Designing the Flow: Pedro on Engineering, Waves, and the Art of Letting Go

IMAGES: Crank Brothers Archive

TEXT: Pedro with Pedaled

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IMAGES: Crank Brothers Archive

TEXT: Pedro with Pedaled

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To design something that withstands the elements, you have to understand how to yield to them. In this new chapter of YAMA: Human Trails, we follow Pedro, R&D Engineer at Crank Brothers, whose life is a constant translation between the rigid precision of mathematical formulas and the fluid, unpredictable open spaces of Southern California. Moving away from a deeply rooted family support system to chase his dream in the cycling industry, Pedro discovered that true growth lies exactly where control ends—whether that’s on a steep rock garden, inside a breaking wave, or in the silence of a new city.

It took you years of persistent attempts, applications, and job interviews to finally break into the cycling industry after college. What kept you anchored during that period of uncertainty?

“I think it taught me patience, consistency, and trust in the process. That’s the big one. And, yeah, keeping your head up.

A lot of people will tell you no, or maybe later, or not reply at all. I was looking and reaching out every single year, a few months before summer for internships, and then after college for about two or three months. It was part of my regular routine. Being unemployed, I was living with my parents at the time, so I had to do something to work towards the future that I wanted.”

Stepping into your dream role meant relocating and leaving behind your hometown. How do you balance the professional fulfillment with the reality of being far from your roots?

“It’s good, it’s tough, it’s fun. Every day I wake up to be super grateful where I am.

It’s good for my personal growth. It’s good to see what else and what the rest of the world looks like—to be in a new position, to be uncomfortable. Because I feel like where there’s discomfort, comes growth.

But it’s tough in the sense that growing up, I’m very, very close with my parents, my grandparents, and my family. Moving away means saying goodbye to all my little cousins, my aunts, my uncles... my whole support system in person. That was tough and still is tough to say goodbye to.”

Given how close you are to your family, how did they handle your decision to move away for this career path?

“They are very, very supportive. They’ve always told me, ‘Do what you want to do, do what makes you happy.’ From elementary school with grades to adulthood with choosing what career, they never pushed me or influenced me in their own way.

I know from peers and friends that their parents have told them that they should do this or do that, so I’m very grateful to have my parents be supportive of whatever decision I choose. I owe a lot to my family, my parents, and my sister for my success and where I am today.”

Living alone in a completely new environment can sometimes bring a heavy sense of solitude.

How do you navigate those quieter, more isolating moments?

“Oh, all the time. All the time. All the time.

But I have my dog. He gives me unconditional love all the time, whether I want it or not! Definitely on the days when I’m feeling lonely, missing friends or family, especially living alone, I’ll come home and open the door and see my dog jumping with joy to see me. That fills my heart with the love that I feel like I’m missing. Getting my dog was at the right time, I think. His presence definitely puts a smile on my face a million times a day.”

You transitioned from working as a bike mechanic during your university years to being an R&D Engineer. How does it feel to physically shape the components that riders rely on?

“The idea of a 9-to-5 to me was so daunting. I just couldn’t see myself working a 9-to-5 where I don’t have that much interest in what I do. It was either something where I’m very interested in, something that I’m passionate for, or I wasn’t going to make it.

As an R&D Engineer for Crank Brothers, I’m building all the fun stuff—designing parts, understanding what the consumers want, and being able to develop or push something that is going to be better than what we already have or what a competitor already has. My biggest goal career-wise was finding a position where I can make a project that gets more people involved or have more accessibility to enjoy the outdoors. Being able to curate that feeling when you’re riding down a trail... that absolute excitement.”

Living by the coast has also led you to surfing. How does interacting with the ocean compare to your relationship with mountain biking?

“Cycling to me represents so much. It’s a challenge with myself to sometimes push harder, ride faster, but when I’m riding by myself, it’s also a reminder to slow down, be in the moment and just have fun. And when you are riding with friends, sharing that same feeling of absolute excitement—some people would say stoke—it's beautiful.

Surfing is similar in that you get to be in that environment with friends, but the ocean is a different beast. You are not in control. You can’t change the water; the water will do what it wants to you. Oftentimes when I’m very bound up, worried about what’s going on with work or the world, and I bring that into the ocean with me, I notice it while I’m surfing. I’m a little more tense. So when I’m out surfing, I always have to remind myself to zone in, forget everything that’s out there, be calm, and just fully focus on trying to catch a good wave.”

As someone who deals with the logic of engineering everyday, what has the combination of your work and your time outdoors taught you about life?

“They taught me that there is always a final solution. In math or engineering, it’s not like ‘oh, I don’t know’ or ‘maybe’—there is always a right answer, a way to make things work if you put in the time and the effort.

But the ocean and the trails also teach you that you can't control every single variable. Whether you are facing a technical rock garden, an unpredictable wave, or a completely new city away from your roots, you have to learn to be uncomfortable to grow. I think riding and life have taught me the exact same thing: be patient, keep your head up, and trust the process.”

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