Industry Digest: Tony Ellsworth Rejoins Ellsworth Bikes, the Possible Return of 'InterBike' & More
What's going on in the cycling industry this month? Industry Digest is a peek behind the curtain and showcases articles from our sister site, Bicycle Retailer and Industry News. In each installment, you might find patents, mergers, financial reports and industry gossip.
Ellsworth will take an active role in design and development of his namesake brand after a four-year absence.
Ellsworth, who last had an active role in 2018 under the ASG Group ownership, saw the opportunity to restore the brand with Pienaar, who acquired it in December. Ellsworth said he planned to start another mountain bike company and then heard Pienaar had purchased his San Diego-based company from the ASG Group, which acquired it in 2018. Ellsworth remained with ASG initially before leaving the same year "when ASG decided they weren't going to do product development anymore," he said.
(Read more.)
Nearly 56% of female cyclists riding today either started cycling during the pandemic or returned to it after a layoff, according to the National Bicycle Dealers Association's Bicycling Buying 2021 Consumer Research study.
"While 56.8% of adult bicycle and e-bike riders in 2020 and 2021 were male and 42.6 percent were female, our consumer research study found that 33.4% of women cyclists started cycling for the first time, and 22 percent returned to cycling during the pandemic. This totals 55% or over half of all adult female cyclists that started or returned in the last two years. These are the kinds of detailed, actionable facts the NBDA has made available to every segment of the bicycle business," Mason added.
(Read more.)
Many members of the global bike industry received email surveys this week from Emerald Expositions, a trade show company that produces the Outdoor Retailer expos and which owns Interbike, the bike expo last held in 2018 in Reno, Nevada.
"To relieve any existing doubts: Yes, we Emerald, are considering a relaunch of Interbike and receiving the input and perspectives from this amazing community is one of our top priorities. Our commitment is to ensure your vision and needs are met and achieved," the follow-up email said.
Emerald has welcomed bike exhibitors at its Outdoor Retailer events in the past, although it stopped short of labeling the bike area as "Interbike." The fall 2019 Outdoor Retailer was to have included a bike expo, but that event was canceled.
(Read more.)
Wayne Stetina is leaving Shimano American, where he has held leadership and product positions for 37 years, to join arch rival SRAM, according to several BRAIN sources and an interview published Friday on RoadBikeAction.com.
Stetina joined Shimano in 1984. One of the most successful road racers in American history, Stetina was involved in product development and later served as vice president and road product specialist. He said that at SRAM he will become a “Senior Field Guide” at SRAM.
(Read more.)
Dorel Industries has completed its sale of Dorel Sports — which includes Cannondale, Schwinn, GT, Mongoose and other bike brands — to Pon Holdings, for $810 million. The planned acquisition was announced in October.
“We believe that with this sale, Dorel has realized full value for Dorel Sports, for the benefit of Dorel and our shareholders,” Schwartz added.
(Read more.)
Cardinal Cycling Group, a new company formed last year to acquire the TIME bicycle business from Rossignol, has acquired Detroit Bikes.
"From the moment I saw the Detroit Bikes launch video in 2014, I have loved the Detroit Bikes brand. Zak and I became friends over the years as we have been on a similar path of re-shoring bicycle manufacturing, getting more people on bikes and building brands that matter. We are thrilled to take the reins at Detroit Bikes and commend Zak for building a passionate and iconic brand," said Tony Karklins, the CEO of Cardinal Cycling Group. Karklins, an industry veteran, was a co-founder of HIA Velo, the parent company of the Allied Cycle Works brand. Karklins left Allied in 2018.
(Read more.)
Tony Ellsworth rejoining Ellsworth Bikes
By: Bicycle Retailer and Industry NewsEllsworth will take an active role in design and development of his namesake brand after a four-year absence.
Tony Ellsworth is returning to his namesake mountain bike brand after a four-year absence to become chief development/design officer.
"We're here sitting on my property in Ramona (California), which is the original home of Ellsworth Bikes, making plans," Ellsworth told BRAIN on Wednesday, hours after he rejoined the company, now owned by RP Designs CEO Rudi Pienaar. "We're pretty excited, both of us."
"We're here sitting on my property in Ramona (California), which is the original home of Ellsworth Bikes, making plans," Ellsworth told BRAIN on Wednesday, hours after he rejoined the company, now owned by RP Designs CEO Rudi Pienaar. "We're pretty excited, both of us."
Ellsworth, who last had an active role in 2018 under the ASG Group ownership, saw the opportunity to restore the brand with Pienaar, who acquired it in December. Ellsworth said he planned to start another mountain bike company and then heard Pienaar had purchased his San Diego-based company from the ASG Group, which acquired it in 2018. Ellsworth remained with ASG initially before leaving the same year "when ASG decided they weren't going to do product development anymore," he said.
(Read more.)
More than half of women cyclists started riding or returned to it during the pandemic
By: Bicycle Retailer and Industry NewsNearly 56% of female cyclists riding today either started cycling during the pandemic or returned to it after a layoff, according to the National Bicycle Dealers Association's Bicycling Buying 2021 Consumer Research study.
"As consumers pull back from buying bicycles and e-bikes, the challenge bike shops face is holding on to these new and returning cyclists and keeping them on their bicycles or e-bikes as the pandemic continues and the economy reacts to shifting employment, supply chain problems, and price pressure," said Heather Mason, the NBDA's president.
"While 56.8% of adult bicycle and e-bike riders in 2020 and 2021 were male and 42.6 percent were female, our consumer research study found that 33.4% of women cyclists started cycling for the first time, and 22 percent returned to cycling during the pandemic. This totals 55% or over half of all adult female cyclists that started or returned in the last two years. These are the kinds of detailed, actionable facts the NBDA has made available to every segment of the bicycle business," Mason added.
(Read more.)
Emerald surveys industry on bringing back 'InterBike'
By: Steve Frothingham / Bicycle Retailer and Industry NewsMany members of the global bike industry received email surveys this week from Emerald Expositions, a trade show company that produces the Outdoor Retailer expos and which owns Interbike, the bike expo last held in 2018 in Reno, Nevada.
The survey asked if industry members would be interested in a return of Interbike, where and when they would prefer it to be held, and whether they were open to combining the bike show with the Outdoor Retailer show, which is held in Denver.
Initially some industry members questioned whether the email came from Emerald, as Interbike was spelled oddly and the email contained some other errors. Emerald sent a follow-up email a few days later.
Initially some industry members questioned whether the email came from Emerald, as Interbike was spelled oddly and the email contained some other errors. Emerald sent a follow-up email a few days later.
"To relieve any existing doubts: Yes, we Emerald, are considering a relaunch of Interbike and receiving the input and perspectives from this amazing community is one of our top priorities. Our commitment is to ensure your vision and needs are met and achieved," the follow-up email said.
Emerald has welcomed bike exhibitors at its Outdoor Retailer events in the past, although it stopped short of labeling the bike area as "Interbike." The fall 2019 Outdoor Retailer was to have included a bike expo, but that event was canceled.
(Read more.)
Wayne Stetina leaves Shimano after 37 years, joins SRAM
By: Steve Frothingham / Bicycle Retailer and Industry NewsWayne Stetina is leaving Shimano American, where he has held leadership and product positions for 37 years, to join arch rival SRAM, according to several BRAIN sources and an interview published Friday on RoadBikeAction.com.
BRAIN has not been able to reach Stetina yet, but he told RBA that he is leaving Shimano on good terms.
"(I) have to say that it’s actually been better than I thought it would be. Of course they were concerned about product confidentiality so I had to sign some papers, but I think they're also aware of my history of integrity. In fact, even SRAM made me sign papers that would hold me responsible if there was ever any information passing over," Stetina told RBA editor Zapata Espinoza.
"(I) have to say that it’s actually been better than I thought it would be. Of course they were concerned about product confidentiality so I had to sign some papers, but I think they're also aware of my history of integrity. In fact, even SRAM made me sign papers that would hold me responsible if there was ever any information passing over," Stetina told RBA editor Zapata Espinoza.
Stetina joined Shimano in 1984. One of the most successful road racers in American history, Stetina was involved in product development and later served as vice president and road product specialist. He said that at SRAM he will become a “Senior Field Guide” at SRAM.
(Read more.)
Dorel completes sale of Dorel Sports to Pon Holdings
By: Bicycle Retailer and Industry NewsDorel Industries has completed its sale of Dorel Sports — which includes Cannondale, Schwinn, GT, Mongoose and other bike brands — to Pon Holdings, for $810 million. The planned acquisition was announced in October.
Dorel Industries said the sale will return $390 million to shareholders in the form of a special dividend of $12 per share.
“We are very pleased to have completed the sale of Dorel Sports to a great company like Pon. On behalf of the Board of Directors, I again thank the Dorel Sports team for their commitment to Dorel and their great achievements,” said Martin Schwartz, Dorel Industries' President and CEO.
“We are very pleased to have completed the sale of Dorel Sports to a great company like Pon. On behalf of the Board of Directors, I again thank the Dorel Sports team for their commitment to Dorel and their great achievements,” said Martin Schwartz, Dorel Industries' President and CEO.
“We believe that with this sale, Dorel has realized full value for Dorel Sports, for the benefit of Dorel and our shareholders,” Schwartz added.
(Read more.)
Cardinal Cycling Group, the owner of TIME bikes, buys Detroit Bikes
By: Bicycle Retailer and Industry NewsCardinal Cycling Group, a new company formed last year to acquire the TIME bicycle business from Rossignol, has acquired Detroit Bikes.
Cardinal has acquired assets including the brand, inventory and production facility. Zak Pashak, Detroit Bikes' founder, will remain a partner in the new company and continue in a factory management & business development role.
Cardinal Cycling Group intends to further develop its U.S.-made steel range and expand its urban e-bike offerings.
Cardinal Cycling Group intends to further develop its U.S.-made steel range and expand its urban e-bike offerings.
"From the moment I saw the Detroit Bikes launch video in 2014, I have loved the Detroit Bikes brand. Zak and I became friends over the years as we have been on a similar path of re-shoring bicycle manufacturing, getting more people on bikes and building brands that matter. We are thrilled to take the reins at Detroit Bikes and commend Zak for building a passionate and iconic brand," said Tony Karklins, the CEO of Cardinal Cycling Group. Karklins, an industry veteran, was a co-founder of HIA Velo, the parent company of the Allied Cycle Works brand. Karklins left Allied in 2018.
(Read more.)
Must Read This Week
129 Comments
I made a pun
*exhale*
“Sometimes, man, you just can’t tell how much standover a bike has until you throw a leg over it.”
*lighter strike*
"3 things: we're bringing back tiger stripe ano, adding electricity, and including a Van Halen hits CD with every frame"
*falls asleep*
1) the Pole Voima
2) the Orange Phase MX
3) the Ellsworth Rogu-E
- Hey!
- What is your naaaaame?
- Tony!
- ....
Oh, disclaimer. I am pretty sure they were free/super cheap bikes for NICA riders in the area where Ellsworth is from.
www.pinkbike.com/photo/21979050
(that last alu Moment was a fun bike in its day tho)
One of those brands where I don’t understand why suckers kept paying for the crap on offer.
Just when you thought we have too many current brands, apparently it’s time to resurrect the ones that went belly up.
Economies have highs and lows, and if we go into an actual rescission again, the bike industry is going full avalanche!
Amen. They worked. I now ride Santa Cruz because their take on rear suspension lets me stand out of the saddle.
Only reason I say it would suck is the frame geo!
I feel like if you want to throw your hat in the ring again, rebrand!
I lusted so hard over the featherweight dual crown duc back in the day. Now everything is sorted and boring like my grip 2 bla bla bla.
www.pinkbike.com/news/iron-horse-sunday-reborn-the-rebuild-of-a-classic-downhill-bike.html
Their reputation for alarming fragility has been cemented by producing decades of flimsy frames.
I was quoted $1200 aud for the replacement part (I can’t remember if it was a chain or seat stay). The LBS had it out with the distributor and after a couple of months of back and forth they replaced the part.
A few weeks after getting the replacement, the main triangle broke when I was riding up a fire road to the trail head. This took about six months and letters from lawyers before they were willing to resolve the issue. I ended up getting a refund and bought a Santa Cruz. In retrospect I feel really sorry for the local distributor.
The bike itself rode alright. Compared to the Foes I owned before it and SC after, it wasn’t too impressive. Bikes from those days all sucked but single pivots sucked a bit less due to their simplicity.
Which is the size I shoulda been riding all along.
Plus, They even machined a custom travel reducer piece to bolt on to my frame, so I could continue using the shock I had.
How can I complain?
Today, one of my best buds has taken over the Joker for the last year and some, and he thrashes it almost daily.
A 2005 frame, that was built up in 2007.
- Lack of durability: 2 frames snapped at the seat tube-to-down tube welds
- Manufacturing problems:
--- 2 frames had bottom bracket tolerance issues with threads and had to be re-faced/chased by local bike shops.
---- One frame's head tube was so bad the headset rocked in place. (Solved with green loctite and a Chris King Steelset)
- Design issues: E lagged behind the industry in geometry and failed to update their ICT design, resulting in rise during braking, pedaling inefficiency (despite claims) and lackluster handling
- Ugly: While I personally liked the big rocker link and the old-English logo, their bikes got fuglier year-to-year after they peaked in 2010
- Customer service: Actually was pretty OK. Though Ellsworth did bully my LBS into becoming a "dealer" just to warranty my frame (no E dealer close by at the time)
- Tony: Met him in person twice and he definitely typified the "short-guy" attitude lol
Did you ever get see or ride their test track in SD (around Ramona I think?)
It would be different if people were trashing the ride itself, but I haven’t seen a single post doing that.
Their bikes have been fragile since the 1990’s when the RockShox Devo kids were breaking them.
I credit my I.D for trying to kill me. Thankfully it was sold.
All bikes break if ridden hard enough. All Ellsworths break if ridden at all.
Did you see those hideous e cruisers tony tried to put out?