The Rossignol Group has agreed to sell its American brand of road and racing bicycles, Felt, to the Pierer Mobility Group, a European leader in “powered two-wheelers,” including motorcycles and e-bikes, based in Austria. In announcing the move, without mentioning the agreed price, the French company explained it with a desire to focus its bike operations on mountain bikes sold under the Rossignol brand, along with the related softgoods. The goal is to cater to “the 365-day-a-year enjoyment that inspires the mountain lifestyle and ethos,” Rossignol said, “consistent with our strategic direction aimed at providing the most inspiring solutions for multi-active mountain users.” Rossignol bought Felt Bicycles in 2017 to obtain a strategic entry into the cycling sector as part of an effort to develop a counter-seasonal offer to balance its strong and weather-dependent ski equipment operations. By the same token, Rossignol bought one year earlier Time Sport International, a French manufacturer of bike frames and pedals, whose assets are now split since earlier this year between two American groups, the Cardinal Cycling Group and SRAM.
