The best of Scotland’s cycling product development businesses will be showcasing their innovative new products this week as part of the world’s biggest bike show in Germany.
Thousands of bike lovers and industry professionals are set to descend on Friedrichshafen in Germany from 30 August to 2 September, as the EUROBIKE show and conference rolls into town.
A Scottish delegation – led, supported and funded by Scottish Development International and Mountain Bike Centre of Scotland – will be present and hoping to impress more than 42,000 trade visitors and 1350 exhibitors with their unique cycling products.
Four companies will be exhibiting at the show: ShredXS – a dedicated designer of mountain bike clothing for children from the Black Isle; Edinburgh-based road cycling frame manufacturer Neil Pryde Bikes; ByCyclogical, showcasing their innovative new Gripster product; and digital trail and adventure website and app, GEO-Adventure.
Around 14 companies from Scotland, who are currently at various stages of developing a cycling-related product, will also attend the show on a ‘learning journey’ as they look to receive validation on their idea alongside gaining valuable competitor analysis.
Cycling – and in specific mountain biking – helps generate around £257 million annually for the Scottish economy and continues to be one of the country’s fast-growing sports. Research indicates that with strategic investment the annual income to rise to £408m by 2025.
All four companies exhibiting are linked with the Mountain Bike Centre of Scotland – an entrepreneurial initiative led by Edinburgh Napier University and Developing Mountain Biking in Scotland, with project partner Scottish Enterprise. It is funded by the University and Scottish Funding Council.
From its base in Glentress, the centre provides market research and product development support, along with testing and product launches to Scottish businesses looking to capitalise on the growing interest in the sport. It aims to bring Scottish biking products and services to an international audience.
Danny Cowe, business development executive for the Mountain Bike Centre of Scotland, said: “EUROBIKE is a fantastic opportunity for us to showcase some of the most exciting and innovative start-ups that we are currently working with and we’re looking forward to playing our part in representing Scotland at what is sure to be a fantastic event.
“For the first year, we’ll be part of a ‘Scottish village’ at the event as we look to reinforce the country as a go-to destination for all things biking. Scotland is a hotbed for cycling start-ups at the moment and is packed with innovative products and ideas that are really beginning to make an impact in the sport. Having a presence at EUROBIKE is great way of ensuring that we continue to support the biking community within the country.”
Graeme White, International Sector Head for Tourism at Scottish Development International, said: “Scotland is building a strong international presence in the growing mountain bike industry thanks to our ideal terrain and conditions, along with our fantastic scenery and supportive tourism infrastructure. It’s great to see so many new entrepreneurs tapping into this, and EUROBIKE is the perfect venue for these companies to tap into new opportunities and markets within the sector.”
Featuring international exhibitors giving an insight into the coming season’s bike trends, EUROBIKE brings together industry figures and specialist traders to put the latest bikes, accessories and advances in technology through their paces.
It runs from 30 August to 2 September. For more information, visit www.eurobike-show.com
