Will Paris ride a bike?
By brian | March 30, 2007 - 7:19 pm - Posted in Random acts of typing

I really don’t care if Paris Hilton goes to jail or not. But I see a great marketing opportunity for one of the big brands that just came out with the cruisers or coasting bikes.

Trek, Giant, Raleigh, or Electra should really offer her a bike right about now. She’s lost her license, and I doubt that Britney Spears is going to want to drive her everywhere. Maybe Raleigh could send over a tandem, so Paris and Nicole Richie can go clubbing.

They don’t need some high-end Campagnolo-equipped ride. Something with a Shimano Nexus would do fine. And to top it off, maybe we would get a break from the soap opera surrounding Anna Nicole Smith.

So I’ll be back to normal posting tomorrow.

3 Comments
Dynacraft recalls crap - again
By brian | March 29, 2007 - 7:34 pm - Posted in The Soapbox

It’s not even their first or 2nd recall. Just Google the words Dynacraft and recall, and you can see what a sad outfit they are.

Here’s the scoop on their latest recall:

Name of product: Triax PK7 and Vertical PK7 Bicycles

Units: About 32,000

Distributor: Dynacraft BSC Inc., of American Canyon, Calif.

Manufacturer: Shun Lu Bicycle Company, of Guangdong, China

Hazard: The bicycle frame can crack while in use, causing the rider to lose control and suffer injuries from a fall or collision.

Incidents/Injuries: The firm has received two reports of bicycle frames cracking, resulting in minor injuries including scratches to the legs and feet.

Description: This recall involves Triax PK7 (model 8509-24) and Vertical PK7 (model 8596-71T) 20-inch aluminum cushion framed bicycles. The Triax model was manufactured between October 2005 and May 2006, and the Vertical model was manufactured between August 2004 and December 2004. The model numbers and manufacture dates are printed on a label affixed to the bicycle frame.

Sold at: Target stores nationwide from September 2004 through early February 2007 for about $100.

Manufactured in: China

Remedy: Consumers should stop riding these bicycles immediately and return them to the nearest Target store to receive a full refund, including applicable sales tax.

Consumer Contact: For additional information, contact Dynacraft at (800) 551-0032 between 7 a.m. and 4 p.m. PT Monday through Friday, or visit the firm’s Web site at www.dynacraftbike.com. For additional information, please contact Target at (800) 440-0680 between 7 a.m. and 6 p.m. CT Monday through Friday, or visit the firm’s Web site at www.target.com

Maybe it’s time they stopped making crap bikes, and closed up shop for good. And if you want to buy your kid a bike, get one from a bike shop, or a decent used bike. But not a total piece of crap.

2 Comments
Ignorance knows no bounds
By brian | March 28, 2007 - 11:43 pm - Posted in The Soapbox

So the Napa Valley Register published a little article about a druggie that happened to get popped while on his bike. He ran a stop sign, and got caught with some drugs and paraphernalia. Fair enough.

But in the reader comments, this caught my attention:

JimClark wrote on March 28, 2007 5:16 PM:
“Well, it would be easier if these suicidal morons were not allowed to peddle outside of the legal bike lanes.”

Way to go, painting us all with the same really big brush. Maybe Jim ought to take a look at the vehicle code. Cyclists have the same rights to the road as motorists. Will they ever learn?

2 Comments
Just a bitty post to make you laugh
By brian | March 27, 2007 - 7:41 pm - Posted in The Soapbox

A quote from this week’s BusinessWeek:

“The Academy of Motion Picture Arts & Sciences promoted the show itself having “gone green,” by means of a variety of initiatives. One element: Each performer and presenter received a glass statue representing the elimination of greenhouse gas assosciated with a celebrity lifestyle over the course of a year.”

No disrespect to the writer, Ben Elgin, but that’s hilarious.

(Be the first to comment)
Another option for casual riding
By brian | - 6:27 am - Posted in Press releases

I am so slack. Even Phil at Spinopsys.com posted about the Raleigh Coasting bicycle before me. But I was assured by my man on the inside that it won’t happen again. Now all we need to do is round up a Lime, an Amsterdam, and a Coasting bike for a proper shootout.

In the meantime, here’s what Reed from Raleigh had to say:

Raleigh is very pleased to be partnering with Shimano on the Coasting Project. Shimano deserves a great deal of credit for taking the initiative to start this program, to reach outside the industry for expertise, for addressing the needs of the new riders and returning riders, and for the investment they have made to ensure its success.

The Raleigh Product Manager, Kyle Casteel, worked very hard on a design that captured the spirit of Coasting and combined that with a modern take on a “classic” Raleigh look – the classic styling and 700c wheel format have been very well received by dealers and consumers. If fact, we have sold out our first delivery and the Raleigh Coasting bicycles are on dealer’s sales floors right now.

The combination of the unique design, automatic shifting feature and the grassroots/online marketing has really resonated across a wide demographic and psychographic range of individuals resulting in coverage of Coasting in media outlets such as CNN, Forbes, Bicycling, Boston Globe, CNET, Men’s Journal, Hemisphere, and created quite a number of posts throughout the blogosphere.

We are excited about Coasting, excited about the notice people are taking of the Raleigh Coasting bicycle and encourage everyone – new riders, returning riders, racers, all riders – to test ride one today and check out what Coasting is all about – FUN!

3 Comments
« Previous Entries