Steve Garidis, Executive Director of industry body the Bicycle Association, shares his perspective on the UK bike trade in 2025…

“Is the bike market rollercoaster we’ve all been on since Covid over?”  This question, or variations of it – and possibly one still requiring some group therapy for many of us in the cycle industry – is the one I get asked most often.  It’s not been far from mind at the UK’s Bicycle Association over the last five years, and it’s the question most asked at the networking sessions of our members’ events and gatherings. 

And no wonder many in the industry are hoping for some ‘normality’ given the tumultuous nature of the 2020s so far:  Heady market boom, the reality check of the ensuing global supply chain crunch, an ongoing cost-of-living crisis squeezing demand.  Longstanding industry business models have been sorely tested, major market consolidations are still to show their full effect, and there’s the (very human) impact of business closures, small and large.  Compounding all this have been macro trends well beyond the direct influence of the industry, the shifting politics and changing governments.  Navigating the rapidly shifting policy landscape and complex trade rules through Brexit or US tariff wars has not been for the faint-hearted.  And as if all this weren’t enough, we’re now tackling a major (potentially existential) anti-e-bike campaign driven by sensationalist mainstream media coverage of illegal electric motorcycle use.   

So, will 2025 be the year we’ll look back on as a turning point? And how does the UK cycle industry best position itself for the challenges and opportunities coming down the (cycle) path?

That’s the question we work very hard to answer at the BA.  As the UK cycle industry’s national trade body, our purpose is to support, champion and safeguard our sector.  Each of these requires us to understand the real pressures and opportunities of the present and take a medium to long-term view for the future.  Not easy in such a tumultuous period.  To do it requires access to industry-relevant data, careful analysis of the impact of policy and regulations, a clear view of where, as a membership association, we can uniquely and impactfully bring industry together to collaborate or unite around single clear messages, and often most tricky of all, the dark art of bringing to bear a unique and credible narrative and influencing government action.

Bicycle Association’s Market Data Service

On the data front, I’m very pleased to say the Association leads the way within the cycle industry globally, with an industry-owned, non-profit Market Data Service capturing retail sales data directly from tills of more than 70% of the UK market by value, from shops online and in the high street.  The Bicycle Association’s Market Data Service (fondly abbreviated to ‘MDS’) is truly an amazing and powerful tool for understanding what’s happening, in real time, across the UK market.  So much so that other markets beyond the UK are now working with us to extend the service there too, starting with Germany and Australia this year.  In the UK, our members have been able to use MDS for five years now to interrogate, on a monthly basis, how they are performing vs. the market in any segment or category they operate in, providing actionable insights from which they can make money.  For the Association itself, MDS underpins our conversations with officials and the cases we make to government to secure policies and greater investment for our sector.  It’s vital credible data in an era which requires robust evidence to effect change, and which I don’t think we can do without if we wish to thrive and compete with other modern industries. 

To sound an encouraging note, for the first time in four years, I’m looking at the monthly MDS data and feeling quietly, cautiously optimistic.  At the time of writing, MDS shows sales for each of the last three months are substantially up on the same period last year, suggesting the post-pandemic decline, ongoing since May 2021, may have finally turned a corner.  There are still worrying longer-term trends that sit in the background – a decline in children cycling and children’s cycle sales, a lack of real progress in bikes as transport, but slowly, surely, the leisure, sport and enthusiast side is returning.  And as an Association, we’re cautiously forecasting growth for 2025, albeit in single digits.  I guess we’re maybe still a year off really feeling like a recovery has kicked in, and a longer way off realising the nascent potential of ‘ordinary’ cycling – the ‘electric revolution’ seen on the Continent, or the even bigger potential still of cycling for transport. 

Team of Industry Experts

On the technical and policy front, we are lucky to have a team of subject experts trusted by our members, government officials and industry experts within the UK and internationally.  We’ve built strong credibility through longstanding connections with those developing industry standards whether in our members’ businesses or at European or global level, and we’ve built longstanding relationships with many relevant parts of government, whether DfT, DEFRA, DBT on the policy front or in adjacent business friendly departments like Innovate UK where relationships and reputation can help attract public innovation funding to our sector (a first for the UK cycle industry).  Our members have full access to this expertise and we provide support on all matters of standards and regulations whether compliance or international trade, but perhaps more importantly still this hard-won capability is one of the main ways we can influence government policy, by providing trusted, unbiassed expert advice, based on sound data and careful analysis, and backed (where needed publicly) by the relevant sectors of our membership. 

Impact on Government Policy

This long-term approach to influence is what, in my view, truly impacts government decision-making and the policy environment which determines how we all do business.  As an industry, campaigns come and go and play an important role in single issues or raising awareness, but long-term influence requires long-term investment, and should, in my view, be considered by all cycle businesses as a vital and necessary cost of doing business. Building influence doesn’t happen by accident – it’s not gifted to sectors just because they deserve it. It’s built deliberately, through unity, clear messaging, reliable evidence, and long, consistent engagement.  Other industries have been doing this to great effect for decades.  We have to do it too for ours, and to keep going! That’s where strong trade associations come into their own. 

By way of example, and undoubtedly the biggest threat to our sector right now is the risk of knee-jerk policy reaction to the illegal and substandard electric motorcycle products (I refuse to call them ‘e-bikes’) being confused by the media and politicians with the very safe and legal e-bikes sold by the reputable cycle industry.   The Association has been working on this behind the scenes for several years, building the evidence case for where the problems truly lie, working with the Office for Product Safety & Standards, DfT, DEFRA and others.  As an Association, our work has helped establish without question that the reputable industry’s products are safe and showed Government where regulation is required to tackle the real problem (primarily online marketplaces and delivery platforms, which need to take responsibility for the legality and safety of the products and services they offer).  Alongside pushing government to close down access to substandard and illegal products, we’re working with members and other industry partners on an industry-wide Assurance scheme which will help consumers identify safe e-bike products and reputable places to buy them. 

Market Predictions

So, to come back to the original question – ‘is the rollercoaster over’?  The answer is inevitably, ‘…probably not’.  There are always new challenges coming our way, but of course, this means there are also opportunities.  Things are looking up for our sector.  The market has turned a corner.  We’re still a fantastic, innovative, passionate bunch, and our industry has a great story – an economic punch well above our weight, and a social value from our impact on health and environment that makes us a ‘strategic industry’ for any government.  The trick is to position ourselves accordingly, and that requires us to invest in having the influence we need and deserve.    At the Bicycle Association, our mission is to give the UK cycle industry that influence. Not just for today’s market conditions, but to help shape the policies, regulations and public perceptions that will define our place for the long term. 

If you’re a business in the cycle industry and not already working with us, you should be! You’re missing out, and we could be stronger still with you onboard. Check out membership options on the Bicycle Association website.

The Bicycle Association (BA), the national trade body for the cycle industry, which represents the majority of reputable UK e-bike suppliers, has laid out a comprehensive action plan for Government to tackle the issue of fires attributed to unsafe e-bike batteries – and is calling for its urgent implementation.

This action plan has been consulted on within the Association’s membership, endorsed by numerous stakeholder organisations and also submitted to officials in the relevant Government departments as well as to the All-Party Parliamentary Cycling & Walking Group Enquiry into e-bike safety.

The three key actions required of Government are to:

1. Stop unsafe imports, especially those slipping through direct to consumers via poorly regulated online marketplaces
2. Reform the ‘gig economy’ delivery sector, which drives demand for unsafe e-bike conversion kits, batteries and chargers and incentivises de-restriction
3. Close legal loopholes which permit the legal sale of non-road-legal e-bikes and conversion kits

“These tragic incidents must be stopped, and that requires decisive action which goes well beyond technical regulations,” said Peter Eland, Technical & Policy Director at the Bicycle Association. “We need Ministers and Government departments, especially DfT, DBT and the Home Office, to work together to properly regulate both online marketplaces and gig economy food delivery operators, so that those sectors take real responsibility for the unsafe products supplied through their platforms or used to deliver their services.”

We also need Government action to take non-legal e-bikes off sale, and off the road. Legitimate, road legal e-bikes are known formally as EAPCs – Electrically Assisted Pedal Cycles – and these are rigorously defined in law to be similar in performance to normal cycles. EAPCs from reputable suppliers are enjoyed safely by hundreds of thousands of people in the UK, and millions worldwide, for transport and leisure.

In contrast, the throttle-controlled, high-speed vehicles which are often reported as “e-bikes” in connection with unsafe riding, or even use in crimes such as phone-snatching, are not legitimate e-bikes at all – they are illegal e-motorcycles. Government must close the legal loophole which allows such vehicles – and the conversion kits often used to create them – to be sold legally. Taking these products off the market would contribute to fire safety, road safety and help tackle the criminal use of high-speed unregistered e-motorbikes – Peter Eland, Technical & Policy Director at the Bicycle Association

The action plan is detailed, with over 20 pages of policy proposals. It opens by emphasising the industry’s support for and engagement with the ongoing work of the Office for Product Safety and Standards, the UK’s main regulatory agency for product safety, but also stresses that wider cross-Government action is absolutely necessary if the incidence of these fires is to be significantly reduced.

The plan also notes that the reputable UK cycle industry has launched numerous initiatives to distinguish its overwhelmingly very safe products from the unsafe direct imports responsible for the majority of the fires – leading with the E-bike Safety Register of quality-checked brands, and working with the Association of Cycle Traders on the E-bike Positive Retailer Pledge which helps consumers to identify e-bike retailers committed to the highest standards of safety. These initiatives are backed by the “E-bike Positive” public information campaign, aiming to signpost consumers to reputable brands and retailers of safe and legal e-bikes.

Furthermore, the reputable industry continues to engage at national and international levels to further improve the technical safety standards for e-bikes.

Even the safest, fully legal e-bikes are being seriously reputationally damaged by association with fires in unsafe products completely beyond the UK industry’s control. The legitimate e-bike category in the UK is at serious risk as a result. E-bike sales have fallen significantly in recent years, in stark contrast to the worldwide trend, as users face repeated headlines about e-bike dangers, and consequent blanket restrictions on access and insurance.

Our experts have been working on this issue intensively for years, working mostly behind the scenes with Government, regulators, fire and rescue services, the insurance sector, transport operators and many other stakeholders to explore possible solutions and to limit the damage to the reputable e-bike sector.

We’ve summed up our understanding from years of work in this action plan. Now, on the three main points above we urge Government to act urgently – to prevent more tragic incidents and to safeguard tens of thousands of green jobs in the UK e-bike industry which otherwise has so much potential to grow, and to secure the future of this healthy, enjoyable and low-impact form of transport.

Companies in the legitimate UK cycle industry take full legal responsibility for the safety of the products they supply. We think it’s high time that the online marketplaces and gig economy delivery companies take on that same responsibility, and that sales of non-road-legal e-bikes are banned. – Bicycle Association’s Executive Director, Steve Garidis

You can download the full BA E-bike Safety Action Plan here.

The BA submission to the All-Party Parliamentary Cycling & Walking Group Enquiry into e-bike safety is also available for download, and includes further detailed recommendations for immediate Government actions, even ahead of expected legislation, which should provide greater enforcement powers against online marketplaces and overseas sellers. This submission, which also references the full Action Plan, has been endorsed by other key stakeholders, including the Association of Cycle Traders (ACT), the Bikeability Trust, British Cycling, the Motorcycle Industries Association (MCIA) and the Parliamentary Advisory Council on Transport Safety (PACTS).

In response to the recent Transport for London (TfL) ban on most e-bikes being permitted on the London underground from 31 March 2025, the Bicycle Association (BA) and The Association of Cycle Traders (ACT) have issued a joint statement.

Both trade bodies have called for Government action following the ban on non-folding e-bikes due to fire risk concerns. It’s been reported that only folding models will be permitted on the London Underground, Overground, and the DLR and Elizabeth Line trains.

The decision by TfL follows a Freedom of Information request response from Gemma Jacob, senior FOI case officer, in August 2024 detailing that TfL had no further plans to amend restrictions, stating “We do not currently have plans to amend the restrictions on e-bikes or other electrically powered vehicles. The safety of our network is something we keep under constant supervision and review as necessary. We will make any necessary amendments as required.”

Upon publishing news of the upcoming ban, Lilli Matson, TfL’s Chief Safety, Health and Environment Officer, said: “Our priority is always the safety of our customers and colleagues. We have been working closely with the London Fire Brigade on a review of the safety risks associated with e-bikes on our network and following this review, we will be putting this safety ban in place from 31 March 2025. Customers with non-foldable e-bikes will not be permitted to use our tube and rail services. This safety ban will play a vital role in keeping our transport system safe for everyone, and we continue to work with partners in government and beyond to improve e-bike safety.”

TfL said the ban includes all non-folding e-bikes, including standard cycles that have been converted to e-bikes using conversion kits.

In a recent release, the BA and ACT have published their response:

The BA and ACT trade bodies represent the vast majority of companies in the UK cycle industry, including many responsible, mainstream suppliers of bikes and e-bikes, who safety-test their products extensively to recognised international standards, and responsible retailers who sell and maintain these products.

The UK cycle industry, through its trade bodies, has been engaging for several years now to assist Government to address the tragic and serious issue of fires attributed to e-bike and e-scooter batteries.

The industry understands that the overwhelming majority of such fires are caused by products sourced for use in the ‘gig economy’ for delivery purposes. To be able to compete for jobs and make a living, delivery riders are strongly incentivised to procure, at the lowest possible cost, often unsafe e-bikes or e-bike conversion kits (and/or batteries, chargers and parts of uncertain compatibility), almost always direct from overseas sellers via online marketplaces. Often, such products do not even comply with the legal limits on speed and power for a UK road-legal e-bike.

This understanding is supported by the recent comprehensive research into e-bike battery safety published by the Office for Product Safety and Standards (OPSS) and authored by the Warwick Manufacturing Group, and the recent targeting of the gig economy delivery sector by OPSS with multi-lingual e-bike safety videos.

Responsible UK e-bike brands and retailers have no involvement whatsoever in such unsafe, direct-imported products.

To make this very clear to consumers and other stakeholders, and to reassure users that that proper, reputable, legal and safety-tested e-bikes are extremely safe products in normal use, responsible UK suppliers and retailers have through their trade bodies developed a comprehensive set of voluntary industry initiatives:

• THE BA REGISTER OF SAFETY-AUDITED E-BIKE BRANDS: A register of responsible e-bike brands whose quality and safety processes have been independently audited.
• THE ACT & BA E-BIKE POSITIVE RETAILER PLEDGE: Identifying responsible e-bike retailers who have committed to the Pledge – to provide only safe, legal e-bikes, spares and repairs.
• THE E-BIKE POSITIVE CAMPAIGN: A public-facing campaign aiming to strengthen consumer confidence in reputable e-bikes, backed by the BA, ACT, Cycling UK and Bosch.
• THE BA E-BIKE BATTERY COLLECTION AND RECYCLING SCHEME: The BA is developing a voluntary industry initiative to facilitate the safe, responsible collection and disposal of end-of-life e-bike batteries via collection points UK-wide.
• COMPANIES AGAINST TAMPERING: The BA and many member companies support this Europe-wide initiative, emphasising the industry’s opposition to de-restriction of e-bikes and similar actions.

The industry continues to develop, at an international level, state-of-the-art safety testing standards for e-bikes and e-bike batteries, to further make these already safe products even safer.

It is, however, unacceptable that unsafe products continue to be sold and used in the UK, with often tragic consequences when battery fires occur. The reputable UK cycle and e-bike industry therefore calls for:

• The government to accelerate legislation to make online marketplaces and overseas sellers fully liable for the safety of the products they supply, and to stop unsafe products at the border.
• The government to require the operators of app-based delivery services to ensure that their services are delivered using only safe and legal e-bikes, with significant penalties for the operator if this is not enforced.

It is unfortunate but understandable that incidents involving these unsafe products, primarily used in the gig economy food delivery sector and procured via online marketplaces, have led to a blanket restriction on the carriage of all non-folding e-bikes on London’s public transport systems.

The cycle industry fully supports actions to keep the travelling public safe, and such decisions are properly a matter for Transport for London.

We do note with regret that this restriction will also affect many users of thoroughly safety-tested, responsibly supplied and legal e-bikes, who use these vehicles as a healthy, quick and enjoyable way to complete their journeys, including disabled people who use e-cycles for mobility.

The Bicycle Association and Association of Cycle Traders are committed to continue their close engagement with Government on these issues, aiming to accelerate meaningful action to address the root causes of these fires while safeguarding the reputable e-bike sector and the e-bike’s potential as a healthy and enjoyable form of transport which also reduces urban congestion and pollution.

The Bicycle Association (BA) and Association of Cycle Traders (ACT) have issued a joint message to cycle retailers considering fitting e-bike conversion kits.

This follows the publication of ‘Advice to businesses on the risks and responsibilities associated with carrying out repairs, modifications and conversions to e-bikes and e-scooters‘ by the Office for Product Safety and Standards, the Government agency responsible for product safety regulations in the UK and which oversees the work of Trading Standards. 

This guidance confirms, “If you supply parts and convert a bike or a scooter into an e-bike or e-scooter, you are legally responsible for its safety, and may be liable for any damage caused by any defect.”

The trade bodies’ understanding is that this wording reflects the clear regulatory position that anyone creating an e-bike by installing a conversion kit to a conventional cycle takes on the legal role as the e-bike’s manufacturer, under the UK’s General Product Safety Regulations, the Supply of Machinery (Safety) Regulations and other areas of UK product safety legislation.

The BA and ACT therefore strongly advise UK retailers considering fitting e-bike conversion kits to:

1. Be insured with product liability insurance which specifically covers e-bike manufacture.
2. Be fully aware of the duties that they take on as the e-bike manufacturer, including: 

1. The legal duty to CE or UKCA mark the new e-bike and to produce a corresponding Declaration of Conformity. 
2. The legal duty to maintain a Technical File including evidence of functional and mechanical product safety (under Machinery regulations), electro-magnetic safety (under EMC regulations) and chemical safety (RoHS regulations), all for the complete e-bike, and to retain this evidence for at least 10 years. Similar evidence under relevant product safety regulations is also required for the battery and mains charger — noting also the recent statutory guidance on e-bike battery safety. 
3. The legal duty to label the new e-bike with the name and address of the manufacturer (i.e. the retailer who fits the kit) and to remove or cover any branding which may mislead in this respect (e.g. the original manufacturer of the ‘donor’ cycle’s labelling and branding). 
4. The legal duty to provide adequate safety information and warnings to the user (especially around charging and battery safety). 
5. The legal duty to apply the crossed-out wheelie bin symbol to the e-bike (because it is classed as electrical waste at end of life) and to register on the National Waste & Packaging Database as a WEEE producer. 
6. If importing the battery for the conversion (rather than purchasing from a UK supplier who has already taken on this duty), the legal duty to register on the National Waste & Packaging Database as an industrial battery producer, and to meet take-back and disposal obligations for end of life batteries (e.g. by joining the BA’s e-bike battery collection initiative). 
7. If the converted e-bike has any radio, Bluetooth or smart/networking functionality such as an accompanying smartphone app, to also meet the additional legal requirements of the Radio Equipment Regulations, and/or the PSTI Consumer Connectable Devices Regulations.

1. Be transparent with customers that kit-created e-bikes rely on the mechanical safety of the donor cycle which was (in almost every case) not designed for use as an e-bike.
2. Be transparent with customers that, unless there is clear evidence otherwise any warranty on the donor cycle will be invalidated by fitting a conversion kit, and that the original cycle manufacturer has not authorised its use as an e-bike.
3. Be aware that many brands and distributors’ contractual arrangements with retailers explicitly forbid the unauthorised fitment of e-bike conversion kits to bikes supplied under such contracts.

The BA and ACT recommend that any retailer considering fitting an e-bike conversion kit request documentation from the conversion kit supplier to help in compiling evidence of compliance with the aspects listed at (2) above, to the greatest extent possible. This should include the kit supplier providing a “Declaration of Incorporation“.

The BA and ACT caution that even with kit supplier evidence it will almost certainly not be possible for a retailer to fully evidence that they have met their legal duties under 2 (b) when converting an e-bike if, for example, no evidence is available to confirm the structural safety (for e-bike use) of the donor bike frame and forks, or the braking performance of the cycle to which the conversion kit is fitted.

Any mechanical safety evidence would normally be held only by the original manufacturer of the donor bike, following testing to international standards. Even if it were available, this testing would have been based around use as a normal pedal cycle — and even this could not be relied on if the cycle is in a used condition, as it may have become damaged or corroded.

The BA and ACT recommend that, in the absence of formal evidence of mechanical safety, any retailer contemplating fitting an e-bike conversion kit carefully document their own professional evaluation of the mechanical safety of any proposed donor cycle in its intended use as a converted e-bike.

The trade bodies also urge retailers fitting kits to check that the kit supplier has provided robust evidence of EMC and RoHS compliance for the components/systems they supply, so that at least partial evidence of compliance with these regulations is available.

The BA and ACT recognise that e-bike conversion kits appear to be an attractive, affordable way for consumers to enjoy the benefits of riding an e-bike, and that in many cases, the converted e-bikes are used safely.

However, they remain concerned that there is a lack of awareness about the legal responsibilities which retailers who fit e-bike conversion kits take on, and a lack of clarity in the information usually provided to consumers about such conversions. The BA has also set out these concerns in this BA Guide.

Jonathan Harrison, Director of ACT, said: “This official guidance clarifies what we’ve been concerned about for some time. Retailers need to understand that by installing conversion kits, they’re legally taking on the role of manufacturer with all the associated responsibilities and potential liabilities.”

Peter Eland, Technical & Policy Director at the Bicycle Association, added: “The e-bike conversion kit its concept seems simple and appealing, but because fitting one moves a normal bike into the legal definition of ‘Machinery’, it comes with real regulatory complexity. Anyone considering fitting a kit should do so with full information about what they are getting into.”

“Safety must always be the priority,” said Jonathan Harrison. “While we understand retailers want to offer affordable e-bike options to their customers, they need to be fully informed about the significant legal responsibilities they’re assuming when installing conversion kits.”

Retailers should be aware that Trading Standards is actively investigating and enforcing against retailers offering e-bikes made via conversion kits who cannot meet the legal requirements as outlined above to evidence safety — especially battery fire safety. 

The BA and ACT urge any retailer fitting e-bike conversion kits to consider the legal and insurance implications of taking on the e-bike manufacturer role very carefully, and to ensure they are as prepared as possible for any Trading Standards investigation.

The BA and ACT continue to work closely with the Office for Product Safety and Standards on this issue and hope that further official guidance will be issued to provide even more clarity for both consumers and the industry about the regulatory position and safety of e-bikes created from conversion kits.

The Bicycle Association has secured a significant injection of European Commission Horizon Europe grant funding, through EIT Urban Mobility’s Targeted Open Call 2025.

The public innovation funding, secured in partnership with Edinburgh Napier University Business School and the German Cycle Industry Association ZIV, will support the development of the BA’s market data service into Germany, and the development of new software tools that will benefit all BA members and subscribers.

The €400k grant is from EIT Urban Mobility, an initiative of the European Institute of Innovation and Technology (EIT) a body of the European Union under Pillar III of the EU’s research and innovation programme Horizon Europe. This project forms part of its programme to promote a competitive and sustainable European Cycling Industry, which in the context of Horizon funding, also includes the UK.

Building on what is recognised globally to be a world-leading Market Data Service – pioneered in the UK and first launched in 2020 – the 12-month project will help the BA and ZIV extend market data services into Germany, and explore how the platform can be adapted to meet new and different user needs. With an eye on the medium term, the development of the MDS platform will also seek to benefit cycle industry businesses and brands that operate in more than one territory, which, ultimately, will enable region-by-region comparisons and multi-market analysis.

We reached out to The Bicycle Association for some additional information about the funding:

How will the German data specifically benefit UK-based businesses? Will it provide insights into broader European trends that impact UK consumer behaviour, or is it primarily aimed at businesses with direct German market interests?

This is primarily going to be a tool which will help businesses better understand the German market, and so for those that are either based there, or sell into the German market, they will be able to deep dive into near real-time data to understand market performance by category, by sales channel, by different price points, by brand and by market segment, like we do in the UK, quantify their market share and see whether they are taking their fair share of the consumer demand that exists. Of course, UK businesses will be able to make comparisons to German market performance to see if the learnings translate back to the UK and we think it will be particularly interesting for e-bikes where they represent over 50% of bike unit sales in Germany, compared to just 9% in the UK.

Also, it mentions new software tools, what’s being developed and how will this benefit BA members and subscribers? 

The EIT grant is also funding a project in partnership with Edinburgh Napier University which will help us cleanse and sort the stock data that we already receive from bike shops in the UK that before now proved too difficult to turn into something we could use in our Market Data Service. The goal of this part of the project is to create valuable supply chain insights that should lead to a better understanding of what demand might look like in the future and therefore enable more efficient stock ordering and better working capital management.

The release continues…

MDS will continue to run on a not-for-profit basis, owned by the cycle industry, for and on behalf of the cycle industry.  In the UK the Bicycle Association will establish a wholly owned non-profit subsidiary to manage the project and as a vehicle for continued development.  As part of this, it has also bolstered its governance, appointing digital product and technology specialist Daniel Gillborn to its Board with special responsibility for technical governance.

This milestone project win, which was led by the BA’s Scott Cain, who leads the BA’s innovation programmes, is part of the BA’s ongoing efforts to diversify its funding base. This is in order to support the industry to innovate and grow, and to offer members further value, particularly relevant in current challenging market conditions.

Marking the significance of this project win, BA Exec Director, Steve Garidis, commented: “Whilst we work to support BA members with their own innovation projects and ambitions – often linked to our technical and policy work – we are increasingly exploring ways to attract more public innovation funding into the UK cycle industry as a whole.

“As we set out in our cycle industry Manifesto last year, why shouldn’t a strategic industry like cycling benefit from public innovation funding – as the car industry has – at this critical point when the government has a headline focus on boosting growth?”

“This exciting project brings with it new resources and partnerships and represents a significant boost for the BA, its members, and the wider cycle industry, helping us in our mission to bring low-cost, high-quality data and insights which will support and grow the sector This is particularly welcome at a time we all recognise to be a challenging period for the UK economy, and the cycle industry globally,” adds Garidis.

“We are delighted to be able to work with our British colleagues in these difficult times.  Bicycles are wonderful vehicles that are used in everyday life and for leisure. We know a lot about their production and the production of parts and components in Germany and Europe – but we don’t know enough about retail sales figures, benchmarks and customer experience there.” says Burkhard Stork, CEO of ZIV – German Bicycle Industry.

The BA has previously secured UK public innovation funding from the UK’s innovation agency, Innovate UK – supporting work with BA members and applied universities like WMG in relation to e-bikes and battery technologies. European innovation funding is a first for the BA, with the UK only rejoining the Horizon Europe programme in January 2024.

Other focus areas in the BA’s public innovation funding strategy include AI and data, e-bikes and battery technologies, smart and connected technologies to improve safety and security, advanced manufacturing, agile and responsive regulations, and reuse and recycling.

Public innovation funding is one of the themes that will be explored at the BA Member Conference in Birmingham in March. Any member keen to explore public innovation funding should contact scott@bicycleassociation.org.uk.

Cycling brands and retailers keen to pre-register interest in the German Market Data Service should contact the BA’s Data & Insights Director, Simon Irons, at simon@bicycleassociation.org.uk or Katharina Hinse at hinse@ziv-zweirad.de

COREbike Preview

2025 marks 20 years of COREbike. On 23-25 February, trade, press and brands will return to Whittlebury Hall for the highly anticipated show. In fact, this year had a record number of advanced registrations, demonstrating the buzz around this event.

Twenty years of running a trade show is certainly something to celebrate. Expect some familiar faces and first-timers as the industry gears up for the first show of the year. 

We’ll be at the show too, come find us in the Reception Area to have a chat with the team.

Not sure what to expect? Our COREbike preview will get you prepped ahead of time so you can plan your visit.

What the team are looking forward to this year…

COREbike turns 20! That’s some milestone. 

Cast your mind back to 2004/5: The high-end road bikes you’d have lusted over would have featured 21mm (maybe 23mm – controversial, I know) tubbies – carefully glued in place. Carbon brake tracks looked very smooth (who needs brakes anyway!). For the XC MTB riders, the geometry was long and low. Suspension forks gave 80mm of travel. 9 spd gearings featured a double chainring. 26-inch wheels still dominated. The disk brake wasn’t yet a universal standard! An Olympic XC medal was won on a bike with a metal frame!

In 2025 much has changed. Our love of the bike is still the same. See you at the show – Simon Cox, Staff Writer

Over the past 10-plus years I have always enjoyed catching up with industry friends and meeting new faces at Core. With new brands there this year, it will be interesting to hear everyone’s views on the past few years and what is in store for 2025. COREbike always manages to give us lots to look forward to for the year, even when times can be tough – Richard Setters, Head of Sales

Exhibitors give an overview of what to expect at the show:

ZyroFisher

ZyroFisher can’t wait to exhibit at CoreBike’s 20th edition. We’re excited to be presenting Leatt and Gaerne and will be exhibiting both ranges for 2025, including the Leatt Gravity 6.0 and 1.0 helmets and Gaerne’s new G-Jet shoe.

Additionally, we’ll have; new Altura apparel and luggage collections, EVOC’s new elbow and knee protection, SRAM Red E1 Groupsets, Hammerheads Karoo computer, Continental tyres including the new Aero 111, Torq Nutrition celebrating their 25th anniversary, Tifosi eyewear’s SS25 collection, Panaracer’s new Agilist Fast TLR tyres. LOOK’s new Keo Blade Carbon Powermeter pedals. Selle San Marco’s new Mantra saddle collection. New pumps, bags and mudguards from SKS, Hiplok products including the anti-angle grinder DX1000 lock and will have products from Cateye and Joe’s No Flats.

We’ll also have both the new Unior electric workstand and Sinter bedding machine on demo.

As always, please drop by for a World Bicycle Relief coffee (Torq Blend) available with a £1 minimum donation with all proceeds going to this amazing charity. To help celebrate the 20th anniversary ZyroFisher has several show exclusives, giveaways and activations!

Wahoo

Wahoo returns to COREbike with the all-new, category-defining, ELEMNT ACE bike computer along with a sneak peek of more new products coming in 2025.

Wahoo’s UK sales and marketing team will be on-site to talk through and demonstrate their exciting range of KICKR cycling trainers, ELEMNT bike computers, SPEEDPLAY pedals and TRACKR sensors.

Founded in 2009 by Chip Hawkins in Atlanta, GA, Wahoo creates innovative solutions to make hard-fought goals attainable and lives better with a full ecosystem of software, sensors, devices, data and performance insights for cyclists, triathletes and runners.

Wahoo was built on the foundation of simplicity and the mindset that “there’s got to be a better way.”

Brompton

Brompton Bicycle will be debuting at COREbike for the first time, exhibiting in S25. The British folding bike brand, set to celebrate its 50th year in 2025, is looking forward to the opportunity to meet all attendees and expand its network.

Set to showcase the newest iteration of the C Line, launching later in Q1 and the recently launched G Line. Brompton will also have an extensive array of parts and accessories on display for dealers.

COREbike will provide the Brompton Sales and Account Managers the chance to connect with all dealers and share the latest innovation and partnership possibilities.

Extra UK

Extra UK will display new additions to their portfolio at this year’s COREbike, including; Scope Cycling, Veloforte and KMC. These newcomers to the Grand Prix Suite join well-established names such as Topeak, fizik, CLIF, Pirelli, MET and OnGuard.

With a wide selection of cutting-edge products from their brand lineup, highlights include the ultra-efficient E-Booster pump and new Team Issue tool range from Topeak, vibrant new shoe colourways from fizik, Pirelli’s latest P ZERO Race RS TLR tyres, and Ergon’s new range of SMS Saddles and updated GP grips.

KMC’s addition last year has further strengthened Extra’s lineup of workshop brands, which includes Enduro Bearings, Motorex, and Jagwire. Customers can look forward to exploring a comprehensive selection of KMC chains, tools, and accessories on display during the show.

With more brand representatives attending than ever before, this is a rare opportunity for dealers to get a deeper understanding of brands and their products while also connecting with their Area Sales Manager and of course, not forgetting the exclusive show-only offers that will be available.

Extra UK invites both existing and prospective customers to visit the Grand Prix Suite during this year’s event.

Lyon

Lyon Cycle, a branch of Lyon Equipment in Cumbria, is a premier supplier of quality products for the cycling industry, encouraging riders to Venture Further. We are known for our technical outdoor and adventure gear and the Cycle Division offers an impressive selection of globally recognised brands including 7mesh, Arundel, Hydrapak, Industry Nine, MilKit, ORTLIEB, Tubus and the latest additions to the portfolio, Continental and Goodyear Tyres. Alongside its brand partners, it remains dedicated to innovation, progression, and quality, with new and exclusive products set to be showcased at COREbike.

Lyon Cycle will work closely with brand representatives at this show to provide expert technical support, maintaining its position as a leader in the Cycle Industry. We will be located in the Suzuka room and as always, we will be on hand to catch up with current and new partners to discuss how we can best serve IBDs in 2025 and beyond.

Ison Distribution 

From the smallest washer to the fastest carbon wheels, Ison Distribution offers dealers a fantastic collection of brands for 2025. With multiple changes in distribution over the past year, we bring you up to date at Core Bike.

The first piece of important news – we’ve moved! You can find us in the Chequers Marquee, where we will have at least four brands displaying for their first time at Core.

Below are some of the brands we’d like you to meet. We have more Industry personnel than ever before joining our Ison team to provide key product information and insight into future developments. Make sure you take the opportunity to talk to as many of them as possible.

– Benno presents its latest innovative solutions to the urban transportation conundrums.
– 5 Dev are showing off their aerospace component wizardry.
– Microshift are here to talk about their popular drivetrain options.
– Wippermann are with us for the first time to talk Connex premium upgrade chains.
– Redshift presents its iconic ShockStop Suspension stem and seat post.
– Old Man Mountain is here for the first time with its premium rack and luggage systems.
– Hayes will be talking about launching another brand into UK dealers.
– Renthal will be showing their exciting new products.
– Surly will have new colours and builds on show and there’s a first outing with Ison for Teravail.
– Fidlock will have its usual magnetic charm.
– Weldtite will be greasing palms and cleaning up with their latest range.
– HT are on hand to explain why so many World Champions ride their pedals.
– Fix-Plus have the solution with their German-made luggage straps.
– Rohloff can explain the workings of their world-beating Speedhubs.
– Squire – in their own syndicate room- has new locks to run you through.

And…

– Halo will be launching exciting new wheels, rims, and hubs AND celebrating 25 years. 

We look forward to seeing you all in the Chequers Marquee in February.

Chicken Cyclekit

COREbike 2025 will be our biggest yet. Taking on feedback from dealers, Chicken Cyclekit are moving and will now be in Ison’s old room, the Indianapolis room as well as our extra room, S1.

This gives us a lot more space to show a wider range of our brands and products but more space for visiting dealers to chat with staff in a more relaxed environment.

We plan to focus on the products and brands that our customers are looking for. You can expect to see all of our biggest brands at the show, including Campagnolo, KMC, Schwalbe and Prologo as well as showing off the latest models from Basso.

We’ll also have an exciting and prestigious brand that we’re adding to our portfolio!

The Bicycle Association

Visit the Bicycle Association on Stand S4 to learn how to grow your sales and improve the profitability of your retail business in 2025.

After a comprehensive overhaul of its data offer, retailers are invited to discuss their participation in the only service of its kind for the UK cycle industry. Compare your store performance to the market, accessing updated sales data and insights every month to help improve your assortment and transaction values.

The BA is asking for up to 750 stores to help it form a retail collection network for the millions of expired batteries that it is obligated to deal with. Participating stores will receive a free collection drum, and be promoted to customers as an approved place to drop off batteries that have reached the end of their life.

Eovolt

Eovolt celebrated a triumphant 2024 with the Afternoon 20” Pro solidifying its reputation as a game-changer in urban mobility. The Afternoon Pro was launched to critical acclaim, earning the coveted Editor’s Choice Award from Cycling Electric magazine. Featuring six design patents, including a belt drive system, automatic gears, auto-locking hinges, and a proprietary seat post battery with magnetic charging.

Building on this momentum, Eovolt is set to launch the non-electric Afternoon Pro at Whittlebury Hall. Retaining the revolutionary design elements of its electric counterpart, this new model delivers the same innovative features and sleek aesthetics at a more accessible price of £1499. Retailers at the event will be the first to experience the non-electric Afternoon Pro, a bike that combines simplicity and sophistication to meet the demands of urban and leisure cyclists.

The debut of the Afternoon Pro non-electric bike marks another milestone for Eovolt as it broadens its reach, offering innovative solutions for both electric and non-electric riders while maintaining its position as a leader in urban cycling.

Silverfish

Silverfish UK, recently crowned BikeBiz Distributor of the Year, is set to present an impressive lineup featuring the cycling industry’s most prestigious brands at Core Bike 2025. The event promises attendees exclusive hands-on experience with cutting-edge products and direct access to industry experts.

Highlighting the exhibition will be Yeti Cycles’ 40th-anniversary celebration, alongside new bicycle releases from

Norco, fresh from their NEST research and development facility. Michelin will showcase their expanded tyre range, covering Mountain, Road, Gravel and Street categories. Additional product launches will come from industry leaders including 100%, Race Face, Fox Factory and other prominent manufacturers.

Brand representatives will be on-site offering visitors unique insights into their latest innovations and the stories behind their product development. Core Bike 2025 presents an unparalleled opportunity to understand both the products shaping the industry and the visionaries behind them.

Join Silverfish UK at Core Bike 2025 and discover the innovations that will fuel your next adventure.

Adaptive DCS

Adaptive DCS proudly makes its debut at the 20th COREbike Trade Show, showcasing an exceptional range of premium cycling brands.

Discover the best of Italian cycling innovation, including 3T’s highly anticipated 2025 collection of road, gravel, and electric boost bikes. Experience the craftsmanship of UDOG performance cycling shoes, Repente’s handmade-in-Italy saddles, and the cutting-edge helmet and eyewear collection from Limar.

3T’s latest launch, the Strada Italia RED, will be shown for the first time in the UK – a dream build featuring the new 1×13-speed SRAM RED XPLR AXS groupset, paired with 3T’s Italian-made Torno aero crankset and the lightweight Zipp 353 NSW wheels. 

Adaptive DCS will also feature NS BIKES and RONDO from the 7ANNA Group. Attendees will get an exclusive first look at the exciting new 2025 models.

Raleigh

For the first time in 2025, Raleigh UK will be making an exciting debut at the Core Bike Show, showcasing its latest, currently embargoed, innovations and setting the stage for a new chapter in the UK market. As part of the Accell Group, Raleigh will present a comprehensive lineup that includes cutting-edge e-bikes, road bikes, and mountain bikes from their premier brands—Haibike and Lapierre—alongside exclusive, never-before-seen innovations from the Raleigh brand itself.

Attendees can expect to experience firsthand the evolution of Raleigh UK’s offerings, from high-performance e-bikes that redefine urban commuting to rugged mountain bikes designed for extreme adventures.

Core Bike 2025 is more than an exhibition; it is Raleigh’s opportunity to unveil its future direction and strengthen its presence in the UK cycling market. With a focus on innovation and sustainability, Raleigh and the Accell Group are set to captivate the cycling community and inspire a new era of riders and retailers.

For the full product highlights and preview, check out the COREbike preview in the February edition of BikeBiz Magazine

On 6 February, the Department for Business and Trade and the Department for International Trade posted a public notice by the Secretary of State concerning anti-dumping measures on e-bikes from China.

The Government has accepted the Trade Remedies recommendation to vary the anti-dumping duty so it applies to folding e-bikes only.

In short, this means, despite the recent five-year extension on anti-dumping and countervailing measures on electric bicycles from China, this now only applies to folding e-bikes.  This change applies until 18 January 2029.

The Trade Remedies Authority’s (TRA) review found that dumping would likely recur if the duty was removed, but the full extension wouldn’t be in the “UK’s economic interest.” They found that “revoking the measures on non-folding e-bikes could mean that consumers, on average, could save around £200 each as a result of being able to purchase cheaper e-bikes.”

According to the TRA review, “Non-folding e-bikes make up around 95% of the UK’s total e-bikes market.”

The measure, which comes into effect today (7 February 2025) relates to “e-bikes originating from China and exported to the UK, which are cycles, with pedal assistance, with an auxiliary electric motor.”

Those who import non-folding e-bikes must now use the additional 8100 code to avoid the duty. Specific duties for folding e-bikes remain in place.

Mixed Reaction to the News

Since the news broke, there has been mixed reaction. In response, Independent Fleet Consultant (E-bikes & Cargo bikes), Charlie Ford told us:

It’s a great news story for the UK bike industry, those retailers, resellers and manufacturers will be thankful that they can get some cashback for the bikes imported over the last year to help boost their balance sheets and allow them to re-invest in their businesses in 2025. Some UK manufacturers will be disappointed that this won’t affect them; but as the vast majority of e-bikes are made in China this will mean going into 2025 they can offer bikes with 15 – 30% discounted at retail.

Likely they will only pass off a small amount of this to consumers, but to the average joe looking for a new e-bike, they should see within a few months cheaper e-bikes being offered direct to consumers! Overall this should help drive down the cost of e-bikes further and lead to wider adoption and hopefully lead to an uptick in sales by the end of 2025!

Taking another view, Madison CEO, Dominic Langan posted a response on the CIN news update on LinkedIn:

It’s bad news for exporters to the EU. We will need to produce e-bikes in China for the UK to be competitive but these bikes will be subject to ADD in the EU so not viable. But equally for many brands there won’t be enough volume to produce one set of bikes for the UK and one set for the EU from different countries of origin. Another nail in the coffin for exporting from the UK into the EU. Also bad news for UK manufacturing or any potential UK manufacturing.

The Bicycle Association told Cycling Industry News they have, “requested official clarification of the precise definition which HMRC will be using to identify “folding e-bikes.”

The BA hopes to have clarification on the definition in the next few days. They have also produced an extensive guidance document which is available to BA member companies regarding the current trade defence measures (UK and EU) and how they interact with other trade agreements (e.g. the TRA for goods moving between UK and EU).

The document now be updated to include the recent changes.

We’ve also reached out to other relevant organisations and will update once we receive comment.

The Bicycle Association (BA) has welcomed research into lithium-ion battery fire safety published by the government earlier this month.

The report, commissioned by the Office for Product Safety and Standards (OPSS) and prepared by WMG, at the University of Warwick shares findings and evidence on the causes of the safety risks and hazards associated with Personal Light Electric Vehicle (PLEV batteries) and chargers.

BA was among those who contributed to the report which contains:

• a literature study of scientific papers and reports of real-world evidence of PLEV fires in the UK and other major markets
• a review of existing UK legislation and applicable standards
• the findings of detailed inspection and testing of several e-bike and e-scooter batteries available on the UK market, covering a broad price range

Reputable companies in the e-bike industry devote considerable resources to sourcing quality components, designing in safety features, and thoroughly testing their battery packs to the latest international standards, and so welcome the focus in the report on ensuring that a level playing field is established and enforced for e-bike and e-scooter batteries, so that all such items placed on the UK market have a very high standard of product safety – The Bicycle Association

Emergency services, safety groups, manufacturers, retailers, standards organisations and battery experts were also consulted as part of the project, including:

– Bicycle Association
– Dyson Ltd.
– Electrical Safety First
– Exponent, Inc.
– Halfords Group plc
– London Fire Brigade
– National Fire Chiefs’ Council
– Pure Electric Ltd.
– Swifty Scooters Ltd.
– UL Solutions

The executive summary details that “…London Fire Brigade (LFB) has likely the largest evidence and incident database and has documented the increase in the frequency, from two events in 2017 to at least 178 incidents in London in 2023. Since 2020, the increase has been dominated by e-bikes, rather than e-scooters.”

Analysing the data, the report was able to determine that:

“The annual number of e-scooter incidents has not increased since 2021, but the number of e-bike incidents has continued to climb. WMG analysed the e-bike data to ascertain how many incidents involved conversion kits compared to Original Equipment Manufacturer (OEM)-made e-bikes. Of the 56% of incidents where this could be ascertained, over three quarters were conversion kits. The data on brand and model type of e-bikes and e-scooters has been used to inform some of the products purchased for teardown and abuse testing in this project.

Almost all incidents recorded by LFB occurred indoors, either in domestic or commercial properties. The LFB data on whether a battery was being charged at the time of the fire are not definitive, due to the high proportion of incidents where this could not be determined. However, there is evidence to suggest that some consumers use incompatible chargers, rated at up to twice the voltage of the battery involved in the fire.”

OPSS produced an update on its programme of activity to understand and address product safety risks involving e-bikes, e-scooters and lithium-ion batteries.

They also produced two videos showing conversion kit batteries for e-bikes going into thermal runaway when tested under conditions of misuse, such as the use of an unsuitable charger.

Battery Safety Testing 

In December 2024, the Government published guidance for businesses detailing statutory guidelines on lithium-ion battery safety for e-bikes. Created by the Department for Business and Trade, the guidelines set out ‘safety mechanisms that lithium-ion batteries for e-bikes must contain to address the risk of thermal runaway.

Those guidelines were established for ‘businesses that produce, import or distribute lithium-ion batteries for use with e-bikes, including converted e-bikes that are made available on the GB market.’

E-bike Positive Campaign

With several initiatives, reports and guidelines launched in recent months, including the e-bike positive campaign launched in August 2024, there’s growing momentum surrounding battery safety and wider education about electric bikes. The BA says, “We hope that swift Government action will help address the supply (especially from overseas and via online marketplaces) of unsafe products, as well as the demand for such items (especially in the ‘gig economy’ sector).”

As part of the e-bike-positive campaign run by ACT, with BA support, the e-bike-positive retailer pledge encourages e-bike retailers to join the united effort to enhance safety. Following its launch, several retailers pledged their support, agreeing to follow best practices and only sell and repair road-legal e-bikes. Anyone who signs up will be displayed as an e-bike-positive retailer.

Earlier this week, specialist publisher Electric Cycling issued a call to action to the industry, outlining their stance that the trade needs to regain control of the narrative around what does and doesn’t pass as an e-bike in the marketplace.

Whilst there is no quick fix to ongoing concerns, the Bicycle Association remains positive, saying they welcome the OPSS’s update on regulatory activity and OPSS’s close dialogue with the industry to date. The BA will continue to engage closely with OPSS as the report’s findings and other actions are taken forward.

In the weeks leading up to the UK cycling industry launching its biggest-ever e-bike battery safety campaign, it became clear that bike shops up and down the country were being visited by Trading Standards – the Office for Product Safety and Standards – specifically addressing “risks and responsibilities” associated with e-bikes and e-scooters.

These visits centred around guidance notes for retailers stocking, selling, and working on e-bikes with an advice note given, titled: “Prevention of fires caused by dangerous e-bikes and e-scooters”.

As Paul Vousden of Mapdec Cycle Works points out in the below video, the vast majority of non-compliant, not Type Approved, bikes and kits are being sold by unscrupulous retailers outside of the cycling industry, as well as via online marketplaces – neither of which are currently, in a significant way, being brought to account for their actions – despite clear compliance regulation for e-mobility products.

BikeBiz asked The BA for its thoughts on the visits and received this reply:

The Bicycle Association (BA) has engaged closely with the Office for Product Safety and Standards, the UK product safety regulator which sets policy for Trading Standards, on issues around e-bike safety, and we’ve previously noted to our member companies that this campaign is underway.

We believe the industry should welcome the recent intense scrutiny from Trading Standards on the e-bike sector, especially around the repair and conversion of potentially higher-risk e-bikes.

This work will help protect the reputation of the very safe products provided by responsible suppliers and retailers.

The guidance highlighted in the video about being sure of the safety of e-bike systems you may work on is excellent and common sense advice.

We’d also suggest that anyone in the e-bike business check out the other resources we’ve compiled on this issue on this subject, including both further official Government advice and industry guidance from ourselves and others.

The Bicycle Association has obtained new guidance from the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) on the potential impact of the ‘Consumer Duty‘ on the Government’s Cycle to Work (C2W) tax break scheme.

The Consumer Duty, overseen by the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA), came into force in July 2023, and differing interpretations of its potential impact on the operation of the Cycle to Work (C2W) scheme raised industry concerns.

In response, the BA sought clarification from the FCA on the issues raised by industry participants and where interpretations of Consumer Duty responsibilities differ.

The FCA has now produced a letter in response to these queries which can be read in full below:

In July 2022 we published final rules and guidance on the Consumer Duty. Firms are responsible for understanding their regulatory obligations and implementing them in the context of their business.

We set out the following timeline for firms to implement the Duty:

1. The Duty came into force on July 31, 2023, for new and existing products or services that were open to sale or renewal
2. On July 31, 2024, the Duty will come into force for closed products or services

We have published a wide variety of additional resources to help firms understand their obligations under the Duty and we wrote directly to all firms subject to the Duty in early 2023, with a tailored letter setting out how it applies to firms in different sectors. In the letter we were clear that firms need to understand their role in the distribution chain in order to meet their commitments under the Duty.

How the Duty applies along the Cycle to Work distribution chain

The Consumer Duty applies to the regulated and ancillary activities of all FCA authorised firms that are carried out with respect to retail customers. It applies across the distribution chain to all firms that have a material influence over, or determine, retail customer outcomes. Each firm has a responsibility commensurate to its role in the distribution chain and the extent to which the firm is in practice exercising discretion over consumer outcomes.

This means that firms must consider the specific nature of their distribution chain to determine their influence over consumer outcomes and their responsibilities under the Duty.

When a bike is made available to a consumer under the Cycle to Work Scheme, they enter into a consumer hire agreement with the owner of the bike, usually their employer or a third-party scheme provider. Entering into a consumer hire agreement is a regulated activity.

The owner of the bike may need FCA authorisation. There is an exemption from needing authorisation where the owner is the employer and the total value of the goods being hired does not exceed £1,000. For more information on this see the Department for Transport Guidance for Employers on the Cycle to Work Scheme.

Where the owner of the bike is an FCA authorised firm it must comply with all relevant regulation, including the Consumer Duty and the Consumer Credit Act.

The role of bike shops

Under the Cycle to Work scheme, bike shops supply bikes to employers or scheme operators, that are then hired to end consumers.

In this scenario, where a bike shop is an FCA authorised firm, it is likely to be carrying out an ancillary activity and is subject to the Consumer Duty. An ancillary activity is an unregulated activity that is carried out in connection with, or held out for the purposes of, a regulated activity. In this scenario the unregulated activity of the bike shop is carried out in connection with a regulated consumer hire agreement. For more information about ancillary activity see 2.41-2.44 of FG22/5.

Bike shops subject to the Duty must carefully consider their obligations, including the cross-cutting rules and the Price and Value outcome, where they are also considered ‘distributors’ or ‘manufacturers’ under the Duty. The Duty does not prohibit the payment of commission or the addition of charges to consumers.

The Price and Value outcome requires firms working along distribution chains to ensure that the price a consumer pays for a product or service is reasonable, compared to the overall benefits they receive. All firms along the chain have a responsibility to ensure that the costs they introduce do not undermine the value consumers receive. See Chapter 7 of FG22/5 for more detail on the Price and Value outcome.

Where a bike shop is not an FCA authorised firm, it cannot be subject to the Consumer Duty. In this scenario, FCA authorised firms in the distribution chain will be responsible for acting to deliver good outcomes in line with the Duty and ensuring that consumers receive fair value, including by considering additional costs imposed by other parties in the distribution chain.

Resolving issues along the distribution chain

It’s essential that all firms along the distribution chain are working together, with the shared goal of delivering good outcomes for consumers.

Where firms disagree about the best way to deliver good outcomes, in the first instance we would expect them to raise these concerns with other relevant parties in the distribution chain and resolve the issue. It must also notify us where it becomes aware that another firm in the distribution chain may not be complying with the Duty.

For more information, visit: www.bicycleassociation.org.uk