They're selling a heavily used rental bike for $709. OK.
Background: during the OPEC oil embargo of 1973-4 I was working at a bicycle assembly plant in Van Nuys, California, USA. We assembled bikes using parts made in Japan. Business was crazy. Even before the embargo baby boomers like me were buying their grown-up adult bicycle. Sadly, most would spend years untouched in a garage after a brief flurry of use. A problem was that bikes sold in America, still true to today, are mostly racing style bikes with swooped down handlebars, lots of gears, geared for speed, etc., and appropriate for exercise and athleticism--think competitive racing-- who want to ride hundreds of miles a month very fast. Another problem is that roads in North American have a lot of miles that are not bike friendly. All other bikes sold North America, children's bike, commuting bikes, are low end bikes, sometimes low quality that breakdown or need adjusting often, and not thought out very well.
A few weeks ago I found this video, about a better designed urban bike. Although I suspect
evolved might be a better word than designed. An evolved bike allows for things like skinny tires that are great for racing but just a stupid idea for city use to fall by the wayside. It keeps aspects like one speed, or maybe 3 or 5 at most, because making one with 10 or 12 speeds does not improve this kind of bike for the way it is used. Just the opposite, it adds cost and complexity.
Designed implies someone who may or may think they are improving on obsolete designs. I could word that better, but you get the idea. (Isn't it nice to have a forum where you can assume the people here can think?)
...and as a bonus, here is some charming bicycle music.
Edit: I worked in the factory when mountain bikes were just a dream some people had. So, add mountain bikes to the list, better than a racer for urban use. Also cruiser bike and beach bikes. But, the Dutch bikes are more evolved for commuting and cities. I wonder about Chinese city bikes?
