Founded in 1986 by Peter Hamilton and Pippin Osborne, Syncros started as a niche gravity components company based in Vancouver. The brand was later acquired by GT and again in 2003 by Ritchey. Scott Sports announced today that they have acquired Syncros.
A development team is already updating and improving the entire Syncros line, and they plan to relaunch at Eurobike 2012. They intend to expand into the road and cross-country markets as well.
Press releases from both Scott Sports and Ritchey are below.
GIVISIEZ, Switzerland - January 3rd, 2012 - SCOTT Sports today announced it will shift gears in the aftermarket bike accessories business and take over the Syncros brand to become a major supplier in the parts and accessories market. Syncros was founded in 1986 by Peter Hamilton and Pippin Osborne as a small, high-end components company on Vancouver’s North Shore. After a few changes in ownership, Tom Ritchey made the most recent buy in 2003, and under his guidance, Syncros returned to its roots as a leading manufacturer of high end mountain bike components focused on the All Mountain, Freeride, and Downhill categories.
SCOTT will give Syncros the necessary support to design outstanding products and will enlarge the line by expanding into Cross Country and Road categories. A dedicated design and engineering team has been created, and they have already begun developing innovative products for future Syncros lines. The products will be built to reflect SCOTT’s high standards for technology while also keeping top-to-bottom integration in mind. This type of product integration will cultivate new levels of innovation, adding further value to SCOTT bikes.
“We have always believed that the Syncros name has had an excellent image in the industry,” adds SCOTT Sports Vice President, Pascal Ducrot. “Our priority was to find a way to increase our offering of parts and accessories while still maintaining our relationship with Ritchey, our long-term partner. The purchase of Syncros was the perfect solution and we look forward to offering our dealers a full line of new parts and accessories with the same high quality standards as our bikes.”
Syncros will be distributed through the SCOTT network of dedicated dealers around the globe. SCOTT currently offers dealers a full range of bikes, clothing, bike shoes, and helmets. The addition of Syncros parts and accessories will further strengthen this package, giving dealers more to offer. SCOTT will present the complete range of new Syncros products to the public during the 2012 Eurobike show.
Ritchey Design today announced the sale of the Syncros component brand to Scott Sports SA. Ritchey, a world leader in the road, mountain and cyclocross components, acquired the Syncros brand in 2003 to address the freeride and downhill mountain bike segment.
The sale will allow Ritchey to focus on new product and innovations under the Ritchey brand. In 2011 Ritchey announced a return to the steel frame market with the P-29er and Swiss Cross, and launched the all-new C-260 stem design, several new wheel models and updated graphics across the line. Ritchey also has a broader range of trail components currently in development.
“We’ve had a great experience working with and developing the Syncros brand,” Sean Coffey, Ritchey Global Marketing Director, said, “But we want to shift our focus on taking Ritchey to a new level.”
Ritchey Design has a long history of OE sales with Scott Sports through both the Ritchey and Syncros brands, and was pleased when their longtime partner inquired about purchasing the brand.
“We love the Syncros brand and we’re happy to see it go to an industry powerhouse like Scott, who can give it the energy it deserves,” Coffey said.
1/3/2012 12:52pm
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