Posts tagged ‘Tour of California’
Boost for folding bikes in Bay Area
Good news is good news, even if it is a week old. But hey, we were saving this for our launch.
Rachel Gordon wrote in the San Francisco Chronicle that Muni, the Bay Area’s busiest transit system, reversed its long-standing policy that barred passengers from bringing bicycles aboard the buses and streetcars allowing only folding bikes. Read her story
Add comment June 1, 2011
Bike Friday’s Toy Story
When Kirk Toy pops out of his chair, bolts to the door and offers a welcoming hand with a warm smile, it’s more than just the Bike Friday Standard Operating Procedure for greeting a guest.
That’s because Kirk wrote our book on Showroom etiquette.
It’s easy for him.
It comes naturally.
“I don’t know how I came to be this way,” Kirk says, pointing out that he gained quite a reputation in the equestrian world with his service-first approach as a trailer salesman.
“I just know it’s who I am. I just treat other people the way I like to be treated.”
In a way, that’s how Kirk came to be our Showroom Host. Nine years ago he came to Bike Friday to buy a bike. He liked the way he was treated. Now he does the honor.
“My Bike Fridays have allowed me a life change that I am proud of,” says Kirk, who owns five Bike Fridays. “I’m back to my roots. I want people to have that same opportunity.”
Kirk has taken it upon himself to redefine our Factory Showroom Experience so it reflects the unique nature of Bike Friday.
With just a little more than 30 employees, Bike Friday is one of the few Made in USA bicycle manufacturers remaining. We build our folding and travel bicycles at our small factory right in Eugene.
“For the longest time we didn’t have a Showroom,” Co-Founder Alan Scholz says. “If people stopped by, we just took them out in the parking lot and let them ride a bike.”
That core element of the Showroom Experience will never change. Kirk’s priority is to say Thank You to Bike Friday Owners, and let you know how much we appreciate our partnership.
Kirk also has increased his herd of Bike Fridays in the Showroom to 25-30 on any given day, including the hottest new bikes like the Carbon Drive tikit and the Infinity New World Tourist with NuVinci.
Call ahead of time, and Kirk will size you up and set you up with a Bike Friday that fits your body.
Take it for a ride on the Fern Ridge Bike Path, that winds along a creek right behind our building, and see why Eugene always lands on someone’s Top 10 Cities for Bicycling.
When you get back, relax with something to drink. Then let Kirk give you a Factory Tour, so you can meet some of the special people who make this a great place to work.
Our Factory Showroom is open 9 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. each weekday and 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday.
Add comment June 1, 2011
Photos from the road …
Phil Liggett (left) and Paul Sherwen pose with the Carbon Drive tikit at the 2011 Tour of California.
You see photographs like this and just wonder. How does one get the likes of the hallow voices of cycling, Phil Liggett and Paul Sherwen, to pose with your bike?
Oh, we suppose the short answer would be that Liggett has been a long-time Bike Friday owner.
Special Projects Manager John Rezell, aka, Raz, reports that in his stint covering cycling, it was difficult to go to any race that Liggett attended without hearing about his Bike Friday.
But there’s more to this story. There always is.
The Carbon Drive tikit showed up at the Tour of California courtesy of Jeff Linder, one of our Angel investors who has helped make Bike Friday what it is today.
Jeff is more than just Bike Friday owner and investor. Co-Founder Alan Scholz likes to call him our Factory Pro.
No, lest you think the life of a Factory Pro is all fun and games, well, take a gander how Jeff spent his spring.
In Belgium. Racing on cobblestones. On a Bike Friday.
Jeff Linder, racing an Air Friday, at the Tour of Flanders in the Belgium peloton, 2011
Jeff Linder, climbing on cobblestones in the Tour of Flanders on an Air Friday, in Belgium, 2011
Jeff Linder on cobblestones to the end of the Tour of Flanders in Belgium, 2011.
We could call it a wrap right there. But again, we say, there is more to the story. We’ll let Jeff fill you in on his fun last week at the Tour of California:
1 comment May 26, 2011