It’s a great time to be a cyclist
Posted March 26th, 2007 in Industry, Advocacy
Industry Outsider calls it. It’s a great time to be a cyclist.
But what about the casual cyclist that wants something cool, fun, and comfortable? Something for commuting, or just transportation, that’s stylish and affordable? Well, Electra seems to know a thing or two about style and fun. My wife has the Rosie, and I have the Jester, and they suit us well for Sunday afternoon casual rides. A bike with a 24×3 tire is not the first choice for commuting though. So Electra offers the Amsterdam.
Fritz looks at something similar. It’s the Raleigh Coasting bicycle.
Raleigh’s Coasting bicycle, a hybrid bike featuring Shimano’s 3-speed Coasting shifter and coaster brake, is selling faster than Raleigh can build them. According to Raleigh’s USA marketing coordinator Carey Schleicher-Haselhorst, the entire first run of both men’s and women’s Coasting bicycles has already sold out. The next run will be available at USA Raleigh dealers in June.
And I like what Giant has launched in Taipei.
The starting point of the project was to study bicycles that riders we considered not to be sportsmen chose to ride in cities’, Young explains. ‘We looked at the basic frame constructions and attributes, and then made a study of what we could do not only to make a more functional city bike but also one that could be emotionally compelling and communicate to consumers who might demand a more fashion or design-related option’.
It’s also a great time to be working in this industry where great new products are coming from companies with a vision to bring cycling to folks who may not self identify themselves as cyclists.
Hat tip to David on Formosa for the link to the Citystorm story.
technorati tags: cycling, bicycles, electra, raleigh, giant, trends
What others have to say…
I like the Giant bike also, and I really like that the industry is responding to the apparent demand for these types of bikes.
My local bike shop is supposed to get a couple of the Raleighs in in June; I hope to take a look at it then.
Great to see some companies remaking these old style city bikes. Lets hope the prices are not as “emotionally compelling” as the aesthetics.
[…] I am so slack. Even Phil at Spinopsys.com posted about the Raleigh Coasting bicycle before me. But I was assured by my man on the inside that it won’t happen again. Now all we need to do is round up a Lime, an Amsterdam, and a Coasting bike for a proper shootout. […]
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I love all three of these bikes, particularly the Citystorm. I think Michael Young did a great job designing a bike that will appeal to non-cyclists who are thinking about getting a bike for urban transportation.