Cult became more widely known when President Bush rode your bike home. What is the background story? It started twelve years ago in a small bicycle shop in Idrija, Čuk. In those days it was difficult to buy a good mountain bike. It was easier to go to Italy for...
Cult became more widely known when President Bush rode your bike home. What is the prequel?
It started twelve years ago in the small Idrija bicycle shop Čuk. In those days it was difficult to buy a good mountain bike. It was easier to go to Italy to get good components and build a bike. And so it began. In the first years, the choice was small and we were unknown. Well, in recent years there have been successes. Even George Bush rides our bike (laughs).
How long is the journey from the vision to the pedals turning?
It depends on the complexity of the project. We are currently in the middle of preparations for next year. The normal journey from idea to product is one year. However, certain models, especially full-suspension and carbon bikes, can take two, three or four years.
Is bike making manual or industrial?
We do everything by hand. In winter, when there is less demand, we prepare the components so that during the season manual production works smoothly. We don't work on a line, but each of our guys builds a bike completely. We make somewhere between ten and twenty bikes a day.
You make racing, road, mountain and trekking bikes. What makes Cult bikes different from others?
In contrast to others, we place great emphasis on the fact that all components are in the same quality class and the bike as a whole is a quality product. We are unique in that we are custom made, to order. We do nothing in advance. Customers design their own bike as desired, and only then is the bike assembled. We also have a device called Cult fitting. We measure the person and assemble the bike perfectly adapted to his construction. Even a two-meter basketball player can ride comfortably on the Cult. An order and measurement are required before purchase, so I always say our bikes are not for impulse buyers.
What kind of people are they intended for?
To those who know what they want. Who dedicate themselves to buying a bike and who want to have a bike for a long time. Generationally, we have a bike for someone who would like to go to the Olympic Games and for a lady who likes to ride safely and comfortably to the store. We already had a children's collection of Cultko bikes in our offer and we are currently in the middle of preparations for a new collection...
Are the right materials the most important for a quality bike, maybe the shape, the look itself or all of them?
I think the most important thing is geometry and comfort on the bike, correct posture. Otherwise, design is very important for women's bikes and we devote a lot of time to it. In a technical sense, appearance is the least important. The frame is the soul of the bike and if it is not of good quality, the bike does not have the right driving characteristics.
How about cycling trends, do they change as fast as fashion?
Design trends are similar to those in the automotive industry. At the moment, the white color is a hit, but in advance they predict that it is worth remembering the circles. In terms of materials, iron dominated fifteen years ago, then it was replaced by aluminum, and today the biggest trend is carbon. The weight of the wheels is always lower.
Your bikes have covered the RAAM race, the race across Alaska...What event or award was the best confirmation that you are doing well?
It was 2008 that showed the good work of the last ten years. It all happened in three months. First of all, the country donated our bike to President Bush, which is a great endorsement. We were at the Olympics. Seven riders were on our bikes at the World Championships. World military cycling champion Kristjan Koren rode our bike. In downhill, we were national champions for the third time in a row.
Which global bike manufacturers are worth highlighting and which riders?
Recently, I have been looking at the American brand Specialized, which makes high-end bikes and components. Among the cyclists, I think Lance Armstrong is one of the most positive personalities and a great cyclist. I would like to single out two road cyclists who have a bright future in cycling. These are Kristjan Koren and Borut Božič.
Do you still have the will to cycle in your spare time?
The last few years have been worse from a cycling point of view. That's why last year the three of us made a bet on who would cover three thousand kilometers first, and that was a good motivation for training. Our goal is also to come to work by bicycle as often as possible.
Where do you like to ride a bike, which cycling routes do you recommend and at what point is a culinary break?
Spring is ideal for cycling trips around the Karst. When you drive through the vineyards and when everything is already in bloom... In the spring it is even warmer in the Karst than by the sea and there are no crowds on the Karst roads. Finally, there is a mandatory rest at the Ostrouška inn in Coljava, where it smells of prosciutto in terano sauce...
