Interview: George Costa Gets Granular on G-Cog

Last week, BMXNEWS brought you an article about G-Cog, and how Rennen was making it more accessible to the masses through a payment plan that allows customers to pay over a year’s time. We distilled some good info out of the advance copy of the release, but we wanted to do a deeper dive with GC on G-C.

One thing that struck us since day one with G-Cog was that, in addition to being an integral part of the training program for top pros and Olympic-eyed ams, it could also be a miracle tool to help dial in the bikes and riding habits of the youngest riders our there. These young guns — say five through eight years of age, sometimes don’t know enough to say “this gear is too easy,” or “These cranks are feeling too short now.” Parents and coaches have to find out through lots of almost-wins, and spending plenty of time punching REW and Pause buttons on a remote. With G-Cog, all the data you need to make those calls is right there, if you know how to read it.

More on that concept in a future article, but we wanted to hear more about the inner workings of G-Cog, and how it can work for different groups of BMX racers. George takes us through G-Cog’s application and use from the Elite ranks, to top experts, to underperforming riders using the device to kick it up a notch.

George joined us for a taping of “Announcers Tower,” just prior to pulling out of town for the NBL Freedom Nationals in Woodbridge, VA. There, the Rennen-Intense Factory Team landed a first and a second in the two-day team sheet throwdown.

We will have more from George on a future episode of AT, so enjoy this “first installment.”

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Dig the BMXNEWS.COM sticker on the console of the CNC machine. Cool to see that every Rennen gear has a little of that “News” magic built right in.

G-Cog Sprints Into Bigger Market, Payment Plan

It’s kind of a mysterious device, one you’d expect to find under a shroud, guarded by burly bouncer-types in a NASCAR pit. G-Cog (never “The G-Cog”) has been quietly finding its way in to the training programs of our sport’s top riders for nearly two years. As a “powermeter,” G-Cog is a physical, hardware cog you install on your bike, coupled with software you install on your computer to capture and analyze dozens of datapoints on your riding style, how much torque you are applying to the pedals, what kind of “zero-to-twenty” acceleration you are achieving and more. This data helps the rider (and their coach in many circumstances) learn about their riding from a “scientific” point of view instead of freeze-framing videos, trying to figure out what’s what.

But all this tidily-packaged tech is not for the casual BMX tourist. G-Cog has three options available: the “Basic” at $500, the “Expert” at $1000 and the “Coach” at $1500. We could go in to what each of those models gets you for that kind of coin, but then we would have nothing to chat with G-Cog inventor, George Costa about this afternoon when he is our guest on this week’s episode of the Announcers Tower podcast.

Today’s big news centers around the introduction of a payment plan for people who want to get G-Cog installed in time to have it do its thing as the season hits full throttle, but may not have a chunk of cash to plunk down for one today.

Quoting the upcoming news release on the subject:

Rennen Design Group is pleased to announce that it has created an affordable monthly payment plan option for its BMX powermeter product, G-Cog.  We realize that the initial upfront cost of a G-Cog powermeter may be out of reach for many in these tough economic times.  We have aggressively sought out a solution and have partnered with PaySimple.com, a payment solution company based out of Colorado, to create a secure and reliable payment plan option.  Now customers can opt to make an initial down payment (fixed based on the G-Cog package level) and then split the remaining balance over the next 11 months.  Funds are automatically deducted from their bank account making the transaction hassle free for the customer.

The following are the monthly payments based on package level:

                                                               Basic ($37.18), Expert ($74.00), Coach ($110.82) 

Allowing customers to have this payment plan option enables them to justify the purchase of the G-Cog BMX powermeter by making their purchase more like what a typical gym membership costs.  Considering how much individuals spend traveling to nationals this payment plan allows BMX’ers to know if they’re ready instead of guessing and could potentially help them save thousands over the course of a year and truly maximize their performance.

In the coming months we have some really cool things we are doing behind the scenes that the BMX community will benifit from.  As always it is our number one priority to take care of our customers and answer any questions they may have regarding any Rennen Design Group product.  Check out www.RennenDesignGroup.com and www.G-Cog.com and let us know what you think.

Be sure to watch for this week’s episode of Announcers Tower tomorrow morning.

Rennen Gets Third “G” With Romero

Rennen Design Group has their share of “Gs” around the shop. There is the “Original G,” founder George Costa. And of course, their wildly-popular innovation, the G-Cog. And now, word from the coast is that another G is coming aboard. In a BMXNEWS scoop, George tells us that Coach Greg Romero will join Rennen Design Group as the head of sales and marketing for the G-Cog product line. An advance copy of the press release says:

Rennen Design Group is pleased to announce that highly-decorated BMX pro and coach, Greg Romero (Coach G) will join the company to specifically head up Sales and Marketing of G-Cog “The world’s first true BMX powermeter.” Greg brings over 28 years of BMX experience to the table, including an impressive pro racing and coaching resume. Most notable was his coaching of Team USA Olympic Medalists Mike Day and Jill Kintner. “Coach G” was hired by Kintner and Day (through Red Bull North America) to manage their performance programs and goals of qualifying for the Olympic games, and ultimately earning medals in Beijing. 

George: “Coach G has a way to think laterally and his vast experience in racing and coaching at the highest level is unparalleled. We’re looking forward to plugging Greg into areas of the company where he can enhance the brand, the product, and the awareness of the G-Cog power meter. Specifically, one of Greg’s tasks will be creating an educational video series showing users not only how to install/use the device but also how it enhances and can quantify their training.”

Greg: “I am looking forward to being a part of such an innovative company and am very excited to help bring to light the usefulness of the G-Cog powermeter. As you may know, many top countries and BMX athletes are using powermeters to quantify and test their training and equipment. In the road and MTB industry, powermeters are the standard over heart rate monitoring systems and traditional speedometers. Having personal experience using other powermeter systems such as the SRM and Powertap, I believe that the G-Cog and the data that it renders is second to none. Rennen/G-Cog wants to grow and I am looking forward to not only being a part of the growth but to enhance key areas to make sure the growth plan is executed.”

Rennen Design Group will have a better west coast presence this year and individuals can find Greg at our booth at select races. He can also be reached directly at his email Greg@G-Cog.com

We at Rennen Design Group are excited about the addition of Coach G and we look forward to working with him to bring innovation and technology to BMX racing.

Congratulations to both parties for joining forces. BMXNEWS has the highest regard for both George, and his products, and for Coach G. We wish them the best in their new partnership.

As for his on-track colors, Greg will be rockin his Sun Brü colors for the foreseeable future, but capped off with the G-Cog helmet (just like the above shot from the ABA Grands).