BikeBiz Bicycle and cycling retail news
Read the first part of our Bike Place round-up here.
Appearing for the first time at the show, Greyville brought along recent brand signings Yepp child seats and Velomann cycle computers. Velomann offers everything from wired seven function computers to 40-plus function wireless affairs, then there’s the light range including a number of USB-chargeable models. Yepp, meanwhile, has an innovative take on the child seat market, with fold up baskets, head rests for little ‘uns and more.
Evolution Imports drew our attention to the quirky King Cage brand. Handmade by one man in Colorado, the range includes titanium cages, steel cages and a top cap bottle mount. The one man band only produces a limited number of products every year and they are in high demand. Other highlights included ESI grips and its 100 per cent silicone grips that are comfort-boosting and great at displacing water. Different thicknesses of grip are available and can be finished with a silicone tape end wrap.
Fisher Outdoor Leisure appeared at the Bike Place for the first this year. Coming just a few days after it had announced its Early Rider distribution deal, it was a perfect chance to show off the balance bike brand. The eye-catching range is lightweight and quality, with offerings even for youngsters who have yet to enjoy their first birthday. The Spherolvelo starts the range off, with 360-degree wheels, castors for full support, five colours and retailing at 69.99. The Early Rider Lite is the smaller, lightest balance bike, moving up to the Alley Runner, featuring an aluminium frameset with carbon handlebars and post. Crucially it can take optional 14” wheels to last the little ‘un a little longer. Other range highlights include the Belter, a belt drive bike for juniors, ideal for cutting out dirt and grease.
Moore Large, another of the more significant Bike Place Show debuts, brought along American Classic and the brand’s new Carbonators. Available in 27.5 and 29-inch versions, these are stiff and light enduro-ideal rims. Moore Large also showcased the Moda’s Finale, now in a new colour and available as a dream build.
Is Frog finding the market more competitive, with other brands jumping into the quality children’s bikes sector, we wondered? Most other brands are actually only dipping their toes into the market, Frog reasoned to BikeBiz, adding that it feels the market has plenty more potential.
To cement its reputation as a children’s bike specialist (“that’s all we do”) Frog has invested in some quality research, via Brunel University. Findings include that a child’s head is a larger percentage of their body than an adult’s is and bike designs have been tweaked according to other findings.
Flare clothing has been on the scene for about a year but its men’s range, in a refreshing twist on tradition, didn’t come first. The premise for the brand was to produce women’s cycle clothing that looked good, performed technically and basically did the job. After the launch the response from men was stronger than expected so it launched a male range in November.
