Someone read my mind

This is the greatest catalog I've ever had the pleasure to carry home from a trade show.

Thank you SBS, thank you.

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Why are bikes so expensive?

It's a question that we get all the time.  My annual eye exam was today, and was making small talk with the .....what would you call her.... Occular assistant?  Anyway, when the topic of my chosen line of work comes up she says "why are bikes so expensive?" My response to her was "They're not". I've gone to this eye doc for years, and I'm sure that there are many in town that are less expensive.  I go to this one because of the service, and quality of care. Your money buys more bike now than it ever has.   So why do people think bikes are expensive?  The price of everything around them goes up in price, yet bike prices should stay the same?  Not logical. I think the real issue is the way people view bikes.  They're considered toys.  Go and try to find one in one of the big box stores.  Know where they are?  Right next to the Barbies. A well made bicycle is a joy to ride, will work as (or better than) you expect it to and last a...
Read more

Selling Cycling

Image
In the late 80's and early 90's I worked for a bike shop that sold Bridgestone bicycles. I'm sure many of you have never heard of them. The small group that made up Bridgestone US turned out some amazing bikes back then. In some cases they swam against the current of popular thinking (which often times produces great results). The public (and bicycle magazines) never fully embraced the brand, and it lasted a short 10 years before the Japanese parent pulled the plug. Going back through the old catalogs I discovered something amazing.  The catalogs were not only trying to sell you their bicycles. In fact, in the 1994 catalog (the last model year) you had to go more than 20 pages in before you got to the first bike! There were stories, and illustrations about how to operate a quick release, how to shift, how frames are made. It struck me that they were selling cycling . I wonder what the business would look like if Grant Peterson (head of Bridgestone US...
Read more

The Fringe

I want to start by saying, I like the Tour.  I like most bike racing really.  From the 1 day classics to the lunacy that is the greatest 3 week reality show on television.  It is a testament to what professionals can do on a bicycle. I do tire of this idea that because we may want to make our bicycles a little more useful with a rack, fenders, bags or even (god forbid) a basket we are somehow "fringe". Do you know what is fringe?  Bike racing. Of all of the people in all of the world, bike racers are the minority.  Don't forget it. Just a little perspective during the first week of the greatest show on Earth. Have a great 4th.  Ride on!
Read more