Meet the Maker: Roxy Lo, Industrial Designer, Ibis Cycles

SCMTS: Hi, Roxy! Thanks for taking the time to chat with us. Could you start by describing your role at Ibis + how long you’ve been with the company?

Roxy: I am 1 out of 5 partners at Ibis. I started working with Ibis in 2004, 1 year before we relaunched the company. My first project was the carbon Mojo, which came out in 2005.

SCMTS: How did your prior experience prepare you to lead bike design at Ibis?

Roxy: I worked with textiles, ceramics, plastics and glass as a designer in retail and consulting spaces. Then I took some time to work in Hong Kong deep diving into the manufacturing sector. In hindsight, all things led to Ibis. I learned a lot about designing functional and beautiful products, and now get to apply those teachings to my passion for mountain biking.

It’s a joy to work in the outdoor industry, and to develop bikes that are deeply meaningful to their owners. I’m proud that my work can help others get out on trails and connect with nature.

SCMTS: How do you approach new bike development? What steps go into getting a design out to the consumer?

Roxy: Approaching a new bicycle means learning a lot about what the end result should feel and look like to inspire people to perform their best. There are specs, geo, and section height requirements that drive design, but the gesture and feeling the bike evokes when looking at it needs to come from an authentic perspective. I try to visually create that first impression and make it unique and interesting.

I spend a lot of time ignoring what others do when embarking on a new concept, then research the bicycle space to not be derivative of other concepts or ideas. My standard design approach includes research, artistic freedom, and then working back and forth with engineering, then rounds of testing with 3D models, then actual lay ups. What works for someone in a certain terrain may not work for another person, so we work hard to collaborate within our organization to garner information and get the best features for the type of bicycle. Gathering feedback from athletes, direct experiences on the bike, current customers’ views, and observing bike culture at large all fall into this process.

SCMTS: How have Ibis’ designs evolved over the years?

Roxy: I'm in my angular phase, now.

SCMTS: What challenges came up during the design of the Oso? How did Ibis create unique solutions?

Roxy: We designed this bicycle twice. We started in 2017, and ended up totally changing direction due to the format of the battery. In order to retain a svelte visual shape, include our unique look and approach to an ebike, AND include as large a battery as was possible, we ended up turning the entire battery assembly sideways. The only problem: the mounts and battery are designed by the manufacturer in a specific orientation, so we redesigned the mounting and plates / door ourselves. To access the battery on the side of the bicycle added time and complexity, but you can access the battery on the side of the bike and visually, the thickness of the tube doesn't seem as large. An extra bonus: it’s impossible for the battery to fall out in this orientation! The Oso was likely one of the longer projects we've worked on due to the amount of parts we designed from scratch. Ensuring the flow of the aesthetic from front to back of the frame was important, and we took our time to get it exactly right.

SCMTS: Do you have an all-time favorite Ibis model + colorway?

Roxy: There's some new developments coming up so every time I think I have a favorite, I get surprised with something even fresher and more fun. My answer is "Not yet, because I don't want to limit myself from what the future may bring!"

SCMTS: Why do you think it’s important to support trail stewardship?

Roxy: After volunteering with Santa Cruz Trails many years ago, I realized donating time to supporting trails for any and all types of users was critical for the sport to evolve. We are all human, trying to enjoy life and the outdoors, and no one will do this for us. What better humans to work on trails and maintain them, than users?

The ability to freely recreate as a cyclist in our outdoor spaces is not a guarantee, so we have to show that we as users can support sustainable trails. The more we work to provide equitable spaces to recreate, the more we show that responsible trails and building methods offer fun riding experiences and keep erosion from happening, the more likely it is that we’ll continue to enjoy stellar parks and trails. I’ve seen massive efforts into trail design planning, and find that clear, firm trail access and etiquette rules makes for better experiences for all. Money and time both matter, so I encourage everyone to give what you can so your eyes and heart can be open to seeing how much work and love go into creating great trails.

SCMTS: What’s your go-to taqueria and order?

Roxy: Carne en su jugo is my go-to from Taqueria Santa Cruz.

From now until April 14, you can donate to trails and earn the chance to win the Ibis bike of your choice. "Return to Flow" supports storm-damaged trails that are critical to the mountain biking community in the Santa Cruz Mountains. After 6.5 feet of rain this year, we need every bit of support we can get! Entries are just $5 each; learn more here.