QBP cancels Frostbike 2026
Quality Bicycle Products (QBP) has cancelled the 2026 edition of Frostbike, citing potentially unsafe conditions for some attendees, due to ongoing federal immigration enforcement activity in the Minneapolis area.
An email to exhibitors and media, signed by QBP's president, Rich Tauer, said that the company had hoped for a de-escalation over the past six weeks but that "meaningful change" has not materialised.
Frostbike had been on hiatus since 2022 and was scheduled to return February 26-28 with a theme "Take the Lane". In the email, Tauer said, "There's no better example of our industry taking the lane together than last Saturday's memorial ride honouring Alex Pretti. Angry Catfish Bicycle Shop, with help from other businesses and local citizens, hosted the Minneapolis ride and guided organisers in more than 250 officially scheduled rides across 14 countries and 43 states. In Minneapolis alone, over 5,000 riders showed up despite the snow and cold weather."
He also added that in-person gatherings like Frostbike matter because face-to-face time helps the industry swap ideas and solve problems, which benefits everyone's business. QBP will contact exhibitors with logistics guidance, and said it is working on alternative ways to share educational content from the brands, while planning for Frostbike 2027.
