Retail

Bike industry “ripe” for smart investment ahead of “significant” recovery from 2026, focusing on strong branding, e-bikes, and manufacturing a “higher share of the bike”, new research claims

“After a turbulent few years, the bike industry is set to stabilise and make a gradual recovery, with significant upside in the medium to long term”

Bikes in plastic, it’s fantastic… plus convert regular shoes into cycling shoes with these nifty cleat adapters, pedalling in squares on Elite’s curious smart trainer, Lazer’s new smart helmets + loads more from Eurobike 2024

We've trawled the halls of Eurobike in Frankfurt to bring you news of some of the best new cycling tech around right now in this special edition of Tech of the Week

Giant bids to buy assets of bankrupt power meter brand Stages for $20 million

In April, Giant sued Stages Cycling over £11 million worth of unpaid invoices and already manufactured products valued at £5.4 million, four top executives moving from the shut down US power meter brand to the bicycle manufacturer

I can’t believe it’s not carbon, awesome integration and a subtle Shand rebrand: Five Cool Things from Bespoked Handmade Bike Show 2024

We dived right into Bespoked at Victoria Baths in Manchester over the weekend and spied plenty of intricate, intriguing and unique bike tech. Here is a cool quintet of highlights

Bike industry told to “survive until 2025” as cycling market report says overstock issues “might be resolved” next year

The report also found that employment within the cycling industry fell by 5.5 per cent across Europe between 2022 and 2023

Mercian Cycles saved as four local businessmen confirm purchase of iconic bike manufacturer following liquidation

Announcing their acquisition of the longstanding Derby-based brand, which ceased trading last month, the new owners also confirmed that the company’s craftsmen will be retained

Cycling market “significantly worse than expected”, Halfords warns — with “high-profile failure of Wiggle” and widespread sales evidence of “another year of decline”

The UK's largest cycling retailer predicted more pain is to come over the next 12 months and reported its profits had fallen as bike sales have dropped a third on pre-Covid levels

Pick up a new Giant Trance X2 mountain bike for just over £2k at Cyclestore

Cyclestore is offering 43% off of Giant's staple trail bike!

Raleigh owner Accell’s credit rating downgraded for fourth time in a year, as group’s cargo bike company slammed for “shambles” recall of faulty frames

According to Fitch Ratings, which has downgraded Accell Group’s rating to CCC-, the company’s “weak operating performance, tight liquidity, and negative free cash flow results in unsustainable credit metrics”

Mercian Cycles customers complained of “dysfunctional” service and other issues before bike manufacturer entered liquidation

Founded in 1946, the Derby-based bike manufacturer has ceased trading and entered voluntary liquidation

Evans begins 70% off sale on old Wiggle stock – as it’s revealed Frasers Group paid just £3m for struggling cycling retailer after initial deal collapsed

A private equity firm had agreed a deal last year to buy Wiggle CRC as a “going concern” but pulled out at the last minute, allowing Mike Ashley to swoop in and purchase the brand’s intellectual property rights for far below the originally reported £10m

Revoking anti-dumping and anti-subsidy measures could save consumers £260 per e-bike concludes public body

Benefits to UK producers from continuing current measures would be 'significantly outweighed by harm to rest of economy', says TRA

Merida the latest bike brand to report significant slump in sales, profits down a third

Sales and profits fall at Merida, the news following fellow Taiwan-based manufacturer Giant reporting a similar slump

Mercian Cycles ceases trading and enters voluntary liquidation

The 78-year-old Derby-based bike manufacturer has appointed an agency to help with the restructuring and liquidations

Giant joins Specialized and Trek in offering huge discounts on several of its mountain and gravel bikes

Giant slashes prices by up to £2,600 on some very cool mountain bikes and there's big saving on gravel, road and e-MTBs too

Kona Bicycles bought back by founders, month after mass job cuts as former parent company abandoned struggling bike industry

Dan Gerhard and Jake Heilbron, who founded the off-road brand in 1988, say “renewing relationships” with American and European retailers and dealers “is our highest priority”, while pausing Kona’s direct-to-consumer service

“Action must follow ambition”: Decathlon calls for more support from EU politicians for policies to make cycling easier and stop bike theft

The French bike manufacturer has made calls to implement the Cycling Declaration ahead of the European Parliament elections

Brompton profits up 35% despite bike industry’s “challenging conditions” and “war of attrition” against rip-off rivals

The number of bikes sold dipped slightly but the folding bicycle manufacturer experienced significant success further afield, exports accounting for three quarters of bicycle sales and turnover from outside the UK and Europe up 46%

Giant sales down 20% and profits slashed by 38% as bike industry challenges continue

The bicycle manufacturer blamed continued inventory troubles in Europe and North America for the slump

Fake deal-laden Giro UK website a scam, warns distributor

The authentic-looking girouk.com site is ‘offering’ deals on a range of the brand’s products – but appears to be a scam aiming to collect credit card numbers

“Criminal-level abdication of duty” – Halfords slammed over non-tightened stem bolts

Bike mechanic says customer of UK’s biggest bike retailer crashed after picking up new bike because it was not set up correctly

Peloton cuts 15% of workforce “to bring spending in line with revenue” – as CEO steps down despite “optimism” beleaguered brand is “on the right path”

The American fitness company, whose sales have plummeted since the Covid pandemic, also plans to cut back its retail presence due to weak demand

E-bikes now outselling unassisted bikes in Belgium and Germany

In the UK, the e-bike market share accounts for just 9% of volume

BMC claims “business is back on track” despite refusal of ‘short-time working compensation’ and more staff reportedly leaving the business

The Swiss bike brand had an application for local government to pick up some of the tab for its worker’s salaries refused, but says this was “all hot air” and is now hiring again, while also positioning itself as a brand with “no entry level bikes”

Trek offering up to 30% off bikes and parts in crazy April MTB sale

Huge discounts on Trek bikes, components and shoes.

Auction for bike shop stock worth £500,000, including Shimano, Specialized, Trek, Cannondale and Campagnolo products

Bidding closes next week, the stock of major Leeds retailer Life Cycles open for offers following the company entering liquidation

Rapha makes redundancies as US office closes in “realigning” of business due to “current market dynamics”

CEO Francois Convercey said Rapha would "do everything we can to support those affected" and the move would "better reflect our strategic priorities"

Giant sues Stages Cycling and recruits four top executives from the now-shutdown US power meter brand

Giant, which manufactures many products for Stages, has filed the lawsuit citing £11 million in unpaid invoices and already manufactured products valued at £5.4 million

Business booming at Colnago since Abu Dhabi investment, bike brand states — with sales “more than tripled”

The Italian bike manufacturer was sold to a UAE-based investment firm that is part of Abu Dhabi's Royal Group in 2020, Colnago saying that sales have tripled to £48 million since

Specialized slashes mountain and gravel bike prices by up to 50 per cent

Now is the best time to buy a new Specialized bike!