The Latz Report

We Ride Australia, the bicycle industry funded peak national cycling advocacy group, elected three new directors at its annual general meeting in Melbourne on Wednesday 27th November. Read more here... #werideaustralia

E-Bikes Reach 30% Market Share by Volume, More by Value. 30% of all bikes now sold in Europe are e-bikes according to a new report published by Bike Europe. Total analogue bicycle sales for the 27 European Union countries plus the UK were 11.7 million units in 2023, down from 14.7 million units in 2022. Meanwhile e-bike sales were also down, from 5.5 million in 2022 to 5.1 million in 2023. But because they fell less than analogue bike sales, their market share by units increased from 27.2% in 2022 to a record high 30.3% in 2023.

In mid-November Domino’s Pizza announced a new delivery vehicle with partner Benzina Zero after completing successful trials of the Benzina Zero V-50 (V-50) seated e-scooter within a number of stores. The V-50 is classified as an e-scooter or personal mobility device (PMD) with a seat position that provides safe and comfortable usage for all operators. Learn more here... #benzinazero

NSW Takes Tentative Steps Towards Legalising Private E-Scooters. In what seems to be a “testing the waters” process, in early November 2024 the New South Wales Government announced a series of regulations aimed at legalising e-scooters. Despite currently being “illegal”, the government said the latest data shows that 459,000 e-scooters are owned in homes across NSW along with 570,000 e-bikes. It also revealed that 34% of e-micromobility trips are replacing car trips in greater Sydney and 45% in regional NSW. Read more... #escooters

I’ve spent 18 years in a growing family bike shop that has seen many challenges & changes over these years. But none that pose such a huge and overwhelming risk to the future of bicycle retail “as we know it” compared to the latest technology driven, AI built sales strategies born in the most recent post-covid years. Specifically, I’m talking about live feeds to marketplaces. These include generic marketplaces such as Amazon and Bunnings and specific bike industry focused marketplaces. Continue reading here...

With this being the last regular Latz Report newsletter, what better way to end an era than to play Nostradamus and make some predictions of how the future will look? Find out here... #bicycleindustryfuture

It’s taken me 38 years in business to learn these 12 tips, most of them the hard way! You certainly don’t have to agree with all of them, but I hope that at least some of them help you. I gave a detailed introduction to this series at the start of Part One. So I won’t repeat it, but simply link to it here. You can also see Part Two here. Below is Part Three, the final instalment of this three part series. Read here... #businesstips

If you sell road bikes through your store, then Orbea represents a compelling alternative. Orbea’s roots go back more than a century. Based in the Basque Country of northern Spain, Orbea’s bikes are designed, manufactured and race proven in this legendary road cycling heartland. The mountainous Basque roads demand road bikes that are light and efficient for the ascents and sure handling for the descents. Orbea’s flagship Orca road bike range excels in all these criteria at a weight from just 6.7 kgs, depending upon the model specifications. Learn more... #orbea

In just 20 years Leatt has grown from an idea in one man’s head to the world’s leading MTB and Moto protective equipment company. Of course it takes many successful elements to build a global brand, but at the core of Leatt’s rise has been relentless, award winning product innovation, driven by the unique expertise of its founder, Dr Chris Leatt, who is an experienced orthopaedic surgeon, and neurosurgery registrar – with a passion for motorcycle racing on the side! Read more here... #leatt

Welcome to How’s Business, brought to you by our sponsor Dirt Works Australia, where right now, you can get Sunringle wheelsets for HALF PRICE. With Christmas just around the corner for this month’s follow up question we asked, “What are your predictions for the upcoming Christmas and summer season. What will sell well and what will not?” Find out here... #howsbusiness