Skip to Main Content

From the Ashes: The Story of Petra's Obed Seclud

March 02, 2021

Builder fixing damaged Seclud

 

For Silverton, Oregon Public Works Director Petra Schuetz, it wasn’t the most convenient detour, but with the roads impassable by raging fires, it would have to do. The day was going sideways anyway. With select personal possessions in hand—including her new Obed mountain bike—she turned onto the dirt fireroad, and into several sleepless days of work saving her community. The bumpy ride to the office was the least of her concern.

Little did she know, her bike was on a bumpy ride of its own.

The Beachie Creek Fire went from a spark on Aug. 16, 2020 to a raging fire that would consume 138 acres of rugged terrain deep in the Opal Creek Wilderness. With fire-borne winds up to 75 miles per hour, homes were being threatened—including Schuetz’s own. Yet as Public Worlds Director, she was charged with mobilizing teams to manage infrastructure collapses like power outages due to the elements like freezing weather, downed trees or in this instance, an out-of-control wildfire, ensuring public safety. So, before she would spend a few sleepless nights trying to save her community, she went home—which was now in the fire threat zone and under a Stage 2 Evacuation Order—and grabbed the irreplaceable things to take away in case her home was threatened by the flames. Passports, birth certificates, a few photos—and her new Obed Seclud came with.

She’d only just gotten the bike, a gift from her fiancée Tim Elsea, as an upgrade from her dated old 26-inch steed. “She said ‘if you promise me it’s one gift for the year—for my birthday, Christmas, our dating anniversary, all that—I’ll let you buy me a good mountain bike,” Elsea said.  “It was funny—it showed up and I rode it a bit and told her, if you don’t like it, don’t worry I’ll keep it for myself.” She liked it, and was ready to explore the trails with Tim.

But then, the fire.

Petra hurriedly loaded her new ride onto the rack at the back of her car, but the rack—then set up to receive 26” wheels—wasn’t adjusted for the new larger wheels of her Obed. She took off, with the bike unknowingly only half-secured onto the rack. Once she took that dirt road detour to the office, her Seclud bounced up and off the rack. The rear wheel still secure in the rack, the front of the bike bounced and dragged in the dirt behind. It was several miles before Petra noticed, quickly re-racked (and locked down) the bike, and continued on to work.

Once the fire danger had subsided, Schuetz finally had a moment to take a breath, and look at her bike. Beyond the cockpit and fork being scraped against the ground like a cheese grater, the brake levers twisted like the legs of the wicked witch of the west, the frame had taken a few damaging hits as well.

Petra's damaged Seclud

Schuetz was crestfallen. “It was super disappointing,” she said. “I hadn’t really gotten many rides on it.”

“We reached out to Obed, if for no other reason than to source replacement parts," Elsea said. The Obed team was more than concerned, and asked for a few frame photos—then asked to have the frame sent back to them for an inspection. “We ultimately got an email saying they wanted to make things right, and repair the frame and replace the parts. We were blown away,” he said.

The Obed team received the Seclud back and went to work, stripping it down, repairing the frame, replacing bearings and replacing all parts damaged from its impromptu off-road ride. In late February, Obed shipped the bike back to Schuetz….ready to ride.

Builders working on fixing damaged SecludBuilders working on fixing damaged Seclud

“To be honest, I was surprised. I didn’t think I deserved that kind of treatment. I just couldn’t believe a bike company would make such a gesture, Schuetz said. “But yeah—I was extremely thrilled.”

Builders working on fixing damaged Seclud

Are there rides planned for the coming spring and summer, after the craziness of floods, freezes and fires calm down? You bet. Schuetz and Elsea are planning a wedding in May with a summer honeymoon with their kids. But locally, there’s lots of vacation time stacked up, Schuetz said.

Tim and I ride a lot at Silver Falls State Park,” she said. “My Seclud will get lots of time there for sure—I’m definitely going to get out there and appreciate it as much as I can this spring and summer!”

     

     

    Shop All Bikes

    Read More Obed Stories

     

     



    Also in Stories

    A Look Over the Shoulder: James's 2023 Race Season Recap
    A Look Over the Shoulder: James's 2023 Race Season Recap

    September 21, 2023

    The Long Haul: 299.9 Miles of Corn
    The Long Haul: 299.9 Miles of Corn

    September 12, 2023

    We followed OBED ambassador, Austin Sulli on his journey on one of the most iconic Gravel Races: Gravel Worlds. The challenge? A tough field and overnight rains that produced a soupy, sandy slog. Join in on the 300-mile overnight excursion (The Long Voyage) that ended with Austin taking home 9th place.
    Race Recap: Gravel Worlds Nebraska
    Race Recap: Gravel Worlds Nebraska

    September 07, 2023

    Follow along as Littleton, Colorado-based James Walsh pursues a Worlds jersey in his age group of the 150-mile event, ultimately finishing third. And join in on the overnight excursion of Chattanooga, Tenn. endurance racer Austin Sullivan, who took on the 300-mile Long Voyage, taking ninth overall.

    OBED Exclusive

    Size Guide

    View our size charts below to see what size is best for you. After purchasing your new OBED, our product team will reach out to you to confirm your order and sizing information to be sure you have selected the optimum size.

    If you're on the border of two sizes, the right size may depend on certain body measurements and your riding style. Feel free to contact us at any time regarding sizing questions - our product specialists are experienced with finding riders the right fit by cross-referencing your information with our fit database.  

    If you're not transferring measurements from a similar bike, to get completely "dialed in" for maximum performance, we recommend you see a reputable professional bike fitter that can fit you to your new bike.

    GVR / Boundary / Baseline / Borough Size Chart

     XS

    5'1" - 5'6"

    S

    5'4" - 5'9"

    M

    5'7" - 5'11"

    5'10" - 6'2"

    XL

    6'1" - 6'5"

     

    Seclud Size Chart

     S

    5'3" - 5'8"

    M

    5'7" - 5'11"

    5'10" - 6'2"

     

    * Sizing to be used as reference only