UK cycling distributor plunges into administration- in business since 2004

A major cycling distribution business has reportedly plunged into administration. Saddleback is a leading UK‑based distributor of premium cycling equipment, supplying high‑end brands such as Castelli, Wahoo, ENVE and Stages to retailers and riders. The company has built a strong reputation in the UK cycling scene for offering top‑tier performance gear and maintaining close relationships across the industry.

The company launched its business in 2004. Cycling Weekly’s sister publication Cyclingnews spoke to two sources inside Saddleback who said staff were informed on Friday that the firm was closing and all staff had therefore been made redundant. Around 42 people have lost their jobs as a result of the decision, The Times reported.

The collapse came shortly after Cannondale ended its partnership with Saddleback in March, reverting to a direct‑to‑dealer distribution model just 15 months after joining forces with the company — a move Saddleback had previously described in its accounts as “transformative.”

This followed the earlier loss of another major high‑end brand, ENVE, which had already dealt a significant blow to the distributor.

Saddleback Limited’s most recent filings at Companies House show a pre‑tax loss of £1.6 million for the year ending 31 January 2025 — an improvement on the £2.3 million loss recorded the previous year.

Its collapse comes amid a wider downturn affecting many UK cycling businesses in the post‑pandemic years.

In March, children’s bike maker Frog entered administration, while former Saddleback competitor i‑ride folded in 2024 and Moore Large went under the year before.

Consumer‑facing retailers have struggled too: WiggleCRC collapsed in 2023 before being bought by Mike Ashley’s Frasers Group.

The entire cycling sector has been hit by a glut of bikes and kit after pandemic‑era demand surged and then sharply fell once lockdowns ended, a problem compounded by the UK’s cost‑of‑living crisis, which has created a tough trading environment for businesses across the industry.