Finger Bikes Redux

by Marcus Davis

Note: This is an email I received in response to the Finger Bikes Commentary "column".

Finger bikes are gay. I work in an office of about 500 people. Most of my co-workers know I ride (although most of them don't get it). In the last 2 weeks, I have received 3 finger bikes (all DKs?!) because that's what they expect me to be into. Well meant gifts and all, but they actually think I ride BMX, therefore I MUST like finger bikes. But that's another story...

Anyway, I have a friend that owns a small and respected bike company — a non-corporate, "keeping it real" company holding BMX in its best interests:

Issue 1: My friend has a hard time coming up with funds to pay for more frames to be made so the kids will be happy. It's hard to make frames when you're broke with no bikes [to sell] to make more money to make more frames... The finger bike companies pay royalty money to the BMX companies for the use of their logos and frame designs — money that can go back to paying for frames to be welded.

Issue 2: My friend collects toys. How cool would it be to see your frame in a slick packaged, miniature version at Toys R Us? You couldn't say no to the kid inside. The same kid that got you into BMX in the first place.

Issue 3: Free advertisment. The finger bike companies will market your mini bike (logos, brand) to a large audience in the stores and magazines.

I don't really like finger bikes. Actually, I really don't care at all, one way or the other. But if it can help smaller companies (like my friend's) put superior frames in the rider's hands, so be it. I couldn't blame him for using the finger bikes and their royalty checks to make more frames. Good for him. In a weird way, good for us, too.

Uploaded March 2000