Cannondale's parent company Cycling Sports Group will likely announce a partnership with — and perhaps a purchase of — the Canadian custom bike company Guru next Wednesday at Interbike.
Trade magazine Bicycle Retailer reported that Guru has been on the market, and that several sources near the company expect a sale announcement soon.
Cycling Sports Group invited BikeRadar editors to "a private event Wednesday in (Interbike) booth # 11129." That booth belongs to Guru.
When asked whether Cannondale or CSG was buying Guru, CSG officials declined to comment. Guru officials aren't talking, either.
CSG owns four bike brands — Cannondale, GT, Schwinn and Mongoose — and a sizable amount of design resources and purchasing power. So why would they be interested in a small custom operation? And of all the scores of small custom operations, why this one? The answer may have something to do with Guru's automated bike and component sizing machine called the Dynamic Fit Unit. This 'DFU' is not cheap at $10,000 a unit, but it provides retailers and bike fitters the ability to change all the X and Y dimensions of a bicycle while a rider sits pedaling on the bike.
Guru's Dynamic Fit Unit allows for on-the-fly fit changes
One small hint came in the CSG invitation to next Wednesday's event at Guru's Interbike booth: "This invitation will provide you with a unique opportunity to experience the latest initiation we have in providing consumers with the best riding experience possible."
Stay tuned to BikeRadar for more on this story as it develops.
