BikeBiz catches up with Dan Smith of Fox Factory to discuss the future of Ride Concepts and how a switch to in-house distribution will benefit IBDs and consumers.

Founded in the fall of 2018–autumn to us on this side of the pond–Ride Concepts was created with the outcast idea of being the first mountain bike specific footwear company to offer a complete range of technically driven and tailored products for men, women and youth.

Fast forward to 2023, the business which started with a family need for better fitting and performing footwear for aggressive riding was acquired by industry giant, Fox Factory. On these shores, this aligned with Fox Factory UK establishing a new Woking headquarters to strengthen its UK presence and directly serve customers, focusing on suspension service and warranty.

“After Fox Factory acquired the Ride Concepts brand, Silverfish managed the UK distribution, playing a vital role in its rapid growth,” explains Dan Smith, manager of business development EMEA, Fox Factory and UK director.

But with a UK base and wider infrastructure in place, the decision was made to bring Ride Concepts’ distribution under direct management of the newly-expanded Fox UK team.

“With Ride Concepts brought back in-house for direct distribution in the UK, Fox Factory can effectively meet the demands of a changed market by refining pricing and ensuring retailers stay competitive with this high-performance brand,” adds Smith.

“Dealers can anticipate exceptional service and support from a dedicated team of passionate mountain bikers with decades of experience.

“We’re focusing on collaboration, supported by a growing ambassador programme, and offering competitive margins and flexibility. Our commitment to the MTB scene means we’re here to support dealers in meaningful ways.”

This commitment has been bolstered by the appointment of committed mountain bikers and long standing industry professionals, Nathaniel Hall and Jonny Howe.

Hall takes more than a decade of experience in the bike industry, having worked with brands such as Specialized, YT Industries, and Sigma Sports. He’s a specialist in B2B and B2C relationship management, with a deep understanding of the industry.

At Ride Concepts, Hall will oversee B2B sales, manage B2C customer service and lead the grassroots UK ambassador programme. Calling the trails of the Surrey Hills home, he is often found at local Enduro races or enjoying a mid-ride cuppa in Peaslake.

Howe has spent time at Saddleback where he specialised in relationship management with IBDs across the UK and with Intense Cycles as the UK market manager sitting across sales and marketing departments. His role at Ride Concepts will see him manage the B2B accounts across the UK and focus on re-establishing the brand’s presence in the market.

Howe will be based remotely in the South West, near Bristol and can be found out most weekends riding steep-tech in the valleys of South Wales.

“We are thrilled to have Nathaniel and Jonny join the team,” says Smith.

“As core members of the industry who have a track record of building market leading brands and introducing new products, we look forward to the Ride Concepts brand enjoying a return to form in the IBD network under their careful stewardship.”

The product story

While many in MTB circles will be familiar with the product names in the Ride Concepts line-up, the entire range has experienced design and technology updates. And many of these are available immediately to retailers and consumers in the UK.

“We’ve spent recent months preparing by adding dedicated staff and ensuring a comprehensive range of products,” comments Smith.

“The Ride Concepts range has been refined to focus on essential, high-impact models like the updated Livewire and the new Tallac Mid. We’ve also revised our pricing to offer greater value at RRP and increased dealer margins.

“Our stock is now in the warehouse and shipping to select retail partners, ensuring we are the first choice for consumers looking for high-performance riding shoes.”

Particular highlights include the Livewire range and the recently-launched Tallac Mid, which debuted in July.

“The Livewire range, now includes models for men, women, youth, and kids, has been completely revamped for 2024 and is already shipping,” adds Smith.

“The new Tallac Mid has just arrived in the UK, designed to excel in British weather. We’re working with top-tier partners like Boa, D3O, Cordura, and Rubber Kinetics to ensure superior performance and durability.

“Looking ahead to Spring 2025, we have some exciting new products in the pipeline. While we can’t share the details just yet, we’re confident they’ll make a significant impact. Stay tuned for more updates.”

According to Smith, the updates streamline the range by giving each model a distinct purpose and target rider, minimising feature overlap.

“The Livewire range provides a great entry point into MTB footwear with features typically found in higher-end models,” he continues.

“The Accomplice range combines on-bike performance with off-bike style and comfort. The Tallac range offers trail-ready performance with D3O insoles and Max Grip rubber. The Vice range combines skate trainer aesthetics with D3O insoles for enhanced protection and control.

“These improvements ensure each product meets specific rider needs and broadens our market appeal.”

So with the footwear range seeing a host of refinements, and a new parent company looking to develop the Ride Concepts offering, should we expect to see the brand entering new markets or sectors in 2025 and beyond?

“Riding injuries are no fun, especially when they could have been avoided. That’s why we’ve made toe, heel, and sole protection a big part of our footwear design—keeping you safe so you can keep riding hard,” says Smith.

“As well as some exciting new models of shoes to complete our footwear offering, we’ve developed accompanying products to improve the selling proposition for IBDs and help keep Ride Concepts’ riders fully covered.”

So with direct distribution from Fox Factory’s premises in the South East of England, a new team solely dedicated to building the brand and servicing customer needs, and a host of other positives to shout about, all that’s left for Smith and his team to do is to see Ride Concepts on the trails

“If you’re interested in what you’ve read or have had success with Ride Concepts in your store previously, we’d love to hear from you,” concludes Smith.

“Please visit our Dealer Enquiry page to provide your details, and either Jonny or Nathaniel will get in touch to assist with the onboarding process and provide all the relevant information.”

Retailers interested in learning more about the brand, 2025 products or other opportunities, should visit: rideconcepts.co.uk

In some more bad news for the industry, GT Bicycles, which separated from Cycling Sports Group/Cannondale to a stand-alone Pon Holdings brand in 2023 with its own design team, is reported to be pausing releasing new products while streamlining its operations.

In a recent statement to the cycling press, GT Managing Director Jason Schiers said:”There will be layoffs before the end of the year but the brand will continue to sell bikes in 2025.

“To ensure a sustainable and successful future, we are implementing a strategic reorientation to align with evolving customer preferences,” according to a statement by GT.”

The brand will focus “on core strengths, and refining our strategy to position GT for long-term growth. We will continue to sell our current range from existing inventory,” GT said in the statement.

Warranty and customer service will be handled by Cycling Sports Group.

“GT Bicycles remains a brand with strong potential, and this decision has been taken to lay a solid foundation for its next chapter,” the brand said.

Schiers was hired in 2022 after leading R&D for Selle Royal brands and focusing on Crank Brothers product development and quality. Schiers told BRAIN in February that GT was amid a transformation back to its IBD and off-road roots. Speaking from the UK’s COREbike show then, Schiers said he had been spreading the word about the brand’s renaissance at the B2B show, held by local distributors who invite brands they service for dealer facetime.

Nearly two years ago, GT announced its move from Wilton, Connecticut, to Aliso Viejo, not far from the brand’s original Southern California headquarters. It was one of the first changes for GT after Pon Holdings completed its purchase of the brand’s former parent company Dorel Industries in 2022.

British cycling company Spoon Group, the owner-operator of bespoke bike brands Spoon Customs and WyndyMilla, as well as custom paint business Gun Control, has entered liquidation, following extensive efforts to adapt to what the group’s owner described as the ongoing “challenging market conditions” affecting the bike industry in recent years.

At the start of 2020, Surrey-based bespoke steel bike brand Spoon Customs merged with fellow British custom bike specialist WyndyMilla, established in 2009 by Henry Furniss and Nasima Siddiqui, under the Spoon Group umbrella.

Spoon founder Andy Carr took over the new company as CEO during the reorganisation, which saw Spoon and WyndyMilla continue to operate as separate brands, while WyndyMilla’s in-house paint facility WM Paintworks was rebranded and repositioned as its own standalone business, Gun Control Custom Paint.

But despite the company’s reputation for designing and producing high-quality, eye-catching handmade carbon and steel bikes, the turmoil affecting the cycling industry since the Covid pandemic led to a number of cost-saving measures in recent years, including closing its premises in the Surrey Hills and adopting a more streamlined operational model.

However, due to the increasing pressures placed on the business by falling demand, rising costs, and cash flow problems, this week Spoon Group announced that it has instructed FRP Advisory Trading to place the company into liquidation.

“This is an incredibly sad day for everyone involved,” Spoon founder and director Andy Carr said in a statement. “Spoon and its brands have earned loyal support over the years, becoming known for championing better fit and the highest standards of fabrication and finishing.

“Despite concerted and sustained efforts to adapt to challenging market conditions, the business has found itself in an impossible position.

“In a market where demand has dropped significantly and costs have risen, the decision to enter liquidation was necessary to address these challenges, though it is wholly regrettable. We remain committed to supporting the liquidation process during this difficult time.”

He continued: “This decision will of course impact our customers. I deeply regret the challenges this situation may cause for everyone affected. We sincerely appreciate your understanding and patience as we work through this process.”

The news of the group’s liquidation comes over a year after Spoon Customs was forced to suspend its production of carbon bikes, including the award-winning Vars Disc, in a bid to manage the long wait times caused by what the company described as a “perfect storm of parts and supply chain issues.”

No official press release has yet been issued. Those with further enquiries or wanting updates about the liquidation process should contact FRP Advisory Trading Ltd via this email address: cp.orpington@frpadvisory.com

Daniel Blackham sits down with Peter Mildon, COO and co-founder of VivaCity to discuss the business’s journey to-date and the importance of local voices on local challenges.

Sustainable travel continues to gain momentum across the UK. With a vast range of ways to travel on the cards, it’s now time to harness the right data in order to support decisions on new schemes and promote positive change by measuring what matters. Step forward VivaCity.

Founded nearly a decade ago, VivaCity’s AI solution provides detailed and anonymous data insights to help optimise transport networks, improve urban infrastructure efficiency and save lives.

“It’s been a whirlwind journey,” says Peter Mildon, chief operations officer and co-founder of VivaCity, when discussing the company’s history to-date. “I’ve absolutely loved parts of it. I found other bits of it quite stressful.”

VivaCity sits across two unique areas by being both a venture-backed start-up that works closely with government and local authority.

“There’s two different worlds there, and trying to get those worlds to combine is always a challenge,” adds Mildon. The Silicon Valley mantra of ‘move fast and break things’ doesn’t cut it in the taxpayer funded public sector.”

Despite the challenges of merging the two, VivaCity has seen significant uptake in its services in recent years with the pandemic seeing a change in attitude from local authority when it came to implementing new schemes.

Recent announcements have seen Glasgow City Council harness AI to improve traffic flow and road safety, as well as Transport for West Midlands looking to new smart sensor technology to increase safety on cycle routes in Solihull.

“The pivotal thing for us that fundamentally enabled the business to leapfrog and become a big enough player to actually impact change and impact the things that we care about in terms of making transport more sustainable and safer, was Covid,” comments Mildon.

“Clearly I would never want to turn around and say that that horrific experience at a human and personal level was a positive thing, but going back to what I was saying a few minutes ago about ‘move fast and break things’, the attitude in government at that time was, move fast.

“You’ve got an opportunity here to try and test new things, and we’ve got a ‘national emergency’, so things moved quicker.

“That helped us become an established and more stable business that has then been able to carry on adding value after the pandemic is a long, not quite yet forgotten, thing in history.”

New opportunities

At the time of writing, the new Labour government has just passed its first 100 days in office after more than a decade in the opposition benches. While it would be unfair to judge success or failure at this stage, Mildon is optimistic about some of the pledges and commitments being made.

“In terms of the manifesto and some of the commitments, I think the objectives are good,” he says.

“The green agenda, trying to decarbonise transportation while providing equitable transport, with a focus on public transport around that as well, and making sure everyone can get access to it – all of those things are politically good.”

Ultimately for Mildon, the goal is about getting people moving efficiently and safely.

“I’ve always said that if you can persuade 10% of people to walk, cycle or get public transport, that’s 10% less cars in the traffic jam in front of you,” he adds.

“So even if you really want to drive, any plan that creates that modal shift is good for you, as well as for the people who are moving.

“We’ll hopefully find out more over the next few months [from the government about its plans], but we are certainly seeing some really positive movement in terms of continued commitment to investment around active travel, but alongside that, more devolution towards the local local authorities making decisions about how that is best enacted in a local place.”

As Mildon explains, the role of local authorities in making decisions for local roads is crucial to get the right infrastructure in the right places.

For example, one city may have the objective of having segregated cycle lanes to make people feel safer.

“So they want to get more timid cyclists into that and see more timid cyclists in that world, rather than as a route to get people to move more efficiently from A to B,” says Mildon.

“A different city might have the objective that the cycling infrastructure is to make it more efficient for someone to cycle from A to B, and if that creates a modal shift, more efficient for people to drive from A to B as well.

“And those are subtly different.

“You’ll see a difference in how you design those networks, in terms of the right of way at crossroads, potentially trying to either slow cyclists down or let them cycle through it at 20/30, miles per hour.

“It’s up to local politicians to make those sorts of decisions. I don’t think it’s right for that to happen nationally.”

In short, a good looking cycle lane in one city will be different to another, and having data that lets you work out if the design meets that level of objective is where VivaCity comes into play.

“We’d never say this particular histogram of cycling in a cycle lane is good or bad,” comments Mildon. “It’s just this is the histogram that you’re getting.

“What was your objective? Was your objective to get everybody, whether they were the most timid cyclist or the most energetic cyclists all in the same lane? Or was your objective to have the energetic one still out in the road while the more timid ones were in the lane?

“That’s what local politics decides, the designers try and deliver it, and we measure whether it’s working or not.”

GripGrab, a leader in premium cycling apparel and accessories, proudly announces its partnerships with Team Visma | Lease A Bike and UNO-X Mobility as the official supplier for gloves and shoe covers for 2025. These collaborations bring GripGrab’s cutting-edge weatherproof gear to two exceptional cycling teams, equipping them for both training and racing in the toughest conditions.

A shared commitment to excellence

Both Team Visma | Lease A Bike and UNO-X Mobility are renowned for their dedication to cycling excellence and impressive achievements. These partnerships underline GripGrab’s philosophy that success is built during rigorous training sessions as much as on race day.

“We are thrilled to partner with Team Visma | Lease A Bike and UNO-X Mobility to equip their riders with gear designed for the toughest conditions,” said Martin Krøyer, CEO of GripGrab. “These collaborations highlight our shared passion for cycling and our commitment to empowering riders throughout their journey. Our mantra, Ride All Year, reflects our dedication to supporting athletes who demand the best from their equipment, no matter the weather.”

Gear designed for champions

Both teams will rely on GripGrab’s high-performance products, including:

• Weatherproof gloves and shoe covers: Providing protection, comfort and grip during training sessions in cold, wet and windy conditions.
• Custom-designed race day gloves: Combining professional functionality with team-specific designs to ensure top performance and unity on the starting line. 

Partnering with Team Visma | Lease A Bike

Team Visma | Lease A Bike, celebrated for their relentless pursuit of excellence, will benefit from GripGrab’s innovative products designed to withstand year-round riding challenges. Mathieu Heijboer, Head of Performance at Team Visma | Lease A Bike, shared his enthusiasm: “It is essential for our riders to rely on equipment that supports them in every situation. GripGrab supplies us with gloves and shoe covers that ensure grip, warmth and comfort in the most challenging conditions. With this partner, we take our equipment to the next level.”

Partnering with UNO-X Mobility

As a Scandinavian team with a strong Nordic identity, UNO-X Mobility’s riders face demanding training sessions in harsh weather conditions. Thor Hushovd, General Manager of UNO-X Mobility, emphasised the importance of this collaboration: “We are excited to have a Scandinavian partner joining the team. GripGrab’s commitment to quality and functionality aligns perfectly with our values. Reliable gear during training is crucial for maintaining focus and performing at our best, and we’re confident GripGrab’s products will give us an edge in all aspects of the sport.”

Several of the UNO-X Mobility riders also expressed their excitement to be getting GripGrab on board as sponsor. Rider Søren Wærenskjold says: “I’m looking forward to using GripGrab gear. For us northern riders, it is crucial to have warm hands and feet during training. GripGrab’s products are important for us riders who train in cold winter climates. “ 

Inspiring the cycling community

The partnerships between GripGrab,Team Visma | Lease A Bike, and UNO-X Mobility represent a fusion of innovation, excellence and a shared Scandinavian heritage. Together, they aim to set new standards for performance while inspiring riders worldwide to embrace the preparation and passion that drive the sport forward.

About GripGrab

GripGrab is a Danish brand specialising in premium, timeless cycling apparel and accessories. Known for its dedication to functionality, comfort and style, GripGrab equips riders with the gear they need to perform at their best in all conditions.

For more information about GripGrab, Team Visma | Lease A Bike and UNO-X Mobility, view this article which features a Q&A with GripGrab CEO Martin Krøyer:
https://www.gripgrab.com/pages/partners_in_performance

Juice Lubes has teamed up with Slickoleum in the USA to add another workshop essential to its range of greases.

Slick Juice is designed to greatly reduce the breakaway friction of reciprocating seals, it also impregnates the pores of metal surfaces to further reduce friction and increase lubrication.

Developed for suspension assembly but by no means limited to. Slick Juice can be used on cables, freehubs, race day bearings, axles, dropper posts and more. It’s non migratory and highly resistant to water washout.

Rob Cook, Juice Lubes brand manager, said: “We’re thrilled to partner up with Slickoleum to bring Slick Juice to the market. With SRAM and other market leading brands choosing and recommending their grease for shock units and more, Slickoleum were at the top of our list when it came to bringing such a product to the market”

Available in 150ml and 500ml with RRP’s of £17.99 and £34.99 respectively.

Slick Juice is available for dealers to order now through Velobrands.

Rebecca Morley catches up with Domex Bikes – a newly launched mobile bike repair service – on how it started and how it aims to fill a gap in the market.

It’s safe to say mechanics are pretty indispensable in the bike industry – there’s an increasing number of bikes in the market now, so the need for people with good skills and experience in repair is higher than ever.

Becoming a bike mechanic is after all a “future-proof career” – that’s according to Shimano’s European Bike Mechanics Championship, which took place in Belgium in October, which also aimed to promote their role in the cycling industry.

But what about mobile mechanics? Our lives are busier than ever, and people are seeking solutions that offer as much convenience as possible, in every part of life. This presents a real opportunity for mobile bike servicing, particularly when we think about all the struggles the physical retail environment has faced over the recent years following on from the Covid pandemic.

The beginning

Domex Bikes is a mobile bicycle servicing operation based across London and Surrey, with its launch taking place earlier this year with the aim to fill a gap in the market of bike service and repair. But interestingly, its parent company Domex Ltd has already been operating for over two decades in the field of servicing kitchen appliances and white goods, with around 120,000 clients each year.

“Domex Bikes began in January 2024 but our parent company Domex Appliance Services has over 20 years of experience in the kitchen appliance world,” Paul Randall, operations manager at Domex Bikes, recently told BikeBiz.

“Domex saw a gap in the market of bicycle service and repair and brought me in (as the bike guy!) to add my industry knowledge to their established customer service and back office model.”

The bike guy

Randall has been in the bike industry for 11 years now – as a store manager at British cycle retailer Cycle Republic, a self employed mobile mechanic, head mechanic and mechanic supervisor at shared e-bike operator Forest Bikes, and now ops manager at Domex.

“I’ve been obsessed with cycling for as long as I can remember and have some decent palmares in terms of mountain passes conquered on my bike over the years,” Randall continued.

“I was approached by Domex in November last year as someone with industry knowledge, management experience who could set up and lead this new business venture. It’s been a rollercoaster but we are making the right moves and have built some great partnerships in the last nine months.”

Domex’s fleet of mechanics can visit customers at their home, at work, or at the side of the road to deliver its bike servicing – this can range from a simple quick fix like a puncture repair, all the way up to a complete strip down and bike rebuild.

Other services include hydraulic brake bleeds, groupset upgrades, bike building, and e-bike services.

While it launched initially in London and Surrey, Domex Bikes has ambitions to grow across the entire UK, offering services in cycling hot spots such as Bristol and Cambridge and other large urban environments.

High level service

But why is there demand for mobile servicing now – how have consumer expectations changed in recent times in terms of bike servicing and repair?

“Everything changed with Covid, and the landscape of mobile bike repair became filled with various one man bands operating themselves as opposed to in shops,” said Randall.

“High Street bike shops are few and far between now, and finding a really great one is hard. What we bring to this sector is a fleet of top level mechanics in state of the art workshop vans, providing a consistent high level service.

“We are the only mobile Shimano Service Centre in the country and that banner of quality and excellence gives the customer full trust in us, as opposed to the cowboy country that one man band mechanics sit in.”

So what opportunities and challenges does this sector face? “Honestly, I think that it’s all positive for us,” Randall said. “The sector has an image problem, but we solve that with our quality and our status as an SSC.

“The opportunity is there to change the industry and provide higher quality at greater convenience. I’ve got my sights on the international market after we have expanded further into the national one.”

On what the long-term future holds for Domex Bikes, and others in this sector, Randall said: “Personally, I’d like to have a training facility to develop our own mechanics, get people excited by the thought of being a bike mechanic as their profession.

“Cycling is awesome, and working in this industry can be so fulfilling. I’d love to get people into the industry, harness their passion and change people’s lives. Giving chances to people who need them and developing a workforce based on passion for bikes.”

Elite women’s cycling team Alba Development Road Team has named bike manufacturer Handsling as frame supplier and title sponsor for the 2025 season.

The Scotland based UCI Continental team will race as Handsling Alba Development Road Team and continue to be equipped with the British bike brand’s high-performance A1R0evo carbon race bikes, custom-painted in Alba Blue.

Together they aim to build on this season’s remarkable success in both domestic and continental cycling. Alba riders raced to a stunning championship double in the British elite road and circuit series and performed strongly in high-profile European events including Tour de Feminin, Antwerp Port Epic and Tour de L’Ardeche.

Alba and Handsling share the objective of providing talented riders with a pathway to the top of women’s cycling. Scottish national champion Eilidh Shaw recently signed a two-year contract with the UAE Development Team following a series of outstanding wins on her Handsling A1R0evo.

The 19-year-old won the UK National Road and Circuit Series and was named domestic rider of the year by both Cycling Weekly and the British Continental – all in her first full season at elite level.

Bob Lyons, Alba Performance Director and Team Manager, said: ‘2024 was a tremendous season for the team, completing an unprecedented double on home soil, with Eilidh winning both the road and circuit elite national titles, together with a string of very strong results in Europe. In addition to the results, the development of the team as a whole was outstanding and the A1R0evo played a part in the team’s successes. Handsling’s vision is very much aligned with that of the team and building on our existing relationship will be a major factor in the delivery of the team’s objectives going forward’

Simon Whiten, Director of Handsling Ltd, said: ‘We’re delighted to be strengthening our existing relationship with Alba as title sponsors. It’s been incredible to see the success of the team on the A1R0evo, winning many of the UK’s biggest races and being competitive on the continent. It means a lot to see riders like Eilidh making huge strides in their cycling careers and demonstrating the race pedigree of Handsling frames.

Handsling was launched out of the UK domestic race scene with a goal to make elite level bikes more accessible to everyone from casual enthusiasts to dedicated racers. For cyclists to become world class, they require the team environment, race programme and high- performance equipment to fulfil their potential. We’re confident that Handsling Alba will provide this.’

Handsling Alba’s roster for the 2025 season will consist of 11 riders. The line-up features a mixture of youth, experience, and even a household name – Olympic and World Champion Neah Evans. Riders renewing their contracts include race winners Lauren Dickson, Beth Morrow and Keira Bond. U23 signings Maddie Leach, El King and Mari Porton are considered potential stars of the future.

The focus is still very much on rider development, but with the strength and depth of the squad, it is expected to surpass the achievements of 2024. As a British team, it is a priority to support elite racing in the UK, so the team will be fully committed to all UK elite races.

The European calendar has expanded considerably, with the objectives being to ensure riders are in the correct races to optimise development. It is expected to undertake 40-50 race days in Europe, spanning both single day and stage races at all UCI levels (2, 1, Pro and WT).

Prior to her departure to UAE Development Team, Eilidh Shaw said: ‘The team structure, development support and environment has allowed me to focus on developing as a bike rider. This coupled with a rider focused race calendar and exemplary organisation has provided the perfect platform for me, as a rider, to secure a contract with UAE. There is not a better place to be for ambitious female cyclists.’

The team will be equipped with the Handsling A1R0evo for the second season in a row. Designed 100% in-house, the carbon frame is disc brake only, has clearance for 32mm tyres, and features asymmetrical forks and chain stays to enhance power transfer and stability under braking. Handsling controls all aspects of production and owns the moulds used to manufacture the A1R0evo.

Handsling bikes are custom assembled in the UK to rider size and spec, with a selection of 20 frame colours.

Visit www.handslingbikes.com for more information.

Zedify is one of the UK’s largest cargo bike delivery networks. Daniel Blackham sits down with CEO and co-founder Rob King to discuss the company’s significant growth, the hurdles it faces, and how the business plans to play a role in diversifying the sector.

The last mile delivery market has boomed in recent times with cargo bikes becoming the modal choice for many multi-million pound companies. Retailers are looking to differentiate themselves and break the mould, and brands are engaging in more sustainable business practices with a focus on delivery, because being sustainable is not just good for the planet, it’s good for customer retention and happiness, which translates to growth.

“It’s great to see companies like HelloFresh, Amazon and Evri all investing in cargo bike delivery,” says Rob King, CEO and co-founder of Zedify, when discussing the current landscape of the cargo bike delivery sector.

“Each big name that remodes to cargo bikes is a big vote of confidence in the market.”

Founded in 2018, Zedify is one of the market leaders in the sector with its tech-enabled, cargo bike first model helping enhance e-commerce brands, reduce cost and is over 80% lower carbon than the next best alternative. Currently delivering in Brighton, Bristol, Cambridge, Edinburgh, Glasgow, London, Manchester, Norwich and Plymouth, it plans to operate in 51 UK towns and cities within the next five years.

Despite huge growth since its inception, Zedify operating within a young industry presents unique challenges. Legislation and a long-standing car-first mentality are just some of the hurdles preventing a wider adoption of cargo bikes in cities and towns up and down the country.

“Bike technologies are advancing with more variety of models being used, but we need clarity on the regulation of bikes from the government moving forward,” explains King. “And while there is a clear desire from central and local government (and the general public) to have fewer large and polluting vehicles in city centres, it’s still not a level playing field between EVs and cargo bikes.

“More investment and support is needed via government policies to speed up the transition to cargo bike centred deliveries.”

The growth of Zedify as one of the UK’s largest electric cargo bike delivery networks has also created a new sub-sector for the firm to cater to. While the core focus remains on first and last mile deliveries using cargo bikes in city centres – where vans can’t operate efficiently and create congestion and air pollution – as the business has scaled, Zedify has been pushed to develop a “middle mile” infrastructure.

“Big e-commerce brands rely on this middle step to distribute their parcel volumes with incredible pace from warehouse to doorstep,” explains King.

“This has been a huge step up for the business and not without its challenges. Because we’re a disruptor, we’re building a system that doesn’t fit with pre-existing structures and so it’s been important to make the right decisions around cost, sustainability and service. “With retailers under increased pressure from a period spanning the cost of living crisis, political uncertainty, Brexit and the war in Ukraine, it’s often a challenge to get integration projects moving as quickly as we all want them to.”

A year to remember

 When asked to sum up the last 12 months, King simply replies: “Busy.” He continues: “We’ve made incredible progress this year which has included an additional £5m investment from existing investors including Barclays and Mercia.

“We’ve signed up retail giants including HelloFresh, Veja and Selfridges and built a rapidly growing pipeline of top tier retail brands looking to switch to cargo bike delivery.

“We’ve invested in a new technology stack to support our future growth and ensure ecommerce shipping tech integrations are smooth and fast. It’s a big vote of confidence for all our stakeholders – clients, staff and future investors.”

“The investment itself is supporting our growth, improving our tech and customer experience and building the middle mile infrastructure needed to bring the cost to serve down.”

At the time of the announcement, Zedify also confirmed that the funding would enable it to expand into more cities, as well as launch a new Midlands hub.

“It’s known as the golden triangle in the logistics industry on account of how many retail logistics operations are based there and it’s within a four hour trip for 90% of the UK’s population, so forms an efficient part of central distribution,” says King when describing the importance of the Midlands to Zedify’s future plans.

“Currently our footprint is well spread across southern cities including London, Brighton and Bristol, but there’s a gap in central areas, especially in cities like Birmingham and Nottingham which have huge populations, so it’s strategically important for us to expand there.”

Since March 2023, the company has almost doubled the size of its team from 113 to 209 and signed up national brands including Hello Fresh, Selfridges and Veja.

With the latest investment, it expects to create 80 new jobs, including 20 in the new Midlands hub, and to significantly increase its turnover.

“Over the next 12 months, we plan to triple our revenue but it’s likely we’ll only have one more city launch,” adds King. “The focus for us is on building density, improving cost to serve and expanding our client base with UK wide retail giants.

“It’s absolutely key to Zedify’s future success that we nail these elements before moving on to our ambitions to be in over 50 UK cities by 2027.”

Leading the charge

Away from the figures, King recognises that Zedify could play a significant role in other avenues when it comes to transforming the sectors it operates in. Earlier this year, the business launched a recruitment drive to increase the number of women in the logistics industry.

In collaboration with Loud Mobility, Zedify hosted an interactive event titled “Women Delivering the Future,” offering women a unique opportunity to explore careers in cargo bike delivery and the wider logistics sector more generally.

According to figures released by Zedify, the logistics industry in the UK is currently experiencing a significant gender imbalance, with only 19% of its workforce being women. Compounding this, 73% of women in urban areas do not cycle.

With Zedify operating at the intersection of logistics, cycling, and tech – three traditionally male-dominated spheres – it is committed to driving change.

“At Zedify, we recognise that the lack of gender diversity in logistics is not just a social issue, but a commercial one,” comments King. “Studies show that gender-diverse teams are 47% more profitable, and we see the positive effects of balanced teams every day.

“Our own data reveals that our mixed-gender delivery teams are not only more efficient but also report greater job satisfaction. It’s time we address this imbalance head-on.”

The aforementioned event, which took place in Hoxton, offered practical insights into a career in logistics, with participants learning new skills and hearing from inspiring women already thriving in the sector. Four women who attended were interested in trial shifts as a direct result.

“This is not just a one off,” concludes King. “Keep an eye out for upcoming events and partnerships as we spearhead this campaign to get more women into cargo bike delivery and logistics more generally.”

The BikeBiz jobs board helped fill more than 720 positions in 2023, and listings are still on the rise. Here’s our latest top five…

Inside Sales Representative – Santa Cruz Bicycles & Cervelo Cycles UK 

We are seeking a motivated and proactive Inside Sales Representative to join our team. This role focuses on building relationships with dealers, growing sales and promoting our brands. Our ideal candidate is commercially minded with strong communication skills. A passion for cycling is a bonus!

We are Pon Bike Performance UK, home of Santa Cruz, Cervelo, Juliana, and Reserve, four of the most exciting brands in the bicycle industry who tend to do things differently. We have over 25 years of cycling experience and our ultimate goal is to consistently build the best road and mountain bikes in the world.

Covering all brands, you will proactively sell through outbound calls and emails, working closely with the Outside Sales Representatives and contributing with targeted actions. You’ll be decisive and commercially minded – you know how to balance the interests of the customer and the needs of the business. Exclusively manage selected accounts. Keeping your eye on the market – for example, through opening new accounts or exploring new dealer opportunities. Help with Demo days and dealer events (including HQ supported events).

Hire Mechanic Apprentice

We are recruiting for the Hire Apprentice Mechanic.

These opportunities don’t come along very often, and it’s an amazing chance to get your foot in the door of this lifestyle industry…

You’ll receive your Cytech qualifications as well as on the job training, and all the Pedalabikeaway benefits, including pension scheme, discounts on bikes and kits, cycle to work scheme, uplift days and free lunchtime meals!

The main purpose of this role is to oversee day to day maintenance of the Hire Fleet. Cover the Hire Operation as required by the Hire Manager/Assistant Manager and prepare the sale of all ex hire bikes.

The genral main duties include, overseeing day to day maintenance of hire fleet. Promptly repair the hire bikes, ensuring that no bike is out of action for longer than 7 days. Hire out bikes to customers as required by the rota/BRM. Open and close the hire yard as required by the rota. Ensure maintenance and usage records are kept for hire fleet and bikes are being serviced as per the service schedule. Contribute to the cleaning and maintenance of hire yard and ensure that the workshop is clean and tidy at all times. Work towards completing your Cytech Level 2 and Level 3 mechanics qualifications. Assist mechanic with stocktakes. Responsible for maintaining a clean and presentable hire fleet.

Retail Team Member

We are looking for enthusiastic, reliable and rider focused people to join our Bristol retail team on a full or part-time basis. The correct candidate will join our experienced and knowledgeable retail team with a proactive and customer focused attitude with a passion for all things bike.

Certini Bicycle Company was established in 2001 from the sheer love and passion for all things cycling. Fast forward 20 years and today Certini is now 3 stores strong. Based in Plymouth, Bristol and now Birmingham. We now have a strong, family-based business which is still offering today that very passion and enthusiasm in working with the best products and brands that the cycle industry has to offer.

Candidates will be required to deliver an enthusiastic and knowledgeable customer experience. Resolve customer enquiries in an effective and responsible manner. Develop strong working relationships with other employees. Strive for constant improvement. Maintain the highest retail standards.

Qualified Mechanic

From humble beginnings, we built our first store at Leisure Lakes from the ground-up by hand!!  We have regularly expanded and now have 16 locations across the UK and a huge online bike store! But the story doesn’t end there. We have plans to expand to more locations around the UK. If you share our passion for bikes we would be pleased to have you join our team

We would like to hear from riders who are looking to either further their career within the cycle industry or, are you looking to start a new journey?

We have many job opportunities to join our team. We need you to be: Proactive, hard working, computer literate and most importantly  have a passion for bikes.?

Candidates will have good technical and mechanical knowledge of bikes and experience of bike maintenance and servicing in a busy environment.

The ideal candidate will be a conscientious and dedicated individual who appreciates quality and attention to detail.

As an experienced mechanic you will have the ability to problem-solve and work with the minimum of oversight.

General IT competency is necessary as you will be required to work as part of a team and share the diary/workload with your colleagues using a computer program and database.

Qualification to Cytech level 2 or 3 is preferred, although specific training in all areas will be provided to the successful candidate.

Technical Customer Service Representative

At Fox Factory, we push the boundaries of innovation in high-performance suspension systems for bicycles, off-road vehicles, trucks, and more. Our mission is to inspire adventure enthusiasts worldwide by delivering exceptional products and customer experiences.

As a Technical Customer Service Representative on our Fox Factory UK Service Team, you will manage daily interactions with Fox Factory customers, providing technical assistance, warranty support, and factory service solutions. Your role will be key to enhancing the efficiency and profitability of the department’s service processes.

Candidates will possess the following attributes. Passionate about mountain biking and outdoor activities. Focused on delivering outstanding customer service. Highly organized, detail-oriented, and adept at time management.