With bike theft at its highest rate ever, Sold Secure, the most popular testing house for high end bicycle and motorcycle security chains and locks have recently tightened up their approval for categories and introduced a new "Diamond" standard category. How does the new Litelok Core, marketed as their "Ultimate E-Bike Lock" combat rising bike theft? Litelok Core Bicycle Locks - Expensive accessory or necessary against evil? We recently ran an article on the benefits of tracking devices for ebikes and in the process, discovered that more than 285,000 bicycles are stolen in the UK each year. Better quality locks could have thwarted many of these thefts. A simple combination cable lock just isn't enough of a deterrent anymore and not locking it up at all is just an open invite. The first step in securing any bike should be a good quality physical lock. Whether your bike costs £100 or £10,000, the annoyance and inconvenience of a theft can often linger for longer than it takes a clever or entirely brazen thief to make off with your wheels, especially if you rely on it for transport rather than just for leisure. While a tracker is useful tool to recover a stolen bike, making a potential theft as long winded, difficult and noisy as possible is the key to deterring a determined thief from getting away with the bike in the first place. Thieves are more likely to be disturbed in the act if the theft takes longer to carry out. You might be unlucky enough to have a half cut lock, but at least you'll still have your bike! It used to be widely advised to spend "at least 10% of the value of your bike on a locking solution" but with some electric bikes now costing upwards of £10,000, spending £1000 is actually quite difficult and a recent article on cyclist.co.uk suggests that if you cant find a lock worth 10% of the value of your bike, it's "probably too expensive to leave unattended", and we would agree! A very good quality bicycle lock is an absolute must and the very first battle in the fight against theft. What makes the Litelok Core better than other bicycle locks? To begin here, its useful to know that there are four classifications from Sold Secure for bicycle locks. These are Bronze, Silver, Gold, and the new Diamond category which the Litelok Core has attained. These categories each have their own minimum criteria in strength, resilience and construction. These are to meet what insurance companies expect to be used, based on the value of the bike. Its widely expected by bicycle and home insurance companies that for any bike over £1,000, a Sold Secure Rating of Gold is the very minimum standard that should be used, and they will normally ask for proof that you own a lock of this standard. The Litelok Core is one of the very first products to have achieved the new Sold Secure Diamond rating. It achieves this through its construction and innovative use of multiple materials. Its no longer enough to use a simple cable lock, or as in many cases, a D-Lock which can be cut through in just a few seconds with the bikes thieves current favourite weapon. The battery operated angle grinder - portable, but packing a huge amount of rotary cutting power they make many locks a sub 10 second job, cutting through them like cheese. Litelock Core Construction The "Core" of their new locking solution is where lies its strength, and how it acheived its Diamond rating. Each and every component material of the Litelok range is carefully considered for its design property. Working from the inside out, the multi filament inner core of the lock is made from fine steel filaments. This type of construction provides a super strong core but retains a great deal of flexibility. Outside of this is a fine grain steel exoskeleton which absorbs energy from sustained hammer blows. Moving out another layer, the polymeric matrix further enhances the security and protects the integrity of the inner layers while offering the steel internals the weatherproofing and corrosion resistance required to make this a long lasting locking solution. Finally, the braided outer sleeve protects the lock and your bike from abrasion. You don't want your new lock to damage your shiny new frame! The locking mechanism has been overhauled with a hardened steel casing and a weather and shock resistant polymer outer layer. Both sides of this two piece lock are attached to the Core using two drill resistant stainless steel rivets. Inside, the key operated and pick resistant disc retainer locking mechanism is made from stainless steel and protected by a protective sliding key hole cover. Litelok - Versatility at its Core. Bicycle locks can sometimes be a bit of a hassle when it comes to transporting them. Unless you have a frame mounted D-Lock, often they end up loosely wrapped around a frame, clattering and banging with every bump in what can just about be called "roads" in some counties in the UK. The Litelok Core range, as with their previous "Wearable" product, will have multiple transport or stowage options. Lots of commuting riders might use a backpack or pannier bag. If you don't have or want to use either of these, the Core has two of its own options. The first is its "wearable" strap. Rather than providing multiple length locks to suit riders of all sizes, the wearable function is achieved using a width adjustable strap. Placing the lock around your waist, one side is secured to the other with a strap, fastened with Velcro. The second are the stowage straps. Because bikes come in all shapes and sizes, these too are adjustable with Velcro closings. They also feature a rubberised thread band to stop it moving around, and also protects your frame. They've thought of everything! How does the Litelok Core compare to its competitors? The name Litelok points in a key direction. Traditionally, the heaviest locks were the strongest, because they were made out of the strongest materials. Litelok, with their unique choice of materials and clever construction have managed to outperform some of the strongest locks on the market, at a fraction of the weight. Comparing the 100cm Litelok version above to the "Brand C" option, Litelok does everything and more, at half the weight! Its currently hard to compare the Core to competitor products because so few have managed to obtain the Diamond rating. In time, more companies will improve their locks to stay "current", but we're confident Litelok will still be the lightest. At the moment though, the Litelok Core, with its Diamond rating, is still lighter than locks with a lower rating. A real testament to the level of innovation in design and manufacturing process in this proudly British Made product. Litelok in the Press Litelok have been revolutionary in everything they've done, right since their very first Kickstarter. Racking up plenty of attention in related media and publications, they've also picked up a few awards along the way. This year, Litelock received the 2021 Red Dot award for Product Design. A highly sought-after award, it recognises products with with outstanding designs. How much is it? The new Litelok Core comes in two models and three colourways including the new Orange option. The lock itself is available as either a 75cm length at £119.99, or 100cm length at £129.99 and both are available in Boa Green, Crow Black and Blaze Orange. Shop Litelok Core Products Now
It's that time again where Bosch reveal what the latest-and-greatest features are of the new Bosch eBike system 2022. Bosch are constantly innovating their electric bike systems to meet the demand of users. Let's learn what's new... There's lots of new hardware and features for Bosch eBike systems in 2022. Let's break down each to keep it simple: New Bosch Kiox 300 Display 2022 New on-board featuresThe brand new on-board computer from Bosch is code named: Kiox 300. This new unit is perfect for the 'sporty' eBike rider where you can determine fitness data and use this to help with your training. New for 2022, the Kiox unit can be updated wirelessly by the rider, so there is now no need to visit the dealer for basic firmware updates. Easier to use smart designThe new Bosch Kiox 300 is smaller in design, but offers more features! It features a unique colour dispaly and can be visible at night due to the back lit LCD screen. The Kiox 300 is splash & dust resistant, it looks cleaner on the bike & is supported by new images and animations. It's designed to be as simple as possible for the user to operate on the fly. Walk Assist - Where you need itAs with all Bosch powered eBikes, the new 2020 Bosch Kiox setup offers the 'Walk assist' feature to the rider which can be really helpful on trickier climbs and stairs alike. It allows the bike to assist if pushing, taking the strain away from the rider, this is all now activated via the new LED remote (more on that below). The new Kiox 300 shows the rider how much range is left on each mode so you can see at a glance how far you can go dependant on the assistance mode selected. New handlebar mountThe new Kiox dispaly holder is mounted centrally on the handlebars, keeping that clean cockpit look as opposed to being over to one side (like it's predecessors). The screen has 'tilt adjustment' so it suits a range of riders, tall or short to get the perfect position for easy visibility whilst riding. New Bosch LED Remote 2022 Simple & clean designThe new LED remote for 2022 is the first of it's kind to feature a functional LED where all important information can be captured. The device has been designed to be easy to read despite sunlight or shady areas. It has a built-in ambient light sensor so it can change it's brightness no matter where you are on the ride. This means it's easier to see, but on the flip side it doesn't dazzle riders by being too bright and distracting. Each ride assist mode is now signified by it's own colour LED lights. This makes it easier for the rider to recognise what ride mode they are using, in the corner of their eye as opposed to navigating a display. Always connectedThe new 2022 Bosch eBike LED remote connects to the eBike Flow App (covered in more detail below). Riders can track all important data and sync it, bringing new connectivity to the rider & controls. As mentioned above, this connectivity allows the option for the rider to update the Bosch eBike firmware themselves, rather than travel to the dealer for simple periodic updates. You can also sync all-important ride data to the app via the LED remote and share it with other fellow riders. This includes the duration of the ride and the distance travelled. Smart Walk AssistThe new smart Walk Assist can help a rider on even the trickiest of terrain. Where riding is not possible the Walk Assist the LED remote comes into it's own. Simply press the Walk Assist button and feel the support as the bike moves. Easy navigationThe new LED remote allows the rider to control the bike within easy reach. The ergonomic design means you can make any essential adjustments whilst on the move; operated perfectly with the thumb - no button is out of reach. The angle of the controls can be rotated on the bars to suit a range of rider profiles. At the ready - AlwaysThanks to the new long life battery, the LED remote can be powered and operated all the time, even when the main battery is turned off or removed from the bike. The internal battery is recharged by the main bike battery whilst in action, however Bosch fans will be pleased to know it can easily be replaced long-term by a specialist dealer if required. New Performance CX Drive Unit 2022 Performance definedThe Bosch Performance CX motor is refined further for electric mountain biking, with its riding behaviour and characteristics offer noticeable agility for navigating through tight turns and wilder trail sections. Offering torque of up to 85Nm allows the motor to be more controlled at lower cadences and particularly efficient at getting off-the-go quickly on standing hill starts. Easier handling - EMTB modeThe EMTB mode gives the rider instant access to all ride modes auto-magically behind the scenes. Select EMTB mode and pedal, the Bosch CX will adapt to it's terrain and rider all without you having to move a finger.. Just pedal and have FUN. Maximum agilityBosch CX motors use their multi-sensor technology which measures multiple sensors many thousand times per second. The Bosch motor can respond on demand offering best-in-class agility on even the most toughest of trails. New Bosch Connect ModuleFor 2022 Bosch is all about being more connected. Both rider and bike will have more unique functions with the introduction of a new piece of hardware code named the: Connect Module. This module will unlock new features, there's more to be announced, but so far we know its focus is around theft protection. It can sound alarms to deter any suspicious behaviour or thieves. We also know there will be a tracker function. If your bike is unfortunately stolen, you'll be able to track your eBike via the new eBike Flow app (more on that below). Great news and reassurance for eBike owners! New Bosch PowerTube 750Wh 2022 Even longer rangeWith the introduction of the new Bosch PowerTube 750 in 2022, more range can be achieved than ever before! Bosch have since trumped the earlier 300 & 400Wh battery packs with the 500 & 625Wh. Now, new heights can be achieved with the PowerTube 750 offering an extra 20% range over the previous 625Wh champion range battery. Integrated designBosch eBikes always maintain a great battery design. The new 750Wh Bosch battery is integrated in the frame, which not only looks great but also protects the battery on the trails. Reliability where you need itAll Bosch batteries are equipped with a BMS (Battery Management Software). This monitors all the cells independently and ensures longevity in the battery pack. It also protects the battery for safety and ensures a long range bike with a long service life. Secure & easy operationThe battery can be charged in the bike or alternatively it can be removed from the frame for charging too. For security the battery is locked in the frame with a key, so no need to worry about the security of your battery when parked up. Most will charge the battery inside the frame in their garage, whilst some may want to remove the battery for charging on the move or in hotels for example on longer tours. New Bosch 4A Battery Charger 2022 For the first time in years, there is a new Bosch eBike battery charger. The Bosch 4A Charger is offered in a new appealing design and charges the new PowerTube 750Wh quickly. Compact & lightweightThe new Bosch 4A charger for 2022 is more compact than ever before, making it ideal for charging on-the-go. It's IPX water resistant and is manufactured in a durable shell. The 4A Bosch charger can charge the new 750Wh battery in just 6 hours from completely flat to 100%. Charging is faster when part-charging, taking just over 2 hours for a 50% battery charge. The new charger uses different battery connectors and thus, for the first time ever, is not backwards compatible with existing Bosch eBike batteries. New Bosch eBike Flow App 2022 Always connectedThe latest innovation from Bosch for 2022 allows the bike & rider to be more connected, offering a hole new experience for the eBike rider. Bosch are releasing the new eBike Flow App on both iOS and Android so all riders have access to it. Updates over-the-airThe new Bosch eBike Flow App allows the user to update their Bosch eBike firmware remotely over the air using your smartphone. This means you can connect to your electric bike and it'll prompt you for any updates, as opposed to existing systems which require a trip to a Bosch eBike dealer to perform these simple updates. Simply your rideThe app is designed to simplify your ride, not interfere with it. This means that whilst riding you only see the essential rider information whilst on the move, causing minimal distractions. The smartphone app will automatically connect to your Bosch eBike via the Smart Connect feature. This means your phone is left in your pocket or rider backpack, whilst pedalling the app is auto-magically tracking your every move. Third party apps and featuresFor the first time ever, Bosch have unlocked their App to 3rd party developers. This means things like Apple Health will now sync with your ride data offering even more possibilities when tracking your important Health data. We expect to see more functions on the horizon as bike manufacturers can also design the app in their own look and feel, further personalising the eBike experience. More connectivity brings more apps, more functions and more fun to the rider. Look after your Bosch eBikeThe Bosch eBike Flow App gives the rider more information than ever before. This offers all-important parameters so you can see your progress and also track the health of your Bosch eBike. For example, riders can see when the next service is due, which components are installed and how many miles have been covered overall. Watch The Latest From Bosch Bosch launched the new 2022 Bosch eBike system on YouTube with a live seminar. Watch below: What Do We Think? The latest generation of Bosch components brings new features to the modern eBike rider. Taking one step closer to rider & eBike connect-ability. At e-bikeshop.co.uk we're ambassadors of the Bosch eBike system, it's been at the heart of our electric bike range since the start. Whilst we are here, let's take a look at some common questions that'll crop up: Is my previous Bosch eBike system compatible?All previous generations of Bosch eBike systems will still be continued. However the new Bosch components are not backwards compatible. This includes all of the hardware mentioned above. What's different about the new 2022 Bosch motor?The current Bosch eBike motor will remain unchanged. Whilst this new motor uses a slightly different shell and hosts new connectors (to allow for the Bosch eBike Smart System), it offers the same performance as the current motor in respect of torque and assistance. The current Bosch motors will continue to run along-side the new Bosch CX. When will the new Bosch 2022 system be available?As usual the new Bosch eBike components will gradually filter onto manufacturers bikes. This will start happening at the back-end of 2021 as the new 2022 model range of bikes is announced. Note: Not all bikes will feature this system. It'll likely be defined by the model spec, price, style and at the discretion of the eBike manufacturer. Will the new Connect Module come on all 2022 Bosch eBikes?Some 2022 models (not all) will come pre-installed with the Connect Module and feature the new Smart System. Select models may be available retrospectively via a Bosch eBike dealer, this will be at the discretion of the eBike manufacturer as to how they spec their bikes. If unsure it's best to check with your suppling dealer first. When can I download the new Bosch eBike Flow App?These new features are only to be revealed today 31st August 2021. We expect the App to be available by the time 2022 eBikes start landing on our doorsteps - So likely around Q4 2021. Further questions? Comment below this article and we'll be more than happy to help. We offer a huge range of Bosch powered eBikes, find the model for you: Bosch eBike Range.
There's no denying it. The bike industry is crippled by both demand and the lack of capacity to fulfil it and with 2021 bikes now almost sold out globally the big question on everyone's lips is - "When will the 2022 eBikes be released"? Information given here is supplementary to the previous post about 2021 eBike delays. TLDR; No one knows everything, but we know some things. When are 2022 eBikes being released? The short answer is - no one knows. Ok, so maybe some people know. Maybe we know things we're sworn to secrecy on right now, but - even the manufacturers are throwing out ambiguous dates towards the 4th quarter and based on what they can and cant get and even then, they're subject to change with little to no notice at all as they have for the last 18 months. What changes will be made on 2022 eBikes? Its likely we'll see little to no development over 2020/2021 bikes from many manufacturers. Having had no notice of a global health pandemic and the issues it would create for the cycle industry with demand vs production/shipping of components, its highly probable that the majority of manufacturers wont have had much time to really innovate this year and so we should expect to see lots of last years bikes popping up wearing new colour schemes and tweaked spec lists based on what's available. That said, we do know that some brand new models are due to launch and exciting technology will be revealed for the first time. Will 2022 eBikes be more expensive? Yes. 2022 eBike prices have and will increase in comparison to 2020/2021 model year prices. Not only has the cost of many raw materials increased during the pandemic (rubber went up 50%!), many component manufacturers are based in the Far East where lockdowns are still happening (Shimano has been shut for most of June, again) and production has been far lower than anticipated/required by the global cycle industry. When the level of component scarcity increases, so too does price. Just look at the price/availability of Shimano 12 speed components right now! Shipping is also having a big knock-on effect. Container prices from the Far East to Europe have risen to astronomical levels. A container with hundreds of thousands of sets of brake pads might only add a few pence to each product but if its only got 200 frames in it, you could be looking at a £50-100 increase per bike and before they even start assembly. Can I pre-order 2022 eBikes now? Not with us. Its too big of a risk at the moment. We've already placed almost all of our 2022 ebike orders and so for the most part, we know how many of each model we have coming, but thats quite literally it. Universally, the manufacturers are not providing final specifications, pricing and in the case of 2022 Cube ebikes, we've not even seen so much as an artists render. On this basis, taking pre-orders right now would only create a whole new list of problems, admin and potential upset for customers while we remain committed to fulfilling the remaining 2021 orders which we are still taking delivery of from almost all manufacturers, many of which have been delayed by up to 9 months. Will 2022 ebikes be delayed as badly as the 2021 models? Almost certainly, 2022 bikes will suffer delays of varying lengths at some point in the model year. R&D aside, there is so much that goes into the production and assembly of ebikes that its impossible to think that the problems we currently face as an industry and market will simply vanish from this model year to the next. Its more likely that unless people suddenly stop buying eBikes, we'll be operating like this for at least the next 2-3 years. One manufacturer "builds" the bike, but there can be as many a several dozen other businesses all supplying often tiny, unseen parts of your bike who are all suffering their own industry issues as a result of Covid-19. Imagine if all of them had just a ONE week delay on something. The result is exactly what we've been dealing with - months of delays on new bikes arriving. When can I pre-order my 2022 eBike and when will it be delivered? As always, we'll being taking pre-orders through the website once we have all of the information we need to build a product page. This includes all of the finalised images of the bikes, the specifications and of course the price. We tend to do this brand by brand as they launch so be assured we'll be rolling them out at the same time as the manufacturer in most cases. Deliveries on pre-orders are carried out on a "first come, first served" basis. With demand not expected to fall this year, the only way you will be able to guarantee yourself a 2022 eBike will be to get in the queue as fast as you can, and be patient. We always offer an ETA based on the information given to us by the manufacturer but these can change and its worth bearing this in mind. If you absolutely must have a bike for your upcoming cycling holiday in August and you're ordering a bike with an ETA of August, prepare for the worst. You might get lucky, but you would be better off looking for a bike which matches your criteria and is already in stock than gearing yourself up for potential disappointment. How will I know when new 2022 eBikes are launched? With no firm information from manufacturers at this stage and dozens of enquiries each day from potential customers who missed out on their dream bike from the 2022 model year, we've set up a page for people to leave their details. Click the button below and when our manufacturers launch their 2022 models, we'll pop you an email to let you know! Keep me updated!
2020 was a testing year for the cycle industry & 2021 is shaping up to be the same. Why is it so hard to buy a bike? What is causing delays on bikes? What are the manufacturers doing about it? Here's an industry inside view at what is & isn't happening in the global cycle industry right now. 2020 started like any normal year for the cycle industry but before the last of the winter rain had fallen news of a global health pandemic was spreading and much like the rest of the world, the entire industry found itself wholly unprepared for what was to come next. Here's How It Started The first lockdown came to the UK on 23rd March and along with it, a list of reasons people could be excused for leaving their homes. One of them was "One form of exercise". Millions of people, many of whom hadn't cycled since they were children, suddenly found that owning a cycle was a great way to enjoy the now quieter world outside. While the western hemisphere watched the news of the spread of Covid-19 from a considered safe distance, the problems had already started. With the bulk of small components like gears, brakes and some motor brands being built in the Far East & their factories closing, the backlogs were starting to build for component manufacturers long before even the first UK lockdown. Let's break down the following months to briefly outline the timeline:- February - April As the UK's biggest independent supplier of exclusively European manufactured eBikes, we've always sought to maintain a very large "in-house" level of stock and initially, this was a great buffer for the rapidly increasing demand we experienced. Our aim is to supply a new bike on the spot for showroom appointments, and for it to ship within 24 hours for the rest of the world. May - July Through May and into the middle of summer, the pressure really mounted. With in house stock dwindling, we relied heavily on our carefully curated manufacturer relationships to pick up the slack. Lead times slipped to a couple of days, but stock was running out quickly around the world. By the end of July, Cube and Orbea had sold the last of the 2020 model year and could deliver us nothing more. Bike Industry Insight - Most manufacturers, factoring in/forecasting from previous year demand, normally only plan to build a set number of each model, each year. When they run out of frames, motors & other components, they're gone. With motor suppliers like Bosch and Yamaha working to a 12 month (or longer!) lead time and the same for component manufacturers like Shimano, they can't simply "make more" when a model runs out. This translates to bike frames 'ready to go' but with no components to match. Ordering for Model Year 2021 In the very final weeks of July, both Cube and Orbea approached us with a model year '21 outline, and the offer to place pre-orders several months earlier than usual. Model year 2020 was over as quickly as it started! Normally, bike shops place pre-orders for the first few months of the model year, along with a forecast of what they expect to sell. This helps manufacturers forecast production, but without commitment. This year, we were all told "either place your order for the entire year or expect that you might get nothing". All manufacturers were seeing a sharp increase in order volumes. We considered, deliberated and ultimately took heed, eventually tripling our 2020 model year order. Going back to Cube just 8 days after their order books opened to consider some models we don't normally take, we were told they had sold their entire production capacity for 2021. Clearly then, they weren't joking! Sadly, this also meant that many smaller retailers who couldn't forecast or offer the cashflow to commit to an annual order have in some cases been completely cut out of the loop. August - October During August, facing a slowdown from almost all manufacturers, Cube began shipping Reaction and Kathmandu models. Being two highly popular models, this was a huge help for us and as we headed into September, more and more of our increased order was arriving each day. Much of them were even arriving ahead of their ETA. September saw a slowdown of deliveries from Cube and lead times slipping. Bikes had gone from 2 weeks early, to on time, to now arriving up to a week late and this trend continued into October. By the end of October, many of the Kathmandu and Reaction models from late September were still outstanding. Along with these delays, Cube's previously steadfast reporting and forecasting of arrivals had gone out of the window and they were now unable to tell us anything about when our customers' pre-ordered bikes were going to arrive. Other manufacturers were still updating, but lead times increased by months. This was the first point where we really started to see the impact of the Far East based factory closures earlier in the year, on end product assembly. November - December With our frustration mounting while leaning heavily on manufacturers who had previously made up a lesser figure in our turnover to ensure we had enough bikes to cover demand. Many of our customers were rightly upset about bikes ordered for Christmas becoming increasingly unlikely to arrive in time - we finally managed to pressure a response with just a few weeks to go. The information from Cube in particular was scant at best. "We are working as fast as we can and these are the new dates for the hundreds of bikes already delayed". Many of them had moved from September/October '20, to as far out as July '21 but were promised a large number of high volume deliveries in the new year. We immediately communicated this to hundreds of affected customers. January to Date January arrived and departed almost in a blink. So quickly in fact, that we barely noticed until reflecting earlier this month that Haibike had been the ones to shine through, shipping more bikes than initially expected and keeping the workshop and warehouse train moving. Being a dealer of "exclusively European manufactured eBikes" is great for reliability of quality and servicing/spares, but the recent changes to the virtual and physical customs border with the EU left the manufacturers logistics for the UK in a state of complete disarray. It was a full 6 weeks into 2021 before they got their ducks in a line and any reasonable number of bikes started to make their way to us. Moving Forward Production - Many manufacturers have added extra production lines to their factories. Not only does this allow for the social distancing measures to be adhered to much more easily, but it also allows them the capacity to build more bikes than ever before. The issue remains of course, that components are still slow to arrive. Shipping - Bikes are now starting to arrive in the UK, and in quite large numbers but things are far from perfect. With the borders issues resolved, bikes leaving the EU are taking a couple of days longer than usual in transit, but are finally making it through to us however the industry continues to be affected by a global shipping crisis. Pricing - The availability of containers from the Far East is far lower than normal and so the costs of these containers is ever increasing - as much at 8x the normal cost, raising the cost of a single container of frames or components from $1,500 to in excess of $20,000! There are also new duty rates on bikes. This has a big knock on effect on the cost of the end bike and all of our manufacturers have increased prices on bikes globally, by anywhere between 5 and 10%. Bicycle Model Year 2022 All of these issues aren't unique to us, any particular manufacturer, nor the UK - they impact the entire industry from top to bottom and we fully expect them to continue throughout the next model year. In discussions with some of the manufacturers, its widely believed that the effects of CV19 on the cycle industry could ripple out as far as model year 2025. As has been the case for model year '20 and '21, it's highly likely that for at least the next few years, dealers like e-Bikeshop will have to continue to place a year's order up front almost entirely blind but with good faith. Customers in turn will need to place a pre-order and wait for the arrival of their new bike in order to have any guarantee in themselves getting one. Is there anything customers can do to help shops? Right now, our biggest time consumer is administration of the huge volume of orders outstanding. Normally, these would be serviced inside 24 hours, but with anywhere up to 1000 customers at any one time waiting on a bike, while we completely understand both the excitement of getting a new bike along with the frustration of delays, repeated requests for updates currently take up a very large part of our working day, cutting into the level of service we can provide to everyone. During the peak period of April to September 2020, our building was staffed for as much as 15 hours a day, 6 days a week just to keep up with paperwork and enquiries! While we cant speak for all bike shops, we provide any updates (good or bad) from manufacturers inside 24 hours, normally taking only some time in due diligence to ensure the information is accurate, and relaying it to those it's relevant to. Unfortunately, time spent responding to customer requests for information in January about the bike on which they placed a pre-order with an ETA of April is time not spent getting bikes out of the door. If you imagine that a member of staff on the phone updating a customer with no new information isn't relaying information on the day's bikes arrived to the workshop - The workshop receives their information later, the bike leaves later, and the next bike in the queue for assembly starts later, which also leaves us later and this will continue to have a knock-on effect down the line. Ultimately, the time it takes to update someone with no new information because they're excited only adds to the delay of their own bike, days, weeks, or months down the line! For much smaller businesses where the person who answers the phone is the same person building bikes, this is even more profound. Here are a few things you can do to help bike shops handle this unprecedented load: Only place an order if you are fully committed to a bike, even if there might be a delay on its arrival. The bike shops have no control of this but refunding cancelled orders costs the bike shop further time and physical money (card processing fees of around 2% of your order for example, are not refunded to the shop if they refund you). If you're in a rush for a bike, you can normally find up to date information on the website, or you can contact the shop directly for an up to the minute availability on stock models. Try and get everything done in one hit. We'll always be happy to discuss accessories / parts / custom options on bikes but chopping and changing orders multiple times while waiting for a bike to arrive can add a lot of admin into the mix with shops already overstretched. Mistakes are often generated here on both sides and we only want you to be nothing but over the moon with your new bike! Trust your bike shop! Bike shops are some of the most friendly retailers you will deal with - something common in businesses where everyone shares a common passion. As mentioned previously, if we have information to provide, we will always provide it - even when it means us all sitting in the office until midnight to send a tailored email to every single affected customer. If, when you placed an order, the lead time was several weeks or months in the future, if there is a delay or if the bike arrives earlier than expect, we will be in touch immediately to let you know. Calling or emailing every few days/weeks will only add to our admin times, ultimately delaying your bike. Rest assured that any radio silence from us, even for weeks is not in any part complacency. We're here for a minimum of 10 hours a day, 6 days a week, to ensure that everyone gets their new bike just as fast as we too, can get our hands on it. To Conclude It's not all doom and gloom; bikes are coming through, just not as fast as originally anticipated. The sun is shining and 2021 is set to be the year that everyone tries to reach a conclusion on the Global Epidemic. It's also an exciting time for eBiker's with innovations year on year. Thinking about buying an eBike in 2021? Here's a link to In Stock 2021 Models.
What's new for Bosch electric bikes in 2020? The Bosch Performance CX eBike system for 2020 boasts a load of new features. Keep reading to learn more… What do we know? Let's start by saying the below hasn't been officially announced. We're merely speculating what may be to come. We expect Bosch to unveil official 2020 release notes later on in June 2019.*UPDATE: Please see all details now confirmed below. Where is Bosch now? Bosch has clearly been the leading manufacturer of eBike systems across Europe for the past few years. This is evident by the sheer number of Bosch powered electric bikes to hit the market to date. Plus, the number of eBike manufacturers who have opted for the Bosch in favour of their superior quality, reliability and support. This will be the same for 2020. Bosch now celebrates 10 years of Bosch eBike Systems. Bosch has been creating waves with new releases to date. This includes the new Active & Active Line+ systems which were properly released last year for city electric bikes and we're expecting another big one shortly on the eMTB front for 2020. This comes by way of a brand new 2020 Bosch eBike motor setup, bigger battery and improved user interfaces. Which we'll delve more on each below... What's new for Bosch eBike in 2020? Bosch Performance CX 2020 Motor Firstly, let's say that we don't expect a new name for the current eBike eMTB motor. We expect Bosch will keep it called the Performance CX drive unit for 2020. Seems strange? The Performance CX represents the pinnacle of eMTB motors. We expect Bosch to keep the same name in terms of model line up moving forward in 2020 and thereafter. What's different? The new 2020 Bosch Performance CX eBike motor will be better in every way. It's expected to be around 20% more compact, which will offer more flexibility to bike manufacturers when integrating the 2020 Bosch motor. In particular, on full suspension electric bikes where this is more important due to the suspension linkage. It will allow for a more 'hidden' integration; which seems to be the way the market is going, following the PowerTube batteries. These are mounted within the frame which was released in the back end of 2017. At the same time as being smaller, the 2020 Bosch eBike CX motor should be around 25% lighter. The current Performance CX motor weights in at 4kg. Whereas the new 2020 unit should weigh in at just below 3kg. Design changes for 2020? The whole drive unit internal design will change in terms of the electric motor. We hear that the electric motor portion is a more compact design within the drive unit itself too. We heard a rumour that the Bosch will keep a minimal internal gearing for 2020. This allows for a smoother torque curve and better performance at the optimum eBike pedalling cadences. Whilst it's still internally geared, the new design will use a standard chainring on the outside; meaning that drag from the motor is almost nonexistent. Great news for electric bikes! 2019 2020 Max Assistance 300 % 340 % Max Torque 75 Nm 75 Nm Max Cadence 120 rpm 120 rpm Weight 4 kg 2.9 kg Changing to a regular size sprocket over the older small eBike sprocket format, allows Bosch to increase the torque applied too. *UPDATE: Now confirmed it's 75Nm & up to 340% assistance. Bosch 600Wh eBike Battery for 2020 Bosch will release a new electric bike battery pack for 2020. Likely codenamed 'PowerPack 600' which represents the 600Wh capacity. This will offer 20% more range over the existing Bosch eBikes with a 500Wh battery. Obviously, a significant increase over the previous 300 & 400Wh. Bigger eBike battery capacity for 2020 Due to battery cell structure, it could be likely that the 600Wh battery will actually be a slightly higher capacity (possibly around 620-630Wh). Bosch will probably call it the 600Wh PowerPack, this keeps numbers simple in the product line up and for the consumer too. It makes sense. *UPDATE: Now confirmed it's a 625Wh Bosch Battery. The new 2020 Bosch battery will fit into the down tube of eBikes, very similar to existing models. So it's completely hidden and protected in the frame. Bike manufacturers will likely have to change eBike frame designs for 2020. The battery is rumoured to come up a little longer (around 7cm) than the current PowerTube battery setup. This allows for the extra battery capacity. It's also possible we may see a new smaller capacity battery. Up until now, it's only been 500Wh and the new 600Wh. But it could be likely Bosch will also bring in a 400Wh PowerTube battery to complete the range too. New Bosch 2020 electric bike display interface On top of the new battery and motor setup, we also expect Bosch to release a new display 2020 interface too. What started with the Intuvia display, escalated into the Nyon, Purion and Kiox displays. We expect to see a new Nyon style device, possibly in a portrait format. Likely slightly smaller to match the styling of the latest Kiox display, which was introduced in 2018. The Kiox display came setup with Bluetooth. We expect Bosch to expand on this for 2020, bringing new connectivity features. Although software-based, we expect these to offer more control over your eBike. Likely not just on the E side of things but possibly to components too, like suspension for example or GPS anti-theft tracking. But we'll have to wait and see. We also know that Bosch will be bringing an update to Kiox soon which will allow the user to connect to the eBike Connect app via PC or smartphone. It will deliver recorded data to the app or online portal with syncronised ride data. Similar to what is already possible on Bosch Nyon. When can you expect the new 2020 Bosch eBike system? We expect Bosch to announce the 2020 electric bike system in brief later on this month (late June 2019). With the official release around EuroBike 2019, which takes place on 4th - 7th September 2019. Dealers will be able to get up close and personal with 2020 Bosch gear. We here at eBikeshop expect to ride the new system later on this month in a secret preview. So we'll have plenty to report back soon. We expect to start seeing releases of 2020 bikes around September time with pre-orders starting around October and new 2020 Bosch equipped bikes shipping in the new year. Can you fit the 2020 Bosch system to your existing eBike? Simply put, it's unlikely. There is a chance the new 2020 Bosch electric bike display will be backwards compatible with slight software tweaks. Which we have seen on eBikes in the past. In the back end of 2018, the Kiox display was announced on some 2019 electric bikes. It only came on stock OEM bikes equipped with Kiox. We expect Kiox to be available in 2020 to the end consumer as an upgrade. However, the eBike motor will definitely not be backwards compatible as it uses a completely different mounting and therefore a different electric bike frame design. Likewise, the 2020 Bosch battery is longer than the original. So it will not be a simple pop-in to older electric bike models. We have seen some eBike frame manufacturers put the extra room in existing models. This allows for a larger battery pack. But it's likely different hardware would be required and this is only on a handful of electric bike models. It's also likely some smaller eBike frame designs like X-Small & Small may not benefit from the 600Wh Bosch battery. This is because the down tube has to be slightly longer to accommodate it. It really comes down to how well frame engineers can design & accommodate the design. Check out our full range of Bosch powered electric bikes here:- Bosch eBikes.Let us know what you think in the comments below?...
We're excited to announce that we've expanded our eBike brand portfolio for 2019. Alongside our existing range, we'll now be offering all Cube electric bikes via our dedicated eBike shop and specialist support team. The Cube electric bike range offers a combination of great value & German engineering. Something for every rider with their wide range of Bosch powered eBikes. From town and trekking bikes through to hardtail and full suspension mountain electric bikes. We took on Cube electric bikes due to their German design, reliable Bosch eBike systems and being some of the most competitively priced eBike models on the market. The Cube electric bike range consists of over 100+ models of all variants. We took them on to amplify our existing portfolio of models/brands. Therefore it was impossible to include the full Cube eBike model line up in our comprehensive electric bike range. We have selected the best 'key models' in the Cube eBike range from each category and will concentrate on these moving forward. That's not to say if there was another model that you specifically request, one of our team will be happy to assist and can special order from the Cube eBike factory for you. An overview of our Cube electric bike range for 2019 is as follows:- Cube Reaction/Acid Hybrid eBikes The Cube Reaction and Acid Hybrid electric bike range consists of well spec'd hardtail mountain bikes. Built for your everyday rider who wants to explore on both roads and mountain paths with some singletrack and XC in there too. Cube Acid Hybrid One 500 2019 Priced at £1,799 read more and find the full spec here:- Cube Acid Hybrid One 500 2019. Cube Reaction Hybrid Pro 500 2019 Priced at £2,199 read more and find the full spec here:- Cube Reaction Hybrid Pro 500 2019. Cube Reaction Hybrid SL 500 Kiox 2019 Priced at £2,899 read more and find the full spec here:- Cube Reaction Hybrid SL 500 2019. Cube Stereo Hybrid eBikes The new Cube Stereo range is for your true mountain biker, from the Stereo 120 (120mm travel) for XC/singletrack, to Stereo 140 (140mm travel) for everyday trail centre riding through to Stereo 160 (160mm travel) for more demanding all-mountain and enduro riding. Cube Stereo Hybrid 120 Race 500 2019 Priced at £3,399 read more and find the full spec here:- Cube Stereo Hybrid 120 Race 2019. Cube Stereo Hybrid 140 Race 500 2019 Priced at £3,599 read more and find the full spec here:- Cube Stereo Hybrid 140 Race 2019. Cube Stereo Hybrid 160 Race 500 2019 Priced at £3,599 read more and find the full spec here:- Cube Stereo Hybrid 160 Race 2019. Cube Touring Hybrid eBikes The Cube Touring electric bike range does exactly what it says on the tin! Built on fast rolling wheels with semi-hybrid tyres for both road and paths. This range features fully built in mudguards, lights and rack for your everyday rider from commuting to exploring. Cube Touring Hybrid One 500 2019 Priced at £1,799 read more and find the full spec here:- Cube Touring Hybrid One 500 2019. Cube Touring Hybrid 500 2019 Priced at £2,199 read more and find the full spec here:- Cube Touring Hybrid 500 2019. Want to find out more? We think the Cube electric bike range amplifies our existing range offering bikes at all spec's and budgets for each riders requirements. We have stock of certain models now, with more stock flowing in the next few months. View our full range and read more about the models here:- Cube 2019 Electric Bikes.
On Wednesday 26th September the BBC invited E-Bikeshop.co.uk MD, Martin Brown to BBC Broadcasting House for a live interview on BBC World News show 'Talking Business'. BBC World News is the BBC's international 24-hour news & information channel. Broadcast in English to over 400 million, in more than 200 countries & territories across the globe. It's estimated weekly audience of 84 million makes it the BBC's biggest television service. BBC News: Talking Business Talking Business brings you global business news, whether it's happening in the boardroom or at the grassroots. Aaron cuts through the jargon to add colour, depth and context - with live reaction from Wall Street and Asia, plus studio interviews with top CEO's and the latest innovations in technology. The live interview with MD and founder of e-bikeshop.co.uk, Martin Brown, was to discuss the global growth of the electric bike market and why it’s become so popular. The major markets for electric bikes and why the big players like Uber are getting involved. BBC World Business Report Whilst at BBC broadcasting house Martin Brown was also asked to discuss electric bikes on The World Business Report on the BBC World Service Radio Station. Listen to the interview here: Last year global eBike sales reached 34million and are expected to rise to 40million in the next five years. What is an eBike? Find out everything you need to know about eBikes here.
On Sunday 27th May the E-Bikeshop Owners Club visited Bedgebury Forest for an action-packed ride on electric mountain bikes. This trail centre located in Kent & has some great trails on offer! We all met at the main carpark at 10:30am, after a quick coffee and catch up we set out to ride the trails, which are all marked Red, Blue and Black. We learned a new member of the club - Dale, was a regular around Bedgebury Forest, so he led us up to the first trails off-piste to avoid the rather dull fire roads. It was a really hot day with the temperature scaling 26 degrees, but the forest had suffered a thunderstorm the night before which left the trails nice and sticky, which was great with zero dust! After a couple of the main trails, Dale led us off the site to cover a little more ground including some fun singletrack, bridleways and a little road too. It was nice to extend the route and mix it up a little. We headed back onto the main trails, completing a circuit led us back to the main cafe where we all had a cuppa, snacks and a natter. The group then went for another lap of the circuit in the afternoon. https://www.relive.cc/view/rt10000250742 All in all a great day, with no major mechanicals (apart from James snapping a chain link!). It was really nice weather and a great addition to the bank holiday weekend. Special thanks to Dale for leading this ride and taking us on the excursions. Looking forward to the next ride! The next ride is up and live now on the Owners Club page. So take a look and click ‘Join’ to confirm attendance. We will, of course, publish all the photos of this ride on the ebikeshop club page in the next few days, don’t forget to tag yourself in them. The E-Bikeshop Owners Club is a closed group of riders, if you have purchased an eBike from us and want to get involved, please find all the details here: E-Bikeshop owners Club.