Eurobike – let’s see how engaged the 2 wheeler’s are? - 29 Aug 2007
Well, I’m off once again to Friedrichshafen for the EUROBIKE tradeshow, August 30th thru September 2nd. For those of you that read this blog regularly, this show is in the same town as the recent OUTDOOR SHOW (because they both share the same organizer).
Anyway, the EUROBIKE is, as its name implies, Europe’s largest bicycle industry professional tradeshow (it’s North American counterpart is the INTERBIKE) and has been running for 16 years now. This year some 850 companies will be exhibiting equipment to a crowd of over 30,000 visitors, retailers, journalists and other trade related professionals from 50 countries around the world. This is THE bike rendezvous of the year to see and hear about all the new products that will be coming out this fall, winter and next spring.
The bicycle industry is generally very “industrial” in nature. Research, development and production cycles are very complex and involve a great deal of manual processes, translating to traditionally lower profit margins than those of their “textile cousins” at the Outdoor Show (though not always the case). Over the years I have noticed that this industry is not as focused on the “eco element” of their products as the textile crowd – even though they share the same terrain. I am sure we’ll see some manufacturers this year putting forward their engagements in favor of protecting the planet, but I expect most of them to be concentrated on their carbon emissions and other “eco-footprint” initiatives. I have yet to see a fully or partially recycled bicycle, bicycle parts, a “bamboo derailleur”, or coconut coated painted – though I might be mistaken – we’ll have to see.
I know that our Laneo partners like LOOK CYCLES with their new White Keo Laneo Pedal (look for an article later on), MOBIKY with their revolutionary urban biking, and SRAM with their incredible initiative called the WORLD BICYCLE RELIEF will be there proudly leading the pack and showing the path to protecting the planet while also enjoying it.
I of course hope to find more companies and will report on them as I find them. So check out this blog over the next few days. Let’s see what these guy’s have up their sleeves. If they’re going the right direction, let’s raise our hands and give them a hand of appreciation and endorsement.
Loading ...
