West to East: CABDA and the Drive Home
If you’ve been following our progress, you know a few bike shops in Arizona have recently started carrying the QuickSet adjustable-width saddle. There wasn’t any complicated strategy behind that. I simply walked into the shop, introduced myself, and asked the owner to take a look at the seat.
QuickSet adjustable-width saddles now hanging in a few Arizona bike shops.
That approach works because it starts a direct conversation. Shop owners understand products quickly. They either see potential for their riders or they don’t.
Next step is to test that same approach at a larger scale.
On March 18–19 we’ll be exhibiting at CABDA West in Las Vegas.
What CABDA West Is
CABDA is a regional trade show focused specifically on independent bike dealers (IBDs). Shop owners and buyers from across the western U.S. attend to evaluate new products for the coming season.
CABDA West trade show in Las Vegas, where QuickSet will be exhibiting March 18–19.
It’s not a consumer show. The people walking the floor are the ones deciding what products make it onto their shop walls.
Our booth will be simple: a small pop-up canopy, the QuickSet saddle, and a chance for dealers to handle the product and ask questions.
I prefer that type of environment. Bike shop owners are practical. If a product makes sense for their customers, the conversation continues. If it doesn’t, everyone moves on quickly.
We are also offering an evaluation seat to interested dealers. The idea is simple: install the seat in the shop, look it over, and decide whether it makes sense for your riders. Some shops may also choose to let staff or customers ride it, which can be helpful, but the primary purpose is dealer evaluation and feedback.
A product being evaluated in a real shop environment tells us far more than a short conversation at a booth.
The Drive Home
The route Anita and I will be driving as we visit bike shops on the way back to Minnesota.
At the end of March, Anita and I will begin the drive back to Minnesota.
Instead of heading straight home, we’ll be stopping at 16 bike shops along a route that roughly follows I-40 and I-35. The trip will take us from the desert, across the plains, and into the Midwest.
It’s a good time of year for that direction of travel. Arizona’s peak riding season is starting to wind down, while shops in the Midwest are preparing for spring.
The plan at each stop is straightforward:
- Introduce ourselves
- Show the seat
- Ask for feedback
Some shops will be interested. Others may not be. That’s part of the process.
What We’re Looking For
Selling a new product locally is one thing. Understanding how it fits across different regions is another.
Different areas have different types of riders, different shop cultures, and different expectations for equipment. Visiting shops in person helps us learn how the QuickSet saddle fits into those differences.
The goal of this trip is simple: demonstrate the product, listen carefully, and learn from the feedback.
Why We Started
Adjusting the width of the QuickSet saddle.
Anita and I originally developed the QuickSet saddle for a practical reason. We wanted a seat that allowed us to change the width during a ride, which helps relieve pressure points and extend riding comfort.
Now we’re working to introduce that same option to more riders through independent bike shops.
Over the next few weeks we’ll share updates from the road — what we’re hearing from dealers, what we’re learning, and how the product continues to evolve.
For now, we’re finishing preparations and mapping the route.
Adjust. Ride. Repeat.
Thanks,
Jack