Singletrack
Our final stop was to see the sample frames being masked off for the two-tone paint. I was astounded to see three of Willing’s workers precisely taping off areas for the two-tone paint job with craft knives and tweezers to put the masking film exactly where it was needed. All by eye, referring to a colour printout of the frame. And this wasn’t the prototype production line. This was every single painted frame. Such hands-on work was surprising. Even after the frames came back from painting, the decals – stacked ready for each frame and colour – were applied by hand, by eye, with stickered stripes perfectly matching painted accents, indistinguishable from each other. A final ‘Saracen’ logo, again by eye, and the frame was ready for final clear coat and inspection. What now? That was the first sample run of a model-year process that takes around 18 months in total, from initial design to shop floor. Assuming that models from that sample run pass safety testing and Saracen’s approval, they will be air-shipped to the UK for final approval, test riding and both studio and trail photography for the 2018 brochure. They’ll then need to be presented to the dealers and press, ready for orders to be taken and reviews written. Meanwhile, there are the 2019 models waiting in the wings with their own set of challenges and component specs for products that haven’t been invented yet. Hand-laid decals go onto the painted frames. The final stage of the process. Shooting for the glossy catalogue. Photo: Saracen Bikes 22 Thanks to Saracen Bikes, who paid for the transport and accommodation on this trip.
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- Page 2 and 3: 2
- Page 4 and 5: 4
- Page 6 and 7: 6
- Page 8 and 9: 8
- Page 10 and 11: 10
- Page 12 and 13: Into China. A bleary, jet-lagged st
- Page 14 and 15: Wailing welding solos on the wah-wa
- Page 16 and 17: Building Boris. Our afternoon visit
- Page 18 and 19: Laying up the slices of carbon, rea
- Page 20 and 21: Final holes are drilled, post mould
- Page 24 and 25: JASON MILEs PHOTOGRAPHY ED ROLLASON
- Page 26 and 27: TRAIL HUNTER EXPLORES THOSE MUST-DO
- Page 28 and 29: That’s LegoLand down there in the
- Page 30 and 31: Soon to be railing corners on the w
- Page 32 and 33: We climb higher. Al leads the way,
- Page 34 and 35: 34
- Page 36 and 37: Pick a better day for weather, we d
- Page 38 and 39: Balls. The walkers, sensing blood,
- Page 40 and 41: RECOMMENDED HERE AT SINGLETRACK TOW
- Page 42 and 43: TROY LEE DESIGNS RAID KNEE PADS Pri
- Page 44 and 45: TOPEAK RATCHET ROCKET LITE NTX Pric
- Page 46 and 47: WORDS CHARLIE THE BIKEMONGER ROOM 1
- Page 48 and 49: KILLER HARDTAILS Wil and the crew r
- Page 50 and 51: KONA HONZO CR TRAIL DL Price: From:
- Page 52 and 53: 52
- Page 54 and 55: NUKEPROOF SCOUT 290 RACE Price: Fro
- Page 56 and 57: 56
- Page 58 and 59: TRILLION CYCLES PRIME Price: From:
- Page 60 and 61: 60
- Page 62 and 63: VERDICT In a marketing landscape th
- Page 64 and 65: ENDURO BAG “To finish first, you
- Page 66 and 67: 66
- Page 68 and 69: Bright coloured photo-gimp avengers
- Page 70 and 71: Bright enough for any weather. 70
Our final stop was to see the sample frames being masked<br />
off for the two-tone paint. I was astounded to see three of<br />
Willing’s workers precisely taping off areas for the two-tone<br />
paint job with craft knives and tweezers to put the masking<br />
film exactly where it was needed. All by eye, referring to a<br />
colour printout of the frame. And this wasn’t the prototype<br />
production line. This was every single painted frame. Such<br />
hands-on work was surprising. Even after the frames came<br />
back from painting, the decals – stacked ready for each frame<br />
and colour – were applied by hand, by eye, with stickered<br />
stripes perfectly matching painted accents, indistinguishable<br />
from each other. A final ‘Saracen’ logo, again by eye, and the<br />
frame was ready for final clear coat and inspection.<br />
What now?<br />
That was the first sample run of a model-year process that<br />
takes around 18 months in total, from initial design to shop<br />
floor. Assuming that models from that sample run pass safety<br />
testing and Saracen’s approval, they will be air-shipped to the<br />
UK for final approval, test riding and both studio and trail<br />
photography for the 2018 brochure. They’ll then need to be<br />
presented to the dealers and press, ready for orders to be taken<br />
and reviews written. Meanwhile, there are the 2019 models<br />
waiting in the wings with their own set of challenges and<br />
component specs for products that haven’t been invented yet.<br />
Hand-laid decals go onto the painted frames.<br />
The final stage of the process.<br />
Shooting for the glossy catalogue.<br />
Photo: Saracen Bikes<br />
22<br />
Thanks to Saracen Bikes, who paid for the<br />
transport and accommodation on this trip.