Swobo introduces bike line....

[K-Man]

Swobo, the company known for its woolen wares, is introducing a line of bikes. They knew this would be no easy task, so they hired heavy hitter Sky Yaeger--the same woman responsible for bringing singlespeeds to the masses ten years ago with the Bianchi singlespeed line. Read more.... (http://www.dirtragmag.com/web/news-article.php?ID=870)

[hairygrump]

I've been thinking about those things all weekend. The Otis seems like a great idea and actually wins a bet between me and another bike jerk in my building as to whether Sky was going to build a better Rollo.

Somebody needs to explain the gusset on that Folsom to me though.

[longhaultruker2]

cool!i wouldn't mind havin the sanchez or the otis:D
thanx karl.

[jhl99]

To call those bikes "radically different" seem like quite a piece of marketing.

I didn't realize that you can't to ride one-handed and still brake without a using a coaster brake. I better stop doing that!

[Browne]

I asked her about the gusset when we talked.

It's mainly for looks.

[993rs]

"Say you're coming home from the bar with a 12-pack.."
please, is this stuff for real? They are trying way too hard with the lifestyle image crap.

[xjoex]

The sanchez is radically different, it's a pista, but with a flat bar! Thats some crazy stuff there.

I wonder if urban outfitters will carry them?


-Joe

[jonassterling]

Is anyone else disappointed with results of the newly revived Swobo, and for that matter Ibis?

At one time both companies seemed to have an irreverent attitude towards the marketing of their functional, not-so-main-stream products. Now both seem to be pushing hard for the same feel, but with empty words and me-too products.

I mean, really, a fixed gear with a riser? A coaster brake to carry beer? And gussets for looks? And ad copy that says this crap is "radically different"?



Urban Outfitters sounds about right, and 10 months from now on close out a TJ Maxx

[hairygrump]

Is anyone else disappointed with results of the newly revived Swobo, and for that matter Ibis?Disappointed? I guess I'm not sure why you would be. The wool stuff is still great designs and responsible materials. The "new" swobo stuff I've used so far does what they say it will. Can't speak to Ibis at all.

Getting down on that company for their marketing approach doesn't make a lot of sense to me. They've got a product and it needs to get marketed somehow. Maybe it just doesn't bother me because I'm the kind of guy that message is crafted for... i don't know. I wonder what you were expecting.

PS: I got to meet Steve from Swobo at Homey Fall Fest last year right before I broke my finger, and the impression I got was that the 12-pack statement comes from a pretty authentic place.