New Rambler Builder

[John Hawrylak]

Rob

Can you share any thoughts on why there is a new Rambler builder???  Is it a problem of the builder not being able to handle the production???

John Hawrylak

Woodstown NJ

[Robert Perks]

John,

It came down to production capacity for Bob and his existing personal commitments.  There is a strong chance he will be building Ramblers again this fall/winter.  I have a handful of builders that I have talked with about takign on Ramblers as things ebb and flow around here.  All of them are A list builders who have experience in the production arena as well.  As we grow the demand for the Rambler and possible dealer base I have to make sure we have backup plans and/or coverage, life happens, and everyone involved  can have ebbs and flows in capacity.  At this point, I am trying to keep the coverage in the Portland area for supply chain simplification as well as the fact that these craftsmen may all be able to start pooling resources and coverage for me as a loose sort of CoOp.   At the moment I figure we will do 35-45 Ramblers this year, most coming from Portland.  If there were a surge in demand on the east coast we have the capacity to pick up production of another 20 to 40 there and possible partner shops to help with prep and distribution.  The margins are so thin on these that shipping freight back and forth across the country makes less sense than workign with an eastern shop should the demand dictate.  

The margin issue is part of why I am exploring a second model with greater production scale, possibly imported.  Something along the lines of a Kogswell with our own twist on it.  I have been talking a bit with Variwall about US made tubes, and a couple of larger scale options here in the US, but the margins are still not really there.  If we move to a supplier in Taiwan for a model or two, it would help our cashflow significantly, get more folks on our bikes and keep things spinning around here.  In turn I would put the $$ back into standing orders with US builders to keep Ramblers on hand.  That is the long term goal.  The two would be in a synergy to help smooth out the ebbs and flows around here.  I get a lot of requests for both a lugged Rambler for up-market and a budget rambler that would less precious to have locked up outside.  It is almost time to start havign multiple models

For now, this round will be produced by Page St Cycles, Joseph and Christopher bring an amazing amount of skill to the table for the execution of the Rambler design.  They will also be able to help get a batch rolling later this summer.

Best
-- 

Rob Perks

oceanaircycles.com

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[Michael Mann]

This was the first I knew of this - and I just picked up my Bantam AdventureBike from Bob 2 days ago. But of course we weren't talking Ramblers so it didn't come up. I do know he's plenty busy right now. 

That said, as a native Portlander who's at least a little embedded in local bike culture, I've had plenty of opportunity to see Igleheart and Ahearne bikes up close, know folks who own them, and have met both builders. Between them they've built hundreds - maybe thousands - of bikes and their collaboration, Page Street Cycles, has been received with acclaim. To have hem building Ramblers is high praise to Rob's vision and the bike's place in our cycling world. 

Mike

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[Daniel Jackson]

Lugs. Yaaas.