Ode to Rhode (Gear)
#76
Senior Member

Joined: Nov 2010
Posts: 15,315
Likes: 903
From: Tixkokob, Yucatán, México
Bikes: 79 Trek 930, 80 Trek 414, 84 Schwinn Letour Luxe (coupled), 92 Schwinn Paramount PDG 5
Three flickstands currently in use and another one on the way. My bil still uses his car rack.
#77
Senior Member
Joined: Apr 2017
Posts: 2,248
Likes: 845
From: Los Angeles, CA
Bikes: 1964 Legnano Roma Olympiade, 1973 Raleigh Super Course, 1978 Raleigh Super Course, 1978 Peugeot PR10, 2002 Specialized Allez, 2007 Specialized Roubaix, 2013 Culprit Croz Blade
I didn't realize Rhode Gear was gone. I've had one of their racks since 2000. I bought a Subaru Impreza RS coupe and didn't realize the rear seat didn't fold for bike transport. I was whining about it at work, then one day this rack showed up on my desk with a $15 Goodwill price sticker, from a co-worker. Good investment, almost 20 years later. I have a hatchback now, and rarely use it except for SAG support on our club charity ride. The stretchy rubber straps are nearly gone, but I guess that's what bungee cords are for.
#78
Senior Member

Joined: Jul 2013
Posts: 2,494
Likes: 768
From: Chicago North Shore
Bikes: frankenbike based on MKM frame
My Flickstand is, alas, long gone, but my Rhode Gear mirror is still on my brake lever.
I was at Brown during its bicentennial. I didn't ride a bike in college, but I was a local kid, and before college I rode all 912 of Providence's 7 hills (a joke from my Providence HS). I wanted to date RISD girls, but I met this 'broker, and I left the dating pool. (Still with her.)
I was at Brown during its bicentennial. I didn't ride a bike in college, but I was a local kid, and before college I rode all 912 of Providence's 7 hills (a joke from my Providence HS). I wanted to date RISD girls, but I met this 'broker, and I left the dating pool. (Still with her.)
#79
Rolling Vintage Only

Joined: May 2012
Posts: 64
Likes: 65
From: San Diego, California
Bikes: About two dozen road, mountain, and tandem from 1940s to 1981.
Circa '81, I connected frequently with Ned Levine, Rhode Gear founder, at trade shows where we both displayed. It was a wonderful time for creative folks to start cycling businesses with good ideas and shoestring budgets. Don't know if that is still possible...
#80
Newbie
Joined: Mar 2021
Posts: 2
Likes: 2
Rhode Gear
I worked with Ned and Dixon and an entire crew of some of the most friendly, kind, and creative people. I was a receptionist, an order entry person, and went to Inventory Control with a guy named Greg. I became the receiver after a young college grad was in an accident so i held his position for the hope of his return.
I must have been a crazy young woman unloading 40footers with pallet jacks, counting boxes, and carrying a dot matrix printed bill of materials. Rhode Gear was on Allens Avenue down the street from a liquor store at which you could cash your check, and a small deli cat-acorner where Id order a “Dave’s Delight” a vegetarian grinder after a coworker.
I was always curious what happened after the buyout because i was offered to continue working for them but felt too much loyalty to Ned and Dixon, that sadly I made the choice to leave.
Having done the inventory I remember that SU1000 - SU 3000 may have been for various water bottles or their cages. Interesting! We sent the measurements to the bike pump to be created overseas. The measurements were translated possible from inches to centimeters and they came back only 2/3 of expected size. I remember sitting on the stairs with some PT help counting them, hoping we could use them for kids bikes laughing out loud.
Can anyone tell me who passed away? Both owners would hold weekend pancake and breakfast rides. This was between 1985-1988 I believe.
I must have been a crazy young woman unloading 40footers with pallet jacks, counting boxes, and carrying a dot matrix printed bill of materials. Rhode Gear was on Allens Avenue down the street from a liquor store at which you could cash your check, and a small deli cat-acorner where Id order a “Dave’s Delight” a vegetarian grinder after a coworker.
I was always curious what happened after the buyout because i was offered to continue working for them but felt too much loyalty to Ned and Dixon, that sadly I made the choice to leave.
Having done the inventory I remember that SU1000 - SU 3000 may have been for various water bottles or their cages. Interesting! We sent the measurements to the bike pump to be created overseas. The measurements were translated possible from inches to centimeters and they came back only 2/3 of expected size. I remember sitting on the stairs with some PT help counting them, hoping we could use them for kids bikes laughing out loud.
Can anyone tell me who passed away? Both owners would hold weekend pancake and breakfast rides. This was between 1985-1988 I believe.
Small world. I went to Brown, 1 block up the hill from RISD, from '78-82. I rode across the country during the summer of '79, and I trained for the trip in the spring of 1979 by loading my panniers with 40 pounds of rocks and riding the load up and down College hill between the Supreme Court building and Brown's main gate. Maybe you guys saw me as I chugged my Trek with bags full of rocks across Benefit Street, past RISD.
I miss Geoffs - bast damn Deli I ever ate at. My sandwiches there were the Romeo DeMarco and the Magee Hickey - With extra Elvis (inside joke).
I miss Geoffs - bast damn Deli I ever ate at. My sandwiches there were the Romeo DeMarco and the Magee Hickey - With extra Elvis (inside joke).
#81
Senior Member

Joined: Feb 2017
Posts: 872
Likes: 601
From: Concord, NC
Bikes: 1984 Bianchi Tipo Corsa, 1985 Cannondale SM600 (24/26)
Rhode Gear Gloves
I still use my Rhode Gear gloves. I think they were called "Clean Gloves". Can't call them that anymore! I've since fixed that hole near the wrist, and wish another pair in small would show up on that popular auction site!
Anyone ever have, or see these anymore?
Anyone ever have, or see these anymore?
#82
Newbie
Joined: Mar 2021
Posts: 2
Likes: 2
Rhode Gear and RISD
Yes- Ned and Dixon were RISD grads. I have a photo of Ned stating something about thanking us for all of our hard work and maybe it came with a holiday bonus.
They had several people from RISD that worked in R&D. I rented from one of the head R&D person who designed many of those fanny packs, wedges amd worked with the women in design (one of which I know went on to LLBean). While i was working the front desk, they brought another new designer in- a RISD grad.
Their products were well made. It was called Rhode Gear because it was in Rhode Island.
They had several people from RISD that worked in R&D. I rented from one of the head R&D person who designed many of those fanny packs, wedges amd worked with the women in design (one of which I know went on to LLBean). While i was working the front desk, they brought another new designer in- a RISD grad.
Their products were well made. It was called Rhode Gear because it was in Rhode Island.
I had a summer job in a dumpy little jewelry factory in an old industrial building right next to Rhode Gear's space back in 1981. I was in art school at the time and the Rhode Gear folks had gone to RISD (as I recall?). They seemed pretty cool and I really wanted to work in their little factory rather than the crappy job I had.
#83
Senior Member

Joined: Nov 2010
Posts: 15,315
Likes: 903
From: Tixkokob, Yucatán, México
Bikes: 79 Trek 930, 80 Trek 414, 84 Schwinn Letour Luxe (coupled), 92 Schwinn Paramount PDG 5
I realize it's been five years, but I have one I'll never use.
#84
My first rack was one of these Rhode Racks. Swayed back and forth like a dog wagging it's tail and had a weird brake bridge attachment, One of the struts snapped after about a year and I went and got a Blackburn like I should have done to begin with.
#85
Newbie
Joined: Jul 2012
Posts: 5
Likes: 0
#87
Senior Member

Joined: Nov 2010
Posts: 15,315
Likes: 903
From: Tixkokob, Yucatán, México
Bikes: 79 Trek 930, 80 Trek 414, 84 Schwinn Letour Luxe (coupled), 92 Schwinn Paramount PDG 5
Mèxico. But I come North on occasion. And I realized, after writing that, that I got mine from Nashbar. Might not be Rhode Gear. I' find it and check.
#90
If you want a (used but good shape) Flickstand, send me a PM. And allow some time for me to find it! IIRC it had a "shorter" length bail, whatever the working wire was called. I think there were at least 2 lengths sold.
#93
Phyllo-buster


Joined: Jan 2010
Posts: 9,261
Likes: 2,685
From: Nova Scotia
Bikes: roadsters, club bikes, fixed and classic
When we had our first child, he got to ride in a Rhode Gear seat. Maximum protection. After my daughter was born, we went trailer-style.
Similar to this.
Similar to this.
#94
Senior Member


Joined: Jan 2019
Posts: 2,002
Likes: 1,047
From: Toledo Ohio
Bikes: 1964 Huffy Sportsman, 1972 Fuji Newest, 1973 Schwinn Super Sport (3), 1982 Trek 412, 1983 Trek 700, 1989 Miyata 1000LT, 1991 Bianchi Boardwalk, plus others
A note on the strap-on mirror: if the lens is broken, one from a mirycle brand can be modified to fit.
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