XLAB- who we are

Faster As One: A Look at XLAB’s Obsession with Speed

“We take these things very seriously – as though they are going to fly…”
Watch what makes an XLAB product so special. You'll also get a unique look at what you are a valued part of when you ride with XLAB.

We are a family owned and run company based in northern San Diego County, California. We moved to the USA from the UK in 1980 to follow a great high-tech job opportunity. Candice, one of the founder’s daughters is the C.O.O. and Marketing Director of XLAB.

We started the company in 1993 while we also ran a large triathlon and road store in Encinitas called NYTRO that we sold in 2007. San Diego is not only regarded as the Mecca of triathlon, but triathlon also started right here in Mission Bay. Candice still trains for her triathlons in Mission Bay and we actually live on the famed Pro training route through Del Dios Highway and Lake Hodges. We could not be anymore centered in triathlon than right here in San Diego.

We are housed in a very modern facility where we design, prototype and test all of our products. We use all the latest cutting edge tools including 3D modeling, Computational Fluid Design simulation and CAD/CAM drawing. All of our products are assembled in our facility so that we can check that every item is up to our highly respected Quality Control standards. The difference is that most of our competitors simply bring in their products pre-packed from Asia. We do not think this guarantees the highest quality so we do not take this short cut.

We have some beliefs that are important to our Team culture. We believe that each of our team members plays an equally important part in the company. We believe our team IS our company. We believe in equal pay for women. We believe in giving back and currently donate to CAF and Save The Children. We believe that work should be fun. We believe in being ECO friendly whenever possible. XLAB is a family and we extend this premise to all XLAB users.

XLAB- HOW WE STARTED

XLAB was formed due to a unique combination of recognizing new racing needs and an obsession for speed. Aerospace Designer Craig Turner entered the bicycle industry after quitting corporate America and wanting to follow his passion. He had a passion for speed.

Having been a Senior Design Specialist for numerous military and commercial aircraft, and even rockets and racing yachts, he always wanted to make ‘vehicles’ go faster. Being highly competitive, he did not want to get beaten on the hills by his training buddy, so he built super lightweight bikes under 13lbs in 1992. A feat not equaled in its day even by bike manufacturers.

Still dissatisfied, he started the first mail order triathlon business in America. Fifteen years later after selling over 10,000 tri-bikes, designing bikes for large manufactures, setting numerous triathlon equipment trends and cycling 3,300 miles across the US, he decided to sell the Mail Order business and concentrate his efforts full time on the Aerodynamic Design of bicycle gear.

He had also awakened America with the aerodynamic cutting edge carbon bicycles from Lotus and Hotta, becoming the exclusive importer in the United States. In the following years North American designs started to include faired-in rear wheels and aerodynamic shaped tubes based on these designs.

Innovating and trend setting have been roles in Craig’s life. He also inspired Candice to do a 500 mile bike ride at the age of 13 through the tough terrain of Yellowstone and Glacier National Parks and the grueling Icefield Parkway.

LEADING IN INNOVATION

The following technology sections have been written by Craig who is still the main design brain behind XLAB.

The major advances and innovations in Hydration, Nutrition and Repair storage on bicycles have come from XLAB over the past 20 years.

• INNOVATION IS THE SOUL OF PROGRESSION.
  We thrive on innovation. It is in our DNA. Unlike some of our competitors we do not buy other companies, we do not subcontract out our design work.
• CROSS BREEDING IDEAS CREATES INNOVATION.
  We are unique in that we have over 40 years of experience designing for Boeing, Lockheed, rockets, rocket cars, racing yachts, aero bars, bicycles and even running a THINK TANK for a large European company. We have developed a unique system for researching consumer needs, brainstorming solutions, and then using advanced design tools for generating the most versatile and fastest products on the planet in our field.

TREND SETTING XLAB INNOVATIONS