FOUNDATION FOR PRECISION

Skunk Works Suspension is the culmination of a long term vision shaped by 25+ years of technical expertise, a deep knowledge of testing, and a life long passion for bikes. The name is born from the moniker given to the “secret” machine shop at Specialized Bicycles where I spent thousands of hours filling chip barrels while helping develop world-class products.

The journey began at age 14, working in bike shops across Northern California. My first industry job was with Mountain Cycle in San Luis Obispo, fabricating frames. Later, I attended Cal State Chico to study Manufacturing Technology, attempting to balance school with riding and racing — including several memorable trips to Collegiate MTB Nationals.

After college, I joined the Engineering Group at Specialized, where I ran the Advanced R&D Machine Shop for nearly a decade. During that time, I gained vital experience in machining, product development, and testing. Additionally, I had the opportunity to work with and learn from some incredible athletes, including Sam Hill, Troy Brosnan, Matt Hunter, Christoph Sauser, and Todd Wells.

Following Specialized, I continued prototyping and development with Praxis Works, where I set up and managed the in-house machine shop in Santa Cruz. Throughout all of this, I was obsessed with suspension design and performance, continually tuning and testing to find that perfect setup.

Eventually, we left California behind for the mountain bike mecca that is Durango, Colorado. Here, I spent several years at a dedicated suspension shop, servicing, repairing, and tuning hundreds of shocks and forks. Working with countless riders, bikes, and suspension brands provided valuable insight into setup. This is where I saw the importance of an optimized and balanced setup — and realized how many riders were missing out on the benefits it provides.

And with that, Skunk Works Suspension was born.