Author: Rob

High Mileage Weekend

I successfully made the trek up to Sacramento For NAHBS,   36 hours, 800 miles round trip, one state agency, at least 50 laps around the floor one way and then 10 more in the criss cross direction.  I met almost all of the people I intended to and a few more that were a surprise.  The ironic part is that I took almost no pictures,  and the only one to share was a guy outside the show, more on that later this week.  There were hordes of people with cameras, tripods the works, and the pictures on the web are likely better than what I would have been making.  The bikes were everything you would imagine, photography and video both fall short of what the bikes really look like with respect to color.  The lighting in the main hall was not doing the photographers many favors either.

The people were the main reason I went.  I was able to spend time with the Reynolds tubing reps, Kirk from Bikelugs, Dave Kirk, Dave Wages and many of the other notable builders, the friendly people at White Industries and Paul Component (whose components will be gracing the bikes I will be offering in the coming months), and then I ran into Ely of Ruth Works SF. It was great meeting another bag maker face to face, comparing notes and looking a tall the bags in the show. There was a wide range of work, and some of it was stunning.  Part of me wanted to stay another day, but an even bigger part wanted to be home in my own bed. If you ever have the chance to attend one of these shows, do not pass it up, the experience is worth it.

For me the trip was a success, and I hope that it went well for all of the builders.  If the crowd volume is any indication, this is likely going to be a good year for these guys.  I learned more than I expected, made some new contacts, met face to face with vendors I previously had only talked with via phone and email, and was ale to see the full range of booth styles in action as I plan on heading down that path on my own.

Glad to be home before the week starts up again.  I made my regular ride to the Farmer’s market, on what felt every bit like a summer day in March.  The crowds at the market and beach were almost as thick as the show. The ride was refreshing after all of that windshield time, and gave me some time to percolate ideas I have.

I hope your weekend went well, that NAHBS was great if you made it, and you were able to get out and make some time to ride.

Designer Builder Maker ?

While signing up for the Philly Bike Expo earlier this week the question came up if I was a “Builder”?  My first answer was no, “Designer” with an OEM contractor.  Then I filled in the description a bit more with “Bag Maker”.  The thing is, it is hard to describe this in one simple phrase.  Would I make the upcoming bikes if I had the means?  I am pretty sure the answer is yes, but the tooling and equipment are out of reach and not feasible in our current space.  For now I am a Designer with respect to the bikes.

On the bags I am designer, and maker at the moment.  Maybe that makes me a bag and wallet builder?  That is an issue of semantics.  For now I wear all three hats.

The bottom line is that I know what I like, the way I want particular things to be and perform.  This may sound selfish, but I love to make things.  I get an idea in my head, work it out on paper, and often take it into the workshop to bring it into reality.  Today’s example is a couple of revisions to the Makr style touring wallet.  Based on feedback from the first round, the design was revised into a wallet with more pockets and a version that can hold a boat load of cards for a trade show (NAHBS is this weekend). Two completely different wallets, and what was an item is becoming a line.

The wallet is going to a friend who will run it through the paces.  The card holder is for me.  The exercise helped fuel my creative energy to complete more complex designs, like the handlebar bag I have in the works.  Likewise it is a release so that I can better focus on the business side of things the rest of the day without the distraction of pent up designs floating around in my head.

I know how to design things so that they can be made over and over, in the hopes that more people than myself agree with my line of thinking and want one of my designs for themselves.   My qualifications stem from a 35 or so years of making things the way I want them, an engineering education, another 15 years of working in the post college world and a deep understanding of what I want things to be.  It is my hope that as Ocean Air Cycles grows, you will have faith in the ability of my designs, and through use transform the faith into understanding and appreciation.

…………………….

Enough lofty thoughts, it is Leap Day, get out and ride.  I can not imagine missing the unique opportunity, and having to admit that one did not ride a bike on Leap Day.

If you like the wallets, let me know.  I can get you a custom soon, or in a bit will be producing them in small batches.

As mentioned above, NAHBS (Hand Built Bike Show), is this weekend in Sacramento.  I am planning on being up there to walk the floor on Saturday.  If you see me and feel inclined, it is always nice to meet readers in the wild, stop me and say Hi.

Commitment

There is nothing like a monetary commitment, skin in the game, to keep you focused on the target.  Aside from the myriad  of bureaucratic and general business expenses there are the specific costs, engineering, prototypes, testing etc.  Each new cost is another step to the center of the ring.  Today I signed up for my first Expo, Philly Bike Expo October 27 & 28 to be exact.  The check is in the envelope and on the way, locked in, I need to get busy so I have something to show.

My post office rides seem to always fall on stormy days.  Today is supposed to be a rain day according to the weather man, but it looks like a miss.  I am not sure there is going to be any rain this year, the hills never turned green and things are all brown and crispy before spring has even shown up.  It is going to be an interesting year in the coastal desert, where easy access to fresh water is often taken for granted.

It was good to get outside for a break though, and a quick trip to roll past the ocean.

As a side note, I am loving the new/old pedals.  I need to get a deeper set of half clips fabbed up, but outside of that, they are sublime for riding around town, even in Birkenstocks.

Mid Day Escape and Masu Logo

I am not sure winter ever really happened this year.  I am sure we will pay the price in the coming dry months, but for now it is 68 degrees and gorgeous outside.  A perfect day to hit the farmer’s market and take the long way home through the hills.

I really should be taking rides through the hills more often, once a month is marginally (nice way to say not really) enough to stay in the level of fitness I would like.  Today the weather and new pedals did the trick, I got out there, and it was worth is.

I have some art ideas in my head for the logo on the upcoming bike.  I still like the name Masu, and am trying to make sure the steelhead trout connection can be made.  Here is a sketch of what I am thinking,

This would be on the top tube, drive side a little bit back from the head tube.  It wraps about a third of the way around the top tube.  The color would match the Ocean Air Cycles logo on the down tube with the body of the fish transparent so the bike color shines through.  Subtle but there.

Let me know if you like it, could care less as long as the bike works, or think it is a horrible idea.  As always I value your input.