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Insight: Terrible One – Cyclops Stem

December 6, 2016

The Cyclops stem from Terrible One has arrived!

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Over the years there have been countless products released, but anyone that has been riding for a long time knows not every great idea makes its way into production. Most of those ideas and designs are forgotten, but every now and then there are these parts that almost become this most sought after thing that NEEDS to be released. There has been a lot of talk about “Mid School” lately, and it’s safe to say any and every Mid School guy will tell you that the Cyclops Stem has almost become this unicorn of a product that people really wished it would eventually come out, but kind of lost hope. Over the years there had been rumors that it was done, that it would be available, but then it would disappear again and those hopes and dreams were once again shattered. Well, today we’re excited to tell you that the wait is over and the stem is now available in a very limited edition first run. We got ahold of Joe Rich to get the full scoop on the now available Cyclops stem and what it took to get to this point… This still doesn’t seem real.

Alright, Joe! Yesterday you made an announcement that probably caught some people off guard. How long have you been waiting to release the Cyclops stem now?
In all honesty, we’ve been working on these stems for over 9 years now. So this is a very long time coming to say the least. ha ha

Over the years the design has changed a bit, right? What were some of those changes? Care to take us through the history a bit?
John Povah originally came to me with the concept for how the stem worked. At the time it was a rough sketch and an idea. I talked to Phil Wasson from SuperRat Machine about it, as he was making our American Flyer sprockets at the time. He was interested in taking a crack at it. We got the first samples fairly quick. They worked pretty good, but they had some flaws. The wedges were way too small to hold the steer tube properly. And it was our first try at what angle that the wedges work on. So I redesigned the shape of the wedges with an idea I felt could work better. From that point Povah, Phil and I all worked together with refining all parts of the stem. Slowly things started taking shape, and it resembled more and more how they are now. With each sample that we had done, they progressed both in function and the visual appeal. The wedge size, wedge angle, material grade, and the tolerance of them, took the most fine tuning. We did several samples over our time with SuperRat. And of course as luck would have it, when things took a nose dive. We had a complete version of the stem that we were finally happy with, and were ready to go with, and SuperRat basically went belly up. It just vanished seemingly into thin air.

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I know you worked with a bunch of different places to try and make this stem happen. How many different people did you work with prior to finally finding the winner?
Phil at Super Rat Machine, and Ken Spaulding with Zodiac Eng. were the 2 main ones. After things hit a dead end with Phil, I had a working sample, but that was it. No technical drawings for anyone to go off of. My friend Jimmy Rathbun gave us the first glimmer of light, as he managed to reverse engineer a drawing from the one good sample we had. I met Ken Spaulding and his partner John at Interbike in 2010, they came to our T-1 booth one day during the show. We talked for a bit and eventually got on the subject of the stem, they were very interested in taking the Cyclops project on. We worked for a good bit on dialing these in with them. The drawings that Jim had done for us were fine tuned even more as we started moving forwards with samples . We had a few runs of samples done and once again. We got to the point where we were placing the order, when Ken and his partner split. Ken had been doing all of the drawings and technical info, and his partner was working at the shop that actually made the samples. There are too many details to go into, but after working with Ken for a good number of years trying to make a run of these to happen, we hit a dead end as well. After that I was feeling very deflated. I talked to a lot of other machine shops about them, and either they were too expensive at the time, or just couldn’t make the stem. . . That was until Jimmy Wood, and Iron Gate Machine saved us !

Could you have done this in Taiwan or China or was it strictly an American made project?
Stems are the one thing that I’ve always felt a difference when tightening down bolts on a American made stem. I don’t really know how to explain it, but when you tighten the bolts, they just have this really good feel to them. Strange that tightening a bolt can feel different, but it does. Of course other places could do them, and I’m sure they’d be good, but some feelings you just can’t shake, and that’s why I never could quite commit to going that route. Plus, anytime you can work with a manufacturer, that has a rider with the skills to be in charge of a project, is such a good feeling for me. I really feel like there is that little extra bit of universal magic that goes into it when those circumstances are present.

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How did you come across the company that made the Cyclops stems that are going to be available soon?
I thought things were pretty much over with the possibility of having them made here in the states. I did an interview with you earlier this year, back when the ramp was coming down and you asked me a question about the stems then. A rider from Washington, Jimmy Wood, read that article and contacted me. He worked for a very dialed machine shop named Iron Gate Machine, and was certain they could help breathe some life back into these. So thank you so much Kurt for doing that interview with me. Without that, this may not have ever happened ! In a very short amount of time they had a working sample to me. The stem body was perfect straight away. The wedges took some fine tuning and a few more samples until we reached the point we are at now. This all happened in a few months time so its very surreal to me after the amount of time, and ups and downs these have been through. I can’t thank Jimmy and Iron Gate enough. Every time I talk to him I try and express how much this has meant to me. They have been an absolute pleasure to work with. They care about every last detail the same way I do. So stoked. After all that time, all I wanted to do was at least have a few done that worked right and were available. If no more ever happened besides that, I would at least have had some good closure with this.

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Did you have to make any changes to the previous design to make this one happen?
Just more fine tuning on the tolerances on the wedges. Jimmy was really really helpful with all of this. They are pretty exact and are meant to compress a certain amount. Its very finicky. I guess the only problems that really can come up with this would come from the fact that we don’t make our own forks and can’t quality control the diameter of for steer tubes. And one thing I learned during this whole process, is that all fork steer tubes are not the same. They vary in steer tube diameter quite a bit. And that makes developing a part, and how it works, to an exact spec is quite tricky.

Can you give us the full specs and details on the Cyclops stem?

  • 2.087″ (53mm) reach
  • .4031″ (10.2mm) rise inverted
  • .9094″ (23.1mm) rise top load
  • Standard 5/16-18UNC Grade 8 – bolts
  • Stem body – 6061 Aluminum
  • Wedges – 7075 Aluminum
  • Colors available – Black / Silver for life!
  • Weight – 10oz.
  • terrible-one-cyclops-stem-black-back-side-angle

    How many of the stems will you have available? Do you plan on doing another batch if they sell quick or is this a one and done kind of thing?
    I got 50 stems done this time. It was a number that I felt comfortable with. I have NO idea what people will think after all these years. At one time, I know there was a lot of interest, but that was a long time ago, and a lot has changed since then. There are way more options out there, and there is going to be a certain type of person that gravitates towards picking one of these up. There are a few steps you have to take to install them as well. But, these are the best versions of this stem in the 9 years we’v been working on them. The last part of that sentence sounds absolutely ridiculous ! But I’m very proud of these to say the least.

    terrible-one-cyclops-stem-silver-front-close

    How can people buy one of these stems and what is the price? Will they be available through shops or mail-orders like Empire, or are you doing a direct sale kind of thing similar to the SFA frame?
    People can either get them directly from us on our online store, or from a T-1 dealer ( shop or mail-order). We weren’t able to offer these to any of our distributors due to how much they cost us. They just couldn’t fit into the pricing pyramid of distro to shop to rider. There wasn’t enough room in there price wise. So the only way to do them, without making them a LOT more expensive than other stems, we had to cut out one step. Price on them is $85.00

    UPDATE:

    The Cyclops stem has sold out already. There are more that will be ordered. We suggest you give Terrible One an email or call if you want to order one.

    Now that you finally have released a stem that has almost “cursed” you for nearly a decade, do you feel the pressure is finally off your shoulders?
    There was never any pressure I felt from it, I just love these stems and was frustrated that one thing after another seemed to take a turn for the worse at the exact step I thought they were going to happen. So many times I thought they were really happening, and I was let down time and time again. It was pretty tough. I’m very emotionally invested in everything we do. Its not just another product. Turning what were just ideas, into realities, is one of the best feelings. I love this stuff.

    terrible-one-cyclops-stem-silver-back

    What’s next for you? Any new Terrible One products in the works you can tell us about? What about trips, filming projects and more?
    Yep, there are a few things in the works, but ever since the experience we’ve had with the stem, I’m very hesitant to say anything, until things are more solidified and happening. Ha ha. I’m sure you can understand.

    That about wraps things up! Anything else you want to say?

    Thanks for taking the time to read this !

    terrible-one-cyclops-stem-silver-side-angle

    Below you can find a How To video Joe put together on properly installing the stem. Due to the design, there is a little more to how you install this one than a traditional BMX stem. Take a peek!

    Terrible One – 2017 SFA Frame Pre-Order

    November 16, 2016

    terrible-one-sfa-barcode-bmx-frame-side

    It’s that time of the year again! As some of you may know, Terrible One do one big order every year on their SFA frame and unless you get a pre-order in or happen to get lucky enough to pick one of the limited amount of frames through a shop, you will end up waiting another year to get one. Joe Rich just put out the word that he’s taking pre-orders until Tuesday, November 22nd, so that gives you a week to make your move!

    The SFA frame is made right here in the U.S.A by S&M Bikes from full 4130 chromoly with a 74.5-degree head tube angle, 71-degree seat tube angle, 8.5″ standover height, 11.75″ bottom bracket height and a 13.75″ – 14.125″ chainstay length. The frame features an integrated head tube, gussets on the top and down tubes, a Mid bottom bracket, integrated seat post clamp, a custom seat stay bridge and heat-treated 3/16″ thick 14mm dropouts.

    You have your choice of 20.75″, 21″, 21.25″ and 21.5″ top tube lengths, colors of gloss clear coat raw, gloss black, Dark Roast brown or Deep Sea Blue / Green. You can also choose between brakeless, welded or removable chainstay brake mounts.

    Here’s the details on orders / pricing and shipping.

    “These should take roughly 8-10 weeks from the time I place the order for the batch. I will require a $200 deposit to hold your order. Frame cost is $395 plus $25-$30 for shipping if you live in the US, but international will be anywhere from $60-$80 depending on where you live. Once again, these deposits are going to help pay for the order, so I can’t thank you enough. The cut off date for pre-ordering a frame will be the end of the day of Tuesday, Nov. 22nd.

    We accept Credit card, money order or Paypal. If you choose Paypal, then please include your choice of brake option, top tube size and color in the notes/memo/message part you can add to the payment process. Also, our Paypal address is: info@terribleone.com . And if possible, send via “friends & family” as then we won’t get socked by the fees that come with the other purchase option.” – Joe Rich

    Please contact Info@TerribleOne.com for any questions or concerns or to dial in your order!

    terrible-one-sfa-barcode-bmx-frame-head-tube

    terrible-one-sfa-barcode-bmx-frame-seat-tube

    Source BMX Bike Shop

    The History of the Terrible One SFA Barcode

    October 14, 2016

    Terrible One just posted up this awesome timeline history for the Garrett Byrnes signature SFA Barcode (Did you know S.F.A stands for Sweet Fuck All?) that has been released, and not released, in a few different versions over the past 14 years or so. Hit the flipbook to take in the story from the first frame with the built in 3.5″ tall seat post to the latest version made by S&M Bikes. There’s also a pretty funny story of a time Garrett’s dad wanted to beat up Chris Moeller for refusing a warranty, haha. Enjoy!

    We want to hear from you! Let us know what you think in the comments below!

    VISIT: FRONT PAGE // DAILY SECTION // BMX COLOR APP // BMX VIDEOS // RANDOM // BMX Games

    Animal Bikes X Terrible One – Garrett Byrnes Tire Promo

    July 14, 2016

    Animal Bikes uploaded the Garrett Byrnes promo for the Animal X Terrible One collaboration Ursa Minor and Major Tires to their Youtube channel, so we figured it was a good enough excuse for another look at it! Hit play to watch Garrett absolutely destroy a few skateparks, pools and street spots with a few guest clips from Lil Jon. Everything about this video kicks ass, so make sure you hit play and enjoy this… A couple times!

    “Animal bikes and Terrible one have teamed up to bring a new dual compound tire to the streets and skateparks. The hard compound on top provides a lower rolling resistance while the soft compound on the outside provides increased corner grip.”

    Filmed and edited by Ryan Navazio

    [Read more…]

    Product: Animal Bikes X Terrible One – Ursa Minor & Major Tires

    June 2, 2016

    animal-bikes-terrible-one-bmx-tire-1

    The awaited Animal Bikes X Terrible One collaboration Ursa Mior and Ursa Major tires have started to land at BMX shops and mail-orders worldwide! The Ursa and Major tires features a dual compound proprietary blend of rubber compounds that creates a fast and grippy tire. The center features a harder rubber compound to help reduce rolling resistance while a softer compound is used around the edges to help you grab while turning on street, ramps or pools. The tire features a center groove, along with smaller grooves that combine T and 1 on the edges with a smooth tread throughout the rest of the tire.

    The Ursa tire is available in in two sizes; Minor, which is a 2.20″ (2.28″ Inflated) and Major, which is 2.40″ (2.44″ Inflated). Both sizes are available for $29.99 in black only through BMX shops and mail-orders that carry Animal Bikes and Terrible One worldwide.

    animal-bikes-terrible-one-bmx-tire-angle

    animal-bikes-terrible-one-bmx-tire-front

    animal-bikes-terrible-one-bmx-tire-sizes

    animal-bikes-terrible-one-bmx-tire-diagram

    As we mentioned above, the actual inflated sizes are a little bigger than their actual size. 2.20″ is more like 2.28″ and 2.40″ is more like 2.44″ width. Keep that in mind if you’re running tight on space for your fork on frame.

    Don’t forget, this tire is Joe Rich approved!

    animal-bikes-terrible-one-bmx-tire-new

    animal-bikes-terrible-one-bmx-tire-tread

    animal-bikes-terrible-one-bmx-tire

    [Read more…]

    Quicky: Joe Rich

    May 5, 2016

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    Photo: Clint Reynolds

    It’s been pretty hectic for Terrible One and Joe Rich as of late with the deconstruction of the infamous T1 Ramp, moving the T1 headquarters, working on new products and collaborations among other things. Now that things have cooled off a little bit for Joe, we figured it would be a good time to hit him up and find out what’s new and what he has going on between Terrible One and life! Ready? Let’s get into this!

    [Read more…]

    Russell Brindley – Live Slow, Ride Fast

    May 3, 2016

    Australian legend, Terrible One, Back Bone BMX and Vans rider, Russell Brindley might not pop up all too often these days, but this new video giving us a little insight into his life is a great reminder of just how good this guy really is! Besides staying busy with a wife, kid and job, it’s safe to say Russell is still making plenty of time to enjoy his time on his bike, too. Excellent riding, great film work and some good tunes. You cannot go wrong with this one!

    Filmed and edited by Brendan Boeck
    [Read more…]

    Sneak Peek: Animal Bikes X Terrible One Tires

    March 23, 2016

    animal-bikes-terrible-one-bmx-tire-new

    Here’s some news we’ve been waiting to let people in on for a while now. Some of you might recall a few months back we got a look at a new tire Animal Bikes is working on that we didn’t have much information on at the time. Well, it turns out that Animal Bikes and Terrible One are actually collaborating on two tires, the Ursa Major and the Ursa Minor that will be hitting BMX shops and mail-orders worldwide very soon. Below you can get the full scoop from Joe Rich. Keep an eye out for an interview we’re working on with Joe that should be dropping soon as well!

    “A few couple of years back, the idea of working with Animal to design a tire took seed. The main driving force behind this was wanting to run Animal tires as a way of supporting them, but there wasn’t one that existed that was designed around riding tranny and roasting concrete. So I talked to Bob Scerbo about it at the time and he relayed my thoughts to Ralph. Lucky for me, Ralph liked my reasoning behind this, and wanted to see it happen. So I brought my ideas to Frank Lam, who was their product designer at the time. Funny enough, Frank and I used to ride together at these contests that were put on by T&C Cycles in South Plainfield, NJ back in the early 90’s. So it was extra good to be in touch with someone again from so long ago. Frank and I went back and forth with the ideas and how they could create the best result for what I was looking for. In the end, working together with Frank gave light to something that ended up being more than I could have hoped for. So stoked. These would never have been possible without Bob, Frank, or Ralph at Animal. Thank you all so much. More info to come soon on these!” – Joe Rich

    View two more photos below…
    [Read more…]

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