Here is a picture of the new SRAM APEX group slated to arrive in stores October 2010. No other details are available except that it will directly compete with Shimano 105.
About a year ago, a few friends from work decided that we should try out a restaurantthat is on the other side of the river from our office building.To cross the river, you can drive, walk, hop on a water taxi, or ride the monorail.Having never ridden the monorail before, I convinced everyone to try it with me.It was an interesting experience to say the least.What we found out was that most people on the monorail are people with no place to go.They are on the monorail because you can get on for 25 cents and ride in the air conditioning all day.
This is where it gets interesting: A guy got on at one of the stops pushing what looked to be a new low end Mongoose bicycle.Being a bike nut, I had to comment on his new purchase.I said, “Nice bike, is it new?”To which he replied, “Just bought it yesterday.I got the bike, and these shoes, and it took my whole paycheck to buy them.”He continued to say, “I am supposed to pay $200 in child support, but I had to have new slip-proof shoes for my new job at a restaurant, and I can’t get to work without the bike.”The monorail man had to make hard decision when deciding what to do with his paycheck.Should he pay child support with his paycheck, or buy the things he needed to ensure that he could pay child support in the future.Did he make the right decision by buying the bike and shoes?I don’t know.He was trying to do the right thing, so I guess he made the right decision.I gave the him a quarter to air up his tires at a gas station and wished him luck.This experience helped me realize something.There are people out there that are trying to do the right thing for their families, but they can’t make ends meet for lack of transportation.Many large cities don’t have great bus systems, subway systems, or other affordable transportation options.A lot of times the jobs in walking distance aren’t the kind of jobs that pay well.If people had a reliable way to get to work or the community college, maybe their opportunities in life would open up.
Along comes Pepsi: Pepsi had a smart idea this year.Why not take money that is normally spent on Super Bowl ads and give it to Americans to make life better in their local communities?They announced that they would start the Pepsi Refresh project.Up to 1000 ideas would be accepted each month to enter a contest to grab part of $1.3 million in monthly grant dollars.My idea to give bikes to those who need transportation seemed like the perfect idea for a contest like this, so I entered it.If my idea is in the top 10 vote getters in its category, I will receive $25,000 from Pepsi to give bikes, locks, helmets, pumps, and tool kits to people just like the guy I met on the monorail.Above and beyond the merchandise, the chosen recipients will be trained in bicycle maintenance, so that they won’t discard the bike after the tires go flat, or a chain falls off.Please help make this possible for those who are in need.Voting is open now, and goes through the end of February.You can vote once per day for every email address that you have.
