Pole Updates the Stamina Range and Introduces New Gold Colour Option - Pond Beaver 2021
The past three years have been tough ones for Pole. It's something they readily admit as they've found themselves buffeted between shelved carbon projects, adopting totally new CNC manufacturing techniques, very public frame failures and forums awash with customer service woes.
Following this rough period of time, Pole have spent the past few months cleaning house and are now ready to launch what they are calling Pole 2.0. Internally, Leo Kokkonen is back in the leading role of the company and they have also added a marketing manager based remotely in the UK, a supply chain manager, a brand manager and they have implemented new protocols in both customer service response and customer aftercare. Pole has also doubled the size of its production facilities and has increased the size of its production and assembly team. As a result, Pole claims that its CNC frame production is running better and the quality of customer service has been improved.
Stamina Updates
But there has been more than just behind-the-scenes changes at Pole too and they have today announced a number of updates to their Stamina platform.
The first port of call was to reduce customers' concerns about failing frames. This started with a new swingarm design, first released in January 2020, called the Dog Bone with a stronger chainstay to seat stay support.
Pole have moved from the old Shark Fin design (left) to the new Dog Leg (right) that they claim is "nearly impossible to fail". It also comes with an integrated bash guard, STFU Bike and UDH.
Other improvements to increase the reliability of the frame include, "increasing frame wall thickness, increasing the bonding surface for each frame half, creating keyed headset inserts, and adding reinforcement walls to the top tube to prevent bike stand clamp crush damage." Pole is reinforcing this by upping its testing program and the Stamina 180 has been awarded EFBE's Gravity Cat-5 certification that goes and beyond the established national and international standards and reflects the specific challenges faced by modern bikes.
New Colour options
The other big change for the Pole Stamina is that you can now get it in different colours. Apparently, not every customer wanted a raw finish on their Pole and those that did weren't too happy about the patina that formed on the metal after a period of time.
To combat this, Pole now use electrophoretic lacquering to offer a clear coat of protection and open up a selection of colour options. Electrophoretic lacquering is mostly used in industries where products have to resist mechanical strain or environmental impacts like salt, and it's also used widely in the jewelry industry. It's different from anodising as it is completely clear and also offers a harder surface. Pole describe the process in-depth, here.
Pole will begin by offering a raw finish or True Gold and Storm Grey colours, however the technique could be used for a wider pallette in future.
All Stamina frames ordered in April and going forward will have the new clear coat electrophoretic lacquer applied as a standard procedure. That will give the frame a raw look but a coloured version can also be ordered, starting with two options, True Gold and Storm Grey, for €250 for a single colored frame or €100 for shock yokes and links.
The rest of the bike, including geometry and kinematics will remain the same.
Stamina 140 Framesets and Complete Build
The Stamina 140 will be available in two frameset options and one complete Stock Custom build. The framesets will come with either a RS Super Deluxe Ultimate Air shock or the new Cane Creek Kitsuma Air shock, with prices from €4,850. The Stock Custom build will get a 160mm RS Zeb Select, a RS Super Deluxe Ultimate Air shock, SRAM GX Eagle and a DT Swiss EX1501 wheelset.
Stamina 160 Frameset and Complete Build
The Stamina 160 will be available with two shock options as framesets and also a Stock Custom build. The framesets will come with either a RS Super Deluxe Ultimate Air or RS Super Deluxe Coil R. The Stock Custom build will come with 180mm RS Zeb Select forks, either a RS Super Deluxe Air or Coil shock, SRAM GX Eagle and DT Swiss EX 1501 wheels.
Stamina 180 Frameset and Complete Build
The Stamina 180 will also be available as a frameset and a Stock Custom build. Both will feature a Cane Creek Kitsuma Air shock, and the Stock Custom build specced with a 180mm RS Zeb Ultimate, SRAM GX Eagle and LTD Mavic Deemax Pro Sam Hill wheels.
More info, here.
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The big thing that doesn't get talked about is that the longer/slacker bikes with more travel are generally safer for your average rider to be able to access more advanced riding. While not being a substitute for a base set of skills, they can make the difference between going OTB and riding it out, which means quite a bit considering that injuries, especially concussions, are no joke.
cyclingtips.com/2020/06/the-uci-just-gave-its-highest-award-to-a-dictator
If its only got 180
Got treat it like a lady
Light on the bumps
No big jumps
I prefer a doublecrown
When I wanna get down
But I'm willing to ride with less
If it's gold and passes the test
Thats true, however, bikes are by far not the same thing as cars, so comparison is pretty poor. Any bike is capable of traveling the same speed, certains ones just are more stable.
How many more chances do you expect R@dek to give you? Seriously, dude.
Crazy situation, bought the frame from a guy in the states, and he never cashed the cheque. Got a message from his mom a month or so after saying she ripped up the cheque as she feared it was drug money (apparently he had been incarcerated for selling drugs shortly after shipping the frame)
Dude, that's like cheering for Polio returning.
I hit a rock garden yesterday on my 140mm bike that I normally hit at speed on my nomad and oh boy was that almost a yard sale.
I kept it together but holy crap it almost went bad haha
Have you heard the phrase 'Florida has mtb too'?
Yeah, me neither
Cause it's definitely not true
That's not mtb
It's a different sport
Somethin so weak you should just abort
You got no mountains
You got no real downhill
What's the point when there is no thrill
What you got in Florida is crazy Matt Gaetz
Pedophile politician with teenage dates
Hold on homeboy you got con man Trump too
Mara Lago criminal deserves to be in a zoo
But he's perfect for Florida cause he is a clown
Loved by most Floridians in every crack pipe town
Cause Florida loves crack and Florida loves lies
Florida loves crazy cause they are not so wise
Here's a little advice from DCA with a rhyme to the beat
Get the heck outta Florida if you wanna really mtb
This is all in fun, don't take it seriously. I'm sure you have some sweet trails.
Perhaps the only way to combat the inevitable jokes is to make them far too plentiful and obvious.
Pole: hold my broken triangle
www.instagram.com/p/CMxXxx4hMgz/?igshid=1inbcflsdxcxh
If I were Polë, I would stick to refining the Evolink. It rides amazing, had HUGE interest about 3-4 years ago, and just needs to be prettied up a bit. No idea why Pole pushes so hard on the bonded frame construction...
Either way, really love my Evolink 140 and nothing really on the market in last 5 years that makes me want to change up, which makes it seem like a great value in my book.
Imagine the anguished screams of the fashion police as you cruised by. Preferably in some tech jorts, a $300 plaid shirt and some of those pit viper sunglasses.
It wasn't Pole's PR-team behind the meltdown, it was Leo.
In a funny way all the Pole's PR messes are from that man's keyboard.
You are welcome
Evig eies kun et dårlig rykte. That is a norwegian saying and it basically means: the only thing a man owns forever is his reputation. What Pole claims is basically worthless and comical at this point. Maybe they turned it around, time will tell I guess. In the mean time, all that glitters isn't gold.
The rep comes from the CEOs response to the linkage breaking in the huck to flat test. While that response was weird to say the least, the reliability seems to be on par with what other brands, going by what you see on forums and social media. But, with this being the internet, people are going to take every opportunity to shit on Pole.
Rocky Mountain broke in another PB test but they go largely unnoticed.
The new design with reinforced structures should make it even stronger, which is reflected in the Cat 5 testing.
In all seriousness, I kind of like it. It works for me, somehow. That storm gray in the bottom bracket photo would be more my thing, but the gold works. I think it’s a nice looking bike. Wouldn’t buy one, though, to be clear. I’m not looking for that kind of attention when I ride.
Sorry for that last line...I'm in the my late 30s and the dad jokes just flow like the salmon of Capistrano.
Try contacting Customer Support before purchase, I can bet you that you wont have a respond in 48h or at all.
Please don't even think about this brand, as an Evolink 156 owner I'm warning you to go away and leave it with his own fate.
As people are saying:
"You don't build a new brothel with old whores"
This 2.0 shits can fool someone in '90 , in modern times you only got one chance to do things right and Pole don't do many things right, firstly they tread Customers as peasons silencing them in their Facebook page and ignoring questins about warranty and shipping claims.
Be warrned POLE is a scam, even when you get your frame/bike you are left on your own fate from there you are not getting any responce and reactions on warranty claims
You don't have to put bikes down just because you can't afford one.
"I love goooooold"
Pole started here with excellent image and reputation and within a year they ruined everything. Sometimes I've asked myself how the f@€% can someone mske so so many mistakes one after another!?
Also, what do you even mean by "17 comments"? I've left exactly three comments, saying more or less the same.
I thought it was Alu Capras that had the majority of issues?
The drain hole on the underside of the chainstay being a weak point?
www.pinkbike.com/news/pole-bicycles-ceo-resigns-company-founder-leo-kokkonen-to-take-leading-role.html
This is something that I think might become popular. Rearward axle path and greater trail with more travel use.
40 something year old weekend warrior bumbling down the trails, meh, not sure that works for me.....
Do you have weiner on the brain maybe? Or could it be you fantasise about bumbling through the woods on a gold coloured bike?
Each to their own I suppose hun. X
youtu.be/3U7NpSubAJQ
You have a gold leaf plated bike? Super blingy Ron, well done.
You angry, kinky, weiner obsessed man you.
Right boys, that's enough break it up.
- E.B. White