Foes in the news(paper)

[Kid A]

Pasadena-based Foes Racing to unveil commutor bike

By Kevin Smith, Staff Writer

Pasadena Mayor Bill Bogaard, left, recently toured Foes Racing in Pasadena, a company that manufactures mountain bike frames. The business, founded by Brent Foes, right, will soon unveil a commuter bike.

For the past 17 years, the Pasadena-based company has produced its own line of mountain bike frames and rear shocks that are used by racers and recreational riders alike.

But now the company is gearing up to unveil its first-ever commuter bike, appropriately called the Pasadena Crown City Commuter.

"This will be the first product that we offer as a complete bike," company founder and owner Brent Foes said. "We're going to have two models. The first will sell for $2,100 and the other will sell for about $2,600."

The second model is priced higher because it includes some carbon-fiber and titanium construction, which makes the bike lighter, Foes said.

"We've gotten a lot of good positive response on it, but it's really hard to tell until we get them out there," he said.

The Pasadena will be sold both as a complete bike and just the frame, for those who want to custom-build their own ride around specific components, Foes said.

Marketing Director Margot Core said the new line - which won't be available for another month or so - is already starting to move.

"I've taken orders for frames already," she said.

Foes' new commuter bike might not be out in the showrooms yet, but at least one local resident has already field-tested the bike.

Pasadena Mayor Bill Bogaard rode one of the commuter models around the Rose Bowl during a recent week-long celebration for Pasadena Bike Week.

Dave Forbis is a die-hard Foes Racing fan. In fact, the 48-year-old San Diego resident rides for a Foes-sponsored racing team.

"I've purchased many frames from them and built up most of my bikes," he said. "I also got a complete bike from them that had been a display model."

Forbis said the quality of Foes' products is unmistakable. The frames - combined with good components - make for a winning combination, he said.

"Brent builds the best bikes in the world," he said. "The way it's manufactured, the quality he puts into the stuff, the welding, the way the frame is made ... and the suspension is the best."

Foes, 54, of Pasadena used to build and fabricate race cars under the name Foes Fabrication. In 1992 he launched Foes Racing, which is now located at 62 N. Sierra Madre Blvd. in Pasadena.

"In 1992 suspension was sort of new thing for mountain bikes," he said. "I built my first bike using off-road technology."

When Foes took to the nearby foothills to test his creation, a photographer from an industry magazine snapped some shots of the bike.

When the photos were published Foes began getting inquiries about the bike from a distributor in Japan.

"They were pretty persistent, so I started thinking about what it would take to go into the manufacturing of bikes," he said.

These days, Foes employs about eight people and the company builds and sells anywhere from 500 to 1,000 bike frames a year.

"We're small, but we're probably one of the only companies left that still makes their frames and shocks in the U.S.," he said.

For more information, call Foes Racing at (626) 683-8368.

[26'er Zen Master]

no pictures. hurumpf

[SoCalAl]

The commuter bikes sound interesting but that's a ton of coin for a commuter, for that much you can get a full carbon/105 or alum/carbon/Ultegra road bike. I would have to guess it's mostly for the publicity naming it after Pasadena and I'm sure a few will sell the die hard Foes fans but it's not going to be a big money maker for the company. It kind of reminds me of the Ellsworth cruiser a couple of years ago, when I saw it at Helen's my first thought was "cool" and my second was "why?".

[chimpanzee]

Originally Posted by SoCalAl

The commuter bikes sound interesting but that's a ton of coin for a commuter, for that much you can get a full carbon/105 or alum/carbon/Ultegra road bike. I would have to guess it's mostly for the publicity naming it after Pasadena and I'm sure a few will sell the die hard Foes fans but it's not going to be a big money maker for the company. It kind of reminds me of the Ellsworth cruiser a couple of years ago, when I saw it at Helen's my first thought was "cool" and my second was "why?".

http://www.pasadenastarnews.com/ci_12436606

$2100 - $2600 for a commuter bike??? Is this because of low-volume production, where price-point is not minimized?

I got a Schwinn Super Sport flat-bar-road-bike for $280 @Performance/Pasadena, which weighs 25 lbs. Use it all the time. I also got Schwinn Peloton road-bike for $1099 (retail $1699, all carbon fiber, 18 lbs w/o pedals) @Performance/Pasadena

[26'er Zen Master]

Originally Posted by chimpanzee

http://www.pasadenastarnews.com/ci_12436606

$2100 - $2600 for a commuter bike??? Is this because of low-volume production, where price-point is not minimized?

I got a Schwinn Super Sport flat-bar-road-bike for $280 @Performance/Pasadena, which weighs 25 lbs. Use it all the time. I also got Schwinn Peloton road-bike for $1099 (retail $1699, all carbon fiber, 18 lbs w/o pedals) @Performance/Pasadena

No its for the Handcrafted American Quality you are getting. Although both bikes you listed are very very nice bikes they were still made by children who are tethered to welders by chains in foreign countries.

[jamisjake]

Originally Posted by chimpanzee

http://www.pasadenastarnews.com/ci_12436606

$2100 - $2600 for a commuter bike??? Is this because of low-volume production, where price-point is not minimized?

I got a Schwinn Super Sport flat-bar-road-bike for $280 @Performance/Pasadena, which weighs 25 lbs. Use it all the time. I also got Schwinn Peloton road-bike for $1099 (retail $1699, all carbon fiber, 18 lbs w/o pedals) @Performance/Pasadena

no, this is because Foes=

[Margaritaman]

[SR240Z]

This is kind of like Ferrari trying to sell an economy car :/

[autoduel]

Paint a trigon fork and zipp wheels to match the frame.
Then roll with the fixies....

[denmother]

I saw the bike at Sea Otter, it is very sexy!!!

[BAD_S197]

Originally Posted by chimpanzee

http://www.pasadenastarnews.com/ci_12436606

$2100 - $2600 for a commuter bike??? Is this because of low-volume production, where price-point is not minimized?

I got a Schwinn Super Sport flat-bar-road-bike for $280 @Performance/Pasadena, which weighs 25 lbs. Use it all the time. I also got Schwinn Peloton road-bike for $1099 (retail $1699, all carbon fiber, 18 lbs w/o pedals) @Performance/Pasadena

Exactly my thinking.

They are probably tailoring this "commuter" bike to rich people in Pasadena. Most of the people I know wouldn't consider a 2600$ bike a commuter or even a 2100$ one either.