With all the bad news....

[sundial]

...are you riding more to combat the stress? :)

Recently I went into my LBS and it was overflowing with '09 bikes. I'm wondering if in the coming days many people will return to cycling as a means of combating the stress, or simply for another means of transportation. People may soon become healthier. Perhaps this is the silver lining. :)

[Zen]

I think a lot of people will become sicker as they can only afford the dollar menu items :(
But maybe that will even out by using a bike for transportation.

I doubt those folks will be buying an '09, though.

[BleeckerSt_Girl]

People ARE riding bikes more, and many who live within 10 miles of work are experimenting with bike commuting. But I agree with Zen- most people are not buying new bikes- they are buying used bikes or pulling old bikes out of storage and tuning them up.
I like the fact that so many well made old bikes are getting a face lift and getting back out on the road for practical riding- work commuting, errands...good old working bikes. :)

[smilingcat]

Gas prices will be going back past the $3.50 level sometime this summer. Some pessimists say it will be in spring time. Who knows??

I think that will get more people back onto their bikes.

Smilingcat

[Aggie_Ama]

My cousin took my mom and aunt's old bikes to restore. He wanted a project. I hope there is a hidden gem in there, although my Mammaw and Pawpaw were not rich folk but everything was better made back then. My mom was born in 1955, her sister 1944.

[Crankin]

I have seen more winter commuters around here; challenging to say the least with all of the ice and snow. Last summer and fall there were definitely more people riding, both for commuting and recreation.
When my son was home on leave one thing he noticed was the incredible increase in the number of women cyclists around here since the time he started riding in 1999. He sat down on the town green with his bike and had quite a few younger women challenge him to a ride!
I think more people will exercise as a stress reducer; maybe they won't all ride, but walking, hiking, and running are essentially free if you have shoes. And yes, I think a lot of people will be pulling out old bikes.
I am not riding more, but I am exercising more, trying out a variety of things. It keeps my mind clear for all of my studying and also to deal with the fact that I still need to get an offer for an internship position for next year (where they don't even have to pay me!).

[Tuckervill]

I think a lot of people will become sicker as they can only afford the dollar menu items .

How weird, I said the same thing yesterday at the gym, in response to a story on the news about weight gain during a recession!

Karen

[Running Mommy]

well in our little lbs the poor economy is rearing it's ugly head. We are trying to make it, but truth be told... we may not.
People are not buying new bikes, or the ones they are buying are the cheaper mtn bikes and comfort bikes.
Our service department is booming. We have a virtual herd in the service bay, but even the service bikes arent bringing in much revenue. People are balking at a 40.00 tune up. They want the absolute minimum done.
We have become known as more of a mountain shop, so we have had some success there, but road bike sales are flat. I did sell two womens road bikes in the last couple of weeks, but that's been it for awhile. Luckily we still have the snowbirds to sell comfort bikes to. And it seems they are not as effected by all of this.
It sucks really. Our little shop has so much potential, but the credit markets have tightened up so much that we are cash poor. And without cash... your toast.
sigh...
So I'm home today, searching online for a "real" job. And yes, I do plan on going for a ride once it warms up a bit to clear my head. I'm thinking I may even take running son on a mtn bike ride after he finishes his homework.

[sundial]

Running Mommy, I'm really sorry. :( :(

[sundial]

Oil may be up to $180/barrel soon. More commuters are on the way I suppose.

[BleeckerSt_Girl]

I'm sorry to hear that about your LBS struggling. :(
I guess most of us are experiencing economic slowdowns now. Our work has decreased substantially this past couple of months as well.

I envision many bike shops changing their focus to survive- away from racing/road bikes and towards cheaper end commuter, hybrid, and mountain bikes.
Lots of people like riding mountain bikes on the road, their mtn bikes will never ever see any kind of mountain ;) and I suspect they have them because they got them cheap.
There will inevitably be fewer roadies in lycra as people have less leisure time and less money for non-essentials. People will do less driving-somewhere-to-go-biking, and more going to the neighborhood store and/or going to work on their bikes, or just riding from home.

I see people buying much cheaper bikes and used bikes, and then having to get them serviced and repaired more.
There is a HUGE number of serviceable dusty bikes in peoples' garages just waiting to be put back into service. We are going to see legions of these old bikes back on the road.
Cheap new bikes, cheap old bikes, and bike repair will be the big thing.
You'll see fewer kids leaving their bikes lying out on their front lawn in the rain, because A)The bike will be stolen and therefore GONE... and B)Their parents won't just automatically buy them a new bike to replace it like they used to.

If people balk at a $40 tuneup and are not able or willing to learn to do it themselves, well they'll just ride that bike until something totally gives up, and then they'll have no choice but to get it tuned up and repaired or junk it. People are going to be balking at everything as money gets tighter. But a bike tune up still costs way less than a car tune up! :cool:
I think most new bikers who have not biked in years and are just coming back to it are still stuck in a 1980's mindset in terms of prices. But if they really are determined to ride their bikes now, they will quickly realize that yes the price of everything has changed since 1980. :rolleyes:

[ridebikeme]

It does indeed seem that more people are riding here as well. In this area, I always seem to do a lot of repairs on older bikes... last year was nothing different for me. Although I will say, that last season was a large repair year for me.

Running Mommy, I know exactly how you feel. In our rural area, we are really tied into the paper industry. After 911, business fell off everywhere here, and has NOT even started to come back. In New England alone, almost 400 bike shops closed that year!Obviously with the economy, it is sliding even more. I ended up moving the shop, and concentrated more on repairs . I would still sell bikes, but didn't stock a whole lot. That also meant that I was the only employee. Like you, I had tried everything... after being in the business for so long (17 years) I thought things were hopeless. However, things have become a bit better, and I hope things do for you as well. It definitely is NOT a business to get rich in, but if you truly "love" it , things always seem to work out in the long run. Each shop has its own story, and I encourage you to capitalize on yours. Within the shop, where can you make a bigger profit margin with less expense? Can you reach out to the community and your best customers and find a niche?

I wish you well and keep us informed!!

[sundial]

There is a HUGE number of serviceable dusty bikes in peoples' garages just waiting to be put back into service. We are going to see legions of these old bikes back on the road.

I agree! We'll see a revival of the accidental cyclist.

[smilingcat]

:( sorry to hear about the crunch RM,

From what I can see is maybe time to go after the people who need to have the dusted up bike to bring their rig in for a really cheap service. Things that doesn't cost too much for you and not too much time, you might be able to make it.

Time really isn't for pushing Colnago, Cervelo or even high end Specialized. I think yo can find a niche above the big box store (stay out of their way since no way to compete against them). Be creative and think beyond the norm. Maybe get into supporting skateboarders too?? who knows...

Was reading just released Fed report. pretty dismal and I think its being optimistic. Yes more dusted bikes will be coming out.

And yes I found a receipt for my Panasonic bike bought back in the early part of '80s WHOA!!! I thought it was expensive at $560.00 I also found my litespeed bill. That was $2,000 back in the '90s. and now HOW MUCH ?? :eek:

yes accidental cyclists will be out there in force. Thinking about Margo's Una was it called the single speed. :D noticed it had brake hood on both sides instead on just one side ???? no brake for the rear... Just dreaming, had to take a pay cut last month so I'm poor right now. And I do see our division being scuttled in third or fourth quarter :eek:

Smilingcat

[ehirsch83]

The shops down here in South FL have all been hit also. But... I have heard, from MEN, that cycling is becoming the new GENTLEMEN SPORT. Hopefully,RM, you will start to see that out there also.

As money is getting tight, a lot of men seem to be cutting back on the golf course membership fees and getting into cycling instead. As expensive as a nice road bike is, it is very little compared to many club membership annual fees and monthly spending requirements.

Lets hope this transfers from FL to AZ!

[Wahine]

((((((RM))))))

I did hear an analysis that said that while all ovther sports are seeing a decrease in spending, Triathlon is continuing to grow at a rate of 15 to 20%. How are your Tri sales?

[Mr. Bloom]

RM - I really hope the warmth of spring brings more folks in