Chevy Volt rhymes with Dolt

Today I think I will weigh in the highly anticipated electric car from General Motors, the Volt.  This offering from GM is going to make the Vega look like the greatest feat of automotive engineering of all time.  Which is not surprising when you consider that the US government is involved, much like the Post Office, this lemon is going to cost us taxpayers a boat load of money. At first glance, the Volt seemed like a game changer based on the initial specs from GM, 230mpg in city driving, a small gasoline engine to charge the batteries, but not used to power the car, a car Jesus would drive.  Problem is, GM lied.  Big time lied.

The Volt costs over $40,000.00 and here is what you are getting for your investment. The Volt gets around 25 miles on a fully charged battery before the engine takes over, so make sure you fill up the gas tank (Premium only) before you head to grandma's. And the good news is, once the battery is out of juice and the engine kicks in, expect to get about 37mpg, less than the 40mpg the 2011 Ford Focus gets and the Ford costs over 20k less than the Volt.  You can buy a lot of gas for the difference. But say you are fortunate to have a daily commute of less than twenty five miles, and you never venture out of your neighborhood, basically never go anywhere, then the Volt may be for you. However a better alternative may be an e-bike, or electric bicycle.

E-bikes are becoming very popular,  globally there were 26 million e-bikes sold last year, an increase of 81%.  Several cities in China have banned gasoline powered mopeds and scooters which has contributed to the increase in demand for electric bicycles.  Being involved with Dutch bicycle manufacturer Gazelle, I am familiar with their line up of e-bikes.  Basically, they provide pedal assist in two modes, Eco and Power, and have a range three times that of the Volt, up to 75 miles. The lithium ion battery sits under the rear bike rack and can be removed and charged anywhere there is a wall socket.  You can ride the bike like you would any bike, and if you get a little fatigued, or start to sweat on the way to work, just hit one of the assist buttons for a little help. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UAOjBrmTQKE

GM sold a whopping 281 Volts last month, including one to a lucky customer in Washington DC who drove over three hundred miles to be the first Volt customer at that particular dealership, even the local news folks were there to cover it. Unfortunately, he didn't get out of the parking lot, the brakes failed. It took five days for the dealer to fix the problem.  And I wonder if the customer encountered any buyers remorse after he finally picked it up and on the way home had to put gas (Premium) in it?  I wonder if he is starting to budget for $8,000.00 battery that will eventually have to be replaced?  I wonder if the salesman that sold him the Volt reminded to tell him to drain the gas tank if he drives on all electricity for an extended  period of time, GM forget about the fuel tank rotting out from extended exposure to stagnant gasoline. 

Webster's defines "dolt" as a stupid person.  I define a person that buys a Chevy Volt as a "voltdolt."

Gazelle Orange Innergy about $39,000.00 less than the Chevy Volt

I No everything, just ask Me

I get several questions daily about bicycles, photography, and other subjects, so I thought I would pass on some of the recent emails I have received.

"Matt, what kind of bike should I get?"  William from Raleigh, NC

Good question Bill, I would suggest a blue one.


"Hey guy, what is the best bicycle for under $300.00,  I am getting into triathlons and am on a budget." Jerry from Houston, TX

Jerry, I would look for a Nishiki International circa mid 1980s, a great road bike, Tange frame, very fast, I have one that I bought new in 1986, still rides great. Look for them on eBay, they come up every so often and are a bargain at any price under $425.00.

"Matt, my buddy has a Canon D7 and I have a Nikon D7000, he says his camera is better, but I think my camera is better, who is right?"  Artie from Macon, GA

Thanks for the question Artie,  but let me ask you a question, say I'm standing next to Picasso and he has a Richeson Student paint brush, retail .35c, and I have a Da Vinci Maestro brush,  retail $520.00, who's paint brush is better?  

"I take it you are not a fan of Chinese made bikes, but in doing so you eliminate about 80% of the market, how can you say all Chinese made bikes are bad?"   Leng from Pensacola, FL

Thanks for your question Leng, however I have never said, nor do I think that all bikes made in China are of poor quality.  In fact, some very good bicycles come out of the factories in China, but not the Schwinn I bought my daughter a few years go when the kickstand separated from the frame on Day One, or the Mongoose BMX bike that my neighbor had that almost turned him into her when the seat stem split in two, or my nephew's Raleigh Venture that brought new meaning to "bouncing baby boy" when the front fork broke.  When shopping for a bicycle, look to see where it was made, personally I would avoid a "Made in China" bike, but  likewise I would not be hesitant to purchase a 'Made in Taiwan" bike, they do not seem to have the poor quality issues found in the bikes made in China.

Amanda from New Orleans asks, "Matt, how come the video from my Olympus E-PL1 sucks compared to the video Olympus shot with their E-PL1 to make the commercial for the camera? Should I return it and get a Panasonic?"

Great question Amanda.  The commercial that Olympus made for the E-PL1 using the E-PL1 is very impressive indeed. Now, when you shoot your video, do you usually have about six assistants with you, a sound man, a focus puller, a few folks handling the lighting, a dolly, a post production crew, and about $5,000.00 in editing software?  Well if not, don't worry, you can get very good video from your Olympus, or any other dslr, or micro 4/3rds camera, but it takes practice and you need to know the limitations.  Keep in mind that the really good videos you see on You Tube made with these types of cameras are made by skilled photographers adept in video and post production.  Keep your Olympus, and with a little practice and patience you will get good results. And get a tripod.

Got a question about something? Just ask me.

My recommended cycling Shoe

I have been looking for a good cycling shoe, one that fits my criteria, and I think I finally found a keeper. First off, here is a list of musts that I was looking for in a pair of shoes for my bike riding-

1.  They could not be cycling shoes.
2.  They could not be so costly as to have to worry about some thug swiping them, especially while you
     are wearing them.
3.  No Velcro
4.  No glow in the dark, pump to fit, ass tone while walking, iPod holder garbage.
5.  And most importantly, whatever destination I am riding to, the Pub, grocery store, job interview, I
     can hop right off the bike and know that I am properly attired.

The Skechers Klone, about $44.00.








 

Hurry Up Spring!

Dutch Bikes and Harley Davidsons

I'm not a big motorcycle guy, but I do have a few friends that ride Harley Davidson motorcycles. Not your hard core tatted biker, Hell's Angels guys, more like dentist, accountant, Rotary Club guys. I had a Sportster 1000 about ten years ago that I bought used, the only good thing about it was it would shoot flames out of the exhaust every time I attempted to start it.  One day it died in Buckhead, an enclave of Atlanta, and I got off it and just left it there on the side of the road with the key in it. Whoever ripped it off, I guarantee they didn't ride it away.  Pushed, maybe, but no way they got it started.


Dutch bicycle owners and Harley Davidson motorcycle owners have a common thread, and that is they love to "trick" out their rides, accessorize if you will.  The bicycle people will do it more out of needs, say a basket for carrying stuff, or panniers for a change of clothes for the commuters. The Harley folks do it strictly for looks, the skull and bones gas cap, the LED lighted oil dipstick($149.99 plus shipping), things you don't really need.  What is common between the two camps, is the wide array of accessories that are available, both through the manufacturer and through after market vendors. If you are going to add things to your ride, might as well make it look good.  But the real mystery about the whole thing is, Harley Riders strive for that Rebel, I'm Different aura, but they tend to all wear the same type of clothing and buy the same type of accessories,  think chrome, where as the Dutch bicycle riders are more of a common shared bunch, yet you will hardly ever see two tricked out bicycles that look the same. Go figure.

Margarita from West Palm Beach, Florida by way of Moscow, took delivery of he Gazelle Toer Populair last week and couldn't leave well enough alone, not only does it look terrific, but you won't see another bike like hers cruising down the boulevard.  

Zhang Jingming's Lucky Day

Zhang Jingming works at the Dahon Bicycle factory in Shenzhen, China assembling bicycle seats.  He was recently given a raise from $1.32 to $1.45 for every bike seat he produces. He works forty five hours per week, and the more seats he can churn out , the more money he will make.  Since his raise in August he has seen his monthly pay increase to $263.00. Yes, that is monthly.  Like most mass produced goods manufactured in China, it is not about quality but of speed.  What would motivate Zhang to assemble a bike seat and make sure it was properly made, bolts tightened, cover secured, etc?, well nothing.  That would take time and that would cost Zhang lost wages.  I don't think he really cares, or his plant manager, if you or your son or daughter wreck their bike due to a seat malfunction.  But the really scary part is, in this same factory under the same wage structure, workers are assembling rims, handlebars, brake components, and finally assembling the bike itself.  As a matter of fact,  about 90% of bicycles sold here in  America are made this way in China, Taiwan, or Japan.  Next time you ride your bike take a look at where it was made.  If your bike has a sticker that says "Assembled in the USA" that just means that certain components were not installed in China, but left off to be installed in the US in order to legally claim that the bike was "assembled" in the US.  Like maybe the kick stand and that sticker that says "Assembled in the US."

Bicycles as Art

I was riding a Gazelle Toer Populair the other day and pulled into a small country store and gas station in Buford, Georgia called "Pop's Place."  This is not your typical Kwiki Mart kind of place, this is the kind of place that sells live bait, used tires, pickled eggs, you name it, there is even a live goat tied to the propane refill tank.  I stop by there at least twice a week to see what how the tomatoes look, grab a beer, or just see what Pop got in on trade. Sometimes it is stuff like used shoes, old farm equipment, he even has a wooden leg in there he will sell you.  Matter a fact, he will sell anything in his store, including his store, but he won't sell the goat.  And everything has the same price tag, which means there are no price tags, you have to ask Pop how much and you always get the same answer, "How much you give for it today?"  That's pretty much all I have ever heard him say in the ten years I have been going there. So anyway on this particular day I bought some boiled peanuts and as I was at the checkout counter Picket was ringing me up (I think they call her Picket because she has no front teeth, may even be Pop's daughter for all I know), and Pop is headed out front to sit in his rocker and eat lunch. I know it's his lunch time because I have witnessed this ritual at least fifty times, Pop grabs a loaf of white bread,  couple of tomatoes, a jar of Duke's mayonnaise, and a bottle Texas Pete and sits out front and eats tomato sandwiches. So I'm headed out and get on my bike and for the first time in over a decade Pop says something to me. "Dang pretty bike."  Icebreaker! So I look at him and say "How much you give for it today?''  He says if he had the money he'd give me a twenty dollar bill for it but he would not give me a ride home. Wanting to finally initiate a conversation, I tell him that I am in the bicycle business and this bike sells for just under $1,400.00, which was probably not a good way to start a mutual friendship. He looks at me and says, and I will try to quote here, "If you're gonna come in here all drunk and crazy, then don't come in here no more." 

 So I don't think Pop would be too keen on what has to be some of the most beautiful bikes being built anywhere today, Vanilla Bicycles. They are hand made in Portland, Oregon by Sacha White and are unique and made for individual customer requests.  Oh, and there is a five year waiting list. And there is a reason for that, because the bikes truly are stunning, enough so as to make Pop want to get in line for one. http://vanillabicycles.com/