Retail

Shimano set to provide extra two years’ warranty to US cyclists with defective cranks along with additional tools and training to retailers to “overhaul” its crankset recall process

The bike component giant’s North American division decided to take these steps, besides others including making a “retail assistance agent” available, as part of a settlement for the class action lawsuit filed against it

“Devastating consequences”: US bike industry may not recover from Trump tariffs until end of the decade, lobby group warns

"We're pretty sober about the next four to five years," admits industry group, as bike brands warn they've "never experienced a time like today", with impact of Trump's tariffs compounding post-Covid troubles

Shimano is trying to figure out why Europe has a “critical” bike mechanic shortage

The components giant has launched a call for evidence aimed at tackling the growing shortage of skilled bike mechanics across the continent, which it says risks creating barriers to cycling

The inventors of this £600 reusable battery-powered cyclist’s airbag want to see safety systems on cycling’s WorldTour

The Mase Airding Compact AirRide has already been used by "many professional cyclists" on training rides according to the ambitious German start-up. With the system weighing almost 1kg, Pogacar et al may still need some convincing

Popular bike lock brand relaunches under new ownership – year after winding down due to “brutal reality” of Brexit, Covid, and cost-of-living crisis

UK-based Pragmasis says it has entered a “new and exciting era”, with flagship products such as the DIB D-Lock back in active production and new product development underway

“It’s a huge, crushing wave of relief”: David Millar says CHPT3’s revival was “unexpected” as cycling clothing brand rescued by Factor CEO after “gutting failure” of liquidation

The company ceased trading in December, but has now been revived thanks to Factor boss Rob Gitelis – though Millar says he’s in no rush to finalise future plans for the brand, admitting “I haven’t got the bandwidth”

Canyon’s value drops 43% as bike brand makes £32m loss

Situation in the bike industry remains "strained" and Canyon predicts another "challenging" year in 2025

Lauf Cycles latest bike brand to add Trump surcharge due to “extraordinary tariffs” on imported components

Despite moving assembly factory to US several years ago, tariffs on imported components mean Lauf to add eight per cent to prices from this week

BMC reportedly set to slash quarter of workforce, as bike brand says Trump tariff uncertainty “influenced decision to restructure”

The Swiss manufacturer says the latest round of job losses, reported to affect 40 employees worldwide, is necessary to “ensure sustainable competitiveness”

“It’s never been just a job”: Legendary UK mountain bike shop Stif Mountain Bikes to close after 41 years

British bike brand and trusted bike shop will be no more come September but will be clearing stock at a discount.

Will these cut-price power meter pedals make pricier rivals obsolete? Magene launches P715 dual-sided pedals with +/-1% claimed accuracy

Priced at £399 and available for Look Keo or SPD-SL cleats out the box, rechargeable and weighing as little as 157g per pedal, the specs look strong for the price on the Chinese brand's first entry into the power pedal market

Giant starts 2025 with revenue boost thanks to increased orders and high demand in Chinese market, but uncertainty lingers as April profits plunge

The Taiwanese bike manufacturer enjoyed growth in the first quarter of the year, but saw its revenue drop by 17% compared to the same month in 2024

“Ongoing Trump tariff insecurity” to blame as high-end bike component brand Rotor shuts US office

The Spanish manufacturer says its North American subsidiary will close in June, thanking staff for “their professionalism in light of the difficult situation”

WyndyMilla founders save custom bike specialist and Spoon Customs from liquidation, but insist: “There is no grand plan as of yet”

Henry Furniss and Nasima Siddiqui, who sold the company in 2019, announced they have secured WyndyMilla, along with sister brands Spoon Customs and Gun Control Custom Paint

Chinese bikes to US down 17% ahead of Trump tariffs, but global exports rise as China Bicycle Association highlights European growth

Global exports rise 15.5% in first quarter of 2025, after Chinese bicycle production reached 99.54 million in 2024, but US exports down 17 per cent in Q1

“Leaving children unprotected”: Trump tariffs on cycle helmets spark safety concerns, as trade group calls for cycling industry exemption amid warnings of “devastating” closures and lay-offs

“The current tariffs will have devastating impacts on our industry if not adjusted in the near term,” PeopleForBikes said in an open letter they plan to send to the US president

British cycling clothing brand Fat Lad At The Back set to close – despite owners saying business is “doing well”

“We’re financially secure, it’s business as usual for now… we’re proud to say it’s going out on a high,” FLAB co-owner Lynn Bye said

Shimano scraps custom clothing line due to “increasing competition, shifting retailer priorities, and supply chain challenges”, leading to 13 job losses

The Japanese bike components giant also announced that it would be scaling back its regular cycling apparel range as part of organisational changes

“Signs of recovery” for Shimano as component sales jump by 16% at start of 2025 – but Trump tariffs hitting consumer confidence in US, brand says

Shimano says retail sales in Europe have increased as demand “stabilised” after a sluggish 2024 compounded by the company’s costly crank recall programme

Brompton boss calls Trump tariffs “naive”, suggests bike brand likely to raise US prices “between 5 and 10%”

Folding bicycle manufacturer has seen profits plummet by 99%, its CEO predicting things would "not get better" this year

Trek increases prices of “most” bike models for US customers in response to Trump tariffs

The US bike manufacturer follows in the footsteps of Specialized by increasing costs “to a level that needs to be addressed”, but said that impact of price hikes has been minimised on “key entry-level models”

Rival cycling clothing brand calls Rapha’s new bib shorts for women “thoughtless and lazy” – but British company says shorts designed by all-female team

Despite Kostüme founder Ed Bartlett insisting that he wants Rapha to “succeed, not fail, for many reasons”, some have branded his public criticism of his fellow British brand “cheap”

Specialized reportedly set to increase pricing on all bikes and equipment for US customers to counter Trump tariffs

The American brand has told retailers to pass the new 10% surcharge directly to customers, but says it could remove the charge if the tariffs change

Halfords cycling sales grow in boost for bike industry

Cause for optimism although Halfords admits sales "remain volatile" and indirect impact of Trump's tariffs remains to be seen

Bike shop owner says “constant bad press” for e-bikes such as BBC Panorama episode drove closure

"The media didn't differentiate between genuine UK legal e-bikes and the overpowered ones available online, which didn't help"

Giant “inevitably forced to reflect cost” of Trump tariffs, as manufacturers warn US bike prices could rise by 50% amid “existential threat” to cycling industry

Taiwanese brand Giant, one of the biggest suppliers of bikes to the United States, said the tariffs were “absolutely not positive” for the cycling industry

UK e-bike sales fell by 5% in 2024 and market share remains massively behind other European countries

Data reveals e-bike sales fell by more than non-electric bike sales

“My industry cannot survive”: Tern Bicycles facing $1 million Trump tariff charges for e-bike shipments, as its US manager urges bike industry to “blow up” Republicans “with letters”

The Taiwanese bike manufacturer said that it’s scrambling to beat the 9 April customs deadline that could see its expenses increase by 4,000%, while also emphasising concerns for the broader bike industry

Trump tariffs see UK bike brand offer customers 5% discount to “meet them halfway”, as cycling industry gripped by more uncertainty

The full effects of the US president’s new tariffs on imports are currently being digested by the industry, but are expected to lead to higher prices and a sluggish retail market

Scribe does it again, more terrific titanium and a top pro-level lid: 13 superb cycling products bag road.cc Recommends badges

Our March round-up is a big one, with everything from wheels, clothing, lights, lids, cameras and tools making the grade