BikeBiz Bicycle and cycling retail news

The cycle-mad Welsh sports minister says the NHS could be "overwhelmed by a tidal wave of obesity" if the whale-sized fatties of Wales don't mend their ways.

It's been widely reported on the internet that Lance Armstrong's US Postal team has not been ratified for racing in 2004 by the UCI. On lancearmstrong.com, USPS directeur sportif Johan Bruyneel said the problem was an administrative one, not a cash crisis. The UCI has extended the ratification deadline to January 8th.

If you use Royal Mail for sending packets to mail-order customers, prepare to pay 4 percent more from April onwards. And Shimano prices also rise from April...

...Christmas. Eid Al Fitr. Hannukah. Imbolc. Or, if you prefer, Holidays. Never let it be said that BikeBiz.com doesn't have its finger on the pulse of global religious sensitivities.

For the fourth consecutive year, Shimano Europe is organising the Shimano Cycling Concept Award, a pan-European search for the most innovative ideas to stimulate bicycle usage. Started as an alternative way of spending Shimano Europe's Christmas card budget, the SCCA has been a success in stimulating ideas to promote cycling. Entries are welcomed from all parts of the cycling world, from hard-core mountain biking projects through to nut-cutlets-beards-and-sandals projects. IBDs could enter. Got any MTB North Shore chicken-wire projects you want building? Think about it whilst you're gorging on the turkey tomorrow. DEADLINE: Dec 31st 2003