BikeBiz Bicycle and cycling retail news

That's how an Israeli innovations specialist is wooing investors in a new bicycle components company. Monotorque is an automatic gear for bikes. The company has attracted seed investment of $300k from Israeli incubator funds and wants to become a $10m-a-year industry player or be bought by Shimano. Mazel tov.

The Borough of Ealing received a Special Commendation in London Cycling Campaign's annual award scheme for its start-to-finish cycling initiative, ‘Marketing Cycling’. This is aimed at both children and adults that incorporates cycle parking, cycle training, workplace information and bike buddy schemes. The judges praised the joined-up thinking in Ealing’s approach.

Cycling is non-polluting and health-promoting but motorists and pedestrians who see cyclists running red lights and riding on pavements are convinced all cyclists are, as the Daily Mail would have it, 'Lycra louts.' As the actions of the few harm the image of the many, one cycle campaign group is aiming to get the law breakers to change their ways...

The Departments of Transport and Education have joined forces to create the Links to School programme, a boost to the existing Safe Routes to School campaign from Sustrans and a means of expanding the National Cycle Network for all. The news was announced by the Secretaries of State Alistair Darling and Charles Clarke at a London primary school this morning. A new School Transport Bill will bring the first changes to school transport legislation in over 60 years.

The London-based battery company will launch the alu-framed bike in spring next year. It's claimed the bike will weigh in at 23 kilos, at least 17 kilos lighter than existing lead-acid powered electric bikes. Laptops and the like are powered by lithium-batteries.