The Company
Valdora is a registered trademark of Olson International, Inc. (OI, Inc.), an Arizona USA Corporation. OI, Inc. has been involved in the cycling industry since 1997 as a designer, importer and manufacturing general contractor of bicycles, frames, and accessories for domestic and international customers. OI, Inc. distributed the bpStealth brand to retailers while supplying products to other importers and manufacturers to private label and distribute. By 2003 OI, Inc. stopped selling carbon frames and components to other companies to private label. All effort went into refining the semi compact triathlon specific geometry that had been developed in 1998. The geometry was developed out of necessity. All the 'triathlon' bikes available at the time were intended for flat out and back time trial. Not triathlon where climbing and descending are usually part of the race. The geometry was developed to provide an achievable aero position for the everyday triathlete. Professionals rode them and loved them but the geo was to allow a non pro to consistently hold the aero position for longer periods with superb handling. It only took the 'big' brands another 12+ years to figure this out and change their frame geometry.
The first bike utilizing this new semi compact tri bike geometry was called the AC-Tri (alloy compact tri). The first model was alloy in order to tweak and perfect the geometry before opening the molds to make the frames from carbon. In 2005 Valdora was introduced as a tri specific brand and eventually replaced the bpStealth brand. The Valdora mission is to develop and deliver the highest quality carbon bicycles and products anywhere while not following the pack of me too brands and their gimmicks. We value our customers and their feedback.
UPDATE 2024
Valdora carbon triathlon frames are no longer in production as of 2024. The pandemic resulting in the widespread shut down of competition was a major cause. Furthermore, interest in entering the sport of triathlon has steadily declined since approximately 2011. WTC (licensee of the IM trademark) has been sold and acquired by investment companies three times since 2009. After the first acquisition IM brand went on to purchase and rebrand or dissolve many races and race series that had been in existence for years. As a result many Olympic and 1/2 iron distance races evaporated. The shortsighted ambition of dominating market share killed the stepping stone races that fueled the entire triathlon industry. What remains are the $50 YMCA sprint triathlons and the $500+ 1/2 IM and $700+ full IM. The $80 Olympic distance and $180 1/2 distance that were once abundant are no longer. These were the stepping stones. IM was sold once again in 2022. It will be in their best interest to find partners or promoters to recreate and steward those stepping stone races. We hope this is the outcome. Until then Valdora has pivoted to offering cycling accessories and may explore other avenues in the cycling industry.
