· Hugo · Bikes · 3 min read
What Happened to Bike Nashbar?
Bike Nashbar went from a 1970s mail-order giant to a casualty of its parent company's bankruptcy. Here's the full timeline, why it declined, whether it still exists in 2026, and where to shop instead.
If you’ve been riding for a while, you remember Bike Nashbar — the thick budget catalog that landed in cyclists’ mailboxes for decades. So what happened to it?
The short version: Nashbar was a mail-order pioneer that got absorbed into a larger retail group, and when that parent company went bankrupt in 2018, the original Nashbar disappeared. The brand name still operates online today under new ownership — but it’s no longer the independent direct-mail giant riders remember.
The Origin: From Bike Warehouse to Nashbar
Bike Nashbar started in 1974 as Bike Warehouse, founded by Arnold “Arni” Nashbar in Youngstown, Ohio. With a background in advertising and design, Arni built it into a mail-order powerhouse — at its peak the company mailed catalogs to 14 million cyclists a year across the U.S. and Canada and shipped over 6,000 packages a day. It was later renamed Bike Nashbar.
Timeline: How Nashbar Changed Hands
| Date | What happened |
|---|---|
| 1974 | Founded as "Bike Warehouse" by Arni Nashbar in Youngstown, Ohio |
| 2000 | Sold to rival retailer Performance Bicycle |
| 2016 | Advanced Sports International buys Performance + Nashbar; forms parent Advanced Sports Enterprises (ASE) |
| Nov 16, 2018 | ASE and subsidiaries (incl. Nashbar Direct) file Chapter 11 bankruptcy |
| Dec 2018 | All 102 Performance Bicycle stores closed and liquidated |
| Feb 6, 2019 | Bankruptcy court approves sale; Performance & Nashbar brands acquired by AMain.com (AMain Hobbies) |
Why Nashbar Declined
The reasons were structural, not a single bad decision. Online retail competition and Amazon eroded the catalog/mail-order model that made Nashbar famous. On top of that, the brand became tied to a corporate structure — ASE — that the bankruptcy filing described as “undercapitalized from the start” and unable to reverse declining retail sales. Once ASE collapsed, the lean direct-mail Nashbar was gone; what survived was the name and the website.
Is Bike Nashbar Still Around in 2026?
Yes — but as a legacy brand, not the original company. As of 2026, Nashbar operates as an online-only retailer under AMain Hobbies. After the acquisition it was redesigned (by the agency SixSpeed) with a friendlier, “yellow-gold” identity aimed at entry- and mid-level recreational riders.
Today it’s regarded as a solid source for bike parts at fair prices, with deep selection across brands like Shimano, Garmin, and Bell. Its sister site, Performance Bicycle (also AMain-owned), carries a slightly larger inventory and more DIY resources.
Where to Shop Instead
If you’re chasing the budget parts-and-gear niche Nashbar used to own, these are the common go-tos:
- Performance Bicycle — Nashbar’s AMain-owned sister site, larger inventory
- Jenson USA — broad parts and component deals
- Worldwide Cyclery — strong for mountain-bike parts
- Cambria Bike and Universal Cycles — wide brand selection, competitive pricing
- BikeTiresDirect — tires, drivetrains, and consumables
- REI Co-op — house-brand accessories and sales
- Amazon / eBay — when price is the only priority (eBay is also good for discontinued store-brand items)
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Bike Nashbar still in business?
Yes, but only as an online retailer owned by AMain Hobbies. The original independent mail-order company no longer exists — 'Nashbar' today is a legacy brand name operating as an e-commerce site.
What happened to the physical Performance Bicycle stores?
All 102 brick-and-mortar Performance Bicycle locations were closed and liquidated during the 2018–2019 ASE bankruptcy proceedings.
Who bought Nashbar after the bankruptcy?
AMain.com, Inc. (AMain Hobbies) acquired the Performance and Nashbar businesses and trademarks in February 2019, after a bankruptcy court–approved sale.
Who founded Bike Nashbar?
Arnold 'Arni' Nashbar founded it in 1974 in Youngstown, Ohio, originally as 'Bike Warehouse.' It grew into a mail-order giant that sent catalogs to up to 14 million cyclists a year.
Is Nashbar a good place to buy bike parts now?
Generally yes. Under AMain it's rated a solid, fair-priced source for parts and gear across major brands. Its sister site Performance Bicycle has a larger inventory, and Jenson USA and Worldwide Cyclery are strong alternatives.
Sources
- Bicycle Retailer & Industry News — Arni Nashbar obituary / brand history
- Advanced Sports International — Wikipedia
- Performance Bike — ASE 2018 bankruptcy FAQ
- ASE bankruptcy filing — Amended Disclosure Statement, Case No. 18-80856, U.S. Bankruptcy Court, Middle District of North Carolina