drew0mckinney (June 6, 2008 at 4:09 pm)

@vferdmanThat may be true, but they are producing bike's; not cars. The people who use those bikes may be using as an alternative to a car or motorbike. No, the people purchasing bikes for transport are likely not purchasing new, top-end bikes, but those old bikes come from somewhere. The burden of proof is on you to show that there is absolutely no need for companies to produce new bicycles. Otherwise, what you're saying is nothing but hearsay.

Leafygent (May 14, 2008 at 5:35 am)

there are 6 billion people on this planet and growing. there's no point in arguing this any longer.

vferdman (May 13, 2008 at 2:09 pm)

There are enough second hand bikes out there to stop new bike production for quite some time and not run out. Again, I am not against the special racing machines, etc. But making people buy more and more new bikes as a business model (which is what we are talking about in the video) only contributes to more land fill space and more pollution due to production of said new bikes. An industrial business can not survive by acting otherwise. This is just a spin to make you feel better about spending.

Leafygent (May 13, 2008 at 12:47 pm)

By the way, if someone doesn't buy them new, then where will you get your second hand bike?

Leafygent (May 13, 2008 at 12:46 pm)

Give me proof fuckhead, find the stats and show me that al gore uses that much energy. It was pure smear tactics you piece of shit. Not all people put their bikes on their suv's. Some do. Some live for fast bikes, like myself. Obviously you just have a very different passion than i do, as do every other bicycle racing enthusiasts. Don't categorize.

vferdman (April 15, 2008 at 3:30 pm)

I must call corporate BS. Corporations manufacturing new bikes cater to people who put them on their SUVs and drive to a place to ride. People who use a bike as basic transportation get used bikes or bikes thrown away but still in perfect order (I have a few of these). This shpiel is pure corporate BS. Big business is NOT interested in being green. Neither is Al Gore and the inconvenient truth is that he runs a household that uses enough resources to feed a medium sized village in Thailand.

BruceLeeRacing (March 16, 2008 at 3:26 pm)

I've been a dealer for 13 years and Burke is totally making sense. I've witnessed trends in our community set entirely by myself and staff. We see the need and niche and start doing it and suddenly people take notice. He may be a bit sheltered, but I give him props for stepping outside the "technology will drive the industry" mindset. Although we sell a good amount of racing rigs, most of OUR customers want basic bikes. With fuel now approaching $4 a gallon, non-cyclists will be coming.

mikedtn (February 4, 2008 at 1:47 am)

Yankeepedaler I am totally with you. I live in Tennessee and I have heard so many here say "I am too lazy to ride a bike I would rather get in my big SUV, burn gas, and bitch about how much it cost to fill up my gas hog on the way to McDonalds at lunch. I myself love riding my bike. The freedom feel is immeasurable.

yankeepedaler (January 17, 2008 at 10:34 pm)

The bicycle is the answer to so many of the problems that face society, but people laugh and say the same things. "What do you want it to be like China?" or "Your crazy isn't it easier to drive?" Wanna bring the oil companies to their knees? Ride your bike! If you live within 15 miles of where you work you can easily ride your bike to work. Get out and ride!

swagner27 (August 24, 2007 at 2:34 am)

this guy took this from a presentation from 2006 this is not new information glad to see that like most CEO's he is too sheltered to spend time with dealers/retail to know what is the future. You cannot ask dealers to do more when they make less per unit.