The Company
Valdora is a registered trademark of Olson International, Inc. (OI, Inc.), an Arizona-based corporation that has been active in the cycling industry since 1997. OI, Inc. has served as a designer, importer, and manufacturing contractor of bicycles, frames, and accessories for both domestic and international markets. In its early years, OI, Inc. distributed the bpStealth brand to retailers while also supplying products for private labeling. By 2003, the company shifted focus from providing carbon frames and components to other brands to dedicating its efforts perfecting a unique semi-compact triathlon-specific geometry, originally developed in 1998.
This geometry was designed to address the shortcomings of triathlon bikes available at the time, which were primarily built for flat time trial courses. The new geometry offered superior handling on varied terrain, making it easier for everyday athletes to maintain an aerodynamic position for longer periods. While professional triathletes praised these frames, the design was especially geared toward non-professional athletes seeking comfort and performance. It took over a decade for larger brands to adopt similar design principles.
The first bike featuring this geometry, the AC-Tri (Alloy Compact Tri), was launched as an alloy model to fine-tune the design before transitioning to carbon. In 2005, Valdora was introduced as a triathlon-specific brand, eventually replacing bpStealth. Valdora's mission was to deliver the highest quality carbon bicycles without following market trends or gimmicks, while prioritizing customer feedback.
Update 2024
As of 2024, Valdora carbon triathlon frames are no longer in production. The pandemic, which led to the widespread cancellation of competitions, was a significant factor, compounded by declining interest in triathlon since 2011. The World Triathlon Corporation (WTC), which owns the Ironman (IM) trademark, has undergone multiple ownership changes since 2009. Following these acquisitions, the IM brand either rebranded or discontinued many longstanding races, resulting in a decline in mid-distance events like Olympic and half-iron distance races that once served as key entry points into the sport.
The current landscape is dominated by lower-tier sprint triathlons and high-cost Ironman events, leaving a void where affordable mid-distance races once thrived. The 2022 sale of the IM brand may offer an opportunity for a resurgence of these stepping stone races, which are vital to the triathlon community. In response to these shifts, Valdora has pivoted toward offering cycling accessories and is exploring other avenues within the cycling industry.
