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Where did you come from and what’s your BMX background?
I’ve been riding since I was 13 (I’m 30 now). I started working
at a bike shop in the Chicago area when I was 15. I spent a
year doing ramp shows with Eric Horrell, Jamie Spritzer and
Ryan Jackson, then I got hurt pretty bad and decided I wanted
to pursue a career in BMX that let me ride for fun and not for
financial survival. Now I ride about three or four nights a week
at various parks in WI and IL. I’ve been into the urban MTB
thing lately trying to transfer over my BMX skills.
What’s it like working there? Cool atmosphere? Corporate?
Working at Mo
ngoose is amazing; it has been great to stick
with the brand as it has evolved and changed owners from
Brunswick to Pacific Cycle. I think some people see us as being
this massive corporate company that is managed by non-
Where did you come from and what’s your bike background?
DS: I lived in Ohio for a good chunk of my life (they call us Buckeyes).
While in college there I got bit by the mountain bike bug pretty hard. I
decided to combine my passion for riding with an income. The fi rst step
was managing bike shops in the Columbus area. I then transitioned into
product development and sales to bike manufacturers with Kenda tires.
This eventually led me over to MONGOOSE. I guess through it all there
I’ve explored about every kind of cycling discipline; cross country,
downhill, freeride, road, trials, tandems, single speed, kind of the
renaissance bike life.
How long have you been with Mongoose?
DS: It doesn’t seem this long but I’ve been with Mongoose for about 3
years now.
What’s your “offi cial title?”
DS: Offi cially they call me a Senior Product Manager…I keep asking if the
senior part is because I’ve got gray hair at 37 year old. I’m told it’s
something about responsibility…right.
What are you responsible for?
DS: I work on the adult range of bike dealer level bikes for Mongoose. It
is a pretty broad range of product I work on, anything from dirt jump,
freeride and DH rigs to bikes to cruise the neighborhood with the family.
cyclists that wear suits to work each day. That’s not the case at
all; we’re a jeans-type-of-company and I’d say about 70% of the
people here ride on a daily basis. We’re based in Madison, WI,
so the relaxed, hard-working Midwest lifestyle is fundamental
here. Oh, and dogs are welcome in the office too; they are just
part of the family.
How much control do you have as to where the brand goes?
Brand strategy and direction is a company-wide decision.
What happens with the brand is a collective effort.
What are you responsible for?
I handle product design and specification for all MONGOOSE
B
MX; as well as select MONGOOSE Adult bikes.
How much input do you have on the product line?
I work with Sales and the customer to outline the general
product line-up by price point. From there, I have control
over the design and spec to fit the price. I also work with our
graphics team to arrange colors and decal styling for each
bike; I help guide the feeling, they make it look nice.
Where do you see the BMX industry in general headed?
We have to get kids out from in front of TVs and computers.
So stop reading this and go ride your damn bike!
M o n g o o s e P r o d u c t M a n a g e r I n t e r v i e w
*interview from BMX Business News 3-29-05, by James Ayres
Zero G
™
26
FRAME: All-New Heat Treated Alloy Jump-Style
FORK: SR/Suntour XCU, 80mm Travel
DRIVETRAIN: 21-Speed w/ Shimano Derailleurs, SRAM MRX
Twist Shifters, SR/Suntour XCC150 Alloy Crankset
BRAKES: Promax Linear Pull
WHEELS: Alloy Rims, 36h Hubs, Kenda Kinetics 2.35” Tires
COCKPIT: 75mm Rise Bar, Alloy A-head Stem, Steel Post &
MO
NGOOSE Jump-Style Saddle
Zero G
™
24
FRAME: All-New Heat Treated Alloy Jump-Style
FORK: SR/Suntour XCU, 50mm Travel
DRIVETRAIN: 7-Speed w/ Shimano Rear Derailleur, SRAM MRX
Twist Shifter, Prowheel 152mm Crankset w/ 36t Ring
BRAKES: Promax Linear Pull
WHEELS: Alloy Rims, 36h Hubs, Kenda Kinetics 2.35" Tires
COCKPIT: 75mm Rise Bar, Alloy A-head Stem, Steel Post &
MONGOOSE Jump-Style Saddle
Zero G
™
20
FRAME: All-New Heat Treated Alloy Jump-Style
FORK: SR/Suntour XCU, 40mm Travel
DRIVETRAIN: 7-Speed w/ Shimano Rear Derailleur, SRAM MRX
Twist Shifter, Prowheel 152mm Crankset w/ 36t Ring
BRAKES: Promax Linear Pull
WHEELS: Alloy Rims, 36h Hubs, Kenda Kinetics 2.35" Tires
COCKPIT: 75mm Rise Bar, Alloy A-head Stem, Steel Post &
MONGOOSE Jump-Style Saddle
How much input do you have on the product line?
DS: I have quite a bit of infl uence on the product line but I’ll say that this has
to come from listening to the riders and dealers, and paying attention to the
various markets around the world. I’ve got a super cool team of engineers,
graphic artists, factories, and parts makers that make it all mesh together.
We have some of the best testers in the world with the Mongoose
®
mountain bike team, too. All of this comes together towards bringing bikes
that are a blast to ride and we try to make it an awesome value.
Any formal education for what you’re doing now? If so, has it helped?
DS: I have a BA in Business Management that defi nitely comes into play
in many ways but a lot of the education required for what I do can only
come from paying your dues in the bike industry. All of my work
experiences and the single minded passion for bikes is what I’ll credit as
my extra educational experience.
What does a typical offi ce day consist of?
DS: I think that one of the best parts of what I do is that there is no such thing
as a typical day. I could be talking to Eric Carter in the morning, hitting up a
lunch ride to test the latest bike parts at noon, kicking around ideas with
marketing and sales in the afternoon, and talking to factories in Taiwan at
night. It is perfect for my personality to get into so many different things.
Where would you like to Mongoose in the next couple of years?
DS: I just want to keep our team focused on doing what we have been
doing and I think we will make an impact on the bike biz. We have a
“performance at a great value” attitude that we can keep bringing into all
kinds of areas of cycling. We love everyone in the bike tribe so you’ll
continue to see all kinds of interesting product to satisfi y dirt riders,
pavement pounders, and leisure riders alike.
What is the best part of your job?
DS: Geeking out on high end bike goodies ranks pretty high on the list but
I think the most rewarding part is to help make a new idea become a
complete bike, get to ride test it (work out the bugs), and then a few
months later see an online review from somebody that actually bought it
and likes it. I love testing every type of bike too; it’s important to us to
make sure somebody’s fi rst entry level bike works as good for their hard
earned money as the super high end rides. That’s a good day at work.
BRIAN BALDIS
mongoose product manager
DARREN SALSBURY
mongoose product manager