Cycling accessories firm secures funding to expand Bristol HQ

A Bristol cycling accessories designer and manufacturer has secured £600,000 to fuel its expansion plans. Tailfin, on Cumberland Road, is part of the rapidly-growing 'bikepacking' market - an adventure-focused cycling discipline where cyclists carry all necessary gear on their bikes.

The company was founded a decade ago by Nick Broadbent, a mechanical engineer and product designer, and initially focused on rack and pannier accessories. Today, Tailfin has more than 12 product lines distributed from warehouses in the Netherlands, US, and Europe.

The business will use the additional working capital from the British Business Bank's South West Investment Fund, and delivered by fund manager FW Capital, to broaden its product range, it said.

Significant investment is also being directed towards expanding the company's Bristol headquarters, creating a state-of-the-art R&D studio with new equipment, specialised tools, and enhanced proto