Podcast: Toby Henderson on Fake BMX Parts

As it becomes more common to order goods directly from the Chinese factories that produce them, it is no surprise that we are starting to see more and more BMX-style products appear in the factory-direct online marketplaces. Notice how we said “BMX-style.”

And while some make a case for purchasing apparel items, fish filters or reptile lights off Alibaba, to purchase a non-branded product from an unknown factory, for BMX racing use, could result in serious bodily harm.

In order to drill-down on some of the potential pitfalls of ordering Asia-direct for BMX parts, we enlisted the help of Toby Henderson–president of Box Components, and someone who has extensive experience working with sources in Asia, and around the world.

At just-over 15 mins, it’s a short segment. Listen now:

Link
iOS users, paste the link below in your device’s browser:

http://bmxurl.com/at141ios

We are not saying that all Asian product is bad, or dangerous–far from it. We ARE saying that most, if not all, of the branded product on the market today, purchased through a reputable source like your local bike shop or favorite mail order outlet is vetted and tested, and likely carries the right certifications and product insurance. You still have to exercise consumer judgment, but it’s easier to do so when you know who you’re dealing with.

Going factory-direct on generic products, via online purchase, is a full-stack gamble. You take on all the risk to your rider if something goes wrong with a product that has not been properly tested and vetted.

It’s just not worth it.

Related Story

Bicycle Retailer: Retailers Spot Component Knock-Offs

Box Fork Line All-New For 2018

Without question, Box Components has one of the most popular carbon forks in the BMX marketplace. Since the day they first hit the shelves, you have seen them on board with the fastest go-getters in the game.

For 2018, Box head honcho, Toby Henderson, tells us that the fork line is relaunching with new materials, updated engineering and the same go-fast look of the X series we have all grown to know and love.

Here’s what he said:

With the competition growing in the carbon BMX fork market, Box had to respond.

Our new 2018 fork line is a result of hard work, new tooling and a patent pending steer tube interface.

Our new manufacturing capabilities include the use of pre-preg carbon fiber sheets, allowing for a stronger and lighter product.

The new line will also include a newly-engineered stem lock and 20mm-to-10mm adaptors with all 20mm drop out models.

I am pretty proud of our team here at Box, and hope BMX News readers will give the new line of Box Carbon Forks a fresh look.

In addition to an alloy steer tube, Box is also offering a chromoly steer tube in both 20″ and 24″. The alloy steer tube will come in both straight (1″ and 1-1/8″) and 1.5″ tapered. Chromo is 1-1/8 only, with 20mm dropouts.

The full line will come with the aforementioned new stem lock. All 20mm forks are sold with 10mm adapters for thread-in hubs.

With the re-engineered crown-to-steer tube interface, the days of “twist and shout” are over, ensuring a tight and twist-free connection between these two essential pieces of the proverbial puzzle.

Dropouts are cold-forged 6000-series alloy.

Price-wise, they’re in the sweet spot for immediate addition to your new-and-improved 2018 speed machine.

Here are the Suggested Retail Prices

Box XS w/10mm dropouts (Mini size) – $329.99
Box XE w/10mm dropouts (Expert size) – $329.99*
Box XL w/10mm dropouts (Pro size) – $329.99*

Box X2 w/20mm dropouts and chromo steer tube (Pro size) – $349.99*

Box X5 w/20mm dropouts (Pro size) – $379.99*

*Available in 20″ and 24″ sizes.

We know we don’t have to spoon-feed you all the reasons the 2018 Box forks are the way to go for your lead-rider plans this season. Check the Box website (link below) for the full tech specs.

Links

Box Components Website

Box Components Acquires Stealth Hubs

A bit of breaking industry news this Monday Morning. In a story that proves the old maxim “a rumor is just a premature fact,” Box Components will acquire the Stealth hub product line from Goleta, California-based True Precision Components.

The terms of the deal were not announced, but of the acquisition, Toby Henderson said, in an article carried on MTB site, PinkBike this morning:

We recognize the advantages the Stealth hub provides, such as instant engagement, silent coasting, and durability. With this acquisition, we’re well positioned to accelerate the expansion of this technology into our ever-growing drivetrain ecosystem. In other words, expect more from Box in the future as far as wheels and drivetrain components go.

BMX News will bring you more on Toby’s plans for the Stealth brand and product line going forward.

—Mike Carruth

Links

Full Article on PinkBike.com

Box Components Website

2017 BOX Contingency Pays Out

Back on November 24 of last year, BMX News brought you a report on the Box Components Pro Contingency program for 2017. The program put $80,000+ up for grabs for A-Pro, Elite Men, Elite Women and Vet Pros who hit the podium at USA BMX Pro Series and UCI World Cup races (Elite only) Read more

Box Pledges $80k in 2017 Contingencies

A reliable rallying cry from riders and fans alike to the shot-callers in the BMX Industry is “pay the pros more money.” Naturally, we’d all like to see our sport’s hottest heroes haul home the greatest amount of greenbacks possible.

Well, Toby Henderson and Box Components has a wildly-popular program to do just-that in the new year: The 2017 #BOXRIDERS Contingency Program.

What’s awesome about this program is that it’s open to all pro class peeps: you do not need to be “picked-up” in order to start the money train rollin’. You just need to be rockin the nine-piece Box Components parts group, and hit a few other points (specified below).

You also have to start hitting the podium at the big races.

This program pays top three in Elite Men and Elite Women at USA BMX Pro Series Races, UCI BMX Supercross World Cup races, USA Cycling BMX National Championships and UCI BMX World Championships. A-pros and Vet pros also get in on the action, as you’ll see in the payout table below.

All-told, there is 80-grand up for grabs in the new year.

Here’s how Toby broke it down for us:

The program is designed to reward professional BMX Racers for their achievements in the sport while using technical performance enhancing Box Racing BMX Products.

Contingency will be paid for all USA BMX Pro Races, UCI Supercross Events, US National Champions, International Champions and World Champions. Payout as follows:

To qualify, #BOXriders must meet the following criteria:

Box Component Requirement:
Plate
Fork
Cranks
Handle Bar
Stem
Tires
Rims
Brakes
Saddle

(With proof of Pro License and pre approval by BOX Components some eligible athletes will be able to purchase products products via our “Industry A.P. Program”)

-BOX logo (patch) to be on upper part of jersey and at least one BOX Logo Sticker on racing helmet

-W-9 (USA Citizens) or W-8 (International Riders) on file at BOX HQ

-Invoice or packing slip in Athlete’s name for above products listed

-Picture of racing machine with BOX Components

-Contingency invoice within 30 days of each event finish

-At least one #BOXriders post on Social Media (Facebook, Instagram or Twitter) of the events finish success within 7 days

-All payments will be made via check in USD and sent via USPS

-Please contact via boxcomponents.com for more info

A pretty tasty opportunity from Toby & Co. OK, so who’s going to be first to cap-out on winnings?

Links

Box Components Website

Phil Maxwell is New Box BMX Brand Mgr.

There are a handful of guys still involved in the sport today who have roots dating back to the early days of BMX. Phil Maxwell is one of those guys. Unless you were around in the 70s, or happened to seek out a sponsorship more recently with one of the companies he was involved with behind the scenes, you may not know Phil—but trust us when we say, he is one of the movers and shakers of our industry.

Today, Toby Henderson, another one of those “early roots” guys mentioned above, announced that Phil would be joining Box Components as BMX Brand Manager.

Here’s what Toby told News about Phil’s addition to the team:

As we head into our fifth year as a brand, Box Components is proud to announce Phillip Maxwell as our new BMX Brand manager. With all the changes at Box in 2016, such as our MTB Product development and passing the torch of the Promax brand to QBP so we can better focus on Box, we really needed someone in-house to focus 100% on BMX Race, other than myself.

After a grueling interview process only ONE name rose to the top, Phil Maxwell. Although he will be wearing many hats Phil’s primary duties will include Sales, Marketing and Athlete Support.

Box Components’ commitment to BMX Racing has been shown through our financial investment into products, marketing and athletes over the last four years, and Phil will now lead our team into 2017 and beyond.

He will also be heavily involved with product development, as he will have his eyes and ears on what is relevant at the track.

Phil will be supported by the full staff here at CGI and I will remain here are HQ, overseeing the full operation, most specifically, our ongoing development of innovative performance-enhancing products.

More big news will be announced next week as Phil settles into his position officially on Nov 28th.

We also hit Phil up for a few questions on his background and plans for the Box Brand in 2017:

Tell us a little about your history in BMX Racing

My first experience with BMX happened around 1974/1975. Some guy was going around town, talking about holding a Bicycle Motocross race in a local park. Me and my buddy, David Ynzunza, maybe the Smith Brothers also, ventured to the park.

This guy had outlined a course with wooden jumps and a mud hole. I cannot remember how I finished but I was hooked! I raced locally at both Azusa tracks, Covina Valley BMX, Monrovia, La Mirada, Irvine, the Teen Center in Van Nuys, the list could go on. Surprisingly, I did really well, racking up a few hundred trophies and earning a bit of a name locally for myself. In 1977, I was approached by Jag BMX (A division of Mongoose Bicycles) and rode as a Factory Rider, this is where I met Tuni, Sewell, Hopkins, Brackens, the Roker kids, Atherton, Zagers, and more).

I did well on Jag BUT I was more of a soul racer and loved hanging out, and my stint there last roughly three years. I raced on and off through high school and college for fun, never really leaving the sport but hanging out on the fringes.

Over the last 39 years, I have had the pleasure of being affiliated with a lot of brands, either as a racer, employee or in a marketing capacity (Endo Racing Products, TW Racing, Robinson Racing, Brackens Racing Products, GT Bicycles, Redman/Avent/Bombshell, SE Racing, Crupi Parts, 805 Bicycles in Simi Valley, Supercross BMX, Incycle Bike Shop, Bike Alley, KMC Chains, The Hot Shoppe and ODI Grips).

All have played a role in helping me learn the business side of BMX and fine tuning my sales/marketing skills, while keeping my love/passion for the sport burning.

What, exactly does a “Brand Manager” do?
Brand management encompasses all aspects of a given brand. Managing sales, marketing, purchasing and most of all the product exposure. Basically everything relating to the brand. In this case the “Box BMX Racing Division”

What is your vision for the BOX brand now that you’re brand manager?
Toby, Ken, Gregorio, the inside office team and my predecessors (Michael, Michelle, Double D…) have laid the ground work and have/had the vision to make Box the premier components company in the world! I would like to build on this and Toby’s vision for the brand (ie: products, marketing, sales, OEM business, advertising, our BMX team(s), international markets…. to make sure when you want to buy a BMX product; Box is the brand setting the bar and the one you will invest in.

What would you tell a rider or team who wants a sponsorship from BOX?

I know Toby has some plans for the Pros, and we may have some sponsorship opportunities for teams and amateurs to be part of the Box Legacy. I don’t actually start at Box til the 28th, so we’ll have more to say on that after I am officially on the job.

Still, social media is HUGE and getting bigger and better as time goes on. My advice is for an individual and/or team looking for some type of sponsorship support (with Box or ANY company inside BMX or out) use Barry Nobles, Caroline Buchanan and Dale Holmes as role models and benchmarks in making you and/or your team into a marketing/sales/promotional social media machine.

In today’s marketplace, winning is always good BUT having a solid social media presence and following is almost as-important. Stop thinking about the smaller picture (ie: “What do I get”) and start thinking about the bigger picture of what can you bring to the table to help build this company/brand and maximize exposure. I GUARANTEE the rewards for what you bring to the table will pay off for you in the end!

Definitely exciting stuff for Toby, Phil and the whole Box Components crew. Phil, we wish you all the best and look forward to working with you.

—Mike Carruth

Box HQ Robbed!

In the early hours of October 27, the headquarters of Box Components in Anaheim, CA was robbed at approximately 1AM Pacific Time by yet-to-be-identified intruders. The robbers got away with over $100 thousand in goods, including some one-of-a-kind prototypes. Read more

Podcast: Toby Henderson on Thrill BMX, etc.

Back on November 25, we posted a last-minutes-before-Grands story about the Box Components Factory team switching from DK frames to Indonesian-made Thrill BMX frames for the 2016 season. We caught a few glimpses of the new kit on Jared Garcia and Trent Jones, then put the story on our “follow up” board in the “60 Days” column. So, here we are, 60 days later, and are ready to update you with some further details on the Box Factory program, and also on Box/Promax product plans as well.

For episode 116 of the Announcers Tower Podcast, we welcome back Toby Henderson, the main man behind Box/Promax, with an uppdate on the program (which now includes four amateurs in the jersey as well).

Listen Now:
link
iOS users: paste the link below in your device’s browser
http://bmxurl.com/at116

Here’s a look at one all-built-up:

The 2016 Pro Opener is only 16 days away, so we will be bringing you the first-photos from Phoenix of the fresh rides all eight of the Thrill-mounted have on the track.

Meanwhile, check the links below for more info on the Thrill frames, due to hit US shores and stores in early Spring, as well as the 2016 line of Box and Promax parts for you to freak-out about.

Links

Thrill BMX Website

Box Components Website

Promax Components Website

Factory Redline Rockin BOX Forks

Picked up by our spies on the ground in SLC this weekend: Collin Hudson was rockin BOX forks on his Flight Carbon. Was this a one time thing, or was something new afoot under the Redline tent?

Turns out, Redline and BOX have formally expanded the deal we reported on earlier this year, which was brakes, seat clamps and plates, so Collin wasn’t going rogue with the BOX bling on his Salt Lake scoot.

Sure enough, we had a press release waiting in our inbox as we powered-up the BMX News command center this Monday morn.

In the release, here’s what Toby Henderson said about the new co-spo:

We’re extremely excited about this new deal with Redline. It’s a major coup for us to be working with Sam Willoughby, Alise Post, Tory Nyhaug and the rest of the team, as well as Redline, as a whole. We look forward to a long relationship with Redline.

With this switcheroo also comes the jump to 20-mil hubs. This phat move to the fat axles won’t happen overnight, and it’ll be the riders’ call to switch when they’re comfortable.

Michael Gamstetter, product design maestro at BOX, and told News the following about the change to the 20mm way of life:

We understand that this change, as well as any possible differences in geometry, might take some getting used to. With this in mind, and taking into consideration their upcoming race schedule, we are giving the riders some leeway. But we’re confident that once they put the stiffer forks and 20-mil front hubs on their bikes, they will be quite pleased.

The full Redline roster will be “BOXed up” for 2014: Sam Willoughby, Alise Post, Tory Nyhaug, Josh Klatman, Collin Hudson (Above), Hunter Pelham, Carly Dyar, George Goodall and TM, Jason Carnes.

BOX Components Website

Announcing The “Promax Top Story”

One of the things we strive to do at BMX news is bring you original stories you won’t see elsewhere–or a deeper-dive version of the stories you may have seen on other outlets.

Sometimes its an in-depth interview with the stars or industry movers, other times, its features that bring you inside the headlines, or breaking news on any number of issues important to the BMX racing community. We have worked hard to make BMX News the place to find out what actually happened–not what someone’s teammate’s-cousin’s-friend’s-coach said about it.

The hottest news of the day always breaks in our “Top Story” section, and we are proud to welcome Promax Components today as the new sponsor of the “Promax Top Story.”

With their support, we will be able to bring you more sizzlin-hot Top Story content, and we are stoked to keep rockin out the stories that will define BMX racing in 2014.

A big BMX News thank you to Toby Henderson and Michael Gamstetter for their help in getting this in motion.

—Mike Carruth

Promax Components Website

Next Page »