REXFORD, N. Y. (BRAIN) — Prestacycle, a U.S. supplier of hand and inflation tools, is now the exclusive North American distributor for the European wheel and component brand Edco. Likewise, Edco, based in Germany, is now distributing Prestacycle products in Europe.
Edco, founded in 1867 in Switzerland (Bike industry trivia #1: the brand is an acronym for Edouard Dubied & Co. #2: Edco invented the presta valve in 1908). The company has been through some ownership and distribution changes in recent years and is now owned by 3e oem sports AG, based in Seeshaupt, Germany. The company offers high-end carbon wheels, Monoblock machined steel cassettes and other parts.
Prestacycle owner David Finlayson said his company will be displaying Edco wheels and other products at the Sea Otter Classic expo this week. Prestacycle has Edco products in stock at its factory in New York, ready to be shipped to U.S. distributors, dealers and consumers. Finlayson said EdcoNA will offer standard margins to dealers and distributors. He also hinted the Prestacycle may soon announce that is distributing other European brands.
Through the recent changes in ownership and distribution, Edco has continued to sponsor and supply U.S.-based Team Tibco, the longest running women's road team in the U.S. Tibco will be racing at Sea Otter and its members will make public appearances at the Prestacycle/Edco North America booth (Booth K12). Finlayson said Prestacycle will also display some new products under its own name, including a professional quality Y-wrench with replaceable bits and a new line of top quality bits made with nickel-plated S2 steel.
EdcoNA is stocking the brand's carbon tubeless-ready road wheels, which start at $1,695. On the other side of the Atlantic, 3e oem sports AG will be stocking Prestacycle's tools and making them available to European distributors, dealers and consumers. Prestacycle has not previously had a European distributor, Finlayson said.
Finlayson said the relationship developed when he contacted Edco's owners in Germany to inquire about buying a Monoblock cassette for personal use. "I reached out to their director of marketing and when I found out they didn't have U.S. distribution I said, 'what would you think if Prestacycle distributed Edco and you distributed Prestacycle?' and he said 'yes,'" Finlayson told BRAIN.
The Edco North America website is: edcoNA.com. Next month, 3e oem sports AG will begin rollout of Prestacycle products at prestacycle.de. The company recently gave a preview of Prestacycle products at the Cyclingworld Düsseldorf show.
