on utilitarian bikes
Heading to lunch the other day with Dug, I saw a newly opened store front for My Dutch Bike. I thought it was pretty cool. After all, I think these solidly built, three speed utilitarian bikes are great. I had one in Germany and enjoyed it. And I think for a lot of the populace, they’re a good option.
But then I looked at the price. $1600? What???
I saw similar bikes in Asian: China and Taiwan especially. The one here, by Phoenix, I found in Jakarta where it was for sale for, I believe, $75 brand new. I think it was a single speed, but it’s absolutely bomb-proof and is really classy to boot. Note the mechanical linkages for the breaks instead of cables. For that price I should have gotten one and shipped it over here.
June 28th, 2009 at 9:40 am
According to their website, their bikes are handmade. I guess that would be their justification for the price. Still, maybe you should start an import business importing the $75 bikes and open your store right next to theirs. You could charge $800 and still turn a tidy profit.
June 29th, 2009 at 5:40 am
Oh, I missed that the Phoenix bike is single speed – you could market it as a fixie.
June 29th, 2009 at 9:53 am
Well, it’s single speed but it has a free wheel, so it’s not fixed. In the long run having a free wheel makes for a better commuter bike anyway.