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| Five or so years back I connected with Sue Knaup in Prescott, AZ. She told me that her "One Street" nonprofit hoped to raise $$ via Kick Starter to create and distribute a special "technology" to permit anybody anywhere to make replacement components for bikes. Sue's market was developing countries where bikes were the main means of transport, but repair shops w/spare parts were few and far between. The concept to be funded initially: a small "back yard" blast furnace and mold in the shape of a shift lever. Aluminum cans could be melted down by anyone, and molten metal poured into the mold, let sit and: voila! Repair problems solved. |
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| Prototypes were made, the concept was well received, but manufacturing glitches came up that prevented the fruition of the project. For my modest contribution Sue sent me a shifter that I keep on my desk as a reminder of how much need there is in the world, and how one smart, savvy, enthusiastic dreamer-entrepreneur can . make a difference. |
