BikeBiz Bicycle and cycling retail news

GlaxoSmithKline, owner ofthe UK's leading sporting drinks brand - "athletes go 33 percent longer with Lucozade" (small print: longer than when drinking plain water, that is) - has formed the Lucozade Sport Science Academy (LSSA) and appointed Peter Keen OBE to the newly-created position of LSSA Performance Director. Until recently Keen was British Cycling's go-faster guru.

Those who voted on last week's poll that 'there aren't enough hours in the day' to get involved with Bike Week may wish to reconsider now that the publicity is being ramped up, and the positive media mentions gained. Today, one of the world's biggest websites leads with Bike Week plugs...

The CTC, formed in 1878 and celebrating its 125th year, now has 54 899 members. The highest figure ever is 60 499 in 1899.

Bike trade suppliers are up in arms about a unilateral imposition of 90-day payment terms by the UK's market leader. The payment contract had previously been for 30-day terms. A major P&A supplier to Halfords told BikeBiz.co.uk the company was guilty of "unacceptable behaviour for a dominant player."

The presidents of the UCI, PCC, PCA, AIOCC, AIGCP - acronyms for all the important bodies in the world of professional cycle sport - met in Brussels on Friday and have agreed to helmet compulsion in all officially sanctioned pro races. Francesco Moser, president of the Professional Cyclists’ Association (ACP) said that all members of his association (ie most of the world's pros) will have to wear helmets in major cycling events from May 1st.