About us
...ride on what you love, sell in which you believe
...ride on what you love, sell in which you believe
RANS Bicycles - The owner of www.RansBikes.com shares an
equal passion for their line of crank forward models, short and long
wheel base recumbents, and tandems.
Recumbents and crank forward bikes offer unparalleled levels of
comfort, without sacrificing much else. One test ride, and you will
see why these niche bikes are fast becoming the choice of many
life long cyclist, worldwide.
There are several links that may interest you in the Resources
section. RANS has recently launched www.CrankForward.com to
showcase this new line of bikes. We also stock most of the
popular accessories to extend the capabilities of these fun bikes.
Park your car and try one of the "CF's" soon.
When shopping for a recumbent or crank forward bicycle there is a
learning process to go through since there is such a variety of
styles to choose from. We like to meet with our customers on an
individual basis. This allows us to focus on your specific needs,
and for the opportunity to take you an real demo ride, not just in the
parking lot or around the block. Click on our Demo Experiences for
more info.
Once you've had to chance to demo ride and have decided on
which model suits you best, we make any final preparations and
install any additional accessories and deliver your new bike to your
home or workplace. This gives us one final opportunity to go
through the features and operations of the bike, and make any final
adjustments with regards to fitting and setup.
We are anxious to earn your business, and are passionate about
the products we offer.
Here is an article published in the Contra Costa Times
Posted on Thu, Nov. 23, 2006
Avid bicyclist wheels, deals bikes that promote comfort
Recumbent bikes offer pedal-forward design, seats that tilt back,
recline
By Rowena Coetsee
STAFF WRITER
BRENTWOOD - At first glance the tangerine-colored bicycle with the
backward sloping crossbar resembles a 1950s-era cruiser.
But look a little closer.
It lacks the traditional balloon tires, weighs less, has many more
than one gear, and riders don't brake by pedaling backward.
Hop on, says Nanda Holz, who began distributing for a
Kansas-based bicycle manufacturer 15 months ago.
His visitor leans back in the seat that easily accommodates even
ample derrieres and sends the recumbent bicycle skimming over
the blacktop.
A quick spin around the storage unit where the Brentwood bike
distributor does business conveys more than any explanation of
physics.
Whoo-whee! The widely spaced wheels make for an unequivocally
smoother ride than that of conventional bike.
And that's just one difference of the decidedly unconventional
bicycles that the 32-year-old mechanical engineer sells when he's
not designing telecommunications equipment.
Wanting to start a business on the side, Holz tapped into his
enjoyment of two-wheeled machines.
Although he had been an avid motorcyclist for years, his interest in
the hobby waned after a wipe-out at the bottom of the Sunol Grade
four years ago.
But Holz also was a avid bicyclist and he needed a comfortable
model to cope with the aches and pains he had after the accident.
Upon discovering that recumbent bicycles fit the bill, Holz bought
four in short order.
These days he's one of only two dealerships to his knowledge in
East County that sell recumbent bicycles.
Sales of this design account for a mere sliver of the national
market: The approximately 60,000 models that sold in 2005
comprised about 2 percent of all bicycle sales, according to
Wisconsin industry consultant Jay Townley, who surveys the
market annually.
Nonetheless, he says this niche product gradually is becoming
more popular as the country's senior population continues to grow.
What's the connection?
Consider what recumbent bicycles do for the body, Townley said.
For starters, the seats tilt back and include a back rest.
Instead of being directly under the feet, the crank is positioned so
far forward that the rider's legs are parallel to the ground when fully
extended.
And because riders are leaning back instead of hunched over the
handlebars, they not only have a better view of the road but avoid
straining their neck to look forward.
The position also significantly reduces the pressure that those on
road bikes exert on their wrists.
"It's like doing a constant push-up," Holz said. "It's not a real
comfortable position to be in for any length of time."
The bicycle's geometry also alleviates stress on joints in the lower
body because riders aren't bringing their entire weight to bear on
their knees and ankles when they push down on the pedals.
In addition, the seat on a recumbent bicycle is cushioned and
much wider than that of a typical racing bike.
Distributing someone's weight over a larger area translates into a
more comfortable ride, Holz said, and that, in turn, enables him or
her to ride farther.
"Think of an average 200-pound male and put him on the surface of
a (racing bike) seat -- it's going to hurt, there's no way of getting
around it," he said.
And Baby Boomers are even more susceptible to the punishment
road bikes can deliver, Townley said.
But aging adults who happen to be bike enthusiasts also tend to
be more affluent than the general population and can afford
recumbent bicycle prices, Townley said.
Those that Holz sells retail from $995 all the way up to $5,550 --
and more if they're tandems.
His recumbents tend to draw curious stares from adults and
enthusiastic reactions from children.
"They're always the first ones to give you a thumbs-up," Holz said.
"It's cool, it's sick, it's bad. They totally get it. They're being
open-minded."
The aerodynamic design gives riders a big edge in races, even
against serious road warriors.
"You can smoke 'em on the flats," Holz said. "I can play with these
guys that ride every weekend and have all the spandex -- the Lance
wannabees -- and I can put the hurt on them."
And that's what Baby Boomers like --being able to outpace younger
cyclists without the pain, said Townley, a 63-year-old recumbent
bicycle owner.
"I don't have to ride the training distances that I did when I was
younger ... but I can go just as fast or faster than I did on my road
bike," he said.
Less obviously different are the hybrids, so-called "crank-forward"
models that incorporate aspects of both the recumbent and
traditional bicycle design.
The crank-forward models comprise about 80 percent of his
inventory because they afford advantages the recumbents don't:
They are easier to pedal up hills, weigh around 4 to 5 pounds less,
are shorter and thus easier to store or put on a bike rack, and are
safer in traffic because the rider is seated higher.
Crank-forwards also are far less expensive than their recumbent
cousins.
Apart from establishing a presence on the Internet and wearing a
jersey with the company logo when he goes on bike rides, Holz
puts little effort into marketing his product.
He prefers to wait for customers to come to him -- and they're
starting to.
So far Holz has sold 47 bikes, including his first overseas deal
earlier this year to a man in Australia.
"If you have something people want you shouldn't have to sell it.
You're just the pipeline, making it available," he said.
Reach Rowena Coetsee at 925-779-7141 or
rcoetsee@cctimes.com.
12.18.06 - Got a brief interview with SmartMoney.com
equal passion for their line of crank forward models, short and long
wheel base recumbents, and tandems.
Recumbents and crank forward bikes offer unparalleled levels of
comfort, without sacrificing much else. One test ride, and you will
see why these niche bikes are fast becoming the choice of many
life long cyclist, worldwide.
There are several links that may interest you in the Resources
section. RANS has recently launched www.CrankForward.com to
showcase this new line of bikes. We also stock most of the
popular accessories to extend the capabilities of these fun bikes.
Park your car and try one of the "CF's" soon.
When shopping for a recumbent or crank forward bicycle there is a
learning process to go through since there is such a variety of
styles to choose from. We like to meet with our customers on an
individual basis. This allows us to focus on your specific needs,
and for the opportunity to take you an real demo ride, not just in the
parking lot or around the block. Click on our Demo Experiences for
more info.
Once you've had to chance to demo ride and have decided on
which model suits you best, we make any final preparations and
install any additional accessories and deliver your new bike to your
home or workplace. This gives us one final opportunity to go
through the features and operations of the bike, and make any final
adjustments with regards to fitting and setup.
We are anxious to earn your business, and are passionate about
the products we offer.
Here is an article published in the Contra Costa Times
Posted on Thu, Nov. 23, 2006
Avid bicyclist wheels, deals bikes that promote comfort
Recumbent bikes offer pedal-forward design, seats that tilt back,
recline
By Rowena Coetsee
STAFF WRITER
BRENTWOOD - At first glance the tangerine-colored bicycle with the
backward sloping crossbar resembles a 1950s-era cruiser.
But look a little closer.
It lacks the traditional balloon tires, weighs less, has many more
than one gear, and riders don't brake by pedaling backward.
Hop on, says Nanda Holz, who began distributing for a
Kansas-based bicycle manufacturer 15 months ago.
His visitor leans back in the seat that easily accommodates even
ample derrieres and sends the recumbent bicycle skimming over
the blacktop.
A quick spin around the storage unit where the Brentwood bike
distributor does business conveys more than any explanation of
physics.
Whoo-whee! The widely spaced wheels make for an unequivocally
smoother ride than that of conventional bike.
And that's just one difference of the decidedly unconventional
bicycles that the 32-year-old mechanical engineer sells when he's
not designing telecommunications equipment.
Wanting to start a business on the side, Holz tapped into his
enjoyment of two-wheeled machines.
Although he had been an avid motorcyclist for years, his interest in
the hobby waned after a wipe-out at the bottom of the Sunol Grade
four years ago.
But Holz also was a avid bicyclist and he needed a comfortable
model to cope with the aches and pains he had after the accident.
Upon discovering that recumbent bicycles fit the bill, Holz bought
four in short order.
These days he's one of only two dealerships to his knowledge in
East County that sell recumbent bicycles.
Sales of this design account for a mere sliver of the national
market: The approximately 60,000 models that sold in 2005
comprised about 2 percent of all bicycle sales, according to
Wisconsin industry consultant Jay Townley, who surveys the
market annually.
Nonetheless, he says this niche product gradually is becoming
more popular as the country's senior population continues to grow.
What's the connection?
Consider what recumbent bicycles do for the body, Townley said.
For starters, the seats tilt back and include a back rest.
Instead of being directly under the feet, the crank is positioned so
far forward that the rider's legs are parallel to the ground when fully
extended.
And because riders are leaning back instead of hunched over the
handlebars, they not only have a better view of the road but avoid
straining their neck to look forward.
The position also significantly reduces the pressure that those on
road bikes exert on their wrists.
"It's like doing a constant push-up," Holz said. "It's not a real
comfortable position to be in for any length of time."
The bicycle's geometry also alleviates stress on joints in the lower
body because riders aren't bringing their entire weight to bear on
their knees and ankles when they push down on the pedals.
In addition, the seat on a recumbent bicycle is cushioned and
much wider than that of a typical racing bike.
Distributing someone's weight over a larger area translates into a
more comfortable ride, Holz said, and that, in turn, enables him or
her to ride farther.
"Think of an average 200-pound male and put him on the surface of
a (racing bike) seat -- it's going to hurt, there's no way of getting
around it," he said.
And Baby Boomers are even more susceptible to the punishment
road bikes can deliver, Townley said.
But aging adults who happen to be bike enthusiasts also tend to
be more affluent than the general population and can afford
recumbent bicycle prices, Townley said.
Those that Holz sells retail from $995 all the way up to $5,550 --
and more if they're tandems.
His recumbents tend to draw curious stares from adults and
enthusiastic reactions from children.
"They're always the first ones to give you a thumbs-up," Holz said.
"It's cool, it's sick, it's bad. They totally get it. They're being
open-minded."
The aerodynamic design gives riders a big edge in races, even
against serious road warriors.
"You can smoke 'em on the flats," Holz said. "I can play with these
guys that ride every weekend and have all the spandex -- the Lance
wannabees -- and I can put the hurt on them."
And that's what Baby Boomers like --being able to outpace younger
cyclists without the pain, said Townley, a 63-year-old recumbent
bicycle owner.
"I don't have to ride the training distances that I did when I was
younger ... but I can go just as fast or faster than I did on my road
bike," he said.
Less obviously different are the hybrids, so-called "crank-forward"
models that incorporate aspects of both the recumbent and
traditional bicycle design.
The crank-forward models comprise about 80 percent of his
inventory because they afford advantages the recumbents don't:
They are easier to pedal up hills, weigh around 4 to 5 pounds less,
are shorter and thus easier to store or put on a bike rack, and are
safer in traffic because the rider is seated higher.
Crank-forwards also are far less expensive than their recumbent
cousins.
Apart from establishing a presence on the Internet and wearing a
jersey with the company logo when he goes on bike rides, Holz
puts little effort into marketing his product.
He prefers to wait for customers to come to him -- and they're
starting to.
So far Holz has sold 47 bikes, including his first overseas deal
earlier this year to a man in Australia.
"If you have something people want you shouldn't have to sell it.
You're just the pipeline, making it available," he said.
Reach Rowena Coetsee at 925-779-7141 or
rcoetsee@cctimes.com.
12.18.06 - Got a brief interview with SmartMoney.com
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Spin Cyclz is a part-time venture, that I run in the evenings and host demo's on weekends by
appointment. I can usually respond to phone calls during the day if you have some questions,
but email is the preferred stealth method of communication during work hours.
Spin Cyclz is not a traditional bike shop, and thus is run with an efficient low overhead
business model out of Petaluma Storage. The traditional brick and martyr bike shop
approach requires a much bigger financial and emotional commitment and takes a bit of fun
out of the endeavour, and leaves less time to ride.
The Spin Shed is right on the corner of Lakeville Hwy 116, cross street Casa Grande, 3 traffic
lights down Lakeville on the right hand side. The address is 29 Casa Granda, Petaluma CA
94954, but most Yahoo maps will take you into a residential neighborhood just to the east, but
Petaluma Storage is on the west side of 116, with a gas station kitty corner across the street.
If I know what you are driving I can inform the front desk before you arrive so they can buzz you
in the gate, and I am just on the left as you enter.
Here is a link to the Demo form which can allow be found at the top center of the home page.
Look forward to meeting you.
Regards,
~Nanda Holz
925.301.7043
www.spincyclz.com
onyourleft@spincyclz.com
...our service revolves around you
