Market: It's snowing, Christmas is just around the corner. What does the specialist trade say, was the 2017 bike season a nice gift? We visited Valentin Biller, owner of Biller Bikes, and talked to him.
Velomotion: Hello Valentin, please introduce yourself and your business to our readers.
Valentin Biller: I'm Valentin Biller, and I run the business in its fourth generation. It's a bicycle shop with a history. We've always been in the same location here in Deggendorf. We're a ZEG dealer and carry Bulls and Pegasus, as well as KTM for higher-end e-bikes. We're also a Specialized Elite Store, so we cater to the truly sporty clientele who expect a lot from a bike.
Velomotion: What does Elite Store mean?
Valentin Biller: We have a very large showroom with many Specialized products; we have almost everything in stock, so you can look at everything. Most of it can also be test-ridden; we have a lot of demo bikes available. Our customers can really try out what suits them best.
Velomotion: Looking around here, it seems you also have an extensive range of services and accessories.
Valentin Biller: Exactly, we're a Shimano Service Center with a huge selection of spare parts. As a SRAM Service Point, we also have a large stock. We carry clothing from Löffler, who are a local company, as well as from Vaude and Specialized.
Velomotion: Thank you, I think this gives our readers a good impression of Biller Bikes. I'd like to share a season review and a forecast with you. Here in the Bavarian Forest, there's snow, the season is over. What were the top sellers this year? Were there any slow sellers?
Valentin Biller: Overall, we're very satisfied with the 2017 season. There was always something going on, and I enjoyed running a bike shop. However, the product range has definitely changed in recent years. We used to sell a lot of trekking bikes and cross bikes for around €1000 or more. That's declined significantly. These cyclists are increasingly buying e-bikes, for example, for riverside bike paths—we have the Danube and Isar cycle paths right on our doorstep. We're still seeing good sales in the entry-level price range up to about €500. But people are always considering an e-bike for that price range. Of course, we still have a selection of non-motorized bikes, and we can easily meet that demand as well.
Velomotion: And what was the "hit"? E-mountain bikes are all the rage. Are they popular with you too? For casual riders or also for more ambitious athletes?
Valentin Biller: Yes, e-mountain bikes have definitely become very important. We now have a lot of young e-bike customers. Customers who use e-bikes as training tools. Even people who actually race. With an e-bike, they maintain their basic fitness because they can use it when they can't ride a regular bike, during training breaks, or in everyday life.
Velomotion: And what do you think 2018 will bring? What's happening then?
Valentin Biller: What we're already seeing is a demand for e-bikes with well-integrated systems. This makes the bike look even cleaner, more streamlined. Companies have been implementing this in recent years, but even better solutions are becoming more widespread. This will make e-bikes attractive to many who previously rejected them, partly because they look more like a regular bicycle.
Velomotion: Are you generally satisfied with the manufacturers? Do they build good e-bikes?
Valentin Biller: Overall, yes, a lot of positive developments have taken place in recent years. There's always room for improvement, though. Sometimes it's just minor things, sometimes it's substantial. I don't understand why disc brakes are still being used that only accept simple resin pads. The wear and performance are simply not suited to e-bikes. Wear on chains and cassettes is also high. There are products optimized for e-bikes, but they don't last as long as components on a regular bike. And they're rarely used in mass production.
Velomotion: Your product range is very comprehensive and you don't just cater to e-bikers?
Valentin Biller: We have something for everyone! For example, disc brakes are a big topic when it comes to road bikes. Carbon rims are trending, and good braking performance is only possible with disc brakes. It's also good to get the heat away from the inner tube. I think it's a great thing.
Velomotion: Is the market accepting it?
Valentin Biller: Yes, the bikes are now in high demand. Only the riders who want high-end equipment and look to professional teams for inspiration are sometimes hesitant. The UCI needs to address this. When professionals ride disc brakes, acceptance increases. Currently, ambitious road cyclists are still wondering why they should ride something their idols don't use. I would also like to see a uniform standard for thru-axles, disc sizes, and so on, especially in the race regulations.
Velomotion: In mountain biking? One-by drivetrains, telescopic seatposts and more aggressive geometries?
Valentin Biller: Dropper seatposts and 1x drivetrains make things much easier for the rider. They get significantly more performance from their bike and are safer and more fun to ride. They have to think less and also experience fewer problems. The geometries are also changing, but slowly. Wheels are getting longer, shorter stems are being used. But the huge changes of the past are no longer happening. What we've noticed is that the new wheel sizes have made a big difference. B-Plus tires (Editor's note: 27,5-inch wheels with wide tires around 3.0 inches) are the big thing in e-bikes. More traction, more stability, people feel much safer. There was a real hype, even for bikes without motors. But that has subsided; the higher rolling resistance, the weight, etc., are likely to blame.
Velomotion: And what about 27,5 inches with normal width?
Valentin Biller: Of course, those still exist. But we rarely get requests for them. I see them more in the gravity sector, with long-travel suspension. For regular full-suspension bikes, it's maybe 10 percent. We mainly sell 29ers. That might be due to our region. The Bavarian Forest is a top mountain biking area with trails for every skill level. But there are hardly any switchbacks where you have to reposition your bike or similar tight sections like in the high mountains. Maybe that's the reason.
Velomotion: And which bike should you buy in 2018?
Valentin Biller: Service is a top priority for us, and not just in the workshop. We have a wide variety of test bikes here – a huge fleet ranging from enduro to e-trekking bikes. For example, from Bulls, KTM, and Specialized. It's important not to buy a bike without knowing it and whether it's right for you. We're happy to lend out bikes for the weekend, for testing and fun. If you know what you're buying, you rarely make a mistake.
Velomotion: So, if you don't know which bike you need in 2018, you can simply drop by Biller Bikes.
WEB: www.biller-bikes.com