[TheThinkTank] bicycle shaped objects

[Erik Ryberg]

I am convinced--though admittedly not for any studied reason-- that many 
people buy department store bikes because they need cheap 
transportation, not because they want a cool-looking mountain bike with 
full suspension and they think they get that at Wal-Mart.  Which leads 
me to believe that there is a market for simple bikes of decent quality 
that are inexpensive.

When in Mexico City recently I saw a line of bikes that had aluminum 
wheels, aluminum hubs, aluminum "mustache" handlebars, cheap steel road 
frames, single-speed freewheels, aluminum platform pedals, aluminum 
three-piece cranks, and V-brakes.  They sold for $75.00 US complete, 
retail.  The bikes looked to me to be completely rebuildable, fairly 
durable, and pretty efficient to ride.

They seem to be offered as a competitor to the ubiquitous, not-so-good 
one-speed hundred-dollar Benottos, here: 
http://www.benotto.com.mx/s_seccion29000/html/elemento.exr?Clave_Elemento=TRHAG12801&N=0

I believe bike co-ops might be the place to start introducing such a 
bike to the American consumer, at least in places like Tucson where it 
is flat and multi-speeds are unnecessary.

But how to do it?

Erik Ryberg

  info at re-cycles.ca wrote:
> Recently I have seen many examples of new department store bikes with
> cones TOO tight and some with NO grease in the bearings or anywhere
> else.



-- 
Erik B. Ryberg	
Attorney at Law
445 West Simpson Street
Tucson, AZ 85701
phone: (520) 622-3333
fax: (520) 792-6677