Chris Sugai

Chris Sugai is the co-founder and former president of Niner Bikes, a company he launched in 2005.13 Niner Bikes specializes in mountain bikes and was an early adopter of the 29-inch wheel size, which has since become an industry standard.25

Key points about Chris Sugai:

1. He led Niner Bikes for 18 years, from its founding until October 2022.14
2. Under his leadership, Niner Bikes grew from $98,000 in revenue to $14 million.3
3. Sugai is known as a visionary thinker in the cycling industry, particularly for his early adoption of 29-inch wheels and disc brakes.2
4. In October 2022, Sugai was removed from his position as president of Niner Bikes by United Wheels, the parent company that acquired Niner in 2017.14
5. After leaving Niner, Sugai joined Gates as the general manager of Gates Global Mobility in March 2023.24

In his new role at Gates, Sugai is focusing on developing drive solutions for various two-wheel vehicles, including bicycles, e-bikes, scooters, and motorcycles.4