400,000 E-bikes will be sold in Germany this year alone, according to estimates by the Zweirad-Industrie-Verband (ZIV), the German bicycle industry association. Annual sales of E-bikes have increased eightfold in Germany over the past five years. The E-bike brings whole new set of possibilities for cyclists: for bike trekkers, it means the ability to cover greater distances and gain more altitude in a single day. For families, transporting larger volumes of cargo after a day's shopping or towing a child trailer becomes less daunting. The E-bike boom is also drawing more and more newcomers to the market. The list of leading providers of drive systems reads like a who's who of the electronics and mobility industries: In addition to Bosch and Panasonic, companies like Yahama are preparing to offer E-bike equipment. Yamaha has been able to secure the bicycle manufacturer Giant as a customer. The ZIV estimates that the market share of E-bikes will reach more than fifteen percent over the long term: "In the Netherlands, the E-bike's market share has already stabilized at this high level. We also expect similar developments in the German market in the next few years", reports ZIV general manager Siegfried Neuberger.
Show me your bike and I'll tell you who you are
The bicycle market also has other irons in the fire. The trend is towards the bike as an expression of the owner's lifestyle and personality. For example, non-conformists and individualists are inspired by the urban "fixie" subculture - the influence of the fixies' visual style upon stylish and yet safe city bikes is being seen more and more. Metronauts are putting their faith in clever folding bikes, whereas technocrats look to fast and agile pedelecs. In the meantime, contemporary families are using quick, load-carrying bikes to transport their children from A to B and do their shopping within the city.
The right balance
Just like in other sports in which man and machine work together as a unit, technical developments have a special significance in cycling sports. In the mountain bike scene, a controversial discussion has broken out about the ideal wheel size. Whereas 26 inches were long considered ideal, then later it was 29 inches, leading mountain bike providers would now like to push 27.5 inch wheels into the forefront. Racing and mountain bikes are also becoming more and more like E-bikes: More cyclists are switching the gears of their racing bikes with electronic gear shifting systems. For the 2013 season, the Japanese equipment supplier Shimano has announced electronic gear hubs for sporty leisure bikes. Another digital premiere at the Eurobike will be at the stand of the suspension producer Fox Racing Show: Their new generation of suspension forks and rear wheel shock absorbers will communicate with each other electronically.
Eurobike: The industry's trend
When the international cycling industry meets in a few weeks in Friedrichshafen, there will again be a lot of premieres and trends on display. The first three days of the Eurobike are reserved for industry visitors and the media. On the fourth day (Saturday, September 1, 2012) consumers will also be able to get a look at the newest innovations in the bicycle market. The Eurobike Demo Day for industry visitors and journalists will take place on Tuesday, August 28, from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. in the Allgäu.
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