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Hello blogosphere/cyclists/family members who don’t care about bikes really but have to read this out of familial duty (hey mom!)/and most importantly soon to be Panda Bike Owners. My name is Mark and I am one of the three guys that founded Panda Bikes. I thought I ought to introduce myself before writing about our bikes. I have been a bike enthusiast for about as long as I can remember. I get it from my Dad, who used to take me out for rides on the back of his Le Jeune in a bike seat with a bell but no helmet. In retrospect I can’t believe my mom let him do that. In the years since, I have continued to ride as much as possible and have damaged various body parts to prove it. Today, my fiance and I live in DC and keep six bikes around the apartment (in accordance with my dearly held belief that the optimum number of bikes =n+1 whereas n is the number of bikes you currently own).

Over the coming weeks I’ll be writing about different aspects of The One and The Natural. Today,The Natural and coaster brakes! Almost anyone reading this will remember back in the day when they first learned how to ride a bike (in my case a black “bmx” bike), you could coast but if put any back pressure on the peddles it acted as a brake. You could make really long skid marks by going fast and locking up the back wheel. After a while, I got a new bike that had caliper brakes and quit thinking about coaster brakes. When we started conceptualizing The Natural, I got to thinking about coaster brakes and did some research. It turns out that the coaster brake is near ideal for a commuter bike. It is very nearly maintenance free, it works in all weather conditions, and the lack of cables make the bike look cool.

http://www.pandabicycles.com/

Introducing Panda’s first bicycles – The One and The Natural.  Each bike is a sleek synthesis of design simplicity and an aesthetically pleasing emphases of organic material. As a quickly replenishing organic material, which sequesters carbon from the atmosphere, bamboo is more environmentally sustainable than alternatives. Bamboo isn’t only a better choice in terms of environmental sustainability, however. It also provides unique performance advantages over traditional materials. Bamboo can be stronger than steel and due to its unique vibration-dampening properties, offers a smoother, more comfortable ride than carbon or aluminum. The One is modeled after a comfortable, yet aggressive cyclo-cross geometry, enabling the bike to withstand the physical forces of even the most rugged urban commutes. Each bike features long sleek stretches of exposed bamboo, the utility and durability of a Shimano 3-speed internal hub, and a stylish comfortable ride like no other. These Bikes are simple, sleek and durable – perfect for the urban commuter.