Saddleback, UK distributor of prestige cycling brands, has gone into administration, only months after losing Cannondale from its books.
As first reported by TheBusinessDesk.com at the end of last week, Saddleback has filed a notice of intention to appoint administrators, with an official announcement expected today (Monday 1 June).
According to The Times, 42 staff have been made redundant at the firm, the UK home of Pivot, Castelli, Sportful, Silca, Abbey Bike Tools, Feedback Sports and others. A source at Saddleback told BikeRadar that staff were informed of the news on Friday after efforts to refinance the company failed.
What happened?
Key brands in its portfolio had been deserting Saddleback, with ENVE – a longstanding partner – pulling out last February and switching to UK and Ireland distribution via its own European distributor Mohawk’s. ENVE also announced it would open a UK office and showroom in Warwick.
Cannondale parted with Saddleback in March, after a shorter stint that lasted from January 2025. Saddleback had described the arrival of Cannondale as “transformative” in its accounts, with TheBusinessDesk.com reporting the brand's signature had resulted in a £10m increase in turnover "to around £24m in the year to January 2026".
Cannondale has now returned to direct-to-dealer sales in the UK via bike industry behemoth Pon, joining the likes of Santa Cruz and Cervélo.
Saddleback had staffed up to handle the Cannondale business but its loss, along with that of ENVE, apparently left the company with costs it couldn’t sustain on its remaining portfolio.
Cannondale’s move mirrored that of Italian brand 3T, which was also previously distributed in the UK by Saddleback, but moved to direct-to-dealer UK distribution in 2020.
What now for Saddleback's staff and brands?
Troy Lee Designs has already announced its decision to switch to Silverfish for its UK distribution.
While an administrator is yet to be officially announced, Saddleback's demise has been confirmed by several employees on LinkedIn, with one stating: "I’m now looking for alternate employment following the company going into administration yesterday afternoon."
Links to Saddleback’s site currently display an 'opening soon' banner page, inviting you to enter your email address, suggesting the administrators may be hoping to find a buyer to take over the business.
Saddleback's residual portfolio of high-end brands could well be attractive to another distributor, although a buyer would need to move fast to avoid further desertions.
