Imboden Bike

What Imboden Bike does

Imboden Bike is a family-owned bicycle and winter sports retail and service business headquartered in Lauterbrunnen, Switzerland, founded in 1995 by former elite amateur cyclist Werner Imboden. The company operates a three-floor main shop on Dorfstrasse plus an adjacent dedicated rental shop, open 365 days per year, serving tourists, outdoor enthusiasts, and local residents in the Bernese Oberland / Jungfrau region. Its core offerings span four revenue streams: retail sales of premium bikes (Orbea, BMC, BIXS — mountain, road/gravel, and e-bikes at CHF 2,299 to CHF 12,999 per unit) and winter sports equipment (Atomic, Salomon, ZAG — Alpine ski, Nordic ski, sledges, snowshoes with boot fitting); rental of bikes and winter equipment; a professional bike workshop providing repair, service, and custom builds; and guided e-bike tours (Basic CHF 250–350 and Premium CHF 350–450 per person) operated on Wednesdays, Saturdays, and Sundays.

The business runs a direct-to-consumer, physical-retail-first go-to-market supported by an online reservation system on its bilingual (German/English) website, organic social channels (Facebook, Instagram), email marketing, and a TripAdvisor Travelers' Choice Award 2025 listing. Pricing is unit-based across all streams with payment on pickup for online bookings. Operationally, the shop relies on qualified technicians for workshop services and uses original manufacturer spare parts; there is no proprietary technology platform or AI/ML component. The company remains privately held by Werner and Trine Imboden with no external investors, parent company, or subsidiaries, and 5 total employees based entirely in Lauterbrunnen. Werner Imboden's personal cycling pedigree — including his brother Heinz's status as a vice world champion — is a central pillar of the shop's credibility and brand in the local cycling community.

Name

Imboden Bike

Legal name

Imboden Bike

Website

https://imboden-bike.ch

Company type

Private

Founded year

1995

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Imboden Bike is a family-owned bike and winter sports retailer in Lauterbrunnen, Switzerland, founded in 1995 by former elite cyclist Werner Imboden. It sells premium bikes and ski equipment, operates a workshop, rents equipment, and runs guided e-bike tours for tourists and locals.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Bicycle and Winter Sports Retail

NAICS

Recreational Goods Rental (532284)

SIC

Motorcycles, Bicycles & Parts (3751)

akta.pro primary industry

Cycling & Bike Retail (Sales, Service & Accessories) (CRAMABAH)

akta.pro secondary industries

Bike Service, Repair & Maintenance Shops (CRAMAHAH), E-Bikes & Electric Bicycles (CRACASAA), Bicycle Retail (New Bikes) (CRAMAHAA), Cycling, Mountain Biking & E-bike Adventures (THAJABAF), Bike Accessories Retail (Lights, Locks, Racks, Bags) (CRAMAHAD)

Keywords

• Bicycle retail
• Winter sports equipment
• Bike rental services
• Guided e-bike tours
• Bike workshop repairs

Headquarters

HQ city

Lauterbrunnen

HQ country

Switzerland

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Operations, Personnel, Supply Chain, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Bike and Winter Sports Retail: Sale of mountain bikes, gravel bikes, e-bikes, road bikes, skis, sledges, snowshoes, and outdoor apparel and accessories.
2. Bike and Equipment Rental: Rental of mountain bikes, racing bikes, freeride bikes, sledges, and snowshoes for tourists and visitors to the Lauterbrunnen region.
3. Workshop and Repair Services: Professional bike repair services, service checks, custom bike builds, and boot fitting services.
4. Guided E-Bike Tours: Guided e-bike tours through Lauterbrunnen valley with package options including bike, helmet, snacks, and discounts. Operates Wednesday, Saturday, and Sunday with minimum 2 persons.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Imboden Bike is a family-owned bike and ski retail shop in Lauterbrunnen, Switzerland, selling mountain bikes, road and gravel bikes, e-bikes, alpine and Nordic ski equipment, sledges, snowshoes, and outdoor apparel. It complements retail with a professional bike workshop (repairs and custom builds), equipment rental (bikes and winter gear), and guided e-bike tours, operating 365 days a year from a three-floor main shop plus an adjacent rental shop.

Product overview

Imboden Bike is a comprehensive bike and winter sports retail operation located in Lauterbrunnen, Switzerland, operating year-round (365 days). The core product portfolio centers on bicycles: Mountain Bikes (Hardtail, Fully, Enduro/Downhill), Road & Gravel Bikes, and E-Bikes & Pedelecs (including E-Mountain, E-Gravel, E-Road, E-City categories). Winter sports products include Alpine Ski Equipment, Nordic Ski Equipment, and Sledges & Snowshoes. Services complement retail with a professional Bike Workshop (service, repairs, custom builds), Equipment Rental (bikes and winter gear), and Guided E-Bike Tours. An Outdoor Clothing & Accessories Shop rounds out the offering. The business operates from a three-floor main shop plus a separate rental shop, and is owned by Werner Imboden who founded the business in 1995.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Mountain Bikes

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves8 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Direct peers

• Bike-Import.ch: Swiss online bike retailer carrying premium brands like Orbea and BMC. Directly comparable to Imboden Bike on product category and brand portfolio, though competing through e-commerce rather than a physical alpine tourism location.
• M-Way: Swiss e-bike specialist retailer with multiple stores and a strong e-bike product range. Directly comparable to Imboden Bike on the e-bike category, which is a strategic focus area for Imboden and a meaningful share of its premium bike mix.
• Veloplus: One of Switzerland's largest dedicated bike retailers (online + multiple physical locations), selling mountain, road, gravel and e-bikes across all major brands. Directly comparable to Imboden Bike in core product categories and premium-brand focus, though at significantly greater scale and broader geographic reach.

Broad incumbents

• Intersport: Global sporting goods retailer with a strong Swiss franchise network, including shops in alpine tourist regions carrying bikes and ski equipment. Comparable to Imboden Bike on category mix and tourist-area presence, but operating as a franchise brand rather than an independent specialist.
• Decathlon: Global sporting goods incumbent with Swiss stores carrying bikes, e-bikes, and winter sports equipment across price tiers. Comparable as a competitor for the same tourist and local customers but at significantly lower price points and a much broader assortment.
• Ochsner Sport: Switzerland's largest sporting goods retail chain, carrying bikes and winter sports equipment alongside a much broader assortment. Comparable to Imboden Bike on the cycling and ski categories but operating at much larger scale and a generalist positioning.
• Transa: Swiss outdoor and travel retailer with strong winter sports and outdoor apparel offering. Comparable to Imboden Bike on the winter sports equipment and outdoor clothing categories, but does not specialize in premium bike retail or workshop services.

Emerging players

• Bikester.ch: European online bike retailer with strong Switzerland presence, focused on mountain, road, gravel and e-bikes. Comparable to Imboden Bike on product category but competes primarily through online channels, putting pressure on local shop equipment sales.

Regional players

• Jungfrau Region Bike Shops (e.g., Grindelwald/Interlaken): Independent bike rental and retail shops in neighboring Jungfrau region villages (Grindelwald, Interlaken, Mürren) competing for the same tourist visitors. Directly comparable to Imboden Bike on local bike rental, tour, and retail model within the same regional tourism catchment.
• Engadin Bike Academy: Swiss mountain bike school and tour operator in the Engadin/St. Moritz region offering guided tours and lessons. Directly comparable to Imboden Bike's guided e-bike tour offering, operating in a different Swiss alpine tourism destination with similar seasonality and customer base.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat3 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/WernerImboden
• Instagraminstagram.com/imbodenbike
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/imboden-bike

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles2 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Imboden Bike