Good evening and hope you are all well.
Its been a long time since my last blog. A very long time. So, I thought I would update you on what's been happening behind the scenes.
I think its been about 6 months since the last blog, of which Christmas came and went, i ate too much cheese and since my trip to Majorca in October, the Kgs crept on and I have been on a crash diet since end of Feb his year. The weight is coming off slowly, but still 5kgs to go to get down to a reasonable cycling weight - only to put it on again and start with the diet in Jan 2026.
Business wise, I was being helped along the way by Jason - a nice chap from just above London, he sadly left after 6 months due to family reasons and i thank him for his help and wish him luck in his future endeavours.
I had leant a Dirty palace to a friend of the family Tom. Tom happens to do digital marketing and can turn his hand to anything. He rode all the way to Spain on the Dirty Palace, took some amazing photos and then came home again.
He spent time on the website amongst working with a friend Oliver doing Landscaping. I really like his photography and the website has been rebuilt from pretty much scratch. Just got a few little bits to sort on it.
So, its just me again at the helm, waiting for things to slot in to place. But, I have a plan - Steel, steel and more steel - and clothes, and components.
The clothing has been good fun and enjoyable, sweatshirts and t shirts sold well and are being re ordered. Socks and arm warmers was a challenge which I parked for a while. So, like everything, to get a decent price you have to buy in bulk. Not sure I wanted to buy 300 pairs of socks just yet, but everyone likes a nice pair of socks, so it will happen - just not yet.
Long and short sleeve jerseys sell well, but at some point I would like a new design. The precedent for jersey design will not be in single monobloc colour with subtle branding, neither will they be in the 'disrupter' style.
Frameset wise, we have the 853 ready to go and also a 931 in a box ready to be tested and built up as a sample and tested.
The choice of Reynolds 853 was carefully considered.
I approached several Aluminium frame fabricators. 3 of which made framesets for other very well known brands. However, despite the glossy websites, getting your foot in the door remained difficult - why would they work with Bowman when they these companies make for Multi National Companies.
Other Aluminium frameset builders were receptive to collaboration, however, there was no guarantee of their quality. So, I passed. My fingers did no need burning at this early stage.
I was approached by 3 Titanium manufacturers, 1 of which did 3d printing framesets. To any geometry design with very low MOQs.
The 3d printing was very, very tempting especially after chatting with them and finding out they supplied to 2 other UK companies, however, as Duncan Bannatyne would say 'crowded market - why would people buy from an unknown, when established players sell to an established market'. Okay, he would not say that at all. But, the Titanium market is busy and coming last in the 3d printed market - it smells of unoriginality and just plain arriving late.
So, I passed on the Titanium as well.
Steel, however!?
I had had steel before, I had had a Holdworth Competiton from Planet X, which was made from Columbus HSS steel and was responsive and just great fun. I like Steel, its smooth, easy to fabricate with (I say 'easy' - for skilled hands it is), recyclable and the last thing I wanted was to go down the open mould Carbon Fibre route. Cyclists can smell open mould with a fresh decal on it from miles away.
Plus, I like a modern steel frameset.
So, I started approaching companies. There are 2 companies I approached who were well known for making good quality, well made framesets. Again, there are several companies that fabricate using steel in the Far East. All of which I am sure are very reputable, but I wanted to go with 2. One who predominately uses Reynolds steel and the other which uses Columbus Steel. I know of these companies, I know who else they build for in the UK and Worldwide and most cycle forums recommend them. So, I approached them and was ignored - they are just too busy.
I was prepared to wait and wait I did. I think this was purely for the reputation - why go to someone who I did not know?
A few weeks later I was approached by a 3rd party and we started emailing. They only worked with one company that was the one I wanted to use. Patience had paid off. We introduced ourselves on Teams, emails followed. Geometries were approved, graphics, colours, forks and all things frameset - in both Reynolds 853 and 931.
Then they were delivered. The price for delivery was actually shocking - it was very expensive - custom charge was as expected.
The other company fell into place - Columbus XCR and Spirit HSS available. These, are being ordered shortly.
Testing the framesets was next on the list - more of that later.
I then joined several component distributers which was great.
I also approached a wheel company - Boyd in the States.
We had a great Teams call - introducing ourselves. I then got 2 sets of wheels sent over.
I needed the steel framesets testing. I thought long and hard about who to choose. Ideally, they would be knowledgeable (but not Hambini). They would have a strong Youtube presence (but not Hamini). Be localish (but not Hambini). Sod it, I approached him, we got chatting and I sent the 853 to him via the post. He's actually a really nice bloke.
He checked the frameset out and whilst we were texting, he mentioned that he was in Sheffield with work and that he could hand the frameset over in person instead of putting it in the post.
So we met in a pub, got chatting and we did a mini interview. What you did not see on the video was the hour and a quarter of us just chatting about work, bikes - it was a very enjoyable catch up. He is a very nice chap.
After I got the bike frame back, I got it built up straight away.
And then I had my first outing on it on a Wednesday night up to Redmires Dams - it was amazing. My 2023 Giant TCR was put up for sale straight away. It is absolutely amazing, I love it and I cant see me buying carbon again for quite some time.
After that, it was time to upgrade the website with Tom.
Tom started getting the majority of the website over hauled. We also went into the Peak District and spent a few hours getting photos near Stanage Edge, Abney Moor, Cressbook Dale and Burbage Moor.
And that brings us to present day.
The Hambini video was released. The only negative comments were with regards to spelling mistakes on the Website. I know - Tom is on with it.
There are a few items that I want addressing on the website, and Tom will complete as soon as he can.
Thats it, website amended and then the presale goes on.
I wlll fill you in on the next proceedings when the first pre sale has finished.
Enoy the sun. Its really good riding weather.
Hope it lasts and I dont get ill before I o to Pollenca in October.
Jim.........