Why ORO? Hear it straight from ORO's founder, Chelsea:
"ORO started as inspiration to find a way to sustainably fund getting bikes to people in need. I spent time living in Uganda and Bolivia and saw how powerful access to a bike could be to change someone's life. I set out to solidly link the profit and the non-profit sides of bikes. Because, in my opinion, bikes enable access to opportunity and that is a beautiful thing that everyone deserves.
The more I thought about our lifestyle, the more I saw the opportunity ORO could fulfill at home: to make biking accessible to an ever broadening bike ridership. Lots of people work hard to take care of their health, take care of our environment, run races for charity, the list goes on! Those people who CARE seem like people who should be on bikes, some are and some aren't.
Why are some of these people not riding? It comes down to a lot of things, but at it's core, it's accessibility. People don't know what to buy, how to discern the quality, or how to care for a bike. With Bikes ORO, we designed the bikes to be simple. They're low maintenance and great for getting around town, commuting or going to the farmers market.
They're for everyday use and suited well for most situations. We're telling you about the bike the way it is, not with advanced terms, but simply by how it can be used.
So, the question comes down to, why not bike? And we've got a good one for you, so read on for bike details! " - Chelsea, Founder, Bikes ORO
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No Chain, Grease Free, Low Maintenance - Gates Belt Drives are unique because they're made of rubber reinforced with carbon fiber. They last 7x longer than chains, do not rust, do not need grease, and create a wonderfully smooth ride.
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Durable, Light, Strong - Our frames are built of 4130 Chromoly Steel. You won't break it and you can lift the bike with ease.
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3 Speeds - and 3 speeds only! We were bored of decision making paralysis, so we picked the best for you. Having 3 speeds optimizes your range per gear. It's perfect for riding in most conditions. Fun fact: the French used to use 3 speeds for their touring (long distances) gear set.
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Internally Geared Hub - That means all the gears are INSIDE the back wheel! Whaaa! Internally geared hubs are low maintenance, easy to adjust, and use no grease. The majority of bike share programs use this type of hub because of its durability.
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Unique Features + Low Price Point - You'll be hard-pressed to find any belt driven bikes at your local bike shop (except our wonderful partners). In fact, you won't find any other Gates belt bike at this price point. There's no doubt that this is the "drive" you want on your everyday bike.
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FYI: We are only launching the PORTEUR model through this Indiegogo campaign. That's the bike pictured above with the basket! If you'd prefer one of the other 2 models, email chelsea@bikesoro.com with the subject "Model request" and she'll add you to the waiting list. Estimated production is 2017 for those models.
FYI #2: We removed the fun spoke design (the metal pieces inside the wheels). They're "standard" style again. The styling can throw off the calibration of the wheel and make it become distorted. We are putting your safety first!
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The unique ORO design - curved of the top tube, beautifully colored spacers, 26" tires, delightful front basket and more - comes from the bike design powerhouse,
Flying Machine. FM's Founder and Master Builder, Matthew Andrew, custom designs and hand builds stunning, high-end, bikes for people around the world.
Bikes are engines of social and economic change for people globally - especially those living in impoverished conditions. Currently, there is no way to sustainably fund bike distribution for people in need, so that is why we created Bikes ORO. Access to mobility is POWERFUL — to enable children to get to school, men & women to access professional opportunities, and anyone to reach quality health clinics.
Over 15% of the profit from each bike sale goes to support getting people access to these bikes (specific % not available because shipping costs can vary changing the numbers).
For STUDENTS: Attendance increases up to 28% and grades increase up to 56%
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For ENTREPRENEURS:
Individuals can travel up to 4x farther, carrying 5x more, leading to up to 50% increases in profits.
Over 15% of our profits from each bike sale in this campaign go to
World Bicycle Relief to help get a student, entrepreneur, or healthcare worker onto a Buffalo bike (pictured below). These bikes are custom designed for carrying large loads, durability, and ease of maintenance. They're also assembled in country -- providing jobs to people in the area -- and distributed in partnership with local nonprofits to individuals.
THE PERKS!
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The good news is that we have spent over a year designing, prototyping, and setting up this company to manufacture and fulfill successfully. We pledge to be upfront with you and transparent throughout the entire process, so you can stay updated on any challenges we may face (and help us celebrate success!).
Not meeting the entire funding goal (flex account): We picked an Indiegogo Flex Campaign, meaning that we will receive the money this campaign generates even if we do not hit our goal number. The reason we picked flex is because we are able to support more payment methods for you. If we do not not hit our goal, our timeline could be delayed while we raise the additional capital to build your bike. We are working hard to make sure this does not happen!
Manufacturing: Mass production manufacturing can be risky and unexpected variables can arise. Luckily, we have a great team for manufacturing and they have been working in industry for years. They've been nothing but trustworthy and timely throughout our prototyping process, so we are excited to be working with them for a bigger production round.
Fulfillment: After we place our order, there are things that can happen to impede our process efficiency. One of the component manufacturers could deliver their product slowly, a shipment could be lost, an important machine could break, import ports could go on strike. This is part of the risk you take with international manufacturing and fulfillment, but again, we fully trust the team we have in place to minimize any unforeseen delays.
What size is the frame?
We have 3 frame sizes built for SMALL (if you're 5'0"-5'4"), MEDIUM (if you're 5'5"- 5'7"), and LARGE (if you're 5'8" - 6'2") riders. Pick your size based on your height and, if you fall on a border, size down (it’s better to be able to touch the pedals!).
What size are the tires?
26" x 1.5"
Is the frame aluminum or steel?
4130 Chromoly Steel. Very durable and the frames are average weight for commuter bikes.
How much does the THIN weigh?
The bike weighs 28 pounds.
What are the benefits of the Gates Carbon Drive?
They’re low maintenance, you need no grease to keep it running, it lasts 7x than a chain, and works on an internally geared back hub system (so the gears are less likely to get out of whack, and when they do, it’s easy to adjust).
Is there a way for me to ride one of these bikes?
We’re throwing launch parties at a few breweries across the country where we’ll have ONE, medium sized frame with us. We’d love for you to come and give it a ride, test it out. Parties in Cape May, NJ; Cincinnati, OH; Denver, CO; Boulder, CO; Philadelphia, PA; and Washington DC. Check out our event locations here.
What is the gear ratio of the drive systems?
3 speed. Best gear range for most situations — from flat to reasonably hilly.
Does this bike have quick release on the tires?
The front tire has quick release.
When will I receive my ORO bike?
Check out the Timeline above for that information.
Can I get a refund?
Please read Indiegogo's policy here.
Who is responsible for any additional taxes, duties or VAT?
The backer is responsible for any additional taxes.
Want to get more involved with our team?
Apply to be an Ambassador and help us tell the story!