Cycling industry

The Business & Industry Guides series is produced by the Library & Information Service for ICAEW members and ACA students.

We can compile tailored key players reports, mailing lists, market reports, benchmarking reports and industry news. Our enquiry team can also research other industry-specific information, such as taxation, for you. Call us on +44 (0)20 7920 8620 or email library@icaew.com.

Market research reports focusing on this business sector are available from a number of market research specialists. In most cases these reports are available to fee-paying subscribers or on a pay-as-you-go basis.

Some free information is available from the following market research specialists, ranging from industry news to executive summaries of the reports.

Euromonitor
A full listing of reference products and research reports on motorcycles, bicycles and other transport equipment from Euromonitor, with a range of global, country and company level reports. Each report provides a contents listing and a useful executive summary reporting on the key trends in each country report.

National Bicycle Dealers Association
The trade body publishes reports on the US bicycle market with information on imports, exports, retailers, brands and trends. A bicycle market 2021 overview is available.

British Cycling

British Cycling, Sky and London School of Economics (LSE) conducted a study published in 2011 analysing cycling's contribution to the UK economy. TheBritish cycling economy: ‘Gross Cycling Product’ report is available to download from LSE and includes data on:

• infrastructure
• employment in different industry sectors
• the impact of cycling events
• different cycling segments
• investment.

Department for Transport

The Department for Transport publishes a collection of walking and cycling statistics as well as Transport Statistics Great Britain, an annual compendium of data. Figures include:

• proportion of residents who cycle
• how often people cycle
• cycle ride lengths
• cycle ride purposes
• cycling to work
• where usually cycled
• bicycle ownership by age
• bicycle trips by age and gender.

Office for National Statistics

The Annual Business Survey (ABS) from the Office for National Statistics collects financial information covering UK production, construction, distribution and service industries. Statistics available include:

The dataset Non-financial business economy, UK: Sections A to S includes statistics for:

• Manufacture of bicycles and invalid carriages (30.92)
  See Section C: Manufacturing

CONEBI

CONEBI is the result of the merger between COLIPED (the Association of the European Two-Wheeler Parts’ and Accessories’ Industry) and COLIBI (the Association of the European Bicycle and e-Bike Industry) in November 2014. They regularly publish the European Bicycle Market and Industry Profile. This economic study offers data on:

• bicycle production
• bicycle parts and accessories production
• bicycle sales
• employment.

Eurostat

Eurostat, the EU statistics hub, collates detailed Structural Business Statistics giving the latest figures for industry, construction, trade and services by sector and country. The indicators available include:

• number of enterprises
• turnover or gross premiums written
• production value
• value added at factor cost
• gross operating surplus
• wages and salaries
• social security costs
• gross investment in tangible goods
• gross investment in land
• gross investment in existing buildings and structures
• gross investment in construction and alteration of buildings
• gross investment in machinery and equipment
• number of employees
• number of persons employed per enterprise.

Statistics within the database are available for:

• Manufacture of bicycles and invalid carriages (C3092)
  See database section ‘SBS – industry and construction’

Japan Bicycle Promotion Institute

The Japan Bicycle Promotion Institute compiles reports on Japanese bicycle production, import and export.

INDSTAT

The UN Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO) collects and compiles industrial statistics known as INDSTAT, which give information on:

• number of employees
• number of establishments
• output
• value added
• total wages and salaries.

Statistics by country are available for:

• Bicycles and invalid carriages (3592)

UN Commodity Trade Statistics Database (Comtrade)

The UN compiles and publishes international import and export statistics in the Commodity Trade Statistics Database (Comtrade), giving figures for goods traded by value, quantity and weight for each country.

Statistics are available for:

• Vehicles other than railway, tramway (87)

UN Industrial Commodity Statistics Database

The UN provides statistics on the quantity of goods produced by country in the Industrial Commodity Statistics Database.

Figures are available for:

• Bicycles and other cycles, not motorized (49)

UK

The annual Business Register and Employment Survey (BRES), published by the Office for National Statistics, includes total employee and employment estimates for different industries for Great Britain and the UK. Figures are broken down to show full-time/part-time and public/private splits. The dataset Industry – Business Register and Employment Survey (BRES): Table 2 includes statistics for:

• Manufacture of bicycles and invalid carriages (30920)

The Office for National Statistics publication Annual Survey of Hours and Earnings (ASHE) includes average employment costs within this sector which can be found in Table 14. Average employment costs are provided for full-time employees, part-time employees and all employees.

The data includes average employment costs for:

• sports players
• sports coaches, instructors and officials.

Other regions

Please see individual country profile pages for links to sources of national statistics.

Trade Tariff

The Trade Tariff is a useful Gov.uk database listing tax, duties and licenses for the import and export of goods between the UK and other countries. The database is searchable by product or commodity code and results can be filtered by date and country. Information also includes links to relevant conditions and regulations.

See import and export information for:

• bicycles and other cycles (including delivery tricycles), not motorised.

Atom Content Marketing guides

The Start Up Donut from Atom Content Marketing provides practical information on starting up and running a number of small business types. Guides cover a range of areas including market research, current trends, regulations, products and services, promotion and pricing. They include:

• Cycling event organiser
• Bicycle shop

Trade journals, B2B magazines and specialist consumer magazines are another useful source of news and statistics.

• Bicycle Retailer
• Bicyle Times
• BikeBiz
• Bike Europe
• Cycling Weekly
• MBR: Mountain Bike Rider

The websites of trade bodies in this sector are a useful source of industry overviews, contacts and statistics.

UK

• Association of Cycle Traders (ACT)
• Bicycle Association of Great Britain
• British Cycling
• British Electric Bicycle Association (BEBA)
• International Mountain Biking Association UK (IMBA)
• CTC: The national cycling charity

Europe

• Confederation of the European Bicycle Industry (CONEBI).
• European Cyclists' Federation (ECF)

Americas

• Bicycle Product Suppliers Association (BPSA) (US)
• National Bicycle Dealers Association (NBDA) (US)

Asia

• Japan Bicycle Promotion Institute
• Taiwan Bicycle Association (TBA)

Global

• Light Electric Vehicle Association (LEVA)
• World Federation of the Sporting Goods Industry (WFSGI)

Cycling industry guide: British Library
British Library industry guides provide listings of resources for industry-specific information, including print directories and materials held by the British Library.

Contact the British Library Business and IP Centre for more information.

Articles and books in the Library collection

• View a list of articles and books in our collection on the bicycle industry

To find out how you can borrow books from the Library please see our guide to book loans.

You can obtain copies of articles or extracts of books and reports by post or email through our document supply service.