At Interbike last week I spotted a bike brand I had never seen before: Heller Bikes. The newest brand from Quality Bicycle Products (QBP) just launched with a fat bike called the Bloodhound, and the brand seems to be targeting recreational riders who appreciate a nice bike at a good value. Here’s the pitch from the Heller Bloodhound flyer:
The weather’s great, friends are game, and the trails are waiting. It’s time for some hot laps now and some cold beverages later. With a light carbon frame, big capable tires, and a build spec that helps you rip, the Bloodhound delivers grins so big you may actually hurt your face. Seriously, be careful.
The first bike from Heller, the Bloodhound, is a carbon hardtail fat bike offered with either a rigid fork or Bluto suspension fork. Pricing seems to be pretty competitive, with the rigid Bloodhound retailing for $2,199 for a complete bike. Compare that to a rigid, carbon Salsa Beargrease at $2,699 (also offered by QBP), and you’ll save $500 (though to be fair, the Beargrease has an X7 drivetrain while the Bloodhound only has X5). Bloodhound frames are available at $1,249 and the top-of-the-line Bluto Bloodhound is $2,599.
In person, the Bloodhound looks like a great bike. I really dig the glossy paint job–mud, snow, and crud should just slide right off this bike! Since QBP already owns fat bike-friendly brands Salsa and Surly, it will be interesting to see how Heller bikes are positioned in the market. Heller bikes will be available via local bike shops everywhere soon.
No word on what other, if any, bikes we’ll be seeing from Heller in the future. An all carbon line? More fat bikes? As Heller says, “Less yappin’, more braapin’!”
