25Seven

Collaborative: Basic Research

In my experience, research is not a particularly fun job for most people.  Oddly, I really enjoy research of all kinds.

For most, the product design stage is a lot more fun, even the testing phase can be a lot of fun—particularly if the test involves test riding.  But, basic research is often a bit of snooze for “kids these days”—this MTV generation loves to get to the end point as fast as possible:  destination is all; the journey is a bit like bad wrapping paper. 

It’s true that research takes a lot of time and can be frustrating; there’s no simple, clear, and universally correct way to do fundamental research.  Often the way forward is a series of dead-ends and mistakes; and, more often than not, the results of research do not lead to a new product or process.

Fortunately, a lot of learning goes on during the mistakes and missteps.  In fact, isn’t that how most learning occurs?  At least, that’s what I tell myself when I’m making my moment by moment mistakes.

Seven Cycles Collaborative

During the past couple months, 25Seven has been fairly quiet, to say the least.  I have lots of reasons—as always.  Fortunately, the primary reason for this radio silence is a positive one; recently I’ve been focused on another blog.  That blog just went live a couple days ago—although I’ve been posting there since September.  The blog is called the Seven Cycles Collaborative. 

 

A few people have already been checking out the CoLab; we’ve received a lot of interest and enthusiasm about the Collaborative project, and some confusion about what we’re hoping to accomplish.

 

Outcome:  Product or Process?

 

As with so many projects on which I participate, the product is rarely the only important focus.  Often times, as is the case with the Seven Collaborative, the process is the point.  The product’s primary purpose is to bring focus to the process, and to get our employees excited about the process; tactile items are often more fun and engaging than process charts and boring conversations with me.  And as a great storyteller once said:   

 

“It is good to have an end to journey toward; but it is the journey that matters, in the end.”  - Ursula LeGuin

 

True that.

 

The Collaborative’s focus on the process as our primary measure of success has been confusing for some.  Spectator confusion is probably caused by a cursory glance at the CoLab blog, or from reading just one or two journal entries.  Unfortunately, it’s a bit difficult to get a complete picture of the Collaborative’s mission by a brief perusal because the project is large—probably too large, moving fast, and we’re making a couple posts a day recently—weekdays at least.  Because of all this, I think it’s easy to lose sight of the overall project purpose.  I’m here to try and explain:

 

Aldrich Museum: New Technology in Bike Design

Just a quick note that I’ll be speaking—along side Bob Parlee—at the Aldrich Museum on Sunday, November 15.

The museum writes:  “Join cutting-edge American bicycle designers Bob Parlee of Parlee Cycles and Rob Vandermark of Seven Cycles as Aldrich curator Mónica Ramírez-Montagut moderates a discussion on new technology in bike design, with an emphasis on frame materials such as carbon fiber and titanium.”

If you’re in town, I think it’s going to be an interesting session.  Bob is always worth talking with, and the Aldrich Museum’s current bike exhibit is really well designed.

About the exhibit: 

One Third of What You Want is Perfect

There’s an expression I learned early in my bike manufacturing days—probably in 1988:

“When you work with the Taiwanese you get one-third of what you asked for, one-third of what they think you asked for, and one-third of what they want to do.”

I first heard the words from Ron Andrews, back when he worked at Fat City Cycles.  At the time, I thought it was a humorous statement and that’s about all.  I had not worked with any Taiwanese companies yet, so my only reference point was the results I saw from companies that did source frames and parts from Taiwan.  And, it sure looked like Ron’s comment was true—sometimes the bikes seemed a bit off:  odd design choices, parts that had the appearance and feel of being designed by people that weren’t riders, durability issues, funky quality.

Well, now that I've done some work in Taiwan and China—mainly for other companies—I no longer find that comment humorous—although it still makes me smile.  I now find Ron’s statement to be true and fairly universal.  I’ve learned that the words hold a lot of wisdom.  In fact, his comment has been really helpful in my travels over the years—and not just in Asia.

First Frame Incorporating Carbon and Titanium

Someone asked me last week about my first experience integrating carbon fiber with titanium in a bicycle frame.  The person thought I was going to talk about Seven’s Odonata frame that we introduced in 1997.  While this was the first carbon frame that we developed at Seven Cycles, it was far from the first carbon frame on which I—and a few others at Seven—worked.  

Twenty Years Ago

My first work with carbon fiber was so long ago that I can't remember some of the dates and details.  It had to be in 1988 or early 1989; I am pretty sure that 2009 will be the 20th anniversary of the first time I got my hands dirty—and itchy—with carbon fiber and all its associated constituents required for frame building.  It was so long ago that I don't even have any photos of those first frames anymore.  

Wheelchair Design: Race Version

I notice, almost without exception, that when people find out I’ve done some wheelchair design work, there is a disproportionate interest in hearing about it.  In some ways I can understand bike people’s interest in wheelchairs.  There are many similarities between bikes and wheelchairs:  mobility, freedom, self locomotion, and the augmentation of physical capability, to name a few. 

Back in the early ‘90s I spent more than 2-years working fulltime—and then some—on two wheelchair projects for Merlin Metalworks in partnership with Halls Wheels.  The reason I am posting about it here is twofold:

First:  these two projects had a significant impact on my interest in bike fit and bike performance design—and therefore in many ways it has affected Seven Cycles’ design philosophies.