Here Brian Poncin, owner of our sister store My Bike of Tinley Park, IL., is on NBC 5's morning news. (This is actually "Off the Record" which was filmed after the actual segment that appeared on the news.
Friday, June 13, 2008
Thursday, June 12, 2008
Schwinn Electric Bike on WMAQ NBC 5 Chicago!
Brian Poncin, owner of My Bike of Tinley Park, head of PR for My Bike Holdings Corp, Inc. was on NBC this morning giving the crew a ride on the Schwinn Campus Electric Bike. Want to ride in high heels and a skirt? Click on the image to watch the video!
Tuesday, June 10, 2008
E-Bikes, Soon Everyone will be Riding One!
Riders say 'e-bikes' give them extra spark
By Joel Hood Tribune reporter
11:26 PM CDT, June 6, 2008
Dave Kennedy is part of a two-wheeled revolution. Or so it seems some days.
Fed up with $4 gas, the war in Iraq, America's automotive obsession and the seeming reluctance of leaders to fully embrace alternative energy, Kennedy bought an electric-powered bicycle for his 2-mile commute to and from work in Tinley Park. And if it were up to him, he'd probably never step on a gas pedal again.
Whether their reasons are financial, political or both, Kennedy and others are at the forefront of a new era in two-wheeled transportation: the "e-bike." Widely used in Europe and parts of Asia for a decade, battery-powered bicycles have found a home in America.
Cycling powerhouses such as Schwinn and Giant are reporting a surge in sales during the last year and have stepped up production to meet the demand. They're competing with small manufacturers in a suddenly crowded marketplace.
"We can't keep them in stock," said Nate Newton, assistant manager at Kozy's Cyclery on Milwaukee Avenue. "As soon as we get them in, we sell them. And then we have calls from 10 other people who want them."
It's a trend that has some in the industry thinking big.
"In some ways I think we're seeing the future of this business," said Patrick VanHorn, corporate communications manager for Giant Bicycles Inc. "I wouldn't have thought that a few years ago. America still might not be where Europe and Asia is yet. But with $4 gasoline, it gets closer every day."
While some cycling purists might be turned off by the notion of battery-assisted riding and others by the cost—starting at about $2,000—the e-bike's fans say they're practical, fun to ride and make it easier for non-cyclists to leave their cars in the garage.
"You don't know how great it feels to be able to hop on a bicycle and ride it to work," Kennedy said. "It's total freedom."
Yes, those statements could be said of a traditional pedal-power bicycle. But at 50, and admittedly heavyset, Kennedy is typical of a lot of e-bike customers in that he didn't want his physical limitations to dampen his enthusiasm for riding and for the outdoors.
The Schwinn model he owns looks like a typical recreational bike but is powered by a slim lithium-ion battery that fits on the rear-mounted rack above the back wheel. The battery, which can be fully charged within three hours at home or work, powers a small motor inside the front-wheel hub. Riders engage the motor by pedaling but must continue pedaling, even slowly, to keep the motor running. That's an important distinction that makes e-bikes different from scooters or mopeds, which are not allowed in bike lanes.
The motor makes the rider's legs feel supercharged; it takes the slightest effort to breeze past joggers and other cyclists. It's an unfamiliar sensation at first, but soon the rider settles in to enjoy the ride. The motor shuts off the instant the rider taps the brakes.
Similar to models made by Giant, the Schwinn has a top cruising speed of about 18 m.p.h., which is plenty fast on crowded streets, riders say. The battery has a range of 40 miles when fully charged, and can be charged only through a wall outlet.
But most riders can pedal without motor assistance, which increases the range, said Brian Poncin, owner of My Bike in Tinley Park, the top selling dealer for Schwinn e-bikes in the country. "We liked the technology from the beginning, and so we committed heavily to these early," he said. "We didn't know gas would do what it did. That's been a bonus."
Schwinn, based in Madison, Wis., had sold electric bicycles in Europe for nearly a decade before it rolled out a limited number of the bikes here last year. Schwinn declined to release overseas numbers, but Giant alone has sold 15,000 e-bikes in Europe.
Tom Mount, Schwinn's director of product, said there were questions about how the bike would be received in America. Many at Schwinn feared offending its core cycling customers. Another big concern was the price.
But it was the right time to take such a gamble, Mount said. Gas prices were hitting record highs; a green movement was under way, promoting healthier living and less dependency on automobiles. And perhaps more significant, he said, an entire generation of Baby Boomers who had incorporated fitness and recreation into their lifestyles were approaching an age when they could use a little boost in the bike seat.
"We're in our 50s now, and we wanted to remain active and outdoors," said Frankfort resident Joe Popik, who recently bought an e-bike after falling in love with the one his wife, Margorie, bought last year. "I've ridden bicycles all my life. But now, if we go on a long ride, I don't have to worry about how I'm going to get back."
The Popiks frequent the network of paved bike trails that wind through the south suburbs. They also use the e-bikes to run errands around town and have taken them along on trips.
"My first thought was, 'Man, these bikes are expensive,' " Joe Popik said. "But after riding one, I just thought it was great. These things are really going to take off."
Advancements in battery technology have made the bikes lighter and better equipped for longer distances. Giant, which has been building e-bikes since the late 1990s, will introduce a new model this summer called the "Twist Freedom DX" that will feature a sensor in the crankshaft to calculate the amount of torque a bicyclist is producing while pedaling. The sensor will relay that information to a motor in the front hub, which will adjust its speed to enhance the pedaling power. The idea is a type of hybrid that gives power when it's needed and removes it when it's not, VanHorn said.
The advancements are coming just in time to offer solace to car and truck commuters stunned by rising gas prices, VanHorn said. Sensing that, he joked that Giant's marketing campaign for its new e-bike could be: "Save $30,000 on your second car."
"The time isn't coming—it's here," he said. "We're just seeing the beginning."
By Joel Hood Tribune reporter
11:26 PM CDT, June 6, 2008
Dave Kennedy is part of a two-wheeled revolution. Or so it seems some days.
Fed up with $4 gas, the war in Iraq, America's automotive obsession and the seeming reluctance of leaders to fully embrace alternative energy, Kennedy bought an electric-powered bicycle for his 2-mile commute to and from work in Tinley Park. And if it were up to him, he'd probably never step on a gas pedal again.
Whether their reasons are financial, political or both, Kennedy and others are at the forefront of a new era in two-wheeled transportation: the "e-bike." Widely used in Europe and parts of Asia for a decade, battery-powered bicycles have found a home in America.
Cycling powerhouses such as Schwinn and Giant are reporting a surge in sales during the last year and have stepped up production to meet the demand. They're competing with small manufacturers in a suddenly crowded marketplace.
"We can't keep them in stock," said Nate Newton, assistant manager at Kozy's Cyclery on Milwaukee Avenue. "As soon as we get them in, we sell them. And then we have calls from 10 other people who want them."
It's a trend that has some in the industry thinking big.
"In some ways I think we're seeing the future of this business," said Patrick VanHorn, corporate communications manager for Giant Bicycles Inc. "I wouldn't have thought that a few years ago. America still might not be where Europe and Asia is yet. But with $4 gasoline, it gets closer every day."
While some cycling purists might be turned off by the notion of battery-assisted riding and others by the cost—starting at about $2,000—the e-bike's fans say they're practical, fun to ride and make it easier for non-cyclists to leave their cars in the garage.
"You don't know how great it feels to be able to hop on a bicycle and ride it to work," Kennedy said. "It's total freedom."
Yes, those statements could be said of a traditional pedal-power bicycle. But at 50, and admittedly heavyset, Kennedy is typical of a lot of e-bike customers in that he didn't want his physical limitations to dampen his enthusiasm for riding and for the outdoors.
The Schwinn model he owns looks like a typical recreational bike but is powered by a slim lithium-ion battery that fits on the rear-mounted rack above the back wheel. The battery, which can be fully charged within three hours at home or work, powers a small motor inside the front-wheel hub. Riders engage the motor by pedaling but must continue pedaling, even slowly, to keep the motor running. That's an important distinction that makes e-bikes different from scooters or mopeds, which are not allowed in bike lanes.
The motor makes the rider's legs feel supercharged; it takes the slightest effort to breeze past joggers and other cyclists. It's an unfamiliar sensation at first, but soon the rider settles in to enjoy the ride. The motor shuts off the instant the rider taps the brakes.
Similar to models made by Giant, the Schwinn has a top cruising speed of about 18 m.p.h., which is plenty fast on crowded streets, riders say. The battery has a range of 40 miles when fully charged, and can be charged only through a wall outlet.
But most riders can pedal without motor assistance, which increases the range, said Brian Poncin, owner of My Bike in Tinley Park, the top selling dealer for Schwinn e-bikes in the country. "We liked the technology from the beginning, and so we committed heavily to these early," he said. "We didn't know gas would do what it did. That's been a bonus."
Schwinn, based in Madison, Wis., had sold electric bicycles in Europe for nearly a decade before it rolled out a limited number of the bikes here last year. Schwinn declined to release overseas numbers, but Giant alone has sold 15,000 e-bikes in Europe.
Tom Mount, Schwinn's director of product, said there were questions about how the bike would be received in America. Many at Schwinn feared offending its core cycling customers. Another big concern was the price.
But it was the right time to take such a gamble, Mount said. Gas prices were hitting record highs; a green movement was under way, promoting healthier living and less dependency on automobiles. And perhaps more significant, he said, an entire generation of Baby Boomers who had incorporated fitness and recreation into their lifestyles were approaching an age when they could use a little boost in the bike seat.
"We're in our 50s now, and we wanted to remain active and outdoors," said Frankfort resident Joe Popik, who recently bought an e-bike after falling in love with the one his wife, Margorie, bought last year. "I've ridden bicycles all my life. But now, if we go on a long ride, I don't have to worry about how I'm going to get back."
The Popiks frequent the network of paved bike trails that wind through the south suburbs. They also use the e-bikes to run errands around town and have taken them along on trips.
"My first thought was, 'Man, these bikes are expensive,' " Joe Popik said. "But after riding one, I just thought it was great. These things are really going to take off."
Advancements in battery technology have made the bikes lighter and better equipped for longer distances. Giant, which has been building e-bikes since the late 1990s, will introduce a new model this summer called the "Twist Freedom DX" that will feature a sensor in the crankshaft to calculate the amount of torque a bicyclist is producing while pedaling. The sensor will relay that information to a motor in the front hub, which will adjust its speed to enhance the pedaling power. The idea is a type of hybrid that gives power when it's needed and removes it when it's not, VanHorn said.
The advancements are coming just in time to offer solace to car and truck commuters stunned by rising gas prices, VanHorn said. Sensing that, he joked that Giant's marketing campaign for its new e-bike could be: "Save $30,000 on your second car."
"The time isn't coming—it's here," he said. "We're just seeing the beginning."
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