a KSA business to business publication phone: 0191 488 1947 e-mail: [email protected] published April . 2010 Luddite loonies threatening track race spectacle? re-runas the UCI again meddle with bicycle designon it smacks of acards Verbruggen - Obreee style game A story that broke during the World Track Cycling Championships in Copenhagen could have its roots in office politics played out when previous UCI president Hein Verbruggen set about changing the look and the ride of bicycles in sport. Since their inauguration, the UCI have been minded - some say very bloody-minded - to be involved in controversies and deliberations on the eligibility of bicycles being used in sport. It’s no new game for them, writes Peter Lumley, beginning with a ban on the recumbent bicycle, a favourite of several times hour record holder Oscar Egg, because he rode in a laid-back, reclining position, while getting the job done. A rider, pedalling a bicycle on a race track and entertaining the public.Yet banned for all that. The best UCI hatchet job - till now, of course - came with them grabbing Graeme Obree far too painfully for it to be called anything like decent, or even necessary. They showed, that as a cycle A bundle of document flying from a flapping bicycle pannier in Switzerland could be race organisation they hardly cared (nor from a think tank meeting on track bicycle racing held locally. A rider, resplendent in a care?) one jot for ingenuity or for the green, white and orange jersey with bulging back pockets, apparently didn’t notice the commitment that style and a happy flurry of documents as he twiddled towards Place de la Gare in Aigle. Before handing storyline brings to encourage wider public the recovered papers to Authorities, a local man noted some of the content and support for cycle race disciplines. Truth comments. Among these was an illustration with the caption . “without diffulty all race is the UCI organisation carry a style that bicycles could resemble this style and we . .” Keen eyed readers may notice it is a is so very much akin to heavy gangster- very good likeness of the ace racer W. H. Bardsley who was competing with A. A. Zimmerman (champion of the world) at a meeting near Bristol in 1892. ism. It is certainly the case that moves played out under the 1991 - 2005 UCI president Hein Verbruggen demonstrated an arrogance that ought have left the former chocolate bar salesman choking on his very next mouthfull. Mooted to happen again, it’s designers, riders and new Buff for the shop the public who will be chewing on the distasteful mess mess off the UCI menu. Here are new designs set to help cross your During his time in office, rulings appertaining to rider equipment specification put industry figures into deeply mired palm with silver this coming autumn. Recently confusion that actually brought financial disaster for specialist makers. Apparently people bright enough to know that shown to the Trade by Buffera, order time is science and technology is an appropriate bedfellow for inherent ability, commitment, training, aptitude and skill, are a upon you! [email protected] target for lowering to a “sameness” that the UCI call a level playing field. Verbruggen diligently worked on that personal ideal after the Olympics in Atlanta, and then hammered away to degrade the modern bicycle and modern designers involved in their art. For all the super machinery around today, the result of UCI meddling - and meddling it is - has left the race arena spectator with a very diminished opportunity to see a flow of exotica in bike design, such as modern design thinking could otherwise deliver. In times when spectacle in sport is an important part in attracting public following and sponsor- ship, the UCI quite frankly, blew it big time. Now the London Olympics are their target. Patrick McQuaid appears hell bent on bringing a similar dose of grey and meaningless attitude to the fore. This man, who has a cycling competition background, should surely help deliver better for the fans of cyclesport? His public warning to national cycling Federations in Britain, Germany and Australia show that the UCI is unhappy to see advances in technology. Such an attitude is hardly welcoming to the paying customer. That Pat McQuaid menaces his view does little to assure those who care about cycle sport that the UCI can be trusted to do anything but stunt innovative development. In Copenhagen he said that the Olympic Charter is threatened, that UCI rules are flouted and cutting edge technology and equipment is, well, evil. Remarkably adept at changing goalposts, the UCI has “form” on altering their “rules” without too much publicity. After Graeme Obree had eclipsed the nine year old Francesco Moser one hour record and also won Gold in the World Championships for the individual pursuit, the UCI worked covertly to rule out any further advances into the history books by the ingenious Scot. <more inside more hands on Product managers are taking a more prominent front line stance in the daily workings of Derby distributors Moore Large. Changes in the company Team line-up has also brought managing director Nigel Moore the opportunity to again get closer to the sales action all mod cons. himself. “It’s helping the company serve He’s no refugee from a volcano ash our dealerships better, at a time when the cloud, just a long distance cycle tourist making market faces new challenges and targets”. use of some running water. Tilmann Waldthaler Adam Garner and Adam Biggs (pictured) rides his bike for a living, all over, and has are Haro, Forme and Basso experts who already covered more miles than to the moon & deliver enthusiatic brand intelligence. back. Soon he’s beginning an epic. more inside gear for green leisure habits and independent travel office: Trade & Industry, 97 Front Street, WHICKHAM, “I must say that if it wasn’t for being at Innovation For Extremes and Tyne & Wear NE16 4JL winning the Award in 2007 I wouldn’t have been where I am today” office phone: 0191 488 1947 e.mail: [email protected] internet: www.tradeandindustry.net mthe winning move publisher & editor: Peter Lumley e.mail: [email protected] Jan-Fahrenheit Betros from Sweden, the founder of advertisements: Kate Spencer Röjk Sportswear, was the winner of the Designer e.mail: [email protected] Award at Innovation for Extremes in 2007. Since then, he tells that a lot of people have been enquiring about Röjk from the UK. Brand awarenss has grown fast on the home market, longest running trade journal for the starting with just under 20 retailers in Sweden, and one in sector, launched as the first UK bicycles-only France. For the coming product year there are 80 retailers in Sweden, Trade magazine. still the one in France and with organised distribution to Japan”. Their next job is to attract distributors for the UK market. longest running trade journal for the Röjk Sportswear are based in Hägersten Sweden sector,Outdoor Trade & Industry derives telephone: +46 (0)70 419 38 05 from the original outdoor business magazine Camping & Outdoor Leisure Trader www.rojk.se please note - if we are not answering, we are most probably out skiing Tvister Helmet Hood, Tvister Shortlongs, Byxor Primaloft Skisocks. In Blue. dedicated to urban transport topics Tvister Helmet Hood, with lightweight electric & petrol powered two Tvister Shortlongs wheel personal vehicles Byxor, Primaloft Skisocks, in Pink Jeden Monat fuer den ganzen britischen Markt erhaeltich. Für Hersteller. Für Lieferanten. Für Röjk Primaloft Socks in Pink Haendler. Für Verkaeufer. distribuito ogni mese all'intero Skisocks M-W Mumien blue mercato britannico. Ai fabbricanti. Ai distributori. Agli agenti. distribuido mensualmente por correo a todos los interesados en el mercado Britanico: fabricantes, agentes, distribuidores y tienda expédié mensuellement par Supafly in Pink courrier à tous les intervenants du marché britannique: fabriquants, agents, distributeurs, magasins. copyright for some material appearing in this The next Innovation Design issue or on the company website may not be vested in KSA. It is advisable to request Röjk Super Liners Prize winner is at Lancaster permission to copy, broadcast or hold in any form of retrieval system, any works from University Management these journals. The infringement School, April 28. of copyright is unlawful and a prosecution may follow. Tickets for the Conference - © KSA 2010 contact Mary Rose on [email protected] the “what’s or call +44 (0)1524 594214. up doc.” column gearing up for opening for caravans & Most things just don’t happen by Eurobike at Friedrichshafen has some innovative changes accident even though an odd motorhomes for visitors for the September 1 - 4 opening. A large e-bike test Batribike has introduced a new incident along the way can shape ground and the The Bike Fashion Show, being staged in the East lightweight folding electric bike, the the outcome of many an intention Foyer for the first time, gives cycling’s manufacturers even more Micro, and it’s reckoned to live up to - and that’s where you come in: space. Pedelecs can be tested on a large test track on the 500 its name as it is compact when folded Feed your news into the loop! meter street with a 1-in-8 gradient toward the eastern car park. and lightweight too! Everything about MAY issues The expanded Messe site now comprises 14 halls and two this bike has been designed to save outdoor exhibition grounds, “things are looking extremely good, now building! asap please weight and space. Weighing in at just 9.5 kg both for Eurobike and for the Demo Day on August 31” says project (21lbs) including the battery and motor, and easy to carry.