BikeBiz Bicycle and cycling retail news

According to the March/First Quarter 2003 RDC Analysis from the National Bicycle Dealers' Association of America, US IBD sales of new bicycles were down 14 percent for the first quarter of 2003 compared to 2002. Why? Homeland security worries, a soft economy and continued duff weather.

John Neugent, a consultant to the US bike trade and owner of Neuvation Cycling, a small-time innovations company, has been in the bicycle business for 30+ years. He's owned a bike shop, been a rep, and been VP's of sales, marketing, purchasing, and product development. At one time he was president of Sachs Bicycle Components in the US. If he makes a modification to his new QR skewer, he claims it could be a fix for the QR/disc brake problem...

Dawes Cycles Ltd. and Two Wheel Trading Ltd. has become Dawes/TWT Ltd. The bike and P&A companies - now a 'company' - will move to 35 Tameside Drive in Castle Bromwich, the home of MV Sports and Leisure.

Some mainstream mail-order catalogues have scaled back their bike divisions. And Halfords is still trying to get key suppliers to sign up to its dictat-driven new trading terms. Many suppliers are stalling for better, individually-negotiated terms. If Halfords tries to tough it out, the market-dominating corporate could find its supplies of 2004 brand and own-brand bikes are delivered woefully late. In theory, there could be a 2-3 month gap when IBDs could capitalise on any strangulated supply.

Magura Service Centre UK has now become Magura Bike Parts Ltd. and, from July 1st, will deal directly with IBDs. Previously, Magura parts were distributed by Venhill Engineering Ltd., Jim Walker and Raleigh P & A.