An Amusement & Diversion for The Genteel Cyclist. Daily.

Tuesday, October 2, 2007

Next Big Thing: The Simplespeed


We're still waiting for our official Interbike update, but the Big Story -- according to mainstream media sources like the Boston Globe -- is all about Getting The People Back On Bikes. You know who we mean -- the unwashed masses, for whom shifting and braking are insurmountable impediments to riding a bike.

None other than Kozo Shimano himself was in Las Vegas touting this new populist direction for the bike industry. And its little wonder, given the influenza-like epidemic of city bikes, commuters, and cruisers that's about to hit bike stores this winter.


Bikes built around Shimano's "Coasting" parts shift gears automatically, brake with a simple backpedal, and generally cost about $500. They are meant for the 160 million Americans who know how to ride but quit years ago - a much larger group than the 20 million who bike at least a few times a year.



In our chronic state of skepticism, we still cannot accept the idea that people won't ride bikes because it's too complicated. That people are too lazy? Yes, that we can believe.

On the other hand, the truly disturbing, untold story is how many adult Americans never learned to ride a bike in the first place. It is time for their tragic and terrifying story to be told.

3 comments:

The Historian said...

I was one of those adults who never learned to ride a bike. I began to teach myself to ride in December 2006. I completed my first century on Saturday. Spread the word, it can be done!

brother yam said...

You know who we mean -- the unwashed masses, for whom shifting and braking are insurmountable impediments to riding a bike.

Pinchy, they can't do this in their cars either, yet they drive...

Jerry Case said...

Ha ha. Yes, and as I read your comment, I thought:

Let's rethink this: "Unwashed masses who can't shift or brake..."?

They should get -- and undoubtedly ARE getting -- fixies!