EUROBIKE 2015 | Exploring the Scottish Corner
Eurobike is the place where business is done for the year in the cycling world, contracts are formed, contacts are made and businesses form liaisons with others in order to push themselves forward over the next year. I was interested to see the Scottish Development International stand at Eurobike there to support a range of Scottish based companies there to make the most of the international trade and global connections on offer.
Inside the booth, its a hive of activity with seven companies brought together with a common theme – they are all based in the place well versed in mountain biking and the outdoor lifestyle, Scotland. I stopped by to chat with all of them and find out what they have to offer and how they are coping with the madness of Eurobike!
Front of house is Danny Cowe from the Mountain Bike Centre of Scotland, a joint initiative headed by Edinburgh Napier University and Developing Mountain Biking in Scotland. Danny and his team, based at the trail heaven of Glentress near Peebles, operate to support businesses of all sizes in developing world class mountain biking products and services. From bouncing around ideas to product development and testing these guys are an invaluable resource to business looking creating products and making change in the bike industry.
In the middle of the booth stands the Teko display with a multitude of technical socks and an interesting manufacturing story. Teko socks are made from recycled fishing nets, a sustainable source and a great way to deal with the nets no longer in use. I learnt these nets come from all around the world before being broken down, made into yarn and then into soft, eco friendly performance socks, pretty cool stuff!
In the far corner of the stand was Dirt School Mountain Bike Coaching, a company committed to providing real world, committed mountain bike coaching by professionals who have the riding credentials to help you to the top, whatever your game. I spoke with Dirt School partner and coach Andy Barlow about their recently launched interactive coaching app, something we at Enduro Mountain Bike Magazine had a look at earlier this month, it looks to be a helpful tool we could all benefit from!
At a completely different end of the MTB industry I meet with David Wray and took a look at his product the Grease Monkey Cycles, Bicycle Repair Station. David is branching out from the mobile bicycle care business and has created a new, robust bike repair station. The station contains all the necessary tools attached directly to it and is suitable for locations such as University Campus’, outside offices, rail stations or on busy bike routes. Just the ticket for trail centres we reckon!
Over on the opposite side of the booth I found Trakke, a company making bags they say are for the everyday adventurer and those on the route less travelled. Trakke craft durable equipment, sourcing British materials for these handmade bags.
Working clockwise round the booth I found Scottoiler, a brand with their roots in the motorbike industry. They showed me an interesting product in the form of a bicycle chain oiling system. This works by attaching a reservoir containing chain lube to either the seat tube or down tube of the bike with a hose that runs along the chain stay to the rear mech where it places a drop of lube onto the jockey wheel at a designated speed, say 1 drop every 30 seconds at its fastest setting. An idea stemming from the motorbike world which Scottoiler are hoping to find a place for in the cycle industry.
Lastly on my route round the Scottish Corner I found FreeFlow Technologies, a company who have invented a gearing system with the world’s lightest, most efficient power to weight e-bike. They state their technology can be applied to a range of products with the potential to redefine urban transport, exciting innovation in a rapidly growing e-bike market!
Words and photos: Rachael Gurney
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