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Market: What is already certain for the bicycle industry sounds good: 2014 should be the year of the bicycle.
The general weather conditions are ideal for cycling in every respect. This does not just mean the weather in terms of mild winter and dry, warm spring. The bicycle also has a permanent high in society and even in big politics it is recognized that the bicycle as a means of mobility is not a marginal phenomenon. Even the ADAC, or rather its members' magazine, opens this month with a cyclist on the front page. The tourism industry appreciates the low travel speed and the large appetites of cyclists; Traffic planners and politicians take up the low costs with high effects of promoting cycling and realize: the bicycle no longer has any natural enemies.
The bicycle is very important to the Germans. In surveys, up to 26 percent of participants state that they are planning to buy a new bike within the next twelve months. At the same time, Germans value their bikes more than ever before – they spend an average of 1.176 euros in specialist shops. In general, the specialist trade is growing significantly. 70 percent of bicycle buyers know who to trust best. The reasons are obvious. The old bike has long since become a high-tech product. Customers need advice and service before, during and after their purchase, and only local stationary retailers can offer that.
Another motor for the bicycle boom are e-bikes. With over 1,6 million e-bikes/pedelecs sold, this is by far the most widespread and popular form of e-mobility on German roads. More than 2014 new e-bikes are to be added in 450.000 alone. The significantly higher purchase prices hardly deter buyers. It has long been recognized that quality pays off here. Similar to a computer or a smartphone, people like to dig a little deeper into their pockets for the latest technology. In 2.500, the average purchase price for an e-bike in German specialist shops was around 2013 euros.