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Yahoo
5 days ago
- Business
- Yahoo
Someone Doesn't Want This Beloved Bike Park To Open - Here's How You Can Help
Someone Doesn't Want This Beloved Bike Park To Open - Here's How You Can Help originally appeared on BikeMag. Panhandle Bike Ranch is a family-owned and operated bike park in Sagle, Idaho. With the help of a community of local trail builders, including the renowned Gravity Logic Trail Crew, the Kalbach family has been developing a network of world-class mountain bike trails that benefit the local community while also making this small town a destination for mountain bikers from around the world. Widely recognized and respected for their efforts, the opening of the Panhandle Bike Ranch has been eagerly anticipated not just by locals but also by riders from all around the Northwest. However, as of June 4, 2025, a ruling has altogether revoked the permit that would have allowed the park to operate, just 10 days before it was set to open to the Bike Ranch broke the terrible news to fans on Instagram on June 4th, and in the caption, they offered more details about the decision to revoke a permit that had already been granted and approved over a year prior. 'We have some bad news for the fans of the Panhandle Bike Ranch. Judge Casey Simmons, a Kootenai County judge, has ruled that the Bonner County Commissioners did not provide enough evidence for some of the decisions they made when approving our family bike park County approved us as a recreation facility business over a year ago. An opposition group has been fighting against us, claiming that we are a resort, even though we have no lodging, restaurants, spas, or many other characteristics typically associated with a resort. Resorts are not allowed in our property zoning, so this opposition group has been using this false claim to try to stop our business.' View the to see embedded media. This decision to revoke the park's permit to operate as a recreational facility is based on falsehoods provided by the opposition group and is likely driven by some ill will towards what the park will mean for the locals in the area. Unfortunately, as mountain bikers and trail advocates will attest, this is not a rare occurrence. The caption of the Instagram post continues to offer more insight into what this all means for the bike park, and Panhandle has assured the community that they will not give up on this dream of bringing world-class mountain biking to the northern panhandle of Idaho. 'The end result of this decision is that our business is on hold until we can get another hearing with the Bonner County Commissioners. As of right now, we don't have a timeline for that an incredibly frustrating situation because we followed all of the rules, and this really just comes down to technicality nonsense between Bonner County and this judge. We're stuck in the middle not being able to open a business that we have invested millions of dollars into, not to mention over a year of intense work to try to open this business as quickly as we could for the community.' The outpouring of support for Panhandle has been incredible so far, and the comments of support are flooding in. People are doing what they can to spread awareness of this issue, and here are some resources you can use to help out with this unfortunate issue. While this is a really stupid position to be in just over a week before the planned opening of the park, there are actions that the community can take to help, the most effective of which is reaching out to the Bonner County Commissioners and letting them know that biking matters, the Panhandle Bike Ranch will significantly benefit the community and remind them how much trail access matters. District 1 – Brian Domke(208) District 2 – Asia Williams(208) District 3 – Ron Korn(208) General office:(208) 255-3630boccstaff@ story was originally reported by BikeMag on Jun 4, 2025, where it first appeared.
Yahoo
7 days ago
- Business
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This Beloved Bike Brand Is Saved
This Beloved Bike Brand Is Saved originally appeared on BikeMag. There is no getting around the issues plaguing the bike industry today. With brands falling on hard times, closing, and restructuring, we are rarely treated to positive news for the industry. Most recently, the announcement of Revel Bikes' closing, many in the industry were shocked and frustrated, disheartened at the mismanagement of a brand that represented such a different way of doing things. Revel Bikes has created a truly special place for itself in the industry over the years, and the news of its downfall hit harder than Bikes has continuously operated in a very honest and real way. Historically, they didn't overreach in terms of growth; they stuck with what worked and didn't attempt to disrupt the industry in an unrealistic way. That is not to say they are not innovative—just look at the 3D-printed downhill bike or how the brand uses CBF suspension to create some beautifully capable bikes. A truly heartwarming instance of triumph landed in my inbox yesterday while I was riding back from the trailhead. Seeing a new email from Adam Miller, the founder of Why Cycles and Revel Bikes, that began with 'I'm buying back Revel,' I eagerly tapped in to see what the story was. As of this week, Revel Bikes is back to being independently owned and operated by its founder after years of being steered in a strange direction by a private equity owner who didn't understand or appreciate the original vision. But how did Revel Bikes find a point where it needed rescue? Revel began its journey in March 2019 with two mountain bike models centered on Chris Canfield's Canfield Balance Formula (CBF) suspension system. The brand quickly gained traction, becoming known as one of the industry's fastest-growing mountain bike manufacturers. Revel received numerous prestigious 'best of' awards and established a reputation for crafting bikes that their team of enthusiastic riders and engineers themselves wanted to ride. Revel was at the forefront of innovation during its formative years, showcasing projects like a fully 3D-printed carbon downhill concept bike developed in Silicon Valley using the latest in additive manufacturing. It also introduced FusionFiber wheels to the world—an advanced, recyclable, and durable composite rim created in Utah in collaboration with CSS 2021 and 2022, the company made moves and substantial investments to develop a top-tier supply chain, including establishing its facility in Taichung, Taiwan, and relocating carbon frame production to one of Vietnam's leading factories. This groundwork has continually paid off, and is evidenced by the recent launch of three new bikes that exemplify the highest quality the brand has ever offered. A private equity group acquired the company in October 2021, and founder Adam Miller remained involved through the transition, seeing that his passion project and globally recognized bike brand would be in good hands before his official exit in early 2024. 'The private equity firm had a very different vision for Revel than I did,' Miller says. 'They helped us by making heavy investments in manufacturing and supply chain that built world-class infrastructure—something I believe will benefit Revel for years to come. But they also pursued an aggressive growth-at-all-costs model that didn't align with the brand's DNA. High inventory, high overhead, and a rigid financial structure left little room for being nimble and adjusting to the times,' Miller received the news of Revel's decision to cease operations in April 2025 just one day before it was publicly announced. This prompted him to take quick action to re-engage and initiate the process of repurchasing the company he built back in 2019, which was not something he had ever planned on needing to do. 'When funding dried up in a tough macro environment, the company was forced to shut its doors,' Miller continues, 'When I heard the news, there was only one option in my mind, and I decided to step back in.' Miller didn't aim at this repurchase of his brainchild, but Revel means so much to so many. Adam saw the opportunity to breathe new life into the brand and couldn't stomach watching his creation fall from grace. From my experience of working closely with Revel and the team over the years, the news is profoundly moving and instills even more respect for the brand and its operations. Revel is now back under founder control with a clear direction: Make the best, most innovative bikes we can while supporting customers with world-class customer service. With a return to its roots, Adam plans to continue steering Revel with a smart, sustainable business ethos that works for riders and shops. Revel remains headquartered in Carbondale, Colorado, and will continue operating its facility in Taichung, Taiwan. This facility handles product quality control, sourcing, and complete frame and bike assembly, allowing for better oversight and higher-quality products. The company will continue to make innovative carbon full-suspension bikes using the CBF platform and its carbon gravel bike, the Rover. It will also bring back their boutique line of titanium bikes (formerly Why Cycles). 'Collaborating with Revel in the early days to develop the most refined carbon CBF bikes was a project I was truly passionate about. Now, with the original team coming back together, it's exciting to know that the vision will continue — delivering exceptional CBF performance on carbon frames remains the focus, and the future looks stronger than ever,' said Chris Canfield. Even more importantly for customers and retailers, the Taiwan facility enables direct shipping worldwide—bikes and frames shipped straight to riders and shops, with full warranty support, fast lead times, and a stable pricing structure less impacted by unpredictable global tariffs. It's a supply chain built for the long haul. The new Revel will adjust its operations to meet the needs of today's riding and retail environment with significantly improved retail pricing, better than anything seen since before COVID. This means more innovative inventory planning, fewer complete bikes in stock and more nimble assembly capabilities using our Colorado and Taiwan facilities. A refined dealer program will offer frame-only sales with no minimums so that shops can build custom bikes their way. Revel will also emphasize a stronger DTC infrastructure to provide better value and access to riders across the globe. 'This isn't about scaling fast or positioning the brand for resale,' Miller said. 'It's about building a company we're proud of—one that makes the best bikes we can dream of, takes care of its customers around the globe in the best way possible, and sticks around for the long haul. Revel is back, and we're getting to work.' The Ritual A 170mm travel enduro race bike with internal frame storage, loads of modern features, and the best CBF platform yet, is available now. Frames start at $3099, and complete bikes start at $5199. The ReRun Revel's first ebike using the Bosch SX motor, is available for pre-order now with a refundable deposit and will begin shipping to customers in July. Complete builds start at $6999. The Rascal SL This wildly refined and improved version of the bike that put Revel on the map, now made in the best bike factory in the world, with a stiffer, lighter, and better carbon layup, is available now with frames at $2999 and completes at $4999. The Ranger is available in two new colorways with two build kit options and framesets at $2999. Below is an inspiring letter from Adam Miller offers more insight into his decision to resurrect Revel and save what he created. My whole life has been shaped by bicycles. I started tinkering with bikes as a kid, and by the time I was 11, I was running a mini bike business out of my bedroom in Anchorage, Alaska, parting out used bikes and selling them on eBay. A few years later, when I was 14, I landed a job at our local bike shop, and that's when my future in bikes truly grabbed hold. I wasn't just wrenching and changing tires and learning about all sorts of bike companies and business models, I was getting more and more passionate and fascinated by bikes, the people who ride them, and with the kind of community that two wheels can my career evolved, and I started then sold my first company, I was lucky enough to travel all over the world and formed incredible relationships with people in manufacturing, distribution, and everything related to bikes, from factories in Asia to the trails in Colorado to shops across Europe. Those experiences led me to start Revel Bikes in 2015. Over the next four years, I worked on designs and logistics and developed Revel's first two carbon fiber mountain bike models – while also designing fun titanium bikes and running Why Cycles. I was surrounded by an amazing group of designers, engineers, and bike nerds, many of whom were also my roommates. We'd spend long days at the office, and nights in the living room tinkering with prototypes, dreaming about launch dayWhen we finally launched Revel in 2019 with just those two models, it took off faster than we ever imagined. We were just six friends in a warehouse in a small Colorado mountain town, and somehow, our ideas were was never just a company to me – it was a personal mission. We built the bikes we actually wanted to ride, rooted in quality, sustainability, customer service, and a genuine love of riding bikes and being outside in the mountains. I had an absolute blast working crazy hours and running the company for several fantastic years. In late 2021, I sold the company to a private equity group. I believed that with more capital and infrastructure, Revel could grow into something even bigger, while holding on to what made it special. I stayed on for a while to help with the transition, and then I fully stepped away in early 2024 when the company's mission started to deviate from my I left a year ago, I thought and hoped Revel would live on and continue to thrive, but that didn't happen. Last month, I found out, just a day before the public announcement, that Revel was shutting its doors. The employees, the community, the customers…we were all left hanging. This news was truly devastating to me – I had poured my heart into Revel for the better part of a decade, and I couldn't just let it disappear. So I bought Revel back, and now we're here to stay. The business is going to be smaller, leaner, and smarter, and the team and I are more motivated than ever to make Revel what we always knew it could be – a responsive, customer-oriented company with incredible, carefully crafted bikes that we want to ride and we think you will Revel re-emerges, we're planning to stay laser focused on what really matters. This company is not going to chase growth for growth's sake. We're going to create something we're proud of, for the long haul. We'll sell directly to riders, and we'll have a frame-only program for dealers with the hopes of seeing more epic custom builds. My team and I are committed to running everything with the same obsessive attention to detail that started in that bedroom bike shop in Alaska and that put Revel on the map in everyone who stuck with me and this company, thank you. To those just discovering Revel, welcome. We're just getting started, again.- Adam Miller, Founder & CEO, Revel Bikes This story was originally reported by BikeMag on May 21, 2025, where it first appeared. Error while retrieving data Sign in to access your portfolio Error while retrieving data Error while retrieving data Error while retrieving data Error while retrieving data
Yahoo
7 days ago
- Business
- Yahoo
Revel Bikes Gets Back to Roots with Hiring of Original Designer
Revel Bikes Gets Back to Roots with Hiring of Original Designer originally appeared on BikeMag. Revel Bikes surprised and thrilled the mountain bike world when founder Adam Miller bought the troubled company at auction last month, and the good news keeps coming from the Carbondale, Colorado-based company. Miller has brought on Mike Giese, Revel's original bike designer who will now serve as Director of Product Development and Creative worked with Miller back in the day from 2016 to 2018 to create Revel's iconic Rail, Rascal, and Ranger from concept to trail. 'Mike's the real deal,' said Miller in announcing Giese's return to Revel. 'He's got this rare combo of incredible engineering talent, insane bike handling skills, and an eye for design that's unmatched. It's wildly awesome to get to work with him again.' Giese's frame designs, coupled with Chris Canfield's CBF suspension platform, created bikes that racked up awards and created devoted Revel riders. After helping establish Revel, Giese went on to help develop new carbon bikes and components. He brings that experience back to Revel now with plans for exciting new builds, Miller says. 'Mike was a big part of why Revel clicked right from the start," Miller said. "Getting to build the next chapter together is something we're all really stoked about.' 'I am beyond excited for this next chapter with Revel Bikes,' Giese said. 'After working with Adam and team to design the original Rail, Rascal and Ranger, I am looking forward to joining the Revel Bikes team to lead product strategy, design and development for the next generation of bikes, and for the next generation of the brand.' Revel has shifted to a direct-to-consumer model focused on making the high-quality bikes sans the middle markup. Customers can buy complete bikes and frames directly through Revel's website, and Revel ships globally. Revel also support custom builds through local bike shop dealers with their frame-only program. From a serious question as to whether or not Revel would survive at all to the news that it's getting back to its small company, bike-loving roots, the mountain bike world has reason to be excited about the rebirth of Revel. 'Now, it is time to put the foot on the gas and design some insane new bikes, Giese said. 'Let the good times roll!' This story was originally reported by BikeMag on Jun 3, 2025, where it first appeared.
