Breaking: Paragon Machine Works Announces It Will Cease Operations
If you’ve spent any time scrolling through the galleries of the MADE, the Bespoked show, or drooling over a handmade hardtail from a boutique builder, or geeking out over the intricate sliding dropouts on a single-speed setup, you’ve seen the work of Paragon Machine Works. You might not have seen their logo front and center, but for over four decades, they’ve been the silent, precision-machined backbone for much of the custom bicycle world.
That’s why today’s news hits hard. Paragon Machine Works has announced it will cease all major operations as of Friday, March 27th, 2026.
Deven McCoy
Based out of Richmond, California, Paragon has been the gold standard for framebuilding components since 1983. Founded on the principle of American-made precision, they didn't just make parts; they made the building blocks that enabled the small-batch framebuilding industry to thrive. From bottom bracket shells to iconic dropouts that solved a thousand chain-tensioning headaches, Paragon was the hardware store for the world's most talented welders and brazers.
In a press release issued this week, the team at Paragon cited a "variety of market and industry factors beyond our control" as the reason the business is no longer viable. It’s a refrain we’ve heard far too often in the bike industry over the last couple of years, as the post-pandemic market has given way to a volatile, challenging landscape for manufacturers.
As the industry continues to navigate choppy waters, losing a cornerstone like Paragon feels like losing a piece of its soul. Forty-three years of innovation, Richmond-made grit, and some of the cleanest machining the cycling world has ever seen is a hell of a run.
To the crew at Paragon: thank you for the parts, the precision, and for keeping the dream of the custom bike alive for so long. It’s been a great ride, indeed.
Deven McCoy
Read the full announcement from Paragon Machine Works below:
It is with great sadness that we announce that Paragon Machine Works will cease all major operations as of Friday, March 27th, 2026. We have determined that our business is no longer viable, due to a variety of market and industry factors beyond our control.
With reduced staffing, we will continue to sell/ship our existing inventory on our website and make parts until our material inventory runs out. Manufacturing priority will be given to parts in greatest demand. If we can justify another run of a certain part, we will. We are working to find vendors who can potentially take on some of our product lines in the future. We are doing everything we can to take care of you, our customer.
The following will be made available for sale or in the public domain (email requests or for details); we will post periodic updates on IG as things evolve:
- Intellectual property (CAD, CAM, and CNC files)
- CNC Machinery (with programs/tooling)
- Various shop supplies and tools
Due to reduced staffing, orders must be placed through our website and will ship out on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays. We are unable to process back orders and will provide refunds for items that we’re not able to supply. All sales are final.
We understand this is shocking news and appreciate your patience and support during this very difficult transition.
Thank you so much to our amazing staff and customers who’ve supported us through 43 years of innovation, challenges, and fun. It’s been a great ride, and we’re forever grateful.