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Bike Project Europe: Parts and accessories from Germany and neighbouring countries
1 Acros MTB carbon handlebar
Mountain bike handlebars are actually components worthy of production in the EU. Unlike, for example Brakes or Suspension forks they usually consist of just a few different ingredients. This keeps the supply chains manageable. Nevertheless, European handlebars made from lightweight carbon are rare. Acros has the 780 millimetre wide MTB carbon handlebars with 35 millimetre clamps manufactured by carbon specialist Bike Ahead Composites in Veitshöchheim near Würzburg. Packaging and dispatch are carried out by Acros in Renningen, Baden-Württemberg. 149.95 euros is the price of the handlebar, which also includes the The cockpit of our EU project bike.
2 Dr Wack F100 Organic Bicycle Cleaner
Dr Wack from Ingolstadt has been producing the F100 bicycle cleaner in Bavaria for four decades. The family-run company has been manufacturing its lubrication and care products in Germany since 1975. To ensure that this remains the case in the future, Dr. Wack is currently building new production capacities just a few kilometres away. The organic version of the cleaner consists of 97 per cent ecologically renewable raw materials, which are blended in Ingolstadt. This does not result in any chemical reactions and does not pollute water, air or soil. The F100 organic bike cleaner comes in a refillable recycling bottle for 17.99 euros >> available here.
3 Lubricant: Danico Biotech Race Shok
When lubricants evaporate, they end up in nature. It's a good thing that the fork and damper oil from Danico Biotech is biodegradable and even has food approval. Race Shok, which is produced in Worms, is made from renewable raw materials. Climate-friendly organic oil from German sunflowers makes it less affected by temperature compared to mineral oil-based products. Longer service life also ensures longer maintenance intervals. The non-toxic organic hydraulic oil is available in stores for 36.90 euros per litre.
4 Selle Italia X-Bow TI316 saddle
No wonder Selle Italia proudly bears its origins in its name: bicycle saddles have been built in the province of Veneto for over 120 years. All parts for the X-Bow TI316 are made in Asolo at the foot of the Italian Alps. Upholstery, cover, frame - everything is produced and assembled on site. Apart from the raw materials, the X-Bow is one of the rare 100 per cent EU products. That's why the Enduro saddle with a cushioning shell also ends up on our project bike. The EU saddle with titanium struts from Bella Italia costs 139.90.
5 Bicycle lighting: Lupine Neo
Lupine lamps are made by hand in Neumarkt in the Upper Palatinate. This means that every relevant component can be checked for function and precision during assembly and, if necessary, immediate action can be taken. In-house production also shortens delivery and development times. The Bavarians can react quickly to crises and trends. In times of sudden changes in demand due to corona and the like, this flexibility is more important than ever before and ensures that Lupine can continue to maintain a good supply situation. Weighing just 59 grams, the Neo helmet light illuminates the trail with up to 1000 lumens. The 3.5 ampere-hour battery provides energy for up to 80 hours of operation. The spotlight costs 236.00 euros >> available here.
6 Ortlieb Seat Pack saddle bag
For Ortlieb, production in the Middle Franconian town of Heilsbronn also has something to do with guarantees. The bag specialist has been producing in Germany since it was founded in 1982 and can best ensure that quality standards and environmental protection requirements are actually met in-house. This includes, for example, the professional recycling of waste. As a local company, Ortlieb supports social initiatives such as the Heilsbronn Community Foundation. The waterproof Seat Pack holds up to 16.5 litres and can be compressed thanks to a valve. For 149.99 euros, you can take it on a bikepacking adventure >> at Mountain time, Mountain friends or Rose available.
7 Löffler M Bike Jacket Alpha II WS
When we think of the textile industry, we inevitably think of huge factories in Vietnam or China, where workers sew together cheap fabrics for a pittance and in the stench of chemicals. This makes it all the more pleasing that Löffler has been producing cycling clothing in Austria since 1981. 14 employees produce 70 per cent of the fabrics in the company's own knitting mill in Ried im Innkreis. The yarns for this come exclusively from Europe. All other work steps, from design to cutting and sewing to dispatch, are also carried out in Austria - perfect for the BIKE Project Europe. The 159.99 euro Alpha II is windproof and water-repellent. Thanks to the in-house repair service and the fact that the fabrics are stored at Löffler for several years, it also scores highly in terms of sustainability >> available here .
8 Uebler I31 bike carrier
All 50 parts of a Uebler bike rack are produced 100 per cent in Europe - including the raw materials. This means that the supply chains are also easy to trace: injection moulded parts come from the surrounding region and all metalworking processes have been carried out in-house for over 55 years. All development, production and administration takes place in the Franconian town of Forchheim. This is a strong commitment to the region and creates over 140 jobs. The I31 hitch carrier has space for three bikes with tyres up to 2.8 inches wide. The 849.00 euro I31 is approved for a maximum payload of 54 kilos >> available here.
9 Evil Eye Traileye Pro glasses
The Traileye Pro has little in common with the colourful plastic glasses produced by cheap suppliers from the Far East. Like all Evil Eye sports glasses, it is manufactured in Linz, Upper Austria. The full-length lens is self-tinting and is designed to provide a brightening and contrast-enhancing effect, especially when light conditions change quickly on the trail. The Evil Eye Traileye Pro costs 315.00 euros. Interchangeable lenses and the solutions for the optical glazing of the glasses also come from the heart of Europe and are made in Austria.
10 Seat cream Holmenkol Chamois Cream
Exactly 100 years ago, Dr Max Fischer developed the world's first ski wax. He later named the resulting company in Ludwigsburg after his favourite ski jump in Norway. The portfolio now also includes lubricants and care products for bikes and bikers. Holmenkol produces 90 per cent of the ingredients itself in a factory near Münster. The Chamois seat cream based on deer tallow contains vitamin E as well as D-panthenol and is designed to help prevent sore buttocks and pressure sores after long hours in the saddle.
11 Brake disc Galfer Disc Shark
With the current European costs for steel, many manufacturers are already getting the finished product from Asia for the price of the raw material. The fact that Galfer manufactures brake discs at its headquarters in Granollas near Barcelona is therefore something special. The Catalans have been producing brakes and accessories for 70 years, primarily for the motorbike market - but also for mountain bikes since 1990. Brake discs, such as the Disc Shark, are cut from a steel plate using German laser technology. This also enables filigree structures such as the distinctive cooling fins, which are said to reduce heat development by up to 30 per cent better than discs without this system. 99.90 euros is the price for the Disc Shark.
12 Telescopic support Vecnum Nivo
After bad experiences with external production, engineer and founder Marcell Maier decided to produce everything in-house at Vecnum. The advantages of having an overview of the availability of parts and the rapid realisation on the in-house five-axis CNC machine meant that Vecnum supports have been produced in Isny in the Allgäu region since 2016. That's why the Nivo, together with the TrigLOC thumb lever, is also fitted to our EU project bike. The purely mechanical telescopic support offers an adjustment range of between 90 and 212 millimetres. Cost: from 429.00 euros.
Interview with Peter Wöstmann, PR Manager at Ortlieb:
BIKE: Made in Germany is a matter of definition: often only the last production step takes place in Germany. What does that mean for Ortlieb?
PETER WÖSTMANNFor us, this really means that everything is manufactured at the company's only site in Heilsbronn. Over 70 per cent of the material for our products also comes from Germany; all the injection-moulded plastic parts on our products, for example, are manufactured just around the corner and delivered to us by electric forklift truck. The fabrics for our products come from the region, and we buy the waterproof zips from the company based in the neighbouring building. In addition, 90 per cent of all processes are carried out in-house: from design to construction, mechanical engineering, marketing and product management through to sales.
Most bike accessories have so far been manufactured in Asia. Is production in your own country really better?
In any case, it is good for people and the environment. Germany has very high social and environmental standards by global standards. Local production also enables us to achieve shorter transport routes, a more traceable supply chain, lower emissions and faster delivery times. The direct and long-term relationships with our suppliers help us to achieve this.
Can the production conditions for bike accessories in Germany be further improved?
Our complete Made-in-Gemany production offers far-reaching potential to generate our own energy from our own renewable sources in the future. We are already able to generate almost a third of our electricity requirements from our own photovoltaic system. We will increase this proportion significantly over the next few years. Our aim here is to generate more of our own electricity in future than we consume ourselves.
Bike Project Europe: Statements from Uebler, Danico and Lupine on production in Germany
Statement by Mark Fohrer, Sales Manager Uebler:
"Our carriers are 100 per cent European, from the raw materials to distribution. Clear supply chains have a positive effect on our quality assurance and sustainability. Production in Germany makes us independent and strengthens the region."
Statement by Arian Nek, Managing Director of Danico Biotech:
"The development and manufacture of products based exclusively on renewable raw materials in Germany guarantees us consistently high quality as well as climate-friendly and socially responsible production."
Statement from Joshua Koch, Marketing Manager Lupine:
"For us, this means above all a big plus in terms of quality: reliable lamps at our performance level require extremely close quality control. Furthermore, the manufacture of high-precision optics in Germany is world-leading."
Stefan Frey
Editor
