Indelible memories being created by Vanderkitten racer Starla Teddergreen while racing in El Salvador last week.  Photo: Mertinore Art 

As many are aware PSIMET Wheels was given the opportunity to sponsor Vanderkitten Racing this season.  Some of you in the know might find that to be a funny statement.  It doesn’t usually seem like one would call putting in a ton of work and putting a large amount of financial capital out there “for free” an ‘opportunity’.  Well, I think that may be what makes me a little different.

I decided a while back that I would need to sponsor more and more teams as the company grows.  I pride myself as being the “racer’s choice” which requires that I have to put up.  It’s just the norm in the industry.  As with anything I do in life I tend to want to buck the status quo, f the paradigm so to speak. After all you never win by doing what everyone else already does. Ever.  So with regards to sponsorship I saw an opportunity to embrace that tendency in myself – by supporting women and women’s teams.

The reasons are many.  I find I describe it to people in different ways.  One of my favorites is, “Take a Cat 3 male racer.  They want the world and expect it.  You give them a bike, wheels, kit, entries, and at the end of the year you’re left wondering what if anything that investment achieved.  Not only that in reality the racer walks away fine with it as though they somehow deserved all of that because they have done well in some Cat 4 races in order to upgrade.”

“Now take a high end elite woman racer.  Give her 5 minutes of your time to fix a problem with her bike before a race and she’s honestly thankful.  Truly appreciates the effort and usually wants to strangely apologize for ‘putting you out’.  If I get the opportunity to give them some wheels It does something.  They do a great job as spokespeople for the brand.  They are willing to listen and learn about product and offerings.  They ask if there is anything more they can do….and they say thanks.”

These aren’t the only reasons.  I personally find the racing more exciting at times.  It seems like the races are more like what I enjoyed about the “old” men’s races – anyone at any time can actually have a really good or a really bad day.  Anymore it just seems like the same guys always have really good days and the ones that have bad days just pack it in after a few laps knowing they’re done for the day.

By the time a men’s team reaches a high or elite level they usually have deals worked out with large OEMs.  ”Hi, I have noticed you guys on Joe’s Body Shop Racing have really been killing it here in Nowheresville middle America’s weekly crit series. I’d love to get you on some of my product.  You guys have an opening for a wheel sponsor?” “Gee, uh, thanks but we already penned a deal with ‘Speedy’ Wheels 6 years ago in the blood of our firstborn. Besides, I think I’ve heard of you, but…their rep said they’re the best so….”

Meanwhile on the women’s pro front you can practically walk up to the tops of the sport as they hang out after the race, just blending into the crowd and have a totally different conversation.

“Would it be possible to get you on my wheels?”

“Uh…I mean, YEAH, uh, I’d LOVE to, but….what do I have to pay?  What’s the catch?”

“I’m sorry – didn’t you just win the last 3 races I saw you in?”

“Yeah.  I kind of had a deal with company X last year and was kind of talking to company S.  They seemed like they wanted to do something but I haven’t heard for sure.  Starting to think it might not happen.”

“I’m sorry – didn’t you just win the last 3 races I saw you in? Didn’t you just give a long interview on the podium?  Didn’t those kids just come up to you and ask for your autograph?”

“What’s your point?”

*FACEPALM*

Like I said there are a ton of reasons I do it.   In short an opportunity came up to sponsor Vanderkitten.  On the surface for some it would be an opportunity to support a team that races at an elite level here in the US.  For me it just seemed like more.  It’s an opportunity to support a women’s team that is headed up by a brand that, simply put in their own words, feels that racing women kick ass. After some small discussions it became apparent that this is what I wanted to do.  One of those jump moments.  Thank God I’m not an account making decisions based off of some tireless analysis of risk, but rather a real businessman who still knows how to take a chance based on their gut.

The timing is never right.  The money is never really just sitting there waiting to be used on projects like this.  We all know I’m a small company.  We all know that sometimes I’m twisting a spoke wrench while bouncing a baby bouncy seat with my foot, or feeding with a bottle while on a conference call.  That’s where we seem to be in this country right now.

Just when you’re staring at a pile of work, bills, materials, project, etc you get a picture like the one I posted above.  Starla Teddergreen interacting with some locals/kids who came out to watch this whole strange little bike race thing that was running through their town in El Savador.  Fully kitted up, exuding awesomeness, confidence, and humility with a giant smile….on top of a set of PSIMET wheels….I smile.

So….forget the details.  I can’t really explain it right I guess, but THIS is why I have and will continue to support women’s racing.  Thanks for reading.

The way the cycling world is today I figured I’d share a story from teammate and good friend Barron Gira. Enjoy.

“So I’m in a bar in East Moline, IL in late Fall 1989. I’m with guys, co-workers, non cyclists but definitely sports minded.

I look across the bar and see a cyclist, one i know. I double take, wipe off my beer goggles and confirm from afar that I am looking at THE Greg LeMond. The same Greg LeMond who 5 months earlier, with Scott Aero bars and a Giro “aero” helmet, reeled in Lauren Fignon on the final stage to win the TdF. I watched it live and then about 100 times on my massive VCR, taking in all the glory over and over.

So I say to my coworkers, “guys, you won’t believe it, there is Greg LeMond.” “Sure, it looks like him by he would likely be training or something, not hanging in Illionis farmland.” I know one thing…that is Greg Friggin LeMond.

So Greg starts walking toward us, going to the bathroom. As he brushes by me, i say “Greg” like I’ve know him for years. He snaps his head around, looks through his 3 pairs of beer goggles and without hesitation says, “my name is Jeff” and continues to the can. My buddies, who overhear this, start razzing me up and down and get me going. Now I know even more than ever that this is Greg F’n LeMond. So i say to my buddies, “how much if i prove it’s him?” They all get bold and pony up $1k between them. All beer talk, but I don’t care.

Here comes “Jeff” back from the bathroom and looking right at me. This time i stop him and whisper, “hey Greg, my buddies here don’t believe you are Greg LeMond, but i know you are. They put together some money if i prove it’s you.” He asks, “how much?” As quick as i tell him $1k, he is handing me his license. Minnesota drivers license, stamped clear as day, GREG LEMOND!

I raise his license over my head and my buddies, all over 6′ 3″, blow by me and swarm GL as if we were back in Paris in July after he reeled in poor old Fignon. Greg is loving the moment. I look over and his buddies are rushing us, clearly thinking Greg is getting beat up or something. They join in the conversation, asking how we could possibly know who he is. We ask what Greg is doing there and i am amazed when they say they are all buddies just going hunting. (i guess it defines who LeMond is/was that he goes hunting even after it almost ended his life 2 years prior)

I don’t think Greg or his buddies truly understood, 5 months after his victory, how much more well known he was than in June of the same year.

We talk a bit and i ask him to sign something for me ($1 bill in other post). After asking my name, he happily signs it and hands it back to me. Clearly my name got lost in translation (loud bar, beer goggles), but even funnier is that he signed it “Jeff.” He laughs and re-signs it as seen below. I have had this for the last 24 years and now this story seems very appropriate and even a bit more special.

As we head to the parking lot about an hour later, i look over and see Greg and his hunting buddies piling into a Chevy Nova (ala “Breaking Away”) with a bike rack on the roof. So fitting.”
-Barron Gira

“Jeff” signed Barron’s Dollar. So did Greg LeMond it seems.

Karrie Ozyuk at Indian Lakes

I moved to Chicago-land for the second time back in 2004.  Moving has always been a way of life for me ever since I was born.  After getting married in 2001 Mrs. P and I moved 5 times in 3 years.  Needless to say you kind of have to get used to establishing new routines.

Being the cycling techie/mechanic I have always been – when I got to Elgin I had to seek out new places to ride, new people to ride with, as well as my new favorite local shops.  Somewhere along that journey I stumbled into Village Pedaler in South Elgin.  Immediately I was greeted by a woman (an unfortunate rarity in the shop world) with full sleeves of tattoos, and a wicked passion for bikes.  Karrie Ozyuk.

Over the years I joined in with her no-drop ride she ran on Saturdays.  I worked with her on small projects and eventually started sourcing parts for wheel builds from her from time to time.  When it came time for PSIMET, LLC to start renting space from a local shop – Karrie is one of the first people I called.  At the time she was the shop manager, but during that meeting she let me know that she had plans to purchase the store and take all this on her own.

With the help of a great team behind her Karrie was able to make that dream of ownership come true by buying out the Crystal Lake store and beginning her adventure as the newly named “Lucky Brake Bicycles“.  From here Karrie has been a team member of PSIMET Racing, Provided sponsorship and support of the races we have put on, and been our go-to place for our race preferred Giant and Specialized equipment.

Karrie also became the first, and until recently the only, PSIMET Wheels Dealer.

Karrie, Dan and I at Cross Vegas 2011

I don’t know if it’s the fact that we are the same age and both fairly new to the small business owner gig, both have a passion for bikes, or what, but I have come to regard Karrie not only as a great friend in the industry, but a peer and confidant at the highest level.

Imagine how stoked I was to see that Robert Cawthorne had turned out a great film profiling Karrie and her team at Lucky Brake!

Lucky Brake Bicycle Video

Thanks again Karrie for everything!  Now….everyone reading – go to Crystal Lake and visit Lucky Brake!

Karrie and I at the Sinclair Party in Vegas 2011. Yes, Mrs P was the one taking the picture.

PSIMET had the largest month we have ever had this last August.  It’s a sign of things to come as well.  Net result is a pile of builds.  The turnaround is better than ever, but it’s easy to let go of the forest concept when tagging trees all day.

So a recent customer came to me through Lucky Brake Bicycles, one of my official PSIMET Wheel Dealers.  He introduced himself and essentially while coming up with the spec for his wheels he let me know that he was a professional videographer .  I have worked with a lot of great photographers before (Liz at Tipping Point Photography as an example, or even Wilke at Peloton Pix, Or Josh Dreyfus, Elizabeth Rangle, and Ali Engin) and some have even offered to do videos of the process here at PSIMET.  This is most likely why I was a little reluctant when Robert Cawthorne (Link) offered to come over and film when I got to building his wheels.

Let’s face it, I don’t have the nicest looking or best laid out shop – something that my days in lean manufacturing make me feel compelled to have.  Not to mention there’s not a lot of information that I feel like sharing with my competitors.  After a few assurances that he could work around all of that I figured, “what the heck.”

So when it came time to build his set I gave him a call.  In came the lights and equipment.  The lights were actually really nice.  No complaints from me when he asked if I could turn off my regular lights and just operate under his.  Nice, clear, white and bright.  I preceded with building and decal-ling his set of wheels.  Afterwards he said he was going to interview me.

“WTF am I going to say?” I thought.  This takes me back to all those times I have worked in industry and been on the spot to do the short quick story that tells the tale of the business – commonly referred to by working stiffs as the “Elevator speech”.

Here’s your motivation: You’re stuck in an elevator with the big wig from company X and he is on the fence about whether to do big business with your company.  You have only a couple of minutes – nay, 30 seconds – convince him why your company is tops!  ”ACTION!”  Every time a consultant puked up this muck while I was working I simply locked up.  It was always easy to do an “elevator speech” to an operator or a room full of operators, but blowing unneeded smoke up an executive’s ass was never really my style.  Maybe I was just never really “selling” the right company or product at those times.

Well – guess I have to do an interview.

If any of you have read the interview they did in CX Magazine last year, or ever really got me going on something I WANT to talk about…..hold on to your seats and pull up a pillow and blanket – this could take a while and I’m going to ramble.  Too much?  Not Enough?  Too much self deprecating humor – are they going to ‘get’ it?  Did I just heckle myself?  Here we go I guess….

I don’t even remember the questions Robert asked.  I do remember he didn’t ask too many.  Maybe 2 or 3.  I ran through 18 minutes of recording time.  It dawned on me:  I can talk about PSIMET.  It’s the right product – it’s the right time.  I don’t “sell” PSIMET….I tell people about it and people seem to get it.  Granted I would rather give a “bike ride speech” rather than an elevator speech any day, but I find it’s actually easy to talk about something that really does have value.  At least I think it does.

So this morning a couple of pictures from yesterday pop up.  Next thing I know I see a link to the video.  Wow. Link to video on Vimeo

“You made me sound almost intelligent.”

“I had no idea what it was going to be until I watched the footage last night, you’re very passionate about what you do and I think we captured some of that” – Robert Cawthorne

Awesome.  I am speechless…..well – except for this blog post.  I truly can appreciate what another professional with a good eye, talent, the right equipment can do.

Thanks again Robert and if anyone has any video needs – especially if you’re getting married – check out his site: http://weddingfilmsbyrobert.com/weddingfilms/home.html

Most of the crew from the 4′s relay teams. Can’t wipe those smiles off even if you tried. – Alternate Title: Barron and the 6 munchkins L:R= Rob Haffey, Cory Brown, Ryan Handley, PSIMET, Jeff Sheppard, Barron Gira, Stephen Hardman

Yesterday I decided to go play bikes in the rain.  It was fun.  A lot of fun.  Something I haven’t had a ton of on the bike in a few cross seasons.  Don’t get me wrong – I LOVE cross, but the last few years I have loved everything EXCEPT actually riding the bike in a race.  I alluded to it here on this blog a couple of years back.  Just seemed like it had turned into the grind.

There’s so much time that goes into prep for cyclocross.  Just think about how much time you spent putting everything into the car or packing it up into a bag – just for 1 event.  Now….be me.  The whole week leading up to an event I get a ton of, “hey can you throw in those skewers we talked about – I can pick them up from you at the race.”, and “I got a set of gloves from so-and-so.  He lives near you and was planning on stopping by Wednesday because he says you need to glue his tires, he’s going to give you the gloves – can you bring them.”

This process essentially turns me into a giant delivery van, means that my mind is constantly elsewhere (worrying about what I forgot to bring), and generally robs me of my chance to enjoy the race itself – as I can’t concentrate on any one of the 200 conversations I tend to have on race day.

This then usually culminates in me ending up standing at the line without even realizing that I am about to bring myself to the edge of vomiting within seconds.  Needless to say that first push from cold to really going/warmed up is a torturous process.  I imagine it would be similar to having a finger or toenail slowly pulled from your body.  It often means that by 2 long straights into the race I am already considering throwing in the towel, and I am looking for someone along the sidelines that will indulge my stopping and talking to them during the race.  You’ve seen it happen.  Now you know why it happens.

Well….I have done a fair bit of riding in the weeks leading up to this relay cross race.  I knew it was time to get on the bike and try to get semi-serious about having at least a few miles in me.  This last week was worthless, but the weeks leading up to it were 5-12 hour weeks on the bike.  That’s roughly triple what I am normally able to do.  Pathetic for sure, but amazing for me.

So as I sat in the pits waiting for Barron to come flying in with that thousand yard stare in his eyes – I wondered whether or not this last week of gluing sessions lasting until 4am were going to spoil everything that led up to it.  The knots in my stomach, that nervous churning of gel and water, that slight need to run to the restroom, riders flying into the pits, heckling coming from the barriers….oh, sh**….here he comes….

GOGOGOGOGOGOGOGO, shift, shift, shift.  By the end of that first straight my heart was beating in my ears and the pain was starting to scream.  A lot of non-cyclists might think the pain is muscle type of pain – it’s not.  It’s the pain that comes from kick-starting your cardio system.  It’s the pain of all of your blood vessels trying to dilate and handle the pressure and volume shift that you’re forcing it into.  Sometimes it’s like forcing a square peg into a round hole.  Other times it’s like a nice clearing cough or sneeze that leaves you feeling clear, clean and open.

By the time I got to the lake the first time I was ready to quit for sure.  I was pissed.  Same feeling that I always get when racing when so far out of shape.  ”Why do you think you can just come out here and do this!  You need to lose 50 lbs! Sure you have excuses but so does everyone.”  pain cave open.  I’m deep inside it without a light when I hit the finishing straight.  Only thing I can think of is getting off of my bike as soon as I possibly can.  Luckily it looks like Barron is ready to go again.

That feeling you get after a cross race – that, “OMFG, my lungs are going to explode! Why does it hurt more now that I’ve stopped! DON’T TALK TO ME” feeling….yeah – I had it.  A couple of minutes of chilling out and that smoothness came over me.  I was ready to go again.  It’s like everything shifted into high gear.  What followed was another two laps where I felt more and more in the groove as I went.  It was glorious.  The tires were hooking up and I was throwing the bike where I wanted it to go.  Lines were getting better and better and I was able to start switching off thought – instead going into that glorious space of no thought and only fluidity.

To say I was having fun would be an understatement.  If I look at the pictures I can tell it was raining.  I couldn’t tell at the time though.  :)  I love racing in rain like that.

I was very happy.  Still am.  Hell, I’m writing a blog entry and the morning after the race as well.  That hasn’t happened in a long time.

Most of our Coed Crews. L:R= Jeff, Rob H, Ryan H, Karrie Ozyuk, Alan Stoughton, Me, Cory B, and Kaitlyn Bowden – her first cross race ever and first time riding her bike off of pavement. Notice the smile!

What was better was then being able to race the co-ed relay as well.  Sue was my partner (whom I talked into running and riding the first leg – THANKS SUE!).  I got to finish out behind Loren – sporting the skin colored boy shorts…..yeah…thanks for that Loren.  I was actually looking to go again.

I am psyched.  I am pumped.  I love cross and I can’t believe we’re back on it again.  It’s going to be a hella-long season for sure….but….I am going to LOVE it.  See you out there.  I’ll be the fat guy talking to someone with a big grin on my face.  Have fun locked in your office today.

Timing has never been my strong suit.  Just ask Mrs. P.  I don’t have a “real” job, am making a run at the “wheel thing” full time, and she’s about 5 months pregnant.

I never said I was a smart man either.

Passionate – yes.

Anyway, I shouldn’t have been surprised when I sunk 1/2 a year and tons of goodwill with investors coming up with my 38W cross wheel project only to finally place the order for the hubs from White Industries and find out that I was “in between” timing wise. “Do you want to wait for the new one?”

“New one?”  *internal voice-”PLEASE DON’T BE A BIG CHANGE”*

Turns out the queen of White Industries – Lynette was referring to a new freehub design to work with the new Shimano 11 spd setup.  Once and for all answering my question I had been asking a ton of suppliers with no good response – the freehub IS different for 11.  Not in spline arrangement, but for depth.  Think….uh….Campy like.  Millions of Shimanophiles just cringed.  I promise I will go say 10 “Our Ultegra”s at the temple “Our lady of Dura Ace” for even saying the “c” word.

Deeper is better.  Right? <TWSS>  Yes.  I am 9.

Some back and forth emails with Lynette and a phone call or two and I believe I have most of the story.  Looks like the freehub was slightly altered.

The new T11 Shimano freehub (11spd) with spacer (8/9/10 spd) from White Industries on Left. The previous 8/9/10 Shimano H3 freehub on right.

As you can see the body is longer.  They also milled the splines on their always beautiful Ti material….because…they can and you don’t need that material.  This lowers the weight of the body.  They have accommodated this longer driver utilizing the same shell dimensions by simply employing the same endcaps that they currently use on the H3 Campy axle.  I know, I said the “c” word again.  Apologies.

I “kind of” chose to wait.  I have to wait on the rims so might as well nab the latest innovation on the hubs as well right?  I was rewarded with being “the first kid on the block” to have the new T11.  Enjoy:

Spline milling. They went on a diet. I think White Industries is trying to tell me something.

Here is the H3 version and the new T11 with the spacer installed. Exactly the same spacing for a Shimano 8/9/10 cassette

Now with the spacer removed - showing the room needed to make it "go to 11"

Weight of the T11 version

Weight of the H3

As you can see they were able to make this happen while not increasing the weight of the freehub driver at all.  In fact I have been told that the shell will drop a small amount of weight possibly.  While I still have H3 shells, I am eagerly awaiting the newest T11 shells.  I have quite a few packages from White that are somewhere between Petaluma and Elgin…..maybe….just maybe.

Now go wipe the drool off your chin.  You can get these if you buy my new 38W system.  Still twice the value at half the price. Purchase it online in my store:  Here. Did I mention that cyclocross season is here already?

Thanks.

No, really…thank you.

How do you say thanks?  Do you say thank you enough?  Probably not.  None of us really do.

Growing up I used to find that when I did say thank you I said it out of upbringing, or taught behavior.  When I started getting to the age of 12-13 I started noticing that adults around me said, “thank you” at what I thought seemed to be random moments.  There was this disconnect.  Had they witnessed something that I didn’t see?  Was the gesture that was given REALLY all that noteworthy?  Enough for a thank you?

It reeked of the same feeling that I got when riding at that age.  When others would say, “Good Morning!” instead of “On Your Left!” or even simply passing in silent dominance like a good roadie should, I would wonder why.  In fact I used to despise the behavior.  I was a weird kid, but I actually sort of saw it as a weakness.  Why did these adults care about these other random people?  What’s more, why did they feel the need to be cordial to them?  Especially when they didn’t do anything outright for them?

One day it just dawned on me.  Saying thank you, even for the smallest things, even for the things you didn’t ask for to begin with….well….that was actually a sign of intelligence.  A sign of civility.  A sign of maturity.  It’s that same feeling that kicks in when you eventually have a kid and you find yourself in the middle of public with said kid in the middle of a melt down.  That feeling that lets you look around at the other parents and share a moment…and then notice the 20-somethings with their noses up in disdain and laugh to yourself….”man…that used to be me.  What a sad existence.”

Saying thank you is really such an easy thing to do.  It takes a couple of seconds.  Some of the smartest people I have ever watched in the corporate world would let “thank you” roll off their tongues without a second thought.  It would have to be the most frequent phrase they would utter.  Yet there are a lot of people that believe that there needs to be some sort of exchange in order for a thank you to be “deserved”.  It’s weird but understandable in a kid sort of way.

So, OK…I do a lot of things for people.  I used to be a very vain person.  I used to be very shallow.  I feel like I have some sort of need to make up for it now.  Call it Karma if you’d like.  Maybe it came about as a result of becoming a father.  Maybe it happened because I just felt like I had absorbed all of my cosmic allowance for selfishness.  I don’t know why I do it but I do.  I do things for people.  I feel like if I can then I should.

Some people say thanks.  I don’t really expect it every time.  I know how life gets and simply think – if the person thinks about it hard enough they’ll probably go – “oh…hey, yeah…uh…thanks!” Some say thanks in different ways.  It’s AWESOME!  I actually think that experiencing all of those thanks  in different ways makes everything worth it.

I have done shop work for people going back to the mid to late 80′s.  I remember wrenching on Wes Summerville’s 70′s Peugeot with dried out and hard Brooks saddle.  For the last few years it seems like the tradition has been for people to bring in beer in exchange for work or service.  It’s a way of saying thanks.  Last fall my fridge in my workshop died.  Beer didn’t seem to make much sense then.  The baked goods started coming in.  An apple pie from Tamara. Cupcakes and then brownies from Kim.

Ryan showed up at my doorstep a week ago with a new fridge.  Literally.  For my workshop.  Ryan is one of the most decent human beings I have ever known, so I shouldn’t have been surprised, but honestly I was floored.

You don’t have to know me very well to understand that all I really need is to be “needed” – to be a part of something. The thank you seems to be enough.  At times it’s even embarrassing to receive it. – that’s all the more reason to unleash them.  How hard is it really?  To say thank you?  Maybe you should say it right now.  Maybe to the person right next to you.  Not for any real reason….not because they have done something that “deserves” it.  Seriously….just say thanks and see what happens…

Rain is coming down and all anyone can think about is why it isn’t snow.  It’s that time of year again.  Cross is drawing to a close, and trainers and computrainers are having the dust knocked off of them.  I have a hard time calling any time of the year a real “off season” anymore, but if I was to I would say we are about to head into it.

Being inside more, and having less light during the day seems to bring out a bit of strange behavior among bike nerds and roadies.  Some switch to important things like their jobs and families.  Almost as though they are trying to apologize or make up for the long year of sacrifices made in the name of training and competition.  Some start debates on the internet.  Others indulge in the sweet guilty pleasure of designing and discussing plans for next season.

Personally I have always had a form of ADD.  Call it “multi-tasking” if you like, but in general I find I have to be working on a very large number of projects all at the same time and I find I have to switch streams constantly.  It makes for great conversations as many on my team can attest to.  Simply come on over and plop your butt into a seat across from my truing stands, start prepping some spokes and you’ll find that the longer you are there the more you’ll learn about my ideas or plans.  Sometimes it’s almost like I am brainstorming out loud….with an audience.  It is cathartic to have diarrhea of the mouth sometimes. What I truly love though is when I get the chance to make a great announcement about an idea or project I have been working on for a while.

This is one I am proud to announce.  There isn’t a long interesting background on this one.  There isn’t some long term plan for world domination either.  This was simply chance favoring the prepared mind.  The opportunities presented themselves and we ran with it.  The end result is nothing short of phenomenal.

I would like to announce the addition of the following racers to the PSIMET Racing family:

Jeannie Kuhajek

Leah Sanda

Katie Isermann

Kelli Richter

Kim Gialdini

Sue Semaszczuk

Combined – these racers produced 60 podium placings in the US alone during 2011.  Jeannie has also won a myriad of events in New Zealand where she spends most of the year.

I am excited to see what the 2012 racing season will have in store for us.

The Smott Family. His (much) better half.

One of the main members of the “Sausage Cross” family is Rich Smott.  Rich currently works, in part, for Pactimo and is racing for Alberto’s.  Rich has been a part of the local scene for a Looooooooooooong time.

Q. Rich, let me start this off a little differently than other interviews do. This is more local community and industry related so I feel like I should touch base with everyone first and talk about my first recollections of meeting each other.

I believe we met during Campton Cross last year. You mentioned something about Tim Speciale winning a custom kit during the Golf Farm race. After that I think the next time we talked (in person) was at Glencoe this year when you were putting on my timing chip. You?

A. Indeed that was it. I spoke briefly to Tim after he won the Prime, but i needed to get a hold of him to get the art process started. It was nice to follow you online and of course to see you at Glencoe

Q. How many years have you been in the industry?

A. This one is tricky – as i wouldn’t truly consider myself to be IN the INDUSTRY. I have raced for 25 years since i was 13 years old. I wrenched at the old Hillside Cyclery shop for several years as a kid, and learned a BUNCH about the ins and outs of a shop.

Clan of the pink skinsuit. Indian Lakes 2010. Who is that super cool guy in the brown parka and black hat?

Q. What companies have you worked for since coming over to the industry?

A. Just Pactimo. The fact of the matter is I rep for them as a part time gig. I met Karl Heidgen several years ago and have helped him out a few times on various projects. He would call me every 8 months or so and see if i was ready to jump on board, and when we had our third child my wife was only working part time, and i was riding almost 0. I thought it would be a good way to stay connected to cycling and be able to use the extensive network of people i have met over the years.

Q. What do you like most about working for a Company like Pactimo?

A. I think that everyone that is IN the industry, and even anyone that has ever sold anything, would agree that the company has to be behind the product it sells, or it doesnt matter if its the coolest gizmo around, no one will want it after they get bait and switched or when the actual delivery time runs double the quote. I like Pactimo because they put the customer first. They stand behind their products.

I have seen us write clothing credits for anything from logo’s that were wrong (even if the team approved the art), to occasionally missing promise dates. We are serious about building long term RELATIONSHIPS, by making sure we always have happy customers. I also like that we have several things that changed the clothing game. We were the first company to do online ordering and team stores. We were the first company to direct ship to various team members as well.

There are a lot of people i meet that say ‘ I had some Pactimo gear about 4 years ago, it was ok”; and they were right, we are constantly learning, evolving, and improving. The gear we had 4 years ago was decent, but now we offer 3 different lines to accommodate a variety of needs.

Q. What’s the least glamorous part of your job?

A. 2 parts – Sizing Discrepancies and quality issues – both give us a chance to show our focus on customer service. Like the rest of us, we are all human. We will take ownership of any quality issues. Again, i have seen free replacements, future credits, pretty much anything that the customer and i agree on.

They like it when we own mistakes if they happen. The other part is sizing. Our clothing fits a little different from other companies, and we encourage teams to take advantage of our free sizing kits and encourage try on days to make sure everyone has the best fit. I generally try to make it to those try on dates to be available to answer questions.

Q. What is, in your opinion, something that you don’t think many riders understand or see about the working side of the cycling industry that they might be interested in knowing?

A. It’s not a lot of glamor and freebies. I think the riders get more free stuff than the reps do. Its a lot of work, a touch of fun, but at the end of the day, its nice to hang out with people that have the same passion I do (Rob: “Amen”).

Q. What do you feel is the biggest challenge facing the industry right now? What would you like to see changed in order to help the industry grow?

A. Thats a great question. I can honestly say that i dont feel that I am enough of an Industry guy to give a valid answer. I think that some of the women’s specific programs and junior programs need to be supported, as thats whats going to keep the industry moving forward.

Q. Time to work – what do you want everyone to know about Pactimo and/or their offerings right now?

A. We are serious about relationships. We have an ordering process that has revolutionized the clothing process. We have options for every kind of club or team out there, and with 5 piece minimums across the board, we can serve groups from 2 to 200.

Q. What do you think the future holds for Pactimo and customers of Pactimo?

A. continued partnerships that lead to continued product development and bringing the very best in garments to the hands of the end user !

Q. Sometimes racers like us can be a lot like baseball fans in that we always feel like saying, “there’s always next season.” – What keeps you wanting to race week in and week out?

A. I WISH i could race week in and week out, but baby number 4 has slowed me down.. ok has brought me to a standstill! when i was racing full calenders, it was the people and friendships that were the biggest pull to do a 75-85 race calendar. I have been in the ‘there is always next season’ mode for several years now, but it seems like i have never missed a beat when i do pin on a number and see my old and new friends out there on the courses.

Q. Why cyclocross? What do you think makes cyclocross so popular right now?

A. Without a doubt – the fan frenzy! its the ultimate in family / friends / and spectator participation. Its all in good fun. Warming up for crits – there is always the ONE guy or girl that gives you the stink eye.. at the cross races – its serious on the course, but even when im getting lapped the fast guys are cheering me on.

Q. Favorite beverage?

A. pepsi – its a huge vice, and i need to cut down the sugar!

Q. Favorite hand-up? (To give or receive)

A. Cold hard cash baby!!!

Q. If you were to be made into a part on a bike – which would it be and why?

A. Tough one.. id say the 11 tooth cog, because this one…. goes to 11! I used to be a decent sprinter, and nothing feels better than unleashing the 11 in a field sprint.

Q. What’s your goal for Sausage Cross?

A. I wish it could be to be a good competitor, but ive only made 3 races. i WILL say, the prize is looking GOOD! thanx Rob for the chance to share my views and for the idea behind Sausage Cross

So stop by and see Rich at the next race you can. Offer him a Pepsi and a dollar bill and see what he’d be willing to do for it!