Fat Bikes and Fat Biking: State of the Industry

Fatbikes: A new user group and Fatbikes: A new user group and source of revenuesource of revenue

Quality Bicycle ProductsQuality Bicycle Products

Joseph MeiserJoseph Meiser

•What is a FatbikeWhat is a Fatbike

•How and Where are they being usedHow and Where are they being used

•What economic value do they represent What economic value do they represent for retailers and our organizationfor retailers and our organization

•The size of the user group and how The size of the user group and how quickly the category is growingquickly the category is growing

•Show what these bikes are capable of Show what these bikes are capable of through imagery of our rides.through imagery of our rides.

Prevent this!Prevent this!

……and encourage this!and encourage this!

……and this!and this!

An all terrain bicycle that provides An all terrain bicycle that provides additional float and traction in soft conditionsadditional float and traction in soft conditions

What is a FatbikeWhat is a Fatbike

2-3" wider than a Mountain Bike tire2-3" wider than a Mountain Bike tire

Tires 3.7" - 4.7" WideTires 3.7" - 4.7" Wide

Fatbikes go where other Fatbikes go where other bicycles can't.bicycles can't.

New TrailsNew TrailsNew TerrainNew TerrainNew Season of RidingNew Season of Riding

Snow Machine TrailsSnow Machine Trails

Nordic Ski TrailsNordic Ski Trails

Mountain Bike Trails: Summer

Mountain Bike Trails: WinterMountain Bike Trails: Winter

BeachesBeaches

BeachesBeaches

For the bicycle industry, Fatbikes are a new and For the bicycle industry, Fatbikes are a new and rapidly growing categoryrapidly growing category

An estimated 7-9 million at the retail levelAn estimated 7-9 million at the retail level

- Late 1980's, Ray Molino, based in the southwest U.S. welds rims and hand sews tires for float on desert terrain

- Late 1990's, Mark Gronewald begins refinement of concept in Alaska, hand built custom production frames and parts are built

- 2004, The 350 mile Alaska Ultrasport race is won on a Fatbike

- 2004/05' Surly Bikes launches the Pugsley frameset, Large Marge Rim, and Endomorph tire, offering the first widely available 'Fat' tire and frame

- 2007 - 2010' - 907 Cycles and Fatback Bikes of Anchorage, AK begin to produce production frames, rims, and sell complete bikes out of their shops

- 2010/11' Surly Bikes and Salsa Cycles launch complete models of the Surly Pugsley and Salsa Mukluk

A Brief History of the Fatbike.

For QBP and our brands, fatbikes are a For QBP and our brands, fatbikes are a category that we are both passionate about category that we are both passionate about and that is good for our business.and that is good for our business.

Retail prices on complete bikes are between Retail prices on complete bikes are between 1600 and 4200 USD.1600 and 4200 USD.

For trail systems and parks, Fatbikes For trail systems and parks, Fatbikes represent a new and rapidly growing user represent a new and rapidly growing user groupgroup

How large is the user group?How large is the user group?

There are an estimated 10,000 Fatbikes There are an estimated 10,000 Fatbikes purchased since 2005.purchased since 2005.

8500 of those were sold between 2010 and 8500 of those were sold between 2010 and today.today.

In 2012 the category experienced 50% In 2012 the category experienced 50% growth over the previous yeargrowth over the previous year

Estimates are for an additional 40-50% growth in Estimates are for an additional 40-50% growth in 2013.2013.

By this time next year there will be roughly 20,000 By this time next year there will be roughly 20,000 Fatbikes in circulation.Fatbikes in circulation.

What is our role?

Educate and build awareness.

Build enrollment to gain access to winter mountain bike, snowshoe, snow machine, and Nordic trail systems.

Act responsibly and promote positive stewardship for the areas where Fatbikes are being ridden.

Questions?Questions?

first annual Fatbike summit press release to all media outlets, coordinated with Scott Fitzgerald, Gary Sjoquist

Expand the reach of the video Andy Williams of Grand Targhee created outlining why they opened nordic trails to Fatbikes, after he submits press release

Follow up with the West Yellowstone weekly reporter who attended the Fatbike Summit, release her story link to various social outlets

Draft my own experience of the Fatbike summit to share via various social outlets

Draft my West n Back experience to share via social outlets

Follow up tasks.

Make the Fatbike Summit an annual that happens in 3-4 regions (Alaska, Mountains, Upper Midwest, East?)

Refine the content developed and make it available for others to use and share

Draft a general outline of Fatbike etiquette for distribution

Bring the Fatbike Summit to the upper midwest during the Cayuna Whiteout festival

Refine the presentation content for Frostbike

Sell demo fleets to resorts for use on trail systems

Opportunities.