Alchemy Bikes, the high-end Colorado bike brand known for its award-winning designs and attention to detail, is officially for sale. But this isn’t a typical offering—what’s on the table is an opportunity to take over the brand’s trademarks, bike designs, tooling, and digital assets, with a passionate founder rooting for the next chapter from the sidelines.

About Alchemy Bikes

Founded in 2008 by Ryan Cannizzaro, Alchemy quickly made a name for itself in the high-end bike market by crafting handmade carbon frames and offering bikes that stood out for their quality and design. In 2016, Alchemy won Best Mountain Bike and People’s Choice Awards at the North American Handmade Bicycle Show. Around the same time, its patented Sine dual-linkage suspension system became a calling card for capable trail and enduro rigs. In 2022, Alchemy opened an experience center in Golden, Colorado, offering a physical space for riders to connect with the brand.

File photo: Matt Miller

Recent challenges

Like other small and mid-size bike brands, Alchemy faced serious headwinds following the COVID boom. While many competitors went all-in on inventory to capitalize on surging demand, Cannizzaro told Singletracks he stuck to a more conservative five-year plan. That strategy may have helped avoid overstock, but the brand eventually found itself squeezed by industry-wide discounting and tighter margins.

“Competitors were selling bikes at or around our cost,” Cannizzaro said. Alchemy decided not to bring in more inventory, as they would lose money on the bikes due to the prevailing market prices. The Alchemy website has been showing limited stock of Arktos mountain bike models since late last year, and now all sizes and configurations are listed as sold out or unavailable.

Cannizzaro has been running Alchemy for 17 years, and as the brand grew, he took on investors to help finance the growth. Those investors ultimately decided to cease operations, allowing the Alchemy trademarks and other intellectual property to be put up for sale.

The Alchemy sale comes just a few months after another Colorado-based bike brand, Revel, announced its closure, followed by a purchase by the company’s original founder, Adam Miller.

Looking ahead to a new buyer

“We’re not selling a company here,” Cannizzaro told me. “We’re selling a trademark and some assets to get you going.”

Those assets include proven full suspension designs—most notably an updated, unreleased Arktos platform developed in collaboration with David Earle—plus established supply chain contacts. Cannizzaro calls it a “super turnkey” operation. “Someone can come in and basically start sending out POs and have bikes delivered in 120 days,” he said.

Since the announcement just a few days ago, Cannizzaro has been fielding inquiries from people inside and outside the bike industry. Cannizzaro said he’s looking for someone who shares his passion for high-quality bikes and understands the brand’s DNA.

“This is kind of my baby,” he said. For that reason, Cannizzaro and his team want to make sure the brand goes to the right person. “Not only are they financially capable, but also what’s their plan, what’s their motivation to grow, where do they want to take it?”

Interested parties can reach out directly to Cannizzaro by email for more information.

“It’s ripe and ready, and sitting on the launch pad for somebody who wants to take the time and put in the resources to do it.”