As we mentioned in our previous blog post, The Bike Commuting Green Dot, the real key to more acceptance of transport cycling in the U.S. is inclusion.  The basic premise, based on Seth Godin’s model is:

• New participants (or new cyclists in this case) get caught in the Red Zone of the new activity, where the initial Hassle of activity outweighs the Joy.
• While this Red Zone time period is generally pretty short, a lot of people drop the activity before ever making it to intended result: Joy far outweighs Hassle.
• Success in making out of the Red Zone is highly dependent on others — in this case called Green Dots — helping to support the new participant along the way.
• And as it specifically applies here, people interested in trying the bicycle for transportation simply need more Green Dots.

So … here are 8.5 Things That You Can do to Encourage Others to Try Cycling for Their Transportation (8.5TTYCDTEOTTCFTT for short).  Keep in mind that cycling for transport will never be for everybody, but there are enough on-the-fence riders that you can definitely make a difference.
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We spend our fair share of time reading and reviewing bicycle related articles, blogs, and photo galleries. But we also look around the web to other people and places of interest.

Seth Godin, the author and social media marketing maven, is one of the most interesting and relevant people on the Web. He recently wrote a short article entitled How Big is Your Red Zone? that illustrates the balance between the time and effort needed to engage in a new activity as contrasted with the long-term benefits.  This idea is not new, but Seth’s take on the one key element that determines long-term success is insightful.
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As many of you don’t remember (or don’t care), the benevolent dictator of Renaissance Bicycles had an ambitious goal at the beginning of the year — to ride 5200 miles.  100 miles a week seemed like a simple and straight-forward enough. At the beginning of the year, Bryan wrote:

“I’ve ridden that kinda miles in the course of a year, so in the big picture, 100 miles a week is a very reasonable goal.  Heck, I can ride a 100 miles in a day (well … I have ridden a 100 miles in a day).  But the real challenge in this challenge is to accumulate the miles.  An average of 14.25 miles a day works out to be about a one hour casual road ride each day.  Easy enough … but what about those days when riding is just not really an option?  And those couple of days in a row when travel / work / family / illness demand my attention?  And what about when I have “one of those weeks”?  Do I just go out and suffer to “make up the miles”?  Hardly.”

With three quarters of the year gone by, Bryan now says:

“Well … it seems that this goal has hit a slight snag.  Not an issue that was wholly unexpected, but one that is both a responsibility and a blessing:

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Once again, Renaissance Bicycles is helping prepare the local cyclocrossers for the upcoming season. For the third year, we will host / participate in a three race training series in Fletcher Park. Here are the details that you need to know:

• USAC Sanctioned Non-Competitive Training Series. No awards, prizes, or points … just the self-satisfaction of riding fast.
• September 8th, September 22nd, and October 6th all at Fletcher Park in Fletcher, NC
• Two “Races”:
  • @6pm for 30 minute duration — CX4, CX 3-4 Women, Juniors
  • @6:50pm for 45 minute duration – CX1-3, Masters, CX1-2 Women
  • Registration opens @5pm, closes 15 minutes prior to Race
• $10 Entry Fee with USAC license — One day USAC permits are $5 for non-licensed riders.
• Helmets required, hecklers likely.
• First time riders welcome. Basic instruction available prior to 6PM race.
• All bicycle types are welcome, but please no bar ends.
• And remember: Wednesday Will Bury You.

Final Race Series Results

WNCX Race #1 — 9/8/10 →
WNCX Race #2 — 9/22/10 →
WNCX Race #3 — 10/06/10 →

General Information

Map and Directions to Fletcher Park →
85 Howard Gap Road, Fletcher, NC 28732

Download WNCX Flyer and spread the word! →

Contacts:

• General questions and comments can be directed to ned@millsriverpt.com
• Volunteer and sponsorship inquiries should be sent to info@renaissancebicycles.com

And of course we can’t forget to mention some of the people that make all of this possible:

• Fletcher Parks and Recreation
• Cane Creek Cycling Components
• Planet Bike
• Asheville Bicycle Racing Club
• USA Cycling — Cyclocross
  

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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In the spirit of bringing local cycling fans together, Renaissance Bicycles is helping to present the Tour de France Pot de Luck. For you acronimians, that is the TdFPdL.

For the next three Sundays, along with our friends at the Flat Rock Bakery, we will present an outdoor viewing of the 2010 Tour de France for everyone to enjoy. All you need to bring is a little food to share, your prefered beverage of choice, and your family and friends.

The festivities start at 7pm on the back deck of the Flat Rock Bakery. We will show Sunday’s (commerical free) stage and other selected highlights from the previous week of cycling.

And if all those words were too much, here is the quick summary:

• Pot de Luck featuring the Tour de France
• Next 3 Sundays —  July 11th, July 18th, July 25th
• Outside on the deck of the Flat Rock Bakery
• Festivities start at 7pm
• Bring some food and drink (the Bakery will not be open on July 11th)
• Family friendly event.

 Just send us an email at info@renaissancebicycles.com with any questions.

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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As you may or may not be aware, the always stylish ladies over at Let’s Go Ride a Bike are hosting their first annual Summer Games.  As you may or may not have guessed, we are happy to provide a Brooks B67S (in either of Black or Honey) to one of the lucky prize winners.

For this third round of the Games, there are a few simple “events” in which to partake:

• Ride a greenway (“nature” bike trail).
• Have a bicycle picnic.
• If you don’t normally ride to work, commute by bike, or by bike/train or bike/bus.
• If you do commute, take the long way home: add distance to your usual ride.
• Explore a new part of town by bike.

Easy enough right?  So … how do you take part and become eligible for one of the many swanky prizes?  From the Let’s Go Ride a Bike website…

Winners will be determined by random drawing on July 19. As always, email us your blog links or your stories and photos using the subject line “Summer Games Part III Entry” (and check out our Flickr group). Don’t forget that you must complete two events in each round to be eligible for the grand prize of a Batavus BUB. See our original post for complete details.

So basically, you do one of the events listed above and either (1) write blog post about it or (2) submit your story with a photo or two. And if you want a chance at the free Batavus BuB, do two of the events.

Obviously, the real purpose of the Summer Games is for you to go out and do something fun on your bike, to “process” the activity, and to share it with others. To us, this is what riding a bike is all about.

So why not give it a try?

Yes, there is some sense of “ego affirmation” when someone you respect independently comes to the same conclusions as yourself.

Alan Barnard, the prolific photographer, blogger, and all around nice guy behind EcoVelo, has put into words and pictures his admittedly biased long-term review of his personal Rivendell Sam Hillborne. And we couldn’t agree more.

So rather than rehash his words and “borrow” his photographs (like the one above), we’ll let you read them for yourself:

http://www.ecovelo.info/2010/06/27/long-term-road-test-rivendell-sam-hillborne/

Thanks Alan for the affirmation … we’re not crazy for loving these bikes after all.