Bike To Work Day-Press Conference
May 16th, 2005 by Guitar TedToday was the day I received my new Giant Cypress LE complete with Nexus components as well as the famous Internally Geared Hub.
Once I got there, I signed in, received my new bike, helmet, Cateye LED lights, water bottle, Bike to Work T-Shirt and my Kryptonite Lock. They had catered some breakfast for all the participants, complete with bagels, pastries, coffee, juice and condiments.
I walked around the Shimano lobby and saw an amazing piece of machine. It was the Trek Bicycle that Lance Armstrong used to win the last Tour De France! I made sure I took a picture of it to share with everyone here.
After a brief speech from Bicycling Magazine’s Publisher, and Giant Bicylces Pres. The President of Shimano USA, Kozo Shimano welcomed all the winners. Kozo notified us that the bikes that were given out today were customized by Shimano and Giant. The Nexus parts that laced the bike were only available to 450 bicycles through out the US.
Once all the big names of the industry were done speaking, they invited all the winners to ride down to the OCTA Irvine Train Station to meet and greet with the press. We all rode down about a mile to be greeted by a few photographers, a few local news stations and more food and prize giveaways by some of the sponsors.
It was really cool, because during the press conference, the Publisher of Bicycling Magazine read my essay to everyone!
Here’s what I wrote:
“Biking to work would mean one less person burning gasoline, it means one more person that is getting in shape, it means one less person that is frustrated with traffic. Riding to work would mean, less stress, more money saved and healthier well being.”
Riding to the Train Station
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Congrats on the bike! Looks like you had a pretty cool day there. Please explain the reason only 450 bikes are getting kitted out with this Nexus group. Is it new for ‘06? Proto-type? What?
They told us that the Nexus stuff is big in Europe and Asia, but haven’t made a big impact here in the US, at least not yet. No so sure if what we’re riding on are prototypes but all I know is that it works really well. You can shift while standing still. You don’t have to be spinning. It won’t damaged the gears if your at the light and shifting away. It’s really remarkable.
Congrats on the bike! I like what you wrote for that contest. I could see why they picked your essay. That’s a sweet looking bike!
EXCELENTE!!!
I just got mine in Saint Paul, Minnesota and drove 12 miles on my maiden voyage. Sweet bike! Did the trip comfortably in 20 minutes and the shifter worked like a charm.
Great! Yeah the bike is amazing! Congrats! Did you take any pics?
I’m SO envious! I lived in Europe for 13 years and couldn’t help but see how traffic works in a bicycling society. That’s where I fell in love with the planetary gear system. It’s much more resistant to wear and weather, which is really the biggest difference between Europe and the USA. There it’s transportation. Here it’s still mostly recreation. I commute to work on a 1973 (or so) Mizutani Super Seraph (Suntour 10-speed), but I’m a fair-weather rider. Here in the Pacific Northwest it rains quite a bit so there are times when I have to commute home in the rain, but it’s never on purpose. Someday, I’m going to get my mitts on a decent commuter bike with a Shimano Nexus Inter-8 hub and save the go-fast Mizutani for those quick summer rides with the Vancouver (WA) Bicycle Club. Thanks for the great photo diary. Terrific!