Our fruitful cooperation with SCOTT Sportech Belux

In 1928, the then extremely young Frans Huygens started building bicycles under the brand name Ludo. He worked as the local blacksmith in Melsbroek; it was common practice at that time for blacksmiths also to weld bicycle frames and repair bikes. He then started making frames and in that capacity he also purchased tyres, which he distributed in the region. When he became involved in selling handlebars, too, it dawned on him that he may as well start making finished bikes.

By this time, the Second World War had been and gone. Frans named the brand 'Ludo', after his six year-old son. The story goes that the cyclist Stan Ockers became world champion in Frascati in 1955, riding a Ludo bike. Eddy Merckx also won the rainbow jersey in the amateur race in 1964 on a bike with a Ludo frame. In the meantime, a new warehouse was added to the factory and in 1975 the firm moved to a site to the west of Kortenberg, where it is still located. Ludo himself had been active in the business since 1967 and was succeeded by his son Johan in 1993. A few years earlier, the public limited company Ludo had already become the exclusive distributor of SCOTT bicycles in the Benelux. Since 2000, Granville has been the new brand name, with production of ‘Ludos' ceasing. Granville bikes became a huge commercial success.

KBC has been offering leased bikes for several years, and logically knocked on the door of the Ludo factory. The principle is simple: you lease a bike for a period of three to four years and at the end of the contract you either hand the bike back or buy it at the then market value. ‘All our bikes are available to KBC customers’, Van Loo says. ‘The high-end bikes, costing 5000, 6000 or even 7000 euros, are in high demand; at the same time, electric city bikes costing between 3500 and 4000 euros are also doing well.’
‘It’s a bonus for us that we were involved in the collaboration with KBC from the start. First it was only with SCOTT bikes, but later the entire company signed up. Importantly for us, the dealer plays a central role in the story. We do have a policy of opening up our site to companies with which we have a good partnership - companies like KBC, for example. They can then come here for a fun bike ride, which we combine with a factory tour or a look around the various showrooms. Instead of a generic reception venue, they come to a place that lives and breathes cycling. Consumers aren’t normally allowed in here, so it’s a treat for them to have a look behind the scenes.’

A new gem is on the way for potential customers. The SCOTT Addict RC is currently being readied for the market and is set to become a new winner. ‘It’s a lightweight road bike, because low weight is a key feature of all our models’, says Van Loo. ‘The bike won’t be launched for a few months yet, but it can be admired here now. The SRAM Flight Attendant suspension system fitted to Nino Schurter's bike was also an absolute first, and one we are proud of.’

The partnership between Ludo and KBC seems to be one for the long term. ‘The most important thing for us is that, as a Belgian manufacturer, we have short lines of communication with a Belgian company. We know each other personally, can clarify and resolve any issues quickly and work together to ensure a good service.’

Anyone keen to learn about the SCOTT range should take a look at the global website and select the 'Bike' tab.
The Granville brand is more focused on e-bikes and city and trekking bikes. Learn about the range here.
Looking for a comfortable e-bike? Then have a look through the Yoors range!