BikeBiz Bicycle and cycling retail news
EBCO
Pre-show EBCO let slip that two new brands would fall under its portfolio, which remains dedicated to the electric bike.
These two brands, both from Germany, are AVE electric bikes and KED Helmets, the latter of which is dedicated to producing a better standard of protective headgear for the electric bicycle.
With a decade in the business and having borrowed household name Bosch’s technology, AVE will bring two models to the UK. The first is a £1,900 hardtail and the second a burly £3,000 full suspension electric bike – both of which are made in Europe.
Paul Stanforth, co-director of EBCO, told BikeBiz: "Bosch have more or less taken over the high-end of the electric bike market, thanks both to lots of research and development and a lacklustre reaction from Shimano. Dealers of our bikes will be buoyed by the fact that Bosch is a household name, thus they can sell the customer a brand name that is known, as opposed to a new concept."
KED Helmet line initially spans two models in the current catalogue and these retail for £49.95 and £99.95, sized small to large. As a result of their electric bike audience, KED test each to a more rigorous standard than that to which cycle helmets are subject to. What’s more and as an added perk to the dealer, rear lights are fitted behind the dial adjust, making each perfectly suited to the city rider.
Shiner
BikeBiz stumbled on an addition to Shiner’s stand that wasn’t present on the trade day, thus may have been missed by many. Redline’s first fully carbon race bike, of which only two were in the country at the time of Cycle Show, made an appearance.
Costing £3,000 for the complete build, or £1,000 for the frame, the first shipment lands at the end of October and boasts an extended shelf life of around two to three years.
Timed to hit the market with a good stretch of time prior to the Olympics, the race-ready build comes specced with the in demand Answer Dagger fork, Shimano DXR cranks built into a Hollowtech bottom bracket, Envy rims, a Tioga Spider pivotal saddle and much more.
Shiner will carry the 14-44 geared race bike and frame kits and expects strong demand ahead of the Olympics.
Pearson
Having struck a deal with Cycle Surgery, Pearson Cycles bikes will now available through the chain, which will carry 12 models spanning cyclorcross, touring and racing.
The 2012 models have undergone a bit of a revamp design-wise and the names featured in the catalogue are quirkier too, drawing inspiration from comedy classics to crate ‘race horse’ style labels. Examples are the ‘I’ll Get My Coat,’ ‘A Cunning Plan’ and the ‘I’ve Started, So I’ll Finish’.
All bikes ordered are sized up for the customer with variables in stem length, bar width, tyre size, crank length, gear ratios and saddle width all tailored to the customer’s dimensions and preferences.
As featured on an increasing number of cyclocross bikes, Pearson are bang on trend and have introduced a few disc ready frames for cyclocross athletes looking to go hydraulic.
Continental
The press have been all over Continental thanks to a certain Mr Tony Martin and a surprise Time Trial World Championships race win sporting grand Prix TT clincher tyres.
Continental’s Shelley Childs told BikeBiz: "People always run tubulars, so this race win gathered lots of media attention as it was a little out of the ordinary. More than anything the tyre was supplied as HED wanted to trial run some carbon clinchers aboard Martin’s bike, so this was very out of the blue for us, but positive for sales."
At £42.95, the 23mm by 700c tyre weighs just 180 grams and carries a high tensile Vectram belt for tear and puncture resistance.
Childs also told BikeBiz: "At present the demand for tubulars is so high the demand barely meets supply, dealers should stock up."
