BikeBiz Bicycle and cycling retail news

After jettisoning its freelance contributors in August and cutting its promotional budget at the same time, the writing was on the wall for big bucks enthusiast site madformountainbiking.com. Started with launch capital of £4m, the madforsport.com group of websites – originally billed as “the ultimate network for active outdoor sports” – never generated the expected level of advertising spend. The site is now "open to serious offers" the owner's MD tells bikebiz.co.uk

‘Cycling Manager’ is ranked in the top three PC games in France and Italy. Now it has been translated into English and the UK publisher is seeking distribution in the bike trade. Halfords is getting the sales spiel next week. IBDs could stock the title right now. Will ‘Cycling Manager’ be this year's perfect stocking filler for road race fans?

Bike 2002 has been 'sold' to Haymarket Exhibitions. This year's show organiser tells bikebiz.co.uk that "[Future's] true experience lies in making magazines, not running shows." It's also claimed that Haymarket will be able to ramp up marketing of the seven year old show

The BikeBiz year planner for 2002 has been fully revised and now includes notable trade dates, major cycle sport events, clashing events such as the football World Cup, and Bank Holidays. Thanks to a lovely sponsor, recipients of BicycleBusiness will be getting a big and colourful printed year planner wallchart mailed to them with the December issue but, for those who can't wait, here are the main 2002 dates in all their digital glory...

Lance Armstrong yesterday signed a three year deal to endorse - and get paid for eating - PowerBar products. His teammates, however, will be eating a rival's products: the US Postal Services team signed with Clif Bar earlier in the week...