Hargroves Cycles have announced a partnership with Germany's Stevens Bikes. The Hamburg-based company's bicycles are now available in the UK exclusively from the chain’s five shops and via their website (for mainland delivery only).
Founded in Hamburg by Werner and Wolfgang von Hatch in 1992, Stevens have been exporting throughout Europe for the past 14 years and offer a wide range of road, hybrid, mountain and cyclo-cross bikes. The company have enjoyed notable success in professional cycling, with current UCI 'cross world champion Marianne Vos riding Stevens bikes.
A limited selection of mountain bikes is initially available for 2011, with a comprehensive roll-out of the entire range due in time for the 2012 season. Yesterday’s QE Bikefest demo day at the Queen Elizabeth Country Park in Hampshire was the first opportunity for people to test ride some of the Stevens mountain bike range.
Peter Hargroves, owner of the Hampshire-based bike shop chain, told BikeRadar that the partnership was "an old idea that gained legs". He said: "The idea was to start in 2012 but we all got a bit carried away and got on with it earlier. By 2012 Hargroves will have a genuine representation of Stevens bikes throughout our shops and online. It seemed like an extremely good brand that warranted representation in the UK. It gave us an opportunity, and it gave Stevens an opportunity."
