Ssquared Rounding Out Factory Team

This weekend marks the first anniversary of BMX News setting eyes on the first Ssquared prototype, which Josh Meyers piloted in the Disney Cup (with many an “ooh” and “ahhh” from the crowd used to seeing him on another bike). Well, Josh and Ssquared have both had a pretty solid year, and show even bigger promise for 2011.

With Josh dutifully doin’ it to it in Elite Men, Ssquared figured it was time to step up and round out the ranks with an Elite Woman. Floridian Ashley Lynch fit the bill just fine, and honcho John Sawyer made it official today by sending the following release:

Ssquared bicycles would like to welcome Elite Woman Ashley Lynch to the team. Ashley is one of the fast up-and-coming elites from Florida, and she will be vying for a spot on Team Puerto Rico at the 2012 Summer Games.

According to Ssquared partner, Geff Ssengoba, “Ashley has the potential and desire to make the next step up to being a top contender in the Elite Women’s class. With a little more experience, guidance, and training, the sky is the limit.”

John continued “With help from our great roster of sponsors, we have a feeling the world will be cheering-on Ssquared riders in both the Elite Men and Elite Women classes.”

Congrats to Ashley and the Ssquared posse. Looking forward to seeing y’all in ORL this weekend.

Check them out at: http://www.ssquaredbicycles.com/

—Mike Carruth

Answer BMX Acquired

As part of our Disney Cup coverage later this month, we were planning on writing a little sidebar on how well things seem to be going for Ssquared Bicycles. New teams signing on (Young Guns from here in the Midwest), as well as new riders donning the uniform (Ashley Lynch), and an overall positive vibe eminating from John Sawyer and Geff Ssengoba.

Well, that vibe just got a lot…vibier. Check it:

To All of the Racers, Bike Shops, Distributors, and Fans of Answer BMX Products;

On behalf of Answer BMX products, I would like to issue a sincere Thank You as well as an apology to all of those who have been patient and faithful to the Answer BMX brand for the past few years, particularly the past year and a half. Thank you to those who have stuck with us and continue to support the brand. And a sincere apology to all who have become frustrated with our long delays in having inventory readily available and because of that, our customer service not what is deserved of our loyal racers and customers. But the good news is that all of that is about to change.

On Friday (October 8, 2010) in a move that will give Answer BMX the support and resources it needs to grow and prosper as a company, John Sawyer of Palm Harbor FL, purchased Answer BMX Inc. from former owner Luke Wilson of Calgary Canada. John coming on board as an investor gives us the shot in the arm that we need to increase production capacity and inventory levels to better serve our customers worldwide. His business knowledge and passion for BMX racing makes him a perfect fit for our future plans at Answer BMX.

I want to publicly thank Luke Wilson for saving Answer BMX from certain bankruptcy and extinction back in late 2008 and for giving me the opportunity to come on board with the company in March 2009. Luke is entering into new ventures in his true profession and I wish him luck and much success.

I also have to thank Bubba Harris for his efforts to promote Answer for the past year and a half. As many of you may now know, Bubba is now riding for Supercross BMX and we wish him all the best. Bill Ryan, owner of Supercross, is like an uncle to Bubba and is in a position to offer Bubba the support he needs to continue his comeback to #1 and I have to thank Bill for stepping up and supporting Bubba when Answer was not able to. No doubt he will be a great asset to that brand and we hope to keep Bubba riding on the new Dagger fork to help him win!

I also have to thank Burlin Harris and the rest of the Supercamp crew for all their work and promotional efforts thus far. They have had to take the brunt of the questions from the public about what was happening with Answer BMX as a company and product availability. I know that can be a frustrating task but those guys handled it with smiles and positive attitudes and I can’t thank them enough.

I have rejuvenated excitement for the future of Answer BMX behind our new partnership with John Sawyer and the doubts people have about the brand will soon be erased. We have multiple shipments of inventory en route and deliveries taking place as early as later this week. We will have increased production capacity, increased production schedules, and better customer service to provide for the racers and customers wanting Answer BMX products. We will be implementing new sponsorship programs and new marketing campaigns to promote the growth of BMX racing as well as our own brand. There are also new product ideas in the works as well. All in all, it appears that we may have finally found an answer to the future success of Answer BMX.

–Ryan Birk, ANSWER BMX Products

BMX News reported on the story when Luke WIlson acquired the company from former owner Joey Licata on March 4, 2009 (click for story).

News is so happy for all involved–and that includes the customers, who sound like they will be getting a heapin’ helping of the good stuff.

Congratulations!

—Mike Carruth

Interview: Founders of Ssquared Bicycles + 1

John Sawyer is a busy man these days. He recently became partners, with Geff Ssengoba, in the newest BMX enterprise to come out of the Sunshine State, Ssquared Bicycles…and in his spare time he has been rebuilding his baby—the Oldsmar BMX track, so it gets broken in just in time for the ABA Gator Nationals.

BMXNEWS met up with John, Geff and their main man Josh Meyers for a chat on the Ssquared product, how it differs from other frames on the market, and also some of the long-view vision for the company.

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Be sure to visit John and Josh in the Ssquared pits at the ABA Sooner nationals for a firsthand look at the goods.