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BMX General => BMX Chat => Topic started by: priv on January 10, 2008, 05:26 PM

Title: charge bikes
Post by: priv on January 10, 2008, 05:26 PM
http://www.chargebikes.com/features/grill/


tasty?


priv
Title: Re: charge bikes
Post by: Frosty on January 10, 2008, 05:30 PM
now that looks noice  :daumenhoch:

money???
Title: Re: charge bikes
Post by: martin46 on January 10, 2008, 05:34 PM
very nice bikes. theyr'e made just down the road from me and are popping up in local dealers everywhere. im seriously considering one of their frames.
Title: Re: charge bikes
Post by: hooga1975 on January 10, 2008, 05:54 PM
I like the look of that :daumenhoch:
Title: Re: charge bikes
Post by: dazza on January 10, 2008, 08:47 PM
nice , charge make nice bike and good on price aswell.my local raleigh dealer stock them in derby
Title: Re: charge bikes
Post by: gossa on January 10, 2008, 09:17 PM
very nice bikes. theyr'e made just down the road from me and are popping up in local dealers everywhere. im seriously considering one of their frames.

Do you live in taiwan then fella?
Title: Re: charge bikes
Post by: MartyC on January 10, 2008, 09:29 PM
very nice bikes. theyr'e made just down the road from me and are popping up in local dealers everywhere. im seriously considering one of their frames.

Do you live in taiwan then fella?

 :LolLolLolLol:

Assembled in GB then?
Title: Re: charge bikes
Post by: gossa on January 10, 2008, 09:32 PM
very nice bikes. theyr'e made just down the road from me and are popping up in local dealers everywhere. im seriously considering one of their frames.

Do you live in taiwan then fella?

 :LolLolLolLol:

Assembled in GB then?

Nope, nothing in the UK except stored in boxes off of containers.

Hey, don't get me wrong, I love Charge, I sell them in my shop and have had some input on the designs but the only thing that's done in the UK is design by Nick Larson and the guys at Hot Wheels.
Title: Re: charge bikes
Post by: Andy on January 10, 2008, 09:45 PM
gossa

just out of interest what design input have you had with the charge bikes?
Title: Re: charge bikes
Post by: gossa on January 10, 2008, 10:01 PM
gossa

just out of interest what design input have you had with the charge bikes?

I sorted Nick Larson out with a Cyclo Cross bike to help him get to grips with what a cross bike shuld do, he asks my opinion on what they're doing next, market pricepoints, specs etc.  I also supply him stuff to help build bikes up for test or photoshoots, I'm only 5 minutes from HotWheels (Charge distributor) so Nick pops into my shop to talk about stuff every once in a while. 

Charge is a supercool brand, did any of you see thier 'kitchen' stand at the London bike show? Well sweet......Nicks a cool guy too, he was the guy responsible for making Pashley a cool brand, he's very talented and with Hotwheels distribution i'd say Charge is a brand to watch........nothing made in the Uk though! :LolLolLolLol:
Title: Re: charge bikes
Post by: Dark Diggler on January 10, 2008, 10:06 PM
Yep, keep yer eye on charge, BMX is next  :-X
Title: Re: charge bikes
Post by: MartyC on January 10, 2008, 10:11 PM
gossa

just out of interest what design input have you had with the charge bikes?

I sorted Nick Larson out with a Cyclo Cross bike to help him get to grips with what a cross bike shuld do, he asks my opinion on what they're doing next, market pricepoints, specs etc.  I also supply him stuff to help build bikes up for test or photoshoots, I'm only 5 minutes from HotWheels (Charge distributor) so Nick pops into my shop to talk about stuff every once in a while. 

Charge is a supercool brand, did any of you see thier 'kitchen' stand at the London bike show? Well sweet......Nicks a cool guy too, he was the guy responsible for making Pashley a cool brand, he's very talented and with Hotwheels distribution i'd say Charge is a brand to watch........nothing made in the Uk though! :LolLolLolLol:

You ought to tap Hotwheels up to see what os stuff they still have kicking around  :daumenhoch:
Title: Re: charge bikes
Post by: Dark Diggler on January 10, 2008, 10:13 PM
SHhhhhhhh :LolLolLolLol:
Title: Re: charge bikes
Post by: dibly on January 10, 2008, 10:24 PM
That is a well sweet bike i love the whole look really its nice!  :)
Title: Re: charge bikes
Post by: Andy on January 10, 2008, 10:30 PM
oh right I see what your saying gossa

I guess then my girlfriend had design input when I built my sunday as she chose the colour lol
Title: Re: charge bikes
Post by: MartyC on January 10, 2008, 10:33 PM
oh right I see what your saying gossa

I guess then my girlfriend had design input when I built my sunday as she chose the colour lol

PMSL, don't say that my missus will claim credit on everything I do  :LolLolLolLol:
Title: Re: charge bikes
Post by: gossa on January 10, 2008, 10:33 PM
marty, I know exactly what they have and you wouldn't believe it mate, sweet FA! They sold everything to jeff Haney years ago and I mean everything including such items as LRP frames and other exotica. There's a small box of stuff, nothing amazing at all, a couple of not that desirable frames and a few sets of CW bars.  there's a sweet collection of OS bikes, Matt Farrow looks after a fleet of collectables for mate of his, pink hollywood, roger decpster, og motomag, mrd TM replica, quads. rippers, Pete Middletons Zeronine.

Title: Re: charge bikes
Post by: gossa on January 10, 2008, 10:37 PM
oh right I see what your saying gossa

I guess then my girlfriend had design input when I built my sunday as she chose the colour lol

mmm, maybe?
Title: Re: charge bikes
Post by: Andy on January 10, 2008, 10:49 PM
alan got a bit of stuff from hotwheel s but Im going back about 6 years ago now

sorry gossa no offense but I think our opinions of design input differ somewhat

anyhoo heres my old charge did you design this lol nah you never it was my girlfriend cause she liked the tangerine colour
(http://www.radbmx.co.uk/archive/albums/v253/azusa24/charge003.jpg)

Title: Re: charge bikes
Post by: gossa on January 10, 2008, 10:53 PM
what would you call the product manager of the company, coming to my shop and asking me if something is a good idea or how much should it sell for or what spec should it have or what geometry would work or what the sales potential is if you don't think that's a little input?

Nice bike by the way there Mc.
Title: Re: charge bikes
Post by: Andy on January 10, 2008, 11:08 PM
yeppa i would say that is design input

but it strikes me as a bit odd that a company like charge wouldn't have a clue about any of that to start with

thinking about their background I would have assumed they already knew most of that unless they are incredibly naive

but if what you say is true they must be eternally grateful to you and your wealth of knowledge
Title: Re: charge bikes
Post by: dialledbikes on January 10, 2008, 11:46 PM
Nice bikes.  The Charge guys have their marketing shit together too.  I really ought to get my shit together this year and find some overseas distribution for dialled bikes.
Title: Re: charge bikes
Post by: Andy on January 10, 2008, 11:54 PM
from the sound of it mike gossa's your man
Title: Re: charge bikes
Post by: gossa on January 11, 2008, 08:39 AM
yeppa i would say that is design input

but it strikes me as a bit odd that a company like charge wouldn't have a clue about any of that to start with

thinking about their background I would have assumed they already knew most of that unless they are incredibly naive

but if what you say is true they must be eternally grateful to you and your wealth of knowledge

Charge bikes are sold through independent bike shops.  You are quite right, within Charge there is an incredible wealth of knowledge and experience in product design, sourcing, marketing and distribution. However, I would say most or all companies consult extensively with the people that will ultimately be selling thier products to get that retailer perspective, i know Nick speaks to plenty of other dealers to get thier POV.

The cross bike was a case in point.  Nick came to me as he wanted to do a cyclocross bike but said he knew nothing about them so i suggested he swapped a charge bike with me for a top selling cyclocross bike and got some miles in to understand this market which he duly did.

Retailers and brands/distributors do work closely together to bring the market the best possible products.

Why the cynicism and sarcasm mcnulty? I've been nothing but complimentary about Charge but also corrected the fact that the only thing they do in the UK is design and test samples.
Title: Re: charge bikes
Post by: priv on January 11, 2008, 10:37 AM


I guess then my girlfriend had design input when I built my sunday as she chose the colour lol



andy,you make that girl do everthing,lazy a*se.

gossa,do you know the location of the secret riding spot charge use to test bikes then?

priv
Title: Re: charge bikes
Post by: gossa on January 11, 2008, 04:26 PM


I guess then my girlfriend had design input when I built my sunday as she chose the colour lol



andy,you make that girl do everthing,lazy a*se.

gossa,do you know the location of the secret riding spot charge use to test bikes then?

priv

it's near nicks place in somerset, i just tried calling nick to find out but got his answer machine.  looks pretty sweet though eh, mud skatepark!
Title: Re: charge bikes
Post by: gossa on January 11, 2008, 05:03 PM
priv, nick just called back, that place is near bath but it's private land so unfortunately no access mate. He said the farmer there is a bit of a grumpy bugger too so it might not be worth trying to find it.

Nick said there are currently three of those frames, one in the uk being tested by Lewis Lacey and two in japan made for potential olympic riders.

Title: Re: charge bikes
Post by: martin46 on January 11, 2008, 05:46 PM
seems i have been misinformed. i was led to believe by my local shop that these were made in the somerset town of radstock. maybe theyr'e just an importer or its where they test them maybe as its not far from bath

 :crazy2: should have looked at the the charge website properly before posting.
 well at least i live near their test ground so i think i'll have a go at finding that when the weather breaks.
Title: Re: charge bikes
Post by: stidds on January 11, 2008, 08:10 PM
Radstock is about 10 miles from Bath, strangely enough I was in both Radstock and Bath today, spooky eh?
Title: Re: charge bikes
Post by: gossa on January 11, 2008, 10:35 PM
OK, the full skinny is that Charge is wholly owned by Hot Wheels but the 'face' of the company is Nick Larson. Nick has an office in near Radstock where he designs and samples the bikes but, like almost every other brand in the world, all the bikes are made overseas to get the right mix of quality and price but they are made to Nicks spec which makes them great for Uk riding conditions (burly build, mud clearance etc). 

If you do try and hunt that riding spot down, Nick said be careful as it's private land  and the owner is a grumpy git!
Title: Re: charge bikes
Post by: dialledbikes on January 11, 2008, 11:45 PM
Sounds a bit like dialled bikes (designed in the UK, made overseas by quality fabricators) but with a bit more financial clout.

Are you selling any BMX in Bikelab, Clive?  Maybe when my new 853 BMX frames come out, we can do some biz  ;)
Title: Re: charge bikes
Post by: gossa on January 12, 2008, 12:29 AM
Sounds a bit like dialled bikes (designed in the UK, made overseas by quality fabricators) but with a bit more financial clout.

Are you selling any BMX in Bikelab, Clive?  Maybe when my new 853 BMX frames come out, we can do some biz  ;)

I used to have a BMX area just stocking the better stuff but two little shites came in and ran out with an Eastern so i threw all the BMX stuff in the back of the van and got shot of it.  However I've had the resto projects in teh shop along with my ripper and floval and they have got a lot of comments so who knows.

An 853 frame eh?  Just front triangle i take it? Sounds pimp ass!.....

Mike, have you had your stuff in Ride? If not i'm sure i could stick it under marks snout....
Title: Re: charge bikes
Post by: dialledbikes on January 12, 2008, 11:34 AM
Yeah, 853 front triangle and 4130 rear end.

The guys at Ride and Dirt have been pretty cool actually.  Mark got in touch about having the MX20s in frame check when they first came out, and Mike, Ed and Billy are always in touch asking for news/updates, etc.  Did you see the Mega Avalanche hardtail project we worked on recently?  They used one of my prototypes (which is being released in March as a production model - the dialled bikes Alpine) to do the Mega Avalanche article.  And there's gonna be a follow up Canada/Whistler article on the same bike soon.
Title: Re: charge bikes
Post by: gossa on January 14, 2008, 02:43 PM
Yeah, 853 front triangle and 4130 rear end.

The guys at Ride and Dirt have been pretty cool actually.  Mark got in touch about having the MX20s in frame check when they first came out, and Mike, Ed and Billy are always in touch asking for news/updates, etc.  Did you see the Mega Avalanche hardtail project we worked on recently?  They used one of my prototypes (which is being released in March as a production model - the dialled bikes Alpine) to do the Mega Avalanche article.  And there's gonna be a follow up Canada/Whistler article on the same bike soon.

rock on mate, unlike charge, it seems you don't need my help!  :LolLolLolLol:
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