HERTFORDSHIRE, U.K. - BikeBiz.com writes on its website that the bicycle industry is multi-faceted, "with some corners that are far outside the familiar retail areas."

Take for example, Barbara Croce, who has turned her passion for biking and coffee into a retail venture called "Coffee Bikes" (onyourtrike.com).

These pedal-powered coffee shops are eco-friendly ?" the portable coffee machines, combined with pedal power and solar panels, charge the charge equipment. BikeBiz notes that according to the firm, the Coffee Bikes "are looked on favorably by city councils and are adaptable ?" they can be turned into mobile, pedal-powered flower shops, smoothie bars or ice cream parlors."

"The first year was a little slow, but since then they have really taken off. Last month we sent two to Canada, one to Dubai and one to Colombia. They have also gone to Australia, Germany, Ireland??and of course the U.K.," Croce told BikeBiz.

Croce's future plans are to have a main Coffee Bike dealer in every country; the firm is already in talks with Canada.