BikeBiz Bicycle and cycling retail news

The May BikeBiz magazine is the Road Issue. An essay in the mag argues that the bike market has been steadily changing these last five years, with new and old school roadies as customers in bike shops. The new school roadies splash serious money on high-end carbon-fibre road bikes (and boutique-brand mitts made from African sheep hair) while the old school roadies demand 'club discounts' and fondle kit in-store only to buy it online to save 20p. A travesty of the real situation, of course, but today's Boston Globe carries an article on the spending power of bicycle's new elite...

In The Times on Saturday, a paragraph from a press release on Bike to School Week finished a long article on the childhood obesity epidemic. And on this morning's Newsround, the BBC news programme for children, Bike to School Week was the lead story.

For the second year running, the Friedrichshafen trade show will stage an innovations award scheme in conjunction with International Forum Design

Dominique Perben, France’s Minister of Transport, has appointed the country's first 'Cycling Czar'. Hubert Peigné will the French equivalent of Phillip Darnton, chair of Cycling England. What's the French for "getting more people on bikes, more often?"

Cateye, Innovations, Powerbar and White Lightning will be the sponsors of Pat Adams' 24-hour MTB fest.