There will be all kinds of new products in here starting in January. There will be more electronic shifting systems, power meter pedals, disc brakes on skinny tire bikes and loads of other stuff. That is all fun but that's just the goodies, we have some other projects in the works. We have a new size cycle coming for our fitting area which we're very excited about, we'll be talking more about that very soon. Along with that will be several improvements to the equipment we're currently using. We will also be continuing to build displays to accommodate new products, most of which are already here. We plan to ramp up our ability to serve as well.
The fitting services look to be getting the big upgrades. The size cycle is part of this but there will be upgrades to our motion capture technology as well. We plan to ramp up our VO2 testing services and with the additional equipment and the upgrades to what we have, we can do what we do more accurately and more efficiently. We hope to offer some new services as well. Stay tuned to the blog and our newsletter for news about all this.
The mechanical services are already awesome of course but we now have the ability to handle a bit more volume due to the fact that the service area is set up for two work stations. There is always new equipment coming in the service area but we'll see some more obvious and to be honest, cooler stuff soon too. Wheel building has been very busy and expect more news along those lines coming up.
We have heard many of you ask if we're carrying more bikes or picking up new brands. We do have more bikes from all of our builders on the way now. We are looking for another brand or two as well. This is much easier said than done. We've turned down quite a few already. We are picky. We want a bike that compliments the ones we currently sell. We want something made responsibly by cyclists. If it's an Italian brand, we actually want it made in Italy and that doesn't mean that the stickers were put on in Italy. Along those lines, we're talking with a couple of handmade custom Italian builders that might just fit the bill, we'll see. At the end of the day, we are more focused on improving the experience people have here than with the lightest hyper expensive barely functional cassette.
We're very lucky enough to be dealing with the absolute best bike companies in the world. These companies go far beyond just perfecting ride character and custom design, they are the true innovators. Their commitment to quality and responsible manufacturing practices is very important to us. These guys make the world a better place, I doubt many bike companies can say that with a straight face. This year, we've all worked together in building people the bike of their dreams, bikes that are more than just bikes. We would like to thank everyone at Serotta, Parlee, Seven and Guru for being so damn good at what they do!
Our shop is growing steadily. We are still working A TON. That said, we are extremely happy with where we are. Although we have to be very careful and conservative in this economy, we have managed to generate growth in every way. We are able to sell what we know is the best product and we get to work with great people. We wouldn't have it any other way. This is not an easy business to have, it takes a lot of time and focus and there are always ups and downs but it is seriously rewarding. I'm glad we don't sell buicks if you know what I mean.
Here are a few of the years stand out products. Although it's tough to do, we'll pick just one model from each company that we feel is a "go to" bike.
Seven:
The Seven Axiom SL. The Axiom SL is Seven's most popular all titanium frame. It uses Seven's proprietary butted tubing which is selected and butted specifically for each person. This is an incredible bike. It can be made to suit a huge range of riders in terms of fit but also ride character. I've ridden an Axiom that was stiffer than most carbon bikes out there. They can also be built to be very comfortable. These are also insanely durable bikes and they will go forever. Sevens capabilities as a manufacturer blow the doors off most other titanium builders out there. In fact, Seven builds some frames for other companies and even does the tube butting for another well know builder. These guys know what they're doing. They also seem to be able to employ some incredibly smart, nice people.
Parlee
The Parlee Z1 is just amazing. Parlee is able to produce one of the best accelerating, fast, lively carbon frames available. Their "No BS" approach to frame building has been proven time and time again. The Z1 is their flagship model and is also extremely customizable. Their method of construction allows for the absolute finest adjustments to geometry and with the wide variety of tubing available, the ride is also completely tuned to the rider. The also offer a stock or"semi-custom version in 15 sizes. Yes, 15 sizes with custom head tube length at no extra charge. This is a true race machine, it is nothing short of a rocket ship. This spring, it will be in my stable.
Serotta
This is a tough call. Every Serotta stands out. Although the Serotta Meivici is my personal bike of choice (and Ari's), we have to give it to the Ottrot SE. The reason is that it offers a completely unique ride character. The Ottrot uses both carbon and titanium in its construction, the top tube, down tube and seat stay are carbon, the rest is titanium. Serotta makes use of each material's strong points. They use carbon to reduce vibration and to resist torsional flex as well as reduce weight. The Titanium is used in areas where strength and durability is key such as where components interface with the frame. The lugged construction allows for the highest degree of custom geometry as well. The tubing is made by Serotta themselves at their own facility in Poway, California. Here's the most interesting part; the frame uses Serotta's patented ST rear triangle. The ST rear end has a bearing at the rear drop out which allows for a small amount of vertical movement. This is not a pivot nor is it suspension really. What it does is allow for better rear wheel tracking and better vibration damping. Imagine turning the road ahead to glass. Because of the better rear wheel tracking, the bike takes corners like it's on rails. This characteristic is most noticeable on rougher pavement. We chose this as the stand out because everyone that gets one comes back after the first ride with big glassy puppy dog eyes and huge smile. The Ottrot SE is something special.
Guru, our friends from Montreal has am amazing facility and tremendous potential for development of ground breaking frames. The stand out from Guru has to be the CR.901 TT/Tri frame. These guys build Time Trial/Triathlon bikes that handle better than a lot of regular road bikes. My first ride on one was a serious eye opener. These types of bikes are infamous for poor handling and most are just terrible in terms of ride feel. Guru blows away anything else we've seen or ridden when it comes to TT bikes. Other companies might sponsor famous riders and pay for huge ad campaigns but compared to Guru, you might as well get on your dad's old Schwinn varsity. The 901 is available in both stock and custom and pretty easy on the eyes as well. Ari has one here in the shop and every one we've sold has made the owner super happy. There are two other models in their TT line which are very reasonabley priced, it makes me wonder why we see so many people on...Cervelized?? Simply the best Tri bikes made. We're very much looking forward to the future with our friends from the north.
There's a lot more to choose from and it's hard to pick just one. That might be why I'm tripping over bikes in my apartment. Here's to a lot more in 2012, thanks folks!
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