From Desert to Midwest: Taking QuickSet on the Road
After CABDA West bike show in Vegas, Anita and I headed back to Minnesota.
Instead of going straight home, we turned the drive into a series of stops at bike shops along the way.
We followed I-40 east, connected to I-35 north, and planned our days around getting into shops in the morning and driving in the afternoons and evenings.
Our route took us through:
Albuquerque, NM
Amarillo, TX
Oklahoma City, OK
Kansas City, KS/MO
Des Moines, IA
Ames, IA
11 New Dealers in 5 Days
The trip ended up being one of our most productive so far.
We signed up 11 new dealers over five days.
Most of these are smaller shops, but several have multiple locations and strong local followings. That brings us to 23 independent bike dealers across 11 states now carrying the QuickSet seat.
Growing Network of Bike Shops Carrying QuickSet
QuickSet is now available through a growing group of independent bike shops across the country. These are the shops helping introduce the seat to riders in real-world riding communities.
Why Calling on IBDs Works
One of the things I like about working with independent bike dealers is the ability to connect directly with decision-makers.
Most of the time, I can walk into a store and meet with the owner. When I can show them the seat in person, they understand it quickly. Many decide on the spot to bring in a case.
Sold Out Early
We started the trip with seven cases in the SUV.
Those were sold within the first three days.
The remaining dealers placed orders that we shipped once we got back to Minnesota. That was a good sign of demand.
Why Riders Are Buying QuickSet
Feedback from early riders has been consistent, and the same points came up with shop owners:
Comfort for e-bike riders:
Riders are spending more time on the bike and need something that holds up over longer rides.
Shared and stationary bike use:
One seat needs to work for multiple riders with different sit bone widths.
Relief for sensitive pressure areas:
Men tend to mention prostate discomfort.
Women often point to tailbone pressure.
The ability to adjust seat width changes contact points and helps relieve pressure where it builds up.
“Why Hasn’t This Been Done Before?”
We heard that question more than once.
Coming from owners who have been in the business for decades, that kind of feedback matters. It points to both the need and the opportunity.
What’s Next
This trip reinforced the approach.
The next step is to keep visiting shops throughout the Midwest, building relationships, and getting QuickSet in front of more riders.
Thanks for following along,
Jack