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Islabikes, the children’s bike brand that changed the face of bikes for kids, has taken delivery of its last batch of bikes and will cease selling at the end of the year.
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By stwhannah
Get the full story here:
https://singletrackmag.com/2023/10/islabikes-to-cease-production/
Such a shame, but I guess trading just looks too difficult.
That is such a sad reality. Both my children learned to ride on Islabikes. In one case after struggling for weeks on an awful Giant child's bike my eldest was riding unaided within minutes on our first Islabike. Second child had a balance bike initially and again within minutes was riding unaided on a his first pedal bike at a much earlier age than the first.
A real shame - they paved the way and proved parents didn't just want Toys R Us bike shaped objects for their kids and had the market to themselves for a good while. Then bigger boys came along and stole the market...
🙁
Thanks to Isla for changing kids first real bike experiences for the better
Sad news (we’ve had several Islas) but not unexpected as I think there had been signs in the wind.
Thank you Isla and co for making learning to ride so much easier for my kids than it was for me.
We went down the Early Rider route with our own kids but I have consistently recommended Islabikes to people over the years, they really changed the game and kid bikes all round are better for them having existed.
I wish Isla all the best with her next endeavor.
That's such sad news, but - given recent news elsewhere in the industry - I guess it's maybe better to realise the future's less than bright than oversee the gradual decline of a really excellent company.
My eldest was also born in 2005 and my kids have grown up riding Islabikes, so this is poignant for me. I think we've had pretty much every model in the range from the Rothan balance bike (bought for Tyred Jr the elder by his over-excited dad before he was able to walk) up to the 700c Luath(?) road/CX bike and all wheel sizes in between.
Once my two had grown out of each one, I've given them out to friends for their kids, had them back, then given them out again. Got a few in the garage at the moment (anyone in Glasgow need one?) but most are out with various people, getting used. I think there's too much nostalgia wrapped up with them for me to get round to selling any!
As a company, Islabikes were always brilliant to deal with, and I must confess to being ever so slightly star-struck whenever I've seen Isla at CX races and been slightly too shy to tell her just how much my kids have got out of the company she built and the bikes it made. Both of them are fully independent bike riders, always out riding, always pushing themselves on. I couldn't have asked for more.
If I had to pick a favourite, it'd be the 16" wheel one (Cnoc?) - that's the bike little people are on when they go from just being able to ride to being able to ride really well. So much fun.
I'll never forget the look on other kids' faces when we let them have a spin on our kids Islabikes. The look of amazement when they realised what a bike designed for them could be like. A real shame they're going but they leave the legacy of a lot more kids on bikes than there would have been without them.
Not just kids bike either. They’ve done lots to make the right bikes for people that the rest of the bike industry was ignoring.
Thank you Isla.
Both my kids started on a Rothan.
Good luck to all of you with whatever the future holds.
Wow. Best of luck to all there.
Both my nieces had Islabikes at various times, the youngest one loves them because she is also called Isla!
Sad to hear the news. 🙁
That's a real shame. Both my boys had islabikes until they were big enough to ride Birds, and my 4 year old daughter is currently on her second Islabike, she loves it!
Islabikes truly made a huge and positive difference to kids cycling, thank you and good luck.
Our latest (a Creig 20 in orange) arrived on Thursday.
My 6.5y old daughter will receive it on Sunday.
This will be our 7th Islabike for my two kids, 12 and 6.5.
Both learned on a Rothan and moved up to a Cnoc 14/16.
Sounds like an odd decision to be honest - or maybe just an oddly worded press release. You’d think the brand at least has value and someone might buy it.
If the MD and former owner ‘no longer wish to continue’ then I hope they’ve exhausted all other avenues to keep their employees in a job!
Firstly, kudos to them for winding up the business without leaving a trail of debtors behind.
Just looked back through my emails- Christmas 2008 our kids got a Rothan (unbraked at the time) and a Cnoc 12 (one brake only, can't remember which). There was a furore at the time- the younger, just shy of 2, took exception to not having pedals and wanted the Cnoc, which we'd bought with training wheels.
A few weeks later he was tearing around like a nutter, feet only going down to speed up or to be used as brakes, while our daughter was struggling to make the transition from removing the training wheels. It wasn't until I took the cranks and bb off that she got her balance right.
Still remember the huge number of questions and looks the Rothan got at the time, presume there'd been balance bikes previously, but the novelty and sheer mobility of the kid on it astounded parents, as did the price (think it was about 60 quid back then, which was a fair whack).
While Islabikes remains solvent and there are no creditors, the decision has been reached to close the business, rather than seek new ownership or management.
Any idea why? And what are the ‘tough trading conditions in the bike industry’ - is this another brexit bonus?
A real shame, but an entirely honourable exit.
Solarider jnr learned to ride on a number of Islabikes. As he has grown we have found that Vitus offered many of the same benefits and small person specification but at a significantly lower price.
Ironically, at just the moment that the future of Vitus looks shaky, Islabikes throw in the towel.
They were always expensive but held their value, but ultimately somebody else replicated their mode at a cheaper price.
Sad days for the economy behind our beloved sport. There will be winners out of all of this but right now it just feels like who will lose the least.
All three of my kids have grown up with Islabikes... this is so sad, what a fabulous business it has been, but good for them to go out on their own terms, hope the staff are all okay..
You’d think the brand at least has value and someone might buy it.
Some people do what they do for reasons beyond maximising their wealth?
Hats off to Isla and the team, you’ve made a real difference while having an income (and hopefully enjoying the journey).
Totally changed the kids bike market for the better. Shame to see them go.
changed the kids bike market but failed to adapt to competition, haven't been unique for sometime to be able to sustain the RRP
explains the recent heavy discounts on kids bikes. anything mentioned about warranties on bikes?
hope the staff involved manage to get themselves other jobs quickly.
Not just kids bike either. They’ve done lots to make the right bikes for people that the rest of the bike industry was ignoring.
Is there any other manufacturer making bikes for people with dwarfism? This will be a real loss.
"anything mentioned about warranties on bikes?"
........ yes.
That's a shame - Islabikes properly changed the world of kids bikes. Mine both had nothing but Islabikes from 16" to 24" wheels. Thanks for the memories and all the best to those involved.
The speculation in the thread a few weeks ago turned out to be correct: https://singletrackmag.com/forum/topic/psa-islabikes-37-52-reductions/
@watty Brexit will inevitably be part of it, but it’s also that anyone who wanted a bike bought one in lockdown, and also the back orders put in round then have started to come through meaning there’s a bit of a glut. CRC/Wiggle falling down the tubes and two of four bike shops near me closing down also signs.
Three mini-s's here all started on their bikes and went Rothan > Cnoc14 > Cnoc16 > Beinn 20 in quick succession.
Seemed like a wonderful company with great ideas. Sad to hear the news.
I loved the idea of the Isla bike but could never stomach the price or the need for gripshift. They then brought out an even more expensive range (which looked lovely but was seriously expensive) and intended to stop looking.
Clearly just me and my thinking as plenty kids in the bike club ride them.
I went down the Frog route as it didn't have gripshift and the price wasn't so high (although having a look now, the price is up there) - so clearly just me with absolutely no concept of the price of things these days.
Despite that moaning, it is sad news.
full marks for seeing which way things were going and stopping at the right time rather than digging a huge hole they could never get out of. I loved that they persuaded people to spend the right amount on a bike that worked and their children would love rather than a cheap thing that might get upgraded later but would be horrible. Scott also made bikes that worked well for small people but Islabikes had the name that made parents open their wallets
That’s so sad. All my kids have learned and progressed on various Islabikes. They are properly thought out little bikes. The decision to close up must have been heartbreaking. They truly transformed kid’s bikes and not just in the uk.
I'd guess that if you can take down the business in an orderly way and keep the brand you can reenter the bike market in another niche and have some (well earned ) goodwill - so good luck to whatever they plan to do!
Are they a victim of their own pricing ?
It didn’t take too long for the industry to start churning out similar bikes to Isla at a fraction of the cost, yes I know not the same quality but that doesn’t matter to most general public
Are they a victim of their own pricing ?
This for us anyway, the last 2 kids bikes we have bought new have been Vitus. Having previously had/still using/waiting to use again Frog and Islabike bikes. They are great but couldn't justify 2.5x times the price of the Vitus (but then obviously that tells it own take about chiggle).
To echo sentiments above, their impact on the industry will live on.
yes I know not the same quality
I dispute that. Islabikes weren't special quality, they were just the first people to make properly thought out kids bikes to ride. As soon as everyone else caught on, their USP was gone and they were always going to struggle.
Looked at one recently but couldn’t justify new price for the time we’d have it. Even second hand prices were high. Went for a second/third hand Frog in the end. I also wonder if the direct model contributed. All very well for those in the know, but LBS support and being able to try size before you buy is valuable to a lot of non cycling parents.
What a shame, bought a cnoc 16 for my (then) little lad, it got handed down to his sister, then loaned it out to a couple of friends kids, got it back and sold it for more than I paid for it - how many bikes can you do that with?!
This is sad, but in tough financial times not surprising. We had an Islabike (Beinn 20) that was second hand (from ebay). It was old when we bought it, but it served (and was abused by) both our kids for several years and is still going strong now it's been sold on.
the need for gripshift.
My kids struggled with this so we switched to a regular shifter (and even then they always seemed to either use one gear all the time). But it's great that you could switch components (grips/chains/shifters/cassettes) without any fuss because they were standard.
My 10 year old is competing in cx on an islabike, it's a great bike. I've upgraded the wheels and forks but the rest is stock.
Never had kids but recommended islabiked to others who did, anyone who didn't listen inevitably has a child that doesn't really ride.
It's a massive shame as they were a company with a purpose.
As for not selling the brand, would you sell your integrity to Mike Ashley, he'd only sack a the staff anyway! So they probably made the right decision.
Why would you need to sell to Ashley? There are other companies out there who might have been interested.
As for not selling the brand, would you sell your integrity to Mike Ashley, he’d only sack a the staff anyway! So they probably made the right decision.
So the right decision is to sack ALL the staff?
I’m genuinely sad to hear that. My son learnt to ride on a Cnoc (via a Rothan balance bike).
:/
In a perfect world the ideas from people like Isla Rowntree would lead the way. In some ways they did here. So much respect for her ideas on products and businesses.
If you haven't heard Jack Thurson's Bicycle Show podcast with her it's worth looking up. The image project and how a bike could carry a logbook of ownership experiences from child to child is just a beautiful thought process.
There are lots of businesses out there in worse shape. I can understand that maybe business has a pretty tricky and demanding for a few years, haven’t we all. Maybe the fatigue has set in, I get that. Seems a shame to wind it up not sell it. You do need a buyer to be able to sell it though. It must be like selling a child, selling to the wrong entity/person could be devastating when you nurtured and built it from nothing. Most business purchases use the business income to pay the seller. Maybe the owners didn’t want that and saw it as a risk. (Unscrupulous new owner uses new business to top up pensions, huge salary, bonuses, dividends, build debt. And crash the business. Having not paid the previous owner)
Really sad to hear this.
Both of our kids went through the whole range, starting with the Rothan and being 3 years apart eldest handed down to junior before selling them on.
Youngest now on the Creig 26.
Islabikes have brought us so many happy family memories along the way.
Best of luck to Isla and the team for the future, whatever it might bring.
Really sad to hear this.
Both of our kids went through the whole range, starting with the Rothan and being 3 years apart eldest handed down to junior before selling them on.
Youngest now on the Creig 26.
Islabikes have brought us so many happy family memories along the way.
Best of luck to Isla and the team for the future, whatever it might bring.
It’s sad to see them go as they were the other end of the spectrum to Wiggle. I always struggled to find a decent equivalent to Islabikes therefore have bought many different sizes for my kids. It’s nice to be able to pass them on to other nephews and nieces knowing that they’re great quality.
I suppose in hindsight, were they trying to solve a problem that didn’t exist? Keen cyclists bought them for their kids because they knew what they were buying. But in tough times, the majority went for high street brands which served the purpose and had the magazine/current image. Most of us probably grew up on heavy rubbish bikes but still fell in love with the sport.
From me, thanks to Isla for provide such excellent bikes for so many kids. Best of luck in the future.
This makes me sad. My kids also learned to ride on Islabikes and still ride a couple. I think they blazed a trail in the UK and redefined what kids’ bikes should be.
It must be hard competing in a market saturated by the loss-making private equity juggernauts.
The Twins have had a Rothan and CnOC 14s in the past and they were great. I think there are probably better bikes out there now from an MTB viewpoint, but I don’t think they’d be there if it hadn’t been for Islabikes blazing the trail in the first place.
I guess it’s better to go out on your own terms than wait for the administrators to come in.
Good luck to them in the future. <br />My daughter got her first air on her Rothan at our local pumptrack in Bristol, and somehow rode it out!
I always struggled to find a decent equivalent to Islabikes
There were plenty out there as of about a decade ago. We actually went to their shop and tried bikes but the cost was way too high for what they were. We ended up with Pinnacle which were cheaper and just as well designed. Somewhat lower spec but that was entirely appropriate for kids bikes; however better tyres.
The thing is with small companies is that they don't necessarily need to keep going forever. They server as income for the people who run them, who can get other jobs or simply sell assets and retire.
If you read the Isla quote, there’s an element of “my job here is done”.
She set out to make high quality children’s bikes when there weren’t any. She changed the industry - ok not all children’s bikes are good now (nor are all adults) but many are. She took parents away from the “spec” - suspension, 3xsomething gears - and boiled it down to what works for a small child.
Others copied her, the sincerest form of flattery, and it was time to bow out before the debts hit. Good call.
And thank you for the Rothan, Cnocs, Luaths and Beinns that have graced this house. Less so the fact that as they get older, they both want and can ride at a level that justifies lots of nice bikes.
Isla, I salute you, and congratulate you on a job well done. My wallet may never recover. (But I’m still grinning)
just going to throw this out there, and I've had Isla bikes, and frogs, and early riders of various sizes for my lot, (mainly because the resell was so high, I could pass them down through 2/3 kids then sell at pennies on the pound loss) they also ride their cousins scaffold pipe bikes when with them, I have NEVER EVER heard a kid of any age, certainly not an under 10 moan about the weight of a bike, these wheels are shit, this bikes better because it's got belt drive, these brakes are piss poor, it simply doesn't happen
it's been 18 years, and much like Rapha, they got somewhat lucky with the timing, few build years, then massive growth through the boom years from 2010 onwards, and what they did well is then tap into the psyche of forums like this, with mums & dads riding around on their 6/7/8k bikes, assuming that Tabatha and Montague will only be happy riding around on a bike that is a couple of kilos lighter, no kid was asking for ti-axled flat pedals (which they did at one point) and fair play, they built a brand on that, and are leaving the market having everyone catch up, with what looks like a very healthy balance sheet, hopefully there is no intertwined reason for winding up and it's a it's covid boom period, and now exiting because the industry is saturated with similar cheaper bikes, and sales are dead on their arse
Chapeau Isla,
Genuinely sad to hear this. All 4 of my girls could pedal before they were 3 and that was only possible because of the cnoc 14 small. Took me ages to find a used one, and I had to drive 2 hours to get it for her Christmas present. My youngest twin is tiny and only just fitted on tip toes but she was determined to ride like her sisters. Once she could pedal it opened up so many bike adventures for us. Still running a couple in the fleet, but we're moving onto other bikes (cub-scout), and I don't think bikes like that would have existed without islabikes.
My son still resent me not getting him an Isla Bike. He thinks they define parental love
I saw this earlier today from rigs of the HT 550
ISLA ROWNTREE
AGE 54 / LUDLOW, SHROPSHIRE (UNITED KINGDOM)BIKE: Reynolds 853 skinny tube custom frame, built by me for the event, fitted with Islabikes carbon fork. 140mm Islabikes cranks, very narrow Q factor reduced further with short axles fitted to Crank Bros Candy pedals, Hope BB, 28 x 22T gear ratio, Hope Race Evo brakes with KCNC rotors, SON dynamo hub powering Wahoo Roam and Exposure light, Chris King rear hub and headset, Stans Crest carbon rims, Kenda Saber Pro tyres, PNW dropper ‘post, Ergon grips and BBB bar ends.
BAGS: Bedrock panniers and Alpkit Gravel front bag supported by stainless steel front and rear racks, made by me. Terra Nova Laser Pulse tent (flysheet only) strapped to the top of the rear rack. Under down tube Zefal tube for tools and spares.
GEAR HIGHLIGHTS: Modified Mudhugger mudguards front and rear, mounted to the racks–I won’t leave home without them!
Thinking out loud... They had some 4milion of assets end of last FY. Say 500k is their factory, that's alot of bikes in stock. They're selling those all at 1/2 price. They may have a years+ worth of stock in today's sluggish market if they're like other companies. If that's the case, who else might they take with them if they crash the market for high end kids bikes?
Thank you Isla and team for changing the market for kids bikes. As most on this thread both of my boys grew up on Islabikes, there was nothing better at the time. We also had a trailerbike which was awesome.
Really sorry to see the brand go but they've done what they set out to do and I can't imagine they could compete with the big brands on price even if they wanted to. Graceful exit shows character and intent, so well done there also.
Thinking out loud… They had some 4milion of assets end of last FY. Say 500k is their factory, that’s alot of bikes in stock. They’re selling those all at 1/2 price. They may have a years+ worth of stock in today’s sluggish market if they’re like other companies. If that’s the case, who else might they take with them if they crash the market for high end kids bikes?
That's a very good point, didn't Frog and a few other brands pop up to fill the "decent kids bike but not as expensive as an Isla" market? if Isla are 50% off, that makes those brands 30 to 40% too expensive.
no kid was asking for ti-axled flat pedals
The Pro series were things of beauty but there was no way I was going to be allowed to spend £1k on a kids’ bike even if I’d wanted to.
@hooli Also there’s the issue that the competition is a s/h Isla - kids bikes don’t get as worn out as adults’ bikes (though they do get bashed/scraped) and there are 18 years worth in circulation.
It is a good point - we went the frog route as it was a good deal cheaper than isla, and for the last kids bike I picked up a heavily discounted vitus 24 about a year ago. Vitus is brilliant for £300 and he loves it, I can't see me needing the warranty but that is a possible concern now (no crystal ball for me last year)
Looks like the kids market is going to get a bit more rocky
I'm looking at some of the larger islas like the crieg 26 and wondering if I should take a punt and put it in the loft for when my eldest is big enough (he's 8.5). Though even discounted they are still £600
It would be interesting to see how many of us bought them brand new, we certainly didn't.
Bought second hand and got our money back later.
anyone who didn’t listen inevitably has a child that doesn’t really ride.
Erm, just to say, that is nonsense.
This is sad news. Both kids have/have had Islabikes.
I'm going to say it......while Frog bikes are great and quality bikes, I don't think they are in the same league as Islabikes.
E.g. 16 inchers
Islabike Cnoc 16 5.3Kg £399 RRP (now selling for £349)
Frog 44 6.4Kg £390 RRP.
1.1 Kg difference is huge on a small bike for a small person.
They’re selling those all at 1/2 price. They may have a years+ worth of stock in today’s sluggish market if they’re like other companies.
True - but it seems to be the 'non-core' stuff that's 1/2 price, the balance/cnoc/beinn prices still look solid, 10-20% discounted, but nothing wild.
They always seem to have kept the faith on their core range - it's the attempts to diversify that don't seem to have been so successful - adult, electric, ultra-high end kids.
I wonder how much of the core market is saturated with their core bikes? As others have said, they don't really wear out, and people tend to value them second hand so they don't get skipped.
This is a great listen that gives some background to Islabikes' ethos - https://pca.st/Q2Ra
...and, again, it's really sad news. We loved loading the car up with the kid's Islabikes in the boot and heading North for an adventure.
Just another vote for Islabikes getting kids into cycling. We got my youngest whatever the 14" wheeled Isla bike was many moons ago. Had the back peddle brake.
He's now nearly 20 and rides an Airdrop doing stupid stuff in Wharns that I'd hurt myself on. Definitely got him into riding.
Sold it after going through another two kids and I think I broke even on it, if you ignore inflation.
What a time for the like button to stop working - so many 'likeable' comments here.
In the same time frame that the news of CRC/Wiggle coming tumbling down, with all the the talk of private equity and asset stripping, Isla Rowntree stood (stands) for some much that is good in the cycle industry. Such a modest, grounded lady. And as stated above - the concept of quality bikes, that retain their value to be sold on and loved again many times over is exactly how it should be. The adult bikes aimed at an adventurous but not wannabe gnar market looked a positive contribution too.
re. frogs, only a few years back the comparable bikes were significantly cheaper than isla. I think our 48 cost us less than £200 new with a bit of discount from merlin. Frog have massively whacked their prices up since covid like most bike companies, maybe as they became so popular they have taken advantage.
My boys absolutely rip on them so I don't think 1kg really makes much difference. Eldest has done swinley red on his old 52 at 7. youngest was riding a frog 40 at 3 1/2. The first few we bought and sold cost us very little. I'm not expecting to get much for the current vitus 24 after its tenure, its a great bike too though.
That said if the mtbs had been 50% off when I was in the market I would have bought an islabike
molgrips
yes I know not the same quality
I dispute that. Islabikes weren’t special quality, they were just the first people to make properly thought out kids bikes to ride. As soon as everyone else caught on, their USP was gone and they were always going to struggle.
Frog bikes were pretty much an out and out copy, but undercutting the price. And yeah , other brands caught on pretty quick.
That's a sad but understandable piece of news. The team have changed the cycling world for the better, and can step away with their heads held high.
It's going to be hard for everyone that has to find a new job, from experience I know that's a daunting position to be in. But better to have that news with some notice and in the context of a solvent company closure than as part of an administration or winding-up order as is becoming all too common.
There's a piece on the BBC Business News website - https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-shropshire-67237686
re. frogs, only a few years back the comparable bikes were significantly cheaper than isla.
Yeah, the prices of Frogs have crept up to be on par with Islabike (possibly unjustifiably) hence I think people assume they are the same. But there are differences in the detail, e.g. the weight. Comparing RRP, Islabikes are a better buy.... but you can find Frogs discounted at retailers, where as Islabikes were always direct buy, and never on sale (until recently). So a discounted Frog might have been a better buy than an Islabike. That all changes now with £349 for a new Cnoc 16 currently.
1kg makes a difference to my 3 year old daughter, my son much less so at that age. He used both a Frog and Islabike balance bike. The Frog was noticeably heavier.
ratherbeintobago
@hooli Also there’s the issue that the competition is a s/h Isla – kids bikes don’t get as worn out as adults’ bikes (though they do get bashed/scraped) and there are 18 years worth in circulation.
I was going to make this point - there's a lot of bikes out there and in many ways a diminishing quantity of riders for them. they don't really get worn out, a bit scratched maybe so it's only the top of the market that they're selling to.
I've never bought a new kids bike they've had various brands and many have been Islas and the old adage that you can buy Islas for X, pass them through several children and then sell them on for X, rings true. Other brands not so much.
Thanks for everything Isla Rowntree, you've done a good thing and this is a very honourable exit.
Based on kids coaching experience, Frogs never comparable due to poor geo - often too long from saddle to bars and high bottom bracket (hard to get good pedalling vs foot on ground) - their 24" wheel bikes being the worst.
Fascinating angle here - https://westernfriend.org/article/simple-quaker-business
But there are differences in the detail, e.g. the weight
IB seemed to keep the weight down by fitting really skinny tyres, when I was looking. When your kid complains about bumps, and weighs as much as a small adult, then thin semi slicks aren't great for MTBing.