BikeBiz Bicycle and cycling retail news

Two 'bikes are back' stories have hit the wires today, one from Yahoo News in the US and the other from South Africa's News24 reporting on Zimbabwe. Both report a surge in bike sales thanks to the rising price of oil.

The 50cm tall, 5kg robot can reach speeds of 60 cm per second, can track-stand on a 2cm wide beam and has been entered for next year's Tour de France. Only the last bit has been made up.

At the 30th September Critical Mass ride in London, bike police leafleted the riders. "Public processions" - especially those taking in the sights of Westmister - must now register with New Scotland Yard or the participants could get nicked. So, will groups of cyclists be arrested in future if they don't lodge route details with the Met?

Guy Bombardier of Cybersport of Vancouver BC, manufacturer of Brodie Bikes, has emailed BikeBiz.com stating that the proposed surtax on bicycles imported into Canada will hurt high-end bike shops and further protect low-end domestic manufacturers who "have been sitting on their collective butts not trying to bring their business up to world standards, but rather relying on government to bail them out."

The company is also now part of the Bike Hub levy scheme.