C
On Sep 27, 10:31 pm, "Mike Jacoubowsky" <[email protected]>
wrote:
> > I think Performance had the better plan with the World Avenue. Sell a
> > relatively low priced commute bicycle with racks, fenders, and most
> > importantly a chain guard. I wish they'd included a hub dynamo too. OTOH,
> > all of the factory hub-dynamo equipped bicycles I see around here (mainly
> > Joe Breeze and REI Transfer) have additional lights installed because
> > they're used in an environment where the included dynamo lights don't cut
> > it. If the owners knew about the SolidLight for dynamos, and had a way to
> > buy it here for $150 or so, I'd think it'd sell reasonably well, since the
> > battery powered systems on these bikes are always of the expensive
> > variety.
>
> It's almost impossible to get customers to buy practical bikes. We've
> stocked fully-decked-out commuter bikes, and they sit & rot on the floor.
> We've dressed up stock standard bikes, showing people what's available for
> them, and they just collect dust and sales of fenders & lighting systems
> only go to those who already understand their value, not new converts to the
> cause.
>
> It's possible that the new widespread awareness of global warming may have
> an effect, along with a general feeling that we ought to do a better job of
> protecting the planet for the next generation. But I'm skeptical. We, as an
> industry, are relatively powerless. We don't control the media, or at least
> the parts that influence the lives of everyday people. The bicycle industry
> is finally beginning to band together for common marketing causes, of which
> utility use bicycles is a big battle cry. The feeling is that, if we can get
> utilitarian use of the bicycle seen as a mainstream activity, it will raise
> sales of *all* types of bicycles, thus avoiding the pitfall of creating a
> beast that becomes a non-profit commodity item.
>
> Would be nice that we actually had reason to be scared of creating such a
> beast...
>
> --Mike Jacoubowsky
> Chain Reaction Bicycleswww.ChainReaction.com
> Redwood City & Los Altos, CA USA
Dear Mike,
Chain guards, lights, pricing, global warming, all the media's fault,
blah-blah-blah . . .
Here's a hot new city bike that should scare us sissies, no fancy
fenders, no silly clipless pedals, no high prices:
http://www.pbase.com/kayakbiker/image/27685415
It's your basic 80-tooth front-sprocket 1907 fixie--simple, reliable
transportation with head-light, tool-bag, sprung-seat, cruiser
handlebars, and front suspension. (Okay, 40-tooth inch-pitch.)
Cheers,
Carl Fogel
wrote:
> > I think Performance had the better plan with the World Avenue. Sell a
> > relatively low priced commute bicycle with racks, fenders, and most
> > importantly a chain guard. I wish they'd included a hub dynamo too. OTOH,
> > all of the factory hub-dynamo equipped bicycles I see around here (mainly
> > Joe Breeze and REI Transfer) have additional lights installed because
> > they're used in an environment where the included dynamo lights don't cut
> > it. If the owners knew about the SolidLight for dynamos, and had a way to
> > buy it here for $150 or so, I'd think it'd sell reasonably well, since the
> > battery powered systems on these bikes are always of the expensive
> > variety.
>
> It's almost impossible to get customers to buy practical bikes. We've
> stocked fully-decked-out commuter bikes, and they sit & rot on the floor.
> We've dressed up stock standard bikes, showing people what's available for
> them, and they just collect dust and sales of fenders & lighting systems
> only go to those who already understand their value, not new converts to the
> cause.
>
> It's possible that the new widespread awareness of global warming may have
> an effect, along with a general feeling that we ought to do a better job of
> protecting the planet for the next generation. But I'm skeptical. We, as an
> industry, are relatively powerless. We don't control the media, or at least
> the parts that influence the lives of everyday people. The bicycle industry
> is finally beginning to band together for common marketing causes, of which
> utility use bicycles is a big battle cry. The feeling is that, if we can get
> utilitarian use of the bicycle seen as a mainstream activity, it will raise
> sales of *all* types of bicycles, thus avoiding the pitfall of creating a
> beast that becomes a non-profit commodity item.
>
> Would be nice that we actually had reason to be scared of creating such a
> beast...
>
> --Mike Jacoubowsky
> Chain Reaction Bicycleswww.ChainReaction.com
> Redwood City & Los Altos, CA USA
Dear Mike,
Chain guards, lights, pricing, global warming, all the media's fault,
blah-blah-blah . . .
Here's a hot new city bike that should scare us sissies, no fancy
fenders, no silly clipless pedals, no high prices:
http://www.pbase.com/kayakbiker/image/27685415
It's your basic 80-tooth front-sprocket 1907 fixie--simple, reliable
transportation with head-light, tool-bag, sprung-seat, cruiser
handlebars, and front suspension. (Okay, 40-tooth inch-pitch.)
Cheers,
Carl Fogel