BikeBiz Bicycle and cycling retail news
Propel Distribution has signed up three brands to join its rapidly growing portfolio. Princeton Tec, Vicious Cycles and Chamois Butt’r will all feature in the brand new 2009 catalogue, which is now live on www.propelbike.com and will also appear on the distributors B2B shop due to go live for the first time shortly.
Princeton Tec is a lighting brand brought in from the US. The brand has around 30 years experience in providing lighting for divers, while today, the company supplies many outdoor sports companies, transport companies and the US military.
For 2009 Princeton Tec brings some innovative, yet inexpensive performance compacts and commuter lights alongside its high performance ‘switchback’ series of rechargeable high power LED lights, perfect for off road winter riding.
Next up, US custom frame manufacturer Vicious Cycles will be shipping its handmade steel and titanium frames to the UK complete with a range of paint and decal finishes. Propel will begin taking Vicious orders right away and expect the delivery of Vicious only standard stock product, including the brand’s high class hand-made steel fork by early December. These forks are the perfect rigid accompaniment to any high spec steel frame with 26, 29, 650B, 700c and touring versions available. There is also a one-inch steerer version perfect for retro bikes and classic MTBs.
Vicious also offers 26-inch mountain bikes for geared or single-speed riders (men’s or women’s versions), 29-inch wheeled models, MTB, 650B for geared or single-speed, road, cyclocross or touring frames in 853 steel or Ti.
Last of all, Propel has taken on Chamois Butt’r, another brand with proven success in the USA. Chamois Butt’r is a skin lubricant that, when applied before riding, helps to prevent the discomfort of saddle soreness associated with extended periods in the saddle. Chamois Butt’r can also be used to sooth sore skin after a ride and as a conditioning cream for real or synthetic chamois.
Several formats are available, the Chamois Butt’s ‘classic’ in an 8oz tube (230ml) or new Eurostyle 8oz tub (230ml) with a little added menthol ‘tingle’. Chamois Butt’r is also available is ten packs of single serving sachets, singles making a great counter top grab.
MD, Toby Smith said of progress this year: " Propel has had a very eventful year, Formula brakes won every group test they
entered and many of our dealers have done very good business with this brand. Morewood was also very strong for us in 2008.
Meanwhile, for 2009 we introduce new products and brands and we are very excitedly looking forward. We introduce our B2B site soon and a new stock system that will change the way we work with dealers and our suppliers. We will be extending customer discounts across brands and products to encourage dealers to be a little more adventurous and try new products."
