AI Isn't Replacing Retail -- Saddle Is Using It to Save It

New AI platform helps local bike shops leapfrog e-commerce by turning post-sale service into long-term customer loyalty

BEVERLY HILLS, Calif., Oct. 1, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Saddle, an AI powered platform built for the cycling industry, is coming soon with a mission to save physical retail, not by competing with e-commerce, but by outsmarting it.

Saddle connects brands, retailers, and riders through one intelligent system that powers the entire journey from purchase to years of automated service. It uses real-time ride data to predict repairs, tune-ups, recommend upgrades, and deliver personalized post-sale engagement, keeping local bike shops at the center of the customer experience.

"Everyone worries AI will replace jobs and storefronts," said Saddle founder Ben Menahem. "But we believe the opposite. AI is what finally allows physical retail to leapfrog e-commerce."

The platform blends the personalization of digital tools with the human touch of real-world service. It is the modern operating system built to reshape and revive retail. Saddle transforms each bike or electric bike sale into a long-term membership-like relationship, giving local bicycle stores the tools to operate like billion-dollar brands without the overhead.

Saddle provides cyclists with a free app to record ride metrics including calories, distance, speed, cadence, elevation gain and loss, route history, and more. These data power our AI to deliver timely bike service reminders and bicycle repair recommendations based on real usage. The app supports all bicycles including electric bikes, mountain bikes, road bikes, gravel bikes, and commuter bikes, and connects each rider to a local bike shop for online booking of service appointments and tune ups. Stores receive rider metrics inside their workflow so they can recommend the right maintenance, parts, and accessories, strengthening trust and transparency while increasing repeat visits and lifetime value.

It's launching at a moment when consumers are prioritizing health and wellness. Gyms are full, Pilates classes are booked out, and people are spending hundreds each month on their well-being. Yet cycling, arguably one of the healthiest, most sustainable forms of movement, has struggled due to outdated retail models and poor service experiences.

As part of its upcoming launch, Saddle is offering three years of free access to bicycle shops that join its pilot program.

"Retail didn't die, it was starved," Menahem added. "Bad systems, rising costs, and digital giants stripped local bicycle shops of the tools they needed to compete. Saddle puts that power back where it belongs, not just so they can survive, but so they can prove they're better than anything online."

While Saddle is starting with bikes, the broader mission is clear: independent retail isn't dying, it's just been left without the infrastructure to compete. Saddle is here to change that.

About Saddle 
Saddle is an AI-powered platform built to modernize retail, starting with cycling. By connecting stores, cyclists, and brands in one predictive system, Saddle helps local shops deliver smarter service, deeper loyalty, and data-driven growth. Visit www.ridesaddle.com to learn more.

Media Contact:
Ben Menahem
Founder, Saddle
310-678-9500
[email protected] 

SOURCE Saddle LLC