We recently connected with Jared Madsen and have shared our conversation below.

Hi Jared, thanks for joining us today. Let’s kick things off with a hypothetical question – if it were up to you, what would you change about the school or education system to better prepare students for a more fulfilling life and career?

I would change the value placed on vocational courses, arts, sports, etc. Let’s show our value by grading these on an equal basis as other classes. How does someone graduate with a 4.0 but can’t draw a simple representation, or run a lap, or understand the simple mechanics of a machine? Yet those who excel in these latter areas, but struggle in English, writing, or math – have no hope of graduating with a GPA like that? Or even graduating period. We hold kids up on a pedestal because they excel in English and Math, and put everything else as secondary.

I was stuck in resource classes for the first 6 years of school, and made to think I was dumb. Thankfully, I stuck it out til junior high, when I could take a drawing class, a shop class, and PE – and could actually earn my first few “A” grades. I watched all the kids I was in resource classes with drop out of school. Thankfully I stuck it out, but it was hard, and I still suffer the consequences of being labeled as inept at such a young age.

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 started working at a bike shop at age 15, after falling in love with bicycles as a young child. Though I am dyslexic and struggle to write and spell, I have a very mechanically gifted mind and can build almost anything mechanical that I want. I have been in a mechanical/designing industry ever since – from bicycles, to gumball machines, motor scooters, motorcycles, and then back to bicycles.

I noticed that Europe had some amazing cargo bikes and wanted to create one more conducive for the U.S. market. Our Madsen family still lives in Denmark and I also lived in the Netherlands for a few years. In 2008, after a trip to the Netherlands, I set out to design my own cargo bike. Starting in my garage, I built a few different cargo bikes. I ended up with a rear cargo bucket design, that was unique in the market. It was easier to ride, especially on hills, than many other designs out there.

The problems my bike solves for others: the bike is easy to ride (much like a regular upright bicycle), and gets families outside making memories. It can fit 4 kids, pets and all the cargo gear – with a very spacious bucket. We are extremely meticulous, and pay attention to every small detail of the bike, always looking to improve it. Our company motto is “Always a better way” and we truly strive to live by that. We also customize bikes for families who have special needs children, so that they can enjoy a bike ride with their families. The bike brings joy to many kids who otherwise may not have an option to ride. We love our special needs community so much.

We have created a tight-knit, incredible community of awesome people. They are adventurous, kind, happy and fun. I am proud that we have created a community who loves to get outside and ride.

I am also proud that anyone who tries our bike over other options is pleasantly surprised at how easy and well it rides. I also have built a bike that lasts, which was one of my main goals. I wanted my name to be on a bike that could still be around for decades to come, and so far it has proven to be the case. It’s a workhorse bike (can carry up to 600 lbs!), but also has a beautiful and classic design.

What’s a lesson you had to unlearn and what’s the backstory?

I am still working on this! But I have a very hard time letting go and having other people do things that I do well myself. This hinders our growth, because I am so meticulous and tend to do way too much by myself. I have to keep learning that in order to grow as a business and have time for innovation, I need to hire things out.

Okay – so how did you figure out the manufacturing part? Did you have prior experience?

We do a lot of manufacturing and source out a lot to companies in Taiwan. I found them in a catalog before the internet was a thing. It was definitely a grassroots beginning, calling/emailing manufacturers from a catalog and trying to find one that could make my bike. The only reply I received from an email was the one I eventually went with. I showed up in China alone, and hired an interpreter to take me around. We now use approximately 50 different manufacturers to source all the parts needed for one bike. Our iconic bucket is manufactured in Idaho, and we also make many parts and accessories inside our own shop in Salt Lake City.

There have been countless lessons along the way while learning to manufacture a product. Since I build my own prototypes, I have found that being at a manufacturer’s facility in-person and sitting down with their engineers one-on-one makes a huge difference. Networking with manufacturing partners in-person in Taiwan and being physically there for production at times, has helped make my products what they are today.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.madsencycles.com/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/madsencycles/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/madsencycles/
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jared-madsen-2141206/
• Twitter: https://twitter.com/madsencycles
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCKHrMNIyrShGGaiRFqH9tjg
• Other: https://www.pinterest.com/cycles0466/