I love this video - it's simple, straight forward and with no pretention (ok a little pretention since it's a fixie bike shop)...
I especially like the way they lay all the parts out before the build begins. I want that. everytime. this is the way a bike should get built - every part should be thought through. and ultimately the parts might not be the best, the most expensive, the coolest color... but what will happen is every part will have been considered based on price, need, utility, visual excitement, and ultimately what makes us happy.
The Inverted Bike Shop from Show Love on Vimeo.
"you can't hammer a nail over the internet, you can't be a butcher over the internet, you can't be a barber over the internet and you can't be a bike mechanic over the internet. you have to do it with your hands. it's something that can't be replaced"
At first I thought why are they building such a simple bike, no Chris King, no White Industries Hubs, no carbon, no tri-spoke and i realized this isn't about what coolest, it's about what works the best for every user.
The internet isn't going away. The largest parts distributor in the country just announced today they were creating new ways for customers to purchase off the internet, but announced it in a way that included local dealers. Check out QBP's new program here: Buy Local Buy Now. It's a big of a gamble - attacking internet retailers like Chain Reaction and Wiggles by launching your own internet purchase solution. But it's out there. Trek has a version of this option. They are both fighting internet shopping with... of all things... internet shopping. Brands that still focus on a physical location for distribution are trying to give customers a compelling reason to come into the store. Service, information, technology know-how, local knowledge, trail development, advocacy, these are the new tools in the price-war.
Can the independent bike shop survive? Carlton Reid over at Bike Biz talked about this issue today. Are things that different from when this ad came out in 1897?
In the end we all want to have the bike we like the most... So think about every part of your bike next time you buy one, or build one from your own parts, or swap for one, or visit your local bike shop. We make 100s of choices everyday. Make sure the ones you make about your bike help promote cycling.
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