This is what happens when investment groups buy company's for short term returns they have no interest in the company, industry or employees. Unfortunately, this the new norm.
@rolux4853 if your looking at a sale like that or looking to sell usually you already know hiw things are its going to go bust in the near future , selling garantees the main share holders a bump in the bank and gets rid of the burden of it to hopefully go to people who are capable of restructuring to profitable again.
Former US Staff. We hit and even exceeded our goals financially and had so much in the works, I've never liked coworkers and leadership more at any other job. Even though we numbered small (~50) we were headed big places. Such a shame.
I remember when Nigel was first racing and his Nick name was Nigel "No Wage" Page. The most dedicated rider for teams and manager . Lives and breathes Bikes. bless him.
Every single word Nigel said about his work, passion, friendships and the way it impacted his life was totally felt. I have had a similar experience from a major bike company. We do not just show up work and go home. We live this. We breathe this. We love this. I totally understand him and wish him the absolute best. I would love to participate in any activity he has going on and I am sure others will feel the same. He just spoke for a group of people who are unheard at the moment and I myself, appreciate him for that.
Jesus, hearing the words "town hall meeting" brings back bad memories from my days of working for CRC. There was a steady stream of redundancies right from the get-go when Wiggle took over, so this wasn't just a recent thing - it's been going on since 2016. Every time we were called for a town hall it got everyone panicking.
Great insights into sad times for Nigel/Guenther and his long term efforts! Once the industry gets back on its feel, someone will offer his a deserving job and he will make a big difference ❤
This is happening across so many industries, companies run by people passionate about what they do gets replaced by shareholders and investment groups in it for just profit. I've been out of the mountain bike world for many years as I was getting pissed off with the industry and it's push for new standards and poor quality control but my god I'm now finding companies like Kona, Orange, Nukeproof etc. all in financial trouble and websites like Chain Reaction/Wiggle, Evans Cycles etc. have gone to shit. How can the mountain bike industry that had it so go fall so far.
Sad to see the company dissolve like this, however, nukeproof put out a lot of low quality products over the years. ARD was a joke, the first horizon wheel set were not reliable, a lot of broken stays on gigas and megas. Unfortunately I’m left with a bike that won’t have a warranty now so let’s hope mine doesn’t pack it in.
I had an aluminum Mega since 2016 and that bike was (and still is) amazing. They were great back then, but the modern carbon bikes without warranty? Yikes that’s not great..
Survivor from another Signa owned company here: While it is s bloody shame for all the good people I met while working with wiggle/CRC, the whole disaster was so much bigger than just that. Signa Sports was not your typical private equity funds but actually a sporting goods retail group, owning big online businesses in Germany, Sweden, France, Spain and the US and actually putting them on shared technology and processes to give them momentum in the market. We're talking about multi billion annual revenue. Wiggle/CRC hadn't been in the group long enough to actually benefit from any of this. In Germany a lot of Signa Sports companies could rely on shared logistics or IT for example. The flaw was that Signa sports was dependent on funding by it's mothership, the actual Signa group. When that stopped in the aftermath of the horrible 2023 market developments, everything else crumbled.
It happened a dozen times in the motocross world... Private Equity buys beloved brand and completely destroys it wuthin 3 years. Spy, One, Tag, No Fear, White Bros, etc.
I bought one of the first Mega bikes way back in 2010 and it was amazing. Unfortunately I had to sell it to fund a move to a new area to start a new job.
So bizarre no one bought Nukeproof. Per sales rep, they sold way over projected sales with mainly UK and some USA support. The bikes are some of the best out there. Maybe still the best enduro bikes.
Blame wiggle and it’s bosses, they ran the company’s like tossers, 100% they had a nice wage and some dividends out of it. Sports direct now owning it is worse than it disappearing tbh. Sad part is Nukeproof will be milked for the name on shite bikes sold at evans
Crc was in trouble years before now it would have been clear to see in the accounts, the employees will be able to create something better if they stick together
I live in the US and have one of the rare Nukeproof Megas here in Florida. I also have several Kona's another brand that found itself in a similar situation. Both brands have a diehard following, and have that grassroots feel. I hope Nukeproof gets revived. I don't want to sell my Mega as I am very proud of it. I also have a Kona Process X.
The news came 4 months after I bought my new Mega which I custom painted and build. Now I had to order a simple screw from Czech republic because none of the dealers in switzerland were able to get anything.... such a shame I really love the bike but the hassle is just not worth it.
I love this brand.I love my custom Nukeproof scout 290 .I will never change to other brand. I still have my second brand new beautiful factory yellow scout frame boxed. I am thinking about getting framed and hanging on the wall. Long leave Nukeproof 👌👌👌👌
What an absolute shame. I really liked nukeproof. The recent bikes looked real nice. I don’t see decline in the people riding where I am ( Surrey hills) poor pagey. Onwards and upwards hopefully. Legend
So will nukeproof bikes ever be back, they had a good solid brand!, I own a scout 275 and love it, it's a shame! because now there is no spare parts for my bike? and I would of loved a 275 mega (Mike Ashley's Frasers Group will you ever bring the brands back), Any update on him coming back and talking about it?.
Perhaps the UCI or whoever the governing body for DH and Enduro racing is, should require all bikers to wear a camera and film their races. These should all then be uploaded to the UCI youtube channel. That way we get more content and keep the interest for fans. #JustAThought
Advice: avoid brands that are run by investors - they are not the same company they were before investors swooped in. Investors are there for the money
Wiggle CRC were hated by the industry that weren't selling to them... They owned there own distribution with Hotline Bikes, and even sold CRC stuff to independent bike shops... They had more enemies than industry friends, so all this shock seems pretty short sighted that no1 wanted all the brands.. Step forward Sports Direct 😂😂 Evans catalogue nukeproof, anyone???😂😂😂
I bought a Giga two years ago. That was a mistake. Last year, the frame had to be replaced. Nukeproof turned out to be a letdown in terms of quality for me. I hope the current market situation kills off some companies that deliver poor quality.
Support the small brands now boys. Clearly the corporate ass wipes don't care for the sport. I'd sooner back the small guys with 110% passion for the sport. Ministry is one of my favourite up and coming brands, the guy running it is a g. Tons of experience, honest mission statement for his brand name, made great progress without the major corpo teams, wish him and all the others ever success.
So shit for Pagey. He's a leg-end, no doubt... Seems a shame that with all that sponsorship lined up, a roster of riders and Nukeproof only requiring such a low investment ("just product") that they couldn't just get another frame sponsor to step in. I appreciated that Nigel was on the CRC payroll, but a wage and some product is a small price for a bike manufacturer to get into the EDR circuit...
🤔shame, nukeproof are great bikes, hopefully they will come back🤞fantastic value, and they dont cut corners like other brands👍evans stores now full up with stone head kids, hopefully they will not sell nukeproof, ragley😅
SOME Team NEEDS to pick up Pagey !!!!!! With HIS Background AND Experience ????!!!! He's a RARE Breed ...JUST UNREAL... SOOOO Sad how things turned out.. FUCKING SUCKS...
