Video: Ellsworth is Back on Track
Ellsworth. The name conjures memories of the rise of the Southern California boutique mountain bike culture. There were others, of course, but Ellsworth was the one that elicited some of the most passionate advocates. But where emotions run high, you’ll always find both ends of the love-it or hate-it spectrum. And there was Ellsworth Handcrafted Bicycles.
They have a long history of making high performance, full-suspension mountain bikes. The founder, Tony Ellsworth, created the brand with a precept to utilize U.S. manufacturing with U.S. sourced materials. He was successful for many years, and his aluminum bicycle frames were highly regarded throughout the world. As the bicycle industry shifted from traditional frame-building materials, like steel, titanium and aluminum, towards carbon fiber composites, the Ellsworth brand was compelled to follow the industry trend and sought resources outside the U.S. borders for its composites production.
In reality, Ellsworth was a bit late to the carbon fiber game, and the market had moved on. Sales weren’t as brisk as they had been in the salad days of smoke ano and ICT dominance. And as with too many small-ish bike companies, one too many small setbacks can have disastrous consequences. A devastating wildfire, the economic recession, and poor capitalization created a pitfall that Ellsworth could not escape.
With declining sales in a very competitive market landscape, Tony Ellsworth sought out a solution to highlight his bikes and return to his longtime commitment to U.S manufacturing. He orchestrated a deal to sell Ellsworth Handcrafted Bicycles to BST Nano Carbon of Rancho Bernardo, California. With new capitol and resources to resuscitate his long-time vision, BST and Ellsworth plan to bring their bicycle manufacturing back to California for the 2016 model range.
While all of Ellsworth’s aluminum frame production has remained in California, the first new product planned for the Rancho Bernardo facility is the newly revised ICT seatstay assembly. Next on the list are bicycle frames, but they have a reasonable, planned manufacturing timeline to start frame production in Southern California for the 2017 range.
Ellsworth is effectively a new company, with new management, some interesting new products, and with what seems like a tight-knit group of enthusiastic and dedicated people. Here’s to hoping that they can steward Mr. Ellsworth’s original vision of American manufacturing, high performance products, and the promise of great customer service.
History Notes:
• Ellsworth founded in 1991 in Southern California
• ICT rear suspension patented in 1997
• Always focused on best practices/environmental stewardship
• Long-term commitment to US manufacturing and US sourced materials
• Highly regarded active suspension (Instant Center Tracking)
• Always known for excellent craftsmanship and production quality
• Started full carbon fiber frame development 2011
• Resorted to outsourced Asian manufacturing for carbon fiber frames/frame components for 2012 model range
• Continued US aluminum frame manufacturing and production
• BST Nano Carbon of San Diego acquired Ellsworth in September 2014
• BST Nano Carbon and Ellsworth will be manufacturing the new ICT seatstays in their San Diego facility for the 2016 model range
• New designs for the 2017 range will be manufactured in San Diego
• Lots of new hires and new management
• Ellsworth has a stacked design and engineering team that has the technical capabilities to create bikes to compete in the market with any brand
• They will be able to respond more quickly to market trends and emerging ideas than all of the outsourcing brands
• Lead times for production will be cut drastically
• Ellsworth has the resources to be a leader in laminate design
• With a new revision for 2016, ICT has been modernized, yet still retains all of the active bump compliance and pedaling efficiency that so many riders have appreciated for so many years
• Ellsworth will support the Independent Bike Dealer network
• Ellsworth is effectively a new company with new management, new products, and a small, but enthusiastic team
• “America’s Bike”
www.ellsworthbikes.com
MENTIONS: @ellsworthbikes
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By moving the rear pivot from the shock stay to the chain stay and moving the virtual pivot point way out in front of the front wheel the Ellsworth virtually eliminates chain growth as the bike moves through it's travel. Allowing the suspension to stay active all of the time.
Advantages: Brake jack is completely eliminated and you can continue to pedal through technical trail conditions with out the suspension locking up and pounding the crap out of you. This makes the bike significantly faster, more plush, and more efficient over rough terrain. Things that single pivot, VPP, and DW Links are not great at.
Disadvantages: There is no mechanical pedal platform, standing up and sprinting will create a lot of pedal bob (but that is what lock out is for). The chainstays have to be longer than other suspension designs. ICT bikes can feel less "playful" because you don't have the same ramp up to push against out of corners or when hopping over things.
TL/DR Spend some time on an Ellsworth before you knock the suspension design.
VPP and DW link virtually eliminate brake jack and are great while pedaling through rough terrain.
1) Looks like a crappy session.
2) Ellsworth put himself into obscurity, treating customers like crap, not honoring warranties, and pushing outdated designs.
I feel for anyone/thing in a downward spiral, good luck Ellsworth.
You steamroll over people, and Karma will give you what you deserve.
Any further communication from you and I will follow vernonjeff's advice to make it public.
I don't know when I first started hearing "Tony" stories, but it was probably before YOU started riding. I've been following mountain biking from the late 80's.
Keep in mind, your actions and replies aren't helping Ellsworth's cause.
Awesome 29" trials bike.
"A devastating wildfire, the economic recession, and poor capitalization created a pitfall that Ellsworth could not escape.... With declining sales in a very competitive market landscape..."
Hmm, how about declining sales due to lack of innovation. Other small companies like Pivot and Santa Cruz have thrived. Because they innovate. Good luck BST Nano... but your hot new model looks already dated and uninspired...
here's the fire:
ep1.pinkbike.org/p4pb1562307/p4pb1562307.jpg
WRT the video, you can't ask people to buy your bikes out of pity and "home grown" employment ethics.
That said, I hope the new company takes the feedback of people that actually ride the bikes and adapts fast and effectively.
And remember...
“It is not the critic who counts; not the man who points out how the strong man stumbles, or where the doer of deeds could have done them better. The credit belongs to the man who is actually in the arena, whose face is marred by dust and sweat and blood; who strives valiantly; who errs, who comes short again and again, because there is no effort without error and shortcoming; but who does actually strive to do the deeds; who knows great enthusiasms, the great devotions; who spends himself in a worthy cause; who at the best knows in the end the triumph of high achievement, and who at the worst, if he fails, at least fails while daring greatly, so that his place shall never be with those cold and timid souls who neither know victory nor defeat. "
Well how come you are only offering a short & long sizing on your new Moment which effectively is like other companies small & medium when you look at the numbers? How is that competing with any brand?
And before the warriors start I owned original Moments & Epiphany so don't start on the 'if you even rode one' band wagon.....
This company seems to be going backwards.
The moment seems to have slack geo and long reach but a high bb.
ellsworthbikes.com/bike/moment
I like low bb's but maybe is a good option if you ride rocky stuff where pedal strikes are a pain. Just cos loww BBs are invogue right now doesnt mean they are the best apporch for all terrain.
its nice to see another player out there, back offering options.
Epiphany Alloy (rated for XC, trail and enduro)
27.5 - 67.5 deg.
29er - 66.5 deg.
Epiphany Carbon (rated for race, XC and trail)
27.5 - 69.5 deg.
29er - 69.8 deg.
Interesting choices. Again; very intrigued to see what the reviews make of these bikes....
I never owned one. To me, the big, dopey swing arm was always kind of ugly, and in the last 10 years or so looked really outdated. But I think some saw that as a "signature" look and kind of appreciated it. And damn they had some nice ano paint jobs!
I don't think the new one looks half bad. And I didn't find the video all that objectionable. It will be interesting to see which direction they'll go.
Shaums, how much money did we raise for you to huck that thing that night???
Ryan Johnson
ryan.johnson@ellsworthbikes.com
29er's look shit in general so showcasing one was probably not the best idea. It might look better in 650b or even 26.
Hey Ho , If you polish a turd all you get is shit on your hands.
I am a hardcore advocate for American made because my money goes to people I ride with and who will in turn spend that money in the local economy. If we don't whole-heartedly support American-made we will all regret it in the end. Traitors are those who willfully give support to Chinese companies and by default, the Chinese gov. Put it this way, let's outsource YOUR job and see if you can afford an overpriced chinesium bike. Keep your money local or DIE.
I never post in these forums obviously so whatever. I ride instead of battle on forums about stupid shit. If you have never bombed on a 4-bar bike then SHUT THE f*ck UP, keep your filthy opinions to yourself, and go ride one. BYE HATERS.