Wald is pretty much synonymous with the bicycle basket. They make all shapes and sizes for every conceivable load you can imagine (ok, probably not that many..but a lot). I spotted these SunLite baskets at Bikestation in Long Beach today.
But a basket is a basket, right? Well, yes, but you have to appreciate nice touches. This SunLite basket has some nice looking tubular stays! Many of the Walds I've tried use what basically looks like a crowbar with drilled holes in it.
The SunLite basket has cleaner looking stays that allow you to adjust the height by screwing in the inner tube. Nice. Elegant. Better than the crowbar look. The stays end in loops that can attach to nutted axels and perhaps fender eyelets with some spacers and washers. Not too shabby!
10 comments:
Walds are all made in Kentucky... they're the last non-boutique bike equipment company left in the States.
Sunlite baskets are made where?
Not the only consideration, but it's up there...
It must be something in the air today - or is it National Basket Day? :)
I posted this to EcoVelo this morning:
http://www.ecovelo.info/2009/04/03/baskets/
cyclotourist...point taken....yes, Sunlite's are most definitely made overseas....
alan - ha! I didn't see your basket post this morning...great minds, etc.,
Wald is in my wife's hometown, so features notwithstanding, I'll be using Wald until they too pull a Cannondale and move offshore.
I have Wald baskets on my Raleigh DL-1. I have Sunlite rack & panniers on my commuter. All I can say is... both do the job and are high quality items.
If you want classic, US-made baskets, go with Wald. If country of origin doesn't matter or you want design refinements, go Sunlite.
How fortuitous, I too posted a link about my latest basket just yesterday.
(insert twilight zone music here)
http://cyclejerk.blogspot.com/2009/04/product-review-new-bike-utility-cargo.html
cyclotourist - Where was your bike made? Where did the spokes come from? Tires? Tubes? Bar Tape? Lights? Helmet?
I would love to see a 100% made in USA bicyle.
@DD: Everything was made with the finest slave labor from Myanmar with the exception of the innertubes. These were made from the congealed tears of Sudanese orphans. That's where you go when you absolutely, positively demand the cheapest wages on the planet. Only the best will do! The money I saved was invested in Haliburton.
Wald is still pretty much making baskets the same way they did 50 years ago. Little or no innovation. It is a durable, utilitarian product. I suspect the only reason it is still profitable is because the R&D costs and equipment costs were recovered decades ago. They do sell a more modern basket....but it is actually made in China for them. There are quality baskets and bags made by companies in first world countries paying real wages. But most people seem to balk at paying the prices. Basil is the one that comes to mind.
Aaron
Where online can we buy these baskets?
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