Where's the bicycle market headed?
The Wall Street Journal reports that custom bicycles — with pricetags upwards of $10,000 — are the new rage for bike makers seeking to push up their bottom line.
Meanwhile, the Boston Globe says that “simple cycling” is the way to go. The style manifests itself in the line of easy-to-ride bicycles that use the automatic shifting Coasting system developed by Shimano.
Dire stats?
Whether you favor the simple or the custom concept, you gotta agree that something needs to be done. The WSJ reported a scary statistic on declining bike use in “Custom bicycles for the masses.”
One from the National Sporting Goods Assocation reports that the number of people riding bicycles fell 8.7% from 2001 to 2006. In spite of that seeming lack of interest (you always have to question methodology), the Bicycle Products Suppliers Association reports a 16% increase in unit sales and dollar sales up 33%.
The WSJ reasons that the increase comes from bike aficionadoes buying multiple bikes (who would have thunk it?), especially the ego-pumping limited-edition bicycles.
Limited editions
Some bicycle manufacturers embracing this concept:
Specialized's Langster road bicycles employ limited runs and offerings styled to different cities, such as Seattle, London and New York;
Seattle Bike Supply created a limited edition (80) Redline Cyclo-Cross bike that sold for $2,500 and a LaPierre Tour Replica bike that goes for $5,300;
Giant Bicycles imported only 200 City Storm model bikes (at top) to the US. It was created by a British interior designer (see “Should designers stay away from bicycles?” at the Bicycle Design blog).
Simple and custom
A company that encompasses the custom concept and the simple theme is Trek.
The company's Project One bikes are essentially designed by the buyers, who choose the style of bike (road, mountain, tandem) and brand, paint scheme, custom name and select components. I just put together the BikingBis Project One Madone bike that costs between $3,500 and $8,000, depending on the components. (I stopped before hitting the order button.)
Meanwhile Trek is one of three bike manufacturers that have embraced Shimano's Coasting concept. The Trek Lime (left) (Warning: turn down your speakers. Trek believes that annoying music adds to the web-browing experience) has that comfortable seat and automatic three-speed shifting.
Raleigh and Giant also have versions of the Coasting bicycles.
The Boston Globe also says bicycle-buying trends include folding bikes (such as Dahon) and utility bikes, like those equipped with Xtracycle Sport Utility Bicycle addition.
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