HEERENVEEN, the Netherlands - Ten years after the introduction of the company on Euronext Amsterdam, Accell Group N.V. is to be included in the ...

MONTREAL, Canada - Dorel Industries, parent company of Pacific Cycle and Cannondale, has acquired PTI Sports. The purchase is in line with Dorels ...

KORTRIJK, Belgium - Is Belgium the 'most promising market' amidst the other European markets where companies are struggling with financial burdens and slow demand? "2024 has not been a crisis year for the bicycle industry," said Frank Glorieux, secretary general of the Belgium industry association Traxio-Velo at the presentation of the 2024 market statistics.

As I wrote in one of my earlier blogs, the upcoming General Product Safety Regulation (GPSR) is food for many more blogs to come. It contains many provisions that go far beyond the current EU General Product Safety Directive (GPSD). In this blog, I would like to draw attention to a new obligation that is introduced in the GPSR: accident reporting.

In France, a law on product labelling recently entered into force, which is causing quite a stir. The law may have major consequences for companies selling consumer products in France, including bicycles. An informal 'round the table' with various sources suggests, however, that this new French law is not known yet to everyone in the bicycle industry. So, what is it about?

In the music world, a contract for live concerts typically has an appendix, also known as a 'rider', that includes all kinds of very detailed technical and practical rules and demands of a band. Some bands are known for adding insane or absurd requests to a rider - rock band Van Halen was one of them. Their wish list included "M&M's (WARNING: ABSOLUTELY NO BROWN ONES!)". Their contract further stipulated the following: "There will be no brown M&M's in the backstage area, upon pain of forfeiture of the show, with full compensation".

Your service operator would take care of all your cycling needs locally and, if chosen, abroad. All you would have to do is pay a monthly subscription rate and commit to a 1-3 year contract.

SEYMOUR, Indiana - From Shark Tank winners to full-on manufacturers, Guardian Bikes has come a long way since its inception in 2013. The American kids' bike brand, with its patented SureStop braking system, has announced the launch of its new bicycle frame manufacturing operation at its existing assembly plant location in Seymour, Indiana.

VILLORBA, Italy - Cicli Pinarello is opening a new subsidiary in Shanghai to directly manage its operations in the growing Chinese market. Pinarello China Ltd will be the group's fifth directly managed subsidiary, joining existing operations in the United States, United Kingdom, Switzerland, and South Africa.

LYON, France - Folding e-bike manufacturer Eovolt has its sights set on being more than just that. To support further internationalisation and entry into other non-electric categories, the French manufacturer is rebranding to UTO. "It is a new name to symbolise the brand we have become over the years," CEO Baptiste Fullen told Bike Europe during Eurobike.

EINDHOVEN, The Netherlands - Shimano Europe has launched Nextgen Mechanics, a new call for evidence aimed at tackling the growing shortage of skilled bicycle mechanics across Europe. The collaborative initiative with Cycling Industries Europe aims to bring in a broad alliance of stakeholders committed to strengthening the profession, raising standards, and inspiring the next generation of cycle mechanics.

LONDON, United Kingdom - The total bicycle market in the UK saw sales drop a further 2% year-on-year in 2024 to a new low this century. This latest drop continues the long post-COVID downturn which began in the second half of 2021. However, the latest figures from the Bicycle Association (BA) suggest there is light at the end of the tunnel.

TAICHUNG, Taiwan - In recognition of its ESG activities, Giant Group has joined the Dow Jones Sustainability Indices (DJSI) Emerging Markets Index, making it the first company in the bicycle industry to have this distinction.

ROSSANO VENETO, Italy - Performance brand Wilier Triestina is adding to its expansion strategy in the Asian market. Youn Live, a Taiwanese company with which Wilier has worked for many years as a client and which was fully acquired in 2021, is being transformed into a strategic and logistical hub, becoming the centre of the brand's development in Asia and Oceania.

BEVERWIJK, The Netherlands - Dutch e-bike and electric cargo bike manufacturer Optima Cycles has acquired compatriot Dolly Bikes, which focuses on the high-end e-cargobike segment. With this strategic acquisition, Optima Cycles, known for the brands Dutch ID and Lovens, aims to strengthen its position in the rapidly growing electric cargo bike market and create new growth opportunities.

VIENNA, Austria - Children and youth bike manufacturer Woom has appointed Bernd Hake as CEO. He succeeds Paul Fattinger, who is leaving by mutual agreement after three years in charge. According to the company, the change in management is a further step in its development from a start-up to an established international brand.

OBERWANGEN, Switzerland - After 11 years at Stromer, co-CEO Tomi Viiala has decided to step back from the operational business and leave the company. The reason given is to "spend more time with his family, who live in Finland." Viiala will remain a shareholder of Stromer.

BRUSSELS, Belgium - Over the first nine months of 2024, registrations of second-hand speed pedelecs in Belgium increased by +17.4% compared to the same period in 2023, and by +39.3% compared to 2022, according to figures released by trade association Traxio. However, for new speed pedelecs a reverse trend is seen as sales dropped 17.9% compared to 2023.

FRANKFURT, Germany - A sign of more advanced technology entering the e-bike market was Star Union's magnetic gear motor at this year's Eurobike. The motor uses magnetic force instead of mechanical force to offer maximum efficiency of 90%. The prototype displayed is being targeted for mass production in Q2 2025.

MADRID, Spain - Bicycle production in Spain reached 171,200 units during the first half of 2024, data from the Spanish Ministry of Industry and Tourism shows. Although this represents a 6.4% decrease on the same period last year, production has grown to around 30,000 units per month during the second quarter of 2024.