BikeBiz Bicycle and cycling retail news
Following on from part one of our Cycle Show review – which detailed Cyclehoop, Eurobike UK, Cyclist Magazine, Continental and Fibrax – here’s five more with plenty to talk about.
To view our entire Cycle Show photo gallery, click here.
Pragmasis
Not a week goes by where Bikebiz.com doesn’t report a number of bikes stolen from vans, sheds, shops and warehouses, yet in the majority of cases, very little was done to prevent a theft once the light fingered type has entered the building.
British manufacturer of security solutions Pragmasis doesn’t shy away from the fact they’re not as cheap as many far-east produced chains and shackles, but then again, as bike dealers will understand, price isn’t everything, quality is.
BikeBiz was told the firm is the ‘only police and insurance approved supplier of ground anchors and shed shackles in the UK market’, which is reassuring should be you be considering shoring up your store’s defences.
The firm is looking to work closer with bicycle retailers, telling BikeBiz that it feels it could make it near impossible for thieves to successfully strike the shop fronts and vans so often targeted in this business. Furthermore, retailers can stock the product, giving consumers a fighting chance of protecting their gear, whether it be with the sheer nut equipped Shed Shackles, or just a heavy duty length of chain.
NRG4
With a strong variety of product, NRG4’s stand seemed to have caught the consumer’s curiosity on the days following the trade
-only Thursday.
For retailers for whom too many SKUs is a problem, NRG4’s Aerozine label has produced a crank with a reversible pedal insert, which enables the end-user to flip between 170 to 175mm easily and securely. Pitched at ‘XTR level’, the £186 X-12 crank comes in a load cheaper and is available in several colours.
Elsewhere on the stand, some may have spotted a clever solution to hydration on board a time trial rig in the form of Showers Pass’ own 1.4 litre saddle mounted bladder. Supplied with ‘retractors’ to keep the supply tube from flopping around over your expensive handlebars, this £59.99 bit of kit is designed with the curves of the rider and aerodynamics in mind.
Showers Pass and SixS also displayed a strong line of colourful and reflective waterproof jackets and carbon baselayers, respective of order. The former of the two brands is one of the only labels on the market using the 100 per cent waterproof Event fabric, well worth a look if your customers demand the best.
Ocean Cycle
With its custom Cycle Show decals it was hard not to be drawn to Ocean Cycles velomobile, designed and built in Plymouth alongside Ice Trikes.
The two firms specialise in recumbents and trikes and the collaboration displayed at the show is available at a cost of £4,500, minus the Cycle Show stickers. Ideal for the fair weather cyclist who desires to remain dry at all costs.
Mission
Found in a dedicated area for special needs cycling and transport set out by the organisers of the Cycle Show, Mission Cycles and neighbouring Quest 88’s stands were busy throughout.
Catching up with Mission’s David Wilshere, BikeBiz was told that opportunities for retail sales were still going begging in many areas. Wilshere said: “In many cases we’re supplying the customer direct as we’ve not linked with a dealer in a certain territory. We’re interested in broadening our dealer base and those who we have linked with have become specialists for their region, serving an ever-growing customer base interested in how a cycle or trike can be tailored to their needs.”
Pictured above is the Trike MX, a funky looking and entirely flexible in its dimensions tricycle, which is easily adjustable to suit the customer. Featuring dual function brake levers for easy stopping, harnesses if required and with backrests available, this build is quickly tailored to suit.
Moore Large
Housing a dark room to show off Knog’s dazzling collection, as well as space dedicated to 4ZA, Lake, Cuda, Haro and Premium – Moore Large had a significant presence at the show under it’s consumer-facing Today’s Cyclist banner. 4ZA CEO Bengt Friberg had even flown over to meet the show’s crowds and discuss the multi-tier product portfolio – branded as Stratos, Cirrus and Cirrus Pro – in order of price and performance.
New and particularly prominent thanks to its patriotic Brit flag branding is the 19mm T50 Team Issue wheelset set to retail at £1,399 and available with the union Jack decals via Moore Large shortly.
Friberg said of the wheelset: “These are designed to endure a number of season’s racing, it’s the wheelset used by our team on the pro circuit and has been branded with flags for various markets, including our native Belgium. The freehub is exchangeable to suit Campagnolo 11-speed, or Shimano and SRAM ten-speed. A 25mm width will also become available in November.”
