HOME OF THE ORIGINAL STEM-DOCK™
I came up with Stem-Dock™ as an idea at least a decade ago. Not with any intention of making it, just thinking it would be a great tool if someone else did. It never really left my head and I always figured I’d get round to it one day. About two years ago I finally started scribbling ideas on napkins and sketching on the iPad.
Fast forward to now and Stem-Dock™ is a reality. Since releasing the tool in November 2025 there have been a huge number of copies and claims of original work, enough to make your head spin. I know from decades in the cycle trade, and from proper research, that this product simply did not exist before I created it. That became very clear during the patent research process.
Then, almost the moment it was released, the copycats came out in force. So on this page I’m going to show you, with an approximate timeline a small part of what it actually took to get this thing to market.
Thanks for looking and please get in touch if you have any questions. - Allan
march 2025
The stem "thingy"
Two bits of plumbers pipe, some rubber straps and epoxy glue. Cheap, fast and as a proof of concept, all I really needed to get it off the ground. I actually used this in my own workshop even when I'd started my journey towards making a fully functional unit.
It worked extremely well and may actually have been the final design and never have left my shed. I had solved the problem!
JULY 2025
the rushed prototype
So my pals Jeek, Max and David had 3D printers, but how do I make this thing real? You don't need to be genius, but I did have to learn basic CAD in just a few days to get a general shape that would work. I did just this and they grew a few prototypes for me. The cat was now out of the bag and the very real fear of copycats was absolutely on my mind.
It was time to decide if I wanted to actually do this!
SEPTEMBER 2025
PATENT PENDING...
A patent is the next logical step. But boy is it hard work to try and explain to a government employee what this is for! But I managed to do it. But given that I knew copied would spring up at an alarming rate, the 2-3 year wait time is anxiety inducing to say the least! Time for some pragmatism on my part. I still have to find a way to rapid prototype and make it myself.
SEPTEMBER 2025
kickstarter failure
My first reality check. I didn't really do enough delving Ito what Kickstarter was REALLY for. I just had a concept, a proof of concept and a prototype that demonstrated that it was a sound overall idea.
It fails to raise more than 1,5k as I recall. Given that my aim was around 7k I felt devastated and really took it hard. How could no-one else see the genius here? It was at this time I needed to get a few more iterations under my belt. To get some proper research done on what I was missing. Simplicity is the hallmark of good design right?
For this first round of funding attempt, we had to have a name and some sort of logo / meme to make us visible. So we came up with a minimalist logo that closely resembles the parent company "Ravens-Outdoor"
Perhaps though the newly named "Stem-Dock™" was too simple and a little to weird for investors to appreciate?
SEPTEMBER 2025
failure is opportunity?
The honeymoon is over and with Kickstarter failing, reality hit hard. Was it all a waste of time? It was time to get some more versions out for testing. So back to all my pals with 3D printers whilst at the same time learning some CAD design and shopping for a printer of my own. This version had integrated straps and a switchable rubber base for different frames.
October 2025
it gets a bit weird...
I went from "too simple" to just plain mad. Adding trays and extra appendages as well as different size options and all kinds of stuff. As a cycle workshop veteran I just tried to cover every base. It became silly. So I backed off again, asked what the shops really wanted and yes, it was simple. This is where Stem-Dock really came to life. Through testing in multiple bike shops.
OCTOBER 2025
The learning curve
The time had come to get hold of the production and rapid prototyping myself. 3D printers are so cheap these days and so easy to use with just a little knowledge that it was a no brainer to finally get my own. This supercharged the way ahead and after just a few weeks I had tried enough iterations to settle on a final design concept. The Stem-Dock™ you see today is an evolution of this literally home grown tool.
OCTOBER 2025
home births are best
So there it was. After years of thought, so many false starts and a lot of favours and goodwill, it was finally alive. We dropped the magnets for now (they are in the patent however) as they were expensive and turns out that not many control centre bolts on modern bikes are that magnetic. We opted for a deep container instead. This is more than enough to hold most bits and bobs that arise from the disassembly of a headset.
November 2025
Hail Mary, lets do it!
I shot a short reel for instagram releasing a product into the world. I knew it didn't exist. I knew it was useful and I know it solved a problem that actually exists in the cycle maintenance community. Boy was I right!
The response was incredible and the pressure was on to make as many as I could for the wave of enquiries that were coming in whilst continuing to develop. November the just changed into December.
March 2026
the lost months
My partner and I had booked a trip to New Zealand a year ago, so off we went. Having done my Hail Mary in November and not anticipating the success. I had to shut it all down for 2 months.
When I got back, the internet had spoken. This idea was too good for the people who would copy it and claim it as their own. This very problem is the reason for the webpage that you are reading.
MARCH 2026
back up and running
We're at full speed again. with 2 printers working full time to bring the dream to life. Boxes everywhere, filament orders flowing in and trying desperately to juggle my full time job with this most crazy of "kitchen table" projects. The reality is though that Stem-Dock is a little more than that now. With Trademark protection and very strong patent claim and the wholesale adoption of the concept by the intended audience. The sky may be the limit?
