Phoenix Rises From Neighbor’s Garage

Today I’m turning Bikejuju over to guest blogger Andrew M, who has a great tale to tell.

My quest for the ubiquitous African bicycle began while I was spending six months working in Western Kenya in a small rural village.  The predominate vehicle of trade was a black double top tube bicycle of Chinese or Indian make, with rod brakes, usually a reinforced rear rack, heavily modified and repaired through an obviously long life.  As I grew to know the local people and culture more the bike became a symbol to me and I had to have one.

It turns out that one could be purchased locally in Kenya for about $50 US, but getting it home was another issue.  It was hard to fly back with one since I had to make several stops on my way to the states, and shipping turned out to be difficult to arrange from my location, so I gave up.

When I got home about a year ago I regretted not trying harder and I renewed my efforts.  I went of course to various manufacturers websites, but received no response.  I went to “made in China” wholesalers, who arrange exports from Chinese factories to US retailers.  Success! Sort of, just needed to fulfill a minimum order of 500 units.  They were pretty cheap in bulk; perhaps I could make some money on the deal as well?  After some consideration and figures I came to my senses, with the aid of my girlfriend’s advice, and decided against getting into the bicycle import/export business.

More internet searching.  By this time I was spending what can only be described as an unhealthy amount of time searching forums, Chinese websites, craigslist, eBay and pouring over Google search results.  I would be doing something around the house and then I would find myself sitting in front of the computer pursuing my latest lead, with dinner burning on the stove.

Of course I discovered that Flying Pigeon have a following; they are available to order online from a few sources.  However none of those fit my needs.  Not only did I not see any Flying Pigeons in Kenya (though I’m sure they’re around), most of the ones online did not match the type of bike I saw in Kenya.  The African bicycles I saw were almost always double top tube, and never had a full chain guard.  I saw mostly Heroes, Forevers, Avon, and Phoenix.  The Phoenix SPB15 Double Top Tube For Gents, from the Phoenix website, had become my Grail, the unobtainable goal.  I required an unmodified bike, wobbly steel westwoods, questionable rod braking and all.
I appealed to Taiwanese bike shops, to more wholesalers.  My email address was spread far and wide in India and Asia, which was a little scary and hadn’t produced any results.  Local bike shops responded simply “No,” and wanted nothing to do with it.

I began to resign myself to the idea that I would just have to bring one back from Africa or China myself but I had no far reaching trips planned.  Finally this month I made one last appeal.  I posted a wanted ad in the San Francisco Bay area Craigslist, an attempt to reach out to the cycling community in my area.

The next day I woke up with several emails about the Pigeons, but only one email spoke of my elusive Phoenix.  Turned out the writer’s neighbor had one in her garage for almost 30 years, had too many bikes and would probably sell.  And she was not ten minutes from my house.  I had been searching worldwide and here, just down the street, was the object of my desire.  After some phone calls, a visit, and haggling, I found my self the proud owner of a Phoenix.

It is all original and the tires still hold air, for a while.  I took it for a ride and it’s all I imagined.  I float above the crowd on my 28″ wheels, head up, shoulders back and heart open.  I cruise along, pushing my 50 lbs of steel at a stately 8 mph.  30 years in the salt air of in our coastal town has left the seat creaky, frame rusty, brakes out of adjustment and I love it.

________________________________

Thanks Andrew! Phoenix bikes have made a few previous appearances on Bikejuju, this blue one in Axum, Ethiopia is especially pretty.