We have been hard at work planning the 2009+ (the ‘+’ is because it’s not seasonal, more like when the new kit will hit the shelf) line which will go into the sewing shop at the start of December. Nice eh? As a side project, we have also been working on a small range of ‘chi-chi’ bike bits. Nothing fancy but cool little things that smile and cost you some beer money. We want some, so it must mean they’re cool.

After a lot of back and forthing with our friends with the CNC shop, we had a design worked out and a base cost that was totally viable. It’s fallen on its face though after we got the pricing back from the anodisers (not one but several), which go beyond outrageous, even the CNC shop is not amused. Basically, it’s like these guys don’t want to work and unless we’ve missed something, Australia was not a hotbed of anodised machined parts the last time we checked, so one would think that they’d want the work.

So what to do? We know we have contacts in Taiwan that can make the parts to spec, faster and cheaper than anyone can locally but that’s not our ‘thing’ here at Lab-Gear; keeping it local though is. But what does one do? Not make something they know people would really like because the locals are incapable of wanting to provide a reasonalbe service, OR ditch what you believe in and get it done offshore?

A conundrum….