By blackmountaincycles,
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I probably don’t ask that enough. 2020 was a tough year and 2021 is no different. Challenging on many fronts – but mainly trying to learn to manage customer interactions when the science on how to deal with Covid-19 seemed to be constantly evolving. The one thing that was clear was “avoid people.” Kinda hard to do if you operate a retail business that was allowed to be open during the pandemic when many other business were forced to be closed. So, businesses were closed because of the worry of workers and customers catching and spreading Covid-19, but bike shops should be open with a lot of demanding customers. Yeah, just a bit of a stress inducing situation. I managed by limiting contact by limiting how much work I took in. I know I took some heat for turning work away. I’m a one man shop and I can only do so much.
The new year (yeah, January 1 feels pretty much like yesterday) started off with a bang. A 20′ container full of Monstercross, MCD, and Road+ frames showed up on December 31, so I spent the first day of the year off to a running start prepping and shipping frames. Due to the pandemic-driven demand for all things bicycle, most of those frames sold out in short order. There’s just a handful of 47cm MCD frames and a one 59cm Road+ frames currently available. That was followed on April 1 by an arrival of La Cabra frames – which are all sold out.
In anticipation of the increased demand, I placed a restock order early in December 2020 only to be met with some soul-crushing news. In the past, I had the ability to order a minimum of 5 frames per size with total orders typically approaching 75. No more. The new MOQ (minimum order quantity) per size will now be 30 I was informed. There was good news, though. The MOQ/size was initially 50, but that was negotiated down to 30. Only 30. Because frames size quantities are ordered based on a bell curve of heights of humans, that meant that I’d need to order significantly more sizes in the medium ranges. That order or 75 frames total for one model, that I usually placed, now became something near a couple hundred. Oof. And with 4 models of frames…well, that was soul crushing. “Is that the end of Black Mountain Cycles,” I wondered?
That was a serious question. I had doubts. Then I went for a ride with a massive dilemma rattling around in my head. And on that ride, it all sorted itself out. I had a plan. I won’t go into all the details quite yet. I’m still in the development phase. But it’s a solid plan. And then things actually got even better a few months later.
In April of this year, I got an email out of the blue from Blue Lug in Japan asking about wholesale/distributor opportunities. What turned out to be a simple process with some great people resulted in Blue Lug becoming the distributor for Black Mountain Cycles frames in Japan. The ability to ship a good sized quantity of frames with those new higher MOQs directly from where the frames are made in Taiwan to Japan means both Blue Lug and I come out with with a plan that benefits both of our businesses. Win-win! I’ve been super impressed with the great communication and the work that they put in to creating a specific page for Black Mountain Cycles on their site. Thank you to the Blue Lug team!
Those frames I ordered back in December still don’t have a good ETA, but expect more La Cabra and Monstercross frames after, maybe well after, the first of the year.
Part II of 2021’s pandemic plans coming and will include intel on the MCD and Road+ frames. There’s still several details I need to work out before I can drop that news, but it will benefit everyone.
(What’s playing: Badfinger No Matter What)
Mod. One
20 responses to “Hi, How’re You Doing?”
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I saw the Blue Lug news a few weeks ago. I’m glad that worked out! Absolutely loving my La Cabra over here in Utah. The bike world is better with your bikes in it.
Thank you, Brady!
Mike, I’m doing great, thanks. This pandemic is what inspired me to rekindle my long dormant love of cycling, and both BMC and Blue Lug have inspired me. It’s great that the two of you have a symbiotic relationship to navigate this ever more complex world. My MCD has spoiled me so much that I’m now constantly searching for ways to refine my experience even more. May I find peace in knowing that my setup is “doing great, thanks” and stop chasing stupid ideas like swapping my MCD fork out for a carbon one. All my best.
Thanks, Taylor.
Doing good, thanks for asking. And thanks for the update. When the new frames come in next year, will they have the same specs as before?
For the most part, yes. Especially for the La Cabra and Monstercross frames.
Thanks for all the work you’ve put into these bikes. Every time I ride my Road+ it’s a joy, and I sincerely appreciate it.
Thanks Erich. Glad to hear you are enjoying your bike.
Glad to hear that the new quantities issue was able to turn into opportunities for both BMC and Blue Lug. Congrats! Still like my Road+, even though I should have gotten a smaller size like you thought.
Hey Mike! Just wanted to say thanks again for the Road+ frame. It’s been an absolute delight to ride through summer and will no doubt brighten up the dreary British winter (and glide over the endless potholes too…). Hope your plan works out!
It’s funny that Blue Lug sells bikes without lugs. 😁
I live in Japan and Blue Lug Kamiuma is my local bike shop.
On the other day, when I went to the shop and found the La Cabra bike which was displayed in the central of the shop.
How beautiful the shape, design and colour the bike was! It was just amazing.
Unfortunately my size seems to be out of stock at the moment but I hope to have a chance to own a Black Mountain Cycles bike sometime very soon.
Looking forward to hear updates from both you and Blue Lug! Good luck with your plan!
Thank you, Masa. I appreciate the nice words.
Doing very well, thanks! Congrats on the whole Blue Lug thing – sounds like a perfect fit. Looking forward to hearing about the next full shipping containers.:)
Really happy to hear that you are managing the new MOQs and the new partnership with Blue Lug is awesome!
Really looking forward to your restock as I want to grab one of those Road+ frames as soon as they are ready. Is there any info about the colors that will be available?
Thanks and sorry, I haven’t put any effort into determining colors at this time.
Here’s putting in a vote for orange, as a throwback to one of the early colours.
It all goes well.
A year+ into my road+ and I just love that bike! Over the last year, I’ve done everything from a 200 km brevet to 100 mile gravel rides on my road+. It is such a killer “swiss-army bike”.
Very happy to hear that the Blue Lug thing worked out! I will definitely be staying tuned and looking forward to seeing what’s next for black mountain cycles. Any chance we see some Floyd Frog Cycling Hats?
Hi Mike, I’m doing well and just want to tell you how much I’ve enjoyed my La Cabra. It continues to be my “everything” bike and I go looking for rides that have some road, gravel and trail. Now I think to myself, “why not just ride to that trailhead instead of drive” and that just means more happiness, more miles, less carbon and better Karma.
The bike does everything well and though I hate to say it, fits me better and rides better than the bike I designed and built for myself. Very pleased to hear the Blu Lug news and that there will be many more happy La Cabra riders out there finding joy in every type of riding thanks to you!
Thanks Matt. I’m glad to hear you are enjoying your La Cabra. Ride more!