Wednesday, July 31, 2013

Bummer of the Day: SEROTTA SHUTTING DOWN OPERATIONS :'(




CEO says "funds never came" after merger with Blue and Mad Fiber
SARATOGA SPRINGS, NY (BRAIN) — Serotta has laid off 40 percent of its workforce and is planning to shut down production in the next two weeks, CEO Bill Watkins told BRAIN on Wednesday.
The company was recently merged with Blue Competition Cycles and Mad Fiber Wheels to become part of the Divine Cycling Group. At the time of the merger, DCG said the combined brands would be better able to attract investment and pool resources. However Watkins said the merger did not result in any immediate increase in funding, forcing him to lay off eight or nine employees on July 19. 
DCG officials and company founder Ben Serotta were not immediately available to comment.
Mad Fiber spokesman Jasen Thorpe told BRAIN on Tuesday that production was continuing at the wheel company and there had been no layoffs there. Blue Competition CEO Steven Harad was not immediately available to comment.
Watkins said Serotta's bike builders were working to complete orders.
"We still have a core group of craftsman still producing bikes, but we are not accepting orders. I'm anticipating a shut down in two weeks. I do not know if that will be temporary or permanent while the owners figure out what to do," he said. "I'm working to build out the runway and land this airplane gracefully and professionally."
"(DCG) have not invested any capital that was required to consummate the merger, and to fuel the plans that each of the three companies had at time the merger was being discussed. Ben (Serotta) and I disclosed what we were doing, they bought into plan and said, 'go for it' and we did the plan ... but the funds never came. We got official notification last week that the funds would not be coming."
Prior to joining Serotta last fall, Watkins was a consultant with Bradway Capital, an investment group that bought an interest in Serotta in May 2012. Watkins said he did not have any equity in Serotta or DCG.

Total bummer since I've always dug those bikes. With any luck it won't be permanent..

UPDATE!

Here's a little tidbit from an ex employee that might shed some light on the subject:

The Serotta thing is hard for me being that I used to work there and know many of the guys who still do(did). The feeling that they are getting from Ben and Bill (the new CEO) is that the whole thing was a lie. That the DCG never actually intended to do anything with them. Essentially that they were just buying the name and had always intended to shut it down. I'd imagine that the only new Serotta's in the future are going to have a Made in China sticker on them.

Another one bites the dust I guess.




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Tuesday, July 30, 2013

LOL, WUT?!!: PART 2 8-I xD


huh-huh.. asians..

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Monday, July 29, 2013

LOL, WUT?!!

Seen this on some Russian forum:


Kinda amazing huh?

Here's a google translation of the description:


The proposal for the Russian Olympic team in cycling in 1992, although officials would suit most

Options:
Frame: Chesini TT, painted in the color of black pearls. Gothic inscription in German gold letters Gott mitt Uns («God is with us").

Label: Gold emblem of Russia - the two-headed eagle with a shield on the chest, in which is inscribed a rider trampling dragon with his spear.

The rear disc (Mavic Challenger): Our Lady of The Guide (Protectress).
According to legend, the first such image - Vlakhernskoe icon of the Mother of God - was painted by St. Luke. Its meaning lies in the phenomenon of the Heavenly King and Judge and worship the baby Jesus. By the icons of this type include the miraculous Tikhvin, Smolensk, Czestochowa, Three Hands, Surety of Sinners, and Kazan, based on which the painting is made.

Front-wheel drive (Mavic Challenger): Christ Pantocrator (Christ Pantocrator).
The canonical image of Christ, which was formed in Byzantium in the IV-VI centuries, and representing it as the Heavenly King and Judge. Pantocrator is depicted standing in a full-length, seated on a throne, on a belt or, as in this case, the bust. Often, the image is placed in the dome of the church, which has seen from the shape of the bottom of the circle.

Chain: Rohloff.

Hitch: Campagnolo.

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Bubble Wrap Bike: BEST MOST ANNOYINGLY AWESOME AND WASTEFUL THING EVER!!!


Dude totally has life all figured out..


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Monday, July 22, 2013

Yup, I went there: Protoype Reefer Rack!!

Made this a few weekends ago and have been chuckling about it ever since:


lol right?!

Stoked that I was able to incorporate the rear two struts into the hand so it has some nice wrist action:


Here's a couple of really shitty snaps from when I first built it, along with a more downward perspective:



Def made it quick and dirty style, hence it being a prototype. Could def use some modifications in future versions but it still came out pretty decent for being a quickie..

Want one? Take a wild guess at the price- Yup, you know it: $420

Mostly because it's a lot less hassle/pieces than the Hail Satan Porteur (see previous post as well). Like my other kooky custom rack, I don't expect many orders. This one is def no where near as sturdy for obvious reasons. I suppose I could put some curved pieces in between the leaves and paint them black but whatever. Will likely just move up the sizing on the tubing I used to make it a bit stiffer. Def more of a hood ornament / take out / light grocery picker upper of sorts..

Best part is, I already have a really, really amazing idea ready for the next rack. Stoked to build more shit no one will ever care about ;-)

Hang loose til then suckaz!

..oh and for the tumblrz


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