It won’t be long before SMU students, faculty, alumni and friends of the university can purchase another type of SMU-branded merchandise.
The Collegiate Bicycle Company, a new company based in San Diego, Calif., plans to make SMU-branded bicycles available to the SMU community.
“Our goal is to provide a quality, affordable means of transportation specifically tailored to each college or university community that we are privileged to be working with,” Director of Operations for Collegiate Bicycle Company Erik Camp said. “At the heart, it’s meant to be a fun product that current, former and prospective university members can be proud of.”
For the initial rollout, the company will be offering “beach cruiser” style bikes to the SMU community.
“The classic cruiser style bike is a single-speed, coaster brake,” Camp said. “These bikes are designed to be easy to use, low-maintenance, comfortable, stylish, affordable and an effective and efficient means for students and faculty alike to commute around campus and town.”
SMU is one of 13 schools for which the Collegiate Bicycle Company currently has bicycles in production. Others include Texas A&M, San Diego State and North Carolina State.
“Several of our initial schools are located in areas which are known for their large presence on bikes on campus,” said Camp. “We are also branching out to schools where people may be pleasantly surprised to see the bikes, and increase and encourage the population to become more bike friendly.”
“Our designer is from Dallas, and it is always good to start with the home team!” Camp added.
The company will also be branding bicycles for several Greek organizations.
“SMU is not a heavily commercialized institution,” senior Courtney Fagg said. “Because of the high demand by college students, the bike will represent a new possibility of efficient SMU advertisement.”
The company is currently in the process of approving dealers in close proximity to SMU to carry the bicycles.
“At SMU, Richardson Bike Mart is our first official dealer,” Camp said, adding that the bikes should be available there by mid-next week. The suggested retail price, according to the company, is $299.
Other potential locations are bike shops and merchandise stores throughout Texas that meet the company’s standards. The bikes will also be available online at collegiatebikes.com. In addition, students who are not able to buy a bike will still have the option to ride one on campus.
“We are donating one men’s and one women’s cruiser to the Department of Recreational Sports on campus to be used by students as well,” Camp said.
