This is what a fully defined bicycle looks like on paper.
I was on a ride this weekend and a friend was introducing me and stumbled when describing what I do for a living. I realized that I need to improve the definition of what goes on at KGS Bikes. I figure if I heard this confusion once, it happens a lot behind my back!
KGS Bikes is a custom bicycle boutique. This means that while we can get any bicycle part, accessory, component or clothing, we focus on the things we do best. This is positional analysis to design a custom bicycle, the actual design of the complete bike from scratch, then assembling the bicycle to the specified dimensions to a very high level of detail. The third area of focus is technique consulting. We will fill in the gaps in knowledge about the art and science of riding a bicycle well.
Since I was an industrial designer for so long, I treat bicycle design as any of my industrial design projects. As such, I am a bicycle designer, as I fully define the bike for you plus specify every component and part. The frame is a component of the bike, but is not the bike. This is why I call our bicycles custom KGS machines as I look at the entire machine in addition to the parts.
The storefront in San Antonio is as much a support system for our internet presence as anything. The actual design work for a complete bike is done there as is position analysis, bicycle assembly and photography. Since we approach the design of a bicycle the same way we would a one-off aircraft component, the place is laid out more like an industrial design studio than a bike shop. Gathering the data to design a bike requires three things: you, me, and the setup and analysis equipment. This means that position analysis can be done anywhere with great success. We invite people to the San Antonio studio and can also work in satellite locations as is being done now in Austin and Dallas.
Bike fitters “fit” people to bikes. The main job of a bicycle fitter is to use a bicycle that already exists and find the best position for the rider on that particular bike. This means that the bike is the driving component as it has limited adjust-ability. Additionally, for bikes already in service, the choices made in purchasing that bike impact the effectiveness of the fit, I do our KGS Bikes consults at the Cooper Aerobics Center when in. I found that most of the people I worked with in Dallas had just purchased a bike and needed to be fitted to it. When gathering the data for a custom bike, we derived the information needed to optimize an existing bike, but without the constraints imposed by that bike, a better position was almost always possible.
The discovery centered around the observation that if I could get someone say, 85% of the way to a perfect position, the last 15% was what made the lasting difference. This frustration with the knowledge that I could not do my best for clients and friends because the bike was in the way formed the basis for KGS Bike’s focus on custom. I now tell people that I can find their position easily on their bike (and will gladly do so) but when I see how much better they can perform and enjoy a bicycle completely designed around them, I know what they need.
Of course the difference between need from my perspective and from others is usually quite different! I feel people are worth whatever the price is for a bicycle, even if they bought the “wrong” one recently. That is what eBay is for! What matters, though is what you believe. Most people see a bicycle as a toy, albeit a nice one. It doesn’t matter if the bike is perfect as long as it gets the job done. “The job”, could be basic transportation, riding around the neighborhood, a status symbol among peers, or any other thing imaginable.
This is why I refer so many friends to traditional bike shops. Just because they are not ready for a custom bike doesn’t mean they don’t need good service and support so I always work with bike shops that are a cut above and send easily 95% of the people I see to them.
The 5% that I do work with, however, get a real experience. They get the opportunity to own and ride a bike designed around them with the same expertise as the best riders in the world enjoy. It won’t be the same bike as (insert favorite star here) rides, but it will be as good for you as it is for them.
There is room on this earth for a lot of bike fitters and a few bike designers. Now that you know the difference, you have a better perspective of who you need on your team!
{ 4 comments… read them below or add one }
It feels like I also wanted to have my own set of bike and have a ride every weekends. It is good for my body and good for our environment.
Thank you so much for the nice comment!
Q2. In a recent private email, you said to me that sometimes power trumps aero. That would make an interesting blog article as well, especially in relation to long distance triathlon where aero and comfort can be the same, and very different things depending on the terrain and wind etc.
Mark, this is an awesome idea. It will probably take a few articles to get the job done right. Thank you so much for the suggestions.