Bicycle Category Cost Review

A DTC bicycle brand needed a clearer way to compare two supplier groups that both looked acceptable on paper. The problem was not a lack of quotes. The problem was that each quote hid different assumptions for frame structure, component sourcing, packaging, and freight.

What changed

We rebuilt the comparison around a single BOM logic: frame, fork, wheelset, drivetrain, finishing kit, carton method, inspection gate, and landed-cost assumptions. That made the differences visible instead of letting unit price hide them.

• Two suppliers were narrowed to one production-ready path.
• Packaging assumptions were separated from product cost.
• Inspection points were set before sampling moved forward.

What the brand did next

The launch team moved forward with a more controlled pilot order instead of treating the cheapest quote as the best option. The result was a cleaner sourcing decision and less risk of late-stage cost drift.