Comments on: Are Bike Shops Selling the Bikes New Bikers Want? http://www.interbiketimes.com/2008/06/13/are-bike-shops-selling-the-bikes-new-bikers-want/ The Official Blog Of Interbike Fri, 12 Mar 2010 04:28:37 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.9.2 hourly 1 By: Matt http://www.interbiketimes.com/2008/06/13/are-bike-shops-selling-the-bikes-new-bikers-want/comment-page-1/#comment-28723 Matt Fri, 12 Sep 2008 13:58:48 +0000 http://www.interbiketimes.com/?p=287#comment-28723 ABSOLUTELY! I'm in the market right now, and what I really want is a bike that is as stripped-down and barebones as a fixies, but is a ten-speed (with brakes ;) ). Unfortunately, the only time I've ever seen this is custom jobs, and bike shops are pretty much completely lacking in 10-speeds that are under $1000. I'd even settle for a 3 or 5 speed bike, but generally the 3/5 speeders are giant bloopy overloaded novelty bikes that would look more at home on a beach boardwalk than on the streets of NYC. If anyone knows of where to find such a bike I'd be eternally grateful. ABSOLUTELY! I’m in the market right now, and what I really want is a bike that is as stripped-down and barebones as a fixies, but is a ten-speed (with brakes ;) ). Unfortunately, the only time I’ve ever seen this is custom jobs, and bike shops are pretty much completely lacking in 10-speeds that are under $1000. I’d even settle for a 3 or 5 speed bike, but generally the 3/5 speeders are giant bloopy overloaded novelty bikes that would look more at home on a beach boardwalk than on the streets of NYC. If anyone knows of where to find such a bike I’d be eternally grateful.

]]> By: Mauricio Babilonia http://www.interbiketimes.com/2008/06/13/are-bike-shops-selling-the-bikes-new-bikers-want/comment-page-1/#comment-26543 Mauricio Babilonia Thu, 19 Jun 2008 21:09:55 +0000 http://www.interbiketimes.com/?p=287#comment-26543 I agree with Justyna that people will ride more if we can create a bike culture, but only if it is a bikes-as-transportation culture rather than the largely bikes-as-toys attitude that prevails in shops and society at large. If bikes were viewed as a legitimate part of the transportation mix, recreational cycling would continue to thrive and probably grow and improve. It doesn't work the other way around, as is evidenced by the ubiquitous "For Your Own Safety Bikes Should Ride On The Sidewalks Because Only Cars And Trucks Belong On The Road" letters to the editor that appear in newspapers all over the country. The velorution won't happen until that changes. I agree with Justyna that people will ride more if we can create a bike culture, but only if it is a bikes-as-transportation culture rather than the largely bikes-as-toys attitude that prevails in shops and society at large. If bikes were viewed as a legitimate part of the transportation mix, recreational cycling would continue to thrive and probably grow and improve. It doesn’t work the other way around, as is evidenced by the ubiquitous “For Your Own Safety Bikes Should Ride On The Sidewalks Because Only Cars And Trucks Belong On The Road” letters to the editor that appear in newspapers all over the country.

The velorution won’t happen until that changes.

]]> By: Linda DuPriest http://www.interbiketimes.com/2008/06/13/are-bike-shops-selling-the-bikes-new-bikers-want/comment-page-1/#comment-26542 Linda DuPriest Thu, 19 Jun 2008 18:50:22 +0000 http://www.interbiketimes.com/?p=287#comment-26542 Even within the enthusiast market that the industry currently caters to they don't address everyone. Our company works a lot in the women's triathlon area. We meet lots of older women.....women with MONEY. We hear things like "Oh I HATE bike shops!" And, "We have money. Why don't these guys want any of it?" They're ignored, condescended to or dismissed in many of the shops they walk into. And these women aren't looking for a "just-a-bike"; many have fat checkbooks and want a performance road bike. What they do is search and search for a shop that respects them, then they send all their friends there. I myself often conduct "Middle-aged woman walks into a bike shop....." experiments now and then just to see if anything's changed from when I left the bike industry. The last time I did this a kid returned my bike to me with the stem raised and the handlebars tilted up because he knew better than I did the riding position I should be using. He did this after I specifically told him not to during the service intake process. I so much wish I'd said, "Junior, I was racing bikes before you were born. You leave my bike alone." But instead I took my business elsewhere. Now in these days of high gas prices, which the bike industry should be tripping all over itself to exploit, how many normal Americans will be discouraged from bicycling by the attitude they'll encounter in a bike shop? It's too sad to think about. Because most guys aren't in the bike business to make money; they're in it to be around bikes all day. If they were in it to make money, a lot more Americans would be riding bikes. Even within the enthusiast market that the industry currently caters to they don’t address everyone. Our company works a lot in the women’s triathlon area. We meet lots of older women…..women with MONEY. We hear things like “Oh I HATE bike shops!” And, “We have money. Why don’t these guys want any of it?” They’re ignored, condescended to or dismissed in many of the shops they walk into. And these women aren’t looking for a “just-a-bike”; many have fat checkbooks and want a performance road bike. What they do is search and search for a shop that respects them, then they send all their friends there. I myself often conduct “Middle-aged woman walks into a bike shop…..” experiments now and then just to see if anything’s changed from when I left the bike industry. The last time I did this a kid returned my bike to me with the stem raised and the handlebars tilted up because he knew better than I did the riding position I should be using. He did this after I specifically told him not to during the service intake process. I so much wish I’d said, “Junior, I was racing bikes before you were born. You leave my bike alone.” But instead I took my business elsewhere. Now in these days of high gas prices, which the bike industry should be tripping all over itself to exploit, how many normal Americans will be discouraged from bicycling by the attitude they’ll encounter in a bike shop? It’s too sad to think about. Because most guys aren’t in the bike business to make money; they’re in it to be around bikes all day. If they were in it to make money, a lot more Americans would be riding bikes.

]]> By: Justyna http://www.interbiketimes.com/2008/06/13/are-bike-shops-selling-the-bikes-new-bikers-want/comment-page-1/#comment-26536 Justyna Wed, 18 Jun 2008 03:00:11 +0000 http://www.interbiketimes.com/?p=287#comment-26536 This is a ridiculous discussion. As manufacturers and retailers, we are all in the business of selling stuff. But, as I've said on my blog before (<a href="http://www.chicagobikeblog.com/2007/09/its-not-about-3.html" rel="nofollow">click here</a>), this is not about stuff. It is not the stuff that gets people on bikes. We've had great bike stuff for years, and only recently have we experienced an appreciable surge in people actually using bikes to get from one place to another in this country. People will not ride bikes more, because there are more bikes to ride (except in the developing world). People will not commute more, because manufacturers are making more "commuter bikes" (what is a commuter bike, anyway?). People will ride more if we can create a bike culture. How is bike culture created? One place it is created is in bike shops, and this is where we, as retailers, can exercise a bit of control over our destinies. If a person like the commenter named Vee, above, walks into your shop, it is an opportunity for you to support a new cyclist in her quest. Don't miss that opportunity. This is a ridiculous discussion. As manufacturers and retailers, we are all in the business of selling stuff. But, as I’ve said on my blog before (click here), this is not about stuff. It is not the stuff that gets people on bikes. We’ve had great bike stuff for years, and only recently have we experienced an appreciable surge in people actually using bikes to get from one place to another in this country.
People will not ride bikes more, because there are more bikes to ride (except in the developing world). People will not commute more, because manufacturers are making more “commuter bikes” (what is a commuter bike, anyway?). People will ride more if we can create a bike culture.
How is bike culture created? One place it is created is in bike shops, and this is where we, as retailers, can exercise a bit of control over our destinies. If a person like the commenter named Vee, above, walks into your shop, it is an opportunity for you to support a new cyclist in her quest. Don’t miss that opportunity.

]]> By: cafiend http://www.interbiketimes.com/2008/06/13/are-bike-shops-selling-the-bikes-new-bikers-want/comment-page-1/#comment-26534 cafiend Tue, 17 Jun 2008 23:45:55 +0000 http://www.interbiketimes.com/?p=287#comment-26534 Our terrain is very hilly. No matter how much someone wants the simplicity of a one- or three-speed or other internally-geared hub, ones and threes require a lot of effort and more speeds in an internal hub usually come attached to a bike over $400. And there are still weight issues. People heft the bikes in the shop and like something lighter, even if it won't ride as well for them as the heavier model. We do sell mostly bikes in the $300-$400 range. Hybrids dominate. We also do road bikes at various prices, including some cyclocross models no one is buying to race. Our biggest source of income right now is service. Our service department kept us alive during the go-go death and destruction of the mountain bike boom. Hopefully it will see us through the present craze as well. People can buy stuff on line, but who is going to assemble and maintain it for them? I have said before that bike lines from big companies are poorly thought out. http://citizenrider.blogspot.com/2008/06/anyone-want-to-finance-bike-company.html I like that Trek is "targeting" the 161 million, like any good hunter. For the industry, it's all about separating prey from their money. The half-assed attempts to do that killed the boom in the 1990s and left us with the shops full of "variety" that we have today. I have every confidence that they'll butcher it again in their eagerness to profit. Our terrain is very hilly. No matter how much someone wants the simplicity of a one- or three-speed or other internally-geared hub, ones and threes require a lot of effort and more speeds in an internal hub usually come attached to a bike over $400. And there are still weight issues. People heft the bikes in the shop and like something lighter, even if it won’t ride as well for them as the heavier model.

We do sell mostly bikes in the $300-$400 range. Hybrids dominate. We also do road bikes at various prices, including some cyclocross models no one is buying to race.

Our biggest source of income right now is service. Our service department kept us alive during the go-go death and destruction of the mountain bike boom. Hopefully it will see us through the present craze as well. People can buy stuff on line, but who is going to assemble and maintain it for them?

I have said before that bike lines from big companies are poorly thought out. http://citizenrider.blogspot.com/2008/06/anyone-want-to-finance-bike-company.html
I like that Trek is “targeting” the 161 million, like any good hunter. For the industry, it’s all about separating prey from their money. The half-assed attempts to do that killed the boom in the 1990s and left us with the shops full of “variety” that we have today. I have every confidence that they’ll butcher it again in their eagerness to profit.

]]> By: kind1 http://www.interbiketimes.com/2008/06/13/are-bike-shops-selling-the-bikes-new-bikers-want/comment-page-1/#comment-26532 kind1 Tue, 17 Jun 2008 18:56:38 +0000 http://www.interbiketimes.com/?p=287#comment-26532 the link to the BRAIN article: http://www.bicycleretailer.com/news/newsDetail/1463.html Shops only sell what is given to them by the manufacturers. The simple fact is that the large brands have always force fed us with what they think is cool. Add on top of that that new cyclists (and those who have been riding for years) feel intimidated going into some shops doesn't help the cause. Cycling is an incredibly fragmented industry but it is also that way at the user level. Each niche looks down on the next niche and that is played out in the shops. Only 12% of the people in the US actually ride a bike with some regularity according to last years #'s (36 million). The upside is huge but we have to start working together on all levels before we can grow it the link to the BRAIN article:

http://www.bicycleretailer.com/news/newsDetail/1463.html

Shops only sell what is given to them by the manufacturers. The simple fact is that the large brands have always force fed us with what they think is cool. Add on top of that that new cyclists (and those who have been riding for years) feel intimidated going into some shops doesn’t help the cause.

Cycling is an incredibly fragmented industry but it is also that way at the user level. Each niche looks down on the next niche and that is played out in the shops.

Only 12% of the people in the US actually ride a bike with some regularity according to last years #’s (36 million). The upside is huge but we have to start working together on all levels before we can grow it

]]> By: Matt http://www.interbiketimes.com/2008/06/13/are-bike-shops-selling-the-bikes-new-bikers-want/comment-page-1/#comment-26529 Matt Tue, 17 Jun 2008 14:05:12 +0000 http://www.interbiketimes.com/?p=287#comment-26529 This has been looming for a while. QBP is on it with their new Civia line but they're costly--I saw one of the Rohloff 14-speed sepc'd bikes for $3,200. I really like tbe Breezer Uptown 8s. Those internal geared hubs are what people need but it's a tough sell against a better-sounding 24-speed. There are going to be a lot of unsuitable bikes, too-highly-geared 1970s 10-speeds, overly-suspended mountain bikes, badly maintained old bikes of all stripes, but the suitable machines are available. It's just tough to find them unless you are a commuting enthusiast. Tooting my own horn a bit, I wrote about gears in an article on my website at http://www.uscoles.com/threespeedgearing.pdf. It's aimed at three-speed riders, but the page four graph compares three-speeds, the current Nexus 8-speed, a 1970s 10-speed and a current 27-speed's gearing and shows how useful the 8-speed range is and how much exact or near-duplication derailleur bikes have. Clever Cycles out in Portland (who have some great Dutch city bikes, by the way) use this graph to help explain the appeal of the seemingly limited number of gears on the Nexus hubs. In the meantime, have people gear those ten-speeds down, get those knobbies off the mountain bikes, add fenders, a rack, a bell and a kickstand and they're good to go. Final bit of tooting: I also wrote a commuting guide for a community class. It's a PDF at http://www.uscoles.com/bicycle%20commuting%20handbook%20beta.pdf and will have little of note for the readers of this blog. This has been looming for a while. QBP is on it with their new Civia line but they’re costly–I saw one of the Rohloff 14-speed sepc’d bikes for $3,200. I really like tbe Breezer Uptown 8s. Those internal geared hubs are what people need but it’s a tough sell against a better-sounding 24-speed. There are going to be a lot of unsuitable bikes, too-highly-geared 1970s 10-speeds, overly-suspended mountain bikes, badly maintained old bikes of all stripes, but the suitable machines are available. It’s just tough to find them unless you are a commuting enthusiast.

Tooting my own horn a bit, I wrote about gears in an article on my website at http://www.uscoles.com/threespeedgearing.pdf. It’s aimed at three-speed riders, but the page four graph compares three-speeds, the current Nexus 8-speed, a 1970s 10-speed and a current 27-speed’s gearing and shows how useful the 8-speed range is and how much exact or near-duplication derailleur bikes have. Clever Cycles out in Portland (who have some great Dutch city bikes, by the way) use this graph to help explain the appeal of the seemingly limited number of gears on the Nexus hubs.

In the meantime, have people gear those ten-speeds down, get those knobbies off the mountain bikes, add fenders, a rack, a bell and a kickstand and they’re good to go.

Final bit of tooting: I also wrote a commuting guide for a community class. It’s a PDF at http://www.uscoles.com/bicycle%20commuting%20handbook%20beta.pdf and will have little of note for the readers of this blog.

]]> By: steve http://www.interbiketimes.com/2008/06/13/are-bike-shops-selling-the-bikes-new-bikers-want/comment-page-1/#comment-26527 steve Tue, 17 Jun 2008 13:28:47 +0000 http://www.interbiketimes.com/?p=287#comment-26527 I don't know about the industry as a whole, but every shop I've worked for stays alive by the 300 to 400 dollar comfort/hybrid. High end stuff sits on the shelf and ends up being blown out during a sale. These bikes, with some accessories, are perfect for a commute. VENITRA, take a look at some of these. Every shop has them. DO NOT get lured into a department store bike. As a big guy (230 lbs), I can tell you that you need something of the quality only sold at your local bike shop. If you need help with this, please post back up here and I will try to help. Check these out and see if you have a local dealer: http://www.electrabike.com/townie/ I don’t know about the industry as a whole, but every shop I’ve worked for stays alive by the 300 to 400 dollar comfort/hybrid. High end stuff sits on the shelf and ends up being blown out during a sale. These bikes, with some accessories, are perfect for a commute.

VENITRA, take a look at some of these. Every shop has them. DO NOT get lured into a department store bike. As a big guy (230 lbs), I can tell you that you need something of the quality only sold at your local bike shop. If you need help with this, please post back up here and I will try to help. Check these out and see if you have a local dealer: http://www.electrabike.com/townie/

]]> By: Venitra Clark http://www.interbiketimes.com/2008/06/13/are-bike-shops-selling-the-bikes-new-bikers-want/comment-page-1/#comment-26526 Venitra Clark Tue, 17 Jun 2008 12:31:44 +0000 http://www.interbiketimes.com/?p=287#comment-26526 Hello, I am a female at 270 pounds, and would like to buy a bike that could transport me from home to work. Work is about 10 minutes from my house by car. I would have to do a lot of night driving, and I really don't want to spend 100's of dollars on a bike. I live in a small town of about 30,000 people. We do have a cycling shop here in town. Along with all the major retailers. Can you suggest some buying options for me? Any help would be greatly appreciated. Oh, and I have not been on a bike since high school, and I am 58 years old. Vee Hello,

I am a female at 270 pounds, and would like to buy a bike that could transport me from home to work. Work is about 10 minutes from my house by car. I would have to do a lot of night driving, and I really don’t want to spend 100’s of dollars on a bike.
I live in a small town of about 30,000 people. We do have a cycling shop here in town. Along with all the major retailers. Can you suggest some buying options for me?
Any help would be greatly appreciated. Oh, and I have not been on a bike since high school, and I am 58 years old.

Vee

]]> By: Mike http://www.interbiketimes.com/2008/06/13/are-bike-shops-selling-the-bikes-new-bikers-want/comment-page-1/#comment-26521 Mike Tue, 17 Jun 2008 00:36:10 +0000 http://www.interbiketimes.com/?p=287#comment-26521 It's getting there. The problem is not having enough of those few bikes that just make sense - the DiamondBack Transporter is one. Great price, great spec. After I picked up a '69 Raleigh Superbe for my 1/2 mile commute, I've had several customers give me carte blanche to find one for them too. Bikes need to be stripped down of all those unnecessary suspension seat posts, suspension forks and adjustable stems. Saves weight and money to boot. It’s getting there. The problem is not having enough of those few bikes that just make sense – the DiamondBack Transporter is one. Great price, great spec.

After I picked up a ‘69 Raleigh Superbe for my 1/2 mile commute, I’ve had several customers give me carte blanche to find one for them too. Bikes need to be stripped down of all those unnecessary suspension seat posts, suspension forks and adjustable stems. Saves weight and money to boot.

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