Ep 07: ENVE Composites Announces a New Custom Road Frame — We Get all the Details From ENVE Marketing Manager, Neil Shirley
Today we have a very special announcement on the show! ENVE Composites are making it official, they are releasing a custom road frame, with many exciting features that are bound to get enthusiasts' wallets out! To help us examine the specifics of this big step we are joined by ENVE's Marketing Manager and former pro, Neil Shirley. Neil gives us the inside scoop on the new custom offer, sharing the new features and advancements exclusive to this new bike. We also get to talk a bit about ENVE's manufacturing process, why they have ensured it is all done in-house, in the USA, and what this has enabled them to do as a company. From there, we switch gears a bit and talk about Neil's own cycling career, looking at the moment he fell in love with riding, going pro, and his recent redefinition of himself as a gravel rider! We also get to talk about his old team, Rally Cycling, and what makes it so special. To finish off, we spend some time discussing the general migration toward gravel, and hold-ups caused in the supply chain and events during the COVID era. For all this, take a ride with us today!
Key Points From This Episode:
The springtime road ride that Neil did with his team before this interview!
ENVE's big announcement about getting into the branded frame business.
The specifics of the new ENVE frame; advances in aerodynamics and manufacturing.
Tire clearance, one-piece bar stem, cabling, seat mast, and other exciting features.
Why ENVE has prioritized US manufacturing as part of their business model.
Neil's early riding experiences and his transition into a career as a pro-cyclist.
Thoughts on the history and culture of Rally Cycling and the important role of their leadership.
Neil's shift to gravel; how the switch continued the quest for the feeling of freedom for Neil.
How Neil views the 'gravel ethos' and his appreciation for the focus on community.
Measuring the growth of gravel cycling through the lens of ENVE's wheel sales.
Supply chain issues that arose during the pandemic; Neil's perspective on the problem.
The reemergence of the cycling events calendar and a more positive outlook for 2021!
Tweetables:
“You get the best of both worlds. You get really this high-tech bike that aerodynamically and performance-wise, matches some of the top bikes on the market. It's truly made to fit for you.” — Neil Shirley [0:07:34]
“We tried to make a bike that was efficient, comfortable. Definitely a performance bike, but something that you want to ride.” — Neil Shirley[0:08:23]
“Where cycling technology is evolving is really great, because it allows us just to have a bike that we can do more on, run higher volume tires, enjoy the ride more.” — Neil Shirley [0:10:00]