Whether or not the high stock levels of bikes that currently exist in Europe will reflect in huge price cuts, or a planned delay in new 2012 models coming through, remains to be seen.

Dealers in Holland, for example, are saying that sales dropped over 25% in June alone, and that even electric bike sales, which have been very popular, have slowed.

Could this be a good time to grab a bargain?

Trek Bikes have just launched an online suspension calculator for Trek full suspension riders. At this stage the application has settings for 2011 and 2012 full suspension models. The database will shortly be upgraded with models going back to 2009. This online application will make mechanics’ life easier for initial suspension set ups in the store, and also allow anyone in WiFi range to pick up the information on a range of devices.

More at: http://www.trekbikes.com/uk/en/resources/suspension_setup

The Brompton world Championships were held at Blenheim Palace in Oxford last week during the Breast Cancer Care Bike Blenheim Palace Festival of Cycling. Winner of the main event, a Le Mans’ style start, a quick assemble up and two laps of the course, was Michael Hutchinson who won a custom-painted Brompton with matching luggage.

The winner of the women’s event, for the second year running, was Rachael Elliot, who also won a similar Brompton with luggage. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FGMstwEQUeg

Cycle Training UK has recently launched a book of games that can be played on a bike. These are suitable for cyclists of all ages, and will improve their bike skills, while still having a great time.

Available as ‘print on demand’ from Lulu: http://www.cycletraining.co.uk/index.php?pg=185

And whilst on the subject of books, here is a recent offering from well-established bike writers Jim McGurn and Mick Allan. Here is a preview on issuu .com , but it’s soon available as a hard copy.  http://www.issuu.com/cyclorama/docs/cycloramabook?mode=embed&viewmode=magazine

The modern day desperadoes of the city streets – cycle couriers – carry the glamorous, but slightly tarnished image of a Wild West bounty hunter. Exciting, macho, but a bit sketchy: Kenton Hoppas’ film ’Career Courier the Movie’ must go some way to explaining the life style of these men and women, for whom every road is an open one. At last available to buy: http://www.careercourierthemovie.com/

Boardman bikes have announced this week a line of women specific bikes that include a Team Carbon road bike, a Road Comp alloy road bike, a mountain bike and a Hybrid Comp hybrid bike. They have frame geometry, handlebars, brake levers and saddles which are women -specific and chosen to fit correctly.

www.halfords.com/boardmanbikes.

Trek Bicycles have released details of some of their 2012 range. These include the FX series, probably the first stop for most leisure riders, a comprehensive range of flat handlebar bikes that are light, comfortable and easy to ride, and that will appeal to most people. Among the features found in the FX series are vibration damping IsoZone handlebar grips, Flex form saddles that move with the riders’ pedalling motion and the IsoZone monostay which dampens vibration in the frame.

Twenty two bikes are available, some electrically-assisted. Check with your dealer to find out what’s available in the United Kingdom. http://www.trekbikes.com/us/en/bikes/road/fitness/fx

While I was researching the piece below, I came upon these exquisite bikes on the TreeHugger website: http://www.treehugger.com/galleries/2011/08/10-gorgeous-new-bikes-we-want-right-now.php

And finally,

Here’s a story to touch the heart; it is about the Street Books pedal powered mobile library in Portland, Oregon, in the USA. The project to bring books to the ‘People who live outside’ was started earlier this year by Laura Moulten., who received a Regional Arts and Culture Council grant to fund the scheme. Laura, a writer and artist, pedals a cargo type bike laden with books to different sites around the city. She finds that the cart brings street people together with books as the common denominator.  http://streetbooks.org/category/streetbooks-bike/

Arthur Lamy is a freelance tourist guide and writer specialising in cycling: www.cycleinjersey.com