Cyfac shifts gears

Following a period of financial difficulties, bicycle manufacturer Cyfac is initiating a reorganization under the name “Maison Cyfac”. Led by Jean-Pierre Ramoul, the company intends to highlight its expertise in handcrafted and custom-built frame building.

Source: press release

This evolution goes hand in hand with a merger with the brand CMT, specialized in titanium, which thus joins Cyfac and Meral, historically positioned in steel and carbon. With this consolidation, the company indicates that it masters production across these three materials. A new production facility is set to open in Tours in the coming months, while operations continue pending the relocation.

A fresh start

Six months ago, Cyfac was subject to judicial liquidation proceedings, against the backdrop of a downturn in the bicycle market following the post-pandemic boom. Last April, the Tours-based company was taken over by Jean-Pierre Ramoul, alongside two investors. Already at the helm of the Savoie-based brand CMT since 2022, the new owner states that he aims to preserve a historical heritage and bring together various craft cycling skills. A new visual identity and a website redesign accompany this transition.

Restructuring and positioning

The name change to “Maison Cyfac” reflects the grouping of the Cyfac, Meral, and CMT brands under a single entity.
Faced with competition dominated by industrial production, mainly outsourced to Asia, the company is banking on in-house handcrafting and custom builds. The three brands retain their identity while pooling their resources. The Cyfac and Meral workshops are scheduled to move first to the new facility in Tours, followed by CMT during 2027. A showroom representing all three brands will also be established in the Alps.

Refocusing on custom builds

The company is adopting the tagline “Custom bicycle manufacturing since 1974”, referencing the founding dates of Meral (1974), Cyfac (1982), and CMT (2000). This positioning is accompanied by the abandonment of serial production in favor of exclusively bespoke builds.

Manufacturing process

Maison Cyfac structures its operations around five main stages:
– Listening : analyzing customer needs and riding practices to determine the choice of material and geometry.
– Design : body measurements, bike fitting, and technical setup of the frame geometry.
– Customization : creating a custom paint scheme according to customer preferences.
– Manufacturing : complete frame production, painting, and bike assembly within the workshops.
– Warranty and lead times : announced delivery lead times of between four and six months, and a ten-year warranty on frames.