The Man behind Friction Freedom
This year was a year full of new products that enhanced my experience in the saddle. My previous post listed my top 5. You may say these are terrible items to think so highly of. I say you’re wrong. I have been riding a bike for what seems like my entire life and year after year I watch more lame trendy items being shoved down our throats. This year was much better. With new products come new questions so I dig for answers.
A chamois cream for cyclists by a cyclist.
Looking for some answers about Friction Freedom? Here they are…
Bicykel: Are you a one man show? Any employees?
FF: We are a team of three. After an idea to create the best chamois cream, I brought on two experienced partners. One has two decades of CEO experience and the other has 30 years of cosmetic, marketing and CEO time under her belt.
Bicykel: What was wrong with the brand of chamois cream you were using? Why did you have to make your own?
FF: The only chamois cream that I thought to be of any value was Assos. I used Assos religiously for 2+ years prior to developing Friction Freedom. I felt their was a bigger market and demand for an even better product to be made in the USA. With that said, we took a great product and strived only to make it better and feel we achieved our goal. At Interbike 2008, we learned a lot about the cycling industry and saw most of the competition promoting their existing and new products… and I am confident we have the best chamois cream. Hands down, Friction Freedom works, lasts and is safe!
Bicykel: How long did it take to get Friction Freedom right?
FF: It took several different formulas and two years for the chemists to get to the current composition.
Bicykel: Are you a chemist or just a cook?
FF: I am a cyclist trying to use my BS degree in entrepreneurship!
Bicykel: Can friction freedom be used as a personal lubricant? (only asking because I saw it asked on another website)
FF: Definitely not. Although the name, “Friction Freedom”, can be deceiving, the product is safe for external use only.
Bicykel: Do you have a day job?
FF: I have a full-time sales job selling designer jewelry wholesale.
Bicykel: Do you have a favorite genre of cycling?
FF: I love anything with 2 wheels. I ride mostly on the road and have a singlespeed 50×16(freewheel) that is so much fun to ride with groups, although sometimes I ride it fixed 50×15, but the hills, up and down, get a little painful. Recently, a buddy and I tagged along with a fixed gear group out of the LA area and rode 106 miles on a fixed gear through great Los Angles from 10pm to 4am - what an awesome experience!
Bicykel: Do you race and at what level?
FF: I race Cat 3 on the road. This was my first season racing cyclocross and I plan to do a few MTB races in 2009.
Bicykel: What’s currently in your stable?
FF: My road race bike is a Ridley Damocles with Sram Red (went back to the Dura-Ace crank, because Sram Red was too flexy), DA carbon wheels, PRO carbon accessories and all my rides have the Arione saddles.
Bianchi Fremont SS for the road (with Campy Record Brake levers - I bought the bike used from Santa Cruz, of course)
Bianchi Pista Concept for the track (ADT center)
Ridley Cross Bow with DA tubless clinchers!
Felt Solo Niner - awesome, SS 29er
Bicykel: Do you recommend using frictionfreedom when riding in your sisters / girlfriends / wifes jeans?
FF: I would definitely reccommend using Friction Freedom in your girl’s jeans, but probably not your buddy’s girl’s jeans - the whole Friction Freedom name may be hard to explain to your buddy. FTR - I am 6′4″, 225lbs, so I have never tried to fit in my wifes jeans as I wouldn’t fit and jeans are way too expensive these days to experiment with.
Bicykel: What makes Friction Freedom different?
FF: Friction Freedom is anti-microbial and highly viscous so it won’t break down and will stay where you apply it (especially important for Women). The product will not damage or stain your chamois. It contains just the proper amount of menthol and is paraben free.The 8 ounce (236 ml) jar is 68% larger than the comparable top brand.
Bicykel: Where is it made?
FF: The product is produced in Scottsdale, Arizona, USA
Bicykel: Are there any other uses for Friction Freedom?
FF: We have had significant interest from runners and triathletes. They use is on the surfaces of their arms and legs that rub during exercising. Motocross riders also use the cream especially for cross country. We even had a couple of people in wheelchairs interested in protecting their arms which get chaffed pushing the chairs.
Bicykel: Where can it be purchased?
FF: We have a website: www.frictionfreedom.com. The site lists retailers and online ordering options.
Bicykel: Thanks for your tine Troy.
