27 Dec 2008

Well, it’s been a pretty crazy year this year, especially the last third which to date has been the busiest we’ve ever been, and to top it off, we’re currently selling more Thylacines to Australians than we are anyone else.  Is this the end of the famous Aussie ‘cultural cringe’?  Un-bloody-likely, but it sure is a refreshing change.  While it’s cool to correspond to people overseas and build bikes for them and receive pictures of their babies all built up and rolling, I have to confess it is slightly more satisfying to meet the people you’re making frames for.  Luckily though through the power of teh intarweb the gap between the two experiences is shrinking.  I could never have guessed in 2003 when I foolishly started this gig that we’d be selling frames everywhere from New York to LA, to Munich, Jamaica, Darwin and Hobart.  I could also never have guessed how much of a PITA freight companies would be, but that’s a whole other nightmare.

I’d like to start this post with some thank-yous.  The first would have to be to my wife for putting up with the endless bike-talk and finding me the time to do bikes for people in between nappy changes.  Secondly, to Brett and Erin our racing fools for flying the flag for another year and doing so well at it despite me not being able to give racing my full attention.  You guys are amazing and the feedback I’ve got has made me design better bikes, no question.

And finally, I have to thank everyone that came on board this year (and any year for that matter) that chose different, and chose Thylacine Cycles.  I hope you’re getting out there and having fun and I always welcome tales of your adventures - especially seeing as I’m largely house/office bound these days and live vicariously though others!  One of the great things about having a custom bike company that polarises opinion, is that the people that do jump on board the T-Train are completely down with what you’re doing, which means I get to design some really interesting custom bikes that are right up my alley.  That makes work fun, and that’s what it’s all about.

I should also thank our suppliers for their continued support of this crazy little company from the global black stump : Lon at Nova Cycles, Mark at Paragon, Melody at TST, Peter at Ceeway, Monika at HJ, and the crews at MRP and HBG for their support and great service.

Speaking of fun, what’s in store for 2009?

Well, for starters we have the new models.  On the MTB side, the Ether has replaced the Arete SL as our top-of-the-line steelie, and the Arete has become more rugged and ‘trailbikey’.  On the road side, we have the new Tephra XCR stainless and the carbon-titanium composite Tephra CTi - two totally unique and arguably the most advanced bike frames ever to be sold by an Australian custom frame company.  Not bad work for a handful of recalcitrant layabouts.

So how about new years’ predictions and what lies in store?

Well, as I always say “You have to have 20 backburners for every frontburner”, so there is no shortage of wacky things I’d like to try for 2009.

I’m becoming more and more obsessed with BMX and my desire to zoom around the inner city in a style befitting an inner city dweller could lead to some interesting projects in 2009.  “Hybrids” or “flat bar road bikes” and their ilk are lamer than lame so it’s time someone shook up that segment.  Maybe I’ll do something over the top and submit it to the beared and long-socked at Australian Cyclist or Bicycle Victoria?

I think doing a BMX could also be fun, except there’s absolutely no market for it so it might just be for my own edification.

I’m also looking into building some frames locally after not doing so for five years, but that’s all in the infant stages right now and something I’m going to spend most of next year developing.  If anything it will only be one specific model but we’ll see.  All depends on whether the expertise is there and how much sense it makes economically.

In terms of the not so well hidden full-suspension prototypes we’ve been bangin’ around, well that project is on the back burners again.  It’s a thing I’m very passionate about, but the barriers-to-entry are rather large and complex.  I’ll continue to work on it during 2009 so we’ll see where it goes.

When it comes to travel bikes, we’re equally as passionate.  On top of the ubiquitous S&S Couplers we can now offer Ritchey Breakaway couplers.  The Ritchey system offers a substantial savings over the complex and jewel-like S&S Couplers and make a lot of sense for those wanting a ‘demountable’ but not wanting to spend a premium for the privilege.

Well that’s about it for now.  I’m going to be a bit scarce over the next week, so I thought I better do a bloggy post to keep everyone informed and entertained while I’m busy not actually working.  I’m completely looking froward to 2009 and think desite that ‘economic crisis’ it’s going to be a bumper year.

Have a good one!

-Warwick

Posted by warwick @ 8:29 am

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