Argo Parts Philosophy
I was explaining the philosophy we use to select materials and parts to a friend.
He found it really compelling to understand.
Background
My first bike was a Schwinn Predator BMX bike with chrome, mag wheels and pads. I saved up for a little over a year to get it. What I loved most about it was riding it. My second favorite thing was the attention I got from it.
20 years later, I had a bike shop. We carried a range from fancy stuff down to some cheap stuff. But right there in the middle, there was a happy option that stuck out at me very clearly. This "medium range" was a dramatic step up in quality, without a jump in price. It seemed there was effectively no loss in performance for people who just wanted to ride.
I began seeking that middle ground in every single bike, part and accessory. It was one of our secrets to success.
Choices
When building a product such as the Argo Cargo Kit, we almost always have a choice in levels (and cost) of product. Starting from the cheapest with bottom quality, a little more money typically means more durability. After durability, more money gets you more performance. After performance, you move on to weight reduction. Then you are buying exclusivity.
Cargo bikes are supposed to be tough, they are supposed to work and they are not supposed to be lightweight (necessarily).
The Best Parts are the Ones You Never Have to Notice
I was once stopped on a trail by a fellow rider and asked "what do you think of that stem?". I replied, "It must be good because I haven't noticed it.".
When it comes to our expectations of the Argo, we don't want to sacrifice durability or performance. On the other hand, low weight and exclusivity are specifically not what we are trying for. The trick is also that we want this to be affordable; That makes this a little harder.
We have chosen to use Aluminum for the frame and Chromoly steel for the fork. The reasons are technical, but in essence: We could build a more durable Argo from these materials without losing ride quality and usability.
As for parts, we reconsidered every single item on the new model and chose durable, precise and repairable components as a rule. We did not worry about weight.
The exception to this is our choice in rim. Having a heavy rim is a terrible idea because that makes any bike NOT FUN TO RIDE. So, we will always spend a little more to have a nicer rim.
So, for every part on the Argo, we look for a way to not sacrifice on durability and get as much precision (great function, zero frills) as possible. From tires to brakes to skewers to headsets, we are making choices on a line from garbage to boutique racer levels.
If you stop a person who is riding and ask them "How do you like that hub?" they will definitely have to think about it for a while. The only hub
Putting It All Together
I recently bought a trail bike that I love. The reason I love this bike is that the least expensive kit follows our same philosophy. As it turns out, I very much do not care anymore whether someone is impressed with the parts I have on my bike. But I very much still care about riding it with a big smile.
Future Options
We hope to offer levels of product at some point in the future. This means that extra money will buy better performance and higher durability. Perhaps carbon rims are in our future.