BikeBiz Bicycle and cycling retail news

From May 1st, Madison will become the exclusive UK and Republic of Ireland distributor of Answer Products, including Manitou forks and shocks. There's still no official word on the mechanism of the collapse of Raw Experience so shops and fork owners who sent Manitou products to Edinburgh for warranty repairs are still in the dark on the whereabouts of their items.

Suppliers with red-hot new road bike kit - software as well as hardware - should get in touch to be featured editorially in the May mag.

The San Francisco-based manufacturer of bicycle messenger bags and iPod cases has opened a retail store in the hip San Francisco area of Hayes Valley.

Up to 40 employees could be made redundant, with some being offered alternative positions in Brigg. Falcon has been outsourcing for some time but some high-end bikes were still assembled in the UK. All production moves overseas in June.

If Edinburgh Woollen Mills can be sited nationwide there should be no problem for Edinburgh Bicycle. With existing shops in Edinburgh, Aberdeen and Newcastle, the super-IBD will soon be opening a store in Leeds.