Fisher Collection.
(Photo © J. Maus)
Two big announcements in the bike world this week could result in some interesting new bikes showing up on the streets of Portland.
The first is from the biggest bike brand in the world, Trek. Trek announced Tuesday that they will shelve the Gary Fisher brand as a standalone line and from now on Gary’s bikes will be offered in the form of The Gary Fisher Collection, which will be be sold as part of the Trek line. I took a peak at the new Fisher bikes online yesterday and noticed one that looked particularly interesting for Portland: the Transport+.
From its looks, this bike reminds me of the Yuba Mundo I tested two years ago. Besides having flat bars and a racing-style saddle (both of which are better suited to riding fast), it looks to be a capable hauler. And the Big Deal with this bike is that it comes stock with electric assist (a non e version is also available). Portland is home to one of the best Trek Dealers on the planet, Bike Gallery, and given their commitment to cargo bikes in the past, I fully expect these to be on their showroom floors soon (I’ll update with pricing and availability when I hear back from them).
The other new line of bikes that I could imagine catching on in Portland are from Puma Bikes (yes, Puma, as in the shoes). Designed by Copenhagen-based Biomega and using licensed technology, the Puma bikes are notable for their distinct design, aesthetics, and the marketing muscle behind them. From the look and feel of their website and their brand legacy, Puma stands a chance of reaching city-dwellers (and those who aspire to be one) that traditional bike companies simply can’t.
Puma Bikes and Biomega have a full line of bikes for men and women. Here’s the Nevis women’s bike (MSRP: $750):
And the Pico, a mini-bike with a big front basket, would seem to fit right in here in Portland (and yes, other color schemes are available):
It will be interesting to see if either of these bikes catches on. What do you think?