bikes in the movies - Page 2

12-31-2006, 07:29 AM

Ryan Cousineau wrote:
> In article <5iElh.55647$[Only registered and activated users can see links. ].prodigy.net> ,
>
> You and I know what sentiment is at work: people want a comfortable
> bike, and assume that full suspension equates to comfort. What they
> don't understand is that they're sacrificing an enormous amount of
> pedaling efficiency to get that comfort, not to mention the weight.
>
> The obvious answer is to make every Y26-seeker test-ride it, immediately
> followed by a trip around the block on a 7.3FX.

That's exactly what I did with an engineer friend who was going to buy
his first bike in 30 years. Of course, he'd "researched" online and
was quite confident the new springs-everywhere technology was what he
needed.

It took careful diplomacy to get him to consider he might be wrong.
But the comparative road tests nailed it. As a bonus, the rigid bike
he bought - an unfashionable last-year's model - saved him quite a few
bucks. He loves it.

- Frank Krygowski

12-31-2006, 07:45 AM

>> Aside from that, there's a certain amount of arrogance in saying that the
>> type of bike you or I prefer is what everyone should ride. I try to
>> educate
>> my customers, and I lose quite a few sales because I don't have a row of
>> (to
>> you & me) silly, heavy, non-functional but cheap dual-suspension bikes.
>> In
>> three years, I've sold exactly three Y26s. Special orders. But just
>> because
>> it's not a $2000 road bike with someone drooling over wheel options
>> doesn't
>> mean that style is irrelevant.
>
> You and I know what sentiment is at work: people want a comfortable
> bike, and assume that full suspension equates to comfort. What they
> don't understand is that they're sacrificing an enormous amount of
> pedaling efficiency to get that comfort, not to mention the weight.
>
> The obvious answer is to make every Y26-seeker test-ride it, immediately
> followed by a trip around the block on a 7.3FX.

As I said, we've sold just three Y26s in three years. We do, in fact, almost
require that they ride something else, so they can see why we don't
recommend it. But in the process we're discouraging someone's dream, and
quite possibly damaging their desire to ride. Obviously that's balanced by
the fact that someone on an FX-style hybrid is more-likely to enjoy and
continue riding! But our pursuit of the practical sometimes limits our
ability to evangelize our favorite means of getting around.

--Mike-- Chain Reaction Bicycles
[Only registered and activated users can see links. ]

"Ryan Cousineau" <[Only registered and activated users can see links. ]> wrote in message
news:[Only registered and activated users can see links. ]...
> In article <5iElh.55647$[Only registered and activated users can see links. ].prodigy.net> ,
> "Mike Jacoubowsky" <[Only registered and activated users can see links. ]> wrote:
>
>> >> It's actually fairly popular with the
>> >> less-sophisticated commute crowd, who want something that has a smooth
>> >> ride
>> >> and don't care about what it weighs or ever take it off road.
>> >
>> > I don't suppose the good bike shop owners of the
>> > world will do much to relieve these customers of their
>> > ridiculous notions as long as those customers keep
>> > wavin that dinero.
>>
>> Not much "dinero" involved in the bike in question. We'd much rather
>> someone
>> a more-appropriate bike for a similar amount of money (for example, a
>> Trek
>> 7.3FX hybrid).
>>
>> Aside from that, there's a certain amount of arrogance in saying that the
>> type of bike you or I prefer is what everyone should ride. I try to
>> educate
>> my customers, and I lose quite a few sales because I don't have a row of
>> (to
>> you & me) silly, heavy, non-functional but cheap dual-suspension bikes.
>> In
>> three years, I've sold exactly three Y26s. Special orders. But just
>> because
>> it's not a $2000 road bike with someone drooling over wheel options
>> doesn't
>> mean that style is irrelevant.
>
> You and I know what sentiment is at work: people want a comfortable
> bike, and assume that full suspension equates to comfort. What they
> don't understand is that they're sacrificing an enormous amount of
> pedaling efficiency to get that comfort, not to mention the weight.
>
> The obvious answer is to make every Y26-seeker test-ride it, immediately
> followed by a trip around the block on a 7.3FX.
>
> I think they'll end up like my supervisor at work, who once I directed
> him towards fast hybrid bikes, ended up with a flat-bar road machine (a
> reasonably nice Giant), and is continually impressed by its turn of
> speed.
>
> --
> Ryan Cousineau [Only registered and activated users can see links. ] [Only registered and activated users can see links. ]
> "I don't want kids who are thinking about going into mathematics
> to think that they have to take drugs to succeed." -Paul Erdos

12-31-2006, 08:19 AM

Ryan Cousineau wrote:

> You and I know what sentiment is at work: people want a comfortable
> bike, and assume that full suspension equates to comfort. What they
> don't understand is that they're sacrificing an enormous amount of
> pedaling efficiency to get that comfort, not to mention the weight.

And an enormous amount of reliability is sacrificed as well
on a bike with cheap suspension.

There are trade-offs at work and advantages for most types of
bicycles, but I think many people misunderstand the trade-offs.
They see comfort (and, I suspect, technological advancement)
in heavy bikes with bad suspension. They install 8-foot-wide
seats and drop them all the way into the seat tube. Just
riding a few miles must be quite difficult with that set-up.
These people have virtually no chance of becoming life-long
bicyclists unless someone helps them out of their 'comfort
bike' black hole early on.

The bike industry could be shooting itself in the foot--
by willfully outfitting a good portion of their new customers
with improper equipment and facilitating a fit/position that
guarantees unpleasantness, they may be systematically
eliminating their long-term customers. It may also be
true that since many if not most of the 'comfort bike'
buyers are older folks, there may not be much concern
about molding them into long-term customers.

> The obvious answer is to make every Y26-seeker test-ride it, immediately
> followed by a trip around the block on a 7.3FX.
>
> I think they'll end up like my supervisor at work, who once I directed
> him towards fast hybrid bikes, ended up with a flat-bar road machine (a
> reasonably nice Giant), and is continually impressed by its turn of
> speed.

The writer and director of 40Year Old Virgin missed an opportunity
to have Carrell's character patiently explain to new girlfriend
about the inappropriateness of her gift and exchange for proper
ultra-geeky 700c commuter machine with fenders and lights.
And his repeated ragdolling over the handlebars of such a bike
would be just as rip-roaringly funny to non-cycling audience.

Robert

01-02-2007, 01:09 PM

[Only registered and activated users can see links. ] wrote:
> Mike Kruger wrote:
>
>> Possibly of interest along this line:
>> The Chicagoland Bicycle Federation's web site has "Roll Film", which are
>> bicycle-themed movie reviews by Borzo and Strauss.
>> [Only registered and activated users can see links. ]
>> "40 Year Old Virgin" gets 3.5 wheels.
>
> Interesting film from a cyclist's perspective.
> Not only is transportational cycling portrayed as
> the ultimate badge of geekdom, but two brutally violent
> bike wrecks (which in reality would cause some
> fairly serious injuries, perhaps ending in a pile of teeth,
> fracture, or even head injury that puts the victim in
> the hospital or worse) are offered as slapstick comedy.
> This is a trend in contemporary Hollywood comedies.
> Whoever the stuntguy is who performs these 'funny'
> endos, I hope they are paying him handsomely. He
> does it well. Makes me cringe every time, while
> everyone else roars with laughter. Ha ha look at the
> bike nerd smash the car and go all floppy! Can't
> get enough of that crazy ragdoll action! Look at his
> helmet all askew!
>
> And then in the end the main character's girlfriend
> gives him a brand new Trek full-suspension downhill
> bike--because that's just what every urban cyclist covets.
>
> The only thing that comes out worse than cycling in
> this movie is chest waxing.
>
> Pretty funny movie though, overall. He does eventually
> get laid.
>
> Robert
>

Awwww... You spoiled the ending!

--

Paul D Oosterhout
I work for SAIC (but I don't speak for SAIC)