I suppose it’s a sign that you’re doing something right, as a craftsman, when demand becomes greater than what you can physically do. While a convenient and enviable problem this may be, it can mean long hours in the shop with far fewer rides in the books than one would expect. Well folks, that’s where I find myself these days.

In an effort to remain true to what I really want from all of this, along with being honest and transparent to customers, there have to be some changes made. Changes that will make an even stronger representation of the quality, service and attention to detail that are paramount at Porcelain Rocket. It may mean making a little less, but making better. Prices, as one might expect, will likely increase slightly.

From the beginning of Porcelain Rocket, I’ve worked from a fairly standard running build queue, with an estimated lead time for delivery. This worked well, for the most part, until that lead time grew beyond 12 weeks, as it did earlier this Spring. As it stands today, the queue extends into November. I do not feel like it is fair to either myself, or a customer, to wait longer than 3 months for gear.

As of September 1st, 2012, I will not be accepting any new orders. ” Wait? What? Why?! “, you say. Like any product worth it’s salt, things have to evolve, grow, and get better. I have too many ideas rattling around, and too many promises made to some very patient and worthy adventurers, that need to be fulfilled. So, I plan to spend a few months building prototypes, riding those prototypes, and building some very custom gear for some very custom (and unbelievably patient) folks. My goal is to have the entire line of Porcelain Rocket gear updated by the time the Spring rush rolls in. I should have a few new items to show off as well. In order to achieve this goal, I need the time to be who I love being : a craftsman. I encourage you to take a peak at my Flickr page from time to time, and have a look at what is coming out of the shop.

There should be no delays for those of you already in my build list.

When things get going again this winter (likely November), there will be a new ordering system in place. I will be accepting a finite number of pack orders each month. This way, you will be made aware of what month your gear will be built in, and where you line up in that month. This will, hopefully, bring lead times down, and help to keep things clear, as to when you can expect your gear. I will post a more detailed explanation of this system in next few months.

My hope is that this new plan will make for a happier everyone. I do understand that this approach may put some folks off, and for that I apologize in advance. I am truly humbled by the relationships that I forge through the things that I make, and this will, hopefully, afford even more of that custom experience. That is my goal. I encourage and respect colourful, out-of-the-box thinking. Because after all, this is what draws us all to bicycle touring.

This year has been an amazing one. Porcelain Rocket has grown by leaps & bounds, and I have been anything but bored. The support and appreciation that has been shown to me, and the things that I make, has been utterly astonishing. I am so thankful for all of those that have chosen to work with me, and to outfit your adventures with the products of my own hands. Thank you, thank you, thank you!

Scott

This is something I’ve been promising to lots of folks, for far too long. A packing video.

Here is a very brief example of how I configure the main parts of my gear for a trip, no matter the length. The suggestions contained in the video are the result of several years of planning and trial&error on my part, and it is a system that works well for me. By no means is it right or wrong!

Also, as an added bonus, I’m including my comprehensive packing list for a tour. This is the base kit that goes along on 100% of the tours that I do; anywhere from an overnighter, to a multi-week expedition. I have left food specifics off the list, as they tend to vary greatly, mission to mission.

————-
THE ROCKET LIST

Mission Control Handlebar Setup :

* Main Rollbag
> OR 10L dry sack
- REI Sub Kilo 20 degree down sleeping bag
- Thermarest Prolite 3 Short
> OR 2.5L ultralight dry sack
- 1 pair ultralight running shorts / swimming trunks
- 1 MEC merino wool t-shirt
- 1 pair Smartwool light hiking socks
- 1 MEC light merino long-sleeve t-shirt
- 1 pair Patagonia Capilene 1 tights
- 1 Patagonia wool beanie hat
- 1 micro MSR camp towel
> Endura waterproof shell

* Accessory Pouch
>SPOT unit
> toiletries ditty bag
- toothbrush
- toothpaste
- shampoo
- small deodorant stick
> money-clip & passport (contained in waterproof sleeve)
> food odds & ends that will be accessed during the day

* Tent Pole sleeve
> Tent Poles

Top Tube Pack:

> Canon G9 P&S digital camera
> Apple iPod Touch (great for music and accessing wifi)
> Jolly Ranchers

Custom Single Compartment Frame Pack:

*Main Compartment
> 2 spare el-cheapo 26″ inner tubes
> Tool kit
- REMA patch kit
- Crank Bros. multi-tool
- 1 Pedros yellow tire lever
- 1 spare Shimano shoe ratchet buckle
- 2 spare cleat bolts
- small length of duct tape
- 1 spare set of Hope brake pads
- 1 short length of SRAM 971 chain
- 1 SRAM quick link
- 1 spare tubeless valve stem
- various 4mm and 5mm bolts
> Food

* Map Pocket
> Maps for the mission
> 6 MSR ultralight aluminum tent stakes in ditty sack
> Lezyne Mountain Drive pump

Booster Rocket Seatpack:

> MSR Hubba rainfly
> MSR Hubba tent body
> Patagonia Micropuff hooded down jacket
> MSR 6L Dromedary (strapped underneath)

Wingnut Gear Hyper 3.0 Backpack:

> Kitchen stuff
- GSI 1L titanium pot w/ lid
- MSR Pocket Rocket stove
- Small Jetboil fuel canister
- homemade spork / can opener
> Toilet paper
> Book
> Overflow food
> Arm warmers
> small Apple power adapter doodad for charging iPod
> small Canon battery charger

————-

I hope this is of some use to someone out there. Please let me know if you have ANY questions, or if you think you think there’s something I’ve missed. theporcelainrocket@gmail.com

Thanks everyone!
Scott

Three of the top five racers, and the third-placed woman rider were all riding with Porcelain Rocket gear!

Rick Hunter – 2nd
Jason Benford & Cale Wenthur – 4th
Katherine Wallace – 3rd woman

Mr. Hunter Cycles looking pretty excited about a 2nd place finish.

AMAZING job, guys!

THANKS!
Scott

Fulfilling a promise I made months ago, and to dozens of people, the Salsa Anything Cage packs are finally seeing the light of day.

Anything.

These simple packs are loaded. Super-solid wraparound attachment points, ultra abrasion-resistant materials on the pack bottom and on the side/corner ‘lean point’, lightweight VX21 construction, and typical Porcelain Rocket bomber construction are all standard.

You.

The packs load and unload quickly, thanks to simple, moron-proof double-back attachment wings.

Want.

They also feature a daisy chain on the rear of the pack for the use of double-sided hook&loop tape, to bolster the stability even more. These loops can either be wrapped just around the Anything Cage cutouts, or all the way around the fork legs or frame.

Anything...

These packs weigh in at a scant 4oz. each, or 8oz. for the pair, and have a 4L maximum capacity per pack.

And of course, as with anything (get it, ANYTHING?) Porcelain Rocket, customizations are always possible!

Thanks again and again!
Scott

So, in an effort to make the Porcelain Rocket experience an even more ‘custom’ one, we are trying a little something new around here…

Instead of sending out hundreds of rather standard and boring form emails, or even setting up a page list on the website, I’ve decided that I will do a little live-action video FAQ series.

The first in the series:

This is a basic tutorial on making a nice pattern for me to work from on a custom framebag build.

If you have about 7 minutes to spare (and who doesn’t really?!), have a little watch. You might learn something.

Let me know what you think, and if there are any topics that you might like to see.

Thanks again and again!
Scott

I’m working away the winter here in the rainy Canadian Pacific Northwest.

I love Flickr. Generally, I am not a huge fan of the way Yahoo! things operate, but I have to say, this one’s the business. I have been using it on a near-daily basis as sort of a photoblog for what’s happening around here. If you have a few spare minutes, or are just curious, have a looksee.

On that note, there has been some cool stuff happening, for sure. Here’s a bit of an idea.

A cool blue kit for a Surly Big Dummy.

A crazy-custom top tube pack to stash the ol' iPhone.

HOT PINK Mission Control Handlebar setup and Booster Rocket seatpack.

Think outside of the black box, kids!

Thanks for the amazing support. I really appreciate all of it.

Scott

Late-night sweatshop.

Cass Gilbert of While Out Riding notoriety has made a bit of a surprise visit to Victoria. It is always great to see an old friend, and hear the myriad of stories he has to tell of his velo-adventures.

He has written a little feature on his blog about the building of a new framebag for his Surly Troll.

The romantic side of Porcelain Rocket.

Thanks Cass!
Scott

Since our move to Victoria, Vik has quickly become one of those friends that you feel like you’ve known forever. He has been after me for a set of bags for his Pugsley for a while, and it seemed like it was time…

All you can eat buffet.

Vik has good taste. And he knows quality gear when he sees it. So, with a healthy fear of being totally humiliated in front of 1000′s of velonerds, I pulled out all the stops on this one.

Fancypants.

The kit features main panels constructed of Dimension Polyant’s full-Dyneema XPAC fabrics for amazing aesthetics and superior weather & abrasion resistance, full water-resistant YKK zippers (big and burly, like Vik), full closed-cell foam padding wherever a pack touches the bike, tapering framepack and top tube pack for added volume, and built with the usual Porcelain Rocket bomber construction techniques and obsessive attention to detail.

Ground Control to Jeff Jones.

The Pugsley sports some Jeff Jones Loop handlebars. The Ground Control Handlebar setup melds nicely to most ‘alt-bars’ like these. Not to mention, these bars just seem right on a bike like this. Perfect for the long-hauling, adventure tours.

Boost.

Rounding out the kit is the ‘standard’ Booster Rocket Seatpack. All the usual features, but spiffed with Dyneema.

Shorts for Chrissssmas!

That’s me riding it, not Vik.

Merry merry holidays y’all!

Scott

A full-on custom pack for stashing e-bike batteries and controller :

Rocket Flap.

This little monster is a rack-top pack for a front Surly Nice Rack. It ain’t no ordinary rack-top pack though. Full of hidden treasures. Behind the Rocket Flap is a mesh window for full capacity airhorning.

Zips right round, like a record baby.

It’s got a wrap-around water resistant zipper for keeping all the zappy bits happy bits. Not to mention, there are enough wire ports on this thing to hook-up a house. Inside is a moveable / removable divider for full customization of the configuration:

Yellow is so hot right now.

I dare you to ask me for another one…

More super-sweet stuff later this week!

Scott

Alex on his amazing Dummy.

I’ve been plugging away with Fall orders, but I thought I’d let a few cats out of the bag for what’s coming in 2012:

1. I have had a number of folks ask about custom bags for Salsa’s Anything Cages. I am working on a prototype for these. I can say this; it’s gonna be a cute little thing that will stay put no matter what sort of terrain you take on.

2. I threw some feelers out with regards to what interest may be for custom bags that work on Xtracycle’s V-Rack platform. The responses were overwhelmingly positive, so with a little help from some good friends, Porcelain Rocket will be offering a limited edition run of these bags in the Spring. Keep your eyes on the blog for info as things progress!

3. After stumbling into the little niche of building custom rear frame packs for Surly’s Big Dummy, I have decided that it may be time to offer something a little more ‘universal’. For the impatient types, this might be right up your alley! Again, I’ll post more about this here as this little guy takes shape.

And of course, Porcelain Rocket will continue to produce all the gear that I currently build, with the same obsessive attention to detail.

Thanks so much!
Scott