The Business of Cycling
The Business of Cycling podcast takes you inside the cycling world from the perspective of those that work in the sector. Hear from passionate entrepreneurs and professionals from brands, teams, and bike shops. The show also features a blog and newsletter for additional insights.
Episodes
What Happened To Rapha? An Industry Expert & Brand Strategist Break It Down
Rapha's CEO Fran Miller is out after two years, and the brand that once rewrote the rules of cycling apparel is facing a hard reckoning. In this episode, we talk with two guests about how Rapha got here and whether it can turn things around.First up is industry expert Juansi Vivo. He walks through the red flags: falling revenue, growing losses, CEO turnover and the £200M Walton acquisition. He arg
Inside the Largest Cycling E-Commerce in the US: Lessons with Brett Sullivan of Backcountry & Competitive Cyclist
Brett Sullivan is the VP of Merchandising at Backcountry and Competitive Cyclist, the largest cycling e-commerce business in the US. Brett started as a mechanic in their bike shop 14 years ago. We talk about what really drives demand today and why customers from paid ads are fragile. He explains how their Gearhead service turns first-time buyers into loyal ones, how they came through the post-COVI
Mips’ Winning Formula: Structure, Focus, Discipline & The Power Of Saying No
Max Strandvitz became CEO of Mips just months before COVID hit — inheriting a company that had come close to bankruptcy multiple times before finding its footing. In this episode, he unpacks the philosophy that took Mips from survival mode to 11 consecutive quarters of growth in bike: structure, focus, and discipline. Max explains why Mips turns down far more opportunities than it pursues — includ
Ingredient Branding Done Right: How German Stubbornness Turned a Cello Hack Into a Global Brand
Every time you snap a magnetic buckle on a bike helmet, a school backpack, or a water bottle cage, there's a good chance it's a Fidlock. What started as a teenager's scrapyard fix for a cello case has grown into a company with twelve hundred patents, a hundred and thirty employees, and products moving in the millions — from Nike gear to car interiors.Joachim Fiedler joined me at Eurobike 2026 to t
Strategy or Opportunity? Lessons in Cycling Branding from Assos, Giro, Knog & Whyte
In this special "best-of" episode, we revisit some of the most compelling conversations on branding from the past year. Featuring clips from Claire Deschamps (Assos), Hugo Davidson (Knog), Greg Shapleigh (Giro/Highbar), and Nikki Hawes (Whyte Bikes), this roundup dives into what actually makes a cycling brand resonate — from turning community into your most authentic storyteller, to standing out i
Inside a $3.5B Company's Bicycle Ambitions with Gates GM Chris Sugai
I sat down with Chris Sugai, General Manager of Gates Corporation's Mobility Unit — and the founder of Niner Bikes, where he championed 29" wheels back when they were less than 1% of the market. Now he's doing it again, this time with belt drives.We talked about:The uncanny parallel between the resistance he faced pushing 29ers in the early 2000s and the skepticism belt drives face today — almost
Who Is Kenda? Inside the Taiwanese Tire Juggernaut with VP Eric Yang
If you've ridden a mountain bike in the last 25 years, chances are you've rolled on Kenda — whether you knew it or not. The Taiwanese tire maker produces close to 70% of the aftermarket tubes sold in the US.This week I'm joined by Eric Yang, VP of Business Development at Kenda USA and grandson of the company's founder. Born and raised in Ohio after his father moved to open Kenda's US headquarters,
Crisis, Leverage, and the Death of the Hockey Stick: Whyte CEO Nikki Hawyes on Surviving the PE Cycle
Nikki Hawyes is one of the most private-equity-experienced executives in cycling. Across three PE-backed businesses—Fisher, Zyro Fisher, and now Whyte Bikes—she's lived through every phase of the cycle: rapid growth, near-administration crisis, secondary buyouts, and exits. In this episode she shares a refreshingly candid view of what actually works when private equity meets the bike business: why
Behind the Curtain at QBP - America's Biggest Cycling Distributor
Joe Benedict, Vice President of Category Management at Quality Bicycle Products (QBP), pulls back the curtain on America's largest cycling distributor.With 5,500 retailers served nationwide and over 45,000 products in their portfolio, QBP sits at the center of the US cycling supply chain — yet remains largely invisible to the outside world. Joe breaks down how QBP actually operates, from their cat
Beyond the Hangtag: The Untapped Power of Ingredient Branding
Recorded live at Performance Days 2026 in Munich, this panel brought together three of the most influential ingredient brands in performance apparel — Polartec (Eric Yung), Elastic Interface (Gianluca Pellicciari), and Polygiene (Eva Doll) — alongside the design leads at Albion (Graham Raeburn) and Santini (Fergus Niland) to unpack a relationship the cycling industry rarely talks about openly: the
The Unraveling of Accell: What Went Wrong and What's Next
In this episode, Sam Nicols returns to The Business of Cycling to break down one of the most consequential — and arguably under-reported — stories in the industry right now: the unraveling of Accell. Sam, who serves on the board of Propain Bikes and previously led YT Industries through the post-COVID downturn, brings a rare combination of operator experience and acquisition insight to the conversa
The Finnish Component Brand that Cracked the Code on European Cycling Manufacturing
Herrmans Bike Components is a 67-year-old Finnish manufacturer most cyclists have never heard of — even though their grips, lights, and rim tape are quietly riding on bikes across Europe. Built on decades of OEM work for some of the biggest e-bike brands, Hermans operates a highly automated factory on Finland's west coast that competes head-on with Asian suppliers on price, lead time, and service.
How a Dot-Com Failure Accidentally Created One of Cycling's Most Unique Accessory Brands
Hugo Davidson didn't set out to build a bike accessories brand. Trained as an industrial designer in Melbourne, he spent years contracting at London design firms before co-founding his own consultancy back in Australia.Then came the dot-com crash — a failed retail technology startup (one that held the iPod trademark before Apple), $2 million in debt, and a stark question: what now? The answer came
Humble, Steady, Fast: CEO Danny Segers on the Flemish Mindset that grew Bioracer from €7M to €35M
Danny Segers has spent 18 years quietly building Bioracer into one of Europe's largest custom cycling apparel manufacturers, growing the Belgian company from €7 million to €35 million in revenue, with 85% of the business focused on custom team wear. With a background in finance and auditing, Danny brings a distinctly analytical lens to the cycling industry, one that favors sustainable reinvestment
From 26 to 29 to 32 - Are We Doing This Again?
The bike world is arguing about 32-inch wheels. Is it a physics-backed leap forward, or is it the industry's latest attempt to move units during a tough cycle?Joshua Riddle has a unique vantage point. He's Marketing Director at Hayes Bicycle Group — Hayes Brakes, Manitou Suspension, Reynolds Wheels — and his team is already riding prototypes. Today we talk about what makes innovations stick, what
Deep, Not Wide: Polartec's 40-Year Case for Strategic Focus with MD Eric Yung
Eric Yung has spent nearly two decades at Polartec doing one thing exceptionally well — and that's exactly the point. As Managing Director and VP of Sales and Marketing at Polartec (a Milliken company), Eric pulls back the curtain on what it actually takes to build a premium ingredient brand over the long haul.The answer isn't growth at all costs. It's ruthless focus, selective partnerships, and t
Inside Eurobike's Strategic Overhaul with New Managing Director Philip Ferger
In this episode, we sit down with Philip Ferger, the newly appointed Managing Director of Fairnamic — the company behind Eurobike — just four weeks into his role. Philip brings over 20 years of experience at Messe Frankfurt, co-owner of FairNamic, and joins at a critical moment for the cycling industry's most important trade show. The conversation covers what's actually changing at Eurobike and wh
Where the Money Flows: Cycling Sponsorships in 2026 with Nicolò Ildos
The business of professional cycling has never been more complex — or more expensive. Team budgets are exploding, rider time is increasingly scarce, and brands are being asked to spend more while getting less access in return. Meanwhile, gravel is professionalizing fast, and Asian brands are quietly reshaping who supplies the peloton.In this episode, I sit down with sports marketing consultant Nic
The Long Game Founder: Two MBAs, Two Failed Ventures, One Breakthrough Product with Marcus Tonndorf of HEXLOX
HEXLOX founder Marcus Tonndorf spent years studying design in London and earning an MBA in Berlin, working at Pentagram on brands like Citibank, launching a failed publishing house in Japan, and even getting his illustrations into millions of Kinder Eggs.By 2015, he'd figured out what he didn't want to do—now he just needed the right product. So he walked into Eurobike with no company and no proto
Former YT CEO Sam Nicols and the Financial Mechanics Reshaping our Industry
Sam Nichols brings a rare perspective to the cycling industry—he's an outsider who became an insider during the most turbulent period in recent memory. After a decade at Amazon and strategic consulting at Bain, Sam took the CEO role at YT Industries in November 2020, just as private equity was flooding into cycling.In this conversation, we cut through the noise around private equity in our industr
The Barbell Effect: Why the Middle of the Bike Market Is Disappearing with Jeff Brines
CEO at Rali Systems and Contributor at VitalMTB, Jeff Brines introduces his "barbell hypothesis". In the conversation we discuss how the cycling market is splitting into two thriving extremes while the middle hollows out. Bikes under $4,000 and premium builds above $15,000 are selling well, but the $6,000-8,000 sweet spot is disappearing.He attributes this to slowing technological progress (dimini
From Unilever to ASSOS: A Fresh Perspective on Cycling Marketing with CMO Claire Deschamps
Claire Deschamps is the CMO of Assos, and she brings a refreshing outsider's perspective to the cycling world. After spending a decade at consumer goods giants like Unilever and Colgate, this French marketing exec—who's called Mexico, Rome, and now Switzerland home—joined Assos nearly three years ago to help the premium apparel brand navigate a rapidly shifting landscape.In our conversation, Clair
The Power Of Persistence: Quoc Pham on Surviving Near-Bankruptcy to Build a 20-Person Shoe Brand
In an industry dominated by legacy brands, Quoc Pham took an unconventional path to building Quoc, one of cycling's most distinctive footwear companies. A Vietnamese refugee who arrived in the UK at the age of eight, Quoc traded formulas and maths for fashion design, eventually graduating from Central Saint Martin's College.Four years of running a menswear brand label taught him the harsh realitie
Is the Cycling Industry 'Inbreeding'? A Conversation with Juansi Vivo
If you have logged onto LinkedIn anytime in the last year, chances are you already know Juansi Vivo. Juansi has become one of the most candid—and provocative—voices in our feed, posting daily critiques that challenge how we do business.Before he was a digital thought leader, Juansi was a project manager in Spanish academia with a secure job for life. In this episode, we talk about the personal tra
Swim or Drown: The Reality of Cycling Entrepreneurship with Alberto Fonte of Udog
Alberto Fonte is an Italian entrepreneur building cycling footwear brand Udog from scratch. After nine years growing Fizik at Selle Royal as brand director, he now faces the ultimate challenge: competing against industry giants without corporate resources. In this candid discussion, Alberto shares the realities of cash flow constraints, supply chain disruptions, and why creating distinctive produc
From Team Sky to the CEO Suite: Fran Miller on Turning Around Rapha
Over the past 15 years, Rapha has fundamentally shaped the look and feel of modern cycling, essentially upending the entire apparel industry.Fran stepped in just over a year ago to lead the company through its next chapter, navigating the challenging cycling apparel landscape with a brand that is searching for its idendity.Fran's journey is remarkable—from managing her brother, pro cyclist David M
The Art Of Premium Positioning: From ASSOS to POC with CEO Derek Bouchard-Hall
Derek Bouchard Hall went from pro cyclist to CEO of POC, with stops at Wiggle, USA Cycling, and Assos along the way. He's got some really interesting perspectives on what makes premium brands work in cycling—the importance of staying consistent, letting your design team do their thing, and not trying to be everything to everyone. It's a great conversation about building brands that cyclists actual
Building Specialized Europe: Ermanno Leonardi's 36 year Journey
On the heels of his recently announced retirement, I interviewed Ermanno Leonardi, the managing director of the Italian subsidiary of Specialized Bicycle Components, a role he has held for 36 years. He will be stepping down on October 1st. When I recorded this interview, I didn't know he would be stepping down from his role. He's not leaving the company—he's just stepping back and taking on a diff
From Rapha's Explosive Growth to Sustainable Scaling: Graeme Raeburn's Journey
Graeme Raeburn brings a rare perspective to cycling apparel design. As Rapha's lead designer from 2008-2018, he witnessed the brand's explosive growth from a single room to industry dominance. Now leading design at sustainable British brand Albion, Graeme applies fashion training through an industrial design lens. This conversation explores how commercial reality shapes product decisions, the crit
Live Panel Eurobike 2025 - Brand Positioning Master Class
The Eurobike 2025 panel explores branding in the cycling industry, featuring Gerard Vroomen founder and Entrepeneur, Greg Shapleigh Brand Strategy Consultant, Justin Day Founder and Creative Director and Ricky Buckelei Marketing Manager.This is a rare opportunity to get real insights from a series of experts in the cycling industry on branding. The panel underscores that successful branding in cyc
Shark Tank Meets Cycling: Gerard Vroomen on Picking Winners in Micro-Mobility
Gerard Vroomen is best known as the founder of Cervelo. This is the second time Gerard has been on the show, and this time around we talk about his new investment fund, Fundracer. Fundracer specializes in micro-mobility startups, and he started the fund just over a year ago with his partners, Rene Wiertz, who is the former owner and CEO of 3T, and Andy Ording, who was the former CEO and the founde
Rebuilding an Icon: MAVIC CEO Alberto Morgando and Revival of the Legendary Brand
Alberto Morgando is the CEO of the iconic brand Mavic. Alberto shares his fascinating journey from studying mechanical engineering in Turin, Italy to leading multinational companies and private equity turnarounds before taking the helm at the legendary French wheel manufacturer.Arriving at a precarious moment when Mavic was struggling with significant losses amid cycling's market downturn, Alberto
The Fall of a D2C Giant: YT Industries' Road to Restructuring
In this episode, we dive deep into the shocking news of YT Industries entering self-administration, examining what led one of the bike industry's most successful direct-to-consumer brands to this critical juncture.Our guests bring unique insights to this developing story: Raymund Bareuther, an M&A expert who was directly involved in YT's previous acquisition deal when founder Markus Flossman b
Opportunity vs. Strategy: Greg Shapleigh(Giro, Bell, Specialized, Mips) on Values-Driven Brand Building
In this episode, I sit down with Greg Shapleigh, who came highly recommended by multiple previous guests as someone I absolutely had to interview. Greg's journey in the cycling industry is remarkable - he started as a shipping clerk at Giro after moving to Santa Cruz to pursue bike racing, but quickly found himself pulled into marketing and product development discussions. Over three decades, he's
Eurobike 2025 Pre-Show Insights with Managing Director Stefan Reisinger
Stefan Reisinger is the Managing Director of Fairnamic which is the organization behind the Eurobike event in Frankfurt. In this timely conversation, Stefan provides an insider's perspective on what to expect at this year's show in Frankfurt, including 1,500+ exhibiting companies, new industry innovations, and the launch of a groundbreaking global bicycle purchasing index. With the cycling industr
From Child Actor to Cycling's Premier Agency CEO: Wayne Brown's Unconventional Journey
Wayne Brown's unconventional journey from child actor to London advertising executive, working with major brands like Apple and Land Rover, led him to an unexpected destination: becoming CEO of cycling's premier marketing agency.Despite not being an avid cyclist when he joined Shift Active Media, Wayne has helped build what many consider the industry's most influential marketing firm. In this cand
Cycling Tips, Rapha & Escape Collective: The Accidental Blogger that Built a Cycling Media Empire
Wade Wallace's journey from a nuclear research town in Manitoba to building one of cycling's most influential media platforms was anything but conventional. As the founder of Cycling Tips and now Escape Collective, Wallace shares how a simple blog started during the 2008 financial crisis grew into a pioneering digital cycling platform.This conversation traces his path from accidental blogger to me
The Future of Distribution: Live @ Cycling World 2025 Dusseldorf
Live from Cycling World 2025 Dusseldorf: In the discussion we dive into the future of cycling distribution with industry experts from Harmen van Es of Stichting DST & Dynamo Retail Group, Luca Bergliaffa of Assos, and Michael Scholz of SRM. Discover how digital integration, data sharing, and omnichannel strategies are transforming relationships between brands, retailers, and distributors in an
From Swoosh to Scorpion: How Castelli's Steve Smith Upended the Apparel Business
The following is my conversation with Steve Smith. At the risk of sounding hyperbolic, he's among the most accomplished and interesting people that I've met in the cycling business. In addition to being a hardworking and genuine guy.Steve started his career at Nike in Oregon.His dream job was working for Nike, and after 10 years with the swoosh, he decided to pull up roots and move himself and his
The Business Of YouTube Bike Reviews with Felix Testet Bikes
Felix Kuffner, is the creator behind "Felix Testet Bikes" and one of Germany's leading cycling content creators. Felix transitioned from racing BMX and working as a marketing manager to building a successful YouTube channel during the pandemic.In our conversation, we'll explore the business side of content creation in the cycling industry—from monetization strategies and brand relationships to wha
Tariff Drama with Stijn Vriends CEO of Vittoria Tires
I wanted to sit down with a leader in the industry and talk about the recent developments regarding the tariffs being put in place by the United States. I was really happy to talk with Stijn Vriends, CEO of Vittoria Group. This was recorded on April 10th, just one day after the 90-day pause was announced. I wanted to give just a quick snapshot of this moment in time.This is a little different than
Inside UK Cycling Distribution: From Bike Shop to Industry Leader with EXTRA CEO Will Fripp
Will Fripp is a UK industry veteran with decades of experience across all segments of the cycling business. Will's journey spans from his early days working at bike shops and Evans cycles to leadership roles at Madison, the UK's largest distributor and Shift Active Media.He is now the head of Extra UK, one of the country's premier cycling distributors, and Will offers unique insights into the evol
David Millar: Life In The Peloton, His Story, Chpt3 & What’s Next
My conversation with David Millar revealed the fascinating journey of this former professional cyclist turned entrepreneur. Based in Girona, Spain, David openly shared his path from professional cycling to founding the clothing brand CHPT3.With his Scottish roots and formative years spent in Hong Kong, David spoke candidly about the challenges of transitioning from professional cycling to becoming
Berlin Soul, Global Vision: Building Standert Bicycles with Founder Max Von Senger
Max Von Singer is the founder of Berlin-Based Bicycle Brand Standert. From its humble beginnings as a small bike shop café during the fixed gear boom of the early 2010s, Standert has grown into a respected European cycling brand with a loyal following.Max, along with his wife and co-founder Ana, share their journey from selling 50 track bikes to developing a full lineup of premium bicycles, all wh
Ex Colnago, Bianchi, 3T, Cinelli, and Current Pinarello Sales Manager Diego Colosio
Diego Colosio is one of the most experienced sales executives in the cycling business today. Diego's journey spans over three decades from building frames in a small Lombardi area workshop to leading global sales for iconic brands like 3T, Cinelli, Colnago, Bianchi, and now Pinarello. We explore his remarkable career, the evolution of the industry and his unique perspective on leadership shaped by
The Epicentre of the COVID Boom & Family Succession with ELITE CEO Nicoletta Sartore
Nicoletta Sartore is the CEO of Elite. Elite was founded in 1979 by her father Amerigo and has grown from a small family business to a global leader in cycling equipment while maintaining its Italian roots. From its headquarters in Fontaniva, Italy, Elite combines innovation with tradition.Nicoletta shares her remarkable story of navigating Elite through COVID-19, where their indoor training produ
From BMX World Champion to E-MTB Pioneer with Stefano 'MIG' Migliorini of THOK E-Bikes
Stefano Migliorini was a professional bike racer in Italy and BMX World Champion in 1986. He was one of the pioneers of downhill mountain bike racing in Italy.Stefano had a successful 20 year career in the bicycle industry working with top brands like Cinelli, Kona bikes and Marzocchi suspension.A turning point in his life came when he met Livio Suppo, who was the Moto GP team manager for Ducati,
The Art of Product Development with Piet van der Velde of ERE Research
Piet van der Velde is a veteran product developer and entrepreneur in the cycling industry. His fascinating journey began as a competitive cyclist in the Netherlands before he became one of the industry's most respected product innovators, ultimately founding the premium components brand ERE Research.Having worked with major brands like Specialized, Cannondale, and Velo, Piet offers invaluable ins
2024 Highlights with Rapha, Cervelo, Red Hook Crit, and GCN
2024 has been an amazing year and I want to thank everybody that has a subscribed and listened to as well as the guests that came on to the show. We've had some amazing growth and we couldn't have done it without all of you. I also wanted to take a minute and just look back at some of the conversations that we had over the course of the year. Thanks everyone again for supporting the podcast and we
The Journey from Bike Shop to Partnership with the UAE with Wolfi Hohmann
Wolfgang Hohmann is the founder of Wolfi's bikes in the United Arab Emirates. From selling bikes from a corner of his brother's garage in Germany's black forest to building one of the middle east's most prestigious cycling retail operations, Wolfi's story is a testament to the power of persistence. What started as a side hustle while working as a chef eventually grew into a cycling empire that ca
Sports Marketing in Pro Cycling: Behind the Scenes with Nicolò Ildos
Nicolò Ildos is a seasoned industry veteran who has worked for some of cycling's biggest brands, including FIZIK, Campagnolo, and Pirelli.In the episode, we dive into the intricate world of sports marketing in professional cycling. From his early days as an amateur racer and product tester to global sports marketing manager, Nicolo shares his insights on what makes successful sponsorships work. T
Marketing an Icon with Bianchi Global Marketing Manager Claudio Masnata
Claudio Masnata is the Global Marketing Manager at Bianchi. We dive deep into one of cycling's most iconic brands, from his early days as a competitive cyclist to leading marketing at the 140-year-old brand, Claudio shares fascinating insights into managing the iconic brand in the digital age. We explore the delicate balance between tradition and innovation, the challenges of expanding into new ma
How Uli Fluhme GFNY CEO brought Italian Racing Culture to NYC
GFNY is the world's largest endurance sports marathon series with over 30 events held in 15 countries.The story of Ulrich Fluhme and his wife Lydia starting the GFNY is nothing short of remarkable. Uli had a job in finance at a Swiss bank in Manhattan. When he and his partner Lydia literally took a leap into the abyss when they decided to start the GFNY.This Is a tale of two highly driven people w
Family Business with Anne Hed of HED Cycling
Anne Hed is CEO and Co-founder of HED cycling. Anne's journey is one of perseverance, innovation and family legacy. Anne is a native of Minnesota and shares the remarkable story of HED cycling, which she founded with her late husband, Steve Hed.In this conversation, we hear how she and the company have weathered personal tragedy and technological shifts to remain relevant in the incredibly competi
Former CRO and Sales Director at The Pro's Closet, Reynolds, & Pivot Cycles about Scaling & Brand Building
Travis Erwin has extensive experience in the US cycling market. He began his career in various bike shops, working his way up to become a store manager at Performance Bicycle in Scottsdale, Arizona. In the early 2010s, he progressed to Regional Sales Manager for Pivot Cycles.Travis then moved on to help build Reynolds Cycling's OEM wheel business, eventually becoming the Global Sales Manager in 20
Parlee Cycles CEO on Bringing the US Bike Brand back from the Brink
John Harrison is an entrepreneur and angel investor. He purchased the US bike brand Parlee in 2023, after it ran into trouble during the post COVID inventory glut.This conversation is exploration of how a relative outsider of the industry is bringing experience and knowledge of operations to right the ship, and relaunch the premium bike brand.Read the latest 'The Business of Cycling' BlogSign up f
Cycling Marketing in 2024: Trends, Challenges, and Opportunities with Joshua Riddle
I have been wanting to have a conversation around the state of cycling marketing in 2024. Joshua Riddle is the marketing manager for Hayes bicycle. We've had Joshua on the show before, and in the conversation we go deep into the current state of marketing in 2024.We talk about topics around channel strategy, social media, website management, campaigns and the evolution of cycling marketing over th
Building Cervelo with Entrepeneur Gerard Vroomen
Cervelo founder Gerard Vroomen is an entrepreneur and an engineer. When I asked Gerard if he is more entrepeneur or engineer, his answer was YES.It was truly amazing to talk with Gerard and hear about his journey from student to building one of the most important bicycle brands in the world.During the conversation, you really get a sense of his firsthand experience.He shared how they gained tracti
EUROBIKE 2024 LIVE PANEL with ENVE, Castelli, Vittoria & Schuberth - Topic: Channel Strategy
In this live panel recording we discussed insights about Channel Strategy and how brands are navigating the delicate balance of D2C, Marketplace, and traditional distribution.My guests were Michael Stimola CEO ENVE Composites Stijn Vriends CEO Vittoria Group Steve Smith Brand Manager Castelli Cycling and Jonathan Sherwood Sales and Marketing at SCHUBERTH.Read the latest 'The Business of Cycling' B
Breaking into Cycling Media with Alex 'Biketester' Boyce
Alex Boyce is a journalist and bike tester for Moto.it, he also has his own YouTube channel, @Alexbiketester. Our conversation revolves around his career path and the constantly evolving intersection of media and cycling.Alex started his professional career through kite surfing photography before transitioning to motocross. Alex tells us about how his experience in motorcross helped him transitio
Eurobike 2024 Market Update with Pirelli, Crank Brothers, Haro, Ceramic Speed, & Gary Fisher
At Eurobike 2024 I did some short interviews with managers that I know in the industry. The idea was to take the temperature of the market for feedback on how things are looking in July 2024. My conversations included Jayu Yang (HARO), Gaspare Licata (Crank Brothers), Samuele Bressan (Pirelli), Martin Banke (Ceramic Speed), and Gary Fisher.Read the latest 'The Business of Cycling' BlogSign up for
A Turnaround Story with ENVE CEO Michael Stimola
The following is my conversation with ENVE CEO, Michael Stimola. Michael is a long-time entrepreneur who started out in the early eighties, founding Carbonite, an R&D materials company that supplied carbon fiber tubes for use in manufacturing, healthcare, and aerospace.Michael then went on to found Sandvik Design-Build, a general contracting company that designed and built storefronts in the g
Vittoria Tires CEO Stijn Vriends A Journey from Private Equity to Cycling
Stijn Vriends is the chairman and CEO of Vittoria group. Vittoria is based in Bergamo Italy and is among the top producers of bicycle tires in the world. In our conversation we talk about how he has helped Vittoria grow and flourish since taking over in 2020. We also discuss his experience in the private equity sector and how, when managed well, private equity can be extremely beneficial for busi
EUROBIKE Managing Director Stefan Reisinger
Stefan Reisinger is the Managing Director of FAIRNAMIC GmbH, which is the company that runs the EUROBIKE fair. I reached out to Stephen because I wanted to give the listeners a better look inside the largest bicycle specific trade show in the world. We dive into the reasoning behind the move from Friedrichshafen to Frankfurt and why the trade show is important, the evolution of the trade show, the
Rapha Founder Simon Mottram
When I started the Business of Cycling podcast there was definitely one person that I had in mind that I was hoping to interview, and it was Simon Mottram. I've worked in cycling for over 10 years. And what Rapha did in the cycling business is nothing short of incredible. They truly disrupted the industry, and found totally new ways to look at products like cycling clothing. His story is incredib
Trek Italy Closure the Advantages of Being and Outsider in Italian Cycling with Joshua Riddle
Joshua Riddle is originally from North Carolina and and has been working in the cycling industry in Italy for 15 years. He started his career at Trek Italy 2010 which recently closed their doors due to consolidation of their European offices to Madrid.Joshua has worked in Marketing for Trek, Pinarello, Campagnolo, Basso Bikes, and is currently the Global Marketing Manager at Hayes Bicycles.I spoke
Overstocks Update and COVID Lessons Learned LIVE at Cycling World Dusseldorf
This conversation was recorded at a live panel at the 2024 cycling world event in Dusseldorf on March 15th. The topic of the panel was COVID overstocks and the state of the industry and the aftermath.My guests were ROSE Bikes Anatol Sostmann, Old Man Mountain Products Erik Fenner Schicke Mütze Carsten Wien and provided three unique viewpoints on the causes and lessons learned from the overstocks c
An Insider's Look at the Taiwanese Bike Industry with Jayu Yang
Jayu Yang is one of the most experienced entrepreneurs in the Taiwanese bike industry. Her grandfather started Kenda tire in 1962. And she carried on the family tradition by taking over her father's business Kendstone In 2001. Kendstone is among the top premium bicycle assemblers in Taiwan.In Taiwanese culture, women were not typically considered for running a family business. Therefore her path t
The Man Behind A Bike Racing Cultural Phenomenon Red Hook Crit Founder David Trimble
David Trimble is best known for founding the Red Hook Criterium fixed gear championship series. David also founded the Midnight Half, both internationally renowned sporting competitions.The Red Hook Crit grew to become such an important cultural event that it was archived at the Smithsonian's national museum of American history.It this episode you'll hear the story of the Red Hook Crit and David's
50+ years in Cycling with FSA Vision GM Claudio Marra
Claudio Marra is the General Manager of the European division at FSA Full Speed Ahead Vision. Claudio started working in the cycling industry at the age of 14 when for Milan based bicycle builder Rosin, where he learned frame building and welding. during his time at Rossin and then eventually Columbus, he witnessed the transition from steel to aluminum frames in the 1990s.Claudio Marra is among th
Matt Stephens' Journey from Road Racer to Policeman to Presenter & Content Creator
UK native Matt Stevens had an extensive road cycling career starting in the late eighties through the nineties and into the two thousands. He holds the title of 1998 UK national road race champion.Matthew is most well known for his work at the global cycling network, as he was part of the core team that started the channel in 2015. in 2018, he left GCN to focus on commentary work, live events, as
Howling at the Moon with Veteran Cycling Journalist Guy Kesteven
Guy Kesteven is a professional bike tester and journalist in the cycling industry. He's been testing bikes and kit for over 25 years for UK magazines and global websites.Guy came on my radar when i read his piece on BikePerfect.com titled 'The Mountain Bike industry is Dying, Long Live Mountain Biking. You can read it here.His take on the cycling industry, and the business of cycling is candid, re
Brand & Career Building with Ceramic Speed MD Martin Banke
Martin Banke is the Managing Director of Ceramic Speed. Ceramic Speed is a manufacturer of high-performance bearing technology. They also produce high-performance bottom brackets, pulley systems, pulley wheels, and headsets.Martin has worked in the cycling industry for over 20 years. Initially on the distributor side with EnergySport in Denmark and then on the brand side. Martin was the first empl
Family Business with Basso Bikes & Lee Cougan CEO Alessandro Basso
Alessandro Basso is the Chief Executive Officer at StarDue Group. StarDue is the parent company of the brands Basso Bikes and Lee Cougan Mountain Bikes.Alessandro comes from a family of bike enthusiasts and entrepreneurs in the industry. Alessandro's Father and Uncle founded Basso Bikes in 1977 and his Mother's family is responsible for creating the mega motorcycle protection brand Alpine Stars.I
2023 Highlights: Living Through COVID and the After Effects
To end the year I put together a collection of interesting moments from 2023 conversations focused around COVID and the after effects of the pandemic. I thought it would be an interesting take a look back at some of these anecdotes and experiences these cycling professionals went through to take a look closer to that moment. In the recap provide clips from my conversations with Jonathan Sherwood o
Chaos and Creativity with Canyon VP of Marketing Simon Summerscales
Simon Summerscales is the VP of Marketing at Canyon Bicycles. Before joining Canyon in 2018, Simon was the Head of communication strategy at the prestigious Wieden+Kennedy agency in London. Simon was also Director of communication strategy at 72andSunny in Amsterdam.During his tenure in the agency realm, Simon was responsible for creating numerous global campaigns for both Nike and Adidas.Simon is
Kask Marketing Manager Marco Galli Shares Insights from Red Bull and Scott Experience in Elevating a Growing Italian Brand
Marco Galli is the marketing manager for the cycling division at Kask Helmets in Italy. Marco started his career at Red Bull, where he spent time coordinating sports events, motor sports events, as well as athletes. He then worked for Scott Sports in Switzerland where he was the marketing coordinator for their motor sport division.Marco has been the head of marketing at Kask in Italy since 2022. W
Product & Marketing Synergy with Pirelli Marketing Manager Samuele Bressan
Samuele Bressan is the head of Global Marketing of the cycling division at Pirelli tires. Samuele got his start in cycling as the product manager for Vittoria Tires. He also worked as the product manager for Bianvhi Bicycles, as well as line builder and product manager for clothing brand RH+. In our conversation, we really explore how closely related the product teams are with marketing. And how t
A Postmortem of the Collapse of SIGNA Sports United with ex-VP Jacob Dudek
Jacob Dudek was until recently the VP of commercial operations at SIGNA Sports United for the USA entity. Jacob came onto my radar recently when I saw his article on LinkedIn titled 'A Postmortem of the Collapse of SIGNA Sports United'. It's a deep look at what happened from an insider's look as a VP. I highly recommend it as it goes deep into the reasons behind the collapse. It gives a clear pict
WiggleCRC Insolvency Emergency Podcast with Jonathan Sherwood
On October 27th online cycling retailer behemoth Wiggle has entered into administration due to financial turmoil at its parent company Signa Sports United.This news sent shockwaves through the cycling industry as Wiggle is essentially the 500 pound gorilla of online cycling retail.I spoke with industry veteran Jonathan Sherwood to try to make sense of the news.Read the latest 'The Business of Cycl
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