BikeBiz Bicycle and cycling retail news

The decision of the Board of the Directorate of Professional Activities of the British Medical Association to lobby for cycle helmet compulsion for adults and children is causing a stink in the medical and cycling worlds. The BMA's volte face could make it easier for the UK government to enact compulsion legislation, which would be bonkers when cycling is one of the solutions to slimming the nation. Sign this online petition. It will be handed to the BMA.

Next year's Etape du Tour isn't as hard as 2004's leg-wobbler but keen amateur riders of the mini-me Tour de France stage could still be very interested in Shimano's triple front chainring, slated for release in May.

Billed as the show with "80 brand, 8 distributors and 1 venue" Core Bike will be staged 27th and 28th February, 2005. The venue will be familiar to some IBDs: it's the West Brom Moathouse, used for the Fisher house-show earlier this year, spitting distance from the M5.

Sean Dines – formerly of Madison – has joined the Fisher Outdoor Leisure product management team.

European distributor Platts Europe Ltd. of Switzerland has appointed Debbie and Russell Burton as UK agents for the US messenger bag company.