For the past 10 years Synthesis has served as the Engineering Department (and more) for WickWerks (Bicycling Components). Now, after a great adventure, we say "So Long, and Thanks!" This has been a great time to learn, to explore, to invent, and to make good friends in the cycling industry.
The WickWerks Adventure
I am a cyclist. I am also a bicycling advocate - for many reasons - so working in the cycling industry is always enticing. It is great to make bikes better, and I love making the bicycling experience happier.
In the cycling industry, over the past 10 years I have been the face of WickWerks - showing the "World's Fastest Shifting Chainrings" at the many shows, events, races and rides. Perhaps we have rubbed shoulders along the way?
It has been wonderful creating the awesome products and helping them grow. Also, it has been very satisfying to see so many cyclists endorse and love the components we have developed. I love seeing WickWerks chainrings on bikes as people go by! Perhaps especially when they are winning a bike race!
Aside from the fun, we tackled some difficult projects for WickWerks as we took the least developed part of the bicycle (front shifting) - and made it awesome. To me, success is in the smiles of customers as they rave about how well the products work. (If you are a cyclist and you have not tried WickWerks Chainrings, you are seriously missing something.)
I have to say, it is also pretty cool to have products that we invented on bikes of the Tour de France! That has happened twice: Once with a conceptual product we started with TRP, and this year too, with the Sentinel a dual sided chain watcher, we created and developed for WickWerks.
Looking Back
It is safe to say that we ended up doing A LOT more for WickWerks than we ever first dreamed of. We started as the engineering arm, of course, perfecting the famous chainrings. The role quickly became the customer service department too. That grew into being the show crew, the web department, handling social media, the art department, the IT department, and eventually all the packaging and shipping was done at the Synthesis facility in Colorado Springs.
** We even designed the chainring packaging, many of the ads, and promotional goods, like race banners, fliers, and the Giant Chainring Flag!! ** Not what we normally do, but it has been a fantastic learning experience along the way. We love the cycling industry, so being in the thick of it great.
Check out the FULL Service Engineering Case Study for a more complete view of all we did with and for WickWerks.
It has been a ton of fun getting to know so many amazing athletes that have willingly "tested" and abused bicycle component prototypes for us. From early prototype testers like Katie Compton (who would not give back the first prototype because she liked it so much), to all sorts of cycling industry enthusiasts that love to hammer on anything new. It has certainly been a great ride, so to WickWerks (and all those involved) we say:
THANK YOU !!
Engineering the Future of Bicycling
WickWerks is now up and running, so at Synthesis we are looking to the next exciting challenge. We are now available for your new project, to conquer the next challenges, to stretch technology, to help you get new patents, and to springboard your company to the next level. We are Synthesis Engineering Services, Inc.
For the Cycling Industry, besides WickWerks, we have worked on numerous bicycle projects including several RockShox products, a number of Spinner suspension designs, Tektro / TRP concepts, Vanguard Brakes, and much more. That is not to mention the hundreds of products from other industries! Check out the Design Slide Show for a taste of projects we have been fortunate enough to be involved with. Oh, and visit the List of Patents (60-ish at the time of this writing) we have had the enjoyment of innovating with.
This Could Be You
Have you wanted a great new widget for your company? How about improvements to your current designs to keep up, or leap-frog your competition?
If you would like to discuss engineering assistance on your projects, let us know. Product development and, of course, Design Innovation are in our space, and definitely in our expertise.
In the meantime, keep your eyes open for upcoming bicycling components (ones we just sent to production). I am sure they will announce soon, and we will have info about them here on the website too.
Good Bye & Hello
So, for now we will say "So Long, and Good Luck" to WickWerks - with a big "THANK YOU !!" as we prepare to say "Hello and Welcome" to the next big projects. Will it be in the cycling industry? Will it be your new products?
Let us know if you are ready to advance your product line. It might be Cycling products, or any number of other things. We are up for the next challenge - large or small. Let us know.
Eldon Goates
- Engineer, Innovator, Cyclist.
- Synthesis Engineering Services, Inc.
Use the phone, or the Contact Page.