Frog bikes have gone bust

[_Rodders_]

A sad day.

I feel partially responsible. I bought a second hand Islabikes a week before they went bust and bought a second hand Frog 43 last week.

Can't justify new prices and I guess I wasn't the only one.

[louiebaby]

Isla Bikes went a couple of years ago too. It's probably a function of...

1. Inflation / cost of living squeeze
2. Their bikes last well, so second hand is a valid option
3. Larger manufacturers have caught up and are now offering "proper" bikes for kids

We had a few Frog and Isla Bikes as the kids grew, good machines.

[Your Dad]

louiebaby said:

Isla Bikes went a couple of years ago too. It's probably a function of...

1. Inflation / cost of living squeeze
2. Their bikes last well, so second hand is a valid option
3. Larger manufacturers have caught up and are now offering "proper" bikes for kids

We had a few Frog and Isla Bikes as the kids grew, good machines.

Isla Bikes are still around, they just stopped production but still sell parts/spares.

[_Rodders_]

That and the middle class, particularly the lower middle class are getting squeezed ever more.

So many normal jobs now are creeping into 40% tax bracket so fiscal drag, below inflation pay rises on top of student loans and housing. Virtually no point working harder if your hourly rate is say £25 and they'll take 51% + pension - child benefit off you, well below minimum wage actually hitting your bank account.

Yeah I'll save £200 and buy the bike that I'll lose at most £20 on.

Rant over

Edited by _Rodders_ on Thursday 26th March 12:32

[Liamjrhodes]

Second hand bikes seem to be the norm for anyone I know with kids including myself as they are so cheap.
My daughter is now on her second specilized riprock, the first I bought in mint condition for £150.

[_Hoppers]

Your Dad said:

louiebaby said:

Isla Bikes went a couple of years ago too. It's probably a function of...

1. Inflation / cost of living squeeze
2. Their bikes last well, so second hand is a valid option
3. Larger manufacturers have caught up and are now offering "proper" bikes for kids

We had a few Frog and Isla Bikes as the kids grew, good machines.

Isla Bikes are still around, they just stopped production but still sell parts/spares.

They've started to sell the Cnoc bikes again!

[P-Jay]

Sad times, I bought a couple of Frogs for my Daughter when she was little, but of course I bought them second-hand like everyone else, and sold them for what I paid when they were outgrown. Victims of their own success I suppose whilst Halfords continue to sell low-quality crap decade after decade.

[benny.c]

I purchased a Frog 62 for my daughter a few years back for £100 with a rusty chain and cassette. Spent about £30 getting it nice and have just sold it for £165. It’s being replaced with a Hoy Bonaly 26 which also cost me £100 with only a new chain required. It’s a cracking little bike the Hoy - looks funky and only weighs 9.8Kg. There’s loads of nice used bikes around at the moment for not much outlay, especially if you can do a bit of servicing yourself.

I picked this up for my lad to knock about on the other day - Cannondale Quick 2. It was only £200 and I’m not sure it had ever been used.

[MC Bodge]

Very few children's bikes get that much use.

Most will last forever and change hands numerous times.

Very few women's bikes get much use either.

Many men's bikes do not get much use.

[Hugo Stiglitz]

_Rodders_ said:

A sad day.

I feel partially responsible. I bought a second hand Islabikes a week before they went bust and bought a second hand Frog 43 last week.

Can't justify new prices and I guess I wasn't the only one.

But that's the problem. People take great joy in buying a quality bike nearly new at a great price and tell their dinner guests they'll probably sell it for the same price too.

Bike companies like Frog cant exist when that mindset exists.

[MC Bodge]

Hugo Stiglitz said:

_Rodders_ said:

A sad day.

I feel partially responsible. I bought a second hand Islabikes a week before they went bust and bought a second hand Frog 43 last week.

Can't justify new prices and I guess I wasn't the only one.

But that's the problem. People take great joy in buying a quality bike nearly new at a great price and tell their dinner guests they'll probably sell it for the same price too.

Bike companies like Frog cant exist when that mindset exists.

The market isn't big enough.

[Hugo Stiglitz]

I think its possibly also companies think they csn grow and grow, buy in/borrow to invest in upscale then realise its not there....


Then they flounder in that investment debt instead of staying small and nimble?

[gangzoom]

My daughter loves her Frog bike. Its really well made and will last years/decades. Sad to see the company go, must be really hard time for the bike industry as a whole. I keep seeing how even the big brands are in trouble, I wonder if one of the big names might also fold in the next 12 months .

[benny.c]

I was reading the other day that the UK cycling industry has seen growth for the first time in six years. No good for Frog obviously but hopefully some better news overall.

https://road.cc/news/is-the-cycling-industry-back-...

[Tim Cognito]

That's a shame. As said, strange market dynamics with those decent kids bike brands. Everyone I know buys isla/frog second hand and then sells it after a year or two when the kid has grown out of it for more or less the same price.

The geometry is really good on the frogs, our daughter picked up pedaling for the first time on one and they seem really stable and turn well.

[MC Bodge]

Tim Cognito said:

That's a shame. As said, strange market dynamics with those decent kids bike brands. Everyone I know buys isla/frog second hand and then sells it after a year or two when the kid has grown out of it for more or less the same price.

It's not strange. They are a good product. The bikes do not wear out and children grow put of them. They are sold on to the next keeper. There are only so many bikes like that required.

[_Rodders_]

Hugo Stiglitz said:

_Rodders_ said:

A sad day.

I feel partially responsible. I bought a second hand Islabikes a week before they went bust and bought a second hand Frog 43 last week.

Can't justify new prices and I guess I wasn't the only one.

But that's the problem. People take great joy in buying a quality bike nearly new at a great price and tell their dinner guests they'll probably sell it for the same price too.

Bike companies like Frog cant exist when that mindset exists.

I'm not disagreeing.

We had new bikes as kids, mostly Carrera's and a nice Giant one year.

My dad earned more in the 90's than I do now and his house cost £17000.

It isn't a mindset, it's a disposable income issue.

[Tickle]

Ah, sad news. Had a few Frogs for little-Tickles.

Hoy have been great too, now back selling again with a refreshed range.

[Magic919]

Frog Bikes are in administration and have been since February. There’s talk that the lovely Mike Ashley might buy it.

[SpeckledJim]

Magic919 said:

Frog Bikes are in administration and have been since February. There s talk that the lovely Mike Ashley might buy it.

Stand-by for thousands of distinctly floppy Frogs with chocolate components in Sports Direct at £89.99. Slazenger knee pads optional.