Back to Bigha

I think that Bigha have pitched their product just right, it is a CLWB full recumbent with high BB
and lots of nice features, indicators, brake light, auto darkness sensing, alarm, and a very high
quality look, should make for a stylish town bike for people who want to be comfortable and look
good while getting fit, I could see execs not being embarrassed to turn up to business meetings on
this machine, and lets face it people who would spend $2000 dollars on a cycle and another $2000
dollars on a home exercise recumbent can just get a Bigha and heart monitor strap and go places
while doing their exercise, lets face it, there are wider price differences with automobiles and
cars all do much the same job, so the Bigha is a little heavy, the people who buy them will be more
inclined to style and gadgets rather than pounding the mountain, good luck to Bigha.

Ian

I agree with you, Ian. Bigha isn't catering to enthusiasts like us, and it's sort of senseless to
criticize them for what we perceive as dumb design and/or high price. If it appeals to their target
audience, they will sell bikes and be successful. If not, their sales numbers will tell them to
keep trying.

Here, Here!!! The amount of money that they're spending does make me a bit nervous, but they seem to
know what they're doing and the bike is really pretty nice.

Ian said:

I think that Bigha have pitched their product just right, it is a CLWB full recumbent with high BB
and lots of nice features, indicators, brake light, auto darkness sensing, alarm, and a very high
quality look, should make for a stylish town bike for people who want to be comfortable and look
good while getting fit, I could see execs not being embarrassed to turn up to business meetings on
this machine, and lets face it people who would spend $2000 dollars on a cycle and another $2000
dollars on a home exercise recumbent can just get a Bigha and heart monitor strap and go places
while doing their exercise, lets face it, there are wider price differences with automobiles and
cars all do much the same job, so the Bigha is a little heavy, the people who buy them will be more
inclined to style and gadgets rather than pounding the mountain, good luck to Bigha.

Ian

Bryan J. Ball Editor/Publisher www.bentrideronline.com

Do they know what they're doing? Aren't these the same people who ran BikeE under. That's what
EasyStreet says: easystreetrecumbents.comBikeE.htmlOpen ↗

BentRider said:

Here, Here!!! The amount of money that they're spending does make me a bit nervous, but they seem
to know what they're doing and the bike is really pretty nice.

Ian said:

I think that Bigha have pitched their product just right, it is a CLWB full recumbent with high BB
and lots of nice features, indicators, brake light, auto darkness sensing, alarm, and a very high
quality look, should make for a stylish town bike for people who want to be comfortable and look
good while getting fit, I could see execs not being embarrassed to turn up to business meetings on
this machine, and lets face it people who would spend $2000 dollars on a cycle and another $2000
dollars on a home exercise recumbent can just get a Bigha and heart monitor strap and go places
while doing their exercise, lets face it, there are wider price differences with automobiles and
cars all do much the same job, so the Bigha is a little heavy, the people who buy them will be
more inclined to style and gadgets rather than pounding the mountain, good luck to Bigha.

Ian

Bryan J. Ball Editor/Publisher www.bentrideronline.com

Okay... They know that they're spending a lot of money... They also seem to be well aware of the
fact that it might not work at all.

There are a lot of old BikeE people around BiGHA, but the company is put together much differently.

cjw said:

Do they know what they're doing? Aren't these the same people who ran BikeE under. That's what
EasyStreet says: easystreetrecumbents.comBikeE.htmlOpen ↗

BentRider said:

Here, Here!!! The amount of money that they're spending does make me a bit nervous, but they seem
to know what they're doing and the bike is really pretty nice.

Ian said:

I think that Bigha have pitched their product just right, it is a CLWB full recumbent with high
BB and lots of nice features, indicators, brake light, auto darkness sensing, alarm, and a very
high quality look, should make for a stylish town bike for people who want to be comfortable and
look good while getting fit, I could see execs not being embarrassed to turn up to business
meetings on this machine, and lets face it people who would spend $2000 dollars on a cycle and
another $2000 dollars on a home exercise recumbent can just get a Bigha and heart monitor strap
and go places while doing their exercise, lets face it, there are wider price differences with
automobiles and cars all do much the same job, so the Bigha is a little heavy, the people who
buy them will be more inclined to style and gadgets rather than pounding the mountain, good luck
to Bigha.

Ian

Bryan J. Ball Editor/Publisher www.bentrideronline.com

Bryan J. Ball Editor/Publisher www.bentrideronline.com

cjw <[email hidden]> wrote in message news:<[email hidden]>...

Quoted message said:

Do they know what they're doing? Aren't these the same people who ran BikeE under. That's what
EasyStreet says: easystreetrecumbents.comBikeE.htmlOpen ↗

The head (John Acres) of the company (BiGHa) was one of the major investors in BikeE. No he would
not run the company down, after all, his interests are at stake. He was not making the decisions. He
like the other investors lost big time with BikeE's demise.

I am surprised to see a recumbent dealer make statements on their website that are half truths or
omissions. I understand how they feel but it is not good business ethics what they're doing so
needless to say, if I lived in their city, I would not feel comfortable doing business with them.

I have no connections what so ever with Mr. Acres or the other former BikeE employees working for
him. He doesn't know me from Adam but I am just tired of people looking for the smoking gun that
just isn't there. Let's wish the man and his team the best of luck and may their company prosper.

Edward Wong Orlando, FL

Quoted post said:

Originally posted by John Foltz
I agree with you, Ian. Bigha isn't catering to enthusiasts like us, and it's sort of senseless to criticize them for what we perceive as dumb design and/or high price.

The frame design is reminiscent of my beloved BikeE that my wife now captains. My techno-freak side thinks all the bells and whistle electronics are neat! Too bad they do not have an intigrated GPS too.

This whole Bigha thread started with someone questioning whether anyone would actually buy one. The
testers have commented that it's a "nice bike" but none has said that it's a keeper. It is probably
not aimed at the bike enthusiast, but just who is the target market for the bike? Newcomers are not
likely to spend $3000 sight unseen on a mail order bike. Most of the people who think it is
interesting still won't pay that kind of money for it. Maybe the bike is a good idea and well made,
but I kind of doubt that there is really much of a market for it, especially the way it is
distributed. Maybe they need an entry level bike too, a Bigha II or LittleHa or whatever.

In article <[email hidden]>, [email hidden] says...

Quoted message said:

John Foltz said:

I agree with you, Ian. Bigha isn't catering to enthusiasts like us, and it's sort of senseless
to criticize them for what we perceive as dumb design and/or high price.

The frame design is reminiscent of my beloved BikeE that my wife now captains. My techno-freak
side thinks all the bells and whistle electronics are neat! Too bad they do not have an intigrated
GPS too.

--
Derek, Burley Canto

Quoted message said:

--------------------------<

Posted via cyclingforums.com cyclingforums.comcyclingforums.comOpen ↗

--
___________________
John Rooker KC2KQT Rochester, NY

John Rooker said:

This whole Bigha thread started with someone questioning whether anyone would actually buy one.
The testers have commented that it's a "nice bike" but none has said that it's a keeper. It is
probably not aimed at the bike enthusiast, but just who is the target market for the bike?
Newcomers are not likely to spend $3000 sight unseen on a mail order bike. Most of the people who
think it is interesting still won't pay that kind of money for it. Maybe the bike is a good idea
and well made, but I kind of doubt that there is really much of a market for it, especially the
way it is distributed. Maybe they need an entry level bike too, a Bigha II or LittleHa or
whatever.

Sounds like a good idea, a cheaper, entry-level model. My vote for a name: how about Chuckle? And
then later on, a more extreme model called the Guffaw! A tandem called the Chortle, a child's
model would be the Giggle. That's enough for now.

--
Larry Varney Cold Spring, KY home.fuse.netlarryvarneyOpen ↗

John Rooker must be edykated coz e writed:

Quoted message said:

This whole Bigha thread started with someone questioning whether anyone would actually buy one.
The testers have commented that it's a "nice bike" but none has said that it's a keeper. It is
probably not aimed at the bike enthusiast, but just who is the target market for the bike?
Newcomers are not likely to spend $3000 sight unseen on a mail order bike. Most of the people who
think it is interesting still won't pay that kind of money for it. Maybe the bike is a good idea
and well made, but I kind of doubt that there is really much of a market for it, especially the
way it is distributed. Maybe they need an entry level bike too, a Bigha II or LittleHa or
whatever.

Quoted message said:

I think it is safe to say, that if people will pay $6000 for a Segway, then $3000 for a style
conscious cyclist is an easy bet.

--
Ian

catrike.co.ukcatrike.co.ukOpen ↗

Ian said:

John Rooker must be edykated coz e writed:

Quoted message said:

This whole Bigha thread started with someone questioning whether anyone would actually buy one.
The testers have commented that it's a "nice bike" but none has said that it's a keeper. It is
probably not aimed at the bike enthusiast, but just who is the target market for the bike?
Newcomers are not likely to spend $3000 sight unseen on a mail order bike. Most of the people who
think it is interesting still won't pay that kind of money for it. Maybe the bike is a good idea
and well made, but I kind of doubt that there is really much of a market for it, especially the
way it is distributed. Maybe they need an entry level bike too, a Bigha II or LittleHa or
whatever.

I think it is safe to say, that if people will pay $6000 for a Segway, then $3000 for a style
conscious cyclist is an easy bet.

Exactly. It will appeal to people who put style over substance. You don't see a lot of electric
scooter enthusiasts buying Segways because they know that it is ridiculously overpriced for a
scooter, no matter what kind of fancy electronics it has. The people who buy Segways know the least
about electric scooters. The big difference with the Bigha is that a bicycle doesn't need
electronics. If Bigha sold a version without the electronic doodads but otherwise the same for
$1500, it would be very competitive with other recumbents and sell quite well. I might even buy one.

Lorenzo L. Love home.thegrid.net~llloveOpen ↗

"From the brief time that we did spend occupying Iraqi territory after the war, I am certain that
had we taken all of Iraq, we would have been like the dinosaur in the tar pit -- we would still be
there, and we, not the United Nations, would be bearing the costs of the occupation. This is a
burden I am sure the beleaguered American taxpayer would not have been happy to take on." -Norman
Schwarzkopf, from his 1993 autobiography It Doesn't Take a Hero.

John Rooker <[email hidden]> wrote in message
news:<[email hidden]>...

Quoted message said:

This whole Bigha thread started with someone questioning whether anyone would actually buy one.
The testers have commented that it's a "nice bike" but none has said that it's a keeper. It is
probably not aimed at the bike enthusiast, but just who is the target market for the bike?
Newcomers are not likely to spend $3000 sight unseen on a mail order bike. Most of the people who
think it is interesting still won't pay that kind of money for it. Maybe the bike is a good idea
and well made, but I kind of doubt that there is really much of a market for it, especially the
way it is distributed. Maybe they need an entry level bike too, a Bigha II or LittleHa or
whatever.

Well the same thing was said of the Cannondale bent. Everyone swore up and down that it would not
sell but here it is going on it's third year and they are introducing a Recumbent II at a lower
price. Hope that's the way it'll work for BiGHa.

Edward Wong Orlando, FL

Saw my first Segway this weekend at the Russellville , AL, "Watermelon Festival". The guy piloting
it appeared to be in his mid 60's. I'd have to say I was impressed. He was able to maneuver that
sucker along a sidewalk almost as an afterthought, negotiating among the crowd. In my opinion it was
not style over substance. He also was wearing a DEA hat, so maybe he was with Home Security ;-) If I
wanted a scooter, I'd buy one because it's not a scooter like any other made in terms of ease of
operation and utility in the kind of congestion the guy was using it in. Someone opened the door of
the deli my wife and I were having lunch in and he pulled into the door, then turned around, paused
for a second, avoided other folks entering the deli, and mosied off down the sidewalk. Maybe the
BigHa works for the folks that buy 'em in the same way. Plus they have a swell website. bill, AERO
works for me[1], g
[1] Did I mention that I SMOKED[1a] some more roadies on my Bacchetta this weekend
[1a] they quit when I get to 33mph[2]
[2]neener

Lorenzo L. Love said:

You don't see a lot of electric scooter enthusiasts buying Segways because they know that it is
ridiculously overpriced for a scooter

"Lorenzo L. Love" <[email hidden]> wrote in message news:<[email hidden]>... ......

Quoted message said:

"From the brief time that we did spend occupying Iraqi territory after the war, I am certain that
had we taken all of Iraq, we would have been like the dinosaur in the tar pit -- we would still be
there, and we, not the United Nations, would be bearing the costs of the occupation. This is a
burden I am sure the beleaguered American taxpayer would not have been happy to take on." -Norman
Schwarzkopf, from his 1993 autobiography It Doesn't Take a Hero.

Old Norman and company (Powell, Bush I and his advisors) led us to a glorious victory and then
flubbed the end of the war. If we had ended the war right we would not have had to do it all over
again (Bush II). The Arab nations of the Middle East would have acquiesced if we had gone all the
way to Baghdad back then as long as we did so decisively. That part of the world is too dangerous
for half measures. As for the American taxpayer, we have ended up having to pay infinitely more than
if we had done it right in the first place. Bush II and his advisors finally got it right.

Ed Dolan - Minnesota

"Ian" <[email hidden]> wrote in message "]news:[email hidden]...

<lotsa snips>

Quoted message said:

I think that Bigha have pitched their product just right, ..............I

could see >execs not being embarrassed to turn up to business meetings on this >machine,
............................ good luck to Bigha.

I have this vision of the directors of General Motors, in their Seville Row suits, arriving at their
board meeting on Bighas. Each of them has a different color Bigha. The meeting has to be delayed
because the directors are outside having a wonderful time riding their Bighas around the empty
parking lot.

Possibly within Bigha is the potential to change our world as we know it.

skip

Lorenzo L. Love must be edykated coz e writed:

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

I think it is safe to say, that if people will pay $6000 for a Segway, then $3000 for a style
conscious cyclist is an easy bet.

Exactly. It will appeal to people who put style over substance. You don't see a lot of
electric scooter enthusiasts buying Segways because they know that it is ridiculously
overpriced for a scooter, no matter what kind of fancy electronics it has. The people who buy
Segways know the least about electric scooters. The big difference with the Bigha is that a
bicycle doesn't need electronics. If Bigha sold a version without the electronic doodads but
otherwise the same for $1500, it would be very competitive with other recumbents and sell
quite well. I might even buy one.

Lorenzo L. Love home.thegrid.net~llloveOpen ↗

Bigha have identified a niche market within a niche market, they have a target group of buyers and
they don't include you, however if you really really want one, and it seems you do with all the time
you are spending talking about it, then maybe you should save up your pennies? Make sure you have
some Ralph Lauren sports wear for when your riding it though and only frequent bijou wine bars and
coffee shops when your on it.

--
Ian

catrike.co.ukcatrike.co.ukOpen ↗

Ian said:

I think it is safe to say, that if people will pay $6000 for a Segway, then $3000 for a style
conscious cyclist is an easy bet.

theregister.co.uk32411.htmlOpen ↗

Snk!

Dave Larrington - legslarry.beerdrinkers.co.uklegslarry.beerdrinkers.co.ukOpen ↗
===========================================================
Editor - British Human Power Club Newsletter
bhpc.org.ukbhpc.org.ukOpen ↗
===========================================================

But I've seen 5 Segway's on the Chicago lakefront path and no Bigha's.

Ed Gin

Ian said:

John Rooker must be edykated coz e writed:

Quoted message said:

This whole Bigha thread started with someone questioning whether anyone would actually buy one.
The testers have commented that it's a "nice bike" but none has said that it's a keeper. It is
probably not aimed at the bike enthusiast, but just who is the target market for the bike?
Newcomers are not likely to spend $3000 sight unseen on a mail order bike. Most of the people
who think it is interesting still won't pay that kind of money for it. Maybe the bike is a good
idea and well made, but I kind of doubt that there is really much of a market for it, especially
the way it is distributed. Maybe they need an entry level bike too, a Bigha II or LittleHa or
whatever.

Quoted message said:

I think it is safe to say, that if people will pay $6000 for a Segway, then $3000 for a style
conscious cyclist is an easy bet.

--
Ian

catrike.co.ukcatrike.co.ukOpen ↗

Quoted message said:

Well the same thing was said of the Cannondale bent. Everyone swore up and down that it would
not sell but here it is going on it's third year and they are introducing a Recumbent II at a
lower price.

And you think that proves that the 'bent is selling well? I wouldn't bet on that. Cannondale sells
plenty of other bikes and can afford a money-loser like the recumbent, for a while at least. Ditto
Giant's nifty comfort bike. The issue isn't whether the bike is any good, it's whether it will make
the company any money.

To assume that the cannondale 'bent is a success because it's still around is to ignore the
precedents they set in their recent bankruptcy.

They lost their butts trying to elbow their way into the motocross world. They bled for years on
that division, hoping it would turn around and show a profit. Sure, they sold lots of stuff and it
got great reviews, but it cost way too much to research, produce and market. It didn't turn a
profit, and it almost killed the whole company.

Now, the Cdale 'bent doesn't have the capablity to sink C'dale, but I'll bet you dollars to donuts
that it is not a moneymaker for them.

BigHa doesn't have any other product to support this 'spensif bike. A little brother, priced at
$1500 wouldn't do it either.

Look at the numbers, folks. You need to sell hundreds and hundreds of bikes at that price to stay
afloat. Especially with the kind of overhead they seem to have generated.

I get industry reports across my desk all the time breakind down bike sales. The simple fact is that
very very few people buy bikes priced over $500, and those who do are looking for performance.

BigHa would need to change American society to break through that wall, and I don't see that
happening.

PS, the Segway analagies are flawed on the face. I don't think they'll be as popular as some think,
but even so, these things provide the locomotion for the rider. American's simply don't like
vehicles that require their own power.