Interbike takes it to the city
We go to Interbike every year and we have never – and we mean never – seen so many city bikes. Sure, there were road and mountain bikes in varying stripes, but city bikes won the show, hands down. Three years ago the entire show was an ejaculation of carbon fiber, this year it’s not about trends, it’s about solutions. And not one carbon fiber city bike either. Phew!
The Batavus BUB (Batavus Utility Bike) stole the show. So did the Pashley and Biomega bikes. So did we, apparently. Did you know we won the ‘best dressed award’?
The city bike market in North America is certainly new. Mountain and racing bike companies have suddenly realized that carbon fiber won’t sell a city bike and that the city bike demographic is a relatively unknown species. Most city bikes at Interbike were what we call ‘feeler attempts.’ They were attempts to understand the city bike market by introducing products that were essentially a litmus test for gaining data on future attempts. Companies like Batavus, Biomega and Pashley – all who attended the show – had no need for such feelers. Each of these companies have market experience and have provided proven solutions built with obsessive quality for decades, even a century in the case of Batavus. Companies like Pashley, who have patiently attended Interbike for a decade, saw their booth swarmed. The Batavus, Pashley, and Biomega booths were packed. We all came home from Interbike hoarse from speaking, sleepless from endless meetings, and, of course, pretty hungover. We closed several deals with some great new retailers, hotel chains, and rental companies. To all of the great people we met, we’re so pleased to have you on board!
Despite the fact that most North American companies are still not entirely ‘clear on the concept’, the overall attempt to produce city bikes for consumers outside the usual ’sports’ demographic was simply outstanding. The North American bicycle industry has finally legitimized the city bike. While companies like ourselves have known that the consumer for city bikes has been out there, the weakest link has been a sport-dominated bicycle industry. This year the blinders were off. Bike shops that once laughed at the heavier weight of a city bike now asked why this weight was necessary. Manufacturers came out with clean designs that felt more European and urbane. Hundreds of booths were filled with new bike companies making bags and accessories for the urban markets. Without a doubt, Interbike 2009 will be remembered as a watershed year for the North American bicycle industry.
We’re a small, but prescient company. Luckily, we are miles ahead of the game. In the last five years we have not only introduced proven European city bikes to North America, but worked with our European vendors to adapt these bikes to North American geography and usage. Bikes like the Batavus Fryslan and Breukelen are examples of this approach and remain our best sellers. This year Batavus worke
d on bringing the strong tradition of Dutch industrial design to an improved, lighter weight city bike at a cost effective price. As beautiful and functional as an Eames chair, the Batavus BUB fits perfectly into the sophisticated tastes of the North American urbanite. Moreover, this year Batavus overhauled their brand image, presenting a more urbane and gritty company that feels as downtown Amsterdam as it does New York. Together, the BUB and the new image of Batavus not only seek to romance North Americans, but also Netherlanders who romanticize their bikes as much as they do their washing machines – a sad but true fact. Like Biomega, Batavus has created an iconic, simple, and functional city bike, that will be as revolutionary in North America and Denmark as it will in Holland.
Meanwhile, the North American bicycle industry still had some bugs to work out. Nearly every company installed a half chainguard on their bike, or none at all. While this made the bikes look cool, it does not keep clothing clean. Other companies created bikes with an upright position but kept a long sporty top-tube length, forgetting that customers want their shoulders squared and alert. Still other companies insisted on using derailleurs despite the fact that customers want a bike that is as close to zero-maintenance as possible. A great deal of companies put cool looking front baskets on their bikes, forgetting that heavy front ends destabilize steering performance. Finally, there was a great deal of bicycles that did not appear to have stainless, aluminum, or galvanized parts, which is key in northeast cities where customers require rust-free four season outdoor storability. But again, the attempts were overall excellent. The industry will have to learn that a city bike is not just fashion, but also function, and it must continue to pay very close attention to quality as it equalizes these two dynamics.
Companies like Batavus, Biomega and Pashley have experience. So do we. Like us, our vendors generally assume people will treat their bikes poorly yet expect them to last forever (and look pretty). This is why they continue to be the most prestigious quality city bikes in the world. This year, at Interbike, they finally got their moment in the sun – nearly 100 years overdue in the case of Batavus. Companies in North America will continue to learn, and they most likely learn from experts like Batavus, Pashley and Biomega. Experience, as always, wins the day.
See our pictures here. If you are a retailer interested in joining our little adventure, check out our catalog here. All BUB orders of x4 units are required by October 15th. All other booking orders are due October 31st. Please contact eric@onthefourth.com for details.
