CoreBike Preview: Vielo Sports talks events, new products and the D2C trend

This years’ CoreBike (register here) marks a return to live events for many in the UK. Prior to the event, CI.N has been catching up with exhibitors and attendees, exploring what they’re looking forward to, and what they’ll have on show.

Ian and Trevor Hughes, the father and son team behind Vielo Sports, are the UK distributors for Vielo bikes and Lightweight wheels. With over 30 years’ of industry experience, Ian and Trevor launched bike brand Vielo in 2018, offering bikes designed in Britain, engineered in Germany and hand finished to the customers specification in Britain.

At CoreBike 2022 Vielo Sports, located in Syndicate Room 7, will launch to the trade a new version of its V+1 Gravel bike, plus a new colour R+1 road bike to compliment the Campag Ekar groupset. Also on display will be the existing Vielo R+1 Road and V+1 Gravel bikes.

As the UK distributors for Lightweight wheels, unique in their full carbon, bonded spoke construction, there will be plenty of amazing carbon on display. The German firm entered cycling folk lore when informing a certain multiple Tour de France winner that he too would have to pay to ride their wheels! More recently, Ineos Grenadiers chose to ride Lightweight for selected events.

Catching up with the father and son team CI.N asked, for those returning to live events, what makes CoreBike the show to attend?

“Cycle retailers and staff have been starved of being able to mix together and discuss all the trade gossip, plus see new stuff. It’s a great venue, brilliant vibe and really well organised,“ said Ian.

So, what can people expect from Vielo Sports at the show next month?

For shops coming by the stand, Ian says “we offer a very reliable supply of products to like-minded dealers who are looking for something really cool, outside of the ‘Corporate’ brands supply and business model. Plus, we have stock of full bike builds that we can deliver now.”

And for those wanting information on sign-up terms, if new accounts enquire? “We offer a competitive margin for a four bike sign up, which continues on all re-orders. This is supported with a very clear line-of-sight of stock throughout 2022 and thereon.”

When asked about announcements, or talking points, ahead of the show, Ian told CI.N: “The big chat and debate around at the moment, in the UK and US, is how Specialized are treating their dealer network by (in part) going direct. These dealers probably don’t have much in the way of options. Other dealers will be looking to move away from the ‘Corporate’ business model that Specialized continue to work towards, that only satisfies the business of Specialized. I truly believe that this is just the start of how the big cycling business groups will follow the trading style of Specialized.”

What does this mean for the Independent Bicycle retailer short and long term? Hughes believes the agile indie store may actually have a strong hand to play.

“I think the small IBD who carefully selects the brands and suppliers that will offer them great product, reliable profit with great service, are in a very strong position,” says Ian. “Right now, I see the medium to large IBDs at a very venerable position. They have been placing huge forward orders during the pandemic to their suppliers, which their cash flow and liquidity cannot support. Their shops, warehouses are currently overstocked, and their supplier’s bills are rolling in. Overall, I see the dealers who are locked into most of the big corporate brands, and those who have blindly over ordered during the pandemic at the most vulnerable. The smaller IBD’s who offer their customers a premium product and service, will be the ones who can ride through this and have a long-term future.”

To meet the Vielo team at CoreBike, don’t forget to register here.