Latest News

SRAM’s Solar Powered Groupset

SRAM’s Solar Powered Groupset

On the back of a recent post on the SunRider solar powered electric cargo bike, we thought it might be worth looking at another innovator. SRAM is also working on the application of solar power in bikes. Although it’s not quite as ambitious as what SunRider has...

No Anti Dumping Duty For Domestic Assembly

No Anti Dumping Duty For Domestic Assembly

It has now become even more cost effective to assemble bikes in the UK. Companies dealing with domestic bike assembly will be able to apply for blanket ADD exemption on Chinese imports. This is really big news for the UK’s bike industry. By closing the gap between UK...

Are Solar Powered Bikes A Good Idea?

Are Solar Powered Bikes A Good Idea?

IKEA has rolled out a new sustainable last mile delivery vehicle. Solar powered cargo bikes. At least in concept this idea is great, an electric bike being charged by completely green energy. Since the solar panels are built in it should also be able to charge just...

How Green Are Titanium Frames?

How Green Are Titanium Frames?

Titanium is a fantastic material. It’s lightweight and durable. Twice as strong as aluminium and half the weight of steel. It also has fantastic corrosion resistance, needing conditions that your bike likely won't ever need to deal with before its corrosion is a...

How France Is Becoming A Cycling Nation

How France Is Becoming A Cycling Nation

France is taking big steps towards becoming a cycling nation. A strategy is being implemented to increase bicycle usage, production and tourism in the country. The end result of this will likely be a boost to France's industry and economy. It will also make France a...

The Problem With Lower Import Tariffs

The Problem With Lower Import Tariffs

The UK is lowering the anti-dumping charges of Chinese electric bike manufacturers. The new tariff will apply to two Chinese manufacturers and will lower the usual rate of 62.1% down to 16.2%. That is a pretty steep increase. You can read a bit more about it here....

The Circular Economy Can Help Degrowth

The Circular Economy Can Help Degrowth

When we’re looking at ways industry can lessen it’s impact on the environment there are a few key elements. Reshoring is something we’ve talked about a lot. Shifting industry from offshore to onshore can have some really positive effects. Degrowth and the circular...

What Goes Into Bike Refurbishment?

What Goes Into Bike Refurbishment?

With our interest in the circular economy it’s no surprise that refurbishing bikes is something we can get behind. What exactly goes into refurbishing a bike though? On a small scale not all that much. It can even be done pretty easily at home. Of course that doesn’t...

The Problem With Linear Economies

The Problem With Linear Economies

Circular economies are a big thing for us. If you’ve ever checked out our blog before you probably already know that. It’s not just that a circular economy is a great, innovative model though. It’s also that linear models fall short of what we need in the bike...

The Circular Economy & Fife Bikeworks

The Circular Economy & Fife Bikeworks

Here at Route Assembly we’re big believers in the circular economy. Let’s be honest though, just believing in the circular economy doesn’t help much. If we want to manufacture bikes in a environmentally responsible way we need to be able to ensure they are part of the...

Composite Braiding In The Bike Idustry

Composite Braiding In The Bike Idustry

What Is Composite Braiding? Composite Braiding is just what it sounds like, braiding thermoplastics together to create composite materials. There is a wide range of uses for this but the one we’re most interested in is bikes. More on that in a little while. Think...

We Need Active Transport For A Green World

We Need Active Transport For A Green World

COP27 is currently happening in Egypt, this year's theme is Youth and Future Generations. While the last COP held in Glasgow had a day dedicated to sustainable transport, this year does not. Instead it is one of the topics to be discussed on solutions day. While there...

Active Transport In An Unexpected Industry

Active Transport In An Unexpected Industry

Cycling may be providing sustainability in an industry you wouldn’t expect. The funeral industry in France is beginning to look at the e-mobility revolution. Ok that might be a bit of an overstatement. At the moment it’s only a single funeral home in Paris that is...

There’s More Than Just Electric Bikes

There’s More Than Just Electric Bikes

We talk about electric bikes here a lot, they’ve got some great benefits. We aren’t just an e-bike company though. There’s still a huge place in the market and our hearts for conventional bikes. After all, most of our team became riders on conventional bikes. Whether...

4 Steps To Transition To A Circular Economy

4 Steps To Transition To A Circular Economy

We talk about the circular economy a lot. Sometimes it might seem like a pipedream. Or it might seem like a particularly difficult thing to achieve for your company. And if we’re completely honest it is. But not for the reasons you think. The most difficult part of...

How Can Bike Shares Help?

How Can Bike Shares Help?

When we talk about electric bike usage we have a tendency to focus on privately owned e-bikes. That is electric bikes bought by a consumer and used solely or mostly by them. There is another kind of electric bike usage though. Bike shares. Bike shares offer a way for...

The Benefits Of Reshoring

The Benefits Of Reshoring

Around the world companies are reshoring at a record rate. The carbon emissions once considered the cost of globalism are less tolerated. Rising import tariffs and improved manufacturing technology is making on shore production more attractive than ever. For many the...

How To Lower Your Carbon Footprint

How To Lower Your Carbon Footprint

The world is in a state of climate crisis. To avoid the worst effects of climate change it’s thought we need to reach a net zero by 2050. That’s just 28 years. And the simple thrush of the matter is we are not doing enough to reach carbon neutrality. You might be...