Local bike business burns

Nimble, a local bike business that builds high-performance, low-weight wheels caught on fire and burned for several hours yesterday afternoon. The cause of the fire was believed to be an electrical malfunction. It took so long to put out due to the specialized/hazardous materials that are needed in composite/carbon fiber wheel building. Here's the full article:

http://www.kvue.com/news/local/stories/092308kvuefire-bkm.a6f066a7.html

One good thing to read is that the owner of the business says he plans to re-build. It's really awesome how many bike businesses are sustained in the Austin area. Not just shops but custom frame fabricators, garage mechanics to the stars, custom crazy light as hell wheel builders, international mail-order BMX part warehouses, monster cruiser creators, all sorts of stuff.

Recently a study was done in Portland, Oregon (read the results) that says the economic impact of bicycle-related businesses in that city is worth $90 million. I know we're not there yet but I wonder what a similar study would say about our fair Austin? In the last paragraph I only listed a couple of the businesses I could think of off the top of my head but I know there are more out there, all catering to a rapidly expanding market base.

I've looked into the future and in that future there will be MORE people on bikes, not LESS. Until they design a vehicle that runs on the hot air of blustery politicians I think they're doomed in the race for fuel generated by decrepit dinosaurs of a bygone era, no matter where they drill. And that future's so bright, I gotta wear shades.