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MARCH - FEATURED PROFILE

Each month we try to highlight a different Company, Rider, or Videographer/Photographer from the Industry. If you have questions you would like answered by an industry fave or maybe you would like to be featured by TheDirtyWheel, contact us HERE. Now sit back and enjoy a glimpse inside the industry.

INTENSE PLEASURE
A HANDS ON LOOK AT THE COMPANY AND THE "MAN" IN MANUFACTURING - INTENSE CYCLES and JEFF STEBER

Type "INTENSE" into your web browser and you may be surprised to find that INTENSE CYCLES in Temecula, Ca. is the first thing to pop up. Yes it comes up before the definition itself, and about a million sites with adult references. Intense - adjective 1. existing or occurring in a high or extreme degree: intense heat. 2. acute, strong, or vehement, as sensations, feelings, or emotions. We wont go as far as to say they are redefining the word, but the name owner Jeff Steber chose is appropriate. One of the things that was most impressive to us, was Jeff's commitment to support and grow local economy when other traditional U.S. frame builders continue to move to outsourcing in light of falling profit margins. This commitment is evident in the photos below of the HAAS machinery they switched over to since it was made in the U.S.A. and has a good reputation. Almost all aspects that INTENSE doesn't handle in house from cardboard for bike boxes, powder coating, and anodizing is done by local companies that in some cases Jeff has helped grow by exclusively contracting Intense's business through..

1. Intense Cycles started as grassroots as one can get with owner Jeff Steber building frames by hand on a kitchen table in Lake Elsinore. Now in 2012 Intense still prides itself on building bikes with superior handmade quality but in much larger quantities. Tell us a little bit about the size and scope of Intense Cycles the business.
We usually make between 10-20 frames per day here in our factory at Intense. Everything for the Aluminum frames is done in this building with the exception of powder coating and anodizing. ED.- An article in the newspaper earlier this year focused on their desire/need for expansion based on their current 5 million dollars a year in annual sales.

2. Mountain Biking technology has been rapidly changing with everything from axle combinations to headtube sizes , etc. Does Intense focus a lot of R&D on innovation or more towards perfecting existing standards? What do you guys feel is the next major step forward for bike technology?
It is easy for me to walk into my creative space, and fabricate a frame, heat treat it, and ride it. This makes it very easy to fine tune bikes, test new ideas, new trends, customize team bikes, and whatever I need to do to keep our bikes ahead of the curve for ride quality and design. When ever we see a need to make a running change to improve our bikes, it can be done in a day [for small changes] and then be ready for production the next.
Jeff told us the industry is going to make a big push for 650b. He said that unlike the 29er which hit the marketplace with very little manufacturing support from forks to tires, etc. The 650B is being developed and supported on a lot larger scale which could help it be accepted and integrated into the market more readily.

3. How long does it take to build a bike after the customer places their order? How many bikes does Intense generally build in a week?
One frame will be in the weld process for 2 days, heat treating for 3 days, powder coating for 5 days, and assembly for 2 days. We can weld 10-20 per day, and the CNC machines run non stop popping out the little bits and pieces that go into making a frame. Quite often we have raw inventory on the shelf waiting to be powder coated, or assembled in our Works Raw color option. But if a consumer puts in an order for a popular frame model that we have sold out of, the frame gets put into the weld schedule with other frames of the same model, once the welders get to welding that frame model [within 1 week] it will be 12 days before it ships out to the new owner.

4. One of the recent moves that seemed to create quite a stir was the release of the Uber bikes - the Carbine and the Carbine SL. What was the decision like for Intense to break with tradition and have a frame built outside of not only the Temecula headquarters, but the U.S.A. as well?
It was a tough decision to take. I like to build things, I don’t like to get other people to do my work, but in this case there was no other choice. And the market really demands Carbon Fiber frames. Carbon Fiber materials and manufacturing have evolved so far, and are now so widely accepted by most riders of this world. To some people it has replaced Aluminum as the ‘high end’ frame.

5. Tell us who has been the most famous/infamous visitor to the Intense Factory other than “rockstar/man of a million hats/Brand Ambassador” Scott Sharples?
Many Moto riders, Shaun Palmer, Rock stars, and The future President ...
ED. - We are not sure if INTENSE has plans to take over the world as the "FUTURE PRESIDENT" comment left us confused as well.

TheDirtyWheels Shawn McDonald, Bike Icon Scott Sharples

TheDirtyWheel's Shawn McDonald questioning Industry Icon Scott Sharples ... Bro-mantic?!

6. Speaking of Scott Sharples, and all his diverse/extensive industry experience , how is Intense capitalizing on the knowledge that he brings to the table?
Apart from being well known in the industry, Scott has a good mechanical background, and his knowledge of bikes, how to ride them and how to build them all makes for a good combination to get him out there and represent what Intense stands for. He was racing when Intense ran the big factory race team, he appreciates what makes Intense special.

7. A lot of readers are curious about whether or not Intense Cycles has a Racers Program . How active is Intense in the grassroots racing scene and what can we expect from you guys in 2012?
We try to support as many racers as possible, on the World Cup scene, US national scene, and on the many local scenes. Ideally we would see grass roots teams run through dealers, so we can help the shops run race teams, and everybody would benefit. Our frames are in such high demand that the biggest problem we have is the availability of frames. That’s why each Intense owner is ‘special’ to us, when you buy 1 of the 12 frames we make per day, you join a very special club.

A customers order nearing completion at an assembly station

Alright... 2 questions out of left field…

A. When we visited JensonUSA we were amazed at the sheer volume of dead Rockstar and Monster cans. What fuels the crew here in Temecula, Energy Drinks or Coffee? B. Everyone in the warehouse calls in sick one day (Out Riding) you call a temp agency and all they have available is Oompa Loompas or Keebler Elfs, which one? Why?
I think each office has their own coffee pot. But there are a few baggers around. definitely Oompa Loompas, they have better taste in music.

8. With all the cool fabrication equipment and talented people here at Intense Cycles, have you guys ever created some kind of Frankenstein fabrication?
The infamous '69', and the famous 251, to name a few.

9. Before we go, can you share with our readers what the process of creating the newest Intense bike offering is like from concept to production? How many prototypes on average - tweaks, time involved, etc. - before it comes to life with the seal of approval?
Sometimes I nail a beautiful ride-able bike in 1 hit but on average it takes a few attempts. The jigs I work with are great, I have made so many frames and I like doing it so much, that I don't consider it work.