Indian tycoon outlines plans to revitalise UK bike industry

Leviathan wrote:

Suggestion for the prototype above. Why not have some kind of framework between the seat post and crank to deflect air in front of the rear wheel. Just an idea.

I'm no aerodynamicist, but could it be more efficient for the air to hit a spinning tyre directly than a stationary seat-tube? It would also depend on what the downtube has done to the air, if that deflects it slightly downwards could the air actually be used to help spin the rear wheel?

[genuine questions, I don't know what I'm talking about]

Kim wrote:

An interesting story, however when I was at EuroBike last year (September 2016), was talking to a group of Indian business people on the bus back to the hotels one evening. They said very clearly they would rather do business on the mainland of Europe than the UK. This is because it was so much easier to get a visa for Schengen Area than to the UK, unless that changes there will be very difficult to get any increase in trade with other countries. The simple truth is many foreign business people don't feel they are welcome here, so will take their business elsewhere.

I have worked in European and global business for nearly 3 decades and interacted with many people from India, as coworkers, customers and suppliers.  I can confirm what Kim says.

The difficulty of getting a visa is a home-grown problem, quite separate from any EU bureaucracy.  If post-Brexit Britain looks like this to the rest of the world, with an equally closed door to the rest of Europe, we are really up the duff.  Britain open for business?  Sure, but with visa issues, customs barriers and the rest of it, will anybody be interested? They'll go somewhere where they don't have to go through an demeaning obstacle course first.

Kim wrote:

An interesting story, however when I was at EuroBike last year (September 2016), was talking to a group of Indian business people on the bus back to the hotels one evening. They said very clearly they would rather do business on the mainland of Europe than the UK. This is because it was so much easier to get a visa for Schengen Area than to the UK, unless that changes there will be very difficult to get any increase in trade with other countries. The simple truth is many foreign business people don't feel they are welcome here, so will take their business elsewhere.

I was living in Poland about 10 years ago and people told me they would rather trade with Germany than the UK - why? - simply a basic level of competence.

beezus fufoon wrote:

Kim wrote:

An interesting story, however when I was at EuroBike last year (September 2016), was talking to a group of Indian business people on the bus back to the hotels one evening. They said very clearly they would rather do business on the mainland of Europe than the UK. This is because it was so much easier to get a visa for Schengen Area than to the UK, unless that changes there will be very difficult to get any increase in trade with other countries. The simple truth is many foreign business people don't feel they are welcome here, so will take their business elsewhere.

I was living in Poland about 10 years ago and people told me they would rather trade with Germany than the UK - why? - simply a basic level of competence.

I have to deal with German businesses on a daily basis; their level of competence is greatly exaggerated.

Regarding Kim’s points, there are a lot of downsides to doing business in continental Europe, getting visas can also be difficult, but the level of protection offered to staff in Europe can make it a nightmare for an employer. 

PaulBox wrote:

beezus fufoon wrote:

Kim wrote:

An interesting story, however when I was at EuroBike last year (September 2016), was talking to a group of Indian business people on the bus back to the hotels one evening. They said very clearly they would rather do business on the mainland of Europe than the UK. This is because it was so much easier to get a visa for Schengen Area than to the UK, unless that changes there will be very difficult to get any increase in trade with other countries. The simple truth is many foreign business people don't feel they are welcome here, so will take their business elsewhere.

I was living in Poland about 10 years ago and people told me they would rather trade with Germany than the UK - why? - simply a basic level of competence.

I have to deal with German businesses on a daily basis; their level of competence is greatly exaggerated.

Regarding Kim’s points, there are a lot of downsides to doing business in continental Europe, getting visas can also be difficult, but the level of protection offered to staff in Europe can make it a nightmare for an employer. 

for sure, I think it's as much a matter of perception as anything.