BikeBiz Bicycle and cycling retail news
Axel Imports has announced it is to bring three more brands in to the UK, with a fourth in the pipeline to be announced shortly. Each is available immediately.
To compliment its existing core business of distributing Titus Bikes, Axel Imports is to add wheel specialist Industry Nine, grip manufacturer ESI and titanium bottle cage brand King Cage.
Industry Nine
Industry Nine wheels are made in the USA, only outsourcing the bearing and rim manufacturing, which according to Axel MD and BikeLab owner Clive Gosling "come from the best providers in the industry."
Performance-wise, i9 wheels are designed light and strong and can cater for every axle option currently available and all are retrofitable in case a another standard comes along.
The Ultralite XC wheelset comes in at 1320 grams with a full 32 spoke lacing making it a weight weenie benchmark at less than half the price of competitors heavier carbon wheels.
ESI Grips
Claiming to be the only USA-made 100 per cent silicone grip available, ESI Grips are used by many high profile factory teams.
They don’t slip on the bars even in extreme weathers and temperatures and apparently reduce hand numbness while improving contact with the bars.
The grips come in both ‘chunky’ at £15.50 and ‘racers edge’ at £14.50 and in a range of bright ‘no fade’ colours.
King Cage
King Cage has been hand making titanium and stainless steel bottle cages since 1991 in the USA.
The Titanium cage sits on the scales at a scant 28 grams making it lighter than many carbon cages, but many times stronger, plus the cages won’t mark the bottles like a carbon cage and can be flexed for additional grip.
Prices are £49.99 for a titanium cage and £31.00 for stainless steel.
Andrew Foley of Axel Imports said "We have had an amazing first year as a distributor with Titus, exceeding both ours and their expectations. Several companies approached us to distribute their lines for 2010 and we have also sought brands that we felt complimented the high standard that Titus has set within our portfolio."
Gosling also told BikeBiz that another brand is on the way shortly.
