Finish Line, Inc. (NYSE: FINL) is the second largest athletic retailer
based in the United States, with international headquarters in Indianapolis, Indiana. The company, founded in 1976 by Alan Cohen and David Klapper, operates over 700 stores in 48 states under the Finish Line name, among other chains owned.
History
In October 1976 two childhood friends, Alan Cohen and David Klapper opened the doors of Finish Line as a franchise of The Athlete’s Foot at the Speedway Shopping Center in Speedway, Indiana.
By 1981, the owners’ vision had widened beyond the 10 franchises they owned. They were ready to expand beyond Indiana, but The Athlete’s Foot franchise rights ended at the Indiana border. At this point they decided to start their own company called The Finish Line. Cohen and Klapper approached another childhood friend, Larry Sablosky, with a full partnership opportunity. Dave Fagin, a manufacturer’s rep who had been selling product to Cohen and Klapper, was offered the same deal.
By 1991, the company had grown to 105 stores located primarily in Midwestern and Southeastern states with an annual gross of nearly $100 million. The foursome took the company public in 1992.
Selection and product lines have expanded significantly since then. Known for its signature “shoe wall”, a typical Finish Line store will show between 600 and 1,300 different kinds of athletic footwear, including basketball, running, walking, gym, aerobics, hiking, cross-training and skate shoes, not to mention cleats, casual shoes and sandals. Brands carried by Finish Line include Nike, Adidas, Reebok, New Balance, And 1, Oakley, Puma, Converse, Fila, Lugz, Saucony, Timberland. Additional Brands now carried by Finish Line include Pastry, Brooks, Asics, Havaianas, Jordan, and Pearl Izumi.
Today, approximately 20 percent of all sales come from apparel and accessories. This includes the latest in performance and fashion products from Nike, Oakley, Adidas, Fossil, Jansport, professional and collegiate licensed products, t-shirts, shorts, caps, and outerwear from other well-known manufacturers
How To Buy An Exercise Bike
Exercise bikes work your legs, heart and lungs without putting impact or stress on your joints. They have always been very popular pieces of cardiovascular equipment because the exercise motion is very familiar to most people; you simply pedal as you would on a regular bike. You can set your own pace, and even read while exercising.
- Types of Bikes
- Upright Bikes
- Recumbent, Semi-Recumbent Bikes
- Dual Action Bikes
- Resistance
- Feedback mechanisms
- Size
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Types of Exercise Bikes
Upright Bikes
- Similar in form to traditional bikes and still the largest seller
- Good lower body and cardiovascular workout
- Fit easily in limited spaces
Recumbent Bikes, semi-recumbent bikes
- These have chair-like, or bucket seat
- More comfortable than an upright bike and provide better back support
- Promote more efficient blood flow throughout the body
- Prevent you from cheating on peddling because you can’t stand up
source: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Finish_Line