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Bikerumor Podcast Ep #035 – Why is Budnitz Cycles shutting down?

Written by Tyler Benedict
paul budnitz interview on the bikerumor podcast about why they are closing their business
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Budnitz Cycles is one of those brands that has definitely elicited strong emotions over the years, and they’ve made some beautiful bikes. So it came as quite a shock to me when they posted that they were going out of business. I wondered why, so I called up Paul to get the scoop.

And his answer?

Well, let’s just say this conversation does not disappoint. It’s short, just 20 minutes, but worth a listen. And his advice for wanna be entrepreneurs at the end is priceless. Here we go…

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Tyler Benedict
11,281 articles

Tyler Benedict is the Founder of Bikerumor.com, where he’s been writing about the latest bikes, components, and cycling technology for almost two decades. Prior to that, Tyler launched and built multiple sports nutrition brands and consumer goods companies, mostly as an excuse to travel and ride in new places.

Based in North Carolina, Tyler also loves the Vanlife & family adventure travel and is always on the lookout for the next shiny new part and off-grid adventure.

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14 Comments
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Eggs Benedict
Eggs Benedict
4 years ago

“…is one of those brands that has definitely elicited strong emotions…” Very diplomatic of you Tyler.

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Matthew
Matthew
4 years ago

The claim: “We can’t find the parts from suppliers, couldn’t get a government coronavirus loan/handout and no one wants to buy a frame set, so we’ll give the frames away to a charity.”
The reality: “We can’t find the parts from suppliers to sell the complete bike so that we can pay the contract frame builders, and we’ve burnt bridges with four other framebuilders already, so word is getting out… and we couldn’t get a coronavirus loan/handout.”

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Josh
Josh
4 years ago
Reply to  Matthew

Awww, why you gotta ruin his spin on the truth?

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Tom
Tom
4 years ago
Reply to  Matthew

I half listened to the pod cast, the point about not selling frame sets struck me as pure BS, and a smoke screen. Budnitz was probably making all the money on the package, and if they couldn’t get parts to mark up exorbitantly, they’d have to make money on the frameset, and nobody capable of building a bike would pay what they want.

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Joenomad
Joenomad
4 years ago

So much for their 100 year warranty!

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Craig
Craig
4 years ago

I stopped listening about halfway through. It sounded like a “poor us” story. While it’s unfortunate for any company to go out of business and it’s sad they’ve had to close the doors I’ve always thought their bikes were way overpriced. I don’t buy the claim that sales dried up at the time of the pandemic. And they alluded to the fact the company was struggling when they said they were looking at moving to an employee owned collective business model before the pandemic came along. People who have enough money to spend $5500+ on a titanium urban bike are for the most part not the demographic that goes in to financial ruin a few weeks into an economic downturn.

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Jutta Schneider
Jutta Schneider
4 years ago

Unless you’ve actually run a small business in the US of A, you have no clue, dudes. After 30+ years of bike commuting, I am truly sad I will never have the opportunity to own this piece of e-bike poetry.

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Keith
Keith
4 years ago

The one thing I got from this Podcast is it takes a shit load of money to start a bike company.

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David Douglas
David Douglas
4 years ago

All My very best to Paul, Hunt and Brendan who provided for Me My opportunity to buy and own the finest product of pure art that I have ever seen. My titanium Budnitz was built as a hybrid and the only one I ever saw with red hubs, red drive belt and wood fenders. Like each and every bike they sold and built from scratch, Mine is one of a kind and there’s not another like it in the entire World. All My very best to You three, Dave Douglas, Wichita Falls, Texas. Formerly of St. Albans, Vermont

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Burlington dooode
Burlington dooode
4 years ago

Paul Budnitz needed an investor to keep the company running? lol ok…

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Nick
Nick
3 years ago

I actually just bought 1 of these bikes yesterday. Its a beautiful bike that is obviously well made and artistically designed. It was an odd bike for me because I only really buy SE bikes. Glad I picked it up.

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Willie Dunlap
Willie Dunlap
3 years ago

Love my Budnitz Bikes, I have both a No. 1 Titanium and a Budnitz E Bike. Really sorry to hear of their demise and wish them much luck in the future!

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Kemp Gomoljak
Kemp Gomoljak
3 years ago

This is a tragedy. But first to Matthew, having your own is not for the faint of heart. It is tough, there always people who want to tell you “how things should be done” . These folks should be ignored. Otherwise paul thank you for doing your own thing. Thank you for putting together random bike parts and making something truly amazing.

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Mark Hein
Mark Hein
3 years ago

Does anyone know where to get parts for a Budnitz ebike? They no longer reply to their website traffic

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