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The Vital MTB Crew
I tend to talk about bikes a lot...like the time at Rampage a couple years ago and Fairclough sent me a text "Come on fucker, I know you like talking about bikes a lot, but we're hungry".
We are underway with a whole new website as well, that will go live when the collections drop, hit the streets, etc...
She beat me by 7 seconds, she was on her Giant Reign (she's a LIV athlete, via her www.ichoosebikes.com business) and I was on my SICK ASS Santa Cruz V10c, Full SRAM build (#sramTLDracing)....but, I messed up a corner, got tired as hell....I was so pissed she beat me.
I got 5th in the masters class, definitely got the DH race bug again-lord knows I got the raddest bike i've ever owned.
My wife is so unreal on a bike, she's lucky, she just has the gift.
At least I made my start, Lopes missed his start time!
- For being such a salty old opinionated prick, you've seemed to make it pretty far in the bike industry. Do you turn the asshole switch off and kiss-ass when the meeting rooms are closed? Or do you throw all 140 lbs of foul mouthed fury around?
- Are you sick or dying, it seems unhealthy to be that skinny.
So...to answer that question-I do not know if it can ever be as big as the NORBA days. It was a bit of a perfect storm in the 90's. Tremendous growth in the economy, not as many distractions as there is now, not as many as disciplines of cycling as their is now, corporate america was very very interested in this new sport called 'mountain biking', they all wanted a piece of it, on and on.
That being said, it's safe to say, more mountain bikes are out there, more helmets sold, more trail shorts, more shoes, more gloves, tires, etc....more trails are open, bike parks, etc. But where has the 'race growth' gone?
I don't know man, these are big think tank questions, no defined answer, no one knows, but all I can say is, and I said this in a couple interviews lately, is that we have to get the 'band back together' the band being ALL disciplines at one race, the big festivals (Otter, Crankworx, Roc Dzur, etc) are the key to growth. When I read people shitting on an even like the Sea Otter, it pisses me off. Someone walks away with 1st place, and some brand walks away with some new customers-so why not be you?
Our network is vast, so in that I talk to a variety of people in the day, from dealers to distributors, to athletes to bike park managers and it seems like, if anything Enduro might have some growth problems due to land access. Sounds like in many regions land managers now look back at the DH races they did as 'easier' and more fruitful. But, we are all selling and developing products in that space, in that pocket, with or without enduro racing, because this is the stuff most of us ride in everyday. I know the bulk of my rides are on a 150mm bike, our A1 helmet, Ruckus shorts and a jersey....all mountain stuff bro! Enduro bro!
I agree there's something to having all disciplines at events. So much more interesting and highlights diversity more. I might be looking through rose colored Oakley's (Steve Giberson quote, I can't take credit for that gem) a bit, but the '90's events were so great when you had DH, XC, 4-cross all at the same place.
-My career...experience has finally paid off, I guess? I am brutally honest and loyal as an old dog, there are few that appreciate and admire that in any workplace. Troy Lee appreciates it, for now, until he gets sick of me ranting about making things better for his brand, constantly striving to be #1. There are so many leeches in this and every industry, that suck ass and bullshit their peers, lie, cheat and steal, I try to just be transparent and real. I try to walk in the shoes of another prickface I know that works at Specialized, who used to be at Giant...no idea why Specialized hired him though?
-I look like I have cancer, and AIDS. I got so jacked with hair genetics, my wife must be delusional. But it made watching Dallas Buyers Club real good, I felt like I was in the movie.
Ultimately, to quote a friend "I am an idiot, I don't even know how I have a job"...I always liked that quote and can relate.
lol
And where the F is Kidwoo? or Acadian?
Fail.
Also, crazy kudos to you for getting the jobs you've gotten in the industry. Do you think it was place/time? Being nice? Kissing ass? Or just pure bs'ing people?
Probably because we are 'moto inspired' brand? and the formula has worked for us in bike as of late. That being said, the 16' line has a LOT of toned down pieces on the logo driven vibe.
I love this comment though, I am old and have no desire to advertise also. When I came to TLD 5 years ago, I was always wearing black and grey, no logos, Tshirts, board shorts in black, etc....I owned some dakine trail stuff, with no logos, but then I got here and said "well, I'm gonna try some of the loud kits" and I haven't looked back. But we are listening for sure, making more less logo driven, our customers have gotten older-but I pushed hard for us to make grom trail kits and grom gravity kits, we finally came out with those last year and those always gotta be classic, loud TLD kits.
I read way too many apparel industry financials, and there is a trend to shy away from logo-driven garments, we have reacted and we are listening to you, you will like the 16' line.
I actually appreciate the colors and some of the crap you guys manage to pull off...gold lamé helmets???....because...as a photographer I loathe when people ride in all black. I get it but... Also, it's good to be able to see if someone's red lining you so that you can actually see where they are in the forest. And...for the Northwet it's good to have loud colors so you don't get shot by a redneck "hunting deer".
I think my reviews are on here though but your designers do a phenomenal job with fit, pockets and looks. Keep it up!
1. A consistent top 5 world cup or EWS rider that is not very personable, doesn't respond to social media questions from fans, and overall not very friendly
2. A top 30 rider with an occasional top 10 finish that shows up for local group rides sometimes, repeatedly answers the same questions about which wheel size is better on social media, is super approachable and everyone loves them?
I owe anything and everything to networking and hard work. Which started with my neighbor Charlie Litsky, he was the first 'cycling super agent' he represented Tomac, and anyone else who was fast. In the late 80's he introduced me to industry big wigs, the greatest athletes that I was a super fan of and more. In 1990, as I was racing I wanted to race the NORBA finals in Vermont, Charlie set me up to hook up with Tomac at the airport, use his rental car and room with him-Tomac was my f-ing hero, I was in awe haha. Stuff like that, getting to know people and busting ass.
I certainly never ever kissed ass, it's not in my make up, if anything i've just irritated or turned people off-I never stop working as well, its a problem, I need to get better at that, smell the roses a bit more.
Thanks for the kudos-much appreciated.
The beauty of Troy Lee, he takes risks...risk with color, risk with design. That is our DNA. And the dude loves mountain biking, he has gone through a rebirth if you will with bike, i've built him a few sick bikes and he rides them all at his place in Laguna. The whole "built for riders by riders" thing has never been more true than "Troy Lee Designs"....that dude just lives and breathes it.
I will tell Troy, he will be stoked on this, thanks man.
-Mike Estes, A dummy.
Thanks for sharing with us. I love these industry forums. It helps you get to know more about the industry. Even if I can't seem to wedge my way into this or skateboarding...I can live vicariously! On the webs! In a forum!
BUT, we as a brand, have the 'For the worlds fastest racers' in our brand moniker, GNARLY shoes to fill. That being said, someone like Brendan Fairclough is a remarkable partner to have with us (we just re-signed him for 3 years!! woot woot!). Brendan was that guy that everyone said was the next big thing, next guy to win world cups, then he got hurt, had his facial surgery, got on a new team, A LOT of changes that took some time to get used to and we stood by him all along because he is a dude with great style, is personable, engages with the fans, promotes our products and is there when we need him-he's a "peoples champion" if you will. Throw in the fact that now/again Brendog is only a couple of seconds away from WINNING WORLD CUPS and you have a super fast, incredibly talented athlete.
This sport is way too fucking small, to only be a race horse, only be a results rider. Unless you can get outside the box exposure, you had better engage with the fans, and draw in your sponsors to that engagement.
There is also another element that is crucial in these partnerships, if that athlete can contribute to product development, some athletes are total rubbish at it and think they are great, some are a true goldmine with working with design and engineering to make better products-we have all of that, something Troy is proud of, as am I.
Post a reply to: Forum Hot Seat - Craig Stikman Glaspell, International Marketing, Bicycle at Troy Lee Designs