Online retailer Backcountry.com has succumbed to its inner self and begun selling high end bike gear and accessories from Shimano, Fox, Sidi, Giro, Oakley, Look, Castelli, Campagnolo, Mavic, Park, Pedros, Pearl Izumi and 60 other brands.
The retailer, launched ten years ago, said it has long pondered whether to enter the market because so many of the enthusiasts it already serves – climbers, hikers, skiers and boarders – are also bikers.
“The business has been loaded with cyclists since day one,” the company said in one of its typical gonzo press releases. “And for every day thereafter somebody in the company would ask, 'Why don't we just sell bike gear?' And President John Bresee would answer, “Because it will dilute the brand.” Then the employee would point to the Serrotta, Yeti and Kona parked in his office and be like, “Dude!?”
The company has looked long and hard at the pros and cons of selling cycling gear, has tested selling bike gear on Backcountry.com and SteepandCheap.com, and now feels it has what it takes to support premium bikes and bike gear on the site.
“We're 100% confident that this will be huge,” said John Thomas, backcountry's merchandise manager. “We have a proven infrastructure, we have buying power and we have killer pricing. Now Backcountry.com is a pretty damn complete gear closet. With the addition of bikes, theres not a Thule or Yakima rack out there that we cant fill.”
The Backcountry.com Bike category will deliver all of the award-winning customer service, faster-than-expected delivery time and super svelte return handling that have fueled Backcountrys success in outdoor, climbing, hiking, skiing, snowboarding, paddling and more.
