http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ CityCyclingEdinburgh Forum » Topic: Cycling industry gives economy £3bn boost (title now bit ironic…) en Wed, 29 Apr 2026 04:33:37 +0000 http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=3708&page=2#post-383966 Sat, 25 Apr 2026 11:34:14 +0000 chdot 383966@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>“</p> <p>BikeBiz can reveal that internal documents, titled “Project Horizon”, show that the Accell Group, owner of brands like Raleigh, Lapierre and Ghost are facing significant financial pressures. </p> <p>Whilst recent public messaging has projected a picture of more stable ground, the documents show that the business needs a €95 million capital injection to address a significant working capital deficit that threatens its operational stability. </p> <p>“</p> <p><a href="https://bikebiz.com/accell-group-seeks-e95m-funding-internal-documents-detail-radical-restructuring-plans/" rel="nofollow">https://bikebiz.com/accell-group-seeks-e95m-funding-internal-documents-detail-radical-restructuring-plans/</a> </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=3708&page=2#post-383090 Thu, 05 Feb 2026 19:08:36 +0000 Arellcat 383090@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>It sort of happened to Advanced Velo Design, which as a cottage industry succeeded the somewhat larger Advanced Vehicle Design under Bob Dixon (aka Seat of the Pants Ltd. in an earlier life, and 'handbuilt by Mike Burrows' before that). It ended with some customers having plunked down a lot of money - thousands of dollars - and ultimately received no trikes. AVD seemed basically to evaporate, and I know not what happened afterwards. It was a shame because Karl seemed like a decent guy, but perhaps the market for high end recumbents wasn't there anymore, even in trike-buying USA where most of them probably went.</p> <p>It also sort of nearly happened to Kona. The founders sold to an outdoors brand in 2022, which then sought to wind down and offload the intellectual property of Kona in 2024, citing the ongoing downturn in bike business. That was basically what happened to Wiggle and CRC when Frasers Group bought them. Kona survived by being bought back by the founders. </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=3708&page=2#post-383087 Thu, 05 Feb 2026 17:34:25 +0000 chdot 383087@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>“</p> <p>Administration is becoming a business model in cycling, and small brands are paying the price. </p> <p>I will be upfront. This article is written from frustration. Not theoretical frustration. Not armchair commentary. The frustration that comes from running a small independent cycling brand where you carry the risk personally, graft relentlessly and play the game properly, while watching larger businesses repeatedly fall over, wipe the slate clean and come back stronger </p> <p>“</p> <p><a href="https://bikebiz.com/lios-bikes-founder-talks-administration-as-a-business-model-in-cycling/" rel="nofollow">https://bikebiz.com/lios-bikes-founder-talks-administration-as-a-business-model-in-cycling/</a> </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=3708&page=2#post-383024 Thu, 29 Jan 2026 11:37:49 +0000 Baldcyclist 383024@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>Not just cycling, outdoor in general:, Alpkit (Sonder bikes) anounced it was going into Administration last week. Now out of Administration with new investor:</p> <p><a href="https://www.bikeradar.com/news/alpkit-enters-administration-jan-2026" rel="nofollow">https://www.bikeradar.com/news/alpkit-enters-administration-jan-2026</a></p> <p><a href="https://alpkit.com/blogs/news/new-investment?srsltid=AfmBOoqYgadwuk9I0Xl3drof8hukwJpK_fJhBe0Wps18h9PMtsKggRz-" rel="nofollow">https://alpkit.com/blogs/news/new-investment?srsltid=AfmBOoqYgadwuk9I0Xl3drof8hukwJpK_fJhBe0Wps18h9PMtsKggRz-</a> </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=3708&page=2#post-383023 Thu, 29 Jan 2026 11:03:04 +0000 chdot 383023@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p><a href="https://road.cc/content/news/bromptons-new-ps100m-car-free-bike-factory-remains-hold-317835" rel="nofollow">https://road.cc/content/news/bromptons-new-ps100m-car-free-bike-factory-remains-hold-317835</a> </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=3708&page=2#post-382543 Mon, 22 Dec 2025 09:24:39 +0000 chdot 382543@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>“</p> <p>In December, Brompton reported the lowest annual sales of its eponymous folding bikes since 2021. Statistics from the Bicycle Association, the trade body for the bike industry in Britain, show that in 2024, fewer conventional bikes were bought than in any other year this century. </p> <p>…</p> <p>“If you look at the sales of pedal cycles since 2010, there isn’t a year except the Covid year when sales haven’t declined. I’m always puzzled that people in the industry aren’t more alarmed about that,” says Phillip Darnton, executive chair of the Bicycle Association.</p> <p>“</p> <p><a href="https://www.theguardian.com/news/2025/dec/21/cycling-changing-at-speed-britain-keeping-pace" rel="nofollow">https://www.theguardian.com/news/2025/dec/21/cycling-changing-at-speed-britain-keeping-pace</a> </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=3708&page=2#post-382001 Thu, 13 Nov 2025 17:27:31 +0000 chdot 382001@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>Of course, actual details in actual Budget may be different. </p> <p>But I wouldn’t bet on it!</p> <p>In simple terms -</p> <p>‘Car owners vote’</p> <p>‘Non car owners want to be car owners’ </p> <p>‘Expensive bikes are a luxury/toy, working people don’t buy them’</p> <p>‘The UK doesn’t have a bicycle industry anymore but it still has a car industry - with high paid jobs for skilled toolmakers’</p> <p>‘Car industry lobbyists/apologists are much better than ‘cycle industry’ ones’</p> <p>Etc. </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=3708&page=2#post-381999 Thu, 13 Nov 2025 15:14:44 +0000 neddie 381999@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>But no equivalent cut to tax benefits for workers using salary sacrifice schemes to buy £35k electric cars !!! </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=3708&page=2#post-381996 Thu, 13 Nov 2025 13:56:33 +0000 Baldcyclist 381996@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>Rachel Reeves to cut tax benefits for workers using salary sacrifice schemes to buy bikes | Cycle hire schemes | The Guardian <a href="https://share.google/GCYLtQj0kGTBWnjZh" rel="nofollow">https://share.google/GCYLtQj0kGTBWnjZh</a> </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=3708&page=2#post-381913 Sat, 08 Nov 2025 16:32:37 +0000 chdot 381913@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>“</p> <p>In an 11-page plea to the commerce secretary, Howard Lutnick, Guardian Bikes said the US bike industry “was lost” owing to 11m bicycles being imported in 2024. </p> <p>Its letter blamed China for the “severe competition”, but if its request for inclusion in the second steel derivatives tariffs list was accepted, the import duty would apply globally and could affect companies such as Brompton in the UK or high performance bike brands such as Pinarello or Bianchi from Italy. </p> <p>“</p> <p><a href="https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2025/nov/08/businesses-worldwide-brace-extra-trump-tariffs-steel-imports" rel="nofollow">https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2025/nov/08/businesses-worldwide-brace-extra-trump-tariffs-steel-imports</a> </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=3708&page=2#post-380325 Fri, 18 Jul 2025 12:03:40 +0000 chdot 380325@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>“</p> <p>Steve Garidis, Executive Director of industry body the Bicycle Association, shares his perspective on the UK bike trade in 2025…</p> <p>“Is the bike market rollercoaster we’ve all been on since Covid over?” </p> <p>“</p> <p> <a href="https://bikebiz.com/back-in-the-saddle-the-british-bike-business-in-2025/amp/" rel="nofollow">https://bikebiz.com/back-in-the-saddle-the-british-bike-business-in-2025/amp/</a> </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=3708&page=2#post-379116 Fri, 28 Mar 2025 12:21:39 +0000 Tulyar 379116@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>Probably a place to drop this detail from 31 years ago, with an appeal to the wider community for some support to deliver this in Scotland (or UK-wide)to get folk connected</p> <p>I come to this with 61 years of using bikes for work &amp; transport (1964 started working in cycle logistics age 12) plus 40 years from doing 10 years building pavements (1985-1995) mainly in Scotland, for Sustrans.</p> <p>Keen to deliver locally driven path restoration/construction projects (eg Loch Venachar cycle route (1987/88 Volunteer camps) &amp; Rutherglen Bridge (1994 - volunteer project - grade separated crossing of 40mph 4-lane road) plus breaking the employment 'Catch22' barrier through a Scottish version of 'Tools for Life' (Published in 1994) </p> <p>Here's a note on this <em>"We need a directory &amp; handbook as produced in 1994 (download available) 'Tools for Life' (Karen Overton/George Babiak) with a directory for Youth Bike Education Network (YBEN), which we need for Scotland, to catalogue the various hubs (Bike Station, Bike for Good (2), Arbroath Cycle Hub, Soul Riders, On Bike, De'ils on Wheels, Commonwheel (2), Recyk-a-Bike, Freewheel North, Lambhill Stables....) </em> </p> <p>PM me for more detail </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=3708&page=2#post-379115 Fri, 28 Mar 2025 12:07:58 +0000 chdot 379115@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>This is from nearly ten years ago, but still relevant -</p> <p>“</p> <p>Are we in danger of losing manufacturing skills permanently to the Far East? </p> <p>CK: We’re absolutely in danger. The tide’s been going that way for a long time. Will it ever come back? Absolutely it could, but at the moment the pace of the industry and the buying public’s consciousness means it’s going that way. Great Britain is a good example of having lost much of its industrial capabilities. We had the recession of course, and that flushed out a lot of journeymen, forcing people into early retirement. They’re not coming back, and they’ve taken their skills with them, skills that would normally be passed down to apprentices.</p> <p>“</p> <p><a href="https://www.cyclist.co.uk/in-depth/chris-king-interview" rel="nofollow">https://www.cyclist.co.uk/in-depth/chris-king-interview</a></p> <p>Perhaps more relevant! </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=3708#post-379095 Thu, 27 Mar 2025 08:19:05 +0000 gembo 379095@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>9 million? </p> <p>6million more than the average then for each of the next four years 1,5 million didnt need to buy a bike?</p> <p>Taiwan must be working flat out in 2220 for my suns to work</p> <p>High end sales continue to rise so people who bought starter bikes continue to trade up</p> <p>E-bikes sales down more as they go on fire. All the time </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=3708#post-379094 Thu, 27 Mar 2025 00:22:53 +0000 Dave 379094@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>How many bikes were sold in 2020 for sales now to still be half the long run average? That seems improbable, something else structural? </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=3708#post-379025 Thu, 20 Mar 2025 10:13:01 +0000 Arellcat 379025@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>Carlton Reid writing in Forbes:</p> <p><blockquote>During the pandemic, there was a global boom in cycle sales. Since 2021, however, sales have collapsed. The Bicycle Association (BA) now says annual cycle sales in the U.K. dipped to 1.45 million units in 2024, a 2% fall from 2023’s already depressed sales.</p> <p>For over 20 years, cycle sales in the U.K. have averaged about 3 million units a year. The last time cycle sales were as low as last year was in the early 1970s.</p> <p>“More positively,” says a statement from the membership organization, “<strong>the rate of annual decline began to ease</strong> in 2024 compared with previous years, and market performance flattened during the second half after a tough first half. The post-Covid overstocking and associated heavy discounting levels in the market persist and our industry still has a real challenge to restore margins and increase value.”</blockquote></p> <p><a href="https://archive.ph/p8Ek9" rel="nofollow">https://archive.ph/p8Ek9</a></p> <p>My bold. In facilities management circles "managed decline" is a weasel word phrase for "cost cutting". </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=3708#post-378531 Tue, 04 Feb 2025 23:09:04 +0000 LaidBack 378531@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>Was looking for a Cargo Bike delivery thread.<br /> Anyway Zedify Edinburgh still working but bad news for other centres.</p> <p><a href="https://motortransport.co.uk/industry-news/electric-cargo-bike-company-zedify-collapses-after-failing-to-secure-new-funding/25462.article" rel="nofollow">https://motortransport.co.uk/industry-news/electric-cargo-bike-company-zedify-collapses-after-failing-to-secure-new-funding/25462.article</a> </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=3708#post-378074 Thu, 02 Jan 2025 20:32:19 +0000 chdot 378074@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>“</p> <p>“London, Edinburgh, New York, Seville, Paris all have the momentum of getting people more active for air quality and trying to get people fitter. In the macro picture things are going in the right direction. The industry shot itself in the foot but that will roll out,” Butler-Adams said. </p> <p>“</p> <p><a href="https://www.theguardian.com/business/2025/jan/02/brompton-profits-plunge-amid-bike-industry-turmoil" rel="nofollow">https://www.theguardian.com/business/2025/jan/02/brompton-profits-plunge-amid-bike-industry-turmoil</a> </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=3708#post-375830 Sat, 13 Jul 2024 23:06:18 +0000 chdot 375830@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>“</p> <p>"This winter we will see more businesses go bust for sure": Brompton boss warns bike industry woes not over yet </p> <p>Will Butler-Adams said manufacturers and retailers remain at risk, the folding bike brand bucking the industry trend and posting profits up a third in its most recent financial report </p> <p>“</p> <p><a href="https://road.cc/content/news/brompton-boss-warns-bike-industry-woes-not-over-yet-309405" rel="nofollow">https://road.cc/content/news/brompton-boss-warns-bike-industry-woes-not-over-yet-309405</a> </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=3708#post-375673 Sat, 29 Jun 2024 20:25:29 +0000 gembo 375673@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>Shand still building some frames in Balerno but been in Coventry since start of the year, </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=3708#post-375666 Sat, 29 Jun 2024 10:40:51 +0000 mcairney 375666@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>Similarly I noticed that Shand had moved at least part of their operations to Coventry <a href="https://shandcycles.com/about/" rel="nofollow">https://shandcycles.com/about/</a> </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=3708#post-375664 Sat, 29 Jun 2024 08:18:20 +0000 chdot 375664@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>“</p> <p>We are pleased to announce that we have retained our talented craftsmen, whose expertise is the heart and soul of Mercian, and what makes each bicycle unique.</p> <p>“</p> <p><a href="https://www.merciancycles.co.uk/2024/06/acquisition-of-mercian-cycles/" rel="nofollow">https://www.merciancycles.co.uk/2024/06/acquisition-of-mercian-cycles/</a> </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=3708#post-375056 Tue, 21 May 2024 00:41:44 +0000 Tulyar 375056@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>Brompton seems to be doing fine, and In USA Worksman is perhaps the oldest bike maker in the world</p> <p>I suspect that the fad of selling bikes as sport/fashion driven products is one that tends to run out of 'fizz' but proper utility bikes will always sell steadily &amp; also drive a good market in spares sales? </p> <p>Then again I've hardly ridden a bike with gears since 1985, and current main bike has coaster brake back wheel with just 3 main moving parts, including brake clutch </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=3708#post-374981 Wed, 15 May 2024 15:08:01 +0000 chdot 374981@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>Ongoing</p> <p><a href="https://road.cc/content/news/cycling-live-blog-15-may-2024-308373#live-blog-item-57739" rel="nofollow">https://road.cc/content/news/cycling-live-blog-15-may-2024-308373#live-blog-item-57739</a></p> <p>“</p> <p>Cyclists blame "utterly ridiculous bike prices" for brands' ongoing struggles, after Giant's sales slashed again</p> <p>“ </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=3708#post-374644 Tue, 23 Apr 2024 19:32:05 +0000 chdot 374644@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p><a href="https://road.cc/content/news/shimano-suffers-huge-fall-sales-amid-bike-industry-woes-307991" rel="nofollow">https://road.cc/content/news/shimano-suffers-huge-fall-sales-amid-bike-industry-woes-307991</a> </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=3708#post-374015 Wed, 13 Mar 2024 20:22:29 +0000 chdot 374015@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>“</p> <p>In this 4 part series, I wanted to explore the events that took place that led the bike industry to the troubling point it’s at now. I spoke to over a dozen industry professionals from all parts of the supply chain. From well run bike shops, forecasting analysts, distributors, the biggest bike brands in the world, and manufacturers. It’s well known that the bicycle industry went through an unprecedented boom during the pandemic from 2020 - 2022. Jump ahead to 2024 and much of the bike industry is in trouble. New demand has come to an abrupt halt. New entrants into the bicycle market have not stayed as the industry had hoped.We’re seeing massive inventory overruns at bike shops. Big bike brands are taking on extra warehousing space. Businesses such as Niner, Orange, Wiggle/CRC, have gone into bankruptcy. Otherwise profitable big brands have taken on debt to keep afloat. There are brands out there who are doing well, but they’re the exception rather than the norm. In general , I don’t think many would disagree that the situation in major cycling markets, aside from China,<br /> is pretty dire.The episode is this first of four. We’re going to bring you on a journey through the COVID feast, the storm clouds, the famine, and the lessons learned in hindsight.In this episode, The Feast, we speak to a bike shop owner, a demand forecasting analyst for a distributor, company CEOs, and a manufacturer to hear about what they experienced during the initial stages of the pandemic in early 2020.</p> <p>“</p> <p><a href="https://open.spotify.com/episode/1PVwnMcN7oTC7Yqxlm2IOU?" rel="nofollow">https://open.spotify.com/episode/1PVwnMcN7oTC7Yqxlm2IOU?</a> </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=3708#post-371692 Mon, 13 Nov 2023 18:03:24 +0000 chdot 371692@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p><a href="https://bikebiz.com/raleigh-uk-expected-to-exit-pa-market-following-strategic-review-by-accell-group/amp/" rel="nofollow">https://bikebiz.com/raleigh-uk-expected-to-exit-pa-market-following-strategic-review-by-accell-group/amp/</a> </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=3708#post-371316 Fri, 27 Oct 2023 12:52:00 +0000 chdot 371316@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p><a href="https://bikebiz.com/wiggle-enters-administration/" rel="nofollow">https://bikebiz.com/wiggle-enters-administration/</a> </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=3708#post-371291 Thu, 26 Oct 2023 15:47:27 +0000 chdot 371291@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>“Since then, it has been a turbulent and difficult time for the cycle industry as a whole and neither Tim nor Isla wish to continue. </p> <p>“</p> <p><a href="https://bikebiz.com/islabikes-to-cease-production-of-bikes/amp/" rel="nofollow">https://bikebiz.com/islabikes-to-cease-production-of-bikes/amp/</a> </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=3708#post-371217 Fri, 20 Oct 2023 20:10:10 +0000 Baldcyclist 371217@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>Everybody and their aunt bought bikes at the start of the pandemic, remember the 'boom times'</p> <p>Did the retailers seriously think the gravy train would be never ending? </p>