Major Taylor

Hustler Award

2010-03-11T20:09:00.000-07:00

Hustler Award

Adsense Banned Store

2010-01-18T12:44:00.000-07:00

Adsense Banned Store

Adsense Adwords Google-Hubpages Hub

2010-01-16T17:35:00.000-07:00

Adsense Adwords Google-Hubpages Hub

Marshall Taylor-2010 Pony Express Challenge

2009-10-17T16:10:00.003-06:00

In the Spring of 2010, bicycle riders from all over the country will stage a relay race in the 8 western states of California, Nevada, Utah, Wyoming, Nebraska, Colorado, Kansas and Missouri. Approximately 500 selected bikers will attempt to ride the actual Pony Express Trail as it exists today faster than about 500 veteran horseback Pony Express riders. The 2010 Pony Express Bicycle Challenge authentic head to head relay race is a separate event from the historic Pony Express Reride and will compete day and night until there is a winner. The goal is to ride the roughly 2,000 miles from Sacramento, CA to St. Joseph, Missouri in just 7 days, 16 hours.

Not for 150 years has there gone out across the country an urgent call for ‘wiry 18 year old’ riders. Today, the Pony Express Bicycle Challenge is looking for great young bicycle riders from bike shops, bike clubs, college racing teams, military personnel, noted individuals and racing pros. You need not be an ‘orphan willing to risk death’ to apply.

Horses are clearly favored when climbing and powering through soft soil conditions. Naturally, there are huge advantages horses have over bike riders climbing up the Sierra Nevada range and up the western side of the continental divide. Nevada's 40 mile desert and Utah's Upper Sonoran Desert have hundreds of miles of less famous but no less difficult terrain conditions. The single most advantageous factor for the cyclist is that much of the original trail has become gravel roads and paved highways. Horses must run on roads and are at a disadvantage here. Wind and weather will also be a huge factor. Ultimately, the real ‘horse race’ of this horse race is in the marginal areas of terrain where decades of horsemanship experience may trump technology.

Both racing groups have taken advantage of technology. Horses are bred for better blood lines. Bicycles have drastically improved on the simple concept of two wheels and a frame. We intend to use all types of human-peddled bicycles just as horsemen select from Thoroughbreds, Mustangs, Pintos, and Arabians.

In addition to the 80 lb Mochilla (mail pouch), Pony Express riders will carry 150 years of history as a virtual burden. Bicycles, on the other hand, will carry 150 years of history, literally! Their 20 lbs bicycle mochilla contains all manner of portable digital devices filled with the last 150 years of recorded history, including the genealogies of original riders and their horses.

The Pony Express Bicycle Challenge is a historic moment with public morale riding on it. In truth, the Pony Express Bicycle Challenge itself has little meaning in terms of actual accomplishment. Modern bikes with the best riders could not compete over the original Trail with the motivated horses and horsemen of 150 years ago. Mostly, the country needs to be reminded its own historic struggles as a strength and regain an optimism for the future to build on. Motivated citizens can make the unusual and the seemingly impossible happen. Cross country mail delivered in days instead of weeks by boat: imagine that! Elect a black President: imagine that. Bicycles beating horses at their own game on their own 2,000 mile long turf. Imagine that. What’s' next? Imagine it.

The theme of the challenge is “Men propelling themselves on machines at speeds rivaling horses”. But, man against beast has its own tantalizing appeal. Beyond that, 200 horsemen racing against 500 bicyclists is interesting, competitive and just plain fun. Certainly, competition on the grand stage of the original Pony Express Trail speaks for itself.

The race is on for 2010. The country needs a spark to get going again. This head to head match may light that fire.

Major Taylor and Google Trike

2009-10-16T17:32:00.003-06:00

Google Street View Trike in Singapore!

There is NOWHERE Google won't go people!

Google Street View Trike at Stonehenge

Marshall Taylor-Facebook and Bike Sales

2009-10-16T17:09:00.004-06:00

Is Facebook's Pay-Per Click worth the expense to a Small Bicycle Business...Hmmm...NO! Believe it or not, Facebook probably has the most sophisticated consumers of any Social Networking page out there.

I will not waste space and quote their market demographics but it is safe to say that the average consumer on Facebook is much more savvy than the MySpace crowd. People with Facebook profiles tend to be Home owners whereas Myspace users tend to be renters...blah..blah..blah!

I have personally used Facebook's PPC advertising so I speak from experience when I tell you that the MOST VALUABLE piece of this for small bicycle business is not the 'Cost Per Click' but rather the 'Cost Per Impression'.

The difference in a nutshell shell is the cost to get someone to click on your ad could vary from 15 cents to 50 cents depending on your keyword selections.

Bikes are normally considered mid-level to high ticket items so that cost may seem small. It even becomes more attractive IF the bicycle biz drop ships the item. Customer clicks on ad, arrives at your website, buys a bicycle, you ship it and life is good, right?

How many people buy WHOLE bikes from websites though? Especially from an unknown small business? Parts...YES! But bikes are something that a discerning buyer wants to touch and feel.

After all reader, how many times have you purchased a complete bike off of a website?

Is it any wonder most companies put more focus on helping you locate a dealer as opposed to selling straight from their site.

For a small business, CPC can get expensive so I suggest you focus more on the Cost Per Impression! Facebook can get your ad in front of, say 17,000 people in a few days (if keyword is searched), out of that, maybe 150 people will click in your ad.

Let's assume that the 'Cost Per Click' is $.40, that would be $60 per day using CPC. If you have that kind of money...JUST for people to see your business that probably won't buy ($420.00 per week) GO FOR IT!

In contrast, CPM (Cost per Impression) gets your brand out in front of people who will see it, but may not click on it, therefore it will cost you no money!

What a great way to build your brand folks for LOW COSTS!

Bike Blog- One BILLION BICYLES

2009-10-11T21:34:00.004-06:00

There are about a billion bicycles in the world, twice as many as motorcars. Almost 400 million bicycles are in China. Every year some 50 million bicycles - and 20 million cars - are produced.

Although Leonardo da Vinci drew some rough sketches of a contraption that looked like a bicycle, the Frenchman De Sivrac built the first bicycle-type vehicle in 1690. It was referred to as a hobbyhorse. However, it did not have pedals. Those were added in 1840 by a Scottish blacksmith, Kirkpatrick Macmillan, who is credited with inventing the real bicycle.

On a penny-farthing bicycle, one pedal gave the wheel one turn. A lot of pedalling was needed to get around! With the advent of gears, bicycles could move as fast as cars.

Air-filled tyres were used on bicycles before they were used on motorcars.

The bicycle as we know it today - with two wheels of the same size - looks almost exactly the same as one from 1900.

The first five-seat bicycle, the quindem, was built in 1940.

The world speed record on a bicycle is held by John Howard, Olympic Cyclist and Ironman triathlon winner from the US. In 1985 he reached 245,08 km/h (152.2 mph), cycling in the slipstream of a specially designed car.

Bike Design-OH MY..CRAZY STUNTS!

2009-10-11T14:03:00.000-06:00

Oh my...No words for this Cat....

This guy is a NUT JOB! I love it...

This DROP IS INSANE!

Bicycle Design Blog-NICE!

2009-10-10T13:20:00.002-06:00

I really like this bike built for the ladies! The tires (in my opinion) are WAY to masculine unless you live in the country and certainly this isn't built for extreme mountain biking, but this design is nice...really nice!

As you all know, I don't get into these types of bicycle, but for some odd reason, this one caught my eye!

Major Taylor-It's all About TRAFFIC!

2009-10-09T12:25:00.007-06:00

http://www.sitecube.com/promo_bw.asp?pid=bw309_kw_us (Best Value IF you THINK you need a Flash Site)

In a previous post, I waxed philosophical about concerning a status quo website OR a Social Media profile was the best way to interact with your customers. It is true that customers prefer to sit on a bike before they buy it which makes the job of a 'Website Bike Hustler' that much more challenging. That is why it is necessary for you to build an environment of TRUST with your customers and website visitors.

There is also the challenge of the right bike size for your customers. A guy my size, 6'5 230 lbs. would tend to stay away from a regular 26" cruiser frame and nothing would drive a customer crazier than such a large expense and it isn't a GREAT FIT! Adding a Widget to your website-profile where a customer can plug in their height and weight and this script could spit out the right size bike for the customer would certainly make your customers better able to chose the bike that is right for them.

Undoubtedly a Social Media Profile is a mandatory part of business on the web these days.I do not want to suggest that a regular web page is not necessary. I do believe IF your business requires a Flash Site utilize it...However, IF possible, stay away from them!

Why? Flash websites are viewed (by my readers anyway) as 'Sizzle' with no 'Steak'.Arguably, Flash Sites were the place to be in the late 1990s to probably 2004.

However, as Social Media began it's long march to where it is now, with all of it's pop and sizzle, these sites DO NOT hold the attention if visitors like they once did.

Where am I leading with this? I would seriously re-evaluate this expense! However, if you are insistent on building such a site, there is NO REASON (even a novice should spend more than $50 FOR HOSTING, SET-UP AND BUILD) to launch such a site. Email me and I will send you a link that will allow you to have the SAME STUFF the pros build for PENNIES and YOU CAN DO IT YOUR SELF it is SOOOO SIMPLE!

YES you have to have a 'Store Front' of some kind....However, Social Media Profiles have become a HUGE way to drive traffic to your website.

Social Media Profiles on Twitter, Facebook and LINKEDIN, in my opinion, can be the difference between 150 site visits per day and 250 or more (dependent upon the viral nature of your campaign). Traffic generates interest, interest generate return visits, return visits build relationships and those relationships will build your online business.

Even IF you just have a Blog (not to minimize the impact of this median), traffic can make you a few buckets without selling product of your own! We will talk about this in the next post which will deal with some simple changes and additions to your website that can generate TONS of traffic.

Marshall Major Taylor-Interactive Social Profiles

2009-10-09T12:12:00.004-06:00

As we discuss topics concerning the migration of the 'Blah-Blah' Web page that should be replaced by a more socially interactive page, the question is "Should I feature my company or ME on my Facebook Profile?"I think the answer is fairly obvious...BOTH!

However, as we spoke about in a previous post concerning Company Websites versus Social Media profiles, Websites have come to be viewed as impersonal, sort of "Here is who we are, this is what WE have to offer, take action!"

Companies are always presented as 'WE' which is, from a team work standpoint RIGHT! What Social Media has brought to the table is the SUBTRACTION of WE and added the more personal approach of I.

Think about when you are invited to some sort of social gathering through a Flyer or Billboards. You show up alone and you have no idea who is going to be at this gathering.

You have never heard of the company or group who is throwing the bash and although you aren't gung-ho about going, you decide to anyway!

When you arrive, you stand around for awhile and see 'WE' (company employees) standing around in groups chatting with one another.

No one has welcomed you, spoken to you or anything. You just see a large banner on the wall that says 'Welcome Company employees and Friends.'

You came because you were invited (online ad), you were hesitant to go because you didn't know anyone (unfamiliar with product), company employees never greet you (WE) and all you know of the company is the Welcome Banner (Website). How great of an experience did you have?

To answer the opening question...Customers want to hear voices and see faces! This established repor and repor builds relationships and relationships is what will endure your current future customers to your brand. In closing, a good mix for a bicycle company on Social Media Profiles is 70 percent YOU (or employees) and 30 percent company.

Major Taylor-Online Ads or Magazine Ads?

2009-10-06T13:01:00.002-06:00

That is a good question and I do believe that one of these is a better alternative than the other.

Scenario #1

You have a choice between, let's say, advertising your Bicycle Company in a major sports publication where even an 1/6 of a page advertisement with picture is, say, $2,000 or more depending on magazine circulation numbers.

OR

Utilizing Online CPM (Cost per impression) services from Google Ad words or Yahoo! Search Marketing

This particular magazine requires you commit to a 3 month run which means you are obligated to $6,000 before you ever know IF such a run will yield desired results even though you have top marketing data that says it will.

Magazine Ad Overview

-Upfront costs high

-Long term commitment required even IF results are poor

-Magazine buyer, no matter how well researched, will spend an average of 7.3 seconds glancing at your ad then move on

-Even if interested, they must take a few more steps for further action to be taken. Interest lost in the Interim.

-Services not directly linked to magazine ad for ease of using your product or service.

-No real time statistics available for tracking ad performance based on ad distribution.

-Even those not specifically looking for what you are selling will see your ad. This diminished any company's ROI.

Online Ad Serving

- LOW upfront costs

- Ads for products and services can be changed immediately depending on response.

-Highly targeted niche markets more easily penetrated based on keywords

-Real-Time ad statistics readily available for better decision making based on Ad Distribution (Service)

-Casual viewers weeded out as keywords serve ads to only those who are looking for what you are selling.

Of course much can be added to the above. I guess readers know which way I am leaning :) As someone who helped launch a Brand called Banneker Watches (bannekerwatches.com and banneker jewelry.com) 5 1/2 years ago, I only wish we had known then, and had the Online resources available that are available today!

My personal opinion having participated in a Brand Launch is spend as little as possible on Print Magazine spreads IF your target market is in the age range of 18-30. After all, ask one of them if they even have a magazine subscription.....You will be surprised by the results as was I!!!!!

Bike Design-Minimal Investment HUGE RETURNS!

2009-10-06T12:37:00.003-06:00

In the 2 previous posts, I chatted briefly with you about the need for Bicycle Companies to LOSE the status quo websites and give their visitors a more interactive web experience.

I threw out 2 suggestions and want to expand on the 2 previous posts;

1. Lose the 'Dealer Locator' page and expand that into putting an employee within the zip code in charge of following up with a person IF site visitors fill out some sort of preference profile.

2. Lose the 'Contact Us' page in lieu of a page where a visitor can set up a profile and based on their Profile preferences, the company could feed the visitor company information based on their profiles.

The problem with a Dealer Locator pages in this age of Social Media is the user plugs in their Zip Code and the visitor is pointed in the direction of the retail outlet where the product is stocked...With no interactivity, what message is this sending to your POTENTIAL Customer?

-These are our products
-This is where you can go buy them.

My goodness!These same consumers are only 3 friend additions or less from having a LIVE CHAT or at a minimum receiving a 'Tweet' from super stars such as Beyonce, Lebron James and Hannah Montana online...How does your visitor experiences compare to this Bicycle Company owner?

Marshall Major Taylor-Resist GARBAGE CLICKS!

2009-10-05T22:29:00.003-06:00

In the last post, your 'Fearless Blogger waxed philosophical on the need for Bicycle Companies to morph their business models into a more Social Website experience than just a regular website that are well...BORING and unable to keep visitor's attention for any length of time. Hint, if your website stats show that the average length of visit is anything less than 2 minutes...You are headed nowhere fast.

Site visits for any business that is selling a product or service is crucial for the survival of said business. Think about this, even using the BEST online shopping cart technology, the average time in the industry to check out is 1 minute 38 Seconds! What can a bicycle company do to keep interested consumers on their page for longer than 2 minutes.(Anything visit shorter than 1 minute means you had nothing of value to your visitor within your targeted keywords...OR you get GARBAGE clicks which comes from people copying images from your page for their own use)

There can be much 'Push back' on these stats but 1 thing is sure, it is tough enough to sell a bicycle off of a website because such a large purchase is something people like to see and feel! Certainly this is true in the higher price points that are only frequented by those who are educated in the art of 'Cycling'.

So what does this mean?Bicycle companies, like I suggested in the last post concerning losing the 'Contact Us' tab on your site in favor of a visitor personal page which will build community.

Enhance the 'Dealer Locator' section of your site in favor of connecting them directly with somebody at the Dealers location who has set up their own personal profile so when and IF the potential client calls one of your dealers...A personal connection is already established!

Give them a more personal experience than the 'Dealer' and 'Contact Us' tab can offer them.

Major Taylor-Bicycle Companies and Media 2.0

2009-10-05T22:23:00.004-06:00

The direction of this blog will now migrate to more of a discussion of HOW the ever evolving nature of the web will impact the Business Model of all bicycle companies.

Let's face it readers, where once business cards were seen as an essential tool to be taken seriously as a business person, the time came where this card was no longer enough and a business having a website became the new standard.

Now, a website that, no matter how elaborate (Flash!), is just the starting point and actually can hurt a business if not done well. A standard website is quickly becoming something that must morph into something that offers a customer or visitor something more than a view of company goods and services.

Why? It is my belief that this started with the advent of what has become known as Social Media. Facebook, Twitter, Linked and other such online communities have created an environment where people (also their consumers) have gotten use to immediate answers from those they are close to.

Why not the companies these same consumers buy from? There is no reason why NOT! Bicycle Companies who hope to grow and prosper in this age of Social Media must redirect a large portion of their resources to mastering this median of Web 2.0. You may say "Well I blog about what my company and consumers want to know about."

SO WHAT! There are those business leaders who talk and those who listen. Those who talk have to shift their business models to be less 'Mouth' and more 'Ears'. This will mean you learning to. Grow your company based on your customer's direction, not your competition's!

Your competition may lead you in a direction where only moderate success is experienced. Those who purchase your goods or services will lead you in a direction where, by meeting their purchasing desires, promise to put you far ahead of the moderate success your competition experiences.

I wrote all of that to write this in particular. Right now, before your competition catches wind that you are heading in a direction that, no matter what their money and resources allow, will put you in the drivers seat...Start small..lose the 'Contact Us' icon on your site into, say, a page that your visitors can build a profile complete with a picture and there comments!!!

Iver Johnson Cycle Works-Rocket Bike Girl!

2009-09-24T07:50:00.004-06:00

Rocket Bike Girl! This is so cool....The little basket on the front, the rocket, this kid has her bicycle helmet on...IT JUST WORKS :)

I wonder what kind of ROCKET that is propelling the bike in this video. Does anyone know?

The Land Rider

2009-09-24T07:39:00.003-06:00

At just 29 pounds, the Elite is LandRider's top of the line. It delivers all of the excitement and comfort that the LandRider model has to offer in addition to several additional high-performance features that enhance its performance such as the all-alloy frame, pedals, handlebars and suspension forks.

This bike has something resembling an 'Automatic Transmission' which senses terrain, inclines and such! What is really cool is that that the bike does all the gear shifting FOR YOU! The rider just jumps on, does their thing and the rest is taken care of by the bicycle. However, I would thing that the company which sells and distributes this bicycle would put a 'Dealers' section on their website as to add a little more comfort with the buying decision people are making.

In their FAQ Section, if something breaks down or their are maintenance issues, the buyer has to call the company to get a reference for Bike Shops who can fix the issues with the auto-shift system.

No applause for this design but I LOVE THE AUTO-SHIFT System. Great job LAND RIDER!

Bicycle Design Blog-I'm NOT WORTHY!

2009-09-22T07:00:00.004-06:00

Folks, a rare event has happened on today when I saw this bicycle design...I do BELIEVE that we have another 'Funk Hall of Fame Inductee!' I mean, look at this...Or look at it AGAIN after you get up off the floor from being passed out...I am ALMOST at a loss for words when I look at this bike.

EVERYTHING about this design is pure perfection from an aesthetic stand-point. It is FREE OF CLUTTER, the color is beautiful, the rim fan pattern works perfectly with the flow and lines of this FUNK BALL. The fork, OH the FORK :0 How many times have you seen a bike that you just say to yourself "I don't even want to ride this bike, I just want to mount it on a wall and stare at it."

I thought the Ellsworth Nuvinci was clean, but this just makes me say "I'm not worthy! I'm not worthy!"

WATCH THE VIDEO ALL THE WAY TO THE END...This is how I met when I saw this design..."I am not worthy!"

Bike Blog-A Night at the Bike Museum

2009-09-22T07:00:00.002-06:00

Design Model, ca. 1871
Height: 14"
Possibly English

They were BLINGIN HARD back in the late 19th Century ya know...Tell me any one of yall wouldn't roll this so everybody could check yall out..I love this :) When I saw this FREAK SHOW, I thought of this song...because.."This design has me goin' in CIRCLES." Play the video and ABSORB the funk of this design.

Phantom Velocipede, ca. 1869
Reynolds & Mays, London
England

Velocipede Tricycle, 1868
Michaux & Cie., Paris
France

OH MY! This is HOOOT!

Marshall Taylor-Bamboo Bike-BAMBUCICLETAS

2009-09-21T12:32:00.008-06:00

WOW! Now this is a creative bicycle design. It kind of resembles the frame of the Veloribis I posted a few months back but BE SURE, this isn't a Veloribis. This type of creativity, while not flashy at all, blesses my heart and pleases my eyes folks. Why?

1. This whole design took some thought

2. It certainly wasn't made with the LOOK in mind, but only the material, which is BAMBOO!

3. That rear fender thing (or whatever it is is) shoots straight back over the tire and really completes this design well.

4. The handle bars sit HIGHER than the seat and and THANK GOODNESS, they aren't those APE HANGERS 9Hated them!)

I am ALWAYS a fan of those super small sprockets as I have one on my design (Iron RIDERZ S.E.) because it FORCES the viewer to look at other places other than that area of the bike. Truthfully, one of the first 3 things anyone notices on a bike is the sprocket and usually it is because they are SOOO big.

The straight across Bamboo handle bars are of the nature that they would look good with ANY BIKE and with most any color. This designer gets the APPLAUSE people, not so much for beauty, but for the creativity and simplicity of this design that says (unlike other bamboo bikes) no MASS PRODUCTION was involved. Just a simple builder building a very simple bike with the resources available to them :)

Major Taylor-The Opti-Bike

2009-09-20T07:00:00.000-06:00

The Steve Allen Show-Frank Zapa playing a BICYCLE as a musical instrument!

Watch Frank Zappa on the Steve Allen Show in Music | View More Free Videos Online at Veoh.com

I don't know WHAT THESE FOLKS are saying, but I love the SPIRIT that this video was done with!

Watch [H!M] A monocycle & tricycle race in Entertainment | View More Free Videos Online at Veoh.com

Major Taylor-More "Big Dummy Awards"

2009-09-18T07:00:00.001-06:00

Play this VIDEO-Listen to the SONG...And no written words are needed!

Bike Design-I Saw the FUNK...and it was GOOD!

2009-09-17T06:20:00.005-06:00

The colors here are FAB! Yes my friends, in my never ending search for all things FUNK in bicycle design, I saw these 2 rides and JUST HAD TO POST THEM. Why? Well, because they are just very creative and it took SOME imagination to come up with these concepts. Are they new concepts? NO! Remember I posted a bicycle called a 1947 Moon Lander a few years ago.

However, these cats must've taken that concept and built a MORE ROBUST looking Moon Lander. It doesn't make these any better or worse, just creative from the stance of, they saw a concept and improved upon it! Now on the green design, I hate those APE-HANGER handle bars...2 things bother me more than anything else on a design. Ape hanger handle bars and white wall tire...As my boys Damon Wayans and David Allen Grier used to say on 'In Living Color'....HATED IT!

On the Orange bike, can't you just feel that DESIGN RHYTHM? If you look at that FUNK BALL and and don't at least feel like dancing a little, you prolly ain't got no rhythm eh? Well done designers and because I believe these are well done, I must say (minus the ape hanger handle bars) "I saw the FUNK...and it WAS GOOD!"

Major Taylor-A Reader Can't READ!

2009-09-12T07:00:00.002-06:00

Your FEARLESS BLOGGER!

WOW! I had an interesting comment from a reader concerning my Gary-Fisher-Trek post... which I feel compelled to respond to... A reader seemed...well..Upset and basically said I post UNEDUCATED comments...The comment was (and the reader didn't post their web address or email)...The comment was;

"If you knew anything about the bicycle industry, you would know by now, that Trek and Gary Fisher are the same company. So many of your posts are nothing more than uneducated opinions. What does any of these uneducated opinions have to do with Marshall Taylor?

What would Marshall Taylor think about you trying to represent him?"

The reader obviously didn't read the post in total because I DID SAY these are the same companies. Trek acquired Gary Fisher! The point of THAT POST was to pose the question, WHY would a company who owns both brands, make competing products that look almost the same and one (Gary Fisher), obviously superior to the other (Trek).

I have read too many other blogs and blog comments over the years to count and the one thing I noticed is that there are some folks (like me) who have some very strong opinions. The strange thing is (while reading comments), I only remember reading a few blogs containing comments of disagreement. This means either the Blog Owner shares the opinions (without any variations within those opinions) with all of their readers, OR the blog owners don't approve those comments for posting or delete the comments that don't agree with the opinion of the Blog Owner.

I, your fearless blogger will do no such thing (not approve or delete dissenting opinions)because what makes MY COUNTRY and the country we live in so great is we are free to express our opinions without fear of syndication or arrest.

Also...the commenter said "If you knew anything about the bicycle industry", Well, this is true, I don't know JACK about the industry! Why should I know anything about the industry? My friend, that is THE WHOLE POINT OF THIS BLOG! To give an IGNORANT OUTSIDERS view of an industry that has so thoroughly uninspired the Urban Areas in this country, that bicycle industry products mean NOTHING to youth anymore.

What would Marshall Taylor think of how I am representing him? From being one of the foremost expert in the world on Marshall Major Taylor, My company is set to REPRESENT HIM in a way that no one in the 133 years since his birth has. How will we do that? Just stay tuned!

Anonymous Commenter, I will go even further than your comments concerning my opinions being 'Uneducated'. As the bicycle industry is concerned, I am "Unlearned AND Ignorant" and if being uneducated, unlearned and ignorant means my mind is free too, very shortly, bring the world the HOOTTTESST Rec Bikes on the planet, I accept your judgment and statement that I am uneducated.

It is my hope that you return to read this blog because soon, my company will roll out something that I guarantee you will love. Until that time though Anonymous, I will continue to post MY OPINIONS. Men of vision, like myself, are often ridiculed by those who have accepted the OPINIONS of others as EDUCATION that somehow (they believe) give them an edge over others. It is ALWAYS such people who end up drawing their paychecks from the very people whom they are more educated than :)

As I have in the past told others, I now tell you...Listen to the video and please accept "It's my party (blog) and I will cry if I want to."

Extreme Mountain Bikes- Josh Bender

2009-09-11T07:00:00.001-06:00

Now either this guy is a DWARF or this bike is a MONSTER! This guys name is josh bender and I ran across this picture after using a search term I have never used before. It yielded a MASSIVE AMOUNT of FUNK which I will be posting in the next week.
Josh Bender doing a 60 foot drop!

Josh Bender - 60 Ft Drop - Massive Crash - Click here for another funny movie.

This guy said it best in the above video when he said "Life is to short...you have to GO HARD!" Insanely eloquent and I say to Mr. Bender what my Marine Corps. Drill Instructors said to me years ago "Boy you are stupid and IGNORANT...but ya got GUTS and that IS ENOUGH!" Josh keep doing big things in the name of extreme Mountain Biking..I tip my hat to you friend :)

Moulton Bikes- A Disciplined Company

2009-09-10T07:00:00.006-06:00

The Moulton Bicycle is the original full suspension, separable, small wheeled, high performance bicycle. World renowned for speed, efficiency, durability and comfort.
Expertly engineered for over 50 years and handcrafted in England, these bicycles are the world's most efficient form of transport - designed for universal use, real performance and comfort.

That copy is straight off of their website, now let's get down to some REAL DESIGN DISCUSSION! Umm..hmmm...I really do not have a whole lot to say about these bikes. As the famous (to some infamous) Rush Limbaugh would say, "I mean, this is what it is!" Or an old street hustler from the 1970s would put it like this "Hey young blood, it TIZ what it T...I...Z...!" I am 6'5, 230lbs. so I would look like a Circus Clown on one of their miniature bicycles during the circus acts in the middle ring!

You will not see me riding one of these, but I have to give BIG PROPS to the Moulton Bicycle Company on their vision and direction to stick to making the bikes that make them stand out from any other company on this planet. This company has been around for more than 50 years and they must be disciplined to stay within this niche market for so long.

In conclusion, I like their vision and I love that they just focus on being the best in the world at building these types of bikes. Yes...Moulton stuck to their dream and refused to sell out like most others in the name of a QUICK BUCK! That is called INTEGRITY,

Bikes-Work Cycles Kruisframe

2009-09-10T07:00:00.002-06:00

WOW! Your fearless blogger has been humbled once again. As many of my regular readers know, I have a DISDAIN for bicycles that have 'Alot of Stuff' and clutter on them. It, in my opinion, just takes away from the simplicity that is bike design. My eyes start to roll around in my head as I count the number of EXTRA WIRES, gears, and what I view as totally unecessary additions to bikes that make them look more complicated (in the name of adding value) than they really are.

That is until I saw this design people and Urban Funk Enthusiasts! This design certainly won't make it into my design 'Funk Hall of Fame' anytime soon, but this design from a company called Work Cycles catches my eye on a few levels. The first is although I think black tires and black frames are totally MINDLESS and unimaginative, it works on this bike, the sprocket and chain are covered with a slick cover and the top and bottom tubing are a thing of BEAUTY. Not the FUNK, but well done...Work Cycles, I don't like ANY of your other designs, but I like this one...you get the APPLAUSE!

City Cruiser-TREK JACKS Gary Fisher!

2009-09-09T07:00:00.004-06:00

Trek is moving more seriously into the utility/transportation market with a new three-speed they’re calling the Belleville. Well, I think I will keep this post kind of short. I am simply amazed that a company with the brand name of TREK can do such big campaign build-ups to such mediocre products! Hey, TREK, let's get real for a minute. Did your engineers and designers really think of this design, or did yall 'JACK' it from say...GARY FISHER?

Look at this Gary Fisher...and then look at the TREK..Now, sure, Trek owns Gary Fisher, but DANG...Competing products in the same company, who owns all of the distribution to both? Is this a test marketing Stunt? I certainly hope not because the TREK Design isn't even as close to being as HOOOTTT as that simple Gary Fisher!!!

Gary Fisher City 3

TREK

Most notably, look where the Top tubing connects to the neck of each design... HA!HA!HA! At least if you are going to make a Knock-Off TREK...At least have other engineers, outsourced or something come up with a design that is different than one you already own...and oh yeh...make a better one the 2nd time around! I feel like laughing, kind of like Nelson...on the Simpsons!

Major Taylor- Hybrid Electric Bikes

2009-09-09T07:00:00.000-06:00

Hybrid electric bicycles (also sometimes called pedelecs, e-assist bikes, or e-bikes) look and ride much like standard bicycles, but with the addition of an electric motor to assist the rider. Now, to the real do! This Hybrid Electric KINDOF SORTOF caught my eye a little bit. Not because it is HOT or because I like it, but I just see so much POTENTIAL in this design that my stomach hurts when I think about WHAT IS IS versus WHAT IT COULD BE!

I do LOVE the frame, but the love affair ends there folks. Listen, I understand that these sorts of bikes have to have those LARGE disc style brakes on them, but why not incorporate some sort of ECLECTIC STYLE and colors even into that component of the design? Does it have to be THAT BORING Round shape all of the time?

The answer is a simple NO! This bike could be ONE OF THE GREATEST of All-Time Folks. Not like a Muhammad Ali "The Greatest" but more like a fleeting great, like when Buster Douglas knocked out Mike Tyson for the Heavy Weight Championship of the World in the early 1990s! Your fearless blogger does have to give BIG PROPS to the motor being encased in kind of a cool black cover. Even with that though...Why can't this look more like a SLEEK BLACK Grill like on a car or something?

There is one thing, even in it's current form that can take these types of bikes to the next level...LOOSE ALL OF THE BUSY LINES and stuff hanging all over the place! Anyway, if GOING GREEN looks like this, I think I will stay with the Fossil Fuel Powered Bikes :)

Google Bikes-Flickr GOT IT!

2009-09-08T07:00:00.004-06:00

I will answer this question as quickly and truthfully as possible:

"Do you use any pictures from yahoo's image search?"

thanks,

darrin

Umm...NOOOOOO! Now dear readers I am going to go on one of my rants. I get pictures from all over the net. This means whether the URL ends in .com, .net, .us, .info, .org, .au, .in, .cc or whatever, I grab it and feature it! I also get images from Google's Image program. But Yahoo! seems to have some sort of SPECIAL RELATIONSHIP with Flickr which to me, small time Blogger, STINKS! It stinks because after going sometimes 20-30 pages back, EVERY PHOTO is from users of Flickr. This tells me a few things;

1. Yahoo Crawlers aren't gathering the largest and best assortment of relevant results! I found that Photo Bucket and Flickr LACK the photos that fit the vision of my blog although they are HUGE Online Photo Sharing services.

2. If you favor, say, Photo Bucket or other service for online photos, Yahoo! doesn't give a darn how relevant your photos are to the search query...They are going to scratch Flickr's back..Regardless of the cost in terms of a credible product!

Example:

Do a Yahoo Image Search on the term 'Unusual Bike Design'. You will find EVERYTHING except unusual bike designs.

Google still has work to do on their image searches also, but I tell you what...THEY ARE GREAT...Compared to Yahoo! Image Search which, after over 14 years in Business, is down right embarrassing...I have said this before and I will say it again. Yahoo needs a FACE LIFT more desperately that any other Internet behemoth on the web. The first step is to get rid of Jerry Yang..whose time has passed!

Bicycles-1 Word...DANG!

2009-09-08T07:00:00.001-06:00

The winner has been chosen...
From the 2500 or so entries the winner is Dallas Pynchon He’s 14 and lives in Boise, Idaho. Congrats Dallas! Enjoy your new Blindside!

Uh...DAAAANNNNGGG! I certainly am not into extreme mountain biking by any stretch of the imagination. After having looked at MANY of these types of bikes, I have remained just flat out...UNIMPRESSED..Until just a few minutes ago. I came across this while partaking in my never ending search for that thing which I call FUNK..What caught my eye in particular about this is the way the fork wraps so close to the front tire as to create the impression of a closeness that is uncommon in builds of these types...or any other for that fact. I love the frame color, fork color but do not care much for the other colors and especially those UGLY black tires.

I know some of you will email me and say "Well that is the color that is used"...says who? I can think of at least 10 colors that are dark and would look better on this design than those black THANGS! Anyhow, When I saw the fork on this and the closeness to the tire..I thought about this song, because that piece of this design definitely sent me SWINGIN!

Bikes- The Earliest Bicycle in 1790 ouch!

2009-09-07T07:00:00.008-06:00

The celerifere - one of the earliest bike prototypes - had no pedals or steering.

The first contraption that can realistically be said resembles a bicycle was constructed around 1790 by Comte Mede de Sivrac of France. Called a celerifere, it was a wooden scooter-like device with no pedals or steering. A similar model, improved with a steering mechanism attached to the front wheel, was created in 1816 by German Baron Karl von Drais de Sauerbrun. He called it a Draisienne, after himself, though popular parlance also dubbed it the hobby horse.

When using either of these devices, the rider perched on a seat between two wheels similarly sized wheels, and using the feet, propelled the bicycle a bit like a scooter. Drais exhibited his bicycle in Paris in 1818, and while popularly received, its design limited its use to really just flat, well-groomed paths through gardens and parks, which were off-limits to a good portion of the population in those days.

When Pedals Were Added - A Big Improvement

A FEW historians credit the invention of the pedal bicycle to Kirkpatrick MacMillan, a Scottish blacksmith who lived from 1812-1878. One day back in 1839, MacMillan was out watching people riding bikes, which at that time were driven by kicking the ground with your feet. Thrilling, eh? Seemed to him that there must be a better way.

According to later research done by family members, after musing on the matter a bit MacMillan came up with an idea for the first pedal set-up that could more effectively drive the bike. Using his blacksmith tools, he put his idea into place, and voila! bicycling suddenly took a giant leap forward.

Macmillan's contraption had a wood frame and iron-rimmed wooden wheels. The front wheel, which provided limited steering measured 30 inches (760 mm) in diameter, while the back had a 40 inch (1016 mm) wheel and was attached to pedals via connecting rods. In total, Macmillan's bike weighed 57 lb (26 kg). His creation gathered a lot of attention, and Macmillan helped generate additional publicity when he rode the bike 68 miles to visit his brothers in Glasgow. Copies of his invention produced by other firms soon appeared on the market, and Macmillan saw little profit from his innovation.

Major Taylor- Da Vinci didn't ONLY Paint People

2009-09-07T07:00:00.004-06:00

For much of man’s history on earth, he had two choices for getting around, either on foot or on the back of an animal (such as horses, mules, and wooly mammoths). Bicycles were developed to add another transportation option that multiplied human efficiency by a factor of approximately five.

But the history of bicycles is very fuzzy. Sources often disagree as to the names of the inventors and the dates of their inventions. Leonardo DaVinci sketched a facsimile of the modern bicycle in 1490. It was way ahead of its time and, as far as we know, never left the drawing board.

Around 1790 a French craftsman named de Sivrac developed a “Celerifere” running machine, which had two in-line wheels connected by a beam. The rider straddled the beam and propelled the Celerifere by pushing his feet on the ground, scooter fashion.

n 1817 German Baron Karl von Drais added steering. Several versions appeared around France and England by the early 1800s. As a replacement for the horse, these “hobby horses” became a short-lived craze. The roads of the time were too rutted to allow for efficient wheeled transport.
Scottish blacksmith Kirkpatrick MacMillan developed a rear-drive bike in 1839 using a treadle and rod for the rear drive mechanism. But, he lived in the Northern British Isles where people and ideas traveled slowly, so his invention didn’t spread. R.W. Thompson patented a pneumatic tube in 1845. Prior to this invention, bikes had metal wheels.

The French anointed Ernest Michaux “father of the bicycle,” as he and his brother Pierre added cranks and pedals. Their Velocipede started a bicycle boom. The larger front wheel made it faster but less stable. The war of 1812 brought an end to the French bicycle boom.

British engineers were next to pick up the design and improve upon it by adding ball bearings, pneumatic (Dunlop) tires, wire-spoked wheels, chain drive, variable gears, and cable controls. Over a twenty-year span, the British brought the bicycle to its present form, thanks mainly to James Starley of the Coventry Sewing Machine Company. In 1885 the Starley Rover safety bike was born, returning wheels to a reasonable size and improving the bike’s stability.
In the early days, women’s dress (corsets, pointed shoes, and voluminous skirts) limited their participation in this new sport. Newspapers of the day railed against the “sorcers” or bicycle speedsters.

Major Taylor Association- Another BIG DUMMY AWARD!

2009-09-07T07:00:00.003-06:00

Oh boy...This mess defies description...Ladies and Gentlemen, I present to you another winner of my Fred G. Sanford (1970s Sitcom) "You Big Dummy" Award. This award is given periodically for the dumbest bike designs that I run across. Now let me inform you all of something you may not know. For a design to earn this award, extra effort in bike design STUPIDITY has to be put forth!

This is, carriage or whatever it is is senseless, a waste of time and in my opinion, the model sitting on this thing should be flat-out humiliated to know that as long as the world is in existence...She will be pictured sitting on top of THIS TRAVESTY! You Big DUMMY!

Marshall Major Taylor-Rocket Powered Trike

2009-09-06T07:00:00.002-06:00

WOW! Oh boy!Oh Boy!Oh Boy! I really like this Rocket Powered Trike people. It blings, but not in a diamond type, tacky..street way...but in a way that will make even the most ardent trike hater stand up, take notice, and say "You gotta be kidding me people! This monster moves and is powered by 2 rockets and I love MOST everything about it. What I think is straight tacky is the builder took the time to think through every component and parts in this design, but they seem to have lost the steam as it concerns the front tire and front rim.

I would also like to know a bit more about the braking system on this bike because as I look at the front brake, I am wondering how this seemingly ordinary brake is going to give this trike the stopping power it needs and even if it can stop the trike, wouldn't the brake pads be worn down per each stop?

However, this Trike is HOOOTTTT and I want to give a small applause to the builders of this thing of beauty. It stands out in an era where there doesn't seem to be much though put into...well...anything that is sold in ordinary retail outlets. Great going guys!

Scraper Bikes-The Scraper BIKE!

2009-09-06T07:00:00.001-06:00

YouTube has spawned many sudden sensations. Take scraper bikes, for example. A music video about the tricked-out bicycles posted to the site by some teenagers in Oakland, Calif., has attracted a cult following, with nearly 3 million views.

The video spawned what is becoming a worldwide movement, even as it changed the lives of the young men who customized the bikes and made the video.

"Actually, scraper bikes saved my life," says Tyrone Stevenson Jr., who prefers the title "Scraper Bike King."

"Because I was at a young age, getting into a lot of serious trouble, selling drugs and on the verge of going to jail. So my mom told me this is a way to channel anger and frustration, just focusing on something that's creative, something that's me, and the bikes is me."

Oakland is a town where hip-hop is king and cars known as "scrapers" are huge. They're large, bright and have rims so big that they scrape the inside of the wheel well. Stevenson and his friends took those aesthetics and applied them to bicycles, fitting large wheels on small frames.

Stevenson, 19, started making scraper bikes a few years ago. He couldn't afford a car, so he made do with a bike. But not just any bike.

"The idea from the scraper bikes, it basically came from the cars that ride in Oakland — we call them scrapers — basically it's an old model car, such as a Buick, that's painted a custom color to match the rims. I wanted to take that and put a bike onto it."

To do that, he put the few resources he had to work. He added colorful foil food wrappers — from Oreos or Skittles — to the spokes, so when they roll they flash with color. Then he spray-painted the frames to match.

But scraper bikes didn't really catch on until he and some friends recorded a music video about them and posted it on YouTube. And now…

"Oakland has been taken over by scraper bikes," says Stevenson. "On the Internet, it is worldwide. There's people from literally across the world making these bikes, from Portland, Oregon, to Japan to Australia to Jamaica."

Stevenson says he's already making a living scraperizing bikes, but he's got big plans for the future: trademarks, patents and, someday soon, a scraper bike shop.

"The true meaning of a scraper bike is basically, I want to give back something positive to the community," Stevenson said.

"Because there's so much going on. Drugs and killing and stuff, this is a way of giving the kids a way to a positive future, but being creative at the same time."

Jacob Fenston reports from member station KQED.

Major Taylor-Bicycle or Artwork

2009-09-05T07:00:00.002-06:00

The line is being blurred between bike design and artwork at a really rapid rate these days. The above pictured...ummm...bike..I guess is probably the most unusual design I have seen that that hovers in the gray area that is bike design and artwork. Gismo Rocket Powered Bicycle It is powered by two 75lb. Thrust Hybrid Rocket Motors. The frame is made of lightweight T6-6061 aircraft aluminum. “Gismo” features a unique front suspension system designed by Michaelson.

Your fearless blogger must give the big ups to the creator of this particular design in that as I look at it, alot of thought went into designing and creating this...ummm...bike! Truthfully, I love the color, the rims, the back..ummm...fender and the handle bar and steering column overall are kind of..umm...NASTY..This bicycle is rocket powered and 150 lbs. of thrust will 'Push your wig back'. In conclusion..I have used the word UMM in this post because I am struggling to understand IF this is..ummm..bike design or artwork!

City Bikes- Bike Wheel Covers

2009-09-05T07:00:00.001-06:00

I ran across these wheel covers while looking at an event known as Bike Polo. Very interesting activity if I do say so myself and truthfully, I do not care to know the ins and the outs of Bike Polo, but what I do care to know is the ins and the outs of these funky wheel covers. I have a friend who does Spinner Rims for bicycles and I have always believed that these were just a tad to much. It feels like what we call in the neighborhood as 'Frontin'. That is the same thing as someone who can't afford a Gucci Purse to buy a Knock Off!

However, These wheel covers are just flat out NASTY. They could be the high of NASTINESS if they came in other colors than the present black...Remember I told you a few years back on this very blog that I designed something similar to these called Doogies? Well my friends, as they use to tell us in the Marine Corps..."Stand-by to Stand by!" The King of these types of wheel covers is still my man Da Champ of scraper bikes out in the Bay area...STILL Cruisin in HIS SCRAPER BIKE..

Bike Tricks- Mad SKILLZ & Funky Music

2009-09-04T11:46:00.002-06:00

This dude got mad skillz with bike tricks. And I just love the music in the background! This is what I mean when I say the NEXUS! Fashion. meets bikes and throw in a little Urban Music and what you come up with a a wholly spelled FUNK BALL...What do I think about such dangerous trick bike riding? I think this guy is stupid and ignorant...BUT HE HAS GUTS and that my friends is enough. As simple as this seems, these are the types of cats that have brought about the sports event called The X-Games..X standing for extreme games.

When you watch the X-Games, it is a thrill unto itself because these are regular, ordinary and everyday youngsters who all started with a love of stunts, paralayed it into a sport (collectively) and now are getting that PAPER (money) to do what they love to do...Trick Riders, keep breaking them bones and loosing teeth for what you love.

Marshall Major Taylor-Recumbent Bikes

2009-09-04T07:00:00.001-06:00

The first recumbent bikes go back to our first recumbent customer, Roger Hoffeditz’ Avatar 2000 in the late ‘70’s. On today (as the old church folk used to say) Angletech continues to represent the best of recumbent bike and trike design. Offerings from Challenge, Rans, Bacchetta, Greenspeed, ICE, Terratrike and others are found here on line, and in our Woodland Park, Colorado store. With this type of perspective, a thorough phone consult with Angletech results in a bike that truly fits every expectation.

Readers, I really do not have an opinion on these bikes one way or another. The truth is their is a market, I guess and these designs have their place within that market...Would I ride one of these? NO WAY! The thought of laying down for the most part to ride a bicycle makes me personally feel...well.lazy. Next thing you know, someone is going to come out with a Lazy Chair Recliner that looks more like a mini sofa for the rider to sit in. Riding bikes is about Freedom and Exercise along with STYLE...But being lazy while you ride isn't style at all, it is just that...LAZY!

19th Century Bike-They don't sell Wheat..and ain't on a Ridge...but DAAANNNG!

2009-09-04T07:00:00.000-06:00

I recently went for a visit and tour of a? here in Denver called Wheat ridge Cyclery. The tour was given to me by the man you all now know as the ‘Fabricator of Funk’. I put a question mark in the first sentence because I can’t really call this business a bike shop or retail store because although it may be both of those things, based on what I saw, it is much, much more. They are all around ‘Bicycle Hustlers’...oh yeh...I saw the funk there…and it was good. (The legal and honest type of hustlers). This was probably the most pleasant and inviting consumer type atmosphere I have been in since my jaunts across the world in the mid 1990s on Singapore Airlines. I have flown MANY Airlines during my international and domestic travels but Singapore Airlines (Get a picture of airline and Stewardess) was the best of all. I say that because in this country, it is rare to go somewhere and actually feel like you are appreciated for more than just your $$$. The worst airline I ever flew on was America West and I do not even know if this airline is still in business, but if at all possible…STAY AWAY! Wheat Ridge Cyclery was the same experience as Singapore Airlines. Everyone that worked there seemed to be genuinely happy to be there and I was greeted (not like those fake Wal-Mart Greetings) not less than5 times by 5 different people. They know when to approach you and when to let you alone to do your wandering and gazing. Not only that, the store was beautiful! Well laid out, MUCH variety, amazing bicycle designs, and unashamed of the high prices they were asking for their product (I saw prices between $1,500-$10,000). Truthfully, neither should they be because 5 of their designs were FREAK SHOWS and I believe well worth the $$$. There bicycle mechanic shop is AMAZING, sterile, well laid out, organized, etc. Whatever image you have of a mechanic’s shop (the grease, tools all over the place, cigarettes in the mechanics mouth, tires laying all over, Wheat Ridge Cyclery ‘ain’t the one yall’.

If you are a rider who rides simply for ‘Recreation’ and don’t want to spend big $$$ on a bicycle, this isn’t the place for you. However, if you want to see what I believe to be the standard in retail experience (no matter what you are shopping for), take a visit to Wheat Ridge, you will not be disappointed. Pictured above is a VERY DESCENT design I saw up close during my visit to Wheat ridge. It is called 'Langster Tokyo' and although this picture doesn't do this design justice, it is nice to look at. Being aesthetically focused as I am, it was the hottest I saw there! Most others would disagree, but hey, it is my opinion and I am sticking to it. This design though isn't even in the same league as my 2 in this genre of bicycle....Thanks Wheat ridge and know that your hospitality doesn't go unnoticed :) I saw this thing, a vision, and it was a Major Taylor Road and Track Bike in WHEATRIDGE FELLAS!

Major Taylor- Bike History

2009-09-03T08:08:00.004-06:00

Bicycle History is a Debatable Topic

Some history books will state that Pierre and Ernest Michaux, the French father and son team of carriage-makers, invented the first bicycle during the 1860s. Historians now disagree and there is evidence that the bicycle is older than that. However, historians do agree that Ernest Michaux did invent the modern bicycle pedal and cranks in 1861.

Baron Karl Drais von Sauerbronn - Early Bicycles and History

The German Baron Karl Drais von Sauerbronn invented the "Laufmaschine" or "Running Machine", a type of pre-bicycle. The steerable Laufmaschine was made entirely of wood and had no pedals; a rider would push his/her feet against the ground to make the machine go forward. Sauerbronn's bicycle was first exhibited in Paris on April 6, 1818. The celerifere was another similar early bicycle precursor invented in 1790 by Frenchmen, Comte Mede de Sivrac, however, it had no steering.

The Penny Farthing is also referred to as the 'High' or 'Ordinary' bicycle, and the first one was invented in 1871 by British engineer, James Starley. The Penny Farthing came after the development of the 'Hobbyhorse', and the French 'Velocipede' or 'Boneshaker', all versions of early bikes. However, the Penny Farthing was the first really efficient bicycle, consisting of a small rear wheel and large front wheel pivoting on a simple tubular frame with tires of rubber.

African American inventor Jerry M. Certain patented a parcel carrier for bicycles, on December the 26th, 1899 (U.S. Patent #639,708 )

Bicycle Design Blogspot-Team Major Taylor

2009-09-03T07:00:00.002-06:00

Team Major Taylor competes every year in what is known as the Men's Little 500. This team is not only made up of Blacks, but people of all races. The Little 500 happens every year in Indianapolis where Major Taylor is a native son.

Courtney Bishop, who is interviewed in the above video raced for Team Major Taylor in 1992. I just want to get a shout out to all of the riders who have ridden in races and competition all over the country to keep Marshall Major Taylor's legacy alive. Keep on keeping on folks and with much prayer, every one of you who ride in the name of America's greatest forgotten sports hero, will sit in the saddle of a Track and Road Bike bearing his name!

19th Century Bikes-Holden Motor Bicycle

2009-09-02T07:00:00.001-06:00

Holden Hidden Motor Bicycles of the late 19th Century are sure a site for sore eyes! When I look at these bicycles, I just say "Now that's what I am talking about!" I say so because when you look at this particular bicycle, you can easily close your eyes and imagine what such a bike would look like today with a little of what I call Urban Flair.' If you built this today, even with the motor, I tell you what would put a little FUNK on it...Some wild lime or orange tires...Leave the front and back sizes the same...Rebuild the fenders to drop 6 inches down on each side of the tire and add a 6 inch fender length drop on the back and front fenders...The handle bars, FORGET ABOUT IT! They are spectacular just like they are...Frame color...I could only imagine..But it would have to sparkle and pop..While I am at the redesign here...I would certainly go to my Tailor (if I had one) and have him remake the clothes this dude has on!

SLOW DOWN BRU! Where you in a hurry to get to?!!!!!!!

George Barr and an Old High Wheel Bicycle

Major Taylor Association-Bicycling through Black History

2009-09-01T07:00:00.001-06:00

This is a semi informative series. Truthfully, I have a real problem with them referring to new Bicycle Routes aS 'Underground Railroads'! There are things you just don't name a recreational activity after and this is one of them. I will spare you the horrors of the underground railroad as I know most of you believe that ONLY GOOD things happened.

Good things did happen on the underground railroad, but there were also VERY TERRIBLE things that happened also. You all can watch this video, if you want, but my point in placing it on this blog is to demonstrate MY OUTRAGE that an African-American could name charge people all over this country to name their trails after such a painful part of this country's history! Shame on you man!

Bike Blog-Major Taylor Statue Unveiled

2009-08-31T07:00:00.003-06:00

Marshall Major Taylor has begun to creep into the public eye with the unveiling of a Statue made in his likeness that now stands outside of the Worcester, MA. library. Nicknamed the Worcester Whirlwind, Taylor was much loved by his adopted hometown where he moved to with Louis 'Birdie' Munger, his mentor, in the late 1800s. To think that he did this in the late 1800s when African-Americans couldn't even drink out of the same fountain as whites makes this athlete's story even more incredible!

On another video interview, his Great-Great grand-daughter and Grandson said something that was almost Prophetic; "No one really knows him now but I hope Major Taylor is a household name in my life-time!" Fear not young ones, soon, your relative will get HIS DUE and in a way that every household in this country will scream the name "Major Taylor!"

Iron Riders-Hermes Style

2009-08-31T07:00:00.002-06:00

I came across this bicycle while conducting some VERY LIGHT bicycle viewing. I am posting this not because I like the design or dislike the design, but to tell yall that this bike retails for...umm...$4,000! Oh my, Oh my...Hermes Bicycles were introduced into the market place in the 1980s and is a Dutch Bicycle Company that SAYS they like to push the envelope of stylish bicycle design.

WOW! I am getting a little wound up because if the pictured design is PUSHING the envelope, my brand soon to launch, Iron RIDERZ is going to Rip, chew, burn, smash and OBLITERATE that same envelope. Happy days are here again folks.

Below Article courteyt of www.tuvie.com

Hermes bicycle, with its stylish shape and features, will allow the users to show off their flair and elegance even during the early morning stroll. Hermes bicycles were introduced in the market during 1980s and recently boomed the market with their new idea of wrapping a stainless steel bicycle developed by the Dutch brand Batavus with leather. Hermes decorated the frame, seats and handles of this bicycle by enfolding with Taurillon Clémence, which is an extremely supple grained leather in a pumpkin and zesty Havana shade while keeping its original black finish intact. Spare accessories are not available of this bicycle yet, but can be developed by special workshop upon request. The Hermes bicycle retails at $4,000.

Hand Built Bike-Karbona Bikes

2009-08-31T07:00:00.001-06:00

I recently ran across some Karbona Products that I thought LOOKED really NASTY. As you all know, my company, Marshall Taylor will be launching a line of HAND BUILT Performance Bikes under the name of the best Track Bicycle Racer of all time, Marshall Major Taylor. These bicycles will be built buy 'The Fabricator of Funk' over at CDS Components here in Denver, Colorado.

The first thing I checked out from Karbona was their performance Hubs, and well...ummm...excuse the expression, but I was thoroughly unimpressed with their offerings! Why? CDS Components hand builds Hubs and I will tell you what, the Hubs at Karbona are just average compared to what my guy is doing! Check out these HAND BUILT HUBS by CDS people;

With that said, I did see several things that were the FUNK SPOT..I am not into the plain black colors and I have always believed just because a bike is performance and not recreational doesn't mean that it shouldn't have flair! However, these items are NASTY because I can see past the bland colors that these come in;

Karbona...What if this wheel came in Powder Blue, Mustard Yellow or bright orange?

Not a new concept..But NICE! What if this was done in some sort of see through hard plastic with a LIME GREEN TINT? Come on man???!!!

Major Taylor Bike-Using Whatever you can Find to fabricate

2009-08-31T07:00:00.000-06:00

I came across this picture and I just wanted to tell all of you readers something that has been HEAVY on my heart as it concerns bike design. My search for the FUNK that is bicycle design that will appeal to an Urban audience has taken me to all corners of the Internet, to junk yards here in Denver, driving by and inspecting bike racks all over this city. And therein lies the one place that NONE of us look, like could be a KEY to producing a design never before seen in the History of bike design....THE JUNK YARD!

I can't say for sure if the fabricator of the above pictured design found this bike in the junk yard, but from what I can tell, it takes the creativity of someone who is willing to follow wherever their design inspirations leads them to produce something truly unique and that, for all intent and purposes, gets me, your fearless blogger, FIRED UP!

The only thing I can really tell about this bike is it seems to be made of iron from a gate. The good thing is that this frame is clean, thin and because it is long, the weight of this thing is spread out. The color isn't great but the creativity here blows me away! The handle bars are turned backwards which isn't a new thing when building a bike that is unusual, but this is the first design I have seen with the handle bars turned backwards where this tactic REALLY WORKS with the design...Hey, I love this design, not because it is flashy, but at the end of the day, what GREATNESS has ever come from a fresh coat of paint? There are bikes that cost $1000s of dollars that have nice paint, but not the FLAIR of this FUNK BALL...GREAT JOB DESIGNER!

Bicycle Design-Oh My! Bike Design..."You got me going in CIRCLES!"

2009-08-30T07:00:00.002-06:00

"I'm a ever rolling hill..without a destination real...I'm an ever spinning top...whirling around till I drop...oh but what I am to do...my mind is in a whirlpool...give me a little hope...one small...thing... to please you..... got me going in circles! Oh round and round I go...I am SPUN OUT over you design!"

Now readers, this is some straight FUNK! Look at them colors, looks like some kind of sherbert...certainly you role down the street, you straight riding in style...The lyrics I wrote above are true...when I seen this bike...I had to sing the very title of this post to this bike design, "You got me going in circles.....I'm spun out over you!"

Marshall Major Taylor- Wendell Scott

2009-08-30T07:00:00.001-06:00

I saw a movie about the 1st black race car champion driver a few years back that starred Richard Pryor called 'Greased Lightning'. It is the story of America's 1st black race car champion Wendell Scott. This was recently brought back to my attention by an advertisement for this same movie that is to come on TV-One this Saturday. I brushed up up my history of this great sports hero by doing a little research and again, this man and his story fits neatly into what I am doing with the Marshall Taylor Project.

Scott was the 1st, and only African-American then and only, to date to accomplish this great feat! He won dozens of races during long and storied career and one NASCAR Event and finished in the top ten an amazing 147 times. This feat was so admirable because he was always working on a very tight budget, didn't have the best pit crews and numerous other challenges because no one really wanted to sponsor a black Race Car driver.

Like Marshall 'Major' Taylor, he had to contend with racism but he overcame the odds. Like Taylor, one of his wins was snatched from him by the judges awarding the win to one of his well known white rivals during an event. NASCAR did do the right thing a few days later by reversing the decision of the judges after irrefutable evidence of Scott's win. Scott, like Taylor many years before him had to overcome the many obstacles that went along with being the 1st and only black in a major sport to compete. There were racers who wanted him to fail at every turn and even conspired to bring about his failure but he kept on pushing and experienced great success as a stock car driver!

Pioneering blacks in American sports were men of vision and one thing they all shared in common was a love for their chosen sport and the will to succeed despite incredible odds. I marvel at the likes of Tiger Woods, Major Taylor, Wendell Scott, Jack Johnson, Arthur Ashe and others were true visionaries within the black community. After you read this, I want all of you to take a moment to reflect and research the careers of some of the African-American community's greatest and least talked about sports heroes. Without them, the groundwork for the mega sports stars of today would never have been laid and more importantly, the can do attitude of an entire community may never have existed! PLEASE CLICK ON THE LINK BELOW FOR MORE OF SCOTT'S STORY.

Major Taylor-Ebikes to Hit the Market

2009-08-30T07:00:00.000-06:00

Article and Photo courtesy of Bike Europe

(AND, Belgium) – As e-Bike sales march on many new models targeted to specific consumer groups will hit the market. Examples: the race e-Bike, the mountain e-Bike; fully enclosed transport e-Bikes. This raises questions on the legal framework for these vehicles.

As the European Commission is reviewing the type-approval procedure for mopeds and motorcycles it offers the electric bike industry the opportunity to start discussions with European institutions on the legal framework, which the industry believes to be the most appropriate for their vehicles.

Today, it is the European type-approval legislation for mopeds and motorcycles that determines whether an electric bicycle is a bicycle that is excluded from the type-approval procedure or whether it is a moped that needs to comply with the type-approval procedure.

The European institutions have promulgated the type-approval law in 2002, without however properly consulting the electric bike industry on the most appropriate legal framework for their vehicles.

Since then, the majority of the products put on the market have a motor output of no more than 250W and their motor is cut off at 25 km/h. These vehicles are excluded from the type-approval procedure and are classified as bicycles.

Nevertheless, the electric bike offer is becoming much more diverse and a growing number of vehicles have a motor output above 250W and/or a motor that assists beyond 25 km/h.

This development raises two questions:

Are the 250 W and 25 km/h limitations the most appropriate specifications for excluding vehicles from the type-approval, thus classifying them as bicycles?
Is the type-approval procedure for mopeds and motorcycles the most appropriate homologation procedure for electric bikes not excluded from type-approval?
With the review of the type-approval procedure for mopeds and motorcycles currently taking place it is imperative that the electric bike industry starts a discussion on the legal framework which it believes to be the most appropriate for their vehicles.

The European Two-wheel Retailers' Association (ETRA) is prepared to defend and further the interests of the electric bike industry. For that purpose however, ETRA requires the support of the industry and a consensus on how the type-approval should be reviewed for electric bicycles. The matter is urgent since the European Commission intends to produce a first draft in November this year.

That is why, in cooperation with the Light Electric Vehicle Associaton (LEVA), ETRA intends to organize a meeting for the electric bike industry in the framework of Eurobike in Friedrichshafen. The meeting is aimed at discussing the two above-mentioned questions and at deciding whether and how to lobby the European Commission.

The meeting is currently planned for Saturday 5 September 2009 at Eurobike in Friedrichshafen from 9 am till no later than 12 o’clock. However, should the majority of the participants prefer another date and/or time, then ETRA will reschedule accordingly.

Major Taylor-Ape Hanger Handle Bars...BLAH-BLAH-BLAH

2009-08-29T07:00:00.007-06:00

WOW! This bicycle would be SOOOO HOOOTTT if it wasn't for those tacky 'Ape Hanger' Handlebars. I love the color, the fan style spokes, sprocket is nice and small, seat could use some work...but WHAT IF they did something alot funkier with the handle bars and got rid of those played out black tires? I give this design, as low riders go anyway a solid C+ FELLA!

Save the emails dear readers complaining and whining about the fact that I am not a low rider fan, how I don't appreciate the art in it, saying I am insulting the Latino culture..blah-blah-blah...The great thing about blogging is it is usually opinion based and used to drive some one's agenda...My blog is no different...My agenda is going to War against crappy bike designs and my opinion matters because...well, this is 'My party and I'll cry if I want to!'

If you think I'm playing, listen to the song...

Major Taylor-"Put it in the Want Ads"

2009-08-29T07:00:00.006-06:00

People...I have dreamed a dream...in this dream there is a Bicycle...The bicycle has the most beautiful aero-dynamic design known to the world..the handle bars are such that you can lay your forearms in them(padded)...the seat is orange velvet..seat post(bar) is diamond shaped..sprocket assembly is the size of a lid on a Pringle's Potato Chip Lid, yet it has the cranking force to generate speeds up to 40 miles an hour..the pedals are trimmed in orange velvet..

Frame is a very light powdered blue...bottom tubing shoots up to attached to the top tubing at an angle that seems impossible according to the laws of physics...the tires are orange with white tiger stripes..rims are clear see through with a hub that measures 8 inches from center to top...

Spokes are unusually short, see through yet speckled powdered blue so lightly that you can barely see it...fork is see through...I need this bike so right now, as the old group 'Honey Cone' is going to sing for you...your fearless blogger is putting this dream in "The Want Ads" because...(as the song says "I need a Bike that's new" (the group says man)

Another Funk Hall of Fame INDUCTEE!

2009-08-27T15:15:00.002-06:00

DANG! Somebody send me a better picture of this BIKE...OH MY....OH MY...My Funk Hall of Fame just got another INDUCTEE....As my older brother used to say (I think he got this saying from Grady from Sanford and Son..."GoodGogaleewogalee!")

I really have to get a side and aerial view of this design because IF the rest of the design is as HOTTT as what I see in the picture, we may have another FUNK HALL of FAME Inductee in the Electric Bike category. Those handle bars make a brotha like me lay back in my chair and say "Those look like I could have designed the." Me being the Minister of Funk as it concerns Bike Design, this is a HUGE compliment dear readers.

Somebody please send me a FULL Picture of this bicycle if you have it...HURRY...I'm freaking out!!! Breathing Problems...:)

BERU f1 Systems Factor 001 Bicycle

2009-08-25T07:00:00.003-06:00

The above bicycle costs GBP 20,000 WHICH MEANS $40,000U.S.! Interesting...very interesting.

I have to confess dear readers, I really like the below Electric Hybrid...It is clean and nice!

Ultra Motor A2B Bike

$40,000 may seem like alot of money for this fine piece of machinery, but please keep a few things in mind, this is the type of bike that is VERY HIGH erformance and not only that, there are very few of these (that I could find) in the world! It makes me mad that some of you will write in and complain about such a high priced bicycle!

As I said concerning my designs, IF you want a bike to ride like EVERYONE ELSE has, go to your local bike shop and get something off the rack. For you super cheap people, go to Wal-Mart and buy some of that junk. But if you want something that no one else has, suck it up and PAY THE PRICE.

Bicycle Merry Go Round???Come on yall

2009-08-23T07:00:00.001-06:00

I have little to say about this idiocy...There are productive bicycles that are built to go nowhere...they are called EXERCISE BIKES! This is about the dumbest crap I have ever seen...Whoever built this...Play the Video because you should really say this to yourself...Because I certainly think "You are Dumb!"

A Modern Day Bike Carriage?

2009-08-21T07:00:00.006-06:00

Ummmm...I really do not have an opinion on this creation...I guess...For your consideration folks

1899 Columbia Model 59 Shaft Drive Bicycle

2009-08-19T07:00:00.002-06:00

This design resembles a freshly shaved bald head my friends....CLEAN!

This Columbia is unrestored and has its original head badge and stove enamel paint. When I obtained the bike, the front rim, which is made of wood clad with steel, was broken. I suspect it had not been ridden for over 50 years. A new old stock rim one was obtained and the front hub reconstructed by Keith Hellon. Except for the seat, the new single-tube original style tires from West Virginia, and one of the cork handlebar grips, all of the components are original. The hubs have straight pull spokes, proving that concept was not a recent innovation in the cycling world. The original owner did not order the optional spoon brake which pressed on the surface of the front tire. Many of these Columbia chainless bicycles are in museums, but this one is now ready to ride.

Discovering His Gift

2009-08-17T07:00:00.003-06:00

I came across this video that was being promoted on a popular video upload site the other day. I am IN LOVE with this guys style of bicycle design and his creations! I have told you all in the past that I am not a fan of Chopper Style Bicycles as they all pretty much look alike to me...You know, the small tire in front ape hanger handle bars etc.

This company, Rocket Boom uses those components, but this fabricator has a style all his own. What is beautiful about this style of design is he uses all available things in New York City to assist with his design process. Subway bars are an aide for him on bending tubing and he pretty much does whatever he has to do to realize his vision for each design. He says in the video that he keeps hurting his back and has to take shots, which is a little extreme in my opinion but even in this he does what he has to so that he can live his dream!

I still do not like Chopper Style Bicycles, but I LOVE this guys creation and the icing on the cake was he referred to his designs as art even making reference that the only limitation someone who paints has is the size of the canvas they are using. Rocket Boom is on some 'Other Level' stuff and as I close this post, I will also point out that his greatest strength in design is what I told you all over a year ago, he is not an industry insider and thus has a mind that is free to do what HE WANTS TO DO! Folks, go back through all of my posts and you will not hear me make this statement about any designer I have come across except this guy..."He gets it!" Keep on keeping on Rocket Boom as it concerns putting down the funk...

The Scraper King!

2009-08-15T07:00:00.002-06:00

Da Champ is back with a short video...Keep on pushin Champ and I will be to see about you in a minute bru!

Champ got the promotion as it concerns selling individuality, youth and a positive Message, Mr. Culiver has the Bike Dubz and ya boi...ME, getting ready to role the hottest recreation designs on the PLANET...Do any of you see what I see?

Reduce my Price? You Get the GAS FACE!

2009-08-14T07:00:00.002-06:00

A Haggler emails me!

Hello,

I am (name withheld) from Richmond, Virginia,I love your advertised bike ,I will be purchasing it, if the price can be reduced a little bit.State your final asking price if you are reducing it.

I will also love to know how long you have been using it and the present conditions is it new? Please include pics in your reply if you have any.

Get back to me.

Gibson

My Response to this email;

Gibson,

I will not reduce the price as this bicycle is the only one like it on this planet of over 6 Billion people FELLA! It is my suggestion if you want a bike for a lower price that you visit another bicycle companies website. Here are some links to cheaper bikes that millions other people have sir.

http://www.chubbyscruisers.com/
http://www.beachbikes.net/
http://beachcitybicycles.com/index.php?cPath=21_29&gclid=CIu1qbb-kJwCFRM_xwodK2yodw

If these bikes don't suit your taste, feel free to just Google the search term Beach Cruiser and I am sure you will find a product that is more appropriate to your financial tastes.

I have posted this email exchange with a would be buyer of Iron RIDERZ S.E. to make myself clear on 1 point. If one of my products is placed for sale, the stated price is the price that the buyer will pay, or they can go buy a cheaper more common bike from somebody else. There are those whose dream it is to live in cookie cutter houses in the suburbs. They don't care if their homes look like everyone else's as long as they can afford the mortgage payment. Then their are those who will pay extra to have a home designed because they refuse to live in a house like everyone else has.

Iron RIDERZ is for the latter discerning buyer and not the former! There have been great bike designers who started out with a dream to design bikes that were hot but once the reality of the industry hit them and they realized they would have to make crappy bikes to compete, they sold out their dream to make big money...Well...I ain't one of them people. The integrity of my company's vision is not for sale to hagglers and people who would compromise their values and dreams to earn a buck.

All any of us have is our integrity and dreams in a carnal sense. Once those 2 things are gone, you are left with nothing and to those who sell themselves out in this way, you have stopped LIVING and are only existing. Please, none of you, write me and ask me to sell my dreams for a lower price because not only are my dreams and vision that is Bike Design not for sale, I will not encourage you (by giving in to your demands) in the one thing that keeps you asking a business to do this, and that is ENTITLEMENT! Gibson and you other would be hagglers...Please listen to the video posted here titled 'The Gas Face' cause that is sure what I am giving you...

Another Winner-Freg G. Sanford YOU BIG DUMMY Award

2009-08-13T07:00:00.002-06:00

As has become my custom, sometimes I come across designs that are SO DARN STUPID that I award them my Fred G. Sanford (1970s Sitcom) YOU BIG DUMMY AWARD! This awards don't go to bicycle designs I do not like, just ones that I find that ANYONE would have a hard time liking...I am sorry and I know some of you will email me pleading these 2 clown's case...but they are, as Fred used to say to his son Lamont "BIG DUMMY!"

Not creative...just flat out stupid

Monster Bike in the HOUSE!

2009-08-11T22:22:00.001-06:00

The Monster Bike! Impressive...just flat out IMPRESSIVE! I don't know that I would ride it, but DAAANNNNGGGG!

WOW! Not only am I amazed at the mechanics involved with making such a design feasible with these tires...But this is certainly a Head Turner and sure to cause a wreck or two if ever ridden down the street. Now this is some EXTREME BIKING...You other Extreme Pretenders BETTER RECOGNIZE!

2009-08-09T07:00:00.002-06:00

This seems to be just a 3-D Rendering but I really like the overall look of this bicycle and for me, especially when it comes down to chopper bike, that says alot for the flow and semetry of this rendering. I hate the handle bars because if someone put this much thought into this nice looking design, much more thought should have went into the handle bars...I tell you what would really set this design off is if the handle bars were 5 inches shorter and lower to the frame. A Moustache style handle bar with 13 inch arms would be hot!

I have gotten a few questions about my tribute design to the Buffalo Soldier Bicycle Corps circa 1897...The design is called Iron Riderz S.E. (Sports Edition)...This bike will sell for $999 and I have offers on it but ya know...I just don't want to sell it for a variety of reasons. Not really sentimental reasons, but The Fabricator of Funk and I can and will do much better than this and come in at the same price folks...I will keep you posted.

Oak Tree...Wild Tandem!

2009-08-07T16:52:00.002-06:00

Hmmm? Interesting tandem and as far as I can tell...the wood it is made out of is Oak...So guess what...I feel like dancing with my man Morris Day from back in the day again...since the bike is made of Oak...I'm getting ready to do that Morris Day dance called THE OAK TREE!

Fat Tire MOOT in the HOUSE!

2009-08-05T16:39:00.002-06:00

This fat tire Moots features interchangeable front and rear tires. There are cogs on the front hub so you can switch the front out to the back. 165mm hubs mean no dish in either wheel. Now...oh my...I must say that although this bike doesn't have a close-up picture of it...It is the FUNK SPOT! Does it crack my top 5 Funk Hall of Fame....NO! But this is what I mean when I say 'Fashion Meets Bicycle Design!' Those tires are so fat that I can just close my eyes and hear them coming down the road in a very loooowwww hummmmm against the pavement...Great job guys...looks like something I would design :)

My Favorite Women's Seat and IT'S CALLED THE BIRD!

2009-08-03T16:30:00.004-06:00

When I saw this seat....I did it like my man Morris Day did it back in the 1980s....I jumped up and did a dance called 'THE BIRD'...do THE BIRD with me cause this seat makes a brotha wanna dance...

The Story of Iron RIDERZ

2009-08-01T15:06:00.012-06:00

Tribute Bicycle Built called; Iron RIDERZ S.E.

This some grown man stuff here...There isn't another like it in the whole world...3 HOTTER THAN this...colored spokes, rimz, nasty handle bars are coming soon!

In 1897 a contingent of twenty black soldiers, a white West Point officer, a military surgeon and a young newspaper reporter rode bicycles from Fort Missoula, Montana to St. Louis, Missouri, following the Burlington Northern railroad.

The groups' leader, Lt. Moss, was trying to prove to the army that bicycles could be a valuable asset. I first became acquainted with this little known gem of history through the children's magazine Highlights in the early 90s. I have been fascinated with it ever since. George Niels Sorenson's Iron Riders presents this story and the broader context of those "Buffalo Soldiers-on-wheels".

He tells us of the practice trip the bicycle corp made to Yellowstone Park before their epic St. Louis run and the lives of the riders after their trip. This 8 x 10 book has many primary source pictures, documents and maps which illuminate the text. It's the only informational book I know of devoted to a story which deserves a wider audience. If you are a middle school history teacher, like me, do yourself a favor and pick up this book. It would make a fantastic unit.

But I agree with the other reviewer: anybody who likes black history, social history, military history, bicycle touring, the west and/or unsung heroes will find a lot to enjoy in this book. And, if you like this book you'll want to check out the PBS video The Bicycle Corps: America's Black Army on Wheels and the children's book Black Wheels.

The subtitle, "Story of the 1890s Fort Missoula Buffalo Soldiers Bicycle Corps" is a good general description of the book's contents. I had never heard of Ft. Missoula, much less known that they had a bicycle corps, before stumbling across this book in the Jefferson National Expansion Memorial's bookstore. It's not a long book, but it covers its topic well. Of course I was interested in the horrendous ride from Missoula, Montana to St. Louis, but the account of the Ninth and Tenth Cavalry saving the Rough Riders at San Juan Hill was enlightening.

Also (all too) informative was the account of the "discharge without honor" by order of President Theodore Roosevelt of 167 soldiers, many of them formerly of the bicycle corps. The book also includes numerous photos, a number of which are wonderful shots (and very well-printed) of the soldiers in Yellowstone National Park. I highly recommend this book as an entertaining account of a dedicated group of American soldiers who happened to have been of African descent.

This is the lively story of the only bicycle corps the U.S. Army ever authorized. Using buffalo soldiers, this 1890s African-American unit conducted drills and exercises on wheels. They rode into Northern Montana on muddy trails and toured Yellowstone on their 100-pound iron bicycles. As proof of their capabilities, these Iron Riders pedaled 1,900 miles from Ft. Missoula, across the snow-dusted Rocky Mountains and steamy Great Plains, to St. Louis. As they approached the city over 1,000 civilian bicyclists rode out to escort them into town in a great parade. Learn more about the adventures of this little known buffalo soldier unit and fascinating details about this era in America. Well researched and a good read. Full of rare pictures and drawings.

The subtitle, "Story of the 1890s Fort Missoula Buffalo Soldiers Bicycle Corps" is a good general description of the book's contents. I had never heard of Ft. Missoula, much less known that they had a bicycle corps, before stumbling across this book in the Jefferson National Expansion Memorial's bookstore. It's not a long book, but it covers its topic well. Of course I was interested in the horrendous ride from Missoula, Montana to St. Louis, but the account of the Ninth and Tenth Cavalry saving the Rough Riders at San Juan Hill was enlightening. Also (all too) informative was the account of the "discharge without honor" by order of President Theodore Roosevelt of 167 soldiers, many of them formerly of the bicycle corps.

Funk Hall of Fame! (Updated)

2009-07-24T11:13:00.008-06:00

As promised, I will periodically update a VERY popular series of posts called my 'Bicycle Design Funk Hall of Fame.' These are the designs in the last 20 or so years that have risen (aesthetically) above their peers. The criteria for entrance into this hall are;

1. They have to emotionally move me to a point that I would just grab them off the bike rack where they are being sold, take them to the check out counter and never ask the price. (I may not have enough $$$ to buy them, but they are funky so I would worry about that when it became an issue

2. The designer can not have sent these designs to me as I would view this as them promoting themselves instead of them relying on the 'General of Funk' (me) coming across them.

3. They have to be affordable to the average Joe. (If I can't find a price on them or they are prototypes they are eligible)

4. When I first lay eyes on them, the FIRST THOUGHT I must have is DAAAANNNNGGG! (I assure you, these are the only designs in the last 20 years or so to do that)

5. I WILL NOT give the name of the company or manufacturer, only the name of the design. (Sorry yall...I ain't promoting your stuff for free)

In no special order...Here we go!

Nuvinci

Come on yall...The Legendary...'Pee Wee Herman'

Velorbis

Wild Buffalo! (Great Design...Crappy name)

TAXI! (Can a brotha get a cab in this city?)

Funk vs. Nice Rims

2009-07-20T22:00:00.012-06:00

These rims are just straight out NASTY! I mean nasty in the way that when you see them up close (and I have) you say "Yuk!" Now for those of you not familiar with such things...this is a GREAT! I must say I haven't seen such nastiness in rim design since...well..NEVER...Velocity USA does for rims what 'Sweet SKINZ' do for tires folks! Unfortunately, I am just dumb founded as to how both Sweet Skinz and Velocity can make such HOT products and have the nerve to take pictures of GREAT PRODUCTS show cased on bikes that are obviously built for performance because, no offense, they are not WORTHY to have such hot accessories on them. Velocity Dealers, come on yall, send me 4 sets of your rims and I will design (or modify) something that will so stun you that you will curl up in the fetal position, look at me and say "Daddy!"

Which of you ladies would carry a Genuine Gucci purse on your arm, go out for dinner and wear some House Shoes and a robe in an elegant restaurant? (I know a few sisters that would do that though:) The same thing is going on above...HOT RIMS sitting on a bicycle design that is sub-par at best! I promised I wasn't going to do this...but as you all know by now, I have been working on a concept for a bicycle that rides smooth, looks good, exudes class and will make people 'Rubber Neck' (try to get a 2nd look) to see the concept...I still need to get the Logo and Head Badge done for this bike but introducing my personal bicycle design called 'Iron RIDERZ' which is the FIRST of HUNDREDS more designs (none like the other) set to hit the streets!

Late 19th and Early 20th Century feel!

The Logo will have a Wood feel just like the rims..trimmed in white!

Provolution at it's Best!

Some of you may say..."Well I like the black bicycle" while others will say "I like Dale's FUNK BALL"...After today dear readers...you must choose sides...'Performance' or 'Funk', 'Ride Fast' or 'Look Good Riding'...choose well my friends..choose well!

Slum Dog Millionaire! Great Movie...

2009-07-07T07:00:00.003-06:00

Great Movie! Watch it now by Clicking on the Post Title.

The FUNK HALL of FAME!

2009-07-05T07:00:00.001-06:00

Another Edition to my Design Funk Hall of Fame! This bike is FLAT OUT HOOOOTTTT! If you think it isn't...you need go look in the mirror and say to yourself;

"DANG I AM DUMB!"

This bicycle hails from a European Bicycle Company called Velorbis. Hey Velorbis...I can't say it any better than my friends Wayne and Garth from 'Wayne's World' Watch the video until the end as I take a BOW TO YOU!

Square Bicycle

2009-07-03T07:00:00.002-06:00

Courtesy:BauBike
Designed by Michael Ubbesen Jakobsen

The BauBike is inspired by Bauhaus design.

It is constructed around the geometric shape of the square and the equilateral triangle. The design is stripped down to clean lines and raw material.

The open-end piece above the back wheel, offers the possibility to customize the function of the bike to whatever need you may have. The different accessories can be placed in the tube and can easily be changed if needed.

The design follows a set of formal rules, limiting the geometry to straight lines in a pattern of 60 and 90 degree angles in proportions following the principle of the golden section.

By limiting the form with a fixed set of design rules and stepping away from the traditional function-oriented approach to the design process, this project transcends the border between design and art, raising fundamental questions about the nature of the bike as design and as a lifestyle accessory and introducing a much needed playfulness on the bicycle scene.
The BauBike is a bike for the modern urban society where adaptability is a necessity.

Bike Tricks Perfomed 19th Century

2009-07-01T07:00:00.003-06:00

Thomas Edison put together these clips...

DANG! This was the first year Marshall Major Taylor was World Sprint Champion! He was Trick Riding like this as early as 1877.

Another BIG DUMMY Award!

2009-06-30T07:00:00.005-06:00

The latest edition in my ongoing Award called the Fred G. Sanford 'You Big Dummy Award.' Just a reminder concerning the criteria of this Award;

1. Not based on whether I like or dislike it, but based on asking the question "Why would the rider even like that?"

2. Screams "The rider or designer wasn't trying to be creative, but just had nothing better to do."

3. Doesn't elicit a response of "Wow" but rather "Come on man, have some dignity."

Pennies of the Many or Dollars of the Few?

2009-06-28T07:00:00.002-06:00

I recently went to a blog I read about bicycle design and ran across this photo. Now, before I go any further, I want it to be understood that I am in no way slamming the designer of this bike, the judges who took their time to be a part of the process (some of whom are from notable bicycle brands), nor the blogger for posting it. As I was reading the post and viewing the comments, I marveled at how much thought went into this whole process. Even the people who took their time to comment were challenging the process to produce a better design.

I had to stop reading because it became obvious to me WHY the recreational bicycle offerings today are, well BS! It is so because this same process DOES NOT happen when it comes to the bicycles that the less affluent or non serious riders are willing to pay or can afford. I live in the poorer part of town here in Denver (by choice) and I notice that the service at the bank, Post Office, Gas Stations and the schools is terrible as compared to the same businesses in other, more affluent parts of the city.

This happens because business owners, school administrators and others DO NOT take poorer or less affluent people as seriously as they do people who are more affluent. Why? To answer than would be an exercise in pure speculation, however the only reason I can be absolutely sure of is poor or less affluent people are alot less likely to complain to the people who can make a difference and thus, business owners aren't held accountable for the crappy service they give. Many of you will say "Well they need to change their thought process." You can be a wise guy or gal if you want and pretend that everyone should think the same, talk the same, be educated the same but this is to ignore the very reality of how our beloved country continues it's prosperity.

I said ALL OF THAT to say this, the same mind-set is at work in the bicycle industry also. I posed this question to an industry insider a few years back (Richard Schwinn) and he said "Brian, factories have to have the tooling to totally change the design process and that takes huge investment." If that is so, who is designing the bikes, the company paying for the manufacturing or the the manufacturer? These 2 may be one and the same with the bigger companies but any of us who pay for services of any kind would never continue to use a service provider who didn't give us what we wanted for our money! If you went into a Burger King and said "I want a Whooper minus cheese plus pickle" to which they replied "We can't do that here." You and I both know what the outcome of that conversation would be don't we?

Around 2002 or 2003 Schwinn came out with the new era version of the Sting Ray.(See Above). I do not have sales figures on this design, but I know everywhere I looked, some kid had this design and the kicker is, I heard grown men saying "If that was bigger I would get one." There was an excitement in the air about the above design and, no offense, this design is, at best MARGINAL! What that excitement showed was people are hungry for something new (not that this concept was new at that time) and something that was affordable! Look in Big Box Retailers, where 78% of these folks buy there bicycles, and you see brands like 'Next' and other brands that are just.....TERRIBLE.

I think at a time in the history of our economy, where all it takes is a Youtube Video, flood of visitors to a website and a company can be started online for, literally less than $5.00 per month, Pacific, TREK, Doral and others be warned...You are no longer hungry, you have overlooked the pennies of the many in favor of the dollars of the few. Anytime a company in the history of our economy has done this, they have lost huge market share and some have went out of business...The choice is yours.

WATCH STAR TREK 2009 NOW!

2009-06-27T01:52:00.007-06:00

STAR TREK 2009! As a kid in the 1980s, I watched reruns of the original STAR TREK. As a young adult, I watched the Star Trek 'The Next Generation', the movies and what not. I tell you what deal readers, this post ain't got JACK BONE (nothing) to do with Bicycle Design, but the new STAR TREK...Oh my! Enjoy the movie.

This movie and other NEW RELEASES can be yours by going to the top right corner and clicking on the banner from our partner site. Every movie you have EVER LOVED and will love in the future can be yours for $4.99...1 Time fee, no monthly subscriptions to pay, rental returns or recurring charges. ENJOY!

Watch Star Trek (2009) Online Here!

Mercedes Benz vs. Fabricator of Funk!

2009-06-26T12:03:00.004-06:00

German car manufacturer Mercedes Benz must be getting bored as they are looking to break into the emerging high-end bicycle market. The line consists of a folding bike, a new mountain bike and a racing bike. You can fold the folding bike in a matter of seconds and this mechanism is patented. It can be folded into two positions, one of which allows it to be pushed and steered, which is convenient for public transport situations. The folding bike also eight gears, disk brakes and a luggage rack. It’s actually their entry-level model with an enticing price tag of $2,410.

The racing bike is lightweight, weighing less than 7kg. It features a high-end carbon-fiber frame, a Carbotec monocoque carbon-fiber fork, 20 gears, carbon-fiber pedals and DT wheels in white. Only 100 of this model will be made, each priced at $7,085.

Benz is a GREAT brand folks it is just my hope that they put the focus on THE LOOK of their bicycles as they do the cars. Above is the only bicycle they make that is worth noting...in my opinion anyway. I tell you what, they need the 'Fabricator of Funk' hand building their bicycles because I promise you, he can out do their current offerings!

News Story on Marshall Taylor

2009-06-22T01:50:00.003-06:00

News Story on Major Taylor!

They JACKED ME!

2009-06-20T01:25:00.001-06:00

Hey folks! It is your friendly neighborhood bicycle design fanatic...AKA 'Urban Bicycle Design President'. I started this blog a 4 years YEARS years back (had another site) and I was SO EXCITED about what I was doing that I posted 3 sketches on this very blog. (I have since taken them down). Well, the names of 2 of the designs were 'Swagga' and 'T.R.U.' I got an email from someone who could barely speak English and I went to their website and it turns out they are a Chinese Bicycle Manufacturer. The little bit of what they were saying that I could understand was 'we make bike like your'.

They sent me some prices and all of this but a VERY SHORT time later, they sent me a rendering of the design (without my permission). A few months later, I ran across the below design while digging around on the net. Ladies and Gentlemen, I introduce to you MY DESIGN...Swagga!

At first, you know a brotha like me was flattered, I mean, hey I am a nobody and this company wanted my designs? Short story even shorter, after another guy jacked my other one called 'T.R.U.' the feelings of flattery were gone! I didn't design it as Electric because at this time, that genre of Bicycle is just 2 DANG Expensive! You can get a fuel efficient American Car for that much money. As was the case then and going forward, both 'Swagga Jackers' who stole my designs screwed them up and made them look like...well this hot mess and I won't even bother showing you what the other cat did to my design.

At least the other guy had the...well...sack... to email me a rendering and ask "What do you think of my design." I didn't think much of it because he screwed it up! Let this be a lesson to all of you, IF you put your stuff out there without protection, this will happen if you have something hot.

But to you others who think like me...KEEP ON PUSHING MAN! Shoot, you can't be scared to show your stuff because what I didn't tell you was those 2 designs were among my worst! I have million dollar businesses 'Eating the scraps off my broke table baby!'

This day is a day 4 KORNY!

2009-06-18T01:17:00.005-06:00

Riding along on my bicycle...HA!HA!HA! This is STRAIGHT KORNY, but I am going to back the Haterism out of my game because some things are just so korny and terrible that you gotta love em!!!

The Master of TERRIBLE and Korny... Mr William Hung Himself from American Idol Fame

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WOW! I am Totally UNAMAZED!

2009-06-14T22:40:00.007-06:00

Once again I ran across this design that is, well...JUST DUMB! As has been my practice, this guy get's my Fred G. Sanford "You Big Dummy" Award. Listen to the Song and you will have to agree!

I ran across this ARTWORK and I must confess that it is very interesting to look at...no BIG DUMMY AWARD HERE, just weird and very creative I must say!

Where's the FUNK TODAY?

2009-06-14T22:22:00.003-06:00

Category: transportation
Type: bicycles & motorcycles
Origin: America
Year: 1890 - 1900
Circa 1895 wooden bicycle handlebars, tapered with stem.

CONDITION: available on full record.

PRE-SALE ESTIMATE: available on full record.

PRICE REALIZED AT AUCTION: available on full record.

Not Bikes...but IT'S KUNG FU!

2009-05-10T22:16:00.003-06:00

Street Glo!

2009-04-30T00:09:00.006-06:00

Readers...You gotta check this company out! You fearless blogger, me of course, will be using this reflective material on my design 'Illuminati'! Enjoy!

http://www.streetglo.net/

Bike Blooper or Reasonable Outcome?

2009-03-06T17:56:00.003-07:00

This video is titled 'Bike Bloopers', but aren't bloopers something unplanned and BIZZARE that happens...something out of the ordinary? Racing bikes one can EXPECT TO CRASH ans be injured...so are these really bloopers? Couldn't this guy expect the HORRIBLE outcome he had?

Back for a moment!

2009-02-21T20:00:00.005-07:00

I have been away and not blogging for a few months and since there seems to be some concern about that, I will answer some questions;

Question "Are you still going to blog?"

Answer: I will always blog, but my project is at a place where over the last 6 months or so, I have been busy putting my business models, plans, designs, website, strategic plan, etc together. My new blog will be hosted on the new website...it will be BIGGER AND BADDER!

Question: "Do you still make bikes I want to see one."

Answer: I have been building momentum for the brand over the last 2.5 years +. This has taken place by groundswell. Groundswell is GREAT, but the time comes when the project has to be funded! That time has been in the last few months. While launching another company www.bannekerwathes.com and www.bannekerjewelry.com, I had the chance to deal with MANY INVESTORS. That is one thing (at this stage anyway) that I REFUSE TO DO! Not because I don't like asking for $$$, it is actually quiet pleasurable and fun. However, I will not (as with Banneker) have investors controlling the direction of my company.

To wrap this up...I have had my first design, which is a modification which is called 'Illuminati'. The plan is to build one bike at a time HANDMADE!

Question: "What is the name of your company?"

Answer: Ummm...Hmmm...You will have to wait on that one and NO it isn't called Major Taylor!!!!! Not that Major Taylor wouldn't be HOT, but it would be a HOT POTATO to deal with!

Question: (More of a statement) "You are all talk!"

Answer: Hey, I will accept that....for now....I promise you when my designs drop, YOU WILL EAT THOSE WORDS! I am literally, the hottest 'Recreational Bicycle Designer' on the planet...This is not me BRAGGING...It is just fact.

VERY RARE Major Taylor Picture (1902)

2009-01-14T22:39:00.005-07:00

NICE..........VERY NICE!

Not Original but GREAT MARKETING!

YOU BIG DUMMIES!

2009-01-14T07:00:00.003-07:00

I am forced to post some more bicycle designs that are.......well.....dumb. Please play this video when you are inspecting the heights of stupidity these folks have gone to.

I'll Answer your question Lisa!

2009-01-13T07:00:00.001-07:00

Lisa...My Design Style when I made my Pee-Wee Herman was..like the above song:

GHETTO SUPERSTAR!!!!!

I got a very interesting question from a reader concerning a post from a few years back. Her question was "You said you made a ghetto version of the Pee-Wee Herman back in 1985...what was your design style then compared to now?" The answer to that is multu-layered I guess, however, back then I lived in the ghetto so my designs reflected the things that I held dear. Our values, good or bad, are almost always learned. Back then, I had a hero who happened to be one of my sister's boyfriends. His name was Jerry Sallis who we simply called 'Jay Sal'. At that time (most certainly not now) represented EVERYTHING I wanted to be:

1) He was one of the few men I knew who had a job (granted he was stealing $$$ from both of them)

2) He was always dressed nice and had $$$ in his pocket.

3) His car was always clean and he LEANED so hard in it!

4) Jay Sal could cook too!

5) His command of ghetto slang was unmatched. I can still hear him saying "What up cuz?" In the drawl that was uniquely Jerry.

Jay Sal was GHETTO FABOLOS nad I wanted to be also. He was my role model and growing up in such an environment, positive role models were rare. Our sense of what is and what isn't important, our values are sensory driven in our formative years. When many of you hear this, you will think "Oh my goodness, how could he believe that?" Next time you see one of those programs on TV where they are asking you to give $23.00 per month to help feed a hungry child, notice that some of those children are drinking polluted and discolored water while others are eating spoiled food from garbage dumps. They do this, like I, because if that is all you see and are looking for a way to survive or fit in, you work with, eat, and imitate those around you!

Cadillacs, chrome, and FLASH was the order in my neighborhood, and my bike design reflected this. I tell you what, I will remake that bike EXACTLY as it was then and post it this spring. Until then, for those of you out there who feel like an outsider because of the way you dress, act, or other, be who you are because the worst thing any one of you can do is to not be......UNIQUELY YOU!

I Stand Corrected

2009-01-11T07:00:00.004-07:00

"Complain if you want..BUT THIS BLOG IS MY PARTY AND I'LL WHINE IF I WANT TO"

Every once in awhile and even though I am a design genius, I give an opinion, which 99% of the time turns out to be fact. However, although you may not believe believe this, 1% of the time I am wrong! Keeping my term Provolution' in mind, I am VERY HARD on those clowns who design stupid looking bikes in the name of INNOVATION. 99% of the time, the only thing they are innovating is the tooling that it takes to make their wacked out designs. This tooling tends to be expensive, which wouldn't be a problem IF their designs had any hope of seeing the marketplace where they could recoup the investment in tooling.

In this case, IF isn't even relative! I thought about posting a few of these idiotic designs but I have determined that my blog space is to precious to put forth such stupidity. Well.....now that I have that off my chest, back to the subject at hand. I found a rendering of one of these designs (futuristic) which my dear readers falls into that 1% category described above....but the design....DANG! This blog is 2.5 years old and I do not remeber saying this about ANY futuristic looking design, but I have to say this about the above design: "I saw the funk, and it WUZ GOOD!"

Yeh, I know, me, your fearless Blogger has to eat CROW. Me, your fearless Blogger has to admit this thing. But as I always say "A brotha like me didn't know what he didn't know." To you Bicycle Design Innovators (or so you call yourself)- Please don't email me waxing philisophical again about the value of what you do! Cause...as that song says "This is MY PARTY and I'll cry if I want to!"

Blah-Blah-Blah

2009-01-09T07:00:00.005-07:00

"SQUADRA is built to exceed the expectations and demands of our customers. Simply put, our mission is to make the best gear and offer the best service. It is time to further our company's personal growth and nurture the development of our own brand," quotes Dan Weatherford, Founder and President.

This company was licensing someone else's brand. Short tutorial on licensing. One company, the licensee, (usually a manufacturer) pays a royalty of say, between 4%-6% to what is called a licensor for the priviledge of selling that particular brandname. For instance, TREK is licensing the name Greg Lemond.(although Lemond can't keep his mouth shut) TREK uses the cycling greats name to sell bikes, Lemond gets a fat check. I tell you what, I saw the deal and alot of it is based on actual bike sales, but Lemond set it up with what is called a 'Minimum Royalty' which says "Even if yu don't sell one bike, you need to give me $180,000 for 10 years!"

Anyway, this company SQUADRA, doesn't want to sell someone else's products anymore, so they threw the lincensor off the boat and decided to go it alone. My only issue is this; why doesn't SQUADRA cut the BS and say what they are really thinking instead of putting out the above quote?! Dan, Mr. President of SQUADRA, your products and customer service aren't gonna be any better than anyone of your competitors and if you think it is, you are only going to frustrate yourself! I am a partner in a company and I know for a fact that it is a good thing to push for great customer service with your employees, but don't think you are fooling the Public with that WEAK press release statement! You could've come up with something a little more original, don't you think?

Let me tell you something else I KNOW you haven't thought of. In the very near future, customer service is going to shift from the 'Front Desk' to the 'Back Office'. All I am encouraging you and your team at Squadra to do is BE YOURSELVES! Take this opportunity as you roll out your own brand, to 'Rollout your own company culture.' There is NOTHING WORSE than something as unoriginal as your press release, I mean, it is right down pathetic. As crazy as this may sound, instead of of saying all of that...well..nothingness...you should have just said "SQUADRA...COMING SOON!" At least this little bit of information as compared to your press release sounds a bit less regurgetated! Or tell the truth;

"SQUADRA has decided that we can not only make better products than Castelli, who was our licensor, but we have taken the last several years, really not given 100% to our Licensor because we have been developing our own brand, picked up and improved on their practices, and will now do what is best for our own company! Why should we keep giving them 4-6% when we can keep it for ourselves and not drag our feet, and give you, OUR FUTURE CUSTOMERS, BETTER PRODUCT."

Hell, at least be real with it. You tell the public what they can expect from you AND you let Castelli know out front "We are going to CRUSH YOU!" You think Castelli doesn't know? Also, how are you going to make 'The Best Gear.' What does that mean? I hope it is manufactured somewhere here in the U.S. baby boy! I have this little old blog, many,many,many readers, no college education to speak of, but one thing I will not be is unoriginal...SQUADRA...these people read my blog, not because it's is a GREAT OR NICE LOOKING website, not because I gave them some 'Line' like you did in your press release, but because I am real! Read some of my posts, check out my language and my flow...All I am asking is, "Now that you are dumping Castelli, who IS SQUADRA?" Communicate this to us, we, your customer want to know.

I also want to save you the effort of saying "Well, you don't know what it is like to launch a company or brand." Sure I do! It is because I do know that I can sit here and write these things. It is because I know the importance of seperating yourself from the pack that I can say these things. It is because I know when you are launching, every word that comes from your mouth Dan can make or break your profitability that I can exhort you to stop the BS!

Mr. President, I understand, even better than your Executive Team,why this time between the break from Castelli and yur launch is SO CRITICAL..You are stepping away from a known quantity and gambling on an unknown brand name, even if it is your own. This isn't merely the next 'Step' for SQUADRA, but it is a 'LEAP' into uncharted territory. A message has to be genuine, not that crap you released to the press. Take a breather and figure out what GENUINE looks like to SQUADRA! Good Luck!

Bicycles and Video Games

2009-01-09T07:00:00.004-07:00

"This was so true-WE LOVED US SOME Donkey Kong & Pac-Man"
Since I bought a home in a suburb of Denver, Colorado, I often look out
but the window and have been very disturbed at the lack children playing outside on warm days. There was a time when that is what we did, we played outside, made up games to play, and usually, especially in summer, outside from sun up to sun down. Those days are long gone I guess. When dealing with our youth today, I found one of the reasons why. VIDEO GAMES! If you are 30 or over, you may remember your 1st experience with video games. They were typically in stores, laundry mats, or small arcades. 3 of my favorites were Bezerker, Frogger, and Donkey Kong. I still remember the music that played on Donkey Kong, it was funky! In the late 1980's. Superstar Will Smith came out with a Rap called 'Donkey Kong' and the music was that of the video game.

In one part of the rap Will said "I brake into the arcade, screamin and hollarin anticipating putting $25 dollars in." He went on to say "I was out of control, I didn't bring quarters, I bring $10 dollar bank rolls." Real or not, this same addictive behavior has gotten a grip on many of our children today. They don't have to go to the store or arcade to play anymore, the addictive product is in their homes. I am not hear today to 'Wax Philosophical', but there has to be a connection between the kids today not going outside to play, ride bikes, childhood obesity at an all-time high, and video games. As off base as it may seem, I believe the biggest competition facing the kid and junior bicycle markets is the advent and growth of home video games and gaming systems!

O.k., video games are here to stay, we know that. Nevertheless, I believe that there is an opportunity for the big boys, IE Pacific Cycles (They own the Schwinn and Mongoose brands among others) Huffy and the like to take back some of that market. The video game industry in the U.S. generates anywhere from $3.4 Billion to $11 Billion per year depending on what expert you choose to listen to. The way our culture is today, if parents give most kids a choice between a video gaming system that costs $300 (not including a variety of games) and a $100-200 bicycle, kids are going to choose the video game. MOST HAVE BOTH!

There is a way to take back a fair portion of that market though people! I wrote in an earlier posting that the bicycles today do not line up in style with an Urban audience in fashion, music, hairstyles etc. What if someone could come up with bicycles that line up with this audience's taste in culture. When I say line up, I mean in "Name, imagery, mags and wheels, floss, HISTORY" and the like? Bicycles will never fit in with this audience if when they go to purchase it, the attitude is "Oh, that is a nice bike" as opposed to "Dang, I gotta have that!" What type of product that isn't being currently produced can get that type of reaction? I will let you know in my next posting.

Scraper Bikes Still Rollin!

2009-01-07T20:45:00.000-07:00

Views: 2,483,069

Yall know I love me some Scraper Bikes! I just checked their site and it seems they had...A CONVENTION OF SORTS! I tell you what, these cats, the Trunk BOIZ love what they re doing and they found a way, despite their circumstances to do something BIG! I admire their grit and their hustle. What is more I am hoping the CEO Da Champ is entering into some big time promotion relationships with other companies! Champ, you and your team GET IT! Their are companies out their spending MILLIONS per year advertising and can't (although they desire to)reach that niche you have in your back pocket MAN!

To my readers, I am going to share something with you that that Da Champ, Trunk BOIZ, and I understand that you may not;

1) Pushing your product in Urban Areas requires you to SPEND LESS big time advertising dollars and 'Get Hood' with it like Scraper does it! Aka- a more 'Viral' approach!

2) To my readers in the industry, IF you really wanna penetrate the Urban Bicycle Market, STOP BUILDING BIKES THAT ARE UGLY! Why do you think Scraper is such a popular movement? It is because they took THE JUNK you built, and turned it in to something kids all over the country are doing. They are in Cali and I am in Denver and their is a youngster up the street 'Cruisin on his Scraper Bike!'

3) Partner with Street Promoters, like Da Champ, Trunk Boiz, and Scraper for your 'Viral Marketing'. Not just to go promote, but to consult on your designs. They know what Urban Youth will like and what they won't.

4) This will sound contrary to everything you think you know, however, celebrities aren't the most effective way to promote your products. The most effective way is to design hot products, consistently, that will sell regardless of endorsements. Take some of that endorsement $$$ and stick it into infastructure.

These are just a few ideas, but ideas are the things that GREAT COMPANIES nd GREAT PRODUCTS are made of, no?

Provolution

2009-01-07T07:00:00.000-07:00

The word Provolution is a word that was sometimes used in black churches. It simply means 'Taking the best of the past and bringing it forward into the present and carrying that ideal into the future.' Many other industries do this when designing product. Yet, the bicycle industry seems not to be in step with this. The are many challenges when designing bicyles, but going forward into the future, they are going to have to step up to the plate. There are bicycle design competitions all over the world. I recently saw the 2nd place winner in the Tiawanese design competition held every year. The bike was called 'Wild Buffalo'. This design was HOOTTT! That being said, in the market right now, it was totally impractical for mass production.

If you are wondering where I am going with this, the term Provolution applies. Bringing the best of the past forward into the present requires not that some designer comes up with a new hand brake system, or for design, those things are basic and there are only so many variations of them you can use. The good news is that when one focuses on the young adult, kid and junior bicycle market, kids don't care about innovative design, they care about whether they like their bikes and can they have fun on them! I challenge any of you with children to relay a story to me when you took your child to get a bike and they said "Well mom and\or dad, I really don't like the braking system on this bike and the rear wheel base is 2 inches to short for my taste." I raised two kids and I never heard any of that from them. It is about asthetics to them!

When they look at the bike, will they get excited, or will they say "I wish you would have bought me a video game instead." My next post will deal with the biggest enemy of the bicycle industry today (Video Games and gaming systems). Let those of us who love bicycles and like to design them keep the thought of 'Provolution' on our minds and I promise, the industry will sit up and take notice!

Trick Riders PLEASE STAND UP

2009-01-05T07:00:00.000-07:00

You have got to be kidding me! Check out this trick rider named Aaron Frost. His name is Aaron Frost and he and the man you only know as 'The Fabricator of Funk' used to ride together back in the day. I posted about the 3 trick practices so far;

1) Ghostin- Gained popularity in the Bay Area and basically consists of a person running along side their Adult Trike while it peddles itself...BORING!

2) Drifting- This practice is hot and consists of a number of tricks like prolonged skidding when coming down a hill, and peddling faster than the tire can get it's grip which produces a cool looking-controlled skid! HOOOOTTTTT!

3) Aaron Frost- I don't know what he is doing but for the first time in a LOONNNGGG time people I will give Aaron my "I saw the FUNK, and it was good" Award which is the top honor given to anyone on this site.

These are the types of niche and bicycle sub-cultures which we at Major Taylor will latch onto and bring into the main stream. To all of you bicycle tricj riders and enthusiasts, keep on doin your thang, I am coming to get ya and make you STARS!

Things that make you go HMMMM?

2009-01-03T07:00:00.002-07:00

As a politician who once got busted doing dirt said, I now say "NO COMMENT."

Low Rider Bike Sound System

2009-01-02T07:00:00.004-07:00

After some angry emails concerning my feelings on Low Rider Bikes, I have to respond. But first, click on the above video and enjoy. In my post I did recognize that Low Rider Bikes was a niche market and some readers to objection to my opinions on these bikes. To them I say "Hey...get mad if you want to but I still think they are OVERDONE!" That is my opinion and I am sticking to it! I love elegance mixed with simplicity in bicycle design.

Another reader thinks I have a problem with Mexicans. NO I DON'T! I am a black man, born and raised in the cornfields of Iowa, stopped by police because of that, etc. I just don't like Low Rider Bikes, I just think, as I have said in many posts, they are like a steak that stays on the grill too long, OVERDONE.

You guys and gals can keep giving angry responses by I would encourage you to go to the bottom of this blog and sift through pasts posts. I have said the same things about 'Futuristic' designs, I have said the same things abut expensive performance bikes with too many gadgets on them, and a few more. That is the beauty of a blog folks, one thing they are for is posting your opinion, I gave mine....AND THAT IS THAT!

Oh yeh...that sound system thing...I put one (powered by a motorcycle battery) with a tape deck on my design back in 1985!

Bicycle Drifting! This is COLD.

2008-12-31T07:08:00.005-07:00

Arab Bicycle Drift

WOW! I haven't seen anything this cool done on a bicycle since my cousin road a willy on his bike for 4 blocks! And to you bay area "Ghosters", this takes much more effort and imagination that running along side your adult tricycles while they pedal with no one on them!

Japanese Bicycle Drift

This video doesn't really say where this practice originated, but check out the INTERNATIONAL NATURE of this thing! Anyhow, as I go forward with the Marshall Taylor Project, these kinds of Urban Bike culture phenoms, wherever they originate, that will be included within the vision.

Latavian Bicycle Drift