BikeBiz Bicycle and cycling retail news

Paul Joyner, Halfords' general manager of the two-wheel division, was surprised by last week's ACT's broadside. Here's his nowhere-near-as-venomous reply.

Chris Boardman MBE is one of two new members of the Steven Norris chaired NCSB. The other newbie is public health expert Dr Alison Hill

Alessandro Petacchi is in the pink, thanks to his Cipollini-besting thigh muscles and his magnesium Pinarello Dogma. This bike was first seen at the Milan bike show in September 2002. With race success, magnesium frames and bits will become that much more desirable. And Pinarello bikes make you go half a kilogram faster...

The electric bike company has become the first recipient of business-building cash from the government-backed South West Regional Venture Capital Fund, beating off competition from 200 other companies. The SWRVPF gets a minority stake in Powabyke Ltd. The company can now secure additional funding of £1.75m from other sources.

Once upon a time there was a genteel activity called road racing. Steel steeds, shaved legs, bags of holier-than-thou attitudes. Then came MOUNTAIN BIKING. It ate roadies for breakfast. Now, imagine the same thing happening to spinning. Bikes by Giant Taiwan, endorsement by the UCI, pro involvement from Missy Giove.