CHEAP BICYCLES.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 8156, 2 November 1904, Page 4

CHEAP BICYCLES.

Regarding the continued cut in -theMwice of cycles now taking,pl*ce. inVthe OW.Pron-. try, *n . English trade journal makes the following re^rkS:^Aß,B^iitter o| fact,.-mak--1 era will -hive to reeqgiuse that tlun:ejy:e two ' distinct classes of cyclists for whom they have 1 to cater.- The larger ..and ever-growing numi ber .are. those ■who use cycles for. short jourI neys on matters of pleasure or necessity, that ' is to say, the man- who rides two or three i miles into town. to his business, and the man ; who ÜBes his machine merely for the purpose 1 of getting about his own particular neighi boiirhooa. . These people,- who , seldom, if ever, ride more than half a dozen miles at • a time will be perfectly satisfied with a i cheap bicycle, -and anything, ; in- fact,, .that : stands up. Directly, however, they begin, to use the bioycle for more. extended journeying, they become aware of the fact that it leaves a great deal to be desired. TheJsecond class consists of what, we may term the tourists. These riders use their machines regularly, day in, day out,, and cover long distances, or at any rate comparatively long distances, in their travels, and their •• ranks are recruited from time to time from that other class we have before alluded to, and which we, may term potterers. Now, this second class will never be satisfied with a very cheap machine. They know that a badly fitted ..-.cheap grade cycle, with inferior bearings, is not the machine on' which they may comiortably - indulge in a prolonged ride. A cheap Saddle, for instance, at the end of a day' B journefrjis productive of more bad language than* can be ;conveniently expressed in the remaining hours of the day. For ' this class the 'makers must be prepared, to cateron the .lines- of giving them a really high-class article. The man, who knows the advantage of .a. high grade machine does not object to paying .a few extra" pounds ior it; he knows that he gets value, and therefore manufacturers will do well to consider the ..requirements of a large and growing class of aiders,, who want a machine for which they are. willing, to pay fifteen or sixteen pounds. It to cater for this class, as, apart from the actual profit upon each" transaction, there is the-advertise-ment gained, for these /purchasers- are essentially talkers, and one machine sells, many, and the circle of customers is an ever widening one. . ■ . : ■■„ , The Birmingham,' correspondent; of the - Daily News " says : --The eight-guinea machine, it- seems, is to be the bicycle ; of the future. Mr Sangster, the managing .'.director of Components, Limited, whp is well qualified to speak on behalf of the trade, states that most of the big firms,, both in -Coventry . and London, are practically ready to come" on. the market next year with- a .standard ■ eightguinea machine, •ithe'intrpduc.tiphfjof which made . such < a sensation . this summer. At this price the purchaser gets a , thoroughly. , re- . liable ' mount. First T class accessories, cf course,' cannot; be included for the money ; but the rider, who insists on a cheap bicycle will have" good -value from 'nearly .all the big firms in this class of trade.. Next year .the outting of prices in components and; fitting* will, it is ■ feared, b« severe, and the : email maker, is' likely to go under when the. stress of -competition «omes. -A' : few years ago, machines out .of every' three were produced by small makers, who bought their p'ttrts and made the cycle up cheaply. Already . BOine of the. weaker of the large firms have gone. to the wall, and it is. predicted thai in a fSw years the'bulk of the trade will be in the hinds Of a few large firms. .' ' ' '