Aebike, PricePoint, Nashbar, Performance - which one is next?

[NYCfixie]

I have no idea what killed all of these companies but I believe each had a physical presence at some point (except for Nashbar who was bought out by Performance). In this world of eCommerce why didn't they just get rid of the physical presence years ago? Am I oversimplifying the issue?

Who is next to close up shop (and online)?

I have used all of them over the years and am surprised they are all gone.

[Mark McM]

Originally Posted by NYCfixie

I have no idea what killed all of these companies but I believe each had a physical presence at some point (except for Nashbar who was bought out by Performance).

I don't what killed them, but I do know that Nashbar actually did have some physical brick and mortar locations at one point, at least until the late '90s (Nashbar wasn't bought by Performance until 2000).

[dancinkozmo]

i betcha the UK online guys played a part

[GregL]

A. E. Bike closed when the owner essentially decided it was time to retire: https://www.mlive.com/business/west-...nswers_qu.html

Greg

[likebikes]

campagnolo is next.

[FlashUNC]

The problem is the pie ain't growing.

It's a niche business that isn't expanding it's user base in any appreciable way.

[nublar]

Art's Cyclery

[benb]

I wonder if there was something going on like a bubble of guys "collecting" and "upgrading" way too often that is slowing down. Are the MAMIL's aging out or something.

Could be "average joe" who bought a hybrid or whatever is slowing down due to whatever (cell phone using drivers?) too, etc..

We've heard about the US internet businesses in cycling getting hurt by distribution pricing difference with Euro internet businesses, etc.. too.

Or maybe they are all just mismanaged.

[vqdriver]

hopefully not universal cycles. i like em.

[NYCfixie]

Originally Posted by vqdriver

hopefully not universal cycles. i like em.

Isn't their website just a front end over the QBP catalog?
(as-in nothing more or less than you can get at your LBS for about the same price)

[shinomaster]

Originally Posted by NYCfixie

Isn't their website just a front end over the QBP catalog?
(as-in nothing more or less than you can get at your LBS for about the same price)

they have a shop in Portland.

[Keith A]

I’m sad the Performance Bike/Nasbar are going away. I’ve been shopping with them for as long as I can remember.

[MagicHour]

I feel the same been ordering from both going back to something like '89-90. Great stuff in the catalogs back then! and through the years occasional cool finds like random Italian or Euro stuff would pop up. Times change though and unfortunately the last couple years both companies offerings (online) became less and less interesting and websites were buggy compared to other sites so I moved on.

Originally Posted by Keith A

I’m sad the Performance Bike/Nasbar are going away. I’ve been shopping with them for as long as I can remember.

[NYCfixie]

Originally Posted by Keith A

I’m sad the Performance Bike/Nasbar are going away. I’ve been shopping with them for as long as I can remember.

According to the financial information I keep in Quicken my first purchases were...
- 10/1996 from Performance Bicycle
- 7/2002 from Bike Nashbar

It appears I mostly used the LBS until that fateful day in 1996 (there were no Performance brick and mortar stores in the NYC area).

[peanutgallery]

In no particular order

J&B
Jamis
Accell NA
KHS

None of these places are doing the business they were 10 years ago and there is no way they can continue to bleed forever. KHS has the best chance as they are still an authorized dist. for shimano

Big change, I get the feeling something is afoot at Specialized. My gut tells me that Sinyard is getting out of his end and the ownership puzzle will change in some fashion