Pace Cycles has decided to stop distributing DT Swiss products in the UK. Pace sold its suspension fork designs, technology and manufacturing rights to the Swiss company in 2006 and since then has been the UK distributor. But now that arrangement has come to an end, with Pace concentrating on its ever-expanding range of frames.

“It’s time to focus the business on our new frame models, particularly after the successful launch of our extended 2010 range at the Earl’s Court Show,” said Pace MD Adrian Carter.

Working with DT Swiss after the sale of the fork business clearly hasn’t been without its frustrations, and many were startled by the hefty price tags of the post-Pace product. Certainly at the time we expected DT Swiss forks to become a more common sight on the trails than Pace forks had been, but that hasn’t happened.

“We have invested a lot into the establishment of DT as a leading suspension brand and are proud of the elevated profile DT Swiss now has in the UK,” continued Adrian Carter, “However the challenge has been to convince the market that the product’s high cost and limited availability is worth the investment. The introduction of new technology into the product hasn’t stimulated the level of trade orders we were expecting. And Pace still hasn’t been supplied with working fork samples and delivery dates for the current product, which has become frustrating.”

So Pace will be targeting its resources on what is now its core product – frames. Which looks like a smart move, given that the 2010 bikes on show at Earl’s Court were getting a lot of approving attention. We’re told that the initial run of Pace 104 steel hardtail frames has already sold out.

Pace will stop distributing DT Swiss forks, wheels and components with immediate effect, but the Pace Service Centre will continue to offer service, spares and warranty for DT Swiss products. Find out more at www.pacecycles.com.