Just a quite note of congratulations to Dan Empfield for being named, by Triathlete Magzine, one of the 20 most influential people/things/events in our sport.
He’s number one in my book.
-Even if he doesn’t give out free bikes
I noticed he got beat by “beer” if memory serves me right. That beer is some tough competition I’d say.
yes, i was a top-20 occurance, sharing the spotlight with “beer,” “controversy” and jurgen zack. an august group. i have no quarrel with the company in which i was placed, only humility and gratitude that i made it at all. i will point out, though, that it is not JURGEN ZACK: THE DICTATOR. it is well known in germany that it is JURGEN ZACK: THE CHANCELLOR. that is his knickname.
i also ranked #2 and #3 in the top-20 technovations, and was so-named in the article for those, but there was something else i made that solved a lot more problems for a lot more people than the tri bike. it was also included in the top-20, but i didn’t get the credit for it. when i was sitting around with my thumb up my ass all winter long in 1988, trying to figure out how to keep a factory full of wetsuit sewers and gluers busy, this invention (#11) was created out of sheer panic and necessity.
Dan - congratulations. On another note, I’ve mailed you a few times re: the www.digitaltriathlon.com photo you used. I’ve just mailed again so a reply would be great.
thanks
tim
Sooooo, What is #11???
TriDork
Right ON for the saddle cover. I’ve used them for about 8 years now and can’t comprehend why everyone doesn’t use them. They are just too comfy for words! 4 out of 5 cyclists in my office now swear by them.
I recently got some "Twinkletoes and love them as well. A full shoe, but not ankle, version would be good as well.
I’ve had a QR bike, QR wetsuit, saddle cover, twinkletoes and even QR/Desoto race singlet. Damn that Slowman is good!
Three cheers to Dan!
TriDork
“QR bike, QR wetsuit, saddle cover, twinkletoes”
about that last item. it’s only fair to acknowledge that i “borrowed” the design from kucharik. it’s true, i didn’t particulary like the way they were making it – the choice of stitch they employed, the pattern – but they were the smarty-pantses who came up with the idea and we only deserve the credit for moving their idea along.
but the bike, the wetsuit, the tight-fitting neoprene seat cover, that was all us.
What other products are you dreaming up Dan? I remember something about some ideal armrests for aero bars? Any progress? Aftermarket parts sorta like caps for pickups, but for tri products, that would be a market wouldn’t it? Good elbow pads for Brand X aero bars might just be the beginning of an empire.
Surely your creative juices haven’t stopped flowing just because you don’t have QR any more.
“Surely your creative juices haven’t stopped flowing just because you don’t have QR any more.”
well, there was T1 wetsuits. and the occasional item comes from me, profile’s stoker 26 base bar comes to mind. and i work with a variety of companies on an unofficial basis. so i try to keep sharp.
Phew!
I thought maybe you had “gone to seed” 