We Noticed: ROKA Signs Taylor Knibb, Best Bike Split Re-Design, and Wattbike Sold for $15M
It’s been a busy week for the scrapbook with lots of interesting nuggets spread out. Here’s what we pulled out of the news cycle this week.
Taylor Knibb Signs 4-Year Deal with ROKA Multisport
ROKA is moving strongly back to its roots in multisport in 2025, making investment in both product and athletes within triathlon. To that end, this week they announced a four-year deal with IRONMAN 70.3 and T100 World Champion Taylor Knibb. The deal will see Knibb wear ROKA’s wetsuits, swim skins, and goggles going forward, after a lengthy time with 2XU.
It’s a brand that should be familiar to Knibb, as ROKA was one of the providers of Team USA apparel during her Olympic distance career, including the first of Knibb’s two Olympic silver medals.
“I am incredibly excited to partner with ROKA Multisport—this is a dream partnership for me,” said Knibb. “I’ve set some exciting goals for the next four years, and I’m honored to have ROKA by my side. Their commitment to quality and innovation resonates with my own dedication to pushing the limits in triathlon.”
In a release, ROKA also said that they will collaborate with Knibb directly on product development for the triathlon line, along with “athlete engagement initiatives aimed at inspiring the next generation of multisport athletes and strengthening the broader endurance sports community.”
Best Bike Split Re-Launches Platform
Typically, we wouldn’t cover a website re-design. (Heck, we probably didn’t do enough to cover our own move to a new front page and forum architecture.) But to say that what Best Bike Split just did was re-vamp their website is underselling what they’ve done.
Instead, the new website sees Best Bike Split embrace AI to further unlock its race modeling tools. There’s two main enhancements. The first is a new AI Workout Builder, which reviews your race plan to turn it into actionable, personalized structured workouts. And then there’s an AI Assistant, which will look to provide guidance and “suggestions for optimizing performance, gear choices, and strategy.”
In a statement, co-founder of Best Bike Split Rich Harpel said, “We set out to reimagine Best Bike Split not just visually, but functionally. With this redesign, we’ve created a foundation that allows athletes to go deeper into their data, faster and more efficiently.”
The revised site also gives Best Bike Split runway to launch further new enhancements. That includes revisions to the Comparison Tool, more Race Plan insights, and expansions in analytics. And, of course, a full AI Coaching tool will be coming online later down the road.
Wattbike Sold for $15M to Interactive Strength, Inc.
Consider this one a potential signpost for consolidation within the indoor training marketplace. Wattbike, which makes multiple indoor training bikes compatible with a variety of platforms, has been sold to Interactive Strength, Inc. for $15 million USD.
Interactive Strength, Inc. manufactures and sells fitness equipment under the CLMBR and FORME brands. CLMBR is, as you can probably guess, focused on climbing cardio equipment for both commercial and residential use. FORME is strength equipment in the same two potential environments.
With Wattbike, Interactive Strength, Inc. gains two potential footholds. First, there’s the residential marketplace that Wattbike competes against the likes of Wahoo’s KICKR Bike, Zwift’s own co-branded bike with Wahoo, Garmin’s Tacx NEO bike — not to mention the likes of Peloton, etc. that aren’t compatible with traditional indoor platforms. It’s a crowded marketplace. But there’s potential now for someone looking in this space to equip their entire gym just with products from a single provider, which may help with pricing, installation, and/or maintenance.
But then there’s the commercial / sponsorship distribution model. Wattbike’s are used extensively by professional sports teams and medical facilities. For instance, numerous NFL, NBA, NHL, MLB, and Premier League teams all have Wattbikes as part of their training or rehabilitation programs. The acquisition gives Interactive Strength, Inc. a foothold for their other brands in this arena. It’s a tie-up that, on the surface, makes plenty of sense for both brands.
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Best Bike SplitIndoor TrainingROKAWattbikeNotable Replies
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Would be great if ROKA would expand a bit their triahtlon line-up in particular their trisuits - I love the quality of the trisuit but my wife has been complaining she can’t spot me between all the generic black trisuits and a bit more colour & pattern, e.g. like Fusion has it, would go a long way in making that happen.
As best I can tell, Knibb’s deal does not include race day apparel. Believe she is still with Cuore for that end.
It’s a little interesting as she was also using 2XU training apparel, but the announcement was very specific to swim-related items.
I am amazed that with the ease running lower volume sublimination printing on fabric these days that Roka hasn’t bothered to make different colors in their trisuits. They come into triathlon, completely dominate, stagnate with their product line, and shift into eye wear and seem to wonder whats up with the tri brand. How is it they just don’t have 3-4 different colorway launches of their trisuits for men and women every year is beyond me.
Like you said, they’ve got customers who already have one of their suits. They’d likey buy one or more a year if the design was exciting.
Fully agree. It baffles me too. I am a sucker for brand loyalty and was happy to have my wetsuit and trisuit from the same brand, even ordered eventually my goggles from them (switched to Speedo by now) and got myself a trucker cap. Their lack of options re. trisuit colours, aero socks, leg sleeves, etc. makes me slowly switch away from them.
Taylor isn’t exclusive to Cuore. Waterfall Racing supplied her with Cuore suits when she was on it and it just so happens that 2XU also supplies their athletes with Cuore. As far as I know Taylor is free to choose whatever brand she wants for raceday suits.
I know they are working on a new tri suit but not sure on the color/design options.
Ten days till “We’ll see!”
Let’s hope the Ironman commentators aren’t confused too much by the various new trisuits and helmets being worn.
As in ten days new trisuits? Now you got me excited.
In reference to what we will see people wearing at IMTX, which would also give an idea as to what Knibb might be wearing for apparel.