When you live in a city like Amsterdam, you ride bikes everywhere. Old, rusty bikes that you don't care much if they are stolen, thrown in the canal, or lost due to a night of indulgence.
In the two and a half years we lived there, we went through 2 or 3 of these all too common bikes. It wasn't until our front wheel fell off and our face planted in the quaint cobblestone street that we decide it was time buy something that was built to last.
For about $300, we ordered a Kronan, a bike originally designed for the Swedish Army in the 1940's. Much like a HUMMER, which was originally designed for the U.S. military, our bulky, bright hunter orange Kronan defied convention.
Unlike modern marvels, our steel beauty weighed about 50-pounds and only had one speed: cruise. After all, Sweden is a neutral country. Would their army really need to go any faster? What they did need, however, was a wheel-powered headlight, front and rear racks, a built-in tire pump holder, and a license plate.
From what we could gather on their Swedish website, much has changed in the 8 years that we've occasionally had to walk our Kronan up the streets of LA. For one, they have a much sleeker, lighter design. They also have a 3-speed model available.
Even with all the modern updates, a Kronan is not for everyone. To us, it's a functional and affordable piece of art. It gets you from point A to point B in style. It turns heads. In fact, a photographer recently rented ours out for a fashion shoot. Cha-ching.
While we're still waiting for Kronan to catch on here in the States, we see a huge opportunity for companies to use these utilitarian babes in a number of ways. For example, much like the New Belgian Brewing Company rewards first-year employees with a new bike, Kronan could be part of your unique company's incentive program. Better yet, your company could buy an entire fleet of Kronan's to be used around town by your employees. The design alone is enough to bring eyeballs your way, but you can even equip your frame with a mini-billboard.
Whether you're looking for alternative transportation for yourself or a unique and eco-friendly promotional opportunity to replace Mini Coopers, Smart cars, and Vespas, Kronan is definitely worth a look.
  
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