There has been a lot written and blogged and podcasted and vlogged about social media marketing.  Certainly any business with a heartbeat is at least aware of the trend towards using more internet based promotions.  And it is probably pretty obvious to you, dear electronic reader, that Renaissance Bicycles has gone “all in” with our online based marketing.  Besides our blog, Flickr group, Twittering, and Facebook page, you have probably seen some of our Ads online:

• Ecovelo
• Bicycle Design
• Lovely Bicycle!
• Adventure Cycling Association (and especially their blog)

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Customer service. Two fundamental words that, dare I say, no longer have much meaning.

Sadly, we Americans have voted for low cost over a relationship with our retailers.  This is painfully apparent when you walk into any large home specialty store (Lowe’s, Home Depot, etc.) and need to ring a hidden bell in order to get the attention of a store representative.  Personally, I find this aggravating; I am not annoyed with the people that work at these establishments, but rather that we (as a society) continue to help this propagate.  Instead, I frequent the locally owned Ace Hardware which is within walking distance of my house.  Certainly I pay more for my goods, but there is value in knowing my name and welcoming my dog into the store.  Our familiar relationship (and actual customer service) is certainly worth the small increase in price.

Likewise, automated phone systems provide the absolute least amount of Customer Service possible.  Really, the term should be changed to Customer Suffice since they are trying to placate the customer rather than give any amount of “service”.  Does my credit card company really think that I want to spend five minutes punching keys on my phone (because the “voice recognition system” certainly doesn’t work) in order to provide them basic information?  Do they think I am fooled by the fake America names of their overseas agents?  Did they forget that they whole purpose of a telephone is to directly communicate with another human being?  Obviously they know all of these annoyances, but they would rather cut costs rather than provide any real customer service.

[whew ... okay, enough with the rant.]
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Renaissance Bicycles is a big fan of using the bicycle for basic transport. Utility cycling, bike commuting, city biking, cycling for transportation — whatever you want to call it — really brings out the essence of the bicycle.  Sure, we Americans think bikes are for sports or recreation (or for children), but what we often overlook is that the bicycle is simply the most efficient machine to move us short distances.

Over and over there are “insightful” studies that basically read Bikes = Good, Cars = Bad.  From this myopic view, it seems silly — nay foolish — not to use a bicycle for it’s original purpose.  But what we don’t often recognize is the legitimate fear that cycling entails for many.  In other words, all of our proclamations (and sometimes smugness) about how bikes will save the World fall on the deaf ears of those too scared to ride.
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Well … it was such a shame to get to get our vintage Stumpjumper dirty, that we had to just keep on riding it through the muck, the mud, and the rain. But now that we’ve gotten over the “new car smell”, we can get down to the real reason for this whole process … enjoying a unique mountain bike.

As promised, here is our biased review of the bike:

The Big Picture

From the get-go, we wanted to create something unique.  Certainly, there are better performing mid-level off-the-shelf mountain bikes … but that is like comparing a one-off hot-rod to a Honda Accord.  Anyone can own and drive the sensible car (and most people do), but it takes a little bit of personality to own something special.

And like a hot-rod, this bike took a little getting used to.  Remember, this frame predates a lot of the characteristics of the modern mountain bike … it was based the demands of early mountain bikers, far before Downhill was a verb.  But overall, the bike is responsive, easy to ride — and well — a good mountain bike.

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We are playfully realistic about our cycling ambitions. Podiums, medals, and any real cycling accolades aren’t exactly our Thing. But really, they never were a concern to begin with. This is because we are part of the Fun Majority of cyclists — the enthusiastic group of people who ride bikes simply for enjoyment.

But don’t get it wrong … we are not defining enjoyment as “tootling around the park counting squirrels”.  We mean enjoyment in the “it has personal value” context. In other words, there is enjoyment from touring, group riding, commuting to work, exploring gravel roads, leisurely solo rides, etc. Basically, if you ride your bike because it makes you smile and feel good (and not solely for a trophy / prize money / crushing other people’s self-esteem) then you are a part of the Fun Majority.

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Bryan, the benevolent dictator of Renaissance Bicycles, has a new goal for the New Year — 5200 miles in 2010. Here’s the when, why, and how in his own words:

Like many people, my traditional New Year’s resolutions are like bad Christmas presents: well intentioned and quickly forgotten.  I would like to think that I am on a constant trajectory of personal improvement, but more realistically, I “grow” like a puppy … lots of awkward leaps and stumbles.  And without exception, I can never remember my original resolutions by the conclusion of the year.  This is usually not because I have attained that lofty goal, but because I have “accepted” it … and by “accepted” I mean “forgotten”.
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For the most part, we feel that keeping a pulse on the latest trends / ideas / influences in the bike industry is an important part of operating a niche business in the cycling world. Thankfully, cyclist seem to be especially “gifted” when it comes to blogging, vlogging, tweeting, Book Facing, and just about every other form of social media*.

Especially during the past week, there is a recurring theme recurring throughout the blogosphere. It is not a new topic, but one that has made a few rounds already. Maybe we have just picked up this viral train of thought at its zenith, or maybe our own thoughts have been along the same stream of consciousness, but for whatever reason, it feels different this time.

Recommended reading from ’round the Interwebs (and note the posting dates):

• Rick Vosper’s What the Bike Business is Coming To — The Bicycle Retailer Interview Reloaded: A Five-Point Manifesto — 10/06/09
• Bike Snob NYC — The Irrelevancy of Time: Bicycle Products Don’t Spoil — 10/20/09
• Steve Can Plan — Making Cycling Normal (series) — 11/01/09
• Let’s Go Ride a Bike — Marketing the Simple Bicycling Lifestyle — 11/02/09
• Mike Flanigan’s antbikemike — Bike Sharing/Renting Programs — 11/02/09
• Ecovelo — Natural Selection — 11/04/09
• Commute By Bike — The Perfect Commuter : Bike Type — 11/04/09
• Utility Cycling — Thoughts on Re-Imaging the Bicycle — 11/04/09
• Urban Velo — Vélib’ on the Skids — 11/05/09
• Let’s Go Ride a Bike — Marketing the Simple Bicycling Lifestyle, Part 2 — 11/06/09

So … is there something in the water, or are we just imagining a collective theme of revisionist thinking?  And these articles are just pulled from a small fraction of the bike blogs available.  Maybe it has something to do with …

• Bike Portland — Want to be like Copenhagen? Think about vacuum cleaners and raging bulls

And even though the theme of #CyclingForTransportation has been largely ignored by the Industry as a whole, some of the Big Players are definitely showing their interest:

• Commute By Bike — 2010 Felt Bicycles
• Chris Writes (Specialized marketing guru) — Designing the New Awesome

Does this mean …

• We approaching the critical mass of the transportation cyclist?
• There is a grassroots voice of a special interest group that was once mainstream?
• The inclusion of the bicycle as a practical means of American transportation is about to be “tipped“?
• Anything at all?

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* — Personally, I think it has to do with cherishing and connecting on a “fringe” sport that necessitates and flourishes in groups, but that’s just one man’s conjecture.

A Zen teacher saw five of his students returning from the market, riding their bicycles. When they arrived at the monastery and had dismounted, the teacher asked the students, “Why are you riding your bicycles?”

The first student replied, “The bicycle is carrying the sack of potatoes. I am glad that I do not have to carry them on my back!” The teacher praised the first student, “You are a smart boy! When you grow old, you will not walk hunched over like I do.”

The second student replied, “I love to watch the trees and fields pass by as I roll down the path!” The teacher commended the second student, “Your eyes are open, and you see the world.”

The third student replied, “When I ride my bicycle, I am content to chant nam myoho renge kyo.” The teacher gave praise to the third student, “Your mind will roll with the ease of a newly trued wheel.”

The fourth student replied, “Riding my bicycle, I live in harmony with all sentient beings.” The teacher was pleased, and said to the fourth student, “You are riding on the golden path of non-harming.”

The fifth student replied, “I ride my bicycle to ride my bicycle.” The teacher sat at the feet of the fifth student and said, “I am your disciple.”

– Written by Shawn Gosieski, New Cyclist, Fall 1988. We first read it in Issue 1, Volume 1 of the Rivendell Reader.

As the lull in the cycling season approaches, we are finally venturing out of the shop doors more than just once a week for a little R&R (as in Riding & Replenishing).  Far more than in years past, this renewed time on the bike has been uplifting.  It has also given us a little time to reflect …

Some reasons that we love to ride in the “off” season:

• The unbelievable fall colors beautify even the most regular of our regular routes.
• White squirrels!
• The tourists have left for the season, thankfully making riding on the main roads tolerable again.
• Riding at a little more leisurely pace … not that it was all that frantic to being with.
• Cooler weather = Excuse to get a new mountain bike.
• Brooks wool jerseys
• Shorter daylight hours force us to ride during the work day.  (Yes, it’s a tough life.)
• Riding without goals, ambitions, or cycling shoes.
• Time to breathe.
• The sounds of leaves crunching under the tires.
• Getting a good look at all of the Halloween decorations.
• Ignoring the assumption of what time of year is good for bike riding. Any time is a good time, especially now.
• Taking off an outer layer while riding no-handed.
• Riding at night … on purpose.
• Even a short ride makes you feel better all day.
• Same calories, less sweat.
• Racing the setting sun.

All of these reasons help to reiterate why we are in this business in the first place … because we just love to ride bicycles.  Period.

by Grant Petersen

Ride when you like
Don’t ride out of guilt over last night’s meal. Don’t be a slave to your bike, or else you’ll resent it, and feel guilty whenever you think about it or look at it. Soon you’ll be avoiding it altogether. If all your rides are like a swimmer’s workout, you’ll burn out on bikes as fast as swimmers burn out on laps. Ride when you want to ride.

Go slowly
Don’t push yourself too hard, physically or mentally. Don’t ride with racers or obsessive aerobicisers. (If you’re a racer, don’t race with riders; let them be). Learn to relax on your bike. Of course your bike can be a tremendous tool to built cardiovascular fitness, but why let that get in the way?

Go short
A ten-minute ride is always worth it, even though it won’t elevate your heartrate to its ‘target training level’ and keep it there for 12 minutes. (Or is it supposed to be 11? Or 14?)

Don’t keep track
If you never use an onboard computer or a heartrate monitor, you can ride with me anytime. Avoid ‘logs’. Forget the graphs and the home computer programs. Keep your bicycle free of extraneous wires and leads. You don’t need them.

Learn how to fix your bike
Learn to fix a flat. Learn how to install a wheel. Learn how to adjust derailleurs. It’s all easy, and you’ll never feel at ease on a bike if you’re at its mercy. Being able to fix your bike will give you an enormous confidence and satisfaction, not to mention self-sufficiency.

Don’t chase technology
You will never catch it, and if you pursue it year after year it will break your wallet in half. Some wonderful things have happened to bicycles in the last 15 years, but so have a lot of dumb things. You don’t need a fancy machine with the latest equipment to enjoy something that is so joyous and simple. A simple, reliable bike will do.

Get the best bike you can afford, and grow old with it
Things we keep a long time grow in value to us, and enrich our lives every time we use them. The first objects you’d grab if your house caught fire are probably the old ones, because they can’t be replaced. Grow old with the best bike you can afford.

This article comes with a tip-of-the-hat to our Renaissancing brethern across the pond at Retro di Corsa.