![\"ccs-62657-0-22304400-1525695944.jpg\"](\"https:\/\/wp-media.bikehub.co.za\/production\/uploads\/2023\/02\/ccs-62657-0-22304400-1525695944.jpg\" "\\"\\"")
<\/a>Chris Hilton at the Stellenbosch World Cup to oversee new product testing by the SCOTT-SRAM MTB Racing Team.<\/span><\/p>\nWhat has been your journey (in brief) through the bike industry?<\/h2>\n\nI have been in the bike industry most of my adult life. I started in 1993\/94 working in a bike shop while doing some racing. From there, I got a job in product development and worked for several companies in the industry. I have been with SRAM for close on 10 years, working on drivetrain products. Stuff like XX1, Eagle, and future products coming out of SRAM\u2019s Schweinfurt design and testing facility.<\/p>\nI believe that better bike parts, make a better bike ride. At the end of the day, we\u2019re all bike riders and our goal at SRAM is to make the bike better.\n<\/p>\n<\/div>\n
As a Product Manager, do you get stuck into the engineering side of things?<\/h2>\n\nNo, I don\u2019t do any engineering. I have a great team of engineers in Schweinfurt with about 130 people of which around 75% work directly on development.<\/p>\nThe Schweinfurt facility is a carryover from SRAM’s acquisition of Sachs Bicycle Components who had their factory and machinery there. The RockShox suspension, as well as brake products, are developed in Colorado Springs while the carbon cranks are engineered in California, and some road drivetrain development happens in Chicago.\n<\/p>\n<\/div>\n
SRAM is currently one of the more innovative cycling companies. Can you put your finger on any reasons for this?<\/h2>\n\nWe tend to do things our own way. We work better for not trying to be like anyone else or worrying too much about other people’s expectations.<\/p>\nIt is almost six years since XX1 first came out. Now it seems normal but back then everyone was riding three-by or two-by and telling them to get rid of all these parts and buy a new rear hub was crazy. It was a huge risk. Yes, people were already riding one-by and we had simply hoped to make a better system for these riders.<\/p>\n
I showed the product to a lot of other product managers, some said it would never work but there were a few who said they wanted it. You can\u2019t please everyone but you have to figure out what you want to do, decided to do it, and then do it well.<\/p>\n
Obviously, as one-by has gained popularity, we\u2019ve been working on expanding the range and making other improvements through the Eagle range. We\u2019re not finished by any stretch. We still want to make things stronger, lighter, and more efficient. Even simply making more price points available to people is progress. In that sense, GX Eagle has been really successful for us.<\/p>\n
Looking around during the cross-country practice, we don\u2019t sponsor everyone, and there are so many Eagle drivetrains being used. They are our customers. And it is great to see someone out in the wild who has made the choice to buy the product you worked on.\n<\/p>\n<\/div>\n
I believe that better bike parts, make a better bike ride. At the end of the day, we\u2019re all bike riders and our goal at SRAM is to make the bike better.\n<\/p>\n<\/div>\n
As a Product Manager, do you get stuck into the engineering side of things?<\/h2>\n\nNo, I don\u2019t do any engineering. I have a great team of engineers in Schweinfurt with about 130 people of which around 75% work directly on development.<\/p>\nThe Schweinfurt facility is a carryover from SRAM’s acquisition of Sachs Bicycle Components who had their factory and machinery there. The RockShox suspension, as well as brake products, are developed in Colorado Springs while the carbon cranks are engineered in California, and some road drivetrain development happens in Chicago.\n<\/p>\n<\/div>\n
SRAM is currently one of the more innovative cycling companies. Can you put your finger on any reasons for this?<\/h2>\n\nWe tend to do things our own way. We work better for not trying to be like anyone else or worrying too much about other people’s expectations.<\/p>\nIt is almost six years since XX1 first came out. Now it seems normal but back then everyone was riding three-by or two-by and telling them to get rid of all these parts and buy a new rear hub was crazy. It was a huge risk. Yes, people were already riding one-by and we had simply hoped to make a better system for these riders.<\/p>\n
I showed the product to a lot of other product managers, some said it would never work but there were a few who said they wanted it. You can\u2019t please everyone but you have to figure out what you want to do, decided to do it, and then do it well.<\/p>\n
Obviously, as one-by has gained popularity, we\u2019ve been working on expanding the range and making other improvements through the Eagle range. We\u2019re not finished by any stretch. We still want to make things stronger, lighter, and more efficient. Even simply making more price points available to people is progress. In that sense, GX Eagle has been really successful for us.<\/p>\n
Looking around during the cross-country practice, we don\u2019t sponsor everyone, and there are so many Eagle drivetrains being used. They are our customers. And it is great to see someone out in the wild who has made the choice to buy the product you worked on.\n<\/p>\n<\/div>\n
The Schweinfurt facility is a carryover from SRAM’s acquisition of Sachs Bicycle Components who had their factory and machinery there. The RockShox suspension, as well as brake products, are developed in Colorado Springs while the carbon cranks are engineered in California, and some road drivetrain development happens in Chicago.\n<\/p>\n<\/div>\n
SRAM is currently one of the more innovative cycling companies. Can you put your finger on any reasons for this?<\/h2>\n\nWe tend to do things our own way. We work better for not trying to be like anyone else or worrying too much about other people’s expectations.<\/p>\nIt is almost six years since XX1 first came out. Now it seems normal but back then everyone was riding three-by or two-by and telling them to get rid of all these parts and buy a new rear hub was crazy. It was a huge risk. Yes, people were already riding one-by and we had simply hoped to make a better system for these riders.<\/p>\n
I showed the product to a lot of other product managers, some said it would never work but there were a few who said they wanted it. You can\u2019t please everyone but you have to figure out what you want to do, decided to do it, and then do it well.<\/p>\n
Obviously, as one-by has gained popularity, we\u2019ve been working on expanding the range and making other improvements through the Eagle range. We\u2019re not finished by any stretch. We still want to make things stronger, lighter, and more efficient. Even simply making more price points available to people is progress. In that sense, GX Eagle has been really successful for us.<\/p>\n
Looking around during the cross-country practice, we don\u2019t sponsor everyone, and there are so many Eagle drivetrains being used. They are our customers. And it is great to see someone out in the wild who has made the choice to buy the product you worked on.\n<\/p>\n<\/div>\n
It is almost six years since XX1 first came out. Now it seems normal but back then everyone was riding three-by or two-by and telling them to get rid of all these parts and buy a new rear hub was crazy. It was a huge risk. Yes, people were already riding one-by and we had simply hoped to make a better system for these riders.<\/p>\n
I showed the product to a lot of other product managers, some said it would never work but there were a few who said they wanted it. You can\u2019t please everyone but you have to figure out what you want to do, decided to do it, and then do it well.<\/p>\n
Obviously, as one-by has gained popularity, we\u2019ve been working on expanding the range and making other improvements through the Eagle range. We\u2019re not finished by any stretch. We still want to make things stronger, lighter, and more efficient. Even simply making more price points available to people is progress. In that sense, GX Eagle has been really successful for us.<\/p>\n
Looking around during the cross-country practice, we don\u2019t sponsor everyone, and there are so many Eagle drivetrains being used. They are our customers. And it is great to see someone out in the wild who has made the choice to buy the product you worked on.\n<\/p>\n<\/div>\n