News

We got a ton of used Herman Miller office furniture from an architecture firm that closed down this morning, and we’ve been in meetings the rest of the day.

More product updates on Thursday.

Some quick answers/responses to things so far:

1. Ben’s cranks in the Director Fork thread are powdercoated white.
2. Director Forks with different offsets (mild/zero) may be available at some point in 2008.
3. Director Forks will only be 3/8″.
4. We are all fully aware that other examples of raked, straight-to-axle fork legs exist (Mongoose, Tange, Colnago, Wright Brothers, etc.). We have never claimed this as an “original” feature. Please read the information we’ve posted if you can’t grasp the differences by looking at a photo.
5. Director Fork pricing will be a bit higher than the Classic Forks.
6. I will try to get some Flatland Fork info up by Friday.
7. JC/PC pedals are still in the pre-production stages but should be moving along relatively quickly.

Director Forks are shipping now.

– New steerer tube and leg joint is stronger than conventional designs.
– Butted and tapered “direct” legs prevent rail and grind hang-ups.
– 10mm hollow integrated leg dropouts.
– 1 lb. 15.6 oz. (895.8g) with uncut 170mm steerer tube and pre-load bolt.
– 3/8” axle slots only.
– Rustproof finishing prior to powdercoating.
– Black and white (limited soon).

Expect to see them at distributors/shops in roughly two weeks.
Info straight from the box is as follows:

While the Director Fork may look different from what you’re used to, the geometry and feel is an identical match with traditional forks. The axle is in the same position as it would be with a “normal” fork design.

The Director’s differences are rooted in the use of new construction techniques. The steerer tube is connected to the legs by using a joint design that is a substantial improvement over ordinary tubular crown forks. The legs have been angled forward so the hollow dropouts can blend smoothly into the leg tubing, while also maintaining a “traditional” axle position. By running the legs “directly” from where the load is applied (at the steerer tube), to where it is reacted against (at the axle), the mechanical efficiency has been maximized in this structure. The end result is improved performance and durability.

The dropouts are formed from the leg itself, rather than being a basic welded on plate that is left to “flap in the breeze” like on a conventional fork. This design, combined with a 10mm thickness, makes bent dropouts a thing of the past. The hollow dropouts are not only dramatically stronger, they’re lighter too.

While weighing in at less than most “racing specific” chromoly forks, the Director Fork is intended for use with every style of riding.

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I’ll post availability info and details on things like the Vandero 2 wheel and the Director Fork tomorrow.

I will also include an update on where we’re at with the infamous G-Sport Plegs. As you can see from this quick shot, part of our durability research has involved a long-term Labrador puppy chew test. (Lab pups are chewing machines.)

Here’s the first post about the products in our latest shipment. I’ll put more info up next week on things like the Vandero 2 wheels, Director Forks, etc…

JIM CIELENCKI TRAILMIX PEDAL

– Same shape, materials and spindles as the original JC pedal.
– Slimmed-down bridge sections and longer gripping pins.
– Knurl-free contact surface to prevent dirt from getting clogged.
– 19.8* ounces (looseball aluminum – pair).
– All new 17mm wrench-flat spindle ends (with 6mm allen key slots).
– Black, Gold, High-Polished, Limited.
– Looseball or Sealed.
– Replacement pins included.
– Aluminum now. Magnesium later.
– Organtic, not organic.

Made at the request of riders like Taj, and some of JC’s other friends, the Trailmix is a lighter-weight version of the original pedal (still in production) that leans more toward trail riding with it’s longer pins, slimmer bridges, and knurl-free gripping surface. The pedals also feature our new 17mm hex-end spindle wrench flats that will accept the width of most adjustable wrenches – helping to simplify assembly when traveling (6mm allen key slot also included).

Our first delivery is looseball, black aluminum only. These should be at distributors and shops in roughly two weeks. Other colors and options will be available at a later date.

*The original JC looseball aluminum pedals are 24.8 ounces (for the pair).

JC recently built up a new rig, with some assorted new goodies.

Frame-Sunday Wave (creamsicle/orange)
Fork-Sunday Morning 2 (creamsicle)
Bars-Sunday Tudor uncut (creamsicle)
Headset-FSA
Stem-Odyssey Elementary with 2 1mm spacers
Front Wheel-Odyssey M-7
Tire-Path Plyte 2.1
Pegs-GSport Plegs
Brake Lever-Odyssey Monolever Trigger
Cable-Black Odyssey Linear
Brake-Odyssey Evolver 2
Seat-Odyssey Mike Aitken
Post-Odyssey Intac
Clamp-Odyssey Mr Clampy
Grips-ODI Longnecks
Bar ends-Odyssey Parends
Rear Wheel-GSport Ribcage rim with red Odyssey cassette hub 36h.
Driver-Blackout 9 tooth
Rear Tire-Path Plyte 1.95
Cranks-Odyssey Wombolts 175mm
Pedals-Polished JC Trailmix
Sprocket-25 tooth Million Dollar Sprocket with only one side
Chain-KMC Dropbuster
Kickstand-Arizona Grapeade
Camera-Panasonic DMC-FX07

Modifications-No cutting of the bars, cut seat post, cut left side
axle down well into the nut. Bike modifications are really a thing
of the past for me, Odyssey did all the parts changes that I
requested a long time ago, so I don’t have too many modifications to do.

I’ll post a lot of news on the contents of our latest shipment by the end of this week.

Thanks for being patient with us.

Limited Maroon Jimmy Levan grips available now.

Contact your local shop or mailorder for more info.

There was a rail jam that went down at the Rebel Jam.

Aaron Ross rode and did this Feeble to 180.

Hot sauce!

Thanks to Will Stroud for the clip.

While Jimmy Levan, Gary Young, Adam Banton, Matt Beringer and KC Badger were in town filming for the next video, some of the others were in Berlin for the Rebel Jam, sort of.

Jim Cielencki was on his way there, but “the plane left without him”. JC still went over, as there were plans to film for our video after the contest anyway.

Taj was over as well, but ran into a little snag while filming at a skatepark doing an alley-oop wall tap foot plant across a wallride over a hip. He cut up his shin and had to chill. See picture above.

Aaron Ross is in Berlin as well filming. And debate is still up as to whether he actually won or not.

Mike Aitken and Chase Hawk were on a Fit Bikes trip from LA to San Fran last week. I’m sure they kicked ass.

New blue Matt Beringer grips available now. No Mercy!

When we started doing the full limited color kits late last year, we knew it wouldn’t take long for it to take on a life of its own. With Aaron Ross running the full Fluorescent yellow kit for a while, its no surprise that a full one color bike kit is becoming popular, especially with wild colors.

Our plan to only offer black as a stock color, and do Limited color kits has worked pretty well, but sometimes shops/riders can be confused on whats available, especially if you are not on all over the net everyday. Every once in a while I will get asked when a certain color will be out, even though it’s been out for a few months.

Pictured above is just a sample of the colors that are availabe in kits now (as long as they aren’t sold out).

Colors:

Fluorescent Yellow
Guacamole Green
Teal
Lavender

Parts in each kit include forks, bars, cranks, powdercoated rims, grips and sometimes pedals and linear cables.

Contact your local shop or mailorder for availability.