53The stars of Scotland’s mountain bike scene have been recognised at the annual Scottish Mountain Bike Awards.

Organised by the Mountain Bike Centre of Scotland and Developing Mountain Biking in Scotland, more than 150 guests attended the awards evening last Thursday (16 November) at the Drygate Brewery in Glasgow.

A total of 13 awards were presented to riders, businesses, clubs, event organisers, community groups, tourism and services companies who have excelled throughout 2017.

A public vote was held for the Mountain Bike Rider of the Year with Katy Winton and Lewis Buchanan taking home the prizes. Both ride for Trek Factory Racing in the Enduro World Series.

The Best Mountain Bike Event was once again won by the Tweedlove Bike Festival.

In the business category, newcomer A S D-Xine – founded by former Robert Gordon University student Andrew Davidson – won the Best Product award with its revolutionary Go-Charge hydration device.

Milngavie-based Flaer took home the Best Scottish Exporter award, with the Best Business to Academic Collaboration award going to the University of Strathclyde and ByCyclogical for their work developing an innovative cycling storage device. Cleikum Mill in Innerleithen won the MTB Friendly Accommodation award and Off the Grid won the Best Service Provider prize.

In the participation and sport categories, Bespoke took the hotly contested MTB Community Project prize, with Midlothian Cycles taking home MTB Club of the Year.

Guest presenters on the night included Stu Thomson of Cut Media – regular collaborators with Danny MacAskill – and Chris Ball – managing director of the Enduro World Series.

Danny Cowe, co-presenter of the evening and business development executive of the Mountain Bike Centre of Scotland said: “The awards evening was a fantastic opportunity to showcase and celebrate all the fantastic achievements within the Scottish mountain bike community. With such a large turnout on the night and with over 65 nominees throughout the categories, it shows that the sport and industry is in a strong place.”

Graeme McLean, project manager of Developing Mountain Biking in Scotland, said: “We know that there is still issues and challenges in Scottish mountain biking, and we are working hard to solve them but we do need to take the time celebrate our successes. By bringing everyone together we can highlight and promote the great range of activity which is happening in Scottish mountain biking. We are always inspired to hear how our community, clubs, businesses and riders are punching above their weight in the world of mountain biking.”

List of winners;

• Scottish Mountain Bike Product Innovation of the Year – AS D-Zine Ltd, Go Charge
• Best Scottish Business Collaboration with a University – ByCyclogical and University of Strathclyde
• Endura Exporter of the Year – Flaer
• Scottish MTB Friendly Accommodation Provider of the Year – Cleikum Mill Lodge, Innerleithen
• Edinburgh Napier University Scottish MTB Service Provider of the Year – Off the Grid MTB
• Event of the Year – Tweedlove Bike Festival
• Scottish Cycling MTB Photograph of the Year – James McLean
• MTB video of the Year – H&I Adventures, On Wandering
• Shand Cycles Scottish Mountain Bike Club of the Year – Midlothian Cycle Club
• IBIS Cycles Scottish Mountain Bike Community Project of the Year – Bespoke
• Scottish Mountain Biking Local Hero – Barbara Murray and Euan Speirits
• Scottish Female Rider of the Year – Katy Winton
• Scottish Male Rider of the Year – Lewis Buchanan

Pictured: MTB Service Provider of the Year (L-R: Graeme McLean (DMBINS), Off the Grid MTB, Prof Geraint Florida James of Edinburgh Napier University)

The Mountain Bike Centre of Scotland (MTBCOS). The launch of a new initiative with Fergus Ewing MSP and business owners. THE Mountain Bike Centre of Scotland (MTBCOS) is supporting a multi-million pound economic boom as businesses create new and innovative products for the soaring numbers of cyclists taking to the great outdoors, business leaders heard today.Scottish mountain biking and its links with business and entrepreneurs will be celebrated next month at the annual Scottish Mountain Bike Awards.

Organised by Developing Mountain Biking in Scotland (DMBinS), in conjunction with the Mountain Bike Centre of Scotland (MTBCoS), the evening of celebration – which will take place on 16 November at the Drygate Brewery in Glasgow – will recognise those that contribute towards making the sport world class in Scotland.

Nominations are now open, with award categories covering numerous areas including tourism, clubs, riders, accommodation providers, product manufacturers and community groups.

The awards will also celebrate the sector’s best innovations and collaborations with universities throughout the country.

Last year, Edinburgh Napier University took home the Best Scottish Business Collaboration with a University award after its work with Flaer was recognised.

Academics from the University worked with the company to develop the world’s first chain performance system for mountain bikes. The system automatically applies fluid to the chain as you ride, giving maximum power transfer to the wheel and smoother gearshifts.

The technology has continued to be developed and was recently used by the ORICA-SCOTT GreenEdge professional road cycling team throughout the season, including during this year’s Tour de France.

Professor Geraint Florida-James, lead academic of the MTBCoS, said: “We are delighted to again be involved with these awards to recognise all the great work and expertise going into developing the mountain bike industry. The work that we do at the MtBCoS supports companies who are developing innovative cycling products and services and this will be a great opportunity to recognise the talent we have on our doorstep.”

Danny Cowe, business development executive for MTBCoS, said: “We see these awards as another method of highlighting the great progress of Scottish companies and celebrating the fantastic scene in Scotland. We had a great response last year from Scottish businesses and we would urge any Scottish registered company with a mountain bike product or service to fill in an application form and take part in these awards.”

Graeme McLean, project manager at DMBinS, said: “Mountain biking brings increased participation – helping us to become a happier and healthier country alongside giving Scot’s the opportunity to succeed on the world stage along with brings economic benefit, often to some of our more remote areas.

“These awards will highlight and celebrate examples of great practice in these three areas which will help Scotland maintain its reputation as one of the leading countries in the world for mountain biking.”

The Scottish Mountain Bike Awards were devised last year, with 11 different categories, more than 3000 public votes and more than 50 applications. This year, the public will also choose the top Scottish mountain bike riders of the year and the Scottish event of the year.

Full details on the awards and its categories can be found at http://www.dmbins.com/developing/scottish-mtb-awards-2017/

The Mountain Bike Centre of Scotland (MTBCOS).  The launch of a new initiative with Fergus Ewing MSP and business owners. THE Mountain Bike Centre of Scotland (MTBCOS) is supporting a multi-million pound economic boom as businesses create new and innovative products for the soaring numbers of cyclists taking to the great outdoors, business leaders heard today.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

The Mountain Bike Centre of Scotland (MTBCOS). The launch of a new initiative with Fergus Ewing MSP and business owners. THE Mountain Bike Centre of Scotland (MTBCOS) is supporting a multi-million pound economic boom as businesses create new and innovative products for the soaring numbers of cyclists taking to the great outdoors, business leaders heard today.Two Edinburgh-based companies will headline a new conference that aims to bring together industry experts and academics from the worlds of food, nutrition and sports science.

Active Root and Tony Fullerton of Stoats will speak at the Cycling & Sports – Opportunities in Food and Drink conference, which is to be held in Dundee on 22 August.

A collaboration between the Mountain Bike Centre of Scotland and hosts Abertay University, the event will be attended by Scottish food and drink producers, members of the business support industry and academic staff.

Aimed at stimulating the exchange of ideas, analysing trends and sharing expertise, the purpose of the conference is to build partnerships across the sectors.

Active Root, a new natural ginger based sports drink company from Edinburgh, will provide an insight into their product, which was borne out of co-founder Will Townsend’s experience during the London Marathon.

Tony Fullerton of Stoats will also give a presentation, speaking about his firm’s range of quick and easy snacks and cereals – from porridge sachets, pots, bars and boxes to oatcakes and mueslis.

Some of the businesses signed up to attend are already making cycling and sports produce, while others are considering diversifying.

Networking and speed pitching sessions will take place in addition to a series of talks and one to one sessions.

Organiser Danny Cowe of the Mountain Bike Centre of Scotland, who will present a talk on opportunities in the cycling industry, said there is a real chance for Scottish businesses to tap into a global market for sports and nutrition worth over $20billion.

He added: “Cycling and sports products command high price points compared to general food stuffs and this event is an opportunity to look at how food and drink businesses can best reach that market.

“There is a major buzz around sports nutrition and health at the moment, so producing new or enhanced products can only benefit both industry and those participating in sport.”

The Mountain Bike Centre of Scotland is a joint initiative headed by Edinburgh Napier University and Developing Mountain Biking in Scotland, with project partner Scottish Enterprise. The project is funded by the Scottish Funding Council and Edinburgh Napier University.

From market research to product development; knowledge transfer, testing and product launches, we are here to help Scottish businesses in capitalising in one of the country’s fastest growing sports and to help bring Scottish mountain biking products and services to an international audience.

To find out how the Mountain Bike Centre of Scotland can assist a business, please visit www.napier.ac.uk/mtb