Dear Schwalbe Partner!

I think it is now possible to judge

this past 2009 season and in my

estimation it seems that the bicycle

business has been quite stable and

in certain sectors even bouyant. In

particular, makers and suppliers of

highly technical bicycles and parts

have recorded excellent levels of

sales. The credit crunch seems not

to have confronted our industry

head on. Rather there are signs

pointing toward the financial crisis

being a tipping point for people to

turn towards cycling.

Even if the longed for econo-

mic upswing in 2010 turns out to be

tame, when consumers consider

low-cost, personal transport – here

I am quite sure – they will think:

Bicycle. As a consequence our in-

dustry should still be confident to

expect further growth possibilities

over the coming years.

We shall continue to move the

Schwalbe wheel forward for you

and with you in 2010! And you can

read more about this in this issue

of Profile.

Regards,

Frank Bohle

PAGE 8PAGE 4

Golden summer for

Schwalbe: Roel

Paulissen and Sabine

Spitz became MTB-

Marathon World

champions.

The new Nobby Nic:

Schwalbe has made

Europe’s most success-

ful MTB tire even

better.

Double the density, same price: Schwalbe has nowremoved coarse, 24 epi carcasses from its entirerange. Fine, 50 epi fabric is now the choice for entrylevel tires and Schwalbe no longer offers product oflesser quality. ”Now, even in our base offering, we areconcentrating on full ’brand‘ quality. So the technicaldifference compared with cheaper products is evenclearer“, explained Product Manager, Carsten Zahn.

”It is a feature that carries right through our range atthis economical price level“.

By upgrading its entry level tires the companyhas confronted the present trend of competitors’”Downspeccing“ – a tendency to use inferior mate-rials or cheaper construction methods in order just to hit price points. ”Instead we offer even more for the same money – a sophisticated tire

EDITORIAL World Edition 2 I 2009 � November � 6th year

is a brand of Bohle

Schwalbe is coding its

top tires with immedi-

ate effect. Each tire is

therefore identifiable.

PAGE 3

The fine differenceWith its new Active Line, entry level tires, Schwalbe has significantly raised the bar as far

as quality is concerned. Prices remain unchanged. The biggest innovation: The more than

doubly dense 50 epi carcass.

High technical quality at entry

level: Fine 50 epi carcass

considerably improves punc-

ture protection.

2

schwalbe profil 2 2009

SALES

structure and improved quality“, stressed Zahn.”because such technical specifications can only befound in other brands at much higher price levels“.

50 epi carcass is stronger

and has more puncture resistance

The new, finely woven carcass is the source of se-veral simultaneous quality enhancements:

Lightness: The denser 50 epi carcass is inher-ently more puncture resistant and stronger. Thereforethe material requires less rubber coating so weightcan be reduced. Also puncture resistance is increas-ed because the thread density of the fabric is overdouble that of its predecessor. The finer carcass ismuch more flexible and rolls much easier.

Additionally there is an effective puncture pro-tection belt made of flexible India rubber and a robust‚Allround’ rubber tread compound. Manufacturingtolerances with higher quality material can also bemore finely tuned.

Some models within Schwalbe’s Active Line,such as Black Jack and CX Comp, are also availableas sporty LiteSkin versions with light skin side walls.

Three new models for 2010

The new Active Line offers a whole range of tire styles and sizes. The still popular Cruiser modelsnow share the same features previously found in

racing tires Blizzard, or Lugano. In this way Schwalbeoffers a unique set of choices within this price class,attractive to both manufacturers and dealers alike.Below are three new models for 2010: ��� Citizen: The all round tire for city and everydayuse. Its dynamic tread design is elegant and modern.Many bicycle brands have decided the tire fulfillstheir demands and will be specified for use on theirlatest Trekking models. ��� Black Jack: Mountain bike tire with a cutting edgedesign – for everyday bikes, juvenile bikes and ATB –it lends an aggressive look. Its low weight of only 640grams in size 26 x 2.10 (54-559), makes it unique inits class. It is also available in sizes 20 and 24 inch. ��� Kid Plus: Puncture resistance for buggies – feat-ures Puncture Guard, the ”kid brother“ of ”flat-less“,Smart Guard. The 12 inch tire is suitable for child-ren’s bikes as well as pushchairs.

Three quality lines from Schwalbe

Schwalbe’s three quality lines are: Evolution, Per-formance and Active.

The exclusive Evolution Line features only thevery latest in tire technology as all new develop-ments, whether in new materials, or refined prod-uction techniques are used here first. The modelsare mostly folding tires, like Marathon Supreme,Ultremo R, or Nobby Nic. Every tire is designedstrictly for purpose and can be further individualiz-ed by choosing a number of different options, e.g.Double Defense, SnakeSkin, or Tubeless. For riderswho demand the very latest and best that materialsand technology can offer.

Performance Line tires occupy the mid levelprice segment. For example tires such as the Mara-thon, or the Marathon Plus offering proven techno-logy for daily use. Likewise, Performance Line MTBtires are designed for intensive use.

For occasional cyclists who prefer the feeling ofconfidence provided when riding a quality tire there isthe full range of economically priced Active Line tiresto choose from, including the ever popular Cruisermodels. Carsten Zahn assured: ”Schwalbe offers thebest value for money on the market“.

Schwalbe tires are only available from specialistbicycle stores.

The fine difference

Kid Plus with Puncture

Guard: Puncture tester is

Remo Zahn, son of Product

Manager, Carsten Zahn.

Fine 50 epi (above)

compared with the

usual, coarser 24 epi:

Schwalbe is the only

brand offering 50 epi

carcasses on entry

level tires.

Black Jack Citizen Kid Plus

Why code Schwalbe tires?

We established the system to trace each and everytire and its path to market. Then, say in case of acomplaint, we can immediately determine when itwas produced and to whom it was sold. We also

wished to deter products destined forOEM use from entering the aftermarket.

We are delighted that we havebeen able to implement and integratesuch a complex coding system that willprove a massive leap forward in qualityand sales management.

How will the coding

function specifically?

The EAN code is directly vulcanized into the tire aspart of the production process. Each and every in-dividual tire has its barcode entered into our com-puter records before packing. Further scans of in-dividual tires and tire packs take place when goods

leave the factory and then again when they leave ourwarehouse.

Are all tires coded?

The system is under construction at the moment andit will be a little while yet until all our warehousesworldwide are installed with the necessary softwarefor the collection and recording of the data and beforeall older products are sold out. But, ex-factory, directcontainer shipments to OEM’s of Evolution Line tirescan already be identified.

What changes will dealers notice?

The dealer shouldn’t notice any differences at all. Our product should still be correctly labeled andaftermarket packed – folding tire in a box, instruc-tions included, wired tire with a wrapper etc. – onlyparticular attention should be paid to the existence of an intact barcode label. By ensuring the tire bears

these recognizable features, both the dealer and theconsumer can be sure of acquiring a genuine, guar-anteed product. For tires where the barcode has beendeliberately destroyed, or made illegible, or whichhave been incorrectly fitted by customers due to miss-ing instructions, we are unable to offer a guarantee.

Coding protects the brandWith immediate effect all Schwalbe

Folding, Downhill and Marathon tires

will have individual, vulcanized EAN

codes, making every tire individually

identifiable. Bernd Hopp, Schwalbe

Sales Director (Germany), answered

questions about the system.

”Warranty is only

offered on coded

products“, said German

Sales Director,

Bernd Hopp.

For more information

please contact

your local distribution

partner.

INT

ER

VIE

W

The EAN code is vulcanized

into the tire as part of the

production process.

schwalbe profil 2 2009

SALES 3

Europe’s most successful MTB tire of recent years:

Nobby Nic. Now Schwalbe improved it even more.

��� Durability: The lugs are more pronounced which givesthe tire a more positive profile. Due to the larger treadarea, individual lugs wear down much less.��� Cut resistance: The side walls are now completelyrubber coated and are now likewise better protectedagainst lateral damage in harsh terrain. ��� Steering & Handling: New, unidirectional arrange-ment of the center lugs. Foremost the front and rear tires can now be fitted in the same direction of travel. The forward facing, open U-Blocks can now be usedto full effect on the rear wheel. ��� Triple Nano Compound (since 2008): The differen-tiation of the three compounds has made possible a new maximization of performance. Nano particles andnew polymers improve rolling resistance by 15 per centwhen compared with the previous Triple Compound.

Olympic Champion Sabine Spitz: ”More bite,

more grip and an even more response“

”The sum of these innovations becomes quite apparentwith the response felt when braking and in curves“, saidHachmeyer. ”We are certain that the new generationNobby Nic will be just as successful as the old version“. MTB professionals such as Alexander Pscheidl, teammanager and rider with German team Texpa-Simplon,confirm this: ”The new Nobby Nic is super – it is clearly

Nobby Nic 2010 – t

”The tire’s best

features have been

improved“: The new

Nobby Nic.

There are no areas off-limits: Marathon, All Mountain,Cross Country and even in Downhill Nobby Nic workswell. Olympic mountain bike champion, Sabine Spitz isconvinced: ”I always have the right tire on my bike withNobby Nic. For me it’s a perfect all round tire because it has plenty of grip and rolls well in any conditions“.

When introduced in 2005 Nobby Nic was the world’s first tire that used three rubber mixtures – Triple Compound – that today is incorporated into al-most every Evolution Line tire. In 2008 the mixture wasimproved and became Triple Nano Compound, whichreduced rolling resistance by around 15 percent over its predecessor.

Schwalbe has now comprehensively revised its MTB racer in all its important features, ”However, the new Nobby Nic has not been totally revolutionized, rather fine tuned in all the important areas“, saidSchwalbe Technician, Markus Hachmeyer. ��� Phase shifted blocks: Varying the inter-lug spacinghas resulted in profile cluster, which very positivelyaffects grip and durability.��� Weight: The finely honed construction has reducedweight by around 30 grams, from 570 to 540 in size 26 x 2.25 (57-559).��� Grip: The more sturdy lugs provide better propulsion,braking traction and more stability in curves.

Fo

to:

Ca

nn

on

da

le

Fo

tos

(2

) R

alf

Sc

hä

ub

le.

4

schwalbe profil 2 2009

TECHNOLOGY4

better balanced and has a higher maximum threshold.Besides which, the upper limit is much easier to feel. The tire rolls fast, is not too heavy and has infinitely more grip“.

Sabine Spitz added: ”The new Nobby Nic has had its best features optimized and above all its wet grip hasbeen clearly improved. The rearranged tread lugs havemore bite, improved self-cleaning action and the shoul-ders are more stable than its predecessor. The newNobby Nic gives me a much safer riding feeling“.

The rain racer: Ultremo Aqua

Similarly new for 2010 is the Ultremo Aqua, a competitiontire for wet and slippery roads. ”There is no other tirethat has so much grip“, said Christian Lademann,Schwalbe tire developer and former pro racer. Even onwet cobbles in the old towns of Mallorca the UltremoAqua is surefooted in curves.

In order to achieve such outstanding cornering gripSchwalbe gave its rain racer a grippy, ”sticky“ rubbercompound with a fine diamond tread. ”The tire rolls as ifit’s on rails. Altogether it gives a very secure riding sen-sation. In wet race conditions, with a lot of tight curves,it wouldn’t be possible to win without it“, concludedLademann. Since every rubber compound is a comprom-ise between grip and rolling resistance, naturally this

compound is a little lacking in rolling resistance anddurability. However, these disadvantages are counter-balanced: The big plus is the speed achievable when cornering that far outweighs the somewhat higher ab-rasion and rolling resistance. Ultremo Aqua also does not exceed the Ultremo’s super light weight of 180grams. The Ultremo Aqua is the right call when grip isthe priority, or when weather conditions are likely to beuncertain.

he ”Allgrounder“

In 2009 three National

Championships were

won on Schwalbe:

Lisi Osl became

Austrian Champion

for the fourth time

running. Marco

Aurelio Fontana of

Team Cannondale

became Italian

Champion. And

Sabine Spitz won

her tenth German

Championship in July.

When grip is the

priority: Ultremo

Aqua for racing in

wet conditions.

schwalbe profil 2 2009

55TECHNOLOGY5

schwalbe profil 2 2009

NEWS6 SCHWALBE INTERNATIONAL

Big Apple 20 inch

Isy, an E-bike from Swiss supplier BikeTec, now has ’big feet‘ – running on BigApple. So now, not only does it have an

electric ’tail wind‘, but it also irons outbumpy roads. The Big Apple balloon tireis now available – for Isy and for Folding,Recumbent and Children’s bikes – in theintermediate size of 20 x 2.15 (55-406).Fat tires on small wheels really are eyecatching!

New sizes of adhesive rim tapes

For workshop use there is now availableHP self adhesive rim tape in widths 15and 18 mm on practical 25 meter rolls.The tape, made from high density poly-amide, is slip proof even at high tempe-ratures and under extreme pressures.The adhesive cover tape on the rear ofthe rim tape can be left in place until

the exact position isobtained and thenremoved to ensureabsolute precisionalignment.Additionally, naturallythere is still the eco-nomical polyester selfadhesive rim tape on50 meter rolls in 15

and 19 mm widths.

Schwalbe.com reloaded

Users can now find their desired products faster on the new Homepage, www.schwalbe.com, be-cause selection is now possible by image, not justtext. ”Altogether we have over 1,800 different tires,tubes and accessories – so from this multiplicity of choices we want to help users find the productthey need easier and quicker“, said Doris Klytta,Schwalbe’s PR Manager in Germany.

Another new feature is product comparis-on – several tires can be selected and compared in a table. There is also a ’Favorites‘ function, where users can store their favorite products and it is also possible to view all tread patterns with-

in a category at a glance i.e. Downhill, Freeride,Road Race etc. Detailed technical data for each product – from weight, tire pressures to maximumload are provided. Said Klytta: „No other bicycle tire website offers such depth of product infor-mation“.

”For people who would rather read a printedcatalog there is a new function whereby it is possibleto ‚virtually’ leaf through our latest product, or com-pany brochure“, added Klytta.

Schwalbe has further Microsites – Websites forspecial interest groups – on: www.downhilltires.com /www.rolliday.de / www.ballonbikes.de

Simpler, more topical and easier to navigate:

Schwalbe’s updated, new website provides five languages.

The new Homepage: Simpler, graphical product selection and overview, as well as navigation.

SCHWALBE INTERNATIONAL 7

Valentino in the saddle…

…but this time it’s a bicycle!

(Italy) Valentino Rossi, eight times World Champ-ion in motorcycling, has extended his love of twowheels to bicycles by lending his name to theVR46 bicycle range. The line, produced by CicliAdriatica in Pesaro, will include three children’smodels, but the VR46 brand will also design highlevel racing and MTB bicycles.

Valentino, one of Italy’s most loved sport-smen, chose Schwalbe to equip the bicycles:Ultremo R.1 for the race bicycle and Rocket Ronfor the MTB bicycle.

for the weekend. Jared Graves, the current UCI World Champion in 4X, also took the Colorado StateChampionship title in 4X and took third in the down-hill. His title was won on a pair of Schwalbe RacingRalph’s and the third place in the downhill run wason a Big Betty gooey gluey front with a Muddy Marytriple compound on the rear.

Aaron Gwin, the 2009 National DownhillChampion, kept his winning streak alive with a fivesecond victory over teammate Sam Blenkinsop. Samand Aaron both choose to run the Muddy Mary 2.5gooey gluey on the front and the Muddy Mary 2.35 onthe rear. Celeste Steindl states: ”2009 was a greatyear and the Schwalbe brand continues to grow andgain momentum in the US and Canada.“ For more,check www.downhilltires.com

Tour de France: polka dot jersey

for Schwalbe rider

(France/Italy) Franco Pellizotti of Team Liquigas wonthe Tour de France ’King of the Mountains‘, polka dotjersey on Schwalbe Ultremo tires and by so doing the29 year old fulfilled his childhood dream: ”I am thefirst Italian since Claudio Chiapucci to win it, whichmeans a lot to me. When I saw pictures of him in theeighties riding in the Tour and wearing this famousjersey it became my inspiration to do the same.“Besides winning the King of the Mountains title,Pellizotti was named ”most combative rider“ for hisincessant attacks. Schwalbe has sponsored theItalian Liquigas team since the beginning of 2009. Inmany races the riders have benefited from the pre-sence of Schwalbe Race Support, who daily decidesthe perfect tire combination for the upcoming stage.

Ride along the former inner

German Border

(Germany) Adventure without borders, or commer-cialism: Following the example of ”Self SupportingRides“ in the USA, bicycle industry journalist GunnarFehlau initiated a 1,300 kilometer long tour of the entire German border. At the end of June, 18 moun-tain bikers took part in the first „Grenzsteintrophy“(Border Marker Trophy), that is planned to take placeagain next year. ”An adventurous and ambitiousdistance with a strong symbolic value and unbelieva-ble impressions along the one time no man's land“,summarized Fehlau, after scarcely seven days of hisjourney. Sponsors, amongst whom were Schwalbe,voluntarily donated products free of charge (www.grenzsteintrophy.de).

(USA) Fraiser in Colorado was the location of theDownhill National Championships in July 2009. TheSchwalbe Road Crew provided a load of rubber for theYeti/Fox Racing Factory Team. ”The weekend broughtspectacular weather and exiting racing as Aaron Gwincarved his way to a National title in the men’s downhillon a pair of Schwalbe Muddy Mary’s“, sums up CelesteSteindl of Schwalbe North America (Ferndale, Wa.).

With the ”stars and stripes jersey“ in the bank,the Yeti/Fox Racing factory team and the Schwalbesupport truck headed to Snowmass, Colorado, for theState Championships. In contrast to competing forthe National title, any rider with a US license canparticipate. This would be bad news for the Coloradolocals or anyone else who came with high hopes ofwinning since Yeti would bring all the heavy hitters

Still there: Some of the markers of the inner

German border.

Downhill dominance of Schwalbe riders

The new Valentino Rossi

bicycles equipped with

Schwalbe.

US-National Downhill

Champion Aaron Gwin kept

his winning streak alive.

Franco Pellizotti (Italy)

won the 2009 Tour de

France polka dot jersey

on Schwalbe Ultremo.

NEWS

schwalbe profil 2 2009

schwalbe profil 2 2009

Almost exactly one year after winning her Olympic gold medalin Peking, Sabine Spitz secured her second mountain bikeWorld Championship title. Her victory was achieved by usingRocket Ron on the front wheel and Racing Ralph on the rear.”On the extremely rocky, rough, steep and slippery world cham-pionship course, tires were of crucial importance“, says Spitz.

”Low rolling resistance, perfect grip, low weight and high puncture resistance were exactly the required attributes.Fortunately, I chose the perfect combination of Rocket Ron 2.1on the front and Racing Ralph 2.1 on the rear, which were justright for the conditions. The tires were an important part in suc-cess on the way to the title.“ On the diverse, 85 kilometer longcourse that rose 3,061 meters in height on asphalt, over roots,rock, rubble and mud, the tires’ all round versatility played their full part. Following her 2003 Cross Country title, this wasthe second rainbow jersey of the Ghost woman rider’s career.”Crazy. Gold again, one year after Peking. It is an unbelievablefeeling, particularly since it was the only title I was missing“,

Some 3,500 visitors traveled to Schwalbe at the end of August

for the wheelchair event Rolliday. There they could try many

disabled sports – for instance diving, basketball, riding,

rugby and marcial arts. Paralympic winners explained about

their sports. There was a petting zoo, a fairy tale tent and a

wheelchair obstacle course. Highlight of the event was the

show ”Born to Fly“ with Aaron Fotheringham, the 17 year old

extreme wheelchair athlete from Las Vegas and Timo Pritzel,

a German world class MTB Freerider. They demonstrated

spectacular stunts on the Schwalbe ramps: Aaron performed

his wheelchair backflip and Timo did the same on his bike.

The Rolliday has become the most wide-ranging wheelchair

sports event in Germany.

ROLLIDAY-FLASH

January 17th – 24th 2010 Tour Down Under

March 1st – 7th 2010 Tour de Langkawi

March 17th – 20th 2010 Tapei Cycle Show

EVENTS

MARKET

Masthead Editor: Ralf Bohle GmbH � Otto-Hahn-Str. 1 � 51580 Reichshof-Wehnrath � Germany � Tel. +49 (2265) 1090 � Fax +49 (2265) 7022 � E-Mail: info@ralfbohle.com � Internet: www.schwalbe.com

Publisher: Vincentz Kundenmedien � Postfach 6247 � 30062 Hannover � Germany � Tel. +49 (511) 99 10-312 � Fax +49 (511) 99 10-309 Staff Editor: Claudia Müller � Layout: Angelika Hanke

Printing: BWH GmbH � © Vincentz Network GmbH & Co. KG

rejoiced the 37 year old, who pronounced the race, run over atechnically difficult course, as ”very tough“.

This was also true for the men’s 104 kilometer long racethat was, according to mountain bike portal www.radmara-thon.at, ”perhaps the toughest mountain bike marathon in thesport’s history“. Roel Paulissen of the Cannondale FactoryRacing team defended his title and riding Racing Ralf tires the33 year old Belgian was unbeatable on the day. Only on the lastlong climb, though, did he know that he could be sure of thewin. ”I was able to enjoy this victory over the final kilometer“,beamed Paulissen. Schwalbe has sponsored the CannondaleFactory Racing team since the beginning of 2009.

Double action by Jared Graves

Fast Racing Ralphs (size 2.1) also secured another world cham-pion: Jared Graves. After years of garnering a reputation as theman to beat, the 27 year old Australian of the Yeti/Fox Factoryteam took home the rainbow stripes in four-cross and wascrowned World Champion in his home country. This was sweetredemption for Jared as just one year ago, while leading thefinal at the 2008 World Champs, he was taken out from behind.Earlier this year, Jared wrapped up the World Cup overall titlein 4X at Mt. Saint Anne, Canada, and affirmed double championstatus in 2009.

Since January 2009, Schwalbe co-operates with the inter-nationally successful Yeti/Fox-Factory Team. Yeti is currentlyNo. 1 in the UCI World Rankings in 4X and No. 2 in the downhillcategory. (www.downhilltires.com)

Jared Graves is

the new 4X world

champion.

The 2009 MTB-Marathon

World champions Roel

Paulissen and Sabine Spitz.

Three MTB world champions on Schwalbe It was a golden summer: In August at the Marathon world

championships in Graz, Austria, Sabine Spitz (Germany) of Team

Ghost and Roel Paulissen (Belgium) of Team Cannondale be-

came Marathon World Champions, while Jared Graves of Team

Yeti held onto his World 4-Cross title in Canberra, Australia.

8