The Zweirad-Einkaufs-Genossenschaft (ZEG) is a purchasing association of over 1000 bicycle shops in Europe. The seat of the cooperative is in Cologne.
ZEG was founded in 1966 by Bernhard Lakamper, Hans Krämer, Lisa Ludwigs († March 24, 2016), [1] Paul Jung, [2] Otto Dürr [3] and three other bicycle dealers. The goal was to jointly create cheaper shopping opportunities for bicycle retailers. In 1978 the first own wheels were manufactured.
With NSU-Rubin, the first own brand was brought onto the market in 1983, which was a great success with 55,000 bicycles sold within one year. In the years that followed, ZEG continued to grow.
In 1994, specialist bicycle dealers outside of Germany joined the ZEG for the first time. First, dealers from the Netherlands joined, in 1999 bicycle dealers from Belgium, Austria and Switzerland joined the cooperative. French dealers followed in 2002 and Italian dealers in 2004. With Veloland, ZEG took over a dealer group in France in 2008, under whose name ZEG has been appearing in France ever since. Bicycle dealers from Lithuania, Latvia, Estonia and Poland were added in 2009. In 2014, ZEG had a turnover of 543 million euros with around 110 employees. [4]
Since 1983, ZEG has not only acted as a purchasing cooperative, but also appears as a manufacturer on the bicycle market with its own brands, with the different brands being geared towards different areas. There has been a profit and loss transfer agreement with the Paul Nettersheim company since 1988. In 2002 there were 900 specialist shops in Germany alone. [5] The current logo was introduced in the same year. From 2000 to 2009, ZEG also sold bicycles directly to end customers via its own online shop. [6]
Since 2013, the Wanderer bicycle manufacturer has belonged to ZEG, which has thus expanded its range. [7]
ZEG has the exclusive distribution rights for numerous products, e.g. B. for the folding bikes from the Dahon brand (until 2018) or the racing bikes from the Italian brand Pinarello. Pegasus, Bulls and Yazoo own-brand bicycles are manufactured in Vietnam and Cambodia. [8]
In 2014, ZEG acquired the rights to the Hercules brand from the Accell Group. [9]
In December 2015, ZEG took over the Rilchingen-Hanweiler (Saarland)-based bicycle division of the manufacturer Kettler, who was in insolvency proceedings at the time. [10]
In 2016, ZEG entered the bike rental business [11] and expanded into Switzerland. [12] At the same time, it was announced that it would no longer be represented at the Eurobike trade fair. [13] In 2019, the company returned there again. [14] In the same year, uniform quality standards for bicycle workshops were developed together with TÜV Nord for the first time. [15]
In 2017, ZEG took over the Swiss e-bike manufacturer Biketec AG [16] (Flyer brand), which has since been renamed FLYER AG. In the same year, the first e-scooter was presented together with BMW. [17]
Pedelecs with ABS were presented for the first time in 2018. [18]
From 2017 to 2019, the site E-Bike.com was operated, which provided information about pedelecs. [19]
Only the brands currently in active use are listed.
The mountain bike team BULLS has been sponsored by ZEG since 2007.
In 2015, the entire Bulls Green Mover series had to be called to workshops for a software update due to faulty software. [23]
Using merchandise management software specially issued for members, the ZEG can show the customer on the websites of the affiliated dealers which partner has the bike they are looking for. The customer can have the desired bicycle or e-bike delivered to the dealer of his choice or to his home address.
Dealer training courses, which ZEG offers its members in various areas, take place on ZEG premises in Cologne.
Although the Bull brand has long since been abandoned, their website continued to exist until mid-2021.
A cargo bike is a human powered vehicle designed and constructed specifically for transporting loads. Cargo bike designs include a cargo area consisting of an open or enclosed box, a flat platform, or a wire basket, usually mounted over one or both wheels, low behind the front wheel, or between parallel wheels at either the front or rear of the vehicle. The frame and drivetrain must be constructed to handle loads larger than those on an ordinary bicycle.
Kettler is a German company based in Ense-Parsit, with locations all around the world. The company produces riding toys, leisure gear, patio furniture and exercise equipment.
Wanderer was a German manufacturer of bicycles, motorcycles, automobiles, vans and other machinery. Established as Winklhofer & Jaenicke in 1896 by Johann Baptist Winklhofer and Richard Adolf Jaenicke, the company used the Wanderer brand name from 1911, making civilian automobiles until 1941 and military vehicles until 1945. Today the brand is part of the Zweirad Einkaufs Genossenschaft (ZEG).
ZF Sachs AG, also known as Fichtel & Sachs, was founded in Schweinfurt in 1895 and was a well-known German family business. At its last point as an independent company, the company name was Fichtel & Sachs AG.
Riese & Müller is a bicycle manufacturer in Darmstadt, Germany founded by Markus Riese and Heiko Müller. It designs and makes suspended bicycles. Frames are produced by companies such as Pacific Cycles, Taiwan. All of their bikes are assembled by hand in Germany.
An electric bicycle is a motorized bicycle with an integrated electric motor used to assist propulsion. Many kinds of e-bikes are available worldwide, but they generally fall into two broad categories: bikes that assist the rider's pedal-power and bikes that add a throttle, integrating moped-style functionality. Both retain the ability to be pedaled by the rider and are therefore not electric motorcycles. E-bikes use rechargeable batteries and typically are motor-powered up to 25 to 32 km/h. High-powered varieties can often travel more than 45 km/h (28 mph). In some markets, such as Germany as of 2013, they are gaining in popularity and taking some market share away from conventional bicycles, while in others, such as China as of 2010, they are replacing fossil fuel-powered mopeds and small motorcycles.
A pedelec or EPAC, is a type of low-powered electric bicycle where the rider's pedalling is assisted by a small electric motor. However, unlike some other types of e-bikes, pedelecs are classified as conventional bicycles in many countries by road authorities rather than as a type of electric moped. Pedelecs include an electronic controller which cuts power to the motor when the rider is not pedalling or when a certain speed – usually 25 km/h (16 mph) or 32 km/h (20 mph) – is reached. Pedelecs are useful for people who ride in hilly areas or in strong headwinds. While a pedelec can be any type of bicycle, a pedelec city bike is very common. A conventional bicycle can be converted to a pedelec with the addition of the necessary parts, e.g., motor, battery, etc.
Dahon is the world's largest manufacturer of folding bicycles with a two-thirds marketshare in 2006. The company was founded in 1982 by David T. Hon, a former laser physicist, and is headquartered in Los Angeles, California, with assembly factories in China, Macau and Bulgaria. Dahon markets bicycles under its own name as well as other brand names, including the affiliated Yeah and Biceco Brands, and Novara for REI in the U.S. The company is a member of the Global Alliance for EcoMobility. Dahon holds over 200 patents, some having become industry standards.
Hercules was a brand of bicycle and motorcycle manufactured in Germany.
Scott Sports SA is a Swiss producer of bicycles, winter equipment, motorsports gear and sportswear. The company's main office is in Givisiez, Switzerland, with branches located around Europe and in the United States, South Africa and India.
Eurobike is an international bicycle trade fair held annually since 1991 in the first week of September, on the grounds of Messe Friedrichshafen, one of the largest and most modern exhibition centres in Baden-Wuerttemberg, Germany. The bike show is open to trade visitors from Wednesday to Friday, and to trade and the general public on Saturday.
Pacific Cycles is a Taiwanese bicycle designing and manufacturing company headquartered in Xinwu District, Taoyuan City. The company manufactures its self designed cycles including folding bicycles, electric bicycles, tricycles and other supportive cycles. It has an in-house research and development studio known as "Section Zero" for new product development and also provides original design manufacturing services for over 40 bicycle brands and original equipment manufacturers worldwide from this facility. The company has a bicycle museum in Taoyuan City known as "Pacific Cycles Museum".
Diamant is a German bicycle brand owned by Trek Bicycle Corporation.
Rixe is a German bicycle, moped, and small motorcycle factory in Brake, Bielefeld.
Carlton Cycles was a bicycle manufacturer based in Worksop, Nottinghamshire, England.
BionX was a Canadian maker of electric motors for bicycles as well as bicycle retrofit kits, operating from 1998-2018, originally named EPS.
Markus Storck is a German bicycle designer and developer, known for creating the lightest racing bike fork in the world, made of carbon fiber, and the first ever carbon fiber bicycle crank. He is the managing director and founder of Storck Bicycle, designer, and innovator, and his current developments hold the world record lightness and stiffness to weight ratios.
Benno Bikes is a bicycle brand and manufacturer of electric bicycles, cargo bikes, and comfort bikes, as well as cargo accessories and bicycle parts. It was founded in 2015 by Benno Baenziger — who made a name and reputation by co-founding with Jeano Erforth, Electra Bicycle company, a modern electric bike manufacturer, in Del Mar, California. These electric bicycles are a crossover between comfort bikes and cargo bikes. A sobriquet for the concept of these bikes has been described and trademarked as "etility" by Benno.