All employees at UK-based cycling distributor I-ride, known for its flagship in-house brand Orro Bikes, have been made redundant following the company’s sudden entry into administration, according to sources speaking with road.cc. Reports indicate that staff were dismissed abruptly and have not received payment for September.

I-ride, which had distributed well-known brands such as Continental, De Rosa, and Kool-Stop, moved to a new multimillion-pound facility in East Sussex last year. However, staff were reportedly asked to leave on short notice, with claims circulating that none had received their wages for the previous month, a statement backed by several former employees.

Despite the apparent financial troubles, the company showed no obvious signs of distress. Orro Bikes maintained an active presence on social media until just days before the announcement, and cycling legend Sir Bradley Wiggins was recently seen using an Orro bike during a charity ride.

While I-ride and its parent company Martlet Group have yet to release a statement, employees have expressed shock and frustration over the lack of warning. The company’s official Companies House page remains unchanged, with no formal communication about the situation. This follows a troubling trend in the UK cycling distribution sector, where companies like Moore Large and 2pure have also entered administration recently.

Earlier this year, I-ride had run a large overstock clearance sale, offering steep discounts on major brands like Shimano, SRAM, and Continental, which some interpreted as an attempt to offload excess inventory amidst industry-wide post-Covid struggles.