Machining a Podium Pedal part 2

Check out part 2 of Sicklines coverage on machining a Podium Pedal. Click the link for more photos, text and video!

1. How did you come up with the name Point One?

Point One – Before we started the company we all raced pretty regularly, so we understood that racers strive for products with an excellent stiffness to weight ratio to give them a leg up. The name Point One represents that fraction of a second or “0.1″ of a second between winning and losing a race. Creating great looking, lightweight products is what we’re all about, so we felt the name suited the company well.

2. How did Point One Racing get started? Why did you want to start a new company?

Point One – Point One Racing got started with a dream, to manufacturer our own products that will stand up to the hard demands of downhill racing, that will in turn be desired by the mountain bike community as a whole. The company got started because we were tired of the cookie cutter products that were all over the market. There were a few industry benchmarks whom we know would be tough competition, but the rest just seemed like inexpensive stuff that is all the same with a different logo on it. We wanted to have proudly made in the USA products that not only made sense performance wise, but also added clean design.

3. A lot of the parts you make, lots of other manufacturers already offer as well. How do you pick which parts you wanted to create?

Point One – We want to take a component and make it better, period. Originally we had ideas for several products, but it was stems that made the most sense at first. Stems can come in many different lengths and rises and every bike needs one. For the market to accept a new high-end stem was not that difficult, considering that there were only a couple manufacturers who were at or near that level. We did not want to make cheap stuff, we wanted to strive to be the best. Since we all primarily rode gravity, 50mm stems and direct-mounts was what we initially offered. Soon came a 70mm (and now a 90mm) that added to our market share and made it more appealing to a greater audience. For the pedals we asked our customers who really liked the stems and by far they wanted to see our take on the flat pedal. Another market with a lot of brands, but not many high end.

4. Any future parts you guys are working on?

Point One – For 2011 we have a 90mm version of our Split-Second stems for both road and XC use. With ti bolts it is coming in at around 104 grams which is lighter than most carbon stems that are twice the price. We also have an adjustable version of our direct-mount called the Infinite DM. It will allow riders who utilize a triple-clamp fork to adjust not only the reach, but also the height of their handlebars. For 2012 and beyond, you’ll just have to wait and see.

5. Is there anything you think Point One brings to the table that no one else can or did when you started?

Point One – I think what we do best is think outside the box, how can we take a product and make it better, unique, simple? Our stems feature an integrated top cap and this was something we had not really seen in the past. It saves weight, adds stiffness and makes it look clean. Our pedals have a visible axle design which so far we have found on only one other company. The design allows us to use sealed bearings as opposed to bushings which last a lot longer and gives us a very thin profile, usually half the thickness of most competitors out there. Only now, almost 2 years after our original Podium Pedal design are we starting to see manufacturers try and make thinner profile pedals. Another thing that I think we bring to the table if great design. We work very had when designing our products to find that delicate balance of engineering and industrial design.

6. Where are your parts made? What machines are used? Who assembles them?

Point One – All our parts are proudly made in San Jose, CA. We use Kitamura mills and lathes. All the products are assembled by us.

7. Any stand out tools that you guys use during development?

Point One – Nothing out of the ordinary that you wouldn’t find at another machine shop. The advantage we have is our shop specializes in close tolerances. We design our products in accordance to what specific machines they will be ran on and work closely with the programmers, this allows us to cut machining time down as much as we can, which saves us time and allow us to incorporate more complicated machining, which also allows us to save more weight. We do of course use finite element analysis before prototyping. After we properly field and lab test our products using custom fixtures and gages that allow us to measure loads, flex and other attributes, before they go out to our consumers.

8. Any plans for expansion or growth? Where do you see Point One in 5 years?

Point One – We moved into a separate building earlier this year and the place is already full! There is always something that needs to be done, always new customers and always new products on the horizon, so that is certainly keeping everybody busy. In 5 years we will have a larger place, more employees and still some of the best products out there.

9. Who’s the fastest person in the office?

Point One – Jimmy Amaral hands down. He has been racing at a pro level for a while now, which makes him an excellent in house test rider as well as engineer.

10. How many guys work at Point One?

Point One – Right now it’s the four us working here.

11. What bikes do you ride?

Point One – I remember when we all use to have multiple bikes, these days we are keeping things simple. Jimmy Amaral rides an Intense 951 that he
converts back and forth for DH racing and AM riding. That bike is as light and as trick as they come, in full DH mode it comes in around 33 lbs. Jonathan Cofer has an Iron Horse MKII and Tim Lukko rides an Intense Socom and Tracer. We want to build an office pump track, so who knows, everyone might have a hardtail next time!

12. Anything else to add?

Point One – Thanks to Sicklines for doing this interview! Keep up with the blog and facebook to continue to see what is happening with the company.