHOU, China - Over one million dollars' worth of counterfeit bicycle goods have been seized by the Chinese government, in cooperation with American bicycle brand Specialized and e-commerce platform AliExpress. AliExpress announced this month that the sting operation, carried out in March 2025, resulted in the seizure of $1.1 million (€950,000) worth of counterfeit Specialized road racing frames, handlebars, wheels, seatposts, forks and 9,500 decals. Pinarello, Cannondale, Cervelo, and Trek also had fake items seized during the raid.