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8 May 2025

ACT parent company Bira has welcomed the Bank of England's decision to reduce interest rates from 4.5% to 4.25%, calling it a "much-needed boost" for the retail sector, including for cycling...

8 May 2025

ACT parent company Bira has responded to the news that the 144-year-old Beales department store is staging a "Rachel Reeves Closing Down Sale" in its final weeks of trading, with giant yellow...

2 May 2025

Could the UK cycling industry be showing signs of renewed momentum? Following a challenging period marked by falling sales and overstocked inventories, overall trends and sales figures from...

2 May 2025

The Netherlands is set to legalise electric scooters and other light electric vehicles on public roads from July 2025, provided they are registered and display a license plate.

30 Apr 2025

The ACT has welcomed the announcement of a parliamentary inquiry into e-bike products not meeting safety regulations, which has been launched “in context of dangerous low-quality e-bike...

29 Apr 2025

Edinburgh has been named the UK’s top city for bike commuting, with 10.00% of its workforce choosing to cycle to work, according to new research.

28 Apr 2025

The Labour Government’s new Employment Rights Bill is set to be in force this year and the new regulations will impact high street retailers up and down the country.

25 Apr 2025

ACT parent company Bira welcomes the Chancellor's announcement of plans to create a level playing field for British businesses against unfair international trade practices.

15 Apr 2025

Retail Crime Remains Alarming - Bira's Latest Survey Reveals Urgent Need for Action

11 Apr 2025

Bira has cautiously welcomed the Prime Minister's announcement this week on plans to put 'thousands of Bobbies back on the Beat' with a new neighbourhood policing guarantee.

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E-bikes are offering a new marketplace for IBDs

Posted on in Business News , Cycles News

New research has come to light by the University of Reading and Oxford Brookes University, suggesting that e-bikes are providing the same ‘brain benefits' as standard bikes do for cyclists.

This research has found that cyclists between the ages of 50 and 83 experience cognitive and mental health benefits from riding an electrically assisted or pedal powered bicycle.

There is encouragement behind the improvement of the older generation's cognitive functions through cycling. Further research has found that certain aspects of mental health and well-being increased in participants who cycled on an e-bike for an hour and a half a week for an eight week period. The research suggests that there may be an impact of exercising in the environment on executive functions and mental health. The research has also found that there may be additional benefits beyond increasing physical activity that e-bikes provide to the older demographic with people reporting a greater improvement in brain function and mental wellbeing.

This research opens up a new marketplace for IBDs and introduces them to a demographic that may not ordinarily shop in bike shops.

E-bikes are becoming more and more popular as we move into 2019 with demand for e-bike technicians rising across the UK.

If you are looking to stock, sell and service e-bikes then why not sign up for a Cytech technical e-bike course designed to prepare businesses for the predicted rise in e-bike maintenance in the coming years.

The subjects covered in the course are:

  • Safe working practices when dealing with batteries and electrical units
  • Understanding and working to the legal standards and being able to differentiate between type approved and non-type approved e-bikes
  • Basic electrical theory and terminology including understanding wiring diagrams and multimeter use
  • Soldering iron and electrical crimps use with best practice for installing electrical connectors
  • Diagnosis and use of ‘intelligent' diagnostics systems, as well as testing and fault finding of the components
  • Removal and installation of components, and test rides of bikes with the motor either at the front, rear hub or built into the frame
  • Communicating service work completed to the customer

Find out more here

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