Sprocket 67

It's been about eleven years since I've posted here. Life takes twists and turns, as I'm sure y'all know. Here I am continuing my musical journey... playing music, learning instruments (drums, keyboard), building guitars and basses, winding pickups, and (attempting) to come up with some pedal schematics...

I've been working on the next tent. The air beam tent is in the works, but taking longer than anticipated.
I've shifted gears and working on a mesh tent with a tarp style fly.

I'm looking for some input.
The tarp is prototyped and pictured. There are two poles, 44" (111.75cm) at the head and 36" (91.4cm) at the foot. The poles break to 10.5" (26.67cm) sections.

The tent will have a bathtub style floor with a 6" (15.25cm) side wall and mesh side to the peak under the tarp. The floor will be 56" (142.25cm) X 90" (228.6cm).

Upside: The target is 2 pounds for total weight. It should pack to 11" (28cm) long and 5" (12.7cm) in diameter. Tiny and light. Fly and ground cloth will work on their own, or the mesh tent can be set up without the fly for those clear yet mosquito filled nights...
The tarp/fly can be strung up over a table or bike/gear.

Downside: It will not be freestanding. The tarp and tent will need to be guyed out. The head and foot lines can be tied to a tree, rock, a tent stake, or pinched between the ground and a motorcycle tire.

I'm working on some other innovations to add to it, like a pocket that becomes a stuff sack. No need to search for your tent bags when breaking camp! just fold the tarp into the pocket and stuff in the tent, ground cloth, stakes and poles.

Now is your chance to offer opinions.
Freestanding, OK or not?
Give up some head height for floor area? (90% of the time your sleeping anyway.)
What else would you like to see?

I've been working on the new tent design. The Beta 1+ is still going strong, but I need to get a couple more models ready for spring.
The current design might take a bit more development time. I've been getting pushback from the RF welders and production facilities. I need to find some dependable shops who actually want some work.

My hope was to have an air beam supported tent out for the spring. I'm thinking that it might be a little late for that. I've got a good start on the design, so I'm pushing forward with it. It might not come out until fall though.

I have two other designs that I'm going to prototype in the next couple weeks. The tents will be ultra lightweight, super compact, and have a few extra features. They will feature lightweight aluminum poles, but the sections will be 14.5" or shorter.

Here are a couple images of the home made rough air beam prototypes. It is in the works, but running behind schedule...

7Days1Shower is posting pictures of the good times he had in the desert. Waking up at 6am isn't so bad when you've got a great day of riding ahead. Oh, and just look at that great Sprocket 67 Beta 1+ tent he took to sleep in!

Sometimes it doesn't matter how tired you may be. If you're camping in the desert and the sun is blazing at 6am...you get up; "Holidays"

Day one is in the books... follow so you don't miss any of the adventure.

Steven Webster is fundraising on JustGiving for British Lung Foundation Help Steven raise money for this great cause.

I did take January 1st off to ride the Gas Gas in the dirt at Tahuya State Forest. It was a cold day (around 32ºF), but sunny blue skies. Here is a map with the GPS tracks of the ride in red. The upper left is the parking lot/staging area.

Everyone taking time off for the end of year holidays has slowed development on the new products.
I've been plotting and planning while everyone was "out of office" for the last couple weeks. I'm hoping to push forward and hit it hard this month.

More news: I was not selected to present to The Lion's Den, a local Seattle "Shark Tank" type event.
Upside: I get to keep 100% of the company, Sprocket 67.
Downside: I need to find other ways to fund production.

Tents have not done well on Kickstarter as they are not an impulse buy. I've been researching other options, but I'm open to suggestions.

I'll make things happen one way or another.

Spending a little down-time this week with family. I'll be back working on the new designs after next week.

Thanks to everyone who has supported my efforts this year.
I've only got a few tents left from the first production run.
Stay tuned for what I've got planned for this spring/summer!

I know there are a few of you on that side of the pond. Send some support, it is for a good cause!

To find out more information on the BLF Motorcycle Miles event, you can Insidemoray's press coverage of the run.
http://insidemoray.scot/breathless-solo-effort-from-2500-m…/

Breathless solo effort from 2500-mile challenger | insideMoray A Moray motorcycle enthusiast is set to take on a solo challenge he hopes will raise vital funds for the British Lung Foundation. Steven Webster is well

Today is a day for giving thanks. I would like to thank my followers for the support they have given me. Tent sales, product testing, critiques and even the "likes" are allowing me to work toward my dream.

I'm pushing to have more tent models out for spring. I couldn't do it without the support I'm getting.

I will be offering a coupon code for, what is it called, "Shop Small" (to support small businesses this Saturday). I'll be offering $67 off the Beta 1+.
-and every bit of revenue is going into R&D for the next tent models.
(Enter: SHOPSMALL14 for the discount.)

Thank you all for the support!