Islabikes

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Islabikes
Company typePrivate Limited Company
IndustryOther retail specialised stores
Founded2005-2023
FounderIsla Rowntree
Headquarters
Stanton Lacy, Shropshire
,
United Kingdom
Area served
UK, Europe
Key people
Isla Rowntree (Managing director)
ProductsChildren's and adult’s bicycle parts
Total assets£4,000,000[1]
Number of employees
21[1]
WebsiteIslabikes
Footnotes / references
[2]

Islabikes (/ˈaɪlə/ EYE-lə /baɪks/[3]) is a manufacturer of specialist bicycle parts based near Ludlow in Shropshire, England. From its founding in 2005 through 2023, the company was known for children's bikes, and from 2019 they added bicycles aimed at riders over age 65. It was founded by former competitive cyclist Isla Rowntree, initially located at Claverley in east Shropshire until it moved to Bromfield, Shropshire in 2010, then Ludlow in 2019. It is now located in Stanton Lacy, Shropshire. In November 2014 the company employed 40 people.[4]

Islabikes made much lighter weight bikes than usual for children's bikes, with all components designed specifically for the intended rider.[5][6] In 2011 Islabikes introduced its first adult-sized model, the Beinn 29.[7] Islabikes opened a North American headquarters in Portland, Oregon and began sales in April, 2013, but pulled out of the US market in 2018 due to uncertainty over Brexit and US regulations.[8][9] The bicycles were designed in the UK and manufactured in Vietnam.[10]

In February 2022, Islabikes announced the production of two new models for riders with dwarfism.[11]

In October 2023 Islabikes announced it would close their bicycling business after 18 years, citing uncertain market conditions.[12] In a press release, founder Rowntree said, "Today, it's easy to forget just how bad most children's bikes were when I started Islabikes 18 years ago", and that, "Islabikes' early success gradually gained attention from other and bigger cycling brands and, as a result of them following our lead, today good quality, well thought-out children's bikes are available from multiple places, and for me, that is a wonderful thing."[1]

  • Beinn 24 model
    Beinn 24 model
  • Four year old on Cnoc 14 model
    Four year old on Cnoc 14 model

References

  1. ^ a b c Ambrose, Tom (27 October 2023). "UK children's cycle maker Islabikes to shut after nearly 18 years". The Guardian. ISSN 0261-3077. Retrieved 22 April 2024.
  2. ^ "Founder Isla Rowntree steps back after 15 years". Islabikes. Retrieved 9 September 2021.
  3. ^ See Isla (given name). Islabikes sets up shop in Portland, KGW, 18 April 2013, archived from the original (Flash Video) on 29 June 2013, retrieved 26 April 2013
  4. ^ "Cyclist peddles her own design of bikes". Shropshire Star. 28 November 2014. p. 18.Report by Thomas Morton.
  5. ^ Farelly, Tony (8 July 2007). "Islabike Beinn 20in review". BikeRadar. Retrieved 18 July 2011.
  6. ^ Haworth, Benji (November 2011), "Interview: Isla Rowntree" (PDF), Singletrack, archived from the original (PDF) on 23 March 2013, retrieved 23 February 2013
  7. ^ "Islabike launch big bikes for big kids", Singletrack, 30 August 2011, retrieved 23 February 2013
  8. ^ Maus, Jonathan (28 March 2013), "UK-based Islabikes opens North American headquarters in southeast Portland", BikePortland
  9. ^ Maus, Jonathan (5 October 2018), Brexit uncertainty, US regulations among reasons for Islabikes' retreat
  10. ^ Kibbler, Adrian (22 November 2010), "Ludlow-based bike business Isla Bikes goes from strength to strength", The Argus
  11. ^ Bowater, Dave (22 February 2022), Our new step-through bike for riders with dwarfism
  12. ^ "Islabikes to cease production of bikes". 26 October 2023.

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