BikeBiz Bicycle and cycling retail news
Clee Cycles
Distributors of bike bling Clee Cycles had all sorts of shiny finishing kit for the customer with a penchant for customisation.
For those looking for the very lightest kit around, KCNC’s 113-gram full titanium ten-speed cassette will be one for the Christmas list. At £334.99, it’s not cheap, but it’s feathery light and offers a 11-23 range.
Perhaps more accessible is the ten-speed chains in gold or silver at £72.99 and £55.99, respectively. At 245 grams for 110 links, this is again a lightweight solution to ‘blinging’ a bike from the spokes upwards.
Another classy finishing touch comes in the form of the iLink cable kit at £49.99 per unit. Containing ferrules, inner, snap together linked outers for perfect length adjustment, liner cables and comes available in multiple colours, this kit is designed to outperform standard cables, as well as look good.
Jungle Products
Isaac are back, this time within Jungle’s shack. After a brief bit of uncertainty about the future of the brand, it’s now alive and kicking once more, thanks to Tehava investment and a lot of acquired research and development.
With dealer positions now sought across the UK and possibly Ireland, Jungle can offer the dealer a line spanning £1,880 for the entry level 105-equip Kaon, through to the Muon, a £5,880 time trial rig with Shimano Di2, Vision carbon finishing kit and carbon tubular wheels.
Jungle MD Dickon Hepworth told BikeBiz: "Isaac fits very well within our catalogue, complimenting Niner and Santa Cruz. We have top-end specialist dealers who can sell this gear. Everything’s in black or white, so as to keep it simpler and saleable and most of the bikes come Di2 compatible, which seems to be the way the market is heading. There’s a cyclocross bike in the works too."
Each and every bike in the Isaac range is name after a particle, keeping true to the brand’s Isaac Newton inspired heritage. The artwork on certain models even uses the symbol for carbon to stylish effect.
Dawes
The next year leading to the Olympics may hold a few surprises from Dawes, which has been granted the right to print licensed Team GB goods. Two mock up bikes were present at the Cycle Show, though these examples are not set for production as yet. Further to the main attraction on Dawes’ stand was the refresher of the Dirty BMX line, due to land on shop floors during October and priced from £199 to £329. Each has micro gearing and is what Dawes describe as a "good base to build on for budding BMX riders." Entry level aside, each is fitted with a three-piece crank and carries branded Amnesty hubs.
Lawrence Cox of Dawes told BikeBiz that most exciting of all was the new electric bike line, dubbed Boost. He said: "It’s amazing how much of the trade has now dabbled in electric bikes. Dawes held back for a while, but we believe we’ve stepped in at just the right time as the market begins to offer a real demand to dealers. The battery and design quality has come on leaps and bounds in recent years."
Zaboo
New to the UK and on the hunt for dealers nationwide, Swiss designed 29er exclusive bike brand Zaboo debuted at Cycle with three complete bikes and a handful of frames.
Director of the firm’s UK operation told BikeBiz: "I think we’ve had the only hardtail 29er on the test track at the show, so with any luck plenty of people have given Zaboo bikes a whirl here in Birmingham. We’re very focused on expanding a presence in the UK and I’m looking to give between six or ten dealers a good territory. We’ve got a full e-commerce website up to assist trade sales and I’m contactable on 07500 789 799 for any enquiries."
For £2,900, Zaboo’s entry-level hardtail carries a Stan’s No Tubes tubeless set up, with SRAM X9 and Avid 9 finishing kit. Further up the line the Terra 29er comes available to dealers in an X9, X0 or XX spec at price points ranging £3,300 to £4,900. Framesets are also available on request.
Enigma
Remaining the only bike business to fabricate titanium here in the UK, Enigma has plenty of appeal to the customer looking for a well-finished frame upgrade.
Enigma has just 15 dealers in the UK, however, and is eyeing up an expansion of its coverage in order to get the much-desired frames in front of end-users.
Greg Stevens at Enigma told BikeBiz: "We’ve several locations where we’d like to make contact with dealers specialising in quality gear. Particularly in Wales, Scotland and Ireland, there’s opportunities for traditional bike shops who have a soft spot for British built product."
Two products stood out on the brand’s stand – the new Ego 29 – the first a fillet brazed Columbus steel, internally routed frame for £1,500. Also catching the eyes of passers by, the firm’s fixie style frame, has some very tidy custom gusset work around its Reynolds 531 tubing – well worth a look for urban retailers.
Trade accounts can get in touch with the brand on 01323 741807.
