Can Rad Power Bikes Be Saved? + Scott’s Fastlane E-Road Bike, Upway Plans Expansion | TWR Ep 57

On November 7th, the Seattle-based Rad Power Bikes filed a Worker Adjustment and Retraining Notification (WARN) with the State of Washington.

This announcement, which follows a state law requiring businesses with more than 100 employees to provide a 60-day notice prior to shutting down, states that the company may need to close its doors and permanently lay off its 64 employees in January of next year.

After its e-bikes boomed in popularity during the pandemic, the brand has struggled in recent years with multiple rounds of layoffs, changes in leadership, and a variety of legal troubles. Like many other brands, Rad has also been saddled with difficulty in offloading overstocked inventory—and, more recently, higher import fees with increased tariffs on imported bikes and components.

A letter from Rad Power Bikes to its employees states that its administration has been pursuing ways to keep the company in business, including “strategic partnerships with other companies that could acquire the company or provide funding.” It also says that Rad’s leadership is still hopeful that a solution will be found, but, following state law, they wish to give employees advance notice of the potential closure in the event that nothing can be done.

Should the company permanently shut down, this will likely happen on January 9th, 2026, though legally, it has a 14-day window following that date to wind down.

Our Take:
Having been established in 2007 and relaunched for the DTC market in 2015, Rad has been a pillar of the e-bike industry since before the pandemic. It is one of a handful of manufacturers responsible for the widespread adoption of e-bikes; to this day, it’s nearly impossible to take a ride on our local network of shared-use trails and not see at least one from Rad Power Bikes.

With that in mind, the company’s loss would be both tragic and felt across the industry. Not only would Rad’s closure leave a void in the market, as it makes some of the safest, highest-quality, and most reliable e-bikes we’ve tested, but it would also leave many owners without support for service or parts replacement.

We’re hopeful that Rad’s leadership can find a solution that allows the company to remain in business, whether that be an acquisition, additional funding, or some other route.

With an aero-inspired design that shares much with Scott’s non-electric Addict road bike, the Fastlane sports a stealthy profile that makes it tough to identify as an e-bike. It features a carbon fiber frame and fork and, depending on its spec tier, an impressive total weight of 21.8 to 24.5 lbs.

At the bike’s heart is a TQ HPR40 mid-drive motor. With the lowest output of TQ’s motors (200W and 40 Nm of torque), this drive unit is meant to supplement the rider subtly instead of taking over. It’s paired with an internal 290 Wh battery that is relatively substantial in capacity when compared to the bike’s motor output, and riders can also equip an optional 160-Wh range extender.

The Fastlane will have a maximum speed of 25 km/h in the EU or 28 mph in the US. Additional specs include a 24-speed (2×12) drivetrain with electronic shifting, Shimano hydraulic disc brakes, and a bar-end display that indicates battery charge via LEDs and features Bluetooth connectivity with a dedicated smartphone app.

Scott offers three spec tiers for the bike: the Fastlane 20, Fastlane 10, and Fastlane Premium. All three models feature carbon wheels with 700x34c Schwalbe tires. Depending on the chosen model, the bike also features either alloy or carbon cranksets and aluminum or carbon stems/handlebars.

In the US, the Fastlane 20 is priced at $7,000, while the mid-tier Fastlane 10 sells for $8,000. The aptly-named Fastlane Premium carries a price tag of $12,000.

Our Take:
All three Fastlane models seem primed for performance. We love the bike’s stealthy design and lightweight construction; it’s tough to find any e-bike below 30 pounds, but the Premium model’s 21.8 lbs is remarkable.

We’ve been highly impressed by our previous experiences with TQ’s responsive, whisper-quiet motors, and expect the HPR40 to be well-suited for the Fastlane’s style and purpose. After reviewing a handful of Scott’s other models, the brand has also proven to be a maker of premium, thoughtfully-crafted e-bikes.

While we won’t know for sure until we get our hands on the Fastlane, the bike seems to have a winning combination of high-end components, solid geometry, and sleek integrated tech.

Upway, a company specializing in refurbished secondhand e-bikes, recently received $60 million in series C funding. This injection of capital, which is meant for expanding the company’s operations, comes from a Copenhagen-based investment firm called A.P. Moller Holding.

According to Bicycle Retailer, Upway has received more than $125 Million in funding since 2021 from AP Moller and other investors. Sequoia Capital, Ora Global, and Galvanize, are among other groups that have invested in the company.

With the new funding, Upway plans to expand its brick and mortar presence in the US. It aims to create jobs and further encourage circular consumption via recycling and refurbishment.

Presently, Upway is established in eight European countries and the US. It has refurbishment centers located in France, Germany, Belgium, and within the US, both in New York and California. The company plans to build six new refurbishment centers; one location is planned for Denver, but details about the others have not yet been released.

Upway’s co-founders, Stéphane Ficaja and Toussaint Wattinne, made a joint statement about the company’s funding and future plans. The team said, “We founded Upway with a simple idea: light mobility can only be sustainable if it’s circular.This round [of funding] allows us to scale that vision and make second-hand the first choice for millions of riders. We’re building the industrial and technological infrastructure that gives e-bikes a second life, with the same quality and safety standards as new ones.”

The company aims to provide jobs for over 2,000 employees by 2030.

Our Take:
With the impact of tariffs and rising costs of living being felt by consumers, we appreciate that not everyone can afford a new e-bike. Upway’s method of passing used bikes through an inspection and tune-up process prior to resale seems both smart and confidence-inspiring.

While we have no firsthand experience with Upway, we support the company’s mission to encourage and better enable circular consumption. Hopefully, this latest round of funding can be used to expand the company’s presence around the world and get more people out riding bikes!

The Pneuma CC Floor Pump from Feedback Sports can be used as either a traditional floor pump or a charging pump with the flip of a lever. In its traditional mode, it inflates tires as normal. Once its charging mode is enabled, users can pump up the internal charge tank and release a burst of air to seat tubeless tires.

It is also compatible with a pneumatic bike repair stand, the Pro Air Lift, which is set for release in February 2026.

Other Pneuma CC specs/details:

• Compatible with Schrader, Presta, and Clik valves
• Features aluminum construction with a concealed charge tank, a wide steel base, an oversized gauge, and plastic handle with storage compartments
• 3-year warranty
• Priced at $150

• How do I turn on my e-bike/e-trike’s headlight?
• How can I get more exercise on my electric trike?
• Which riders might prefer the Aventon Pace 4 over the Velotric Breeze 1, and vice versa?
• How will California’s cancelling of its e-bike voucher program affect low-income residents?
• How does the Mokwheel Basalt 2.0 differ from the Basalt 1.0?