Wheels in motion for cycling fans to get hands on 'first of kind' lightweight bike
CYCLING experts are shaking up the industry after unveiling the first British-made mass-produced carbon-fibre bike.
Eurobike, based in Sinfin, is the first company to design, develop and produce such a bike in the UK.
Currently, the only British-made carbon-fibre frames are built specifically for world-class elite cyclists such as Bradley Wiggins and Mark Cavendish.
Eurobike, along with partner Staffordshire firm Vekta Composites, has spent two years on the project, resulting in a frame weighing no more than a kilo.
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The bike, named Stanza and part of the company's Moda range, is expected to sell for between £1,000 and £1,500, compared to an estimated £15,000 for those used by British Cycling's Olympic and road-race heroes.
Once it has undergone thorough stress and impact testing in Manchester, an initial batch of 1,000 bikes will be put together. The company anticipates taking orders for the new bikes from next January.
Managing director Paul Stewart said: "This is the first of its kind. There is nothing out there like this to my knowledge. The lightweight carbon-fibre frame will weigh under a kilo and it will be competitively priced, so not just available to the minority.
"It represents a significant financial and emotional investment and many hours will have been spent getting this to market."
Sales of Eurobike's Moda range have surged since August, thanks largely to Bradley Wiggins winning the Tour de France and the successes of Team GB's cyclists at the Olympics.
Mr Stewart said: "It is important for companies like ours to maintain the momentum, keep products fresh, interesting and accessible to people.
"Derby as a city has invested a lot in cycling, with Cycle Derby very prominent and work starting on the velodrome."
Eurobike employs 10 people at its base at the Sinfin Lane Industrial Park but will take on more people if the Stanza proves to be a success. The project came about thanks to a chance meeting between Eurobike sales director Russ Masters and Martin Mier, owner of Vekta Composites, based in Stoke-on-Trent.
Mr Stewart said: "Martin is a keen triathlete, he got talking to Russ about making a carbon frame and the Manufacturing Advisory Service got involved, funding 50% of the initial costs. There has already been a lot of interest from the industry and the reaction we got from the public at the NEC Cycle Show at the weekend was fantastic."
Comments
by Antony_Rol
Wednesday, October 03 2012, 10:34PM
“All the best to them and I hope they succeed however their claim to be the first british made carbon fibre bike is a load of tosh I'm afraid there has been several british manufacturers of mountain bikes producing carbon fibre frames in the uk in greater numbers and at similar prices for years
They may also find the Moda name is already taken”
by mrbobuk
Wednesday, October 03 2012, 4:39PM
“Brilliant news! We now have world-class heritage in hand-made bikes, in the form of Mercian Cycles of Alvaston and now the only British carbon frame manufactured here. It's so nice to see manufacturing retained in Britain. Forme Bikes are putting out some superb bikes too and with the Velodrome in prominence along with the Cycle Derby initiative, we are firmly establishing ourselves as a cycle city. Well done Derby. Chapeau! Moda.
Rob Whitehead
Castle Donington
(Derby born and bred)”