what was that? is that all there is? who is this? this is it.

the  Retrospec Beaumont City Bike

Step-Through  7-speed

$299.99

$120.00  assembly fee + IPA

$    0.00  shipping

______________

$420  total

This bike cost about $69 to produce in China. But it will cost you about $420 to have it shipped to your front porch and then have your local former bike-mechanic former bike-messenger assemble it, including a 6-pack of IPA he requests with his assembly fee. 

In the end you'll have a WalMart level bike as well as 1.5 cubic yards of packing material, plastic, cardboard, garbage and empty beer cans.  

This is based on a true story that began to unfold yesterday in my neighborhood and in my garage. I was referred to a neighbor by another neighbor.  I threw out a three digit assembly fee because I didn't really want to do this. I’ll let you know how it all turns out. 

If the Lauf fork is the antithesis of my steel bike philosophy. This bike is the antithesis of all my years working at Bike Works refurbishing hundreds and hundreds of sweet used bikes and keeping them out of the landfill. 

$420 at Bike Works will still buy you a solid used bike that’s built to a level of quality far beyond this $69 thing from Retrospec.

8 Comments

Cute fenders

Steve

those cute fenders weigh 4 kilograms. haven't gotten paid + IPA yet

And the fenders and the rack are "free" according to the website.....does it fit the rider? Does it work for the intended purpose? ToolToy BeerWater. Word.

word. "free" rear rack weighs one metric shit tonne. when i asked neighbor why she chose this bike, she said "browsing on line" I believe it will work well for its intended purpose Sunday morning, then it will collect dust for years until its chucked

rode this hoopty around the block and i felt the freewheel crank down upon the hub tightening beyond the robo auto gizmo spectro

for what you wish careful be

that which we call a Walmart bike by any other name would smell as suck

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