If you mean the bike I referrred to as the Original All-Plastic Bike, the title I gave (or someting close) was what it was called in the advertising. The Itera must have been a different and much more reputable product. As described in a post a year or two ago (by Sheldon I think), the All-Plastic Bike was ALL plastic - gears, FW, chain, even spokes. Sheldon recalled wanting to touch the spokes on the one on display at the bike trade show to see if they had any tension, which he suspected they did not, but was prevented by the rep. I suspect this prototype was completely unrideable and probably the only one ever made. I doubt seriously that anyone as reputable as a pair of former Volvo executives had anything to do with the venture I'm referring to. The guys behind it used the publicity to raise money from investors, then disappeared with the funds. I've never heard who they were or if they were ever prosecuted.
Regards,
Jerry Moos
Olof Stroh wrote:
> I more than strongly suspect that Jerry is thinking on the Itera,
> launched in `82 as "the eternity bike" the new sensational
> breaktrough in bicycle design. Unfortunately from Sweden,
> made in Wilhelmina in the northern inland which meant that they
> got state money - regional support - for it. It didn´t make it and
> the last were sold out very cheap, I do regret I didn´t buy a few.
>
> In style it was more like a moped than a traditional bike, with a
> thick step-trough frame, the thick frame necessary to make it a
> little less noodly. Some people in fact did swear to it just because
> of that, it had a reputation as being comfortable. But heavy, more
> like 40 pounds than 35.
>
> I tried to find some photographs on the net, no success so far.
>
> The wheels got popular with horse people, used for carts, also in
> competion for trotters.
>
> The company was launched by two young executives from Volvo,
> 100% car people who left car business to reform the under-
> developed bicycle sector. I remember the discussion - there was
> quite a lot of talk in the papers and some heavy criticism from bike
> people - and from their defense I drew the conclusion that they were
> dead earnest and very serious. Mayby underrated the sophistication
> of the bike (I have seen that among other car lovers)?
>
> As it is from the permitted time-span I might venture to publish a
> picture if I can put my hands on it. I may be at risk for an OT rebuke
> though, as it may well be half-old, but certainly not vintage.
>
> Olof Stroh
> Uppsala Sweden