Finally looked at these links, really amazing stuff! I have worked in consumer ceramics in the past, we used silicon carbide for kiln shelves. Very heat resistant, and as you mention, very brittle. It was beyond my imagination to think that it could be made into fibers, I’m glad someone can think of it!
2 Likes
My guess would be: Specialized?
1 Like
Yup! That’s the same one!
2 Likes
Very cool! I have a good friend who is an engineer there at the big “S”
3 Likes
That’s really interesting. I’d love to hear about the real numbers that a company like Spec operates at and how they differ wildly from what we do here. Not the ‘secret’ stuff of course. Don’t want you getting in trouble.
1 Like
Pro bike Mechanic… sometimes it gets a bit crazy working on bikes all day at Revolution Cycles and then build a bike frame at night. But slow times in the winter help we start later so I have more time to work on welding, frames and snowboarding . Maybe one day it will just be frames and welding who knows or own a shop…
5 Likes
Aircraft maintenance engineer, that morphed into chief engineer, then production manager, project manager, quality inspector, and sales manager (hated it), then back to contract engineer.
Bought a mill to go with my lathe, followed by a TIG welder, and now sell, modify, fix recumbent bikes and trikes. So the chances of me ever filing a frame lug or brazing super thin tubing is minimal but even so I enjoy the topic discussions on this forum.
Recumbents bring a whole new dimension in steering geometry, drivetrain management and varied configurations.
9 Likes
Last year in May I was told that we needed to develop a toddler helmet, have it “buy ready” by October and shipped to Target’s distribution centers by Jan 10th. (normal development timelines are 12-18 months). Anyway, between our engineer, Emily (who is fucking amazing and has a keen eye for Industrial Design), and our MFG partner we were able to deliver this on time (with minimal hiccups).
4 SKUs are unique to Target and launched in the past week or so.
6 more SKUs will launch between now and March 15 and are available D2C or through our IBD network.
FWIW, big retailers like Target, Costco, SamsClub, Best Buy are not easy to deal with. They’re extremely data driven, price specific and everything needs to be 100% dialed (e.g. a pallet is stacked at 73" instead of 72"? You’re going to get billed for that mistake.).
So when you see a brand “selling out” (IIRC Intense caught some flak last year) cut them some slack. They’re probably not making a lot of cash on the deal and if stuff doesn’t sell the brand can go upside down on the offering fast.
Also, I’ll say straight out, this product is higher quality (though I can’t legally say it’s safer) than the other helmets you’ll see at Target.
8 Likes
My step-daughter is a pattern designer in children-wear, I am sure I am butchering her job-title right and she would be mad at me but it’s ok, she is not in here 
Anyway, she would have liked those helmets!
2 Likes
When will they be available in adult sizes? I want a teal one!
1 Like
Sorry Mark, that’s a Target kids exclusive. 
1 Like
The Intense/Costco (and even Parts Unlimited e bikes) is a wild deal. IMO it was very well played by Intense.
4 Likes
Hello. My Doctorate is in Latin American literature and I’ve been and educator for more than 20 years. I teach middle school and upper school in San Diego at a small school by the ocean. It keeps me busy and I love it. I’m a bicycle lifer tho, and god be willing, I will continue on this path.
1 Like
I’m a fulltime builder. But in order to keep myself busy I spread myself over new builds, framebuilding courses and frame repairs/alterations/restorations.
Its possible to just about make a living. But you do have to wear many hats. Hopefully this year I’m going to take somebody on to do more of admin and business side. I need more time to ride my own bike!
4 Likes
I’ve been watching your Youtube videos! Good stuff – keep it coming! 
-Jim G
1 Like
I’m trying to drop one once a week this year. Not quite gone to plan, but should be another out this week.
Thanks for watching!
3 Likes
I’ve tried to be a ‘full time’ builder over the last three years, but I still take various odd jobs, and I continue to try to find another permanent part time gig to compliment my frame building/repairing business. Prairie Crow does not generate enough income to be my only source of money, and maybe that will change but probably not. Prior to 2020 I worked in couple standard retail bike shops, varying from part time to full time seasonally and eventually working more than full time all the damn time (one shop for 6 years, another for 7) with frame building/frame repair as a side gig since 2013. Worked as a mechanic, service department coordinator/manager/Quality Control/Training person. I also worked seasonally in a shop doing woodcanvas canoe restoration & repair at a camp from 2009-2012 up in northern Minnesota. That job paid worse than bikes. Loved it though.
Over the last three years I’ve done a bunch of odd jobs to fill in income gaps- construction demo, wood floor sanding, snow shoveling, handyman work, driven a Uhaul cross country, moving help, planted trees for a forestry restoration company, sold native plants I’ve grown, a modeling gig (rather unexpected) for an outdoor clothing company, and other general labor jobs.
The other income/life cost reduction I have is from my upstairs neighbors/tenants. I live in a duplex that I managed to buy from my landlord back in 2017 after living in it as a renter for the previous 4 years. I borrowed money from family for the down payment, and had just enough income on paper from my bike shop job to convince a bank to give me a mortgage. There’s no way I would’ve been able to buy a duplex here in mpls these days on just a bike shop income. It’s an older building that has needed a ton of repair and maintenance over the last few years, and I charge below market for rent because rent is too fucking high, so it doesn’t really “make profit” but it still is huge positive impact for making self employment work in that I have a place to live and work. At this point none of that collected rent goes into my pocket, it all goes toward paying the bank and fixing the roof and replacing the water main and replacing ancient appliances etc, but it does mean that my cost of living is pretty low, and even if I have a really lean couple months we at least get the mortage paid so we have housing. We’ve also used mortgage forbearance a couple times when things got really tight. My shop is run out of my basement too, so cost there is low. I rented a couple industrial spaces in the past, and kept having to move as the buildings changed ownership. I’ve had the same tenants/neighbors since before we bought the house, and as I tell them regularly, they provide me housing, not the other way around. It is a major privilege- I don’t really know if Prairie Crow would exist if my old landlords hadn’t sold the house to me and if I didn’t have amazing tenants.
The last piece of the puzzle (and a pretty vital one) is that my wife is a nurse (started 2 years ago) so she has consistent income/cash flow and has been able and willing to cover the low spots between the bust and booms of the cycling season here in Minneapolis. We also do not have kids and have been lucky so far with fairly low medical costs.
Maybe this is more info than the prompt “what else do you do for work” asks, but I have always been curious how different tiny companies and ‘makers’ are able to make their life work. So this is how I’ve been able to “make it work” so far. But like I said, I think in the long term another actual part time job will be required.
13 Likes
This brings up the old joke/comment, “What do all successful framebuilders have in common?” “A spouse who works.” Congrats on keeping your head above water, and here’s to a long and happy future!
13 Likes