Astute reader Allan Folz noticed an in-depth article on Shimano’s new Coasting component group in the current issue of Hemispheres Magazine (the in-flight publication of United Airlines).
Back in May, Portland was chosen of 15 “bike-friendly” cities to be part of a special pre-launch marketing campaign for Coasting. Since that announcement, I published the first-ever photos and have worked with Shimano to share exclusive details of the innovative grouppo.
Shimano has high hopes that Coasting will reach untold millions of currently non-cycling Americans. It will only be licensed for use on three major bicycle brands. One of them is Trek, and Portland’s Bike Gallery is one of the largest Trek dealers in the world.
The big marketing push for bikes built around Coasting begins in March, and The Hemispheres article reveals some interesting plans from Bike Gallery owner Jay Graves:
Jay Graves has plenty of ideas for attracting customers, including providing Coasting bikes for monthly First Thursday tours of the city’s art gallery district or holding demo days when people can stop by for a free tryout. “On other days, we’ll do a bakery tour or an Audubon tour or an ice cream shop tour on Coasting bikes,” he says. “People think ‘bikes and ice cream,’ and they’re in heaven.”
Sounds like fun Jay! Keep us posted with more details.
In another Coasting update, the official website is now live and open to the public. And no word yet from Shimano on other marketing plans they’ve got for the Portland metro area.