LOCALadk Magazine

24 Summer 2019 LOCALadk Magazine LOCALadk And then they set to work on a second design: the OM-2, which debuts this year. In addition to the brand's signature geometr y, defining features include a pinion gearbox, which seals a 9- or 12-gear drivetrain into an internal hub design. In the Adirondacks, this keeps mud, salt, and grit out—and ups durability. The pinion works with either a single speed chain or a Gates Carbon Drive belt; the latter promises less mainte- nance and longer lifespan. "I'm a proud owner of an OM-2," says Mikey Intrabartola, an Elizabethtown-based carpenter. He rode a prototype ver- sion 1,200 miles while training for and competing in the Ad- irondack Trail Race, a 575-mile, self-supported circumnaviga- tion of the Adirondack Park he organizes each fall. After two river crossings, countless mud baths, and extended stretches of dusty gravel roads, Mikey found no decrease in the OM-2's performance. Then he loaded the rig— generous braze-ons make it easy to attach frame bags or panniers—and set out for an 800 -mile tour through Mexico's Baja California. "It's a really fun, playful bike to ride, but it also has a lot of frame space for the ability to carr y gear," he said. Each customer benefits from an extended inter view and personalized buildout. Courtney and Jeff tweak the build to accommodate preferred wheel sizes, a rigid or suspension fork, and other individual touches. "The best way to describe the process is it's right between full custom and a production bike," says Mikey, who visited Solace headquarters multiple times as his bike was being built. "You see details you'd only see on full custom bike, but it's accessible to ever ybody." When we complete the inter view, the co-founders offer a tour of the building. A machine shop dominates the main floor, stocked with lathes, mills, drill presses, and a CNC ma- chine that translates computer designs into physical parts. Plus the jig is used to map bike blueprints, and frames, wheels, and tires ready to be assembled. Downstairs, Court- ney's inventor y—raw material, finished stool seats, assem- bled furniture —lines the walls, while the components of a custom cabinet project lie on work tables. Other building tenants include a custom ski maker, a film production outfit, and a textile studio. The shared space reflects the collabora- tive spirit that fuels Jeff and Courtney. It's an ethos Jeff and Courtney carr y beyond the shared workspace. In 2015, Jeff was elected to Elizabethtown's town council. Last year, Courtney became a BETA board member of the Barkeater Trails Alliance. The duo also lead "Dirt Church," a Sunday ride at Otis, and organize annual bike events. Yes, they're outdoor junkies, but they see recreation as an economic engine. "They bring to life the idea that the Adirondacks is not just a place to recreate, but a place to create," says Chris Maron, the executive director Champlain Area Trails, a West- port-based nonprofit that builds hiking trails and conser ves land. " What characterizes both Courtney and Jeff is their commitment and vision. Instead of thinking of the barriers, they focus on the goal." That means the best bike for riding close to home —and a bigger shift that could follow when mountain bikers book rooms, visit restaurants, and gas up in the towns adjacent to trailheads. " We're not just tr ying to make money selling bikes," says Jeff. " We're tr ying to change the whole ecosys- tem around us." Courtney (l) and Jeff (r) working in the shop. Photo credit Eric Teed

• Cover