BEN SEROTTA IN LONDON - LECTURE AND TEST DAY - MARCH 30/31ST '07
AN AMERICAN FRAME-BUILDER IN LONDON
At a Champagne reception and Lecture at the Exclusive Covent Garden Hotel Master craftsman and guru engineer Ben Serotta honestly laid out the philosophy that has underpinned his 35 year journey to the very top of the industry - culminating in 2002 with the Ottrott being award the 'Brainy' Award for Technology and Innovation.
TOP SIX TAKE HOME BEN SEROTTA LECTURE SNIPPETS
1. Serotta has succeeded by 'simply aiming for a smaller bulls-eye' than anyone else.
2. The larger the component then the more difficult it is to control production quality and tolerances. And of course the inverse is true - One reason why Serotta don't make monocoq carbon frames).
3. Serotta uses more in-house frame processes than any other prestige frame-builder in the USA. This controls both design and production integrity.
4. Serotta recently purchased the Poway, CA composites manufacturing facility operated by Utah based MQC - The virtual USA brain-trust in all things carbon. The facility at Poway in California has undertaken for R&D for amongst others: Reynolds, Seven and of course Serotta. The staff at Poway actually requested that they were bought by Ben because they only want to work to Serotta standards! In due course the facility will only conduct R&D and composite production for Serotta.
5. Ben doesn't actually hold a welding torch anymore - but he did make all of Davis Phinney's Tour-stage winning frames himself.
6. Serotta innovated many processes that have now become industry standard through their involvement with the 7/11 and USA Olympic Teams in the 1980's/90's - Power "S" bend chain stay, Colorado Concept tubing and double-butted titanium tubesets (Legend Ti) to name but a few.
SEROTTA TEST DAY 30.4.07 - RICHMOND PARK Richmond Park wouldn't let us actually run our test event in the Park, even though we offered to pay a fee or contribute to a charity of their choice? Because we are a 'commercial' entity - 'Nike Fun Run anyone'? So we based ourselves at The Dysart Arms in Petersham where they made us pots of tea and capuccino all morning in exchange for self-printed 'Dysart Dollars'. With the brand-new test fleet duly assembled including a MeiVici and two Ottotts, riders were free to take a bike for a gallop or two around The Park. Most people were riding comparison laps between at least two models. CycleFit staff were on hand to tune and fluff individual bike set-up. At 11.00 sharp Ben led a Serotta group ride around the 'off-limits' Park. Three brisk laps in brisk balmy weather - the 3rd image on the left column is a quick video of the grupetto descending 'Test Hill' into a 40mph headwind. After the Test Day Jules and Phil took Ben for a high-speed commute through town back to CycleFit. Ben's grey hair is clearly visible in the HoP picture - 4th down - far left!
CLICK HERE TO READ WWW.LONDONCYCLESPORT.COM REPORT
WWW.SEROTTA.COM
AN AMERICAN FRAME-BUILDER IN LONDON
At a Champagne reception and Lecture at the Exclusive Covent Garden Hotel Master craftsman and guru engineer Ben Serotta honestly laid out the philosophy that has underpinned his 35 year journey to the very top of the industry - culminating in 2002 with the Ottrott being award the 'Brainy' Award for Technology and Innovation.
TOP SIX TAKE HOME BEN SEROTTA LECTURE SNIPPETS
1. Serotta has succeeded by 'simply aiming for a smaller bulls-eye' than anyone else.
2. The larger the component then the more difficult it is to control production quality and tolerances. And of course the inverse is true - One reason why Serotta don't make monocoq carbon frames).
3. Serotta uses more in-house frame processes than any other prestige frame-builder in the USA. This controls both design and production integrity.
4. Serotta recently purchased the Poway, CA composites manufacturing facility operated by Utah based MQC - The virtual USA brain-trust in all things carbon. The facility at Poway in California has undertaken for R&D for amongst others: Reynolds, Seven and of course Serotta. The staff at Poway actually requested that they were bought by Ben because they only want to work to Serotta standards! In due course the facility will only conduct R&D and composite production for Serotta.
5. Ben doesn't actually hold a welding torch anymore - but he did make all of Davis Phinney's Tour-stage winning frames himself.
6. Serotta innovated many processes that have now become industry standard through their involvement with the 7/11 and USA Olympic Teams in the 1980's/90's - Power "S" bend chain stay, Colorado Concept tubing and double-butted titanium tubesets (Legend Ti) to name but a few.
SEROTTA TEST DAY 30.4.07 - RICHMOND PARK Richmond Park wouldn't let us actually run our test event in the Park, even though we offered to pay a fee or contribute to a charity of their choice? Because we are a 'commercial' entity - 'Nike Fun Run anyone'? So we based ourselves at The Dysart Arms in Petersham where they made us pots of tea and capuccino all morning in exchange for self-printed 'Dysart Dollars'. With the brand-new test fleet duly assembled including a MeiVici and two Ottotts, riders were free to take a bike for a gallop or two around The Park. Most people were riding comparison laps between at least two models. CycleFit staff were on hand to tune and fluff individual bike set-up. At 11.00 sharp Ben led a Serotta group ride around the 'off-limits' Park. Three brisk laps in brisk balmy weather - the 3rd image on the left column is a quick video of the grupetto descending 'Test Hill' into a 40mph headwind. After the Test Day Jules and Phil took Ben for a high-speed commute through town back to CycleFit. Ben's grey hair is clearly visible in the HoP picture - 4th down - far left!
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CLICK HERE TO READ WWW.LONDONCYCLESPORT.COM REPORT
WWW.SEROTTA.COM
