visited the Waterford/Gunnar factory!

[Beane]

MamaBeane and I visited the Waterford/Gunnar factory today and it was fun! We got to meet Gunnar the dog, see how the frames are made, and saw some beeeeeautiful bikes! There were also lots of older bikes (several different brands, not just Waterfords) getting restored, some of which were quite "funky" (MamaBeane's term).

Also found out an interesting piece of info: Waterford is now making Terry's Isis road bikes. We saw the first decal application onto the new frames. Very cool! (and quite pretty!)

...unfortunately there weren't any factory seconds lying around...

[mimitabby]

pictures? I didn't know the bike was named after a dog!

[sbctwin]

pictures? I didn't know the bike was named after a dog!

Me Neither!!!

[7rider]

I would have thought Gunnar had long since gone to the Bridge.
Yeah...where are pix???
I'd love to tour a bike manufacturer's site. My LBS owner got to see Sevens made, and that'd be cool.
Is the Isis steel? What are they using?

[Beane]

I am a total idiot and did not take pics. :-(

Gunnar was very much alive- greeting us at our car and looking for pets and attention throughout our tour. Very sweet dog.

According to terry's website, the isises (sp?) will be made out of Waterford's OS2, which I believe is mostly True Temper OX platinum.

http://www.terrybicycles.com/cycling_savvy/isispro.html

P.S. It looks like the Isis Pro and Isis Sport are identical except for gearing.

[Triskeliongirl]

Yeh, it was great to see that Georgena is returning to steel! I really thought that foray into aluminum was a mistake. At least it didn't last very long. I ride two older terry isis bikes, a 2003 steel (reynolds 853) and a 2005 titanium, and the geometry and frame materials both really suit me. The Isis is a great bike for gals with long legs and short upper bodies/arms.

[Bad JuJu]

That's so cool--I would LOVE to see the Waterford factory. I didn't know they make Gunnars too. I also didn't know they were building any Terry bikes, but I'm not surprised.

I met Georgena a couple of years ago, and got to ride with her a little bit. (Do you know she walks with crutches, but get her on a bike and watch her go!) I was riding my Waterford (that I got after someone had already ordered it and turned it down, so it kinda sorta almost fit well enough--and the price was right), and she spoke admiringly of Waterfords in general--had a high regard for them and their builders.

No pictures! But that just means you'll have to go back sometime.

[Thorn]

You got to see Gunnar? He wasn't there when I visited. His dish was, but he must have had the day off.

Waterford is making the Terry's? Cool! The large Terry frame is close enough to my geometry that I could use that as a backup bike...and for the price I paid just for my frame When I looked at them they were aluminum and I wanted to stay away from aluminum.

Don't feel bad, Beane, I also forgot to take pictures when I went, too, but, really, it would be hard to capture the spirit of the place, doncha think? Did Dave give you the tour?

[Triskeliongirl]

I met Georgena a couple of years ago, and got to ride with her a little bit. (Do you know she walks with crutches, but get her on a bike and watch her go!) .

I didn't know that. Do you know why she walks with crutches? Is it a neuromuscular disorder or was she recuperating from an accident?

[Bad JuJu]

I didn't know that. Do you know why she walks with crutches? Is it a neuromuscular disorder or was she recuperating from an accident?

I guess a lot of people probably don't know--in the occasional photos of her on her website she looks so fit.

She wore a brace on one leg, so I think it's a permanent/ongoing thing, though I didn't feel I knew her well enough to ask. My roommate during the tour knew her in college, and she suspected MS, but didn't seem to know for sure.

But ooh, baby, she sure can ride a bike. I try to think of her whenever I've got a whiney sore muscle or aching joint that's beginning to make me feel sorry for myself--sure puts those little things into perspective.

[elk]

nice bike!
but if it's steel why are the tubes so FAT??? I hate fat tubes!!!

[Thorn]

I thought OS means Oversized.

From their website (they changed it so now I can't find anything ). They used to have a full page devoted to the tubing.

OS2 takes the OS concept to a whole new level. Taking advantage of advanced air-hardening technology, OS2 sports a 1 1/4 inch top tube and 1 3/8 inch downtube with wall thicknesses that offer lighter weight than the comparable OS tubesets with improved torsional rigidity.