The man's proposed that "one evening they should go for a long bicycle ride together on the following day, and he agree".

The Man's Proposal

The man in the story "A Bicycle in Good Repair" proposes an idea to the narrator, a young boy, about starting a bicycle repair service. The man believes that there is a demand for such a service in their small town, and he sees an opportunity for them to earn money by fixing bicycles.

The Context

The story revolves around a young boy who finds an old bicycle in a ditch and brings it home. He cleans and repairs the bicycle with the help of the man, who is a skilled mechanic. The man takes a keen interest in the bicycle and suggests that they could use their repair skills to earn money.

The Proposal

The man proposes that they start a bicycle repair service together. He believes that they can attract customers by offering affordable repairs and providing good service. He highlights the fact that there are many children in the town who own bicycles, and these bicycles often require maintenance and repairs.

The Reasoning

The man's proposal is based on several factors. Firstly, he observes that there is a lack of bicycle repair services in their town, indicating a potential market gap. He also considers the number of bicycles owned by children, which suggests a consistent demand for repairs. Additionally, the man is confident in his repair skills and believes that their combined efforts can successfully address this demand.

The Potential Benefits

The man emphasizes the potential benefits of starting a bicycle repair service. He suggests that they can earn money by charging for repairs, and this income can be used to support their families. Furthermore, he mentions that they could eventually expand their business by offering additional services such as renting out bicycles or selling spare parts.

Overall, the man's proposal is to establish a bicycle repair service to cater to the needs of the community and generate income for themselves.