As a bike enthusiast I can say that one of the most loveable bikes in the world, besides mountain bikes, are the city or cruiser bikes. It is part of a retro trend that floods the world and especially those who see themselves as environmental friendly folks. Electra bikes is one of the most elegant and popular brands in the market. So what makes it so special?
Besides a good marketing and good public relationships, Electra Bicycle Company has great designs and technology combined with a social ideology that makes a profound linkage between the past, the present and the future.
Electra Bikes History
The company was founded in California at 1993 by Benno Bänziger and Jeano Erforth, both imegrated to USA in 1990. Bänziger had originally planned to start manufacturing snowboards or skateboards, but turned his attention to bicycles after he realized that those markets were crowded with competitors.
As Bänziger told the San Diego Union-Tribune, “The one thing I found when I looked at cycling in the US was that everything was some kind of sport, but very few people used bikes for fun or for transportation. I wanted to introduce the ‘having a bike in your life’ factor, as opposed to ‘being a cyclist.”
In those days, the early 1990's, it was very defecult to find a nice quality and new cruiser bikes. About this time, Bänziger met Erforth and the tow decided there was a market niche for a stylish, affordable cruiser bicycle for twentysomethings and began working on designs that combined old school looks with contemporary technology.
At the begining it was heard to sell but people in the U.S started to realize they didn't need a mountain bike to go to the grocery store. So, they began to sell, and word-of-mouth convinced more dealers to sign on and today, Electra bikes are available in bike shops throughout Europe, the USA, Japan and Australia.
Electra Bikes 2000
In 2002, the company diversified its products, introducing the new “Stream Ride” series. These new cruiser bikes were inspired by the Southern California hot rod “kustom kar” culture. In a more explicit tribute to the car culture, Electra brought out a “Rat Fink ” model, licensed by the estate of legendary hot-rodder “Big Daddy” Ed Roth. As Erforth told the Tacoma News-Tribune “We have spent a lot of time at hot rod hangouts during our time in California, We made a connection with the people who have the licensing for the Rat Fink (logo and name). We wanted to make something that would be appreciated by that community.”
In 2003, the company had another great idea and came out with a major new design: the Townie. This bike’s innovation was what the company calls “Flat Foot Technology,” now more widely known as the crank forward design. The design allows the rider a more comfortable expirience because when sitting on the saddle, his or her feet can still stand flat on the ground, which feels safer for some riders. After its succes other bike companies have introduced bikes with a similar crank forward design. These bikes include Day 6 Comfort Bicycles, the Giant Suede, the Trek Pure, the K2 Big Easy, the Sun Bicycles Ruskin and Rover, and the Rans Fusion. The Raleigh Gruv and the Cannondale Day Tripper were introduced after the Electra Townie, but as of 2009 are no longer in production.
Electra bikes today
Over the past few years, Electra has a continues succes and made some smart moves to reach out to more people who would not normally ride. One of this moves was when they partnered with fashion design firm Petro Zillia to produce a high-end fashion bike with eye-popping colors. Not only has the bike been featured widely, when Petro Zillia’s chief designer, Nony Tochterman, rode an Electra up the runway at a major fashion show, he made the fasion impact widespread even more in the fashion press.
This days Electra bikes have a wide and interesting catalog with 5 main models: 1) Verse- with 4 models designed for man and 4 designed for women; 2) Ticino – with 7 models designed for man and 5 designed for women; 3) Amsterdam - with 3 models designed for man and 4 designed for women; 4) Townie - with 9 models designed for man and 8 designed for women; 5) Cruiser - with 13 models designed for man and 27 designed for women. They have also a great line for Kids with 4 models for the boys a 4 more for the girls.
Electra bike company also offers accessories for their cruisers including bells, baskets, mirrors, handlebar flowers and racks for short and long surfboard.
-
-
 Very Nice Schwinn Airdyne Comp Exercise Bike Bicycle Great Condition w Computer  US $192.50
|
 Schwinn Montague Biframe Folding Bike US $152.50
|
 Schwinn Lil Tiger bike US $102.50
|
no comment untill now