2016 - An awesome year for Pello

WOW what a year 2016 was!  We had so many wonderful milestones during 2016 directly attributed to all the little ones that found our bike and have fallen in love with them.   These are some of the milestones that we are grateful for and could not have achieved them without the support from our Pello community all across the US.

  • After approximately 4 years of designing, developing and testing our bikes we successfully launched Pello bikes for sale in May of 2016.  Right from the beginning people loved our bikes and felt a need to provide their children with a better bike.
  • We let reviewers see our bikes for the first time and the response has been overwhelmingly positive.
  • We can only smile when we receive praises from parents who purchased a Pello for their child.   It makes us feel so good that all our work in making these bikes is paying off, kids are learning to ride on our bikes and that is awesome!
  • We traveled to a lot of events in 2016, big and small, and set up our test track. It’s been so great to see little ones taking flight for the first time on our bikes!
  • We are still logging miles on our very first prototypes; in fact our very 1st Rover is pushing 500+ miles from being passed around to friends and testers.  We are happy to report that it is still going strong!
  • We have successfully sold out of the Revo and are very limited on others!  Stock will be replenished this Spring.

Looking forward to 2017

  • In 2017 we will welcome Ripple and Reyes to the Pello Family.  Still in development, these two new additions will be the smallest (balance) and biggest (24”) bikes in our lineup.  We are so excited to release them into the world for kids to learn, ride and smile as they engage in the magic of riding a bicycle.
  • We will be traveling to more events across the country in 2017 with our test track.
  • We will be launching new cool things for sale on our website including new t-shirt designs, jersey’s, exclusive in-house designed prints and many more cool things.
  • We will launch our “Loyalty” Program where members of the Pello family will receive cool things and get discounts on future Pello bike purchases.

We could not have been successful without the support and help from our family and friends; we truly thank them for all they have contributed.

Thank you again to all of those who have supported us in making 2016 such a great year, we look forward to making 2017 even better!

 

Smile, Ride, Repeat.

Shane & Chris

 

 

 

Free Shipping now thru Sunday (11/27/16)

Free Shipping & Cool Helmets

Looking to get a jumpstart on this holiday season?  Pello has your wheel.  


Use code PelloFreeShip at checkout and get free shipping on your next Pello, now through Sunday when you order from our Bike Shop at pellobikes.com. 

We are a local small buisness and we support other local small businesses so in addition to free shipping we also have 2 super cool I am RVA helmets to give away for the first peeps who tell us they want them.  Simply say, "Helmet Please" in the custom fit section durring checkout and the first 2 orders gets them!  They are size extra small for itty bitty heads.  XS are for heads 18-20 inches around (47-51 cm).  Remember these helmets have a mission.

Thank you again for your support and we look forward to seeing you on the trail, street, sidewalk, park or wherever you may ride :)!

 

Another Great Review of the Revo!

Often times kids bikes are heavy, have components that aren't always the best, and are a pain to fix when they break. It's always been beyond me why kids bikes are always made so heavy. We received one of Pello Bikes kid's bikes. The Revo to be exact. It's not your average kids bike. Check out the review of it below. This bike sure has made one kid happy. Now his siblings want one... Read more

Bikes available in West Virginia

We are proud to announce that New River Bikes in Fayetteville, WV now carries our little bikes.  New River Bikes isn't your typical bike, they carry an eclectic array of bikes and accessories not found in most bike shops...Pello fits right in :)  

Fayetteville is famous in the outdoor community for its location to the New River where you can paddle, ride a bike, or jump off the bridge!  During the annual Bridge Day you will find people doing all sorts of fun things on and around the 800' high bridge.

Make some time and visit the shop and check out the cool vibe from the town, all while checking out Pello Bikes!

Bikes in Stock!

Well it's been a long and fun journey to get to the point of having our bikes in stock and ready for little feet and hands to make them move!  

During this time we have developed the bikes to a point where we feel they really are the "Ultimate Kids Bike".  We have gone through countless prototypes, several trips to various factories and worked with consultants in the bike industry to find that right combination of quality & craftsmanship we expect at the right price for our customers.  All said this process has taken about 3+ years to achieve.  When we started we thought it would be relatively simple to produce the bikes, however, once we really got into the meat of making a new bike brand it was a little more involved.  Which is a good thing, just like kids learning to ride a bike, when the time is right they let you know, we to have taken our time to really think about how the bikes should be designed and started from the ground up to create each of our 4 models.  We hope that you will find all the details in our bikes to be well thought out and most importantly help your little one experience the joy of cycling!

Please feel free to check us out and give us a spin!

 

Pello now available at Outpost Richmond

We are proud to announce that our bikes are now available at the Outpost Richmond!

 

 

A little about the Outpost:

The shop is located on the Southside of the James River and is adjacent to some of the best Trails in the Richmond area.  Besides being a great bike shop the also carry awesome food, think of small corner market in NYC.  

The bike shop specializes in bikes for the everyday meaning they carry bikes that mom, dad and the little ones can all ride together.  

All in all a great shop in a great location!  

Check out their website to find out more and check out a Pello!

http://outpostrichmond.com/

Cranksets, Worth the weight?

Why are the cranksets important to a child's bicycle?

Pello Custom Crankset (chainguard and pedals removed for photo)

Pello Custom Crankset (chainguard and pedals removed for photo)

While we are patently waiting on our bikes to hit our doorstep this spring we thought we would share some of the elements that make up our crankset design since it is the component we have been working so hard to create.  

Many factors are important when thinking about a crankset, especially for your child to fit properly on the bike.  We at Pello think of the cranks as the "Center" of the bike as they perform a very important task, they transfer our energy into the bike and make us go forward.  There are about as many crank designs out there as there are fish in the sea, how is a Pello crank different?  Some of the key things to think about when choosing the right bike for your child with regards to the crankset.  Length, Width, Compatibility, Material, Gearing, Aesthetics and of course Weight.  Lets look at each of these:

Crank length is too long (source: bikeCAD)

Crank length is too long (source: bikeCAD)

Length - You will notice that each of our bikes have a different crank arm length depending on the model.  This is because each is designed to fit the rider for that size bike.  The length of the crank arm is an important measurement because it determines in large part how comfortable you little one will be on the bike.  Have you ever seen kids riding a bike and their knees are hitting their chest when they are seated?  Unfortunately this is a common issue on a lot of lesser expensive bikes and can mean that the cranks are too long.  More often than not cheap children's bikes source their parts from larger bikes because smaller sized parts are more expensive and not as readily available.  In fact we have had to create our own manufacturing molds for our cranksets.  Riding in this position is very unnatural, uncomfortable and isn't considered an efficient pedal stroke because the position of the leg is too compressed throughout the pedal stroke.  The ergonomics of the bike should be comfortable and feel right not awkward or unnatural. A general rule of thumb while seated is that the knee should have a slight bend at the bottom of the pedal stroke and the thigh should be slightly less than parallel to the ground at the top of the pedal stroke (please check out the image).  There are some exceptions to this rule like BMX style bikes which have long crank arms to generate more power over a short distance when racing on a BMX track (in general BMX bikes are meant to be ridden standing up, not seated).  A longer crank arm can also lead to the pedal hitting the ground while leaning the bike into a turn.  The "Lean Angle" is also an important factor in the length of the crank arms.  When going into a turn an experienced rider will move the pedal to the high side and lean into the turn to avoid the pedal hitting the ground.  However, children are still learning to ride and will often pedal continuously through a turn.  Having a shorter crank arm not only fits better but also increases the lean angle allowing children to lean further into a turn and still pedal without hitting the ground and causing a crash.  Please refer to the image for a better idea of lean angle.

(source: sheldenbrown.com)

(source: sheldenbrown.com)

Width - The width of the cranks is often referred to as the "Q-Factor".  This dimension is basically measured from pedal to pedal and is another very important measurement because, like the length of the cranks, it allows children's legs and feet to be properly aligned with their hips as they ride creating a more comfortable and efficient pedal stroke.  Think about it this way, if I try to walk with my legs spread wide it is uncomfortable, inefficient and doesn't allow my feet to align properly with my hips and I probably won't walk very far without getting tired or sore.  Conversely if I walk normal with my legs and feet lining up with my hips I can walk for hours and still be comfortable.  This same analogy is true for pedaling, if your knees and feet are in-line with your hips then you are pedaling more efficiently and ultimately more comfortable.   Ok, so how does this work for kids?  Our cranks are custom designed with a low Q-Factor of 140mm compared to most other children's bikes that have adult Q's of 150 or in some cases more than 160mm.  Kids have little hips so they need a smaller Q than what we need.  Similar to the crank length most of the less expensive bikes have a wider Q because of availability and cost.   One way to see it in action is to watch your little one from behind as they pedal, if they look "bow-legged" then you know that the Q-Factor is too wide.

Compatibility - Since our bikes are made from high quality parts it is important that the components are compatible with other parts on the market.  For example, if your little one's grand kids :) wear out the bottom bracket (the bearings that the cranks attach to) it is simple to replace.  Any quality bike shop stock's our bottom bracket type (sealed bearing and squared taper).  This means that the parts will last a very long time and if they wear out you can simply replace the part rather than tossing the whole bike because it is broke like a cheap bike where it may cost more for a bike shop in labor to fix than the bike is worth.

Material - Our cranksets are made from high grade aluminum that provides incredible strength combined with lightweight.  Additionally the aluminum will never rust.  Many high end cranksets such as Shimano XTR still use aluminum for these very reasons.  We extended the aluminum material to the chainrings as well making them lightweight and durable.

Gearing - Another important factor in crankset design is the gearing.  Children in particular need to have a gear that is both easy to pedal but not too easy that they spin out of it immediately.  Starting with the Romper we selected a gear that is easy to get going and doesn't go too fast on the top end.  This is an important gear selection for young riders making the transition from a balance bike to their first pedal bike.  We keep this same gearing philosophy all the way through to the Revo.  When we get to the Rover models we transition into more advanced gearing.  When your little one is ready for the Rover-S (S = small) they step up to a slightly larger gear on the single speed because they are a bit stronger and we want them to keep up with mom and dad on the Sunday family rides.  The Rover-S is also available in a 2 speed version allowing your little another gear to have fun with.  The 2 speed is pretty cool as it shifts into a high or low gear automatically thanks to the SRAM Automatix rear hub.  Once their ready for more gears the Rover is waiting to roll on with 7 speeds.  Unlike the Automatix they will get to learn how to shift on their own.  Shifting is very intuitive with the SRAM Gripshift, simply twist the wrist to change gears and they can go from uber easy to climb the steepest of hills or slightly harder to hang with mom and dad on the downhills.  

Aesthetics - Since we designed our very own custom cranks we wanted to make them look as good as they perform.  If you look at the cranks carefully you will notice how some areas are shiny and some are anodized this look gives our cranks a two-tone finish that is uncommon in a children's bike.  Additionally, notice the "indentation" in the crank arm, we do this to save weight by removing material that is not needed for strength.  Our cranks are customized to fit the overall look of your Pello Bike.

Custom Pello Crankset, low "Q-Fator" and two tone finish, standard on every Pello Bicycle.

Custom Pello Crankset, low "Q-Fator" and two tone finish, standard on every Pello Bicycle.

Lightweight - What would all these design features be if the cranks weren't lightweight?  We sweated all the details in material choice and design to make the cranks as lightweight as they could be and still be strong enough to last for years and years or for passing the bikes down through bothers and sisters everywhere.

Fun - What does all this mean?  Well if your child is more comfortable on the bike they will enjoy riding the bike longer and have more FUN!  Honestly, we really strive to create the right bike for your little one and while the cranks are simply one part of the bike we pay attention to each part as if it was our own, after all our kids ride these bikes too.

What makes Pello the Ultimate Kids Bike?

Thanks for all of the folks who made it out to the RVA Makerfest and checked out the bikes!  The question that was most popular was "Why is this the Ultimate Kids Bike?"  Please continue reading as there are several things that go into making the Ultimate Kids Bike:

Lifting the 16 lbs Revo

Lifting the 16 lbs Revo

Weight: Our bikes are very lightweight, in fact they are about 30% lighter than most "bike shop level" kids bikes and as much as 40-50% lighter than department store bikes.  What this means is:

  1. A lightweight bike allows kids to maneuver the bike easier, it takes less effort to move or control the bike.
  2. Easier to lift when approaching an obstacle.
  3. Easy to pick up and put on the bike rack.
  4. Easier for mom and dad to carry when the little ones don't want to ride home from the park.

 

Geometry is everything

Geometry is everything

Ride Right Geometry We designed our bikes in cooperation with a professional bike fitter and a professional bike builder to be easy efficient to maneuver.  We call this special mix of geometry and commentary Ride Right Geometry.  Why this is important:

  1. Easy & predictable turning.  Our bikes have a long wheelbase that means the bike will have a longer turning radius allowing children to take corners slow and wide.  
  2. Easy to balance.  Low center of gravity makes the bike is easier to balance and control.  Pello bikes have a low bottom bracket height that moves the weight closer to the ground, (the Bottom Bracket is the "virtual" center of the bike where all the frame tubes come together and where the pedals attached to the frame).  
  3. Legs fit.  Little hips and legs will fit properly on each Pello Bike. Each bike has it's own crank design that includes different crank arm lengths to match the size rider for that bike.  The "Q-Factor" or width between the pedals is as small as we can get it (no bow-legged riding).  
  4. Easy to maneuver.  Our handlebars aren't too wide.  Each Pello bike comes with it's own handlebar width depending on the model. 
  5. Easy to brake.  Brake levers are designed to be close to the grip so little fingers can reach them and they are easy to pull and operate.  
  6. Roll's easily.  Our wheels are light and durable and our hubs are ball bearing smooth.
  7. Feet feel confidant.  Our pedals are wide enough to accommodate a foot that "moves around" (we found that kids learning to ride often move their feet all over the pedal, our pedal offers room to accommodate that movement while keeping the foot on the pedal).  
  8. Comfortable to ride.  Our saddle (or seat) is designed to fit little bottoms.  Big saddles are cumbersome for leg movement while riding and are no more comfortable than a saddle that fits properly.
  9. Adjustability.  All of our bikes are fully adjustable to provide a custom fit for your child.  Things you can adjust; Saddle height, Saddle position fore-and-aft, handlebar height, handlebar position fore-and-aft.
Built to last and fit 

Built to last and fit 

Will last for generations:  Our frames are built with 6061 grade Aluminum that is as durable as it is lightweight.  All of our bikes are backed by a lifetime manufacture defect warranty on the frame and fork, 2 years on parts, that applies to the original purchaser.  Since all of our components are the same you might find in a quality bike shop they have not only been through our testing but are name brands that have stood the test of time.  Brands we use are: Cane Creek Headset, SRAM Shifters, Tektro Brakes, VP Pedals & BB, KMC Chains, Kenda Tires, Alex Rims, Cionlli Saddles.     

Fit and Checked:  We will take your child's measurements and adjust their bike to fit right before we ship it. Every bike is inspected and checked for quality and safety.

RVA Makerfest Chalkboard Gallery

We had an awesome day at the Makerfest a few weeks ago, as part of our booth there we had a chalk board so visitor could draw their own version of a PELLO. We had so many great artistic contributions we decided to put them up as a gallery, click through the below images and enjoy the artwork.

Progress Update

Update image

Hello from Pello!

Shane & Chris here with an update on the Ultimate Kids Bike.

  • Currently our focus is on finalizing the details for our cranksets.  We are working with a leading crank manufacture to design our own cranksets that will tighten up the Q-Factor (the distance between the pedals).  What this means is that the Cranks will be more proportioned to kids "hip" sizing making them fit better and have more fun riding.
  • Once we have the crankset's dialed in we are then going to have a final round of prototypes built to ensure everything is up to our standards.  It is our hope that we will have our prototypes in September.
  • We are also in the process of getting T-Shirts (kids and adult sizes), little water bottles, and stickers made and should have all of this by the end of August.  If you would like any of these items please let me know and we can work out the details on sizing, etc.
  • Provided all the details are worked out with the prototypes we are still hoping to have the first batch of bikes in December!!!
  • If anyone is going to be in Richmond, VA for the Worlds Road Racing Championships make sure you swing by and check us out at the Pop Up Revolution.  We will have bikes on hand for little ones to ride and cool things to give away! If you are in Richmond at anytime and want to check out a bike, just let us know and we'd be happy to let your little one take a spin.
  • We secured our Trademark of the name Pello!!!
  • Shane will be in Colorado on August 15 competing in the Leadville Trail 100 Mountain Bike Race.  If anyone is out that way and would like to chat about Pello let me know by responding to this email so we can connect!

We will continue to update you on our progress of bringing the Ultimate Kids Bike to market, thank you again for your support!

Please make sure to visit our Facebook page for updates.

Thanks again everyone, Life's and Adventure, Let's Ride!

Shane & Chris