As most of the bicycle industry people, our product manager and main boss frequently visit Asia however this trip was rather special. Usually the trips mean running around factories, but this time the guys managed to squeeze in some downhill, enduro and street riding. They picked up the final pre-production Soda prototypes from the factory, built them up and with the help of our Taiwanese friends shuttled up and down on one of the local courses.
In the meantime they also were the first guys to see the freshly baked 2012 production parts that are being shipped around the world as we speak. Everything looks really sweet.
Check the photos from the trip!
Majesty and Suburban frames in Lemon & Lime, one of the new finishes for 2012, waiting for decals.
The frames reflected so much light they were almost hard to look at!
District bars under process. Check out the new range of NS components here.
You may not have noticed, but actually the 2012 black parts actually have a new surface finish... it's super matt and super smart!
Back in our Taiwan office - our product manager poses proudly with one of his babies. It's really a great feeling when all the things needed to make a good product finally come together. The whole process lasts so long that when all those cad drawings, testing prototypes, graphic designs come to life it's pure joy.
Here are some other frames, lined up in front of the office, ready for packing. The whole range of our 2012 NS frames can be viewed here.
New collection of Sam Pilgrim's The Legend signature grips. Lined up and waiting to be shipped.
Checking the new packaging of Sam's signature grips. We had to admit that Waldo did a great job with the whole concept, design and packing of this product. More info here.
Inspiration for our Sub Zero line. Now waiting to get sued!
New Octane One stems in raw... To get the best material characteristics they are forged before CNC work starts. Check out this sweet little stem here.
Soda frame parts, ready for welding. Exciting times for us...
Packed in the back of a van, ready to ride. Traditional Taiwanese always have the AC set to freeze. So you have to wear a jacked INSIDE, not outside of the car.
View from the top of the course of Taichung City - the heart of the world's bicycle industry.
Between runs. It's 5 pm, getting dark, very humid and very hot. But also very happy. Especially since it's freezing back in Poland.
Something special from the local cuisine - fried bees.
A relaxing Thai massage in the evening is a must when you work so hard.
Back in their 5 star hotel (all hotels in Taichung seem to be 5 star), checking some final details of the cable routing. The guys were flying home the next day so they stayed up in the lobby till 2 am. The staff was very surprised - usual they have business class guests, but here instead they watched two guys completely filthy in sweaty t-shirts working on their bikes all night.
