Industry Digest: Eurobike Attendance Down, Gary Fisher No Longer with Trek & 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.
Investment holding company Italmobiliare is acquiring the cycling and motorcycling footwear company Sidi Sport for 66 million euros ($66.8 million).
(Read more.)
The North American Handmade Bicycle Show, which has not been held since 2019 because of the pandemic, is postponing its planned 2022 show due to lack of interest from exhibitors. The organizer says the show will be back for 2023.
(Read more.)
Fitness wearable maker Whoop and e-bike brand Rad Power each had layoffs this week.
(Read more.)
Yogi Berra, all-star baseball player, coach and philosopher, uttered these prophetic words (although he probably was not the first to say it — editor). Bicycle business philosopher Rick Vosper recently asked, “What happens to all those optimistic orders that were placed at the peak of the demand wave and are now finally going to ship in 2022 and beyond?” (Rick did say that — editor)
(Read more.)
GT Bicycles announced Tuesday that Jason Schiers has been named managing director. Schiers will oversee the brand's strategy and future vision.
(Read more.)
Organizers claimed success for the first Eurobike to be held in Frankfurt, which wrapped up Sunday. Besides the venue shift from bucolic Friedrichshafen to urban Frankfurt, the event refocused on the e-mobility industry, with a wide variety of exhibiting suppliers and a packed schedule of related panel discussions, seminars and presentations from policymakers and other experts in mobility policy.
(Read more.)
Some 29 years after selling his bicycle company to Trek and going to work for the Wisconsin brand, Gary Fisher has now been separated from the company since March. At Eurobike, Fisher said he's enjoying being an independent entity again.
(Read more.)
Alchemy Bikes opened its new U.S. headquarters here and will offer a free overnight stay with the purchase of a bike.
(Read more.)
Taiwan exported nearly $2 billion worth of bikes, e-bikes and bike components in the first four months this year, up 28% from the same period last year.
(Read more.)
Chief operating officer Joe Hawk is retiring after 29 years at Haro Bikes.
(Read more.)
Sidi Sport acquired by Italian investment company
By: Bicycle Retailer and Industry NewsInvestment holding company Italmobiliare is acquiring the cycling and motorcycling footwear company Sidi Sport for 66 million euros ($66.8 million).
According to an Italmobiliare news release, all Sidi Sport capital will be acquired, in addition to the net cash held by the company on Aug. 31, 2022. The completion of the deal, subject to a corporate reorganization that includes the spin-off of certain properties, is expected to occur in the fourth quarter of this year.
(Read more.)
2022 handmade show canceled due to lack of exhibitor interest
By: Bicycle Retailer and Industry NewsThe North American Handmade Bicycle Show, which has not been held since 2019 because of the pandemic, is postponing its planned 2022 show due to lack of interest from exhibitors. The organizer says the show will be back for 2023.
Show director Don Walker told BRAIN that about 65 exhibitors had committed to the show, which was planned for September in Denver. The 2019 show in Sacramento had 219 exhibitors; about 125 had committed to a 2021 show in Dallas before that was canceled.
"Even if I pulled it off with 75 or 85 exhibitors, that's not enough to attract a good crowd to come in the door," he said.
"Even if I pulled it off with 75 or 85 exhibitors, that's not enough to attract a good crowd to come in the door," he said.
(Read more.)
Layoffs at Whoop and Rad Power
By: Bicycle Retailer and Industry NewsFitness wearable maker Whoop and e-bike brand Rad Power each had layoffs this week.
Whoop, based in Boston, let go about 15% of its workforce. Rad Power, based near Seattle, Washington, laid off 63 employees. Rad Power had let go 100 workers in April.
Ben Foster, Whoop’s former chief product officer, let go. On his LinkedIn page, Foster said it was the right decision.
“While a decision like this is never “easy”, it was definitely “right”, and one I endorsed despite its personal impact,” Foster wrote.
Ben Foster, Whoop’s former chief product officer, let go. On his LinkedIn page, Foster said it was the right decision.
“While a decision like this is never “easy”, it was definitely “right”, and one I endorsed despite its personal impact,” Foster wrote.
(Read more.)
Jay Townley: “The future ain’t what it used to be”
By: Jay TownleyYogi Berra, all-star baseball player, coach and philosopher, uttered these prophetic words (although he probably was not the first to say it — editor). Bicycle business philosopher Rick Vosper recently asked, “What happens to all those optimistic orders that were placed at the peak of the demand wave and are now finally going to ship in 2022 and beyond?” (Rick did say that — editor)
We all know the bicycle business supply chain got totally out of kilter. What some of you don’t know is this started in 2019 because of the imposition of Section 301 punitive tariffs on Chinese imports and got far worse when Covid-19 hit during the first quarter of 2020, causing order reductions and cancellations, followed shortly thereafter by surging consumer demand that started the bullwhip effect through the channel of trade, consisting of aggressive forecasts and orders for as much as suppliers could make and ship.
(Read more.)
Jason Schiers named GT managing director
By: Bicycle Retailer and Industry NewsGT Bicycles announced Tuesday that Jason Schiers has been named managing director. Schiers will oversee the brand's strategy and future vision.
In a news release, GT said Schiers' experience in product design, sourcing, brand building, and knowledge of the industry will benefit the company as a global BMX, mountain bike, and gravel brand.
"I got serious about mountain biking in the late '80s, owning a GT was the goal," Schiers said. "I obsessed about getting one. Fast forward 30-plus years later, for me to have the opportunity to join the GT team and obsess about the same things that made GT so rad back then is surreal. I hope adding some of my crazy to GT's future will result in the same innovative and iconic things that the brand was built on."
"I got serious about mountain biking in the late '80s, owning a GT was the goal," Schiers said. "I obsessed about getting one. Fast forward 30-plus years later, for me to have the opportunity to join the GT team and obsess about the same things that made GT so rad back then is surreal. I hope adding some of my crazy to GT's future will result in the same innovative and iconic things that the brand was built on."
(Read more.)
Eurobike trade attendance down from pre-pandemic level
By: Bicycle Retailer and Industry NewsOrganizers claimed success for the first Eurobike to be held in Frankfurt, which wrapped up Sunday. Besides the venue shift from bucolic Friedrichshafen to urban Frankfurt, the event refocused on the e-mobility industry, with a wide variety of exhibiting suppliers and a packed schedule of related panel discussions, seminars and presentations from policymakers and other experts in mobility policy.
"Despite travel restrictions, flight cancellations and coronavirus-related difficulties, the event reached a level that we last saw before the pandemic," said its managing director, Stefan Reisinger. "Industry, trade, policymakers and all fans of the bicycle are sending out a clear signal from Frankfurt: cycling must be further bolstered and encouraged."
(Read more.)
No longer with Trek, Gary Fisher is having fun being Gary Fisher at Eurobike
By: Steve Frothingham // Bicycle Retailer and Industry NewsSome 29 years after selling his bicycle company to Trek and going to work for the Wisconsin brand, Gary Fisher has now been separated from the company since March. At Eurobike, Fisher said he's enjoying being an independent entity again.
"We parted ways ... so now Gary is going out and doing some Gary things," Fisher told BRAIN, suggesting a theme for this article.
Fisher said he's now free to work for other companies and develop products. Trek Bicycle owns the Gary Fisher Bicycles trademark, but he can use the Gary Fisher name on products including helmets and apparel. On Sunday, Fisher was hanging out in the Benno Bikes booth and wearing a Benno T-shirt, but he said we shouldn't assume any kind of partnership with that company.
Fisher said he's now free to work for other companies and develop products. Trek Bicycle owns the Gary Fisher Bicycles trademark, but he can use the Gary Fisher name on products including helmets and apparel. On Sunday, Fisher was hanging out in the Benno Bikes booth and wearing a Benno T-shirt, but he said we shouldn't assume any kind of partnership with that company.
(Read more.)
Alchemy Bikes opens new US headquarters, offers free overnight stay with bike purchase
By: Bicycle Retailer and Industry NewsAlchemy Bikes opened its new U.S. headquarters here and will offer a free overnight stay with the purchase of a bike.
Celebrating the move from Denver, Alchemy teamed with Origin Hotel Red Rocks and other local businesses to create the buyer experience called DARE: Golden Package.
The purchase of an Alchemy bike includes a tour of the new Ride Experience Center, bike fit, and bike shipment if the customer doesn't opt to take it with them. DARE stands for Discover Alchemy's Ride Experience. The promotion will launch in mid-July.
The purchase of an Alchemy bike includes a tour of the new Ride Experience Center, bike fit, and bike shipment if the customer doesn't opt to take it with them. DARE stands for Discover Alchemy's Ride Experience. The promotion will launch in mid-July.
(Read more.)
Taiwan bike exports up 28% through April
By: Bicycle Retailer and Industry NewsTaiwan exported nearly $2 billion worth of bikes, e-bikes and bike components in the first four months this year, up 28% from the same period last year.
The figures from the country's Ministry of Economic Affairs and the Taiwan Bicycle Association show that exports of components grew the most, while revenue generated by the exports of e-bikes is projected to exceed that of traditional bicycles this year.
North America and the European Union remain the biggest markets for Taiwan's e-bike exports.
North America and the European Union remain the biggest markets for Taiwan's e-bike exports.
(Read more.)
Joe Hawk retires after 29 years at Haro Bikes
By: Bicycle Retailer and Industry NewsChief operating officer Joe Hawk is retiring after 29 years at Haro Bikes.
"The recent company moves have opened the door for my departure, and I am excited for all at Haro as well as for my next steps forward," Hawk said. "When I look back, it will always be about the relationships and the friendships I have made along the way. With a combined 40 years, there have been a ton of them, and I am super grateful for those."
Before joining Haro Bikes in 1993 as COO, Hawk was director of marketing at Raleigh for nearly 10 years.
Before joining Haro Bikes in 1993 as COO, Hawk was director of marketing at Raleigh for nearly 10 years.
(Read more.)
Must Read This Week
48 Comments
Did the industry create Gary Fisher, or did Gary Fisher create the industry? Meditate on that.
What have been your contributions? Do you in anyway promote biking in your area? How do you advocate for our sport?
Go crawl back under your bridge troll.
Where us here? I can google it but did they expect we know?
And I must say after visiting the new headquarters myself it’s impressive.
Just a reinforce on the customer service side of things and try to bring quality over quantity (because they don't have it right now with low numbers) and strive for customer service now and why you're paying 10k for a bike. Something an experience they should have had going on a long time ago if they truly cared
My mate had a Haro Porter? That was like a copy of a 10? year old Santa Cruz. And some DJ bikes for Nyquist...
Bikerumor: "New MADE Bike Show to debut in 2023"
I'm glad I follow both news outlets so I can get a more detailed view of the industry...
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