We have a dozen or so dilapidated company bikes at my place of work, which is the size of a small to mid-sized college campus. They are mostly Worksman branded bikes and are from the late 1960's. We're looking into replacing these bikes and I wondered what people thought were good replacement options. We're going to buy 6 or 7 this year, and maybe a dozen more next year.

Looks like we can get well equipped Worksman (with fenders and a large front basket) for $260 or so, or single speed Biria's, with fenders and basket, for $350. We're leaning toward the Biria's, since they weigh 30 pounds vs. 60 for the Worksman.

Any thoughts? Are there other good utility models you might recommend for us?

All I can tell you is we have workman trikes from the 60's still going strong at work
Roy

I have a 3 speed Biria and love it, although some of the components on it aren't the greatest (and some are). But that's what upgrades are for!

Without a doubt there is only one bike for the industrial type use you have to
supply bikes for. WORKSMAN Industrial cycles that are bulletproof and the only
kind of bike Worksman has ever made for over 100yrs.

Since the bikes you want to replace are Worksman already (from the 1960's!!) take
your clue from the service they've given. This choice isn't a matter of money it's a
matter of service & value for each dollar spent. In that regard Worksman has no
peer. None.

To see if a large buy discount is availabe call Worksman and ask to speak to Wayne Sosin,
President of Worksman. Heck of a guy!:thumb:

Worksman...I have yet to see anything stand up under heavy constant use like them. I am currently working at a plant that has a fairly large fleet of bikes, primarily Worksman. Some of them have been on site and used daily for over 30 years. The plant environment here is fairly corrosive, a Huffy Cranbrook has a life expectancy of less than 2 years the Worksman at least 10.

Also FWIW the Worksman are built in the USA they aren't real fancy but built to last.

Aaron:)

My father's Biria is built like a tank. Well oversized tubing with additional bracing. It is a stout machine.

Looking at the Biria website, they look like good machines, but if you are happy with your current Worksmans, I'd say stay with them.

What are ya'll going to do with the old rides? Sell them off local or on here to offset the purchase of the new bikes. I have been given permission to try and get so estimates for our distirbution centers for a couple of worksman trikes. I would love to find some old ones local that I could snag.

"a couple of worksman trikes. I would love to find some old ones local that I could snag"

They come up about once every 6 months locally, as best I can tell- I snagged the last one!

Look on Ebay, there's one or two there, now, but they're across the country, Local Pickup Only. You'll see some of these for $100 and no bids, others sell for $100, but they're always Somewhere Else.

Looking at the Biria website, I don't really see anything that is the equivalent of the Worksman. They make some cruiser-type bikes, but there's quite a few others out there as well.

I've been compiling a list of industrial bike suppliers; I'll try to post it when I get home. Of course, I've not used any of them but the Worksman.

Okay, here's what I found when I was looking around the other day:
Industrial Bikes:
Worksman www.worksmancycles.com (http://www.worksmancycles.com)
Husky http://www.huskybicycles.com/
Summit Workhorse: http://bicyclesports.us/schwinn_heavy_duty_summit_workhorse.htm
Torker- http://cyclesportandfitness.com/torker_heavy_duty_industrial_bicycles_bikes.htm
Atlas: http://www.sunbicycles.com/sun/index.html - look under "Cruisers", then "Atlas", then "Rental/Industrial"
Also Atlas here: http://bicyclesports.us/atlas_mens___womens_ladies_industrial_bicycle.htm
Trailmate (trikes only): http://www.trailmate.com/industrial.cfm
Mohawk: http://www.mohawkindustrialbike.com/mohawk_cycle_006.htm
Emory: http://www.aerofast.com/aerofast/industrial_bikes/industrial.html
Pacific/Schwinn: http://www.schwinnbike.com/products/bikes_detail.php?id=1018

My thoughts on these- They tend to be basically similar type bikes. The smaller companies, maybe the larger, don't make their own bearings and stuff like that, so they're all buying from the same places anyway. The frames tend to be similar. Worksman bikes have very heavy wheels, which is a good bit of the weight, but also a good bit of the value. Some of these places that you've never heard of, may or may not be around in a few years. I would be inclined to go with Worksman simply because it's a proven product- you don't really know what is best unless you buy one of each of these.

I think Huskies are made in Mexico; Mercurio is another name involved there.

By the way, if you start looking for used industrial bicycles, you pretty much won't find anything but Worksman or old Schwinns.

Well, I did a survey of all the present bikes on the lab. I'm not quite done, but I found some interesting things.

Not all the bikes are Worksman. Lots of Mohawk, Emory, and Atlas, too. Huffy, Schwinn, and other "cruisers," that I couldn't identify.

There were a half dozen mountain bikes, but only one of those are being used. The others are all in a state of disrepair. One was modified so that the rear derailer is gone, but it has flats and isn't being used.

All the bikes are rusty. Worksman were in just as bad of shape as Emory and Mohawk. Those three appeared to be the best made bikes. More to follow.

"I think Huskies are made in Mexico; Mercurio is another name involved there."

It's interesting to note that the Mexican post office buys Worksman bikes for
intercity deliveries.

One other point.....
Some parts on a Worksman are really moped parts which is why they are
so heavy duty on a bike.