New style bikes attracting newbies???

"Alan Acock" <[email hidden]> wrote in news:3emec.14408$_K3.51321@attbi_s53:

Quoted message said:

I've seen new bicycles that have the pedals shifted forward (sort of
influenced by recumbents?) so a person can get leg extension and still have
a cushy seat that they can sit on while both feet are on the grown.

I had a bike like that during the 1960s. It was a Schwinn Stingray.
Today, commuter-style bikes (I assume that's what you're talking about) are
popular in Europe (and have been for years). Maybe they're now becoming
popular in the USA because of soaring gas prices and massive unemployment.

"Alan Acock" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
news:3emec.14408$_K3.51321@attbi_s53...

Quoted message said:

I've seen new bicycles that have the pedals shifted forward (sort of
influenced by recumbents?) so a person can get leg extension and still

have

Quoted message said:

a cushy seat that they can sit on while both feet are on the grown. I love
my Klein road bike and my Klein Quantum and my Trek Fuel 90, but these new
bikes seem to overcome the fear of a small seat and not being able to set
your feet on the ground without getting off the seat.

Are these going to attract some new riders?

Hopefully.

It seems there are a few people (my Mother for one) who don't ride bikes but
would like too ... and one of the reasons they don't ride is the perception
that it's dangerous. Heck, a few days ago I asked someone who organizes
rides for "ordinary" people why helmets were mandatory and that was his
answer ... "because riding a bike is dangerous!" When experienced riders
believe that serious physical injury is common place, then how must non
riders feel? Probably the same apprehension I would have trying to ride a
highwheeler. It's unfortunate that perception exists but the new bikes
might help to correct that for non cyclists and perhaps bring a few over ...
let's just not tell them the danger is the same (c;

C.Q.C.

Ken said:

"Alan Acock" <[email hidden]> wrote in news:3emec.14408$_K3.51321@attbi_s53:

Quoted message said:

I've seen new bicycles that have the pedals shifted forward (sort of
influenced by recumbents?) so a person can get leg extension and still have
a cushy seat that they can sit on while both feet are on the grown.

I had a bike like that during the 1960s. It was a Schwinn Stingray.
Today, commuter-style bikes (I assume that's what you're talking about)

I wonder if he was referring to the style that this company puts out-

http://www.electrabike.com/bikes.html

http://www.electrabike.com/04/bikes/townie/townie_home.html

I doubt that they started it or are the only company doing it, but I
don't know of others except for things like some Schwinn 'reissues'
that I see around.

Quoted message said:

I've seen new bicycles that have the pedals shifted forward
...
Are these going to attract some new riders?

That's what their manufacturers are counting on. I've seen them in the
local shops -- Giant is one major brand I've seen -- so perhaps they are
in fact attracting new riders, because God forbid that the Keepers of
the True Faith try something different.

My whole business is based on selling cycles for "common people". Cycles with
an upright riding position, comfortable saddles, easy shifting, mudguards,
chainguards and kickstands.

There's nothing new about them - they are all cycles built 30 to 50 years ago.

Vin - Menotomy Vintage Bicycles, Inc.
http://OldRoads.com

Quoted message said:

Alan Acock" <[email hidden]> wrote in
news:3emec.14408$_K3.51321@attbi_s53:

Quoted message said:

I've seen new bicycles that have the pedals shifted forward (sort of
influenced by recumbents?) so a person can get leg extension and still have
a cushy seat that they can sit on while both feet are on the grown.

I had a bike like that during the 1960s. It was a Schwinn Stingray.
Today, commuter-style bikes (I assume that's what you're talking about) are
popular in Europe (and have been for years). Maybe they're now becoming
popular in the USA because of soaring gas prices and massive unemployment.

Ken said:

Maybe they're now becoming
popular in the USA because of soaring gas prices and massive unemployment.

Check prices on a batavus or a gazelle roadster. You're guaranteed to
be surprised.

Europeans buy bicycles of this sort as durable goods, as one might buy
a car or motorcycle. They expect them to come fully-equipped, and the
bicycles are expensive but durable.

If you're unemployed, you're riding whatever you were riding when you
were more gainfully employed. If you didnt' ride before, you're
riding a Huffy.

It has occurred to me that soaring gas prices will not get more
bicycles out on the streets, as the price of gas is worth the sense of
security and isolation of the steel cage for most people.

predictions of a boom in padyak sales will be overly optimistic.

-Luigi

LioNiNoiL_a t_NetscapE_D 0 T_NeT said:

Quoted message said:

I've seen new bicycles that have the pedals shifted forward
...
Are these going to attract some new riders?

That's what their manufacturers are counting on. I've seen them in the
local shops -- Giant is one major brand I've seen -- so perhaps they are
in fact attracting new riders, because God forbid that the Keepers of
the True Faith try something different.

I ask again: how many new semi=recumbents have you seen?

What price is the market going to bear?

beginners buy cheap bikes generally speaking.

-Luigi

Luigi de Guzman <[email hidden]> wrote in
news:[email hidden]:

Quoted message said:

It has occurred to me that soaring gas prices will not get more
bicycles out on the streets, as the price of gas is worth the sense of
security and isolation of the steel cage for most people.

You're never going to get "most people" to give up cars for bicycles. However,
even increasing the minority of commuters who use bicycles will go along way
towards reducing air pollution, gas reliance, and urban congestion.

Ken said:

Luigi de Guzman <[email hidden]> wrote in
news:[email hidden]:

Quoted message said:

It has occurred to me that soaring gas prices will not get more
bicycles out on the streets, as the price of gas is worth the sense of
security and isolation of the steel cage for most people.

You're never going to get "most people" to give up cars for bicycles. However,
even increasing the minority of commuters who use bicycles will go along way
towards reducing air pollution, gas reliance, and urban congestion.

I didn't dispute that.

If we were all rational actors, we'd all be using bicycles for some
'optimal' distance and time each day, and reaping the benefits
materially.

But the funny truth is that populations never behave like they told
you they should in grad school, eh? Irrationality distorts
things...fear deters people.

-Luigi

In article <[email hidden]>, luigi12081
@cox.net says...

....

Quoted message said:

If you're unemployed, you're riding whatever you were riding when you
were more gainfully employed. If you didnt' ride before, you're
riding a Huffy.

It has occurred to me that soaring gas prices will not get more
bicycles out on the streets, as the price of gas is worth the sense of
security and isolation of the steel cage for most people.

Most, but not all, and it will depend on just how high the prices go.
If they get to European price levels relatively quickly (so people don't
have time to get used to them), you'll see a big increase in bike usage.
When weather permits, I've already started riding my bike to referee
soccer games, instead of driving my mini-van. Today, I rode an hour
there, refereed an hour-long game, and then rode an hour back home. My
legs were thoroughly shot by the time I got back, but recovered within
an hour.

Quoted message said:

predictions of a boom in padyak sales will be overly optimistic.

Maybe not a "boom", but I'll bet you see *some* increase.

--
Dave Kerber
Fight spam: remove the ns_ from the return address before replying!

REAL programmers write self-modifying code.

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

Quoted message said:

Luigi de Guzman <[email hidden]> wrote in
news:[email hidden]:

Quoted message said:

It has occurred to me that soaring gas prices will not get more
bicycles out on the streets, as the price of gas is worth the sense of
security and isolation of the steel cage for most people.

You're never going to get "most people" to give up cars for bicycles. However,
even increasing the minority of commuters who use bicycles will go along way
towards reducing air pollution, gas reliance, and urban congestion.

With a strong enough price shock, you might get a simple majority to
ride a bike for at least SOME of their short errands.

--
Dave Kerber
Fight spam: remove the ns_ from the return address before replying!

REAL programmers write self-modifying code.

"David Kerber" <ns_dkerber@ns_ids.net> wrote in message
news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

When weather permits, I've already started riding my bike to referee
soccer games, instead of driving my mini-van. Today, I rode an hour
there, refereed an hour-long game, and then rode an hour back home. My
legs were thoroughly shot by the time I got back, but recovered within
an hour.

I used to do this when I reffed. Weather almost always permitted; AYSO was
much more likely to cancel soccer than I was to cancel a bike ride. I
reffed locally, so I had at most a 5 mile ride -- usually less. On the ride
over, I used to just take it easy and try to warm up the legs. On the way
back, I did whatever I wanted or was able to, sometimes including a 20 mile
detour 😉. My daughter usually accompanied me if she was on the same
schedule.

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

Quoted message said:

"David Kerber" <ns_dkerber@ns_ids.net> wrote in message
news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

When weather permits, I've already started riding my bike to referee
soccer games, instead of driving my mini-van. Today, I rode an hour
there, refereed an hour-long game, and then rode an hour back home. My
legs were thoroughly shot by the time I got back, but recovered within
an hour.

I used to do this when I reffed. Weather almost always permitted; AYSO was
much more likely to cancel soccer than I was to cancel a bike ride. I
reffed locally, so I had at most a 5 mile ride -- usually less. On the ride

My primary fields are 12.5 miles away, which is a very easy hour ride
(for example if I have 2 or 3 games in a row), or a faster paced 45 to
50 minute ride if I only have 1 game.

Quoted message said:

over, I used to just take it easy and try to warm up the legs. On the way
back, I did whatever I wanted or was able to, sometimes including a 20 mile
detour 😉. My daughter usually accompanied me if she was on the same
schedule.

My 13 yo daughter isn't quite up to that length of ride yet, at least
not with the gas pipe-framed bike she has.

--
Dave Kerber
Fight spam: remove the ns_ from the return address before replying!

REAL programmers write self-modifying code.

On Sun, 18 Apr 2004 17:45:36 -0400, David Kerber

ns_dkerber@ns_ids.net said:

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

Quoted message said:

Luigi de Guzman <[email hidden]> wrote in
news:[email hidden]:

Quoted message said:

It has occurred to me that soaring gas prices will not get more
bicycles out on the streets, as the price of gas is worth the sense of
security and isolation of the steel cage for most people.

You're never going to get "most people" to give up cars for bicycles. However,
even increasing the minority of commuters who use bicycles will go along way
towards reducing air pollution, gas reliance, and urban congestion.

With a strong enough price shock, you might get a simple majority to
ride a bike for at least SOME of their short errands.

I'm not sure about that David. You see the unnecessary scrutiny bike
riders subject others to. I'm not sure that I'd want to subject
myself to that kind of [censored] when putting myself on a bicycle for
the first time since high school so I could ride to the office. Most
people would like to be able to ride what they want to without having
to hear opinion about it. Embarassment is a greater motivating factor
than most people will admit. Americans especially will avoid such
situations completely.

It is after all, just bike riding - something that even a child can
do. I don't see any validation for the scrutiny from the
self-appointed gods of bicycling. lol

Michael J. Klein
Please replace mousepotato with asiancastings