BikeBiz Bicycle and cycling retail news

It's not looking terribly rosy in the world of corporate bike retailing at the moment. Partly this is a war-in-Iraq thing but it goes deeper than that: CVC-appointed execs at Halfords have just made 85 HQ staff redundant, jettisoning key two-wheel personnel; and YHA Shops went into administration recently. The big multiples may have more cash to play with than IBDs, but that just ramps up their risks, especially when the good run of weather we're having is not leading to the usual boom in bike sales...

Just like in 2000, the organisers of the Tour de France will this year allow leisure and non-pro cyclists ride the closed-road route of Le Tour's finishing circuit. The 10 000 riders selected get free jerseys.

Last year, 4000 trade visitors flocked to Interbike's desert-based try-out day. The Outdoor Demo is now so successful at getting bums on new saddles that a second day has been added.

Posters and flyers are being sent to schools and libraries to encourage youngsters to vote for the best and worst school travel facilties and people.

The Taipei Times, Taiwan's main newspaper, is today having a go at the Chinese authorities for apparently covering up the outbreak of SARS. On the newspaper's website, there are banner ads for the Taipei cycle trade show.