Let’s talk product status. Communication with our customers is a top level priority as we navigate present circumstances. Read on to see where we are at as of 3/20 on various projects:
1. We’re still working. This week the office has been either completely remote or visited one by one per necessary tasks like mechanical work and shipping. We haven’t been ordered to do this by law, we’re just being careful. We are only accepting visitors by appointment.
2. We are small so we are agile. Customer service is easy to manage remotely if need be. Builds are already done by a single person and he can take his operation mobile if need be.
Rodeo labs frameset production is done in Taiwan which has handled the current challenges arguably better than any other country so here’s an update on our main products.
1. Flaanimal 5.0: on schedule still for late April / early May as stated on the pre order page. Scaling from prototypes to production had some unique challenges but we stepped up our game to meet them. We had planned on CNC machined sleeved head tubes for instance but we changed to multi axis laser cutting for volume production. Have you ever seen a multi axis laser precision cut a steel tube? It’s awesome. #humblebrag
3. TD3.1 is about 2 – 3 weeks delayed from initial mid march estimates and this is due to forks, not bigger issues. Once forks are ready frames and forks go to paint together and then 3.1 is done.
3. Spork 3.0. We are getting more emails and questions about this lately from retail customers, bike shops, and builders. We had planned to do small batches of forks so that we could prioritize and ship forks and bikes quicker but had to pivot and produce in one large batch at scale for the sake of production partner efficiency. Scale saves production costs and we had to cooperate with our partner on that. Making bikes is a business but it’s also about relationships. Spork 3.0 was due mid month but we think it will be end of month / first week of April before we receive the first batch of retail forks. All things considered that isn’t far off!
Could any of this change? Yes. The world is so unpredictable right now. Outside factors could affect us. But even if that happens we will troubleshoot and push forward in any way that we responsibility can. We’re committed to our customer and we are excited about what we are contributing to the world of bikes. We’ve added our global Covid 19 information to our Policies page for easy access. We will keep that page updated as necessary.
Questions? Fire away!
1 Comment
Thank you for the update regarding production status. I am in manufacturing and have first hand experience with the challenges your supply base is having let alone maintaining service to your Customer base. The occasional updates are nice to have if nothing more to know the Rodeo-Labs Team is staying healthy. I am looking forward to receiving my pre-order 5.0. Yes, I have seen multi-axis laser cutting and you have made an excellent choice for the production process; I imagine that it is quite fast given the relative thin wall tubing you are cutting.
Hopefully, logistics hold up. Ports of entry on the California coast could struggle with the current need to keep much of the population home for a period. Social distancing is proving to be the most effective means of slowing the virus until effective therapeutics can be developed. Looks like we will all have to learn patience. For while, “next day delivery” will set aside for more pressing priorities. Everyone stay healthy, ride often, ride solo (for now).