Islabikes are shutting down

[Sumerian]

Ive just seen that they are ceasing production and selling off all their stock.

Such a shame, their bikes were utterly brilliant. My ds learnt to ride on a tiny cnoc, and has gone up through the sizes and is now on their beinn 26. His bikes have been such a massive part of his childhood. I never thought I'd ever feel emotional about a bike company but I'm oddly emotional about todays news.

Oh that is so sad 😢. They’re fabulous bikes - both boys learnt on them and rode them until they started secondary.

Cost of living?

Both of mine had them (DS still does). I was sad when I heard this news because they truly are an excellent bike. We visited the factory when buying for DD and they were very helpful. What a shame.

That is such a shame! DS has always ridden their bikes and they are fantastic.

I will say they seem to either have had production issues or deliberately limited the number produced, because it hasn't always been possible to buy one.

They really make the best kids' bikes though

My kids learnt on these too. They’re brilliant bikes. But at the time, when my not 14yr old was little, they were the only decent kids bike on the market. Now there’s tonnes of brands. Plus hope schemes such as the hope Academy bikes.
The market is too competitive now I guess

*now 14yr
*hire schemes

This is indeed very sad. I have coached very many kids riding islabikes over the years, from tots on balance bikes to teenage racers. They revolutionised the children's bike market in this country, being the first company that really recognised the need for lighter kids bikes with decent components, but the industry has caught on now, with other specialist children's bike companies opening and many of the major adult brands now offering good quality children's bikes. The days when your choice was an Islabike or a piece of junk the weight of a small planet have gone thankfully, though I suspect the improvements elsewhere have had a negative impact on Islabikes' market share. They've tried to diversify somewhat in recent years, again with good, innovative ideas, but the bike industry is in trouble generally with even some really big names fighting for survival and it sounds like Islabikes have decided to close before they run into big debts.
It's bad news both from the point of view of cycling and the economy. Certainly Youth cycling in this country owes Isla Rowntree a great deal and her ideas will continue to influence things for a long time to come.

Frog bikes are a good alternative. There seems to be heaps of struggling bike companies at the moment.

Such a shame. My ds is currently riding an Islabike at 3 years old. Theres no way he could physically pick up a standard pedal bike from Halfords.

It is really sad news, ds had Islabikes till he was on adult sizes, but they really were amazing bikes and he achieved so much on them. But so hard in the current bike market for a very small player to keep up with the big suppliers

Same here, DS went through the Cnocs and Beinns. Half the kids I coach are on Islas. Wiggle/CRC also going into administration which is a huge shock.

Mine had Islabikes as their first "proper" bikes.
But the price really skyrocketed and it want worth it.. one has a Giant now and the other a Decathlon, both very good bikes.

Definitely a loss.

I wonder if the overinflated second hand price has harmed them. People buy second hand at 75% price because there is a strong belief they hold their value. Perhaps those who would normally buy new have bought into that more than they would for a less robust brand.

Agree Frog is a good alternative but they also have a thriving second hand market which obviously is good for many reasons, but perhaps bring other issues like this.

I love islabikes, i've had 3 (1 x new but in the sale and 2 x second hand). At £400 for a 5 yo's bike I think they got too expensive and as a small retailer couldn't compete on price.

Their gears are a bit weird vs the traditional clicky ones which made me already think to get DS a frog for his first gear bike.

They have been brilliant quality tho

We love Islabike's, used for both DDs. Are their e-bikes good? Any reviews?

wow. I'm surprised they couldn't sell the brand, but I guess it was Labour of Love business, too.

DC rode Islabikes from 2007-2021. Frog bikes aren't even close ime. RIP.

My dad would've been so sad to hear this. He got ds onto Islabikes at a young age - bought him his first one after he and mum had bought him an Like-a-bike for Christmas when he was only 3

Once ds progressed from his "flat" handlebar Islabikes, (which I sold to a MNer), he went onto a drop handle bar one and then went on to cycle competitively until he was c16 just after I'd bought him an expensive car on fibre bike

I wonder if it's the bike club that didn't help as I don't think they stocked them.

Second Frog bikes as an alternative. Could never afford Isla.