Specialised Bicycles has its headquarters in Morgan Hill and has a pleasant museum on-site. My Tuesday driving group had visited it earlier than in spring 2020, proper earlier than the Covid pandemic took off. We went once more final Tuesday, and this time our information was Robert Egger, who has been their artistic director for years. He designs their idea bikes, a number of that are within the museum, and in addition guides future instructions of the product strains. He’s additionally an excellent and humorous man and an ideal storyteller.
It was enjoyable to listen to him inform the story of how Mike Sinyard, the CEO, based Specialised Bicycle Imports, which grew into the present firm. I advised that story right here, however we obtained some new tidbits from Robert.
The subsequent enjoyable anecdote was how Robert obtained concerned with the corporate. He had graduated with a level in industrial design, and was working for a motorbike vendor in Los Gatos within the early 80s. A buyer got here in that Robert didn’t acknowledge and was asking questions on a number of merchandise made by Specialised. Robert would say the Specialised product was fairly good, however right here is why a rivals mannequin was higher (their bike baggage are a made slightly sturdier, or their water bottles have a extra wide-mouthed opening so it’s simple to place ice in them). When he later came upon that this was Mike Sinyard, he thought he would get fired if Mike complained to the proprietor of the shop. As a substitute, Mike known as him up and organized to have him come right down to Morgan Hill for a go to. He employed Robert on the spot, and gave him his first assignment- to supervise bettering all of the elements Robert had thought weren’t one of the best.
Our Group is standing in entrance of the bike trailer Mike Sinyard used to ship imported Italian bike elements within the early days
There a a number of shows of bikes ridden by Specialised-sponsored riders to win well-known races. These are bikes ridden by Peter Sagan in successful the World Championship street race 3 times
Robert (proper) is explaining concerning the big cowbell he made to cheer on Specialised riders at races. It takes two folks to raise and ring, however sadly makes a slightly discordant sound so was not a hit.Roberts idea of an electric-assist recumbent trike, full with roll-cageThe bike Robert designed and made for Jason Momoa. Jason visited Specialised a few years in the past and hung out with Robert, who describes him as a super-nice man. Jason talked about what he thought can be cool in a motorbike and so they got here up with a prototype for this one. Robert made two of them, giving one to Jason and protecting one for the museum. Jason is 6’4″ (1.93 m) tall. Robert insisted the bike accommodates a spread of heights, so obtained our shortest rider 5’0″ (1.52 m) to strive it .Idea For a Cowboy Bike. With a a six-shooter holster on the handlebars, Robert says he has much less hassle with automobiles when driving this
Robert exhibiting find out how to trip the fireplace pole Specialised has for workers to get shortly to the first flooring. I attempted it out, slightly scary however enjoyable.
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I’m a Mechanical Engineer born in 1953, Ph. D, Stanford, 1980. I’ve been energetic within the mechanical CAE subject for many years. I even have a lifelong curiosity in outside actions and health. I’ve had each hips changed and a coronary heart valve substitute as a result of a genetic situation. This weblog chronicles my adventures in staying energetic regardless of these bumps within the street.
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