We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Chad Corbin. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Chad below.
Chad, thanks for taking the time to share your stories with us today Almost every entrepreneur we know has considered donating a portion of their sales to an organization or cause – how did you make the decision of whether to donate? We’d love to hear the backstory if you’re open to sharing the details.
When I founded Corvid Cycles in 2018, I did so with a simple mission: to build custom bicycles for every body. The intentional use of “every body” instead of “everybody” was a recognition that we are all different sizes and shapes, with different abilities, but that one’s differences should not prevent them from having a well-fitting bike that suits their needs. It was also a nod to the long term goal of mine to build adaptive cycles for cyclists with unique physical needs.
The original meaning of “every body” has since evolved as I have come to acknowledge what I already knew about the bicycle industry, but had ignored for many years: it and the greater outdoor industry as a whole lacks diversity, and access to the outdoor activities many of us take for granted is limited due to unequal representation, financial hurdles and many other long-standing societal forces.
The summer of 2020 forced me to confront this reality, In response, I pledged to donate a portion of my annual profits to supporting individuals and organizations devoted to increasing diversity, equity and inclusion in cycling, and in the broader community. This is an ongoing effort which has continued through 2021 and 2022 with additional monetary and in-kind donations.
A list of organizations I have supported can be found at https://www.corvidcycles.com/portfolio_page/giving-back/
Great, appreciate you sharing that with us. Before we ask you to share more of your insights, can you take a moment to introduce yourself and how you got to where you are today to our readers
I usually introduce myself as a recovering engineer who builds bikes for a living, takes photos for fun, and throws clay for therapy. I’m also a runner, cyclist and skier who loves being outside. In high school and college I dreamed of designing bikes for one of the well-known brands and studied mechanical engineering to further that goal. Instead, I ended-up in software, later returning to school for additional degrees in engineering with a focus on energy efficiency and renewable energy.
During the time between college and grad school I learned how to build bikes from manuals and online forums. I built for myself and friends as a hobby, but it remained just that until my partner and I, realizing that neither of us were happy in our jobs, decided to take a year off and re-evaluate our future. I took a titanium frame building class at United Bicycle Institute, which eventually led to a job at Dean Titanium building bikes, and subsequently the founding of Corvid Cycles in 2018.
Corvid Cycles is primarily known for gravel and mountain bikes, although I build road, cyclocross, and commuter bikes on occasion. I build using titanium – a fairly expensive material, but one that does not corrode (and therefore doesn’t need to be painted), can be easily repaired, is recyclable, and can last a lifetime. I’ve found somewhat of a niche in building bikepacking bikes, many featuring custom bags made by my partner Shan at Reroot Outdoors or my friend Joe at JPaks. Bikepacking has seen a huge surge in interest in the last few years (likely encouraged by the pandemic), and gravel continues to grow in popularity as cyclists opt for lower vehicle traffic and more scenic dirt roads.
Like many independent custom bike builders, I take each new commission one at a time. I spend many hours talking with each customer to determine the style of riding they will be doing, what they are trying to achieve with respect to fit, function and budget, and any special needs they may have. My process is fairly time intensive and high-touch, but the attention I give to the customer is the single most important aspect of my business. I’m proud to say that I would consider many customers to be friends by the time the bike is complete and I think that says a lot about the effort I make to build their dream bike.
What do you think helped you build your reputation within your market?
I was very lucky to have been recognized as one of the best new builders at the North American Handmade Bicycle Show in 2019. With that came mentions on Bikepacking.com and in Mountain Bike Action that helped spread my brand early in the life of Corvid Cycles. That recognition provided me with some street-cred, with which I was able to approach Montanus (https://www.montanuswild.com) and convince them to collaborate with me on a signature bike model and promotional video. These things tend to snowball, so with that additional recognition and legitimacy, I was then able to get a feature on Bikepacking.com and an article in Mountain Flyer.
Industry relationships have also been important. I make an effort to maintain friendly relationships with suppliers, to give them plenty of lead time when ordering, and most importantly (within the last two years) be understanding of supply chain issues and delays. I also make sure they are tagged and mentioned in any builds to help promote their brands. As a result, I have suppliers sending customers my way because of the report I’ve built and have had my brand promoted in their social media. The mention of my brand by industry partners goes a long way towards creating a positive reputation.
In social media, I always try to stay positive, engage with my audience in a friendly way, and be humble. I want my followers to know I’m just a regular person doing what I love. I’m always excited when customers send me pictures of their bikes in use to post to my feed. That sort of endorsement goes a long way.
How do you keep in touch with clients and foster brand loyalty?
Before any bike is delivered, I post photos to Instagram and tag or mention customers by their initials. This establishes a social media relationship that encourages posts by customers mentioning Corvid Cycles. I’ll also repost or share customer photos to my stories to help strengthen that relationship. Brand loyalty is a two way street: customers are proud of their bikes and it is important for them to know that I am proud to have them riding my work.
In the past, I have sponsored events dubbed “Conspiracies” (a group of ravens is sometimes called a conspiracy) for Corvid owners and Corvid curious. These usually involve a weekend of camping, grilling, and riding. These have been hampered over the last two years due to the pandemic, but will be resuming later this year. Aside from being a fun excuse to ride with friends, these events foster a sense of community and belonging, and lets customers know that I am truly grateful for their support.
And finally, I also send out holiday cards to customers thanking them for their support. It’s a small thing, but I want to make sure they know how much it means to me that they chose me to build their dream bike.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.corvidcycles.com
- Instagram: @corvidcycles
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/corvidcycles
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/charles-d-corbin-5926773/
- Twitter: @corvidcycles
Image Credits
Personal photo credit: Josh Uhl Additional photos credit: Chad Corbin