AR’s Best wrap in the world: testing ground

[William]

AR has supplied me with many wrap samples to test at the Barbarian testing grounds. Only the most rigorous and bizarrely twisted tests are conducted in accordance with established scientific principles and ethical scrutiny. Color was not a focus in this round of testing. Only "feel" and durability.

1.) The Touch test.
Our most presentably large Barbarian went into the public with our test samples and randomly walked up to people on the street and touched their cheek with different leather swatches.

http://www.macs.hw.ac.uk/~adrian/ccde2005/43barbarian.jpg

If they were slapped, that piece was rejected. Any other response was considered a positive and passed it to the next round of testing.

2.) The water test:
The swatches were fastened the back of a pair of vicious War dogs…

http://img2.timeinc.net/people/i/2007/specials/halloween/dogs/dog_grease.jpg

who were sent into simulated battle in a swampy marsh bog in central Rhode Island where a reenactment of the Berserker battle of Marg was being held by the New England contingent of the Yankee Horde of Peabody Mass. Any pieces that made it through without retaining the wet mutt or slimy Bog stink were passed to the next round.

3.) The wrap test: If a certain premier frame builder and a very tall person were able to wrap bars in a beautiful New York setting in a somewhat acceptable time frame, the wrap passed. If it took more than four hours, they were rejected and said wrap was given to folks with smaller bars since the wrap got cut short a few times….. ;) :D

4.) And finally - The stab test:
All swatches failed this test. Really, there was no reason for it other than my assistant started poking them with his knife…. You should be just fine unless a deranged soccer mom gets mad at you for pointing out that she ran a red light and she decides to take it out on your sweet bar wrap.

[Ahneida Ride]

Time to find a new tester ! :eek: :help:

But in all serious, the ones that passed the William sniff test were also
the most popular samples at the TdFL.

The Navy Blue, second from left was liked by all. It was very supple and
has a hint of natural tackiness.


It will not be waterproof, But I've soaked the leather in water, let it dry and
seen no damage. Proofide will go a long way with waterproofing.
Is this a big deal ? This opens up the whole color spectrum.

Some prototypes had a thin foam backing. Some had a thicker super expensive 3M foam backing. The super expensive 3M backing did not go well at the TdFL. Most just peeled it right off.
(did I mention how expensive that stuff was)

I've decided to eliminate this padding and just make the leather a bit thicker. If one wants padding, one can "double wrap" IE wrap cheapo cork underneath using floor scraps. My LBS does this all the time.

So .... I'll purchase a hide (in blue) and have the wrap made. The trick is
to get the edges properly champhered. Again, more free samples. :banana:

If this prototype is well received, I'll open a web site. The stuff ain't cheap
to make, and if one goes retail, the markups will really drive the price up. :crap:

Hey, we don't need another 1K frn derailleur.

[palincss]

Hey, we don't need another 1K frn derailleur.

I think every $22,000 carbon fiber time trial bike should have one, don't you?

:crap:

[FMS_rider]

Go AR! I am looking forward to seeing the web site. However if you can't regain some self-respect by taking on that William guy, perhaps with the assistance of the really really tall guy and the premier bike buider he also insulted, I don't know if I can bring myself to purchase any. He can't be that much bigger than you can he?

Lew

[Charles M]

2 q's


what's a wrap?


and is "frn" the new "atmo"?

[FMS_rider]

... is "frn" the new "atmo"?frn has made it to the big time:

[William]

frn has made it to the big time:


Are you selling Transformer heads??? ;) :rolleyes:



Ok, maybe my marketing speil doesn't translate well to all potential buyers....but I came up with the same results as AR's New York test run. That counts huh? :banana:

Oh well, that's probably why I only made through to the fifth round of interviews in the Serotta Marketing guru search.

:D

William

[FMS_rider]

Are you selling Transformer heads??? ;) :rolleyes:

Ok, maybe my marketing speil doesn't translate well to all potential buyers....but I came up with the same results as AR's New York test run. That counts huh? :banana:

Oh well, that's probably why I only made through to the fifth round of interviews in the Serotta Marketing guru search.
:D

WilliamMy actual conclusion from your post is that Serotta should have hired you. You reinforced my opinion of AR's bar tape that I came away from the Ramble/TdFL with (I want some) while making me laugh my ass off. What more could a marketing team possibly ask for?

The regard to the rest of my comments, I just want to see a demonstration of your skills by provoking a gang fight at the next big Serotta get together.

I posted the image because CyclingNews incorporated AR's increasingly universal word into the caption, but I think it looks more like what my helmet will look like with my decapitated head inside if I don't learn to keep my mouth shut, as opposed to a transformer head.

:crap: Lew :crap:

[Ahneida Ride]

Hey Lew

Uncle William makes me look like Pee Wee Herman ! :p :) :rolleyes: :beer:

http://www.pedalpushersonline.com/images/peewee_02.jpg

[FMS_rider]

Hey Lew

Uncle William makes me look like Pee Wee Herman ! :p :) :rolleyes: :beer:

"I know you are but what am I?" http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XOGWbzUM-y8 . :bike:

[William]

Don't let AR fool you. He wrote, produced, and starred in the definitive guide on "How To Fight Bears".


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uvrvxmZ0jVg


He'll only get scared if he sees me get a hold of a Ti top tube at any Serotta gathering factory tour..... :fight: .....which is probably why they don't have them anymore come to think of it. :D




William

[FMS_rider]

Don't let AR fool you. ... He'll only get scared if he sees me get a hold of a Ti top tube at any Serotta gathering factory tour..... :fight: .....which is probably why they don't have them anymore come to think of it. :D
William Lew to self: “don’t ever again forget to read this before responding to William’s posts” http://forums.thepaceline.net/showthread.php?t=32537 :eek:

To AR: this might seem like a hijack, but it's not because I would have no need for your bar tape if my arms and legs were ripped out of their sockets.

[Ahneida Ride]

Lew

God is merciful. William is really a sweetheart ! :p

Just DO NOT let him pick up sticks ! :no: :help: :eek: ;)

We all missed the Big Guy at the TdFL. :crap:

[William]

Lew

God is merciful. William is really a sweetheart ! :p

Just DO NOT let him pick up sticks ! :no: :help: :eek: ;)

We all missed the Big Guy at the TdFL. :crap:


Hey AR, remember at the 05 Open House when Serotta James tried sneaking away with one of my sticks?? He "was" such a kidder..... ;)

http://www.azurs.net/photomoteur/images/20070424130818_sow-ousmane-african-fighters-sticks-sculpture.jpg


I'm sorry I couldn't make it myself. I got the brand new Zanconato Belgium Berserker cross kit I wanted to show you guys. It's a little heavy so you won't save time, but you'll have them jumping off the cross course ahead of you. I'll save it for the next one. :D

http://i157.photobucket.com/albums/t65/pbrown33/c055.jpg




William