Building the best mountain bikes in the world

Key takeaways

Adam Miller’s journey showcases how passion combined with persistence can build a successful bike brand from modest beginnings.
Innovative suspension technology like the CBF platform is key to creating high-performance mountain bikes that excel both uphill and downhill.
The bike industry’s growth was exponentially boosted by the pandemic, revealing opportunities for brands that can adapt to supply chain challenges.
Building a strong team and strategic partnerships is crucial for scaling a hardware company, especially amid supply chain disruptions.
Revel Bikes’ focus on quality, tech, and design aims to position it as a future global leader in mountain biking.

Summary

Introduction and Personal Background of Adam Miller

The episode begins with host Adam, who is a bike enthusiast and owner of a Revel bike, introducing Adam Miller, the founder and CEO of Revel Bikes. Adam shares his journey from a young eBay seller of bike parts, to working in a bike shop, and eventually building his own bike brands. His passion for biking intersects with his entrepreneurial spirit, leading to the creation of innovative, high-end mountain bikes.

The Birth and Rise of Borealis Bikes

Adam’s professional journey started with Borealis Fat Bikes, a brand he launched in college. Inspired by Alaska’s snow, he designed a lightweight fat bike, which unexpectedly sold rapidly and in large volumes, taking him from a hobby to a serious business. His early experiences included international travel, direct sales, and learning manufacturing processes, which laid a foundation in bike design and entrepreneurship. Despite rapid success, internal disagreements led to him selling his stake, an experience that taught him valuable lessons about partnerships.

Revealing Revel Bikes: Tech & Design Innovation

Transitioning from Borealis, Adam began working on Revel Bikes, focusing on high-performance full-suspension mountain bikes using innovative suspension technology. He describes the development of the CBF (Canfield Balance Formula) suspension platform, designed in collaboration with engineers like Chris Canfield. Revel’s bikes are engineered for both climbing and descending, with meticulous fine-tuning of suspension and geometry. The story highlights Adam’s obsession with tech details, manufacturing, and creating bikes that he loves to ride.

Challenges & Triumphs During the Pandemic & Supply Chain Disruptions

Adam discusses the impact of COVID-19 on the bike industry, supply chain delays, and manufacturing setbacks. Despite these hurdles, Revel Bikes launched new models in the pandemic, and demand soared. Adam emphasizes the importance of patience, resilience, and strategic planning, including expanding facilities and establishing international distribution. The pandemic inadvertently fuelled growth in biking, boosting interest at all levels, which Adam sees as a positive trend for the future.

Growth, Future Plans, and Innovation in Bike Design

Revel’s growth accelerated as demand increased, leading to scaling up operations and international expansion. Adam reveals ongoing projects involving new materials, manufacturing processes in the US, and potential product categories like youth bikes and fat bikes. He mentions that Revel aims to stay nimble and innovative, continually improving based on feedback. The discussion ends with Adam’s optimistic outlook for the future of Revel Bikes and the biking industry.

Show notes

This week Adam is taking the show off the beaten path to speak with Adam Miller, the founder and CEO of Revel Bikes. Yes that's right, this episode features a founder of a bike brand, not a tech brand.

Adam Miller's journey to create Revel Bikes is paved with many ups and many downs, a failed partnership, super scrappy weeks and months traveling the world to find the best manufacturing partners, the latest innovations in suspension tech and modern geometry to hit the mountain biking scene, a strong team that's been with him every step of the way (many of which are as close as family), and truly some of the best premium bikes available on the market today.

BTW, Adam (host) is an owner of a Revel bike — he has a T1000 colorway Rascal that he's ridden on downhill trails, all-day epics, and everything in-between. If you enjoy this episode, please us know in the comments.