Writing annual reviews is an ambitious business. You try to spare your readers from boring repetitions over the years, you have to find the balance between the big picture and the small details, you shouldn't sugarcoat, trivialize or dramatize anything and in the end, such a text has to be a bit of fun so that it is read. An annual challenge that you face while at the same time squeezing the last bit of strength that is left in your battered body out of your legs as part of the #festive500.

Okay, so what was 2024 like?

Let's start with our microcosm Mütze. Given the obvious and massive challenges that the bicycle industry has faced in recent years, we are doing quite well. We cannot make great leaps forward, we have to solve our problems, we put a lot of work and commitment into our daily activities, but we can be happy that this leads to success. For this we would like to say thank you to you, our customers. The fact that you have been with us for ten years, value our expertise and selection and shop with us is what makes this story possible. I don't want to spoil any romance here, but our entire commitment would not be feasible if our shop did not function economically. In times like these, when many companies have to fight hard despite commitment, entrepreneurial experience and specialist expertise, it is a privilege that we are allowed to put our own ideas and concepts about bicycles into practice and make a living from it.

Even if no one sees us as young guns anymore, we are still trying to keep the fresh wind that we have been bringing to retail and events for more than ten years. We are and will remain curious, love the creative exploration of the entire bicycle universe, are open to new things and have a heart for traditions. And we seem to be able to reconcile all of this and convey it to you. We don't want to play the smart-ass "Mr. Knowitall", but anyone who deals with the current problems of the bicycle industry with open eyes, a keen mind and creative ideas will have no choice but to demand and push for reforms in order to continue to establish and maintain a balanced and high-quality stationary retail landscape. Whether ambitious start-ups, long-established family businesses, prominent brands and global players in the background, no one is immune to the open-ended hit list of challenges, whether they are excess inventory, delivery delays, cash flow problems, staff shortages or price pressure. There are no crystal balls in the bicycle trade either; production chains, model cycles and availability are three keywords that we will throw into the ring.

But back to us: a big step for the cap in 2024 was our own custom project with our friends from Cicli Barco. It was only at the end of the year that we managed to build the frames in almost all sizes so that you can take a look and judge the quality by taking a test ride with the little darling. We are as proud as punch that we were able to implement this great project with Gianluca, Andrea and the entire Barco crew and family in 2024. The response to the frames and the bikes sold has been great, which is not surprising but of course makes us happy.

What's going on in the store?

Standing still is boring, managing the status quo is not our style, so we are delighted that we were able to welcome a few new brands to Mütze in 2024. Since space is not growing and we have always viewed product compression as a legitimate means of creative store design, new ones are usually only allowed to come when old ones go. But in some areas there have been real range expansions, always with our eye on the bigger picture, of course. After all, the idea of ​​Mütze from the start was to create a store that offers a range that we ourselves are enthusiastic about. This is and remains criterion No. 1.

It would be presumptuous to claim that our growing team has something to do with our great work, but it is great to see the leap and development our team has made in 2024. We are all excited to see how we continue to roll in 2025. There is plenty of room for improvement, but our goal remains to keep the shop at the forefront and to keep our nose in the wind.

The wheel wants to roll...

To ensure that our bikes and our phenomenal accessories are ridden in a species-appropriate manner, we spared little effort in 2024 and spent a lot of time with our events for you. Whether it was the Winter Dirt Parade, the #thankgoditsfriday round, the re-invigorated classic ride, the rides as part of Cyclingworld or the events as part of Rund um die Kö, we were able to welcome countless participants and enjoy the kilometers we cycled together. In addition, the women's road bike movement confidently completed its second year and easily surpassed the high level of the first season.

What puts a smile on our faces, in addition to the sums we raised for World Bicycle Relief this year, is the fact that a solid community has formed around the rides again in the last year. We have many participants who really regularly take part in the rides and thus create the basis for a great peloton in which even newcomers feel comfortable. The atmosphere at the rides is great, which is certainly not least due to our great guides. At the same time, a big thank you to everyone who supported us in all our activities in 2024: Café Du Cycliste, Hunt Bike Wheels, Schwalbe, Ciclovation, Pure Power, Wahoo, Abus, IRIS, Genesis Bikes, Ritchey, KASK and many more, as well as the crew who make it possible with Andi, Birgit, David, Hanna, Hannah, Ivo, Kathrin, Lotte, Maya, Monika, Roddy, Thekla, Tina, Volker. Thanks to everyone who took part as volunteers in the co-op events, both at Rund um die Kö and at düsseldorf300.

But you didn't always have to be on your bike to take part in our events in 2024. We were just as pleased about Birgit Hasselbusch's reading from " Raceracer Robbie at the Tour de France " as the young target group. Michael OBKrähe from the Cyclyng bike café shop in Bremen was the guest of honour at the opening evening of Rund um die Kö at sipgate with his reading from " Übergestern in Japan ", Gunnar Fehlau honoured us in the Mütze with an evening about his one-year workpacking adventure. We hope that we can expand the number of such cycling culture events in 2025. And one more thing: buy the books, the three deserve it. Preferably right here in the shop. Or #supportyourlocalbikeshop

Two podcasts that Kerstin and I were guests on were also great for us. First, radio legend Mike Litt recorded our local connection as a Düsseldorf bike shop and our view of Düsseldorf in a detailed conversation as part of the "Alle Rhein" series ( LINK ), then we talked with Marius and Tim from Adlips in the great Movement Podcast about our view of the bike trade and what we do in the shop. ( LINK )

What's coming in 2025?

We will certainly take a look at some of the topics for 2025 in the next few weeks, as soon as plans have been finalized. If you want, you can mark March 8th in your calendar; we will probably be doing a small, fine ride with some illustrious partners before Cyclingworld. And we will certainly be back at our favorite trade fair; we will be doing at least one road bike ride and one gravel ride, and the women's road bike movement is inviting everyone to the big season opener.

A small project close to our hearts has also been announced: together with Iris Slappendel, we are working on supporting Cycle4Water, the great project by Schorsch and Schado. We were already able to drum up a bit of support and collect donations in 2024 with a Halden ride and the handlebar tape wrapping campaign with Ciclovation, and we would like to expand on that in 2025. In addition, there will of course be the cooperation with Team Dixsept and their charity ride again, and if everything goes as planned, there will even be two this year. One gravel, one road.

Volker is not only taking care of the classic ride, he was also out and about a little longer in the autumn with his Ritchey Outback. He is currently preparing the material for his trip from Meerbusch to Greece, and we will soon invite you to a cosy evening in the Mütze...

We're taking a little longer to breathe in the shop and will be welcoming you back with full force in the Mütze from January 10th, but anyone who wants to start the new year with a wonderful gravel ride can join us on January 5th as part of the Winterschmuddelparade, tickets under Mützenrunden. The first Sunday of the month at the WSP is now dedicated to gravel, and all other Sundays can also be completed excellently on the racer.

So, more soon. We wish you all a great start to the new year, stay fit and have fun!

All the best, see you soon

Carsten