Bicycle Retailer and Industry News - Distributor news

PGW announcement raises questions about Fuji, SE and Tuesday distribution

Steve Frothingham — Mon, 22 Dec 2025 17:02:11 +0000

LOS ANGELES (BRAIN) — An announcement by Pacific Glory Worldwide last week has raised questions about how Fuji, SE and Tuesday bikes will be distributed in the U.S. next year.

PGW, which is owned by Taiwan-based manufacturer Ideal Bike, announced it is now distributing those brands to U.S. dealers. The company's U.S. operations are led by Anthony Mikrut, an industry veteran who told BRAIN that PGW will use two third-party logistics warehouses to service dealers. Mikrut is hiring staff and said the company's U.S. employees will work remotely; Mikrut is based in Colorado.

The announcement said PGW will bring brand management and logistics under one team. "Retailers can expect better forecasting, stronger brand stories, and direct access to marketing programs designed specifically for the shop level," the release said. Mikrut told BRAIN that PGW will rely on dealer sales exclusively, with no consumer-direct sales of its bikes.

Philadelphia's BikeCo., however, has been the brands' distributor since soon after Advanced Sports Enterprises — the owner of distributor ASI and the Performance retail chain — went bankrupt in 2018. BikeCo's president. Frank Zimmer, declined to talk to BRAIN about the situation, but emails that Zimmer has sent to BikeCo dealers recently said BikeCo is talking to PGW about how the companies will co-exist next year.

"(W)e are currently in discussions with PGW to determine what the future distribution model for Fuji, SE, and Tuesday will look like in the North American market and what role BikeCo will choose to play in this model," Zimmer wrote to dealers in a Dec. 18 email.

The email clarified that BikeCo is continuing to sell its current inventory of SE, Fuji and Tuesday bikes. It also said BikeCo expects to receive some shipments of those brands in the first quarter of 2026.

Importantly, PGW, as a part of the Ideal Bike Co., owns the Fuji, SE, and Tuesday bike brands. However BikeCo owns the Breezer brand, and Zimmer's letters indicated that BikeCo is looking to add other brands to its lineup, which will be announced after the first of the year. He said the Breezer line is getting a major refresh for 2026.

Zimmer's letters also mentioned what several BikeCo dealers have told BRAIN: That the distributor has had difficulty obtaining inventory in the last two seasons, even though SE bikes have been in great demand. Zimmer's letters said shifting production due to tariffs caused delays and extra costs while BikeCo's "primary factory partner" (apparently referring to Ideal) had faced financial difficulties, in part due to the bankruptcy of several customers. Public filings show that Ideal stood to lose millions of dollars due to the VanMoof bankruptcy in 2023 and the YT Industries insolvency this year.

Ideal has a net loss of NT$360 million ($11.4 million) in the first three fiscal quarters this year. In a presentation to investors earlier this month, Ideal said it would begin dealer-direct sales of the SE, Fuji and Tuesday brands in the U.S. in 2026 (see the screenshot from the investor presentation).

BikeCo was formed after the ASE bankruptcy, when Tiger Group, a liquidation company, and some Hong Kong-based investors formed it to distribute the brands. In 2019 Tiger Group sold its share in BikeCo to the other investors.

Screenshot of a slide from a recent Ideal Bike investor presentation.

File Attachment:

PGW press release PDF

BTI moves into larger Nevada facility

DeanYobbi — Mon, 08 Dec 2025 22:11:15 +0000

SPARKS, Nev. (BRAIN) — Bicycle Technologies International relocated its warehouse and service operations to a new distribution center with a footprint 50% larger than its previous location about a half mile away.

The facility increases BTI's inventory capacity, and accelerates order fulfillment for its dealer network. It also expands BTI's suspension service workspace. All the daily cutoff times will remain unchanged for shops, and the facility is fully operational and shipping packages.

"Our new Sparks distribution center represents a major investment in the future of our company and in the success of our retailer partners," said Preston Martin, BTI co-founder. "The expanded footprint is timely given that BTI will be introducing more top brands in 2026."

The company is headquartered in Santa Fe, New Mexico, and continues to ship from there as well.

BTI said more stock at the new facility means fewer split shipments from multiple locations, reducing the average carbon footprint per order.

Supplementing the building's skylights and office windows, BTI upgraded all lighting to LEDs with occupancy sensors that save energy by turning off lights in vacant areas. The Sparks' staff can utilize BTI's Green Machine benefit that pays employees cash to ride, walk, or take public transit to work.

BTI's new address is 740 E Glendale Ave., Sparks, Nevada, 89431.

Wisconsin shop acquires Euro-Asia Imports' inventory

DeanYobbi — Fri, 31 Oct 2025 21:11:56 +0000

MILWAUKEE (BRAIN) — Ben’s Cycle has acquired Euro-Asia Imports’ inventory following the specialist distributor’s closing in August after more than 50 years selling mostly high-end parts for road, touring, and fixed-gear bikes.

General Manager Alex Zacher told BRAIN on Friday the shop is still going through what he estimated to be “tens of thousands, maybe over a hundred thousand” SKUs that were shipped by rail from Euro-Asia Imports' warehouses in Burbank, California.

“We’re excited, but it’s going to be a lot of work to get through more than a half century of stuff, so bear with us as we get everything sorted,” Zacher said. “It will take months to fully unpack, inventory, photograph, and list the full scope of EAI.”

He said the inventory eventually will be available on the Ben’s Cycle website and on its eBay storefront.

Actually getting the inventory required “a lot of sweat equity,” Zacher said. “Steve Zielke, our inventory manager, (Ben’s Cycle owner) Vince Hanoski, and two friends of the shop here flew out and over the course of two weeks packed and palletized everything. It was a herculean effort on their part. We arranged logistics with a freight rail company. Trucks would head to EAI daily. They would get loaded, head out to the rail yard, and get sent our way. All in, it was about a month to get everything from California to Wisconsin. It was something like 15 or 20 shipping containers, 450-500 pallets of stuff.”

Zacher said the inventory not only is staggering in number but also in quality.

“Every pallet we bring in, every box I open, I'm floored,” he said. “I've been a bike mechanic since I was 15, I'm 35 now, and growing up in the fixed-gear boom of the early aughts, I always pined for so much of the EAI catalog, so it's a real thrill to go through it.”

For example, he noted coming across new in box Campanolo Delta Brakes in the century finish — and Ben’s has the plain silver, too — Campanolo tool kits, 25th Anniversary Dura-Ace groupsets in the briefcase (watch included), Phil Wood spoke cutters, Nagasawa track frames, Mavic hubs, pedals, and seatposts.

“The list goes on,” Zacher said. “Some of the coolest stuff for me are the little things — Dura-Ace/Campy crank bolt covers, Cinelli frame color case, manuals, tools — I feel like the cycling Grinch and my heart is growing three sizes seeing this stuff.”

He said the shop wants to make the Euro-Asia Imports' inventory more accessible to customers seeking these hard-to-find components.

“So much of this stuff was buried, and forgotten about, so no one even knew it was there. At the end of the day, bikes are made to be ridden, parts are made to be used, and this is such a rad opportunity to get this stuff out there and actually being used.”

Ben’s Cycle has been a loyal Euro-Asia Imports customer for some time, and Hanoski has been longtime friends with owner Dede Grajeda, who ran the business that her father, Bob Hansing, founded in the early 1970s.

Euro-Asia Imports closed for a number of reasons, including tariffs, a move toward dealer-direct and consumer-direct sales by many brands, and the realities of settling the family estate. Hansing died in 2001 and his wife Beverly Hansing, Grajeda’s mother, died last July. She said the business was operated as a family trust.

“We were the logical people to reach out to,” Zacher said of the inventory purchase. “It was a little of column A and a little of column B as far as who asked whom since Vince has always been a 'Well, how much for it all?' kind of owner.

So how much?

"Sorry, can't say precisely, but it was definitely the largest check Vince has ever written, and the largest transaction in our almost 100 years of operation — buildings included," Zacher said.

Press Release_V2

KHS distribution to close (unless buyer found)

Steve Frothingham — Wed, 08 Oct 2025 07:00:00 +0000

RANCHO DOMINGUEZ, Calif. (BRAIN) — The KHS U.S. distribution business will close in early 2026 as its founders, Wen and Susah Hsieh, retire after a half-century running the business.

The KHS and Free Agent bike brands will continue to be sold in other markets, and the brands' Taiwan factory, United Engineering Corporation, founded by Wen Hsieh’s brother Jack, is a separate business that also will continue.

Wayne D. Gray, vice president of the U.S. business, said the U.S. business is talking to several entities interested in buying the distribution business, the U.S. distribution rights to the bike brands, or both.

Gray notified vendors of the closing in recent weeks and informed its sales reps earlier this week. The company has already agreed to sell its warehouse in Kentucky and plans to move that warehouse’s contents to its California facility this fall.

“We will continue to operate as normal until the end of the year,” Gray said. “The reps are on contract until the end of the year and the B2B site will remain in operation.”

He said after the first of the year the company will considering liquidating its remaining inventory at discount, unless a buyer for the business comes forward.

KHS is one of only two U.S. distributors, along with QBP, that continues to wholesale Shimano parts, along with Shimano’s direct U.S. sales. KHS also distributes dozens of P&A brands.

The move comes a few week after California distributor Euro-Asia announced it was closing.

Gray said he plans to retire and resume riding his bike every day, unless a new buyer wants him to stay on during a transition. Ray Keener interviewed Gray for a Q&A published in BRAIN’s October issue.

Wayne D. Gray

QBP becomes exclusive distributor for Muc-Off products next year

DeanYobbi — Tue, 16 Sep 2025 13:34:06 +0000

POOLE, United Kingdom (BRAIN) — Bike care brand Muc-Off announced an exclusive U.S. distribution agreement with QBP beginning in 2026.

Current U.S. distribution partnerships — including those with HLC, Coast 2 Coast, Trek, BTI, and Hans Johnsen — will continue through Dec. 31.

“In partnership with Q, we’re excited to grow the bike care category with shops committed to fully serving their customers and the bikes they ride,” said Alex Trimnell, Muc-Off CEO and owner. “For decades, Q has delivered unmatched service, reliability, and efficiency. Together we’ll help more retailers and riders prioritise bike care as an essential part of the cycling experience.”

U.S. retailers will receive expanded access to Muc-Off’s full range of cleaners, lubricants, tubeless, and performance products. QBP will have Muc-Off's full inventory at its four U.S. distribution centers ready by Jan. 1.

“We’re honored to expand our partnership with Muc-Off,” said Bill Schouman, QBP sales vice president. “Its premium products set the standard for performance and consumer demand. Together, we’re helping independent retailers elevate their business through bike care.”

Retailers with a QBP account can access the Muc-Off lineup at QBP.com. Retailers interested in opening an account with QBP can apply here.

HLC closing South Carolina distribution center

DeanYobbi — Mon, 08 Sep 2025 20:12:03 +0000

LEXINGTON, S.C. (BRAIN) — HLC will close its facility here and consolidate operations at its Nevada distribution center while also reducing its number of brands.

In an email sent to industry partners, HLC said with the industry changing, dealer needs also have evolved and require a shifting of focus. HLC declined to offer any more information when contacted by BRAIN.

"Rather than being everything to everyone, we're focusing on delivering premium road, mountain, and gravel products. We'll give more attention to each brand and more variety within each of those portfolios. Our dealers will receive great expertise, a more comprehensive inventory, and support that makes a difference. They'll get knowledge from our team who know these products inside and out."

HLC did not say what brands it will carry in the future and which ones were dropped.

"As part of this shift, we're saying goodbye to some incredible brand partners we've been proud to work with. We're grateful for the relationships we've built and look forward to supporting their continued success in other channels."

HLC said dealers will experience consistent shipping times, and for East Coast orders, an extra three hours (until 7 p.m. EDT) to place orders.

In 2023, HLC closed its Texas and Pennsylvania distribution centers. In 2022, private equity firm MiddleGround Capital acquired HLC.

Euro-Asia Imports is closing, future of its vast inventory to be announced soon

Steve Frothingham — Fri, 22 Aug 2025 20:14:29 +0000

LA CRESCENTA, Calif. (BRAIN) — Specialist distributor Euro-Asia Imports is closing down after more than 50 years selling mostly high-end parts for road, touring and fixed gear bikes. The family-owned business is selling its remaining inventory, its house-brand fixed-gear cog business, and its three warehouses, said Dede Grajeda, who runs the business that her father, Bob Hansing, founded in the early 1970s.

Grajeda said Euro-Asia is closing for a number of reasons, including tariffs, a move toward dealer-direct and consumer-direct sales by many brands, and the realities of settling the family estate. Bob Hansing died in 2001 and Bob's wife Beverly Hansing, Grajeda’s mother, died last July. She said the business is currently operated as family trust.

She said selling the business as a whole would have been preferred, but in the end the trust decided to sell the real estate, inventory and the cog business separately. She said new owners of the inventory and cog business will be announced soon.

“It’ll all be revealed within the next, probably three or four weeks, but I just am not at liberty to say anything right now,” she told BRAIN on Thursday.

After serving in the Navy in the 1950s, Bob Hansing opened a bike shop in Montrose, California, in 1955. He later began importing Campagnolo parts through a separate business, Montrose Bike Imports. He retired from retail in 1971 and worked for the distributor West Coast Cycle before starting Euro-Asia Imports in 1973. The same year, Shimano hired him as president of Shimano American Corp., which he ran until 1976, when he left Shimano to focus on the import business full-time.

Euro-Asia was perhaps best known for its high-end road components, but it also was active selling touring products such as Nitto handlebars, and products for track bikes and fixies including its own EAI-brand of fixed-gear cogs.

Grajeda, who has worked in the business since she was a teenager, said it took a hit in the last decade or so when Shimano and Campagnolo reduced their distributor count and began dealer-direct sales. More recently, some smaller brands like Sugino have begun direct sales, as well.

She said Euro-Asia continues to sell repair parts from Campagnolo, Shimano, Suntour and other brands, as well as many hard to find new products — everything from MKS flat pedals to Christophe toe-clips and straps, to Regina freewheel bodies. Many retailers are eager to find out where that new old stock inventory will end up.

“I know everyone's freaking out. I just need them to be patient and the information will be forthcoming," she said. "I think it will make a lot of people happy.”

Norco and HLC end sales agreement in the US

Steve Frothingham — Thu, 03 Apr 2025 23:00:00 +0000

PORT COQUITLAM, British Columbia (BRAIN) — Two years after announcing that distributor HLC would handle its sales in the U.S., Norco Bicycles said it is resuming direct sales in July.

Norco said the decision was by mutual agreement. Norco already is handling customer service, warehousing, credit and warranty support for its brand in the U.S. market.

"We would like to thank HLC for their partnership over the last two years," Norco said in an announcement. "As an IBD-focused brand for over 60 years, supporting retailers is Norco's number one priority. This sales strategy will allow us to have closer communications with our dealer network and focus more closely on retailer and consumer needs," the company added.

Norco's U.S. operations will continue to be overseen by its U.S. brand manager, Alex Legum.

Norco will display at the Sea Otter expo next week and Norco USA will hold a town hall online meeting on April 23 to share more details with retailerss. Current and prospective retailers can email Alex Legum at alexl@norco.com for more information.

After closing P&A distribution, Velo Star moves to OKC to focus on Wilier

Steve Frothingham — Mon, 10 Feb 2025 07:51:07 +0000

CARLSTADT, N.J. (BRAIN) — Velo Star is moving its operations from New Jersey to Oklahoma City this winter as it pivots to focus on sales and distribution of Italy’s Wilier Triestina bikes.

Velo Star is closing its parts and accessories distribution business, said owner Erik Deeter. He said Oklahoma offers a central distribution location and lower cost of doing business than New Jersey.

In 2015, Portland, Oregon-based Cyclone Bicycle Supply acquired New Jersey’s Action Bicycle USA and the combined companies began operating out of New Jersey under the Action name.

Deeter said the Action parts distribution business took a big hit when Shimano reduced its U.S. distributor count in 2013, followed by SRAM's similar cutback in 2015.

“That’s not a business that is sustainable without SRAM and Shimano,” he said.

Action has been selling off its remaining inventory this winter. Deeter said a small amount of inventory remains that will be sold off before the move to Oklahoma.

Velo Star began distributing Wilier in 2019; it’s now the exclusive North American distributor. The company will ship framesets to dealers from Oklahoma, while complete bikes will be drop-shipped from Italy to North American dealers.

He said Wilier will be operating from Oklahoma on March 1. Deeter also plans a Wilier retail showroom at its facility, which by coincidence is close to Vittoria North America’s warehouse in Oklahoma City. (Vittoria’s North American headquarters are in Bentonville, Arkansas.)

Tern opening European distribution office in Germany

DeanYobbi — Fri, 17 Jan 2025 14:00:27 +0000

(BRAIN) — Tern has opened its first European distribution office in Cologne, Germany. Tern Zentrale will stock the urban mobility company's full range of bikes, accessories, and parts.

It will partner with i:SY GmbH &Co. KG to manage sales to the Tern dealer network in Germany, Austria, Belgium, the Netherlands, and Luxembourg.

Previous distributor Hartje will continue selling inventory through June 30 with Tern ZE officially beginning the next day. Tern dealers should continue ordering through Hartje during the transition period. Under the new sales structure, dealers can continue ordering products through i:SY.

Tern ZE's initial focus will be improving product availability and turnaround speed by maintaining inventory levels of bikes, accessories, and parts in Europe. Jimmy Riddle, former product and brand manager for Tern at Hartje, joined Tern ZE to continue his role.

Tern ZE takes over warranty and service support for bikes already in the market. Customers should continue working with their local Tern dealers for service and support. Any dealer concerns or questions regarding warranty or service should be directed to Tern ZE.