Pioneer has announced they are transferring all of their Cycle Sport assets to Shimano, giving the Japanese component brand all of their power meter tech. Pioneer went hard and heavy into the cycling power meter space in 2014, applying their precision electronics expertise to strain gauges and crank arms. Which, honestly, always seemed like an odd play for them.
But the units were, and are, amazing. They capture incredibly detailed data about your pedal stroke, with a complete app and cloud-based analysis system, head unit, and more. And, they’ve always seemed very focused on applying that to Shimano’s cranks.
Now, it looks like that affinity has paid off with a deal to transfer their entire catalog of cycling products and technology to Shimano. We reached out to Shimano, and they say the available info is in the press release (copied below, followed by additional info for current Pioneer customers). It suggests they will be adopting a lot of Pioneer’s tech into future products, which sheds an interesting light on their own recently announced crank arm power meter.
More below…
PRESS RELEASE: Pioneer sends power meters to Shimano
Pioneer Corporation announced today that it has signed an agreement to transfer certain assets of its Cycle Sports business to Shimano, Inc. (“Shimano”), a leading manufacturer of bicycle components globally.
Through this agreement, Pioneer will transfer the assets of these technologies and conclude its related operations. Sales by Pioneer of pedaling monitors, cycle computers, and other related products will cease by the end of March 2020.
Shimano plans to develop products, web services, and applications using the Pioneer Cycle Sports assets and make Shimano services available to customers who currently use Pioneer’s Cyclo-Sphere web services, PC tool, and smartphone applications. Cyclo-Sphere will continue to be available to consumers until Shimano’s services are introduced.
Pioneer will continue to accept customer inquiries about cycle products and services and provide repair services on Pioneer Cycle Sports products sold prior to the asset transfer per the terms of any applicable product warranties.
Background
Pioneer Cycle Sports developed and introduced the world’s first pedaling monitor, cycle computers and web services (Cyclo-Sphere) for cyclists in 2013. At present, the product’s third generation has been developed and is used by many cyclists.
Shimano’s bicycle components are highly regarded and equipped by many cycle athletes. As a result, a significant portion of the Pioneer Cycle Sports product portfolio has been designed to be specifically compatible with or sold pre-installed on Shimano components. The transfer of the Cycle Sports technology to Shimano will incorporate Pioneer’s strength in electronics and IT technologies, enhancing the functions of Shimano products and services and achieving the aspiration of Pioneer to contribute to a wider range of customers.
Schedule
(1) Date of execution of the asset transfer agreement: December 17, 2019
(2) Scheduled date of asset transfer: end of March 2020.
What about product support? Anything new planned?
Pioneer products will, for now, remain for sale through Pioneer’s website and dealer stock. Pioneer will also continue to provide warranty service for the remainder of the warranty period, and for a fee after that. Questions and service inquiries can be directed to their support page.
As for CycloSphere, Pioneer’s cloud-based data capture for your ride metrics, they’ll keep it afloat until Shimano launches their own web-based data platform (hint, hint…sounds like Shimano is setting up their own ride app), at which time your data will be transferred and you’ll need to register for Shimano’s web service.
Pioneer’s cycling computers will, naturally, continue to function just like normal. However, no word on future firmware updates.
