BikeBiz Bicycle and cycling retail news

IBD buying groups are strong in Germany. But the German market for bicycles has been decimated in the past 18 months and even the once all-powerful buying groups have been feeling the pinch. ZEG of Germany is still the world's biggest bicycle buyer's group but now Euretco is muscling in, absorbing Veloring, which was threatened with potential bankrupcy last year.

Sandown was just a trial run, the real National Cycle and Leisure Show starts tomorrow. In Harrogate. But not in town, it's at the showground on the outskirts...

A few days after London's successful introduction of the £5 congestion charge the hitherto hostile mainstream media quietly ditched its opposition to Ken Livingstone's bold move. Now, one month after the 17th February introduction of the charge there's a deafening silence from those newspapers, radio stations and TV pundits who predicted Londoners would never stand for the 'motoring poll tax'.

Forget the impending war in Iraq, flying to Asia by air right now is believed to be risky because of Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS). This is a flu-type disease spread from China that may turn out to be as virulent as the Spanish Flu of 1919, which wiped out millions of people. As of yet there is no specific advice not to travel to Asia from the US or Europe, but the World Health Organisation has issued a rare "emergency travel advisory" for travellers from Taiwan to China. Other health expects are playing down the risks. Whatever, but pack your carbon-impregnated courier face-mask...

An organised gang of thieves targetted Harry Hall Cycles in Manchester on Sunday, stealing 70 MTBs and top-name BMXes. Owner Graham Hall is asking IBDs, especially those in the North, to be on the lookout if offered second-hand bargains from Specialized or Trek.