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What do you get
when you mix experiences in skiing, dirtbikes, rally cars, cross
country and downhill mountain bike racing? Add to this years
of experience in bike stores, frame building in the Mountain
Cycle factory in the US, a degree in industrial design, a US
and Australian patented rear suspension design and ongoing research
and development? There is no need to elaborate further...just
remember the name Ethos Bikes.
BIKEsutra: Describe
how Ethos bikes came about?
Peter Guenther: After breaking the third frame of
brand X, I wanted another F/S bike but at the time ('91-'92)
nothing was available on the market that fit the bill. I dreamed
wouldn't it be great if I could build exactly what I want.
BIKEsutra: Have you
been a bike builder all your life?
Peter Guenther: No, on the contary, I've broken bikes
all my life...the only ones I didn't break were a 40+lb steel
dualie BMX I begged for when I was 8, and the first one I built,
40lb carbon dualie. My parents told me it (BMX)was too heavy,
and every one told me the carbon one was too heavy, but it seem
that's (40+lbs) what it takes to make them last. Oh yeh, and
my present ride a 2yr old FR7.
"...the
suspension is what Ethos is really all about."
BIKEsutra:
What is your background?
Peter
Guenther: Grew up ski racing (Dad's passion) and dirt
biking (my passion)and sailboarding. Always made/fixed (well
it's my story) stuff. Progressed to rally cars. Started a
degree as a professional writer (naive dreams of becomming
a motoring journo, besides, I can't spell). Discovered being
unfit was no fun, especially as an asmatic when I nearly drowned
sailboarding. Bought a road bike, discoverd endorphins, how
to 'bonk' and tedium. Blew the writing course off after 2nd
yr to drive Snowcats in different locations around the world
(USA'n Europe = 4yrs of winter). Became exposed to real Mtn
Biking in Tahoe California. Rode a whole heap on snow. Probably
was the first person in Australia to be kicked off the ski
lifts for riding with a bike (in winter) on the mountain.
Realised there was more to life than living out of a backpack
and leaving really cool girls behind. Applied for a place
to study Indusrtial Design at the University of Canberra,
and got in ('92). Raced XC (and some early DH) only to realise
there is ALWAYS some faster. Learnt how to design, and made
my first bike for the final major design project for the design
degree.
 BIKEsutra:
Describe the very first bike you built.
Peter Guenther: Big, black carbon monocoque dualie.
6+" rear travel, long travel(ha ha) 3" Judy DH forks,
riser bars etc. Now I think about it, it's right on the money
for a freeride bike...
BIKEsutra: What did
you like and hate about it?
Peter Guenther: The rear suspension was fantastic,
after a bout of revisions. The frame was stiff as all get out.
The rear suspension was fantastic. It looked way cool (from
a distance). The rear suspension was fantastic. Nobody had anything
like it. The rear suspension was fantastic. I made it. The rear
suspension was fantastic. Did I say the rear suspension was
fantastic??? No bob, biopaceing, active while braking, and plush.
It
weighed a ton. It was rough(ly made), because I used a male
foam mould to save time (14 weeks from concept to first ride)
making patterns, moulds blah blah blah (this was my first experience
with composites and machining too). Front deraileur performance/access.
Head angle too steep and BB too low (what if I put a modern
6-7" fork on it???). Patents cost a fortune. I still have
to work a day job to live (pay for Ethos?)
"Rear
suspension that works all the time. No lockouts or travel limiting
devices, no funky damping. Forget the gimicks of marketing, just
real world performance for dirt riding."
BIKEsutra: So the main focus was on the suspension?
Peter Guenther: Yeh, the suspension is what Ethos is
really all about. That's where the design brief started, design
a mtn bike suspension that didn't bob, biopace or lockout during
pedaling and/or braking.
BIKEsutra: What made
you decide to make the switch to aluminium frames instead of
carbon?
Peter Guenther: Practicality. Carbon is expensive
and difficult to work with. Galvanic corrosion is a pain in
the arse (the frame is effectively a battery if carbon and aluminium
are allowed to contact, with the aluminium corroding, braking
the adhesion between carbon and hard insert eg headtube/BB/pivot/seat
tube. A different mould is required for each size/ geometry,
model etc. Catstrophic failure mode. Al. always cracks first
so if you pay attention you know your bike is unhealthy. Al
is light, stiff, gives a good service life, versitile/workable.
BIKEsutra: Do you think
there will ever be a carbon Ethos bike in the near future?
Peter Guenther: NO!
BIKEsutra: How much support did you
get from the Australian frame building industry?
Peter Guenther: No, only Peter Teschner of Ti Sports
(Teschner Bikes)really .
BIKEsutra: Looking
back, if there was one form of support that you deem as important,
what would it be?
Peter Guenther: Money. Without it you can't do anything.
It is a huge grovel tring to make the simplest things happen.
Working 70-90hr weeks for 6yrs has been hell on my riding time.
 BIKEsutra:
Describe the mission and vision behind Ethos Bicycles.
Peter Guenther: Rear suspension that works all the
time. No lockouts or travel limiting devices, no funky damping.
Forget the gimicks of marketing, just real world performance
for dirt riding. It's all about riding. Chasing lap times on
XC loops, play riding, whatever...yep, it's about enjoying your
riding.
BIKEsutra: What is
a "custom" bike mean to you?
Peter Guenther: Providing a service and enabling
foot hold into the market where the big players don't really
go.
BIKEsutra: What are
three of the biggest obstacles you have faced during your career
as frame builder?
Peter Guenther: 1.Lack of working capital. 2.'Closed
shop' attitude in the bicycling industry in Australia (exceptions-Rob
Eva of SRAM, Peter Teschner, and the Dirtworks crew.) Availability
of materials (suitable to make bikes) in Australia. If you want
to build a house, no problem, timber, bricks, concrete...special
grades of al. think again.
BIKEsutra: What are
your primary markets at the moment?
Peter Guenther: Canberra. People who can get to ride
the bikes understand they work. Otherwise it's just more unproven
claims..no bob..blah, blah..People aren't prepared to pay $5500-$7500
without being able to kick the tyres. Proof is hundreds of emails
asking how much, where can I ride one, but I build only about
1 bike every 6 weeks or so. I'll build most formats of Mtn bikes,
so long it is a dual suspension. Don't do road bikes or hard
tails.
BIKEsutra: Which markets would you
like to reach?
Peter Guenther: The rest of Australia, the US, Europe,
Japan...Also if I could lisence the suspension design to other
manufactures and see them explore the advantages, that would
be cool.
BIKEsutra: As the company
grows, would there be an option for outsourcing the production?
Peter Guenther: Absoultely! If they can meet my requirements,
why not?
BIKEsutra: How will
that impact the way you are doing business now?
Peter Guenther: Every facet, hopefully I can make
a living form the idea and make fantastic Mtn bikes that people
can afford. Give me time to ride by employing people to do book
work and chase parts and sweep the workshop floor...
BIKEsutra: What else
does Peter Guenther do besides producing sweet bike frames?
Peter Guenther: Work for an Areospace company in Queanbeyan
NSW designing military opto/electronic sights, you know 'run
of the mill' laser rangefinders, thermal cameras, night vision,
corrected ballistic aim points, makes ever gunner a sharp shooter.
Did I say I'm a hypocritical passifist that will sell (has sold)
my soul to make bikes?. Dream of being able to afford a performance
car, the old Subie is reliable but SLOW, a new Subie WRX hatch-
fits bikes and dog, a dirt (moto) bike to ride, learn how to
ski again, design cool furniture.
"Why
have 4" trail bike when 6.75" is possible?"
BIKEsutra:
Tell us something about yourself that we don't already know.
Peter Guenther: I haven't drunk alcohol since about
'91. Makes my stomach too fat and my wallet too flat. Besides,
I'm too slow already.
BIKEsutra: How is your
suspension design different from others?
Peter Guenther: The geometry. The seat stay rocks
across the end of the chainstay forward and above the rear axle.
The angle between rocker pivots and seat stay/chainstay pivot
is ~90deg with sag. The chainstay closely mimicks the arc the
chain swings during suspension movement...So the suspension
doesn't pull chain during articulation, the balance between
change of center of gravity, suspension activity , and drivetrain
torque is sweet, meaning the suspension position is neutural
during acceleration. The shock is out of harms way. The seatpost
is not obstructed by suspension components. Its is laterally
stiff (without a multitude of pivots at the front of the linkages
to get sloopy with the slightest wear)
 BIKEsutra:
What are the benefits?
Peter Guenther: Plush, long travel that pedals. Why
have 4" trail bike when 6.75" is possible? Or a 2-3"
XC bike when over 4 works?
BIKEsutra: Any insights
as to the next bike that you might be producing?
Peter Guenther: Better, faster, stronger, and hopefully
more affordable.
BIKEsutra: Where would
Ethos bikes (like to) be in five years?
Peter Guenther: Beating the Americans at their own
game...
BIKEsutra: Any supporters
of Ethos bikes out there that you'd like to say
something to?
Peter Guenther: My customers, aformentioned suppliers,
Lisa my partner for putting up with my single minded never ending
focus on Ethos, Thanks.
BIKEsutra: If you had
to use only one word to describe Ethos bikes, what would it
be?
Peter Guenther: 'dirty'
BIKEsutra: Describe the passion that
drives you to do what you do.
Peter Guenther: Boardering on manical, blind faith
I'll get there. The suspension works.
BIKEsutra: What advice
do you have for aspiring bike frame builders out there?
Peter Guenther: Be sure you want what you wish for...It's
a tough road to follow (better have good suspension)
BIKEsutra: Peter, thank you so much
for this interview and all of us here wish you and Ethos Bikes
all the best for the future! |
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Bikes:
Climbmax
Free Radical (FR/Trail)
Free Radical Gravity (DH/Trail)
Gravel Goddess (Everything!)
ChVisit Ethos Bikes
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