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Dec
2
Urban Cycle Fashion & the Cult of Transportation
Filed Under Cycling, Gear, Industry News, Interbike | Comments Off
Arrggghh! Can’t seem to get away from the urban cycling culture coverage in the media! Actually, this one hit me way back in May and, aside from bookmarking it and making a mental note to post about it, it’s just sat around gathering dust. It’s still no less relevant and intertesting to those of us in the biz, though, so here it is, finally.
Label Networks is a site that focuses on “youth culture intelligence and news” and is fairly well known in the more fashion-centric industries like those served by Interbike’s sister trade show, ASR. With that said, the bike industry’s young (in both tenure and demographic) fixie/urban category appears on their trend-spotting radar screens unlike our traditional “technical” bike apparel. Like my recent post on outdoor retailers and cycling, this is an interesting view into how this category is being exposed and explained to the non-endemic fashion community.
It’s a tad old, but still worth a read: The Urban Cycle Fashion Movement and the Cult of Transportation. The piece mentions cycling inspired apparel from Adidas, New Era and Outlier among others.
Note: Just noticed a more recent and updated version of the article from this Aug: Urban Cycling and How Fixies Are Transforming the Cult of Transportation Into a Lifestyle
As any strong movement grows, so too does a new industry, including of course the growth of bike shops in urban centers, and events such as Midnight Rides in various cities, plus art shows showcasing the creative energy of the of movement, and self-made videos and documentaries as seen during the touring Bicycle Film Festival.
Nov
20
Urban Cyclists and the Outdoor Retailer
Filed Under Cycling, Deep Thoughts, Industry News, Interbike | 1 Comment
I’m always on the look out for coverage of cycling in the non-endemic media, and am especially interested in non-endemic trade media mentions, which are rare. Well, I just had one of these rare sightings and it’s an valuable read for bike dealers.
The September/October issue of SGB (Sporting Goods Business) magazine has an interesting article by Kate Siber entitled, “The New Morning Commute – Thrift, Gas Prices and Urban Style Make Cycling Hip Again.” The point of the article, given the reader audience of SGB–sporting goods and outdoor retailers–is to enlighten them to the evolution and growth of transportation and utilitarian cycling of the last few years that we in the bike industry are well aware of, AND the business opportunities they present to the outdoor retail channel. The article causes a lot of questions to be raised about what the existing bike retail channel is doing to serve or not serve the new cyclists’ needs.
“The take away is that now is an excellent time to tap the burgeoning bike-commuter market.”
The logic seems solid: who among us cyclists doesn’t also frequent outdoor goods stores? REI and, recently, Canada’s Mountain Equipment Coop have very visibly figured this out. What’s happening now is that the growth of the non-enthusiast urban cyclist means that potentially even more of the outdoor stores’ existing customer base are cyclists and in the market for gear and apparel to meet their new riding and style needs.
Is this a warning to the bike industry that someone else is looking to take advantage of a cycling segment that, as we’ve discussed in the past, we’re not adequately serving? Or, conversely, would the prospect of wider availability of cycling related goods help to broaden the “brand awareness” of the bicycle? That would help grow the pie for all of us. And make the world a better place. Right?
This opportunity is being missed by many outdoor stores, the article states. Despite the growth in urban cycling, “many outdoor stores do not identify the bike commuter as one of their core customers.” Upon calling a downtown Portland, OR, outdoor store, the author was told that they “weren’t involved with bike commuters.” I love her response to that:
“No bike commuters in an outdoor store in downtown Portland? Perhaps they were in disguise as regular old customers.”
The article goes on to say that many independent bike dealers are on to this trend and have begun to take advantage of this market. It’s good to hear that what had previously existed mostly outside of the manufacturer-to-retailer-to-cyclist ecosystem has started to move to the dealer channel best equipped to service the cyclist. Boston’s Wheelworks and Denver’s Salvagetti are IBD success stories called out by the magazine. Personally, I’ve also noticed many new “urban-centric” and “fixie-centric” shops opening up over the last couple of years to serve this market, answering the question that Bicycle Retailer asked last year, “Are bike shops selling the bikes new bikers want to buy?”. And for anyone who visited the Electra booth at this year’s show and saw their new Ticino line of components, it’s clear that manufacturers are really starting to step it up with gear to help IBD’s serve these emerging and trendy categories better.
Ms. Siber also discusses the growth of fixed gear bikes and fixie culture and lifestyle. The importance of style to the category, she writes, could be very well addressed by outdoor retailers because of their experience with selling fashion and apparel. The perception of different store types’ strengths by casual and urban cyclists is critical to note. IBD’s are still perceived, for the most part, as purveyors of lycra and spandex. As apparel maker Sheila Moon is quoted in the article:
“These customers tend not to expect these types of duds in bike shops. Whenever they think of bike shops and clothing, they think of spandex.”
We definitely saw a noticeable increase in attendance by non-bike dealers this year at Interbike in the form of outdoor recreation and performance sports stores. Bikes continue to be sold in bike shops, mainly, but customers will look to a variety of other stores for apparel. At Interbike, we have tried to directly target this situation with the launch of the Urban Legend fashion show. The concept was to put these casual, urban apparel brands and styles and bikes in front of the industry and retailers to educate them on what’s happening out there.
Now I don’t necessarily take the knee jerk reaction that these new sellers of bike gear are bad for the IBD. As I mentioned earlier here and in previous posts, I think that we need to put bikes in front of the non-cyclists in the places they shop because that’s not necessarily in bike shops. I think we also need to continue to work to soften some of the enthusiast focus of retailers if we want to appeal to a broader audience. That’s not to say that there’s no place for our beloved pro shops. But as for taking advantage of new categories of riders (customers!), we need to address the aspects of our existing retail experience that may be intimidating, at best, or off-putting, at worst, to them. Maybe Shimano’s Coasting project uncovered the right challenges that we need to address, but ended up with the wrong solution. Instead of new displays inside of existing bike dealers, maybe they should have been placed in the habitats of the non-cyclists that we all want to reach. (Heresy?)
I’ll leave with a final quote from the article that is encouraging if only because it seems to equate bike lifestyle with that holy-grail of predominantly non-enthusiast customer categories: surf wear. Only a few short years ago, this statement would have been laughable.
“Much like the surf market, bike style appeals to a demographic far broader than just the enthusiasts. It represents an ethos.”
Oct
2
Salon.com Xtracycle Video
Filed Under Cycling, Exhibitor News, Gear, Interbike, Video | Comments Off
Got this from TJ at Sportgenic, sponsors of the Social Media Panels Seminars at Interbike last week, via Twitter this morning. As he put it, this video from Salon.com’s Mark Benjamin exploring the range of uses for his new Xtracycle is “classic”. Here’s the article that goes along with the video. Ed Begley Jr. would be proud.
Aug
29
Urban Legend Fashion and Art Show
Filed Under Attendee News, Cycling, Exhibitor News, Industry News, Interbike | 5 Comments
So in a last minute flurry of creative activity here, we’ve managed to put together something that we’re really excited about. Check out the blurb below that was sent out to retailers yesterday by email as the first official announcement of our brand new “Urban Legend Fashion and Art Show” at Interbike this year:
Urban Legend
Presented by Momentum Magazine
Bikes, Art and Fashion in motion. A self propelled cycling art and fashion show that brings the cutting edge of urban bicycle culture to life. Cycling for transportation is one of the hottest sectors in the bike industry today. A change is happening on the streets and people are integrating bikes into their everyday lives. Urban Legend is about expanding our perceptions of what it looks like to ride a bike. Immerse yourself in the trends of the urban cycling category and join us for a unique preview of the latest products designed for practical cycling style and function. Witness the evolution of urban transport, enjoy a cold beer, some dj-spun tunes and take in art inspired by a passion for bicycles. This fashion show will highlight a range of stylish, smart, sexy and professional looks that fit into everyday life and work great on a bike.
“The urban cycling market is different than the ‘Ricky Racer’ crowd – the typical lycra scene is not exactly what appeals to the urban rider. The Urban Legend fashion show highlights the more accurate wants and needs of the urban cyclist and helps spotlight ideas to help retailers provide those items to the urban riders who are walking into their stores.” – Tim Jackson, Brand Manager, Masi Bicycles
Location: Venetian Ballroom G
Time: Thursday, September 25th, 5pm
For the last few years we’ve talked here in the office about trying to put on a fashion show at Interbike, but could never really come up with the right format. The traditional runway style with models in bike apparel walking a catwalk never seemed appropriate. We’ve also been talking about ways to feature all the great gear and bikes that have been cropping up for urban and transportation cycling, with no real success.
Then a couple of weeks ago, I read on Tim Jackson of Masi Bicycles blog that he was planning a trip up to Vancouver which would include a visit with the Momentum Magazine team. It had been a while since I had checked in on Momentum and after reading about a small fashion sow they had done, I was really impressed with the format they came up with and thought it was perfect for both those things we had been wanting to put together in Vegas. I called up Mia at Momentum and introduced myself and we chatted for a bit about the concept she said they were interested in helping us do it on a bigger scale in Vegas.
So what’s the big deal about this fashion show? Well, for starters the models will be riding urban, folding, utilitarian and commuting bikes. Second, the outfits that Momentum will be selecting (not us – we trust Mia and her team’s eye for style more than ours) from industry apparel companies will be urban and casual cycling wear – not the enthusiast and racing-inspired attire like lycra shorts and euro-pro jerseys. We love those styles, but in the current climate of growing acceptance and use of bikes in everyday life, we believe that retailers and manufacturers would benefit most from seeing the latest in these styles and how they look in action.
OK, so the apparel theme is a bit different…what else? This is the coolest part, to me. Instead of a typical runway setup, there will be a course laid out on the floor of the ballroom in a loop. The attendees to the show will be standing in and around the loop and the models will ride essentially among the audience. This way, it shows the outfits in their designed-for use and allows most everyone there to have a front row seat. With the addition of the bicycle-inspired artwork displayed throughout the room, the feel should be very reminiscent of an art gallery showing – truly enhancing the presentation of the bikes and the fashion to a higher level that they deserve. There will be drinks served and a dj spinning tunes.
So that’s it in a nutshell. Since this really is a late addition to the schedule, expect more info and news very soon and as we get closer to the show. I think this will be an awesome addition to the show and a resource to the industry for this important and growing category. We’re really glad to have Momentum partnering with us on this and thankful for their inspiration. After the show, we can all head down to Mandalay Bay for some fast and furious (sorry) crit racing that night. What a week we’ve got ahead of us, huh?
Note: In his quote above and in our collateral about the fashion show, Tim followed his “Ricky Racer” comment with a “not that there’s anything wrong with that” type qualifier. I took it out for better flow, but just wanted to help Tim avoid any angry emails or digs directed at him from the Ricky Racer crowd, of which I am a proud member. I’m looking forward to the fashion show myself for some ideas on how to broaden my bike attire from all the primary colored polyester that fills my bike drawer. Not that there’s anything wrong with that, right?
Aug
9
Bikes at the Outdoor Retailer Show
Filed Under Exhibitor News, Gear, Industry News, Interbike, Photos | 4 Comments
I’m here in Salt Lake City working one of Interbike’s sister shows, Outdoor Retailer. OR is bigger in physical size than Interbike (about 20%) and about the same percentage less in people. It’s a huge show that fills every – and I mean every – nook and cranny of the Salt Palace Convention Center. The show’s gotten so big that we’ve had to expand across the street into the Energy Solutions Arena where the Utah Jazz pro basketball team plays.
Filling all this space along with all the climbing, hiking, kayaking, camping, trail running, canoeing retailers and manufacturers are a lot of bikes. Not surprisingly, many of these outdoor industry people are bikers themselves so having a bike category in their line of products is logical. Here are a few of the bikes and bike-related sights that I’ve seen since the show opened yesterday.
First up is the scene outside the show. Clif Bar had their bio-diesel bus out front with a bunch of bikes lined up.
I’ve been wanting to check out Gramicci since they recently announced that they were going to release a line of urban-friendly bike wear. This morning I stopped by their booth to see what they had planned. They are an established outdoor industry brand founded in Southern California and are known for garment died worn and weathered look. “Live free, love nature, Never the Norm” is a line from the catalog I picked up. Their bike line fits right in with casual styles that don’t hint at their bike functionality. They’ve incorporated some high-tech materials to enhance the function, but have focused on making sure they don’t feel synthetic. Nice looking.
Gramicci had 3 bikes on display that were decorated by artists that they were auctioning off for a non-profit group. They also had a helmet to go along with each.
A few pieces from their “Urban Rider” line. The t-shirt is a cotton-poly mix for super soft touch but has some wicking ability. The chamois inserts are removable so you don’t need to walk around all day in it once you’re off the bike:
And for the ladies:
Here’s a performance cycling example from the show floor in the Timex booth. Speaking of performance, I was introduced to two guys from Training Peaks Software. They write the software for Timex’s training gear and their programs are used by pros including George Hincapie and Levi Leipheimer among others.
A Surly in the Pacific Outdoor Equipment booth. Stopped to chat with Greg from POE and he filled me in on the company’s gear and ethos. Their welded fabric technology really makes their packs, bags and panniers unique and sleek looking. When I asked if they were planning to be at Interbike this year, he said that a lot of people here at the OR show have been telling him that they need to be there. I agree.
At the Smartwool booth they had a bunch of bike wheels decorating their booth with this cool coaster from New Belgium Brewing Co. inserted in the spokes:
And this is Krista from the Salt Lake City Bicycle Collective. They are handling the bike parking for the show this year. I met her at the OR Industry party last night where the band Rusted Root played. She said that she will be heading out to Interbike this year for the first time. Make sure to welcome her if you run into her in Vegas!
You can follow the news of the show at the online version of the OR Show Daily.