BikeBiz Bicycle and cycling retail news
Carbon, carbon, carbon. You’re not a bike company unless you produce something in carbon.
That’s the overall feeling from the Eurobike show, which is a trade/consumer show for mid- to high-end bikes and products.
At this year’s 15 percent bigger show there were 761 exhibitors from 36 countries. 200 of these exhibitors were here for the first time.
As the first of the major international Autumn shows, Eurobike is now the key place to launch new products. Many American companies launch here rather than at their ‘own’ show, Interbike Las Vegas, which takes place at the beginning of October.
As well as bikes and bike parts, the Eurobike show was also stuffed with softgoods. From retro woollen race jerseys (almost every trendy company now has one) to lace frills on women’s bike clobber, the latest cycle clothing from European and North American brands is building added value into already techical garments.
Eurobike show organisers claim there were 114 product premieres at the show, just some of which are listed below.
Campagnolo
Campag’s Ergopower flat bar levers are for town-bikes and are available for Chorus, Centaur, Veloce and Mirage gruppos. Naturally, the Chorus levers are in carbon fibre.
Campag also launched some compact cranks, another trend at the show. The Campag compact cranks are available for Record, Chorus and Centaur gruppos, with accompanying new front mechs.
Giro
The US helmet company is producing 2004 of a special gold/yellow Atmos helmet, to commemorate Lance Armstrong’s sixth Tour de France victory.
Fizik
The high-end sub-brand of Italian saddle company Selle Royale launched Bar:Gel handlebar strips filled with non-leak Technogel , as well a lighter Arione saddle.
Magura
As well as some nifty new lines in non-technical goodies – beer steins, flip-flops, espresso sets, table mats – the German fork-and-brake specialist had updates of some of old favourites, such as the HS33 brake and lever set. The new HS33 has a new pad adjust wheel and a new brake booster allowing for tyre clearances up to 2.5 inch.
Stella Azzurra
The family-owned and run Italian stems-and-bars company is branching out into carbon wheelsets. The Stella Maris is a four-spoke clincher with a DT hub, and with Shimano and Campag cassette fittings.
Storck
German carbon frame specialist Markus Storck has produced a sub-5 kilo frameset, the Scenario C 0.9. The 4.9 kilo frame (10.78 pounds) will also be at Interbike.
Tacx
The second generation i-magic indoor training doodah is the virtual reality Fortius that also ships with new PC training analyser software. http://www.i-rides.com/FortiusRLV.htm
