Santa Cruz Bicycles

How often do you get the chance to pick up a frame or bike from the company that makes it? My guess is, not often, if ever. Today I took the day off to do just that. My wife and I drove (in some nasty weather) from Grass Valley to Santa Cruz to pick up my new Blur LT carbon frame.

This post is not about the frame, however. It is about the experience of visiting Santa Cruz, the company. If you don't know, Santa Cruz Bicycles is located off of Bronson Street in Santa Cruz, California. They occupy several warehouses where they manufacture, design, and store their many types of frames. The front office is plastered with memorabilia...Syndicate junior team jersey, Steve Peat World Cup Jersey, Decline front cover with Steve Peat (I think) on his DH bike, and a poster of the original Tazmon...takin' me back!

Soon, Juliana Furtado (who handles sponsorship) showed us to her office. If you don't know, she is one of most dominant mountain bike racers of all time (and mountain bike hall of famer), with several world championships and national championships to her credit if memory serves me. What an honor for me. After taking care of some business, I got to talk to Mike Ferrentino, a buddy of mine who wrote for Bike magazine and spent a lot of time in Downieville riding his single-speed and I think just promoting the mountain bike lifestyle there...an all-around great guy. We caught up a bit, and I met Scott, who shares the office with Mike.

After having experience with bikes, bike shops, and multiple bike companies, I think I can sum up my impression of Santa Cruz bicycles in two words...passionate and focused. I could put in a bunch of fluff about how nice they are...they are. But that is not what keeps a bike company in business. Being passionate about the design of a frame and about mountain biking itself is key. That is great...but if the company can't stay focused on that, they've got problems. Sure, there is marketing, and manufacturing, and design...the list goes on (that is also where being focused helps). But, this company has something that I don't see all that often...they have small company feel (passionate) with a larger company's volume.

I was impressed and proud...impressed with how Rob Roskopp has surrounded himself with such great people, and proud that I get to represent such a company.

Cheers!

Chuck