BikeBiz Bicycle and cycling retail news

73 countries yesterday committed to the Code at the close of the the World Conference on Doping in Sport in Copenhagen. Take-up of the Code has a deadline – the first day of competition at the 2004 Olympics in Athens. And cycling features on this first day: the Olympics kicks off with a cycle road-race around Athens.

But Shimano expects little growth in 2003. Click within for the headline figures, and an Excel file containing Shimano's financial results, including a projection for the rest of this year.

Cycle orgs such as the Bicycle Association of GB pay good money to keep CPAG operating. The Cyclists' Public Affairs Group is a tiny, but influential, organisation that has the navigational nous to find its way around the corridors of power. CPAG's Olly Hatch and Transport 2000's Lyn Sloman appear to have succeeded in getting "fiscal mechanisms that support cycling" in to the 2003 Budget Statement.

And, because London's congestion charging scheme has so far been an unqualified success, Ken Livingstone believes the government should push for similar schemes nationwide. This would give a serious boost to the bike trade. Motorised traffic in London has been decreased by 20 percent, making it far easier and more pleasurable to cycle in the capital.

Ruth Casson has appointed a sales manager, added a new line of trailers and is aiming to be big in IBD-specific water bottle manufacturing. But, of course, what's more important is the scoop on the edible goodies she's giving away from her stand at the Harrogate and Sandown shows...