Here comes the city bike

  • June 20, 2008 7:18 pm

Telling yourself that you’ll drive less and bike more is the easy part.

It often involves taking the time to:

  • Load the kids into the trailer
  • Hook it up to the bike
  • Secure the cargo-carrying device (mine is a milkcrate zip-tied to my luggage rack)
  • And then the actual work begins…

On a cruise across town and back (17 miles or so and more than a few hills) just to see if I could make it I realized that even with my new street tires, I was still riding a mountain bike.  My hands tingled, my back ached, my neck strained to see ahead (and to check the kids nodding uncomfortably back there) and I wasn’t really comfortable.

Turns out there might be a better way.  I have yet to actually try one, but these “cruisers” look pretty comfortable.  I call them cruisers, apparantly the trendy name is “City Bike.”  NPR‘s Bryant Park Project even speaks highly about city bikes.

OMG.

I’ve lived in Holland for 7 years. While the bike in the picture has the same form as the bikes here, they don’t look authentic. Please modify bike in the following ways:
* Remove breaks – at most only reverse pedal breaks should be installed
* Gears?!?!?!? Bwahahahahahahahaha. No.
* Generator on front wheel for front and rear lights (it’s the law here)
* Child seat on handlebar, single/double child seat behind the saddle
* saddlebags over the rear wheel for groceries
* at LEAST two locks
* lots and lots of rust

Now you have what we call a “grandma bike” or “hallelujah bike” or in certain circles a “dutch SUV.”

Sent by Nathan in Holland | 8:28 AM ET | 02-15-2008

And you know if it’s on NPR it’s either leftist propaganda or about to be mainstream.

I’ve looked around the ‘net and found a couple I’d like to try.

Workcycle city bike with 3 children\'s seats

Cargo city bike with children

Of course, these are hand-built in Amsterdam and only ships to bicycle dealers and the top one is still in “limited production.”  I’ll add them to the wish-list.  Maybe I’ll get these as demo models for my dream store.

Business Idea

  • June 20, 2008 1:21 am

Brief Summary

As gasoline prices in the U.S. rise and start to match prices in Europe, more and more people will look for ways to reduce their family’s dependence on oil and gasoline. European’s have long relied on bicycles for personal transportation due to fuel and space limitations In the years ahead, we believe Americans will re-discover the ease and practicality that well-designed bicycles offer for personal and family transportation.

Our goal is to tap in to the niche market of families who want to spend more time together and spend less money at the gas pump. These families spend money on quality goods and foods, may shop at local farmer’s markets and co-ops, and actively seek methods to slow their life down and appreciate time together. The commuters in these families do not travel long distances to and from work, and prefer a quality, comfortable ride which does not require a change of clothes once they get to work.

Business Idea – continue reading