Brief history of recumbent bikes

This just about sums it up:

History of recumbent bikes

The question is this: when will you give one a try? The surprise to many is that recumbent bikes are NOT just for old people, or the handicapped, or anything like that. They are just another bike - and one that will likely allow you to be faster and WAY more comfortable than your "safety bike" frame. Period. Anyone who argues this has simply not tried one.

And for those out there who are "reaching the age" where riding your DF is just getting too difficult - for your neck, ass, balls, wrists, back, shoulders, or whatever - what are you willing to do? Try a recumbent? Give up cycling forever? All of us who ride will face these questions eventually.

Birth of a new venture

Here in 2014, it is time to reactivate the blog, and combine it with the birth of a new venture.

Rose City Recumbent Cycles is now open and offering up the Cruzbike! We are offering up sales and service of this awesome bike - including custom builds of the Silvio 2.0 and the RAAM winning Vendetta.

If you want to go fast - and want to do so in style and in comfort - this is the ticket. We are the newest distributor and the only carrier of Cruzbike in the PNW.

Please visit us online and contact for us for more information on these awesome bikes!

Robert

Cruzbike Vendetta - custom build - And it is as fast as it looks.

What is "wellness" anyway?

This is something that I have had to ask myself as of late. What is "all this about" as I wake every day.

The word "wellness" is being tossed all around lately. Everything is about wellness. But what is it? Money? Fitness? Happiness in your work? Solid friendships? Helping others?

Well it is all of the above. I have found, though CrossFit, Melaleuca, and now working with Coventry Cycle Works that real wellness is a recipie that has several ingredients.

With Coventry, I get to work with recumbent bicycles. This makes me very happy. But better yet, since it is a "different" type of bike shop, we get the occasional odd request. Recently a man brought a converted handcycle for his handicapped daughter. It needs new brakes and an overall tune up. It is basically now a wheel chair that he can push and she can steer. Knowing I can help these folks makes me happy.

With CrossFit I get to see people do things they did not think possible when they first show up. When a CrossFitter PR's a lift, even by only a few pounds and even if that weight is small compared to the firebreathers - it is amazing to see the sense of accomplishment wash over them.

And with Melaleuca, I get to help people save money, get healthier greener products, and possibly start a business of their own and start the road to a better savings or even to replace their income. This third leg for me has made all my "work" I do complete and I LOVE WHAT I DO! If you are wondering about this company and how it can only ADD to your wellness - please contact me!

It does not get much better. I have been though a lot of careers where I did not have that good mix of ingredients that made me feel the "wellness" vibe.

I am getting there... YOU can get there too. It only takes that first few steps!

Courtesy of: This Ad Is From the Melaleuca Vitality for Life Magazine

Time to switch stores!

Use this area to offer a short preview of your email's content. Melaleuca March 2013! Melaleuca March - Mothers Day and SPRING Prep! Mothers day specials are ON at the Melaleuca Website. For this month, check them out and get that shopping DONE along with your regular monthly order! Spring is also fast approaching and that means time to get ready for the sun. Get a jump on the sun - try out the Melaluca sunscreen! Product Focus: Sunshades 30 SPF Sunscreen It is absolutely critical to use sunscreen in the summer to prevent sunburn, but do you know what is IN the sunscreen you put on your body? DONT take chances with store bought sunscreen that is full of harmful chemicals. Give Melaleuca Sunshades a try - order this month and be ready for the sunshine! This sunscreen is a GREAT price compared to the store bought brands, better for your skin, and worth 7 product points! MARCH FEATURES $1 ENROLLMENTS through the 20th! If you know someone who would benefit from Melaleuca products, or who would like to potentially earn some extra money, refer them and I can get them started NOW! By doing so, you will start buildng your own Melaleuca business and you will be helping them save (and possibly make) money and use healthier products! At Melaleuca, we Help People Reach Their Goals!

Melaleuca? What is that?

One of the first things I hear when making an introduction to this great company is:

"Melaleuca? Never heard of it..."

Part of that is because there is not a lot of bad news to tell. The company is sound and has great products. Their consumer direct marketing method however has had people them leap to this very wrong conclusion:

"Ah... I see its like Amway..."

NO. Not even close. Consumer Direct Marketing. I tell the story and introduce people to this company. If they want to become members I help facilitate that - and then they are on their own. I do not "sell products" to people. I endorse a company that I feel is well rounded and worthy of telling others about. Indeed it is. If you are not a Melaleuca customer there are a ton of benefits - contact me or visit my business homepage for information!


Life and Home Solutions

I came across a great blog that really summarizes the company and these very natural comparisons people try to make:

Reposted from:
http://melvessells.blogspot.com/2011/09/comparison-of-amwayquixtar-and.html

"Written by Valli Morgan, Melaleuca Marketing Executive and 2 time former Amway Distributor 
Taken from her personal experience with both companies Quixtar is Amway.. due to the trouble they got into they changed their name apparently to Quixtar!!

Melaleuca-Different From Amway

Let’s look at ten points and compare Melaleuca with Amway. This comparison comes up quite often as a concern to many people. It’s nice to be able to address this issue and have the confidence that Melaleuca comes out on top.

1. Company Track Record 
Amway- Amway has been around for 50 years so obviously they have a track record so we’ll give this to them.

Melaleuca- Melaleuca is a 18 (now 25) year old company with a A1 financial rating. We have excellent credentials with the Better Business Bureau. Our president and CEO, Frank Vandersloot, is the Vice Regional Chairman on our US Chamber of Commerce and was recently named Entrepreneur of the Year by CNN, Nasdaq and USA Today.

2. Financially Sound 
Amway- We can give this to Amway, also. They are a financially sound company.

Melaleuca- We are also financially sound as stated above.

3. Strong Management 
Amway- Since Amway has been around so long we can assume that they have good, strong management.

Melaleuca- Melaleuca has been featured in the Inc. 500 magazine five years in a row (Microsoft was featured three years in a row) as one of America’s fastest growing, privately held companies. This would make Melaleuca’s management team strong, also.

4. Unique Consumable Products 
Amway- Amway does have lots of consumable products but only 5% of them are unique. Actually, Amway buys from other companies and then packages the product in Amway bottles.

Melaleuca- All of Melaleuca’s products are consumable and unique to the company. They have patents or patents pending on all their products. What they don’t spend in advertising they spend in scientifically developing the best products for your home and personal use. They call it “the best of science and nature.” Melaleuca will not release a product until it is well-documented and researched.

5. Competitively Priced 
Amway-This is another area where Amway fails. As stated above, Amway buys many of their products from a middle man and thus has to mark up everything to the consumer to make a profit. You can buy most of their products just off the grocery store shelf for a lot cheaper.

Melaleuca- Melaleuca prices are very competitive to grocery store prices. We beat just about all prices on name brand products. This was a goal of Frank Vandersloot’s when he started the company. He wanted to make sure that anyone could afford safer products for their homes.

6. Low Personal Production Requirement 
Amway- This is another failure for Amway and one of the biggest. To be an Amway distributor (remember that word) you must order $250 a month of product to try and sell to others. That’s where the word distributor comes to play. You must buy wholesale and sell retail to anyone you can to get anywhere with Amway

Melaleuca- We are so different from Amway in this category. In Melaleuca, you order for you and your family alone. The requirement is only about $60 a month, something that you’re doing already at the grocery store. With Melaleuca, you just switch stores. We DO NOT buy wholesale to sell to others retail. We are not distributors. We are all just customers and have the privilege of buying wholesale for our families every single month. This can also include the privilege of earning a check from Melaleuca every month.

7. High Reorder Rate 
Amway- The reorder rate for Amway is 12% every month. Only 12% of the people that you have sold these products to will buy them the next month and months after that. And then you have to keep on chasing these people to get them to order again. Talk about lost friends

Melaleuca- The reorder rate for Melaleuca is a whopping 95%. Ninety-five percent of the people that ordered Melaleuca this month will order it next month. Once you set up a customer account with Melaleuca the company takes care of the rest and the customer orders and pays the company for their products. No chasing anyone.

8. Low Attrition Rate 
Amway- The attrition rate in Amway is 90%. That means that 9 out of 10 people will quit Amway and you will spend 90% of your time trying to replace those people.

Melaleuca- The attrition rate for Melaleuca is 7%. This is almost unheard of for a company. Customers are totally satisfied with Melaleuca products and the Melaleuca business.

9. Low Initial Investment 
Amway- The initial investment for Amway is $50 but, and that’s a big but, the starter pack is $200.

Melaleuca- Becoming a customer of Melaleuca is a $29 decision. Period.   You can order a Value or Career Pack to help your business, but they are not required.

10. No Risk 
Amway- There’s quite a few risks in Amway. One is just the risk of wasting your time. The majority of people in Amway seem to never make money and many lose money. The only way to really make the big bucks in Amway is to sell tapes, books, do seminars and conferences. Any training with Amway will cost you. And, of course, you run the risk of losing friends if they won’t buy your product. There are, also, quotas every month that you need to meet.

Melaleuca- There is no risk. If you are not satisfied with the products you will receive 100% of your money back. There is a 120 day money back guarantee on the business. If you are not satisfied with the business and you just don’t think that it will work for you, Melaleuca will refund your $29 no questions asked. They only want satisfied customers. All training with Melaleuca is free. You build your business the way you are comfortable with and at your own pace. There are no quotas every month to meet.

These are just a few ways that Melaleuca differs from Amway. We are trademarked as Consumer Direct Marketing. Melaleuca is a catalog company that pays residual income to those that refer others to the company.

The Bottom Line No selling products
No inventory
No risk - no one gets burned
Safe, healthy North American-made products for my family
No added expense - I already buy these products from some store
I’m paid to tell others
I am the boss, and I am responsible for my own work"

New Year, New Resolutions, and TOTAL WELLNESS!

WOW. It is 2013 and as I look back on the last half of 2012 I am blindsided as to where it actually went. I have been absent from the blog for a while - other things get in the way and "real life" takes over. But a new year brings with it new opportunities and I am ready to go at it fresh!

I am dubbing 2013 as a "year of total wellness" for me. I am taking this beyond just my cycling by starting a new business that focuses on actual TOTAL wellness. Throw in coaching CrossFit and for the first time in a long while the feeling of "doing what you love" is finally arriving at my door.

My new business is an opportunity for all. If you are interested in YOUR total wellness I implore you to visit my new website:

www.lifeandhomesolutions.com/robert

Contact me if you are interested in hearing what more there is to be gained by embracing total wellness! When I say TOTAL WELLNESS I am really speaking about four aspects: Personal Wellness, Physical Wellness, Financial Wellness, and Environmental Wellness. 

• To up my game for personal wellness with this I am resolving to network more, talk to more people, commit to family time, and just have a bright outlook on life. It is time to up the game on the personal wellness aspect!

• For physical wellness the resolution is to RIDE more, CROSSFIT more and just keep a steady pace to that training. I am also hoping for a return with a vengeance to Cycle Oregon goodness. Stay tuned. 2013 here I come for physical wellness.

• Financial wellness. Who DOESN'T want this? Well, my new business is going to bring me financial wellness. I am resolving in 2013 to make it happen and will not be deterred by naysayers or party-poopers. Do you want to be a part of this and gain financial wellness? Visit my new site and get hold of me and I can help you.

• As always, I am concerned about the environment. For myself and for my children. A renewed commitment to the environment goes without saying. In 2013 I am taking it to a new level.

So, here is to a renewed commitment and promise to make 2013 the best year yet!

Downtube Folder Upgrade - DEPLOY!

OK, so a set of road bars hanging around beckon... a set of brifters and the SRAM X9 rear DR go up for sale fetching a decent amount to get new levers, etc... a rummage through the parts bin nets some tape and a stem... BOOOOM!

Upgradeitis - a bad disease to be sure for cyclists. This latest bout of upgrade fever netted a conversion to road bars for the Downtube 9FS, and it's pure awesome. With a single bar end for the rear shifting, indexes are crisp and silent friction mode is pure bliss. Multiple grip points are great over the flat bar that came off the bike.

To match with the bar ends a Shimano rear DR was in order, so on went an Alivo M430. Not a very pricey unit, but it does the job exactly as it is supposed to and is a nice build. Not sure there is a reason to go fancier in this department.

For stopping power and hoods for the 'ol hands a set of Tektro RL520's went on the front. These match up great with the Avid disc brakes and have awesome feel. For added stopping in the urban traffic a set of Tektro RL720 cross levers complete the package.

Pop in a Sprintech drop bar mirror - which is "OK" in my opinion but gets the job done relatively well, and the hands are very happy.