The birth of the cockpit
For weeks, the entire team had been counting down like it was race day. The most complex mold we’ve ever built had just landed. Prototype No. 1 of the integrated handlebar-stem unit was finally ready for lamination — the next step toward redefining performance.
The moment the first carbon layer was laid into the mold, it felt like the bell had rung for the final lap of a bike race. A milestone moment filled with excitement, but also tension. Had all those months of hard work paid off? Would the cockpit look as stunning in real life as it did in our CAD renderings and 3D prints? And just how light would it be? We were only a few hours from knowing the answer. Before anything else, dozens of individual prepreg layers had to be placed with absolute precision—each one essential to the structural integrity and final surface quality. Then all eyes turned to the autoclave. We waited. Finally, the green light lit up - process complete. A loud hiss marked the release of pressure, adding to the drama. Slowly, the heavy steel door opened. Time was now our biggest enemy. Aluminum molds shrink as they cool carbon doesn’t. If we didn’t get the cockpit out within 20 minutes, the mold would crush it. And yet, not a single mistake could be made. Then it happened. We held it in our hands THE COCKPIT No. 001. Still warm from the oven. Absolutely stunning. Engineer Michael placed it carefully on the precision scale. 304 grams. And that was just the first shot. With every new prototype, the layup would get further refined.
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