CrankPal Blog
Workshop management, the bike market and maintenance: practical ideas for people who fix and sell bikes.
Handling eBike warranties without the headache
Handling ebike warranty claims without the headache: opening RMA cases, tracking per-component coverage and keeping customers updated on open claims.
Getting your bike ready for spring: the checklist
Spring bike maintenance checklist: how to check tyres, chain, gears and brakes before your first rides, and why booking your service early really pays off.
eBike motor diagnostics: tools and workflow
Ebike motor diagnostics done right: brand-specific tools, dedicated diagnostic benches and clear customer reports that speed up warranty claims.
The aftermarket that's growing: consumables and eBike parts
Tubes, chains, pads and eBike parts: the bike aftermarket keeps growing even as new bike sales slow down. Market data and strategy for your local workshop.
E-invoicing for bike workshops: a practical guide
A practical guide to e-invoicing for bike workshops: SDI transmission, deposits, vouchers, incentives and invoices under a different name than the buyer.
How to choose a bike workshop you can trust
How to choose a bike workshop you can trust: intake questions, frame traceability and a real service history are the true signals of quality.
Disc brakes: maintenance, bleeding and pads
Disc brakes on bikes: how to diagnose the fault, correctly bleed DOT or mineral hydraulic systems, choose the right pads and understand the ECE-R90 standard.
Billion-euro bike tourism: the workshop opportunity
Bike tourism in Italy: 89 million visitor stays, 9.8 billion euros in impact. How workshops can capture demand for technical service on cycling routes.
Why service beats bike sales on margin (and how to measure it)
Why service margin consistently beats bike sales margin, with real industry data to back it up, and the 4 KPIs every bike shop should track every single month.
The real cost of owning a bike (or an eBike)
What does bike maintenance cost really add up to? Purchase amortisation, consumables, eBike parts and theft risk, broken down ride by ride here.
Sustainability in the workshop: recycling tubes, tyres and WEEE
Bike tubes, tyres and eBike batteries are special waste. A practical guide to inner tube recycling and WEEE battery disposal for bike workshops.
Chain wear: when to replace it and why it matters
Chain wear in bikes: how to measure it, when it truly needs replacing, and why it affects your cassette and chainrings, especially on eBikes.
Falling margins: how bike retail profitability changed
Bike shop margins fell from 7.6% to 3.2% in two years. How the discount war, overstock and service shifted where retail profitability really lives.
Overstock: freeing up cash from dead stock
Overstock and dead stock in your bike shop inventory: free up cash by tracking turnover, sellable stock and smarter reorder points, the 2023-2025 lesson.
Buying a used eBike: checks you can't skip
Buying a used eBike safely: how to check battery cycles, frame serial number, service history and transferable warranties before you buy it.
eBikes, S-Pedelecs and rules: what the workshop must know
E-bike regulation for workshops: Class 25 vs 45, type approval, tampering and mechanic liability. A practical guide to spot risks and stay covered.
CRM for bike workshops: why the customer relationship pays
A CRM for bike workshops turns customer history into retention: less churn, more repeat visits, relationships that outlast a single tune-up.
Road tubeless: fitting and pitfalls for mechanics
Road tubeless fitting for mechanics: correct sequence, sealant dosing, hook-less rim rules and pressures that keep comebacks out of the workshop.
Overstock 2023-2025: what shops learned
Overstock 2023-2025: how the bike market crisis hit shop margins with endless lead times and undelivered orders, and what shops actually learned.
Job sheets: from quote to handover, paperless
How a job sheet works in a bike repair shop: from quote to handover, with customer-visible status updates and clear intake times, paperless.
How long does a bike last? Component lifespan
How long do bike parts really last? A mechanic's guide to chain, brake pad and tire lifespan, and how regular maintenance keeps your bike safer for longer.
Bike and eBike incentives: past, present and what to ask for
Bike and ebike incentives in Italy explained: the 2020 mobility bonus, reduced VAT, usage subsidies, and what shops should be asking lawmakers for next.
Going digital: where to start without upheaval
Going digital in a bike shop, step by step: why work orders come first, and when to tackle inventory and invoicing without upheaval.
Making your eBike battery last (especially in winter)
EBike battery life explained: a technical guide to correct charging habits, winter storage and charge-cycle care to protect your range longer.
Why gravel is good business for your workshop
Gravel bike maintenance runs year-round: mud, disc brakes and cassettes wear faster than on road bikes. Here's why that's good business for workshops.
Labor pricing: how to set your workshop hourly rate
How to set your bike workshop hourly rate based on real cost, not guesswork: a practical method, billable hours, and the margin worth defending.
Your bike was stolen: what to do right now
Your bike was stolen: what to do right now, step by step — filing a police report, the frame serial number, national registry and insurance claims.
Bike registries and anti-theft: protecting customers
A bike registry for theft protection: how frame serials, ownership transfer records and insurance help workshops truly protect their customers.
How much a bike workshop software costs (and what to weigh)
How much does bike workshop software really cost? Compare pricing models, total cost of ownership, and what actually matters before you choose.
eBike maintenance: motor, battery and firmware
EBike maintenance made practical: motor and battery checks, diagnostics, and why firmware updates matter for a reliable, warranty-ready service.
eBikes in Italy: ten years of data, from boom to maturity
The Italy eBike market from 2017 to 2026: from +120% growth to the Covid boom, now a structural 20% of sales. Ten years of data, boom to maturity.
How to organize your spare-parts inventory
How to organize your bike shop spare-parts inventory: sort by turnover, manage multiple locations, and set real minimum-stock reorder points.
The bike passport: what it is and why it matters
What a bike passport is: a digital record of your frame, service history and ownership transfers, key for theft prevention and buying used bikes.
Digital Product Passport: what changes for bikes in 2027
The digital product passport arrives for bikes in 2027 under the EU ESPR: product identity, repairability and parts. How workshops can prepare.
Running your workshop on Excel: when to stop
Workshop software vs Excel: where spreadsheets break down, the signs it's time to switch, and what changes with real shop management software.
How often to service your bike (analog and eBike)
How often should you service your bike? Compare analog vs eBike intervals in km and months, key differences, and reminders to never miss one.
The Italian bike market: the 2025 numbers explained
The Italian bike market in 2025: 1.3 million units sold (-4%), eBikes now 20% of sales, and a supply chain worth 2.5 billion euros explained.
Bike workshop software: what it actually needs to have
Bike workshop software: the must-have features for work orders, parts inventory and invoicing, explained in practical terms for shop owners.
Get new articles
Workshop management, industry data and maintenance. One email, no spam.