RYMA Technology – A Bicycle Parts, Manufacturing, and Design Shop!
By Cindy Ladage
A lifelong resident, that raced bicycle and motorcycles in his younger days, Blake Young has now opened RYMA Technology in the former Boy Scouts building on Pawnee’s Square. RYMA Technology had their open house on March 21st with 200+ people attending. Many were cyclists from surrounding communities (several from out of state!).
While his eye was originally on the old Bank building (southwest corner of the square), Tim Glenn was able to design the former Boy Scout building into a great setting that fits his business for now. “Tim did a fantastic job, I’m very appreciative of him” Blake said about the building and several others owned by Tim around the square.
RYMA Technology is a combination of two distinct businesses. “SLF is the bicycle component brand, which stands for Smoother – Lighter – Faster” Blake said, and “Stein&Fenton is a complete bicycle brand.”
Offering high end bikes makes sense because of Blake’s past. “I grew up racing bicycle beginning at 3 years old. Then came dirt bikes, went to college and put my racing days behind me,” Blake explained.
After college he became a Designer (3D computer drafting) working for Caterpillar and GSI. “My most recent full-time job was for Kennedy Metal Product based in nearby Langleyville. Although I spent time helping design their mining products, most of my time was spent designing parts for early 1900’s Rolls Royce vehicles.” The owner of the company has a vintage Rolls Royce collection that kept Blake busy. While liking his work at Kennedy, Blake still loved bicycles and decided in 2016 “To marry my design abilities and racing background, so I designed my first bicycle product and founded SLF Motion”.
“Through High School and into College, I always wanted to be my own boss someday. To run my own business. Owning a bicycle parts brand (SLF) was cool but owning an actual bicycle brand was the goal. After focusing solely on SLF Motion for several years, I decided to create a bicycle brand (complete bicycles) called Stein&Fenton.”
Busy with a full-time job and two children, RYder and Maren (where RYMA comes from), Blake worked out of his basement/garage for the first 8-years of business until four months ago when he opened RYMA Technology. SLF Motion started as a nights/weekend hobby for several years before it became Blake’s full-time job. Today business has grown. “Now I have two guys working with me.” SLF Motion has Distributors around the world including Colombia, Germany, Australia, Singapore, Indonesia, South Korea, Italy, and more.
Blake originally designed all the parts, then Travis Chance, a machinist in Taylorville, makes them. “I want to keep improving, so I located a better designer than myself out of California, and now he is a full-time employee. Between myself, Travis, and Kai Bell (designer), we have some pretty special capabilities.”
Blake said he decides what to design by keeping abreast of trends in the bicycle industry. “As trends in the industry evolve, we must design our products to evolve with them. SLF Motion parts are compatible with high-end bicycles, not for bikes available in department stores.”
Blake’s customers range from individuals who are lifelong cyclist to those are new to the sport. “At Stein&Fenton, we do boutique high-end luxury bicycle beginning at around $17,000. We provide one on one service and customize each bike individually.”
This is important because Blake said, “Just because a customer purchases an expensive bike from a bike shop does not mean it’s going to fit or that it’s the “right” bike. Dialing in all the small details such as frame size, handlebar size, gearing, etc. is where the magic is.” Blake works closely with WheelFast in Chatham for their fitting service.
Besides the personal fit, it is the materials they use that make Stein&Fenton bikes so special. “Most of today’s high-end bikes are with full carbon fiber frames or full Titanium frames. What is unique about Stein&Fenton frames is our hybrid design. We combine 3D Printed Titanium lugs and bond (glue) them to carbon fiber tubes. We like to think of this as the best of both worlds.”
When I interviewed Blake, he currently had four bikes on order – two were going to Singapore (yeah, that Singapore), one to Texas, and one to Colorado. “All four will hit a ten-to-twelve-month lead time for delivery. When a customer comes to us ready to purchase a Stein&Fenton, first thing we let them know is it takes time. The mechanics of the frame design and the final aesthetics (colors, polishes, etc.) can take several months, this all has to be determined before we ever begin the process of physically building a frame/complete bike.”
Blake finds his clients through word of mouth. “I don’t ‘spend money on advertising but simply post photos to social media channels such as Instagram and Facebook. Because of those outlets, here we are today”
Opening a business in Pawnee has worked well. “I have been in business in Pawnee for nine years,” Blake said, “With my family, I love the flexibility of keeping all of this in Pawnee. As I had done for many years before this, the hours spent driving each week to work is now spent with my family.”
“I am happy,” he said sharing, “this all started with $200 out of my pocket for a few prototypes. It proved it the idea possible. I still have never borrowed a single dollar, no loans, no investors, nothing. To owe nobody anything is a great feeling.”
Blake is humble though about the dangers of owning a small business “I will tell anyone; I am aware that many small businesses fail. I have made it nine years now which is great. When it is good, it is good BUT when it is bad, it is very humbling and frustrating.”
Besides selling high-end parts and creating boutique luxury bikes, Blake is also planning cycling events based out of RYMA Technology. He has one big event planned for the fall with a post-ride party at Local’s Beer Garden. “I want to bring people to Pawnee,” he said about customers to town.
With designated routes that he has designed riders can stop in and scan the route and stop and take a break. Wanting to create a club house atmosphere, riders that complete a route can sign their board making it a permanent part of Ryma.
If the little yellow van is at RYMA, which you have probably seen cruising the streets of Pawnee at some point, then Blake usually in the shop too. Check out RYMA Technology on Facebook and learn more about this international business based right here in the heart of the Village of Pawnee.