QBP's Steve Flagg has lassoed some 200 dealers and their staff for the company's annual Saddle Drive—a three-day event to show off its 2014 line of bikes and accessories.
This is the company's third annual event at Snow Basin, an Olympic class ski resort a 35-minute drive from QBP's western distribution center in Ogden.
Retailers will test ride QBP's bike brands including All-City, Civia, Foundry, Surly, Salsa bikes as well as its component line, Whiskey. The company also distributes Ridley as well as BMX brands Flybikes and Stolen.
Flagg, in a brief welcome speech at Sunday night's reception, thanked dealers for their support and asked for their thoughts and advice on new bike parts that QBP could develop for them.
While it was a festive mood at the reception, it's been a tough season for most dealers. Several told BRAIN that by July they've usually paid spring dating invoices, but this year they are slightly behind.
"We're OK but the weather has really hurt. We've had rain; then it got real hot. It's been a tough season," said one Kentucky retailer who also carries Specialized and Cannondale.?
"We're down a little right now but this season ...", said another dealer as he shrugged his shoulders.
Nonetheless retailers like Bill O'Rourke and his wife Susan Teal said they were excited to see QBP's new products. The couple own Tomichi Cycles in Gunnison, Colorado, and sell Salsa bikes along with other brands.
Saddle Drive will continue through Tuesday. QBP also has arranged for a bus to take dealers to Park City to visit DealerCamp. This is DealerCamp's fourth year in Park City. Lifeboat Solutions' Lance Camisasca and Chad Battistone organize the event. It runs through Saturday, July 27.
