If you have been thinking that avoiding bike shop dealer margins immunizes you from the broader cycling industry hangover, then, uh. Then you need to have more interesting thoughts. Also, more correct ones, because even Koblenz, wherever that is, is feeling the heat.
Canyon Bicycles, the German direct-to-consumer juggernaut that changed how we buy bikes (and how we patiently wait for customer service emails), announced this week that it is cutting up to 320 jobs.
For those keeping score at home, that is roughly 20% of their total workforce of 1,600 people.
The “Agility” Defense
In a press release that scores high on the Corporate Buzzword Bingo card, Canyon founder Roman Arnold explained the move by saying: “In cycling, you don’t win a race through sheer size, but through speed, precision, and agility”.
We would argue that you actually win races by having Mathieu van der Poel on your payroll, and maybe a sack full of drugs.
The cuts are reportedly targeting the company’s “core locations.” This comes less than a year after the brand quietly trimmed its US workforce last April.
The Context: The Discount Death Spiral
Why is this happening? The bike industry (and everything else on Earth) is currently on fire. Canyon’s parent company, GBL, reported that sales were down 7% in the first nine months of the financial year, citing the twin horsemen of the apocalypse: “oversupply and discounting”.
Basically, the industry made too many bikes, we all stopped buying them at full price, and now the “correction” is cutting deep.
The Silver Lining (If You Like E-Bikes)
In a twist that feels almost perfectly designed to annoy people who shave their legs, Canyon confirmed in the same breath that they are still pressing ahead with opening a new “e-bike center” at their HQ this year.
So, to recap: 320 humans are out. Battery-assisted mobility is in.
It’s a brutal start to 2026, and a stark reminder that even the biggest, slickest players in the game aren’t immune to the current economic headwinds. If you’re waiting for a new Aeroad, maybe be a little extra nice to the person handling your shipping notification. They might be having a tough week.