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Ellsworth ICT, DW-Link and Iron Horse
In an article by Bicycle Retailer and Industry News, Dave Weagle announced that he is not going to renew the licensing agreement with Iron Horse Bikes after it expires on March 31, 2009. Iron Horse has been using the patented DW Link, invented by Weagle, on many of their models for several years running. Currently, the DW Link suspension design is licensed with Pivot, Independent Fabrication and Ibis with, according to the article, a forth company being announced next month.
Iron Horse will make the move to Ellsworth's ICT linkage for their 2010 lineup.
Tony had this to say about the partnership:
The folks at Iron Horse share my vision for building bikes with real, proven suspension technology, rather then concocting some gimmick to market for another few years before the next new gimmick. The ICT system will improve efficiency, traction control, bump absorption and overall ride quality.
Ellsworth and Iron Horse agree that the sport of mountain biking grows when folks have a fabulous ride experience on great performing frame designs. ICT-equipped full suspension designs perform better, have more energy and great comfort, traction and control then any other suspension design,” Ellsworth said. “We believe folks having that level of experience will ride more and tell a friend, and there will be more folks riding bikes, promoting health and appreciating our planet in an environmentally responsible and healthy way.
Product manager for Iron Horse, Brad Accettella, had this to say:
This is a very exciting time for our product development department. We are looking forward to creating unique frame platforms that carry forward Iron Horse’s renowned ride characteristics. The goal is to incorporate the key qualities from our existing models with benefits of the ICT system. We are committed to produce well-engineered, World Cup quality performance bikes.
To add to the changes at Iron Horse, chief executive officer Cliff Weidberg announced earlier this summer that would pull out of the independent bicycle dealer channel. As of Sept. 1, Iron Horse will sell its high-end bikes exclusively the Randall Scott Cycle Company, an online outlet with a showroom in Boulder, Colorado.
It looks like there are a lot of changes on the horizon for the Iron Horse World Cup team. This also adds even more power to the Ellsworth racing program by bringing on the top name in downhill racing, Sam Hill. It is going to be interesting to see the bike lineup out of Iron Horse with the new linkage and the feedback the racers have on the design.
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August 12th, 2008 at 1:44 pm
Interesting. I wonder if Tony E is “reselling” the Horst license or if ICT somehow skirts it.
I wonder who the 4th company is and if they are significant. I think there will be many many jaws hitting the floor if it’s DT. Somehow I doubt that. He’s not beholden to anyone now and enough energy has been spent on denial that I believe it.
IronHorse may have been the biggest seller of DW bikes. I’d think that they’d move to get a significant name. Pivot’s name has made a splash but their bikes aren’tin wide distribution yet. IF isn’t in it for the volume. Ibis is kind of a niche with a good rep but not exactly a mainstream manufacturer.
Thoughts?
August 12th, 2008 at 6:00 pm
Interesting indeed, I guess time will tell!
Are they saying Sam Hill has resigned there’s lots of e-speculation his contract supposedly expires end of this season and hes keeping pretty quiet as to where hell go which is a smart move, 1: concentrate on riding less bs and win a World Championship!
2: I’m sure hes got many options!
Ellsworth ICT has nothing to do with HL directly it relates to the center point in front of the front wheel and rear ward axle path, no doubt I haven’t explained it very well!
Ellsworth moved its pivot point on the chain stay in 04 to line up with the seat and chain stay junction, true Horst Link if you read or understand the legal and patent talk sits below this point or below the rear derailleur mount!
Lots of e speculation around as to how this will work out I think time will tell..
August 13th, 2008 at 8:53 am
Leaving the IBD channel will be the end of Iron Horse IMO…regardless of what suspension design they use. Limiting themselves to one online retailer does not seem so smart.
August 13th, 2008 at 9:17 am
@SS: I would have to agree. I do not know of one bike manufacturer that leaves themselves vulnerable to one retailer. Diversity is key…especially in a struggling industry.
August 13th, 2008 at 10:22 am
This is an interesting turn. I’ve got to believe that IH will expand beyond one online presence.
Maybe Weagle is trying to brand the DW link as more upscale.
Wonder what will happen to the price of old IH bikes. My first thought is prices would go down, but who knows.
August 13th, 2008 at 10:36 am
@tenbsmith: I think with this one…we are just going to have to wait and see. There are so many changes going on at Iron Horse right now that it is hard to tell how each event will impact sales.
If Iron Horse loses Sam Hill, like SS mentioned, that will hurt sales. They have built a lot of name recognition and branding around his racing. They have also used the DW-Link as leverage for marketing.
August 19th, 2008 at 12:46 pm
So funny… in May, IronHorse sent me two test bikes (6.6 and MKIII) and both of them were shipped directly to me from Tony Ellsworth himself. I began to wonder, so I posted a conspiracy theory on the Iron Horse forums over at MTBR.com. Thanks to Robb, now it all makes sense.
August 19th, 2008 at 12:51 pm
@Jason Mitchell: That is interesting. I’ll be interested to see what line is going to do a DW-Link DH bike by the end of this. There is a lot of moving and shaking going on.