Director of Customer Relations, Rhoades Car International

David King of central Wyoming isn’t worried about $5 a gallon gas — because he’s been riding a Rhoades Car for the past 13 years!  A few days ago, we received this unsolicited email from David:

“I just thought you might like to know that my single-seat Rhoades Car, which is 13 years old, is still rolling along the highways and byways of central Wyoming. And I, at the age of 72, am still happily pushing its pedals. Thank you for a helluva lotta enjoyment and good health over the years!”

We’re thrilled that David has had 13 years of Rhoades Car enjoyment and wish him many more.  Did you notice that he mentioned “enjoyment and health” in his email?  Not only is he saving money on gas by riding a Rhoades, but he is staying in shape and having a great time!

Funny thing about rising gas prices – as gas prices soar so do sales of Rhoades Cars.  So far in 2012, sales are up over 100%.  Why?  Because riding a Rhoades can be a solution for many people as an alternative means of transportation in order to save money on gas AND get much needed exercise. Add in our 1 hp electric-assist motor option and it becomes a hybrid (pedal power and electric motor combo). That is one of the major reasons we were named Tennessee Green Business Innovator of the Year in 2011.

According to a recent study from the Oil Price Information Service, fuel prices are up 13.6% from a year ago and 76% higher than in December 2008. A FoxNews.com article earlier this week stated, “Americans spent 8.4 percent of their household income on gasoline last year when gas averaged $3.51 a gallon — that’s double the percentage a decade ago.”  No way around it – we’re headed for a big spike in gas prices again in 2012.  It’s time to look for alternatives!

Although the majority of our sales are here in the USA, we have individuals, couples and families all over the world ordering our 4-wheel bikes and many of them are adding our electric-assist motor option.  With gasoline prices climbing dramatically, gas savings is important but family health and overall fitness weigh heavily in the decision too.  So riding a Rhoades is a true win-win-win!  You get gas savings, exercise AND family fun.  After all, we need more Leave it to Beaver and less Virtual Reality in our society.  This is a great way for families to recapture that special time together.

A few weeks ago, Rhoades Car was featured on the Emmy award-winning and #1 locally produced PBS show in the country – Tennessee Crossroads.  They did a great job of showing how we are a Certified Made-in-The-USA product so when you purchase a Rhoades Car, you are supporting American workers. Here’s a link to the 6 ½ minute segment -http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JXN7Rv1Ly-c&feature=plcp&context=C33f14bfUDOEgsToPDskJxOGrtb3kGPRkGT3KHdg-M

So whether you are young or old, married or single, short or tall, overweight or skin and bones, have a small family or a large family, there’s a 1, 2 or 4 seat Rhoades Car 4-wheel bike just for you.  Just ask David King who is in his 13^th year of riding his 1-person Rhoades Car!

For more information about Rhoades Car International, visit www.RhoadesCar.com, call 800-531-2737 or send an email to news@rhoadescar.com.

Rhoades Car is proud to return to the Sustainable Business Summit again in 2012. Last year, we had the honor of winning the “Tennessee Green Business Innovator of the Year” award at this event.

There will be many Rhoades Car models on display, so come on down to the Lipscomb University campus on March 27 & 28 to check them out!

Click here for more details

HENDERSONVILLE, TN — February 7, 2012 — Rhoades Car International, the nation’s leading 4-wheel bicycle manufacturer, was featured on NPT Tennessee Crossroads on January 26 and 29, the most watched and highest rated locally-produced program in the PBS system, according to Nielsen ratings. The segment is available online at http://www.wnpt.org/productions/crossroads/v2/2012/2012_jan.html#episode4.

The main focus of the seven-minute segment was that Rhoades Car is a true “Made in the USA” product with over 80% of its parts manufactured and assembled in the USA, which translates into jobs for Americans.

“We’re really proud of the fact that we use local suppliers that share the same high quality craftsmanship philosophy to produce custom components for all of our 4-wheel “quad” bikes”, noted Bill Pomakoy, president of Rhoades Car, who bought the company in 2010 after the death of its inventor. “David Rhoades was literally a genius when it came to putting things together. He launched Rhoades Car out of his barn in 1991, so it had a very organic start.”

Master Builder Chris Spann, a 12 year veteran at Rhoades Car,  is happy to see the company celebrate its 21^st year in business in 2012. “I knew we had a great product. People love the bikes when they see them. It was very sad when David Rhoades died. It looked hopeless. Then Bill [Pomakoy] came along and saved us.”

“I think David would be thrilled with the strides that we’ve made since his death while keeping true to what he originally designed,” added Beth Baker, Director of Customer Relations.

Rhoades Car International, headquartered in Hendersonville, Tennessee, offers a unique line of 10 residential and 8 industrial four-wheel bicycles that have been sold all over the world. Recent destinations include Germany, The Netherlands and Antigua.

Ken Wilshire, who produced the show, explained that not only is the Rhoades Car an economical eco-friendly form of transportation, but burning 500 calories an hour is good too. “Riders simply need the motivation to be leaner and greener but you might find the Rhoades Car motivation is more fun than reaching your journey’s end,” he adds. “It’s such a stable ride,” Pomakoy said. “Unlike a two-wheel bike, you don’t have to balance yourself.  Anybody can ride a Rhoades Car.”

Phyllis Shelton, Vice President, sees another use. “Two-thirds of Americans are overweight or obese and Tennessee is the 4^th most weight-challenged state in the nation. People need to exercise, but who has time, right? The Rhoades Car provides a way to do it both ways. We’re getting exercise, but we’re having fun. We’re spending time with people we care about.  We’re having a real conversation. I think it’s so cool because families are fragmented and it seems to be a good way to get families together again.” She thinks the one and two-seaters are great for corporate wellness programs as they struggle to fight health care costs related to obesity.

Tennessee Crossroads has won two regional Emmy’s and been nominated for many others. It is in its 25^th year and boasts over 300 episodes at www.tennesseecrossroads.org.

“What a great experience we had working with the team at Tennessee Crossroads,” Pomakoy said.  “They really care about featuring Tennessee companies and individuals who offer unique products.”

To see motorized and non-motorized Rhoades Car models, visit www.RhoadesCar.com, call 800-531-2737 or send an email to info@rhoadescar.com.

Rhoades Car will be exhibiting at the 2012 Arizona Senior Lifestyles Expo in Mesa, AZ on February 8, 2012. Come on out and check out five of the Rhoades Car models we’ll have on display!

We hope to see you there!

Link to event site: http://www.arizonaseniorexpo.com/

President, Rhoades Car International

Electric Bicycle (aka “e-bike”) sales are growing dramatically worldwide.  As a matter of fact, at Rhoades Car in 2011, there was an electric-assist motor on approximately 20% of the 4-wheel quardacycles that left our Hendersonville, TN factory – up from just under 10% in 2010.  It shows that many people are not only looking for an alternate means of transportation – but many like an optional boost of power when needed without adding to the carbon footprint issue.

The 1/1/12 issue of Bicycling Retailer has a good article on electric bike sales that is really geared to retailers but the facts are the facts – whether you are a retailer or the end purchaser.  Although they don’t state it in the article, it is obvious that the results are based on e-bike sales in the US, not international sales. Some of the findings may surprise you:

• Most purchasers of electric bikes are generally NOT cyclists and most have not ridden a bike in years
• Most purchasers are couples and they typically buy two e-bikes (not always at the same time)
• The average e-bike owner is 59+
• More than half of e-bike sales are to women and they expect a wide range of colors to choose from
• People who purchase e-bikes are very social and tell their friends about their purchase

For me, the most surprising statement in the article was this one —  “While buyers might justify their purchase with saving money on gas, getting exercise and being green, the real reason they buy an e-bike is plain and simple: FUN!”  Who can argue with that? We’re all looking for ways to have fun, right?  More on that later.

The bottom line seems to be that electric bike sales should continue to grow in the US and around the world.  In a 2010 published report, PikeResearch concluded that “The worldwide electric two-wheel vehicle market is expected to grow at a compound annual rate of 9% through 2016″.

To put things in perspective, according to the latest Electric Bikes Worldwide Report, US e-Bike sales were projected to hit 220,000 units in 2009, a two-year sales increase of 83 percent from 2007. In that same time period, 750,000 e-Bike sales were forecasted for Europe- up from 250,000 units in 2007.  But guess who leads the pack on e-bike production AND usage?  You guessed it – China.  The China Bicycle Association reported that China has 70 million electric bikes on the road and 1,400 electric bicycle manufacturers who produce around 5.5 million e-bike units a year.

The unfortunate part of the message once again – just like with regular bicycles – is that the vast majority of e-bikes are NOT produced in the USA.  If you read my June blog (http://alturl.com/nd567) , you know that I a firm believer that we need to get back to making products right here in the USA – just like we do at Rhoades Car. We’re the exception – and we need to be the rule!

Here’s how we do it at Rhoades Car:

• All Rhoades Car major components, including proprietary steel frames, are made in Tennessee – not in China or Taiwan
• Powder coating is applied in Madison, Tennessee
• Seats are manufactured in Memphis, TN and soon in Augusta, GA
• Mag wheels are manufactured in Redding, CA
• Canopies are handmade by a small upholstery shop in Hendersonville, TN
• Shipping crate material is purchased locally
• Axles, steering columns, tirods and all proprietary machined parts are manufactured by various small companies – ALL located in the United States of America

I promised to get back to the “FUN” comment earlier in the blog.  It should come as no surprise that the most popular models at Rhoades Car are our 2-person side-by-side models (GoBoy, SportPed and Cycle Car Series all offer 2-person models.  SportPed and CycleCar Series both offer 4-person family models).  The reason IS the “FUN” factor just like the Bicycle Retailer article suggests.  Our 2-person quadracycles are so much more FUN than riding on separate bikes or even a tandem.  Why?  Because you can have conversation with your pedal-mate because you’re side-by-side AND you’re getting exercise.  How’s that for a win-win? Plus, you can add the electric-assist electric motor feature if you want a little help with those hills or you are just plum worn out 5 miles into the ride and want a little help getting home.

As I wrote back in the June blog, “It is possible to produce products that are truly made in the USA and every time we do it benefits American families.  We do it at Rhoades Car and there are many more companies out there just like us that need your support.  If we can all focus on buying American-made products, we can get the USA back to once again being the global leader. But it will take sacrifices to get there.

It’s a New Year and time to refocus on buying American-made products.   Come on now, you read the back of the food labels when you are looking to cut calories or check the sodium content so you can do it to look for American-made products.  So please, the next time you go to a store to purchase an item, read the label and buy the one that says – “Proudly Made in the USA”.

Happy New Year everyone! And be sure to visit us often at www.RhoadesCar.com.

Rhoades Car will be exhibiting at the Barrett-Jackson Collector Car event in Scottsdale, Arizona from January 15-22, 2012. For those of you who have ever attended a Barrett-Jackson event, you know how exciting it truly is just to be there and watch the festivities.

In addition to being the “World’s Greatest Collector Car Auction,” there are premier vendors featuring their unique products, and Rhoades Car is proud to be in that group this year.  Come on out and check out five of the Rhoades Car models we’ll have on display!

We hope to see you there!

Come on down and test drive a Rhoades Car right there at the show.  You KNOW you want to!

We’ve made arrangements with the show promoters to have a special test drive area right near our booth just for Rhoades Car enthusiasts (18 and over of course) to test drive their favorite model!

Here are just some of the models we will be featuring:

2-person Cycle Car with electric motor	1-person Cycle Car
2-person GoBoy X2	1-person GoBoy ComfortRide
1-person SportPed

For more information about the show (show times, directions, etc.) click here.

Peddling an alternative to cars, two-wheelers

Nashville Ledger

Friday, August 12, 2011, Vol. 35, No. 32

By Hollie Deese

http://www.nashvilleledger.com/editorial/Article.aspx?id=54401

Riding a bike to work is a great way to reduce your carbon footprint and get in a good workout. But certain limitations can prevent some people from enjoying that option – unless they have a Rhoades Car.

The four-wheeled vehicle is actually a bicycle, or quadricycle, and can accommodate a wider range of people than the standard two-wheel version.

“We have the four-wheel stability so anybody, whether they be overweight or have balance issues or are just scared of a two-wheel bike, can exercise,” says Bill Pomakoy, president of Hendersonville-based Rhoades Car International. People with vision problems can sit and pedal independently with a passenger and Rhoades can even customize seats to accommodate people with special needs or paralysis.

Pomakoy, who has a background in marketing, took over the business in February 2010 after inventor and original owner David Rhoades passed away suddenly in December 2009 without a succession plan. His next-door neighbor, Pomakoy had always been intrigued by what Rhoades was doing.

“He was just a genius as far as coming up with the concept and laying it all out and having a working model,” he says. “He started the business back in ‘91 out of a small barn in his backyard and then moved it out to an industrial facility ten years later.”

When paying respects to Rhoade’s family after his death, he asked whether the business, which had been on the market for a few months, had sold or not. It hadn’t.

“They didn’t really have a plan, and I have a bunch of friends who are entrepreneurs and thought one of them might be interested,” Pomakoy says. “And as I looked at their business I realized that I was interested myself. So I made the family an offer and they accepted. They were thrilled because the company was going to continue.”

There are four models of bikes and all come in one-, two-, or four-person models and can be customized with all kinds of features. When Pomakoy took over, he mainly worked on appealing to a broader range of clientele.

“He had the designs down pat and he had a really good presence on the Internet and had a good marketing plan, but what I have done is institute more cosmetic changes,” he says. “We knew we had models who appealed to the senior population, but at the same time — with rising gas prices — we knew that there was a need for alternate transportation for people age 30 and up.”

So they came up with Sport Ped model, which uses the same frame as the classic, but has an aerodynamically designed windshield with UV protection. Ranging from seven- to 42-speed options, Rhoades Cars have been sold all over the world. And increasing gas prices have only helped sales here at home.

“From a personal standpoint, I don’t want gas prices to go up, but as they do our sales have gone up because people are looking for alternate means of transportation,” he says. In fact, last year only 10 percent of his orders had an electric motor added. This year, it was 20 percent. And because the electric motor is programmed to stay around 14 miles an hour, they still fall under bike road rules.

“In Hendersonville, a lot of people have golf carts and have to license them with the DMV and insure them to be able to drive around,” he says. “One of these vehicles does not need to be registered because it does follow the bicycle law. If we gear it to go over 20 mph, then it would be a motor vehicle.”

Also important to Pomakoy is the fact his product is certified made in the USA. Not only is it manufactured here, but most elements that go into the bike are made in Middle Tennessee.

“We are using local suppliers to make our components,” he says. “Our steel is United States Steel fabricated in Goodlettsville, powder coated in Madison by another company. Our canopies and canvas fenders are made by Bennett’s Upholstery right here in Hendersonville. We can see other families benefitting from Rhoades Cars.”

Next up, Pomakoy hopes to get involved with Nashville’s bike share program, which recently received a 100-bike donation from Regions Bank.

“We are asking them to embrace a local company that has a four-wheel bicycle that everyone can ride,” he says. “There is a lot of discussion about fighting obesity but realistically a large person is not comfortable on a two-wheel bike. We have bicycles available for obese people to ride.”

Each month I look forward to reading the various bicycle industry trade journals for trends, upcoming events and general knowledge about the industry.  As a business owner, I then compare those trends to our business model to see what needs to be tweaked, if anything.

The Good News (at least for bicycle retailers):

Just this morning I read the June edition of Bicycle Retailer, a monthly periodical published by the National Bicycle Dealers Association (NBDA).  The title of one of the articles immediately caught my attention – “Hope Beats Eternal — Industry remains optimistic that gas prices will drive bike sales”. None of us like the high gas price trend that we are all experiencing, but it shows that people are exploring alternative means of transportation to combat these high gas prices, including bicycles. So the good news, at least for bicycle retailers, is that high gas prices usually means a spike in retail bike sales. Another recent article suggested that retail bicycle sales in the first quarter were up around 9%. On the surface, good news, right?

Ready for the bad news??? See if you can pick up on it while reading the three short sentences below taken directly from the article by Matt Wiebe on page 20:

“Road bike imports through the first quarter this year were higher than anytime in the last decade.  Road imports through March were 30% higher than in the same period in 2010, and 31 percent higher than they were in 2008 when gas prices crested $4 a gallon for the first time.  Imports of mountain bikes were up 10 percent over last year for the first three months”.

Some of you are wondering – what IS your point, Bill?  I’m really not trying to be coy. It hit me like a lead balloon as my parents used to say!  My point is that in every sentence noted above from this “good news” article from a respected industry publication, the emphasis is on IMPORTS!   It’s not necessarily the writer’s fault as he is just reporting the facts.  But the facts are not in USA’s favor and that needs to be reversed.

A couple of months ago I tweeted an alarming statistic from the same bicycle industry organization (NBDA) – 99.53% of all bikes sold in the United States (20” and larger) are imported from China or Taiwan.

We all need to get our hands around a problem that is absolutely crippling America.  Remember when the USA was THE manufacturing leader of the world?  Not anymore.  Our trade deficit is at a dangerous level and our recovery depends on reversing this alarming trend and increasing domestic growth dramatically.  We need to get back to manufacturing and purchasing products proudly made in the United States of America.  To many of you I am preaching to the choir. Maybe the others simply don’t realize the danger of continuing to purchase products not made in our great country.  But we all better get a grip on it before it’s too late.  And I believe there is only a short window to reverse the trend.  If a small company like Rhoades Car can survive for 20+ years with our made-in-the-USA philosophy, others can too.

Several members of our team recently made a presentation to a large Tennessee company interested in purchasing a fleet of our industrial 4-wheel bicycles for a new facility.   In preparation for that presentation, we developed a brief synopsis of the benefits of purchasing from a company that manufacturers its products here in the USA.  Let me share a few of those key points with you:

• All Rhoades Car major components, including proprietary steel frames, are made in Tennessee – not in China or Taiwan
• Powder coating is applied in Madison, Tennessee
• Seats are manufactured in Memphis, Tennessee
• Mag wheels are manufactured in Redding, CA
• Canopies are handmade by a small upholstery shop in Hendersonville, TN
• Shipping crate material is purchased from a small lumber mill in Portland, TN (competitive in price with the big box stores, by the way)
• Axles, steering columns, tirods and all proprietary machined parts are manufactured by various small companies – ALL located in the United States of America

I could go on and on, but by now you get the picture.  It is possible to produce products that are truly made in the USA and every time we do it benefits American families.  We do it at Rhoades Car and there are many more companies out there just like us that need your support.  If we can all focus on buying American-made products, we can get the USA back to once again being the global leader. But it will take sacrifices to get there.

Bottom line???  It can be done – but we better get moving – and soon!

Think “American-made” before you make that next purchase.

Please – Buy American.

Do you ever have one of those days where you believe you cannot put one foot in front of the other?  Do you ever feel that one step forward equates to several stumbles backwards?

Many of us experience this down our road to wellness.  Those initial pounds seem to easily fly off as we diligently stick to the newest fad diet for a few weeks.  Then the proverbial, impenetrable wall rears its ugly head and hand stamps your face with a brick imprint that seems to laugh in the face of your adversity.  At this point the tears begin to roll and the frustration of expectations not being met scream out in our daily interactions.  Giving up seems like the only option, and diving into that tub of cookies and cream ice cream gives the illusion of satisfaction from the pain of failing. But, the reality of the “wish it were only a fun house” mirror creates an abyss of despair, and we begin to cycle back into habits that die slow, and hard.

Perhaps our expectation of a quick fix is what puts our undies in a bundle.  What if we looked at the reality of our situation and decided to rationally approach our roads to wellness with the mindset that time is what it took to look a certain way, and time is what it is going to take to be a certain way?  Do you think our mindset on wellness would change if we took responsibility for how we nourish our bodies and for how we move our bodies? The abyss of despair and the cycling diets could cease if we listened to what our bodies needed, and not to what the television tells our minds to want.

Here’s a little tip: wellness does not come without extraordinary effort, willpower, and determination.  If you take each day in stride with a positive attitude you will change your life.  Make small changes every 21 to 30 days.  If you try to change several items concerning your health in one sitting, you will fail.  The stress will overpower any well-intended efforts if you choose to change everything at once.  Start with changing your drinking habits until you do not have to think about it any longer.  Drink half your body’s weight worth of ounces of water a day (e.g. 150 lbs drink 75 oz).  Choose water instead of soda; and almond or coconut milk instead of sugary tea or juice. When you find yourself subconsciously choosing the healthier option, you are ready to change your diet or your exercise routine.

Ultimately, your attitude will guide you through changing your overall wellness.  Feel free to post a question or concern now, or wait for our 90 Day Rhoade to Wellness Program to launch in July!