What does Mondraker actually represent in the mountain biking industry?
Mondraker is a young and passionate brand with a complete range of mountain bikes. Because we love racing, we support the World Cup Downhill team at the highest level. Our customers are people who crave to experience something different and who would buy a bike with specially suited geometry that will help them become faster and better riders who can enjoy something better than they previously rode.
What’s your main focus in designing new frames and developing new processes?
Our main goal is to fulfil the pickiest demands of any MTB rider or racer, at the highest quality level. We prefer full suspension bikes for middle to long distance travel as the ideal type of set up for a modern mountain bike.
Do you have something the others don’t?
Of course! Mondraker is different, unlike any other brand. In Mondraker we like to say that our DNA is unique. It’s because of our Forward Geometry, our Zero Suspension design, and the Stealth manufacturing proprietaries of our frames. You can learn more about it in the catalogue section on our website.
Choice of the right frame material is the key. What are your priorities in this segment?
Our frames, both aluminium and carbon, offer more radical shapes, distinctive looks and finish than the frames made by our competitors. Our goal is to make the best frames with the best manufacturing technology possible.
When speaking about German technology, everybody knows what it represents. How difficult is to convince potential customers about the quality of the frames coming from Spain?
The most convincing fact is that Germany itself has been one of our main markets since last year. It’s also the market with the biggest growth when it comes to the sales. From Foxy full suspension bike, Dune and Dune Carbon Enduro bike, to our Panzer fatbike and e-MTBs, it seems German customers really like our brand and we are really honored!
How many people are involved in the production of Mondraker bikes?
It’s difficult to say. At our headquarters in Alicante, the engineers and the product development team work hand in hand. We assemble the bikes in Spain at Mondraker with qualified experts. There are around 25 people building the bikes, including frame construction or completing the bikes.
It seems every single brand has a major production in Asia. Which parts of your business are based in Spain and what do you produce in Asia? How do you choose the manufacturer/factory, and where are they based?
In Asia we just manufacture the frames, mainly with two different frame suppliers, with the highest technology processes. We are lucky to work with possibly the best frame manufacturers in Asia. Everything preceding the manufacturing and building process is done in Spain at Mondraker HQ in Alicante, which is also where we assemble the complete bikes.
Richard Gasperotti is both Welovecycling and Mondraker ambassador. How important is his input for your development, production, or sales? And how much do you work with the other riders such as 2011 World DH Champion Danny Hart?
Gaspi is very important for us as he promotes our brand within his projects and travels. It’s always great to have the opportunity to listen to his comments, because it can help us to improve our existing bikes. Regular and qualified feedback is always very important and we always listen. We also get feedbacks from Danny Hart and the rest of the MS-Mondraker Team as we try to make the Summum Carbon the most refined, fastest, and best downhill race bike available for every season.
Everybody’s crazy about e-bikes. Do you have some special recipe in this field?
It seems that our e-bikes are awesome as we are completely sold out for 2016 already! The e-Crafty full suspension and e-Panzer fatbike have been our best sellers in this season. Maybe it’s the Forward Geometry that matches perfectly with an e-bike? We don’t really know, but we are overwhelmed by such a big demand!
How will mountain bikes, in your imagination, look like in 2020 or later?
It’s difficult to predict. But as you can guess, more e-bikes will ride our trails, more electronics will control our gears and suspension, and maybe even our seatposts, too! Oh, and there will be wider rims, wider tires across all the platforms in MTBiking. But 2020 is just around the corner.
There’re hundreds of different brands in the industry. Do you have any recommendation for people who decided to set up their own biking brand?
Well, starting your own brand is not an easy ride. Mondraker’s story has started mostly like a game of making bikes: building existing Taiwanese frames with our custom parts and eventually -15 years later – Mondraker has become one of the most unique and the most wanted brands in mountain biking today. Take it easy and good luck!
