Time Bicycles CEO Tony Karklins discusses the brand's journey and new gravel models

In today's episode, we interview Tony Karklins, the owner of Time Bicycles. We discuss Tony's journey in the bike industry, from working in a bike shop to becoming a distributor and eventually acquiring Time Bicycles. Tony shares insights into the evolution of the bike industry, particularly the impact of carbon fiber technology. He also talks about the acquisition of Time Bicycles and the company's focus on manufacturing and innovation. The conversation then shifts to the new gravel models introduced by Time Bicycles for 2024 and the unique features that set them apart. Tony explains the importance of staying true to the Time brand while catering to the evolving needs of the market. He also discusses the future plans for Time Bicycles, including expanding manufacturing in the United States.

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Automated Transcription, please excuse the typos:

About the Guest:

Tony Karklins is the owner of Time Bicycles, a storied brand in the cycling industry. With over 40 years of experience in the bike industry, Tony has a deep understanding of the market and has played a significant role in the growth and development of various bike brands. He started his career in a neighborhood bike shop in the early 1980s and went on to become a bike shop owner. Tony then ventured into distribution and agent deals with European bike brands before joining Orbea as the managing director of the Americas. After his time with Orbea, Tony acquired the Guru Bicycle Factory and later acquired Time Bicycles from the Rossignol group. He is now focused on expanding Time Bicycles and bringing manufacturing back to the United States.

Key Takeaways:

• Tony Karklins has over 40 years of experience in the bike industry and has played a significant role in the growth and development of various bike brands.
• Time Bicycles is a storied brand in the cycling industry, known for its high-performance carbon fiber bikes.
• The acquisition of Time Bicycles by Tony Karklins was driven by the desire to acquire the company's manufacturing capabilities and continue the legacy of the brand.
• Time Bicycles is focused on innovation and manufacturing, with a particular emphasis on resin transfer molding technology.
• The introduction of new gravel models for 2024 reflects Time Bicycles' commitment to meeting the evolving needs of the market while staying true to the brand's identity

Transcript:

[TRANSCRIPT]

**** - (): time_bicycles _ jan 19, 2024 001_riverside

[00:00:00] - (): Craig Dalton: Tony, welcome to the show.

**** - (): Tony Karklins: Thank you very much. Thanks for inviting me. Uh,

**** - (): Craig Dalton: as, as a fan of the sport and someone who's been around the sport from my bike shop days in college till now, I'm excited to talk about Time Bicycles. It's such a storied brand in the industry. And having spoken to you a little bit offline, your journey to get there, I think is going to be fascinating for the listener to learn about.

**** - (): Craig Dalton: And ultimately we want to talk about the new gravel models you've got for 2024. Sounds great. Where do you want to start? Let's start off just by a little bit of your background. Where are you located and how'd you get into the sport of cycling and what led to you working in the bike industry? All

**** - (): Tony Karklins: right.

**** - (): Tony Karklins: I, uh, I live in Little Rock, Arkansas. You know, Arkansas is the ne