gas prices knock bicycle sales, repairs into higher gear

[Kid A]

Timely article for those keeping true to bike to work week/day.

Sent from Express News
BISMARCK, N.D. - Four-dollar-a-gallon gas is good for business - if you run a bike shop.

Commuters around the country are dusting off their old two-wheelers - or buying new ones - to cope with rising fuel prices, bicycle dealers say.

"Everyone that comes in the shop is talking about the gas prices," said Barry Dahl, who opened Barry's Bikes in Bismarck in April. He sold more than 50 bicycles in the first month, double the projections in his business plan.

Teacher Joyce McCusker of Herndon, Va., owns a bicycle for the first time in years. She bought it last month and uses it to make the eight-mile trip home
from work. A friend drives her pickup to take McCusker's daughter home from school.

"I'm still using fossil fuel," she said. "In two years, my goal is to ride both ways, every day through the year."

About 18 million bicycles have been sold annually in the U.S. over the past few years, accounting for about $6 billion in annual sales, said Fred Clements, executive director the National Bicycle Dealers Association in Costa Mesa, Calif.

Bicycle shops across the country are reporting strong sales so far this year, and more people are bringing in bikes that have been idled for years, he said.

"People are riding bicycles a lot more often, and it's due to a mixture of things but escalating gas prices is one of them," said Bill Nesper, spokesman for the Washington. D.C.-based League of American Bicyclists.

"We're seeing a spike in the number of calls we're getting from people wanting tips on bicycle commuting," he said.

The League of American Bicyclists is promoting Bike-to-Work Week this week and Bike-to-Work Day on May 16. Nesper said he expects a record number of people will be pedaling this year.

There's almost nowhere for the numbers to go but up: The group says less than one-half of 1 percent of Americans ride a bike to work.

Mark Krenz, 48, is giving it a try. The Bismarck auto-parts store manager recently spent $750 on the 24-speed bike and is building up his mileage to prepare for his hilly commute.

"In this business, everybody is constantly talking about how to save gas," Krenz said. "I bought a bike because I figure it's a good way to save money, get in shape and save wear and tear on my pickup."

Rocky Schell, owner of Val's Cycle in Minot, said this may be one of the best years in the history of the shop, started by his father in 1960.

It's seeing a spike in the number of tuneups and repairs, which had been declining for the past 15 years. Schell said he's also selling lots of bike trailers designed to haul children - customers are using them for groceries
instead.

A big percentage of Schell's customers haven't been on a bike in decades.

"I'm seeing more people my age or older coming in," said Schell, 51. "The college-age kids to 30-year-olds aren't the ones coming in. They still want to drive."

Dahl, the Bismarck bike shop owner, said he's worked several on "dusty and rusty" bicycles that hadn't been ridden in at least 25 years. He said many families have told him that that they intend to go on a bicycle tour this summer instead of driving somewhere for vacation.

"Millions of people have bicycles hanging in the garage and they're getting them down and riding them," said Rebecca Anderson, advocacy director for Trek Bicycle
Corp. "People are looking at the bicycle as more than just a toy."

The Waterloo, Wis.-based company last year started a program called One World, Two Wheels to promote bicycles for transportation and recreation. Anderson said that about 40 percent of trips by car are 2 miles or less - "a habit for some people to get in a car and drive just a few blocks."

Clive Greenberg, a salesman at Metro Bicycles in New York City, said spin cycling classes at health clubs, where people use stationary bikes for a workout, also are spurring bicycle sales.

"It's pretty interesting, a good majority of middle-age people involved in that spinning craze at the gym used to come in and buy cycling shoes," he said. "Now they are getting on real bikes."

Engineer Dale Heinert said he's been seeing more fellow bicycle commuters on his daily trek to work in downtown Bismarck.

Heinert, 56, started cycling to work when the price of gas began skyrocketing - in 1973. But that isn't the only reason for choosing pedal power: "It's a stress-reliever," he said.

Steve Stelton, 47, of Bismarck, was inspired by Greg LeMond's 1986 Tour de France victory and has been commuting year-round ever since. He said he's
physically fit because of it and has saved "a ton of money on gas."

Stelton, a printer, doesn't let North Dakota's cold, windy weather slow him down. He said he's ridden to work on snow-covered roads when the wind chill temperature was 40-below zero.

"If you waited for a bluebird day to ride to work in North Dakota," he said, "you'd never do it."


By JAMES MacPHERSON Associated Press Writer

[Zippy]

Sweet! Gas companies can suck it!

[rushak]

They can! I've lessened my carbon footprint with this! 100mpg!!!

[Zippy]

Dude, that thing is awesome. You ever take it off any sweet jumps?

[rushak]

I jump it over speed bumps and that's about it. It is a really fun ride!

[Justin]

Hurray for our LBS

[DeeZee]

[quote=rushak;285571]They can! I've lessened my carbon footprint with this! 100mpg!!!

A look into our future.......

[0gravity]

Those scooters look really cool. What are they and how much do they cost?

[drclark]

Originally Posted by Kid A

Stelton, a printer, doesn't let North Dakota's cold, windy weather slow him down. He said he's ridden to work on snow-covered roads when the wind chill temperature was 40-below zero.

"If you waited for a bluebird day to ride to work in North Dakota," he said, "you'd never do it."


By JAMES MacPHERSON Associated Press Writer

Man, I have no excuse for not commuting during the "rainy season".

On a more serious note, I hope that these newfound bicycle commuters brush up on the vehicle code w.r.t. biking. The last thing I want to see is a bunch of commuter-noobs riding up on the sidewalks, running stopsigns and the like.

drc

[pitmang1]

Originally Posted by 0gravity

Those scooters look really cool. What are they and how much do they cost?

They start at $2049

Ruckus Scooter

[allison]

Originally Posted by drclark

On a more serious note, I hope that these newfound bicycle commuters brush up on the vehicle code w.r.t. biking. The last thing I want to see is a bunch of commuter-noobs riding up on the sidewalks, running stopsigns and the like.

drc

You obviously don't read RBR (roadbike review forums)

My biggest complaint about others on the road (they are not roadies...um, you could call them "commuters" I guess) is that they ride AGAINST traffic, which also means they are riding AT me. Not cool.

You'd think after a few head on moments they'd see that a lot of people in "cycling" clothes are going WITH traffic and possibly think that is the correct way to ride. But, noo..

[surlygal]

Originally Posted by drclark

Man, I have no excuse for not commuting during the "rainy season".

On a more serious note, I hope that these newfound bicycle commuters brush up on the vehicle code w.r.t. biking. The last thing I want to see is a bunch of commuter-noobs riding up on the sidewalks, running stopsigns and the like.

drc

Dude this is North Dakota they're commuting on Farm Roads to work (in town) or at least what we'd consider farm roads. One of our small communities is bigger than their entire Rural Area

"Population (year 2000): 55,532. Estimated population in July 2006: 58,333 (+5.0% change)"

http://www.city-data.com/city/Bismar...th-Dakota.html

Not a ton of traffic and maybe the safest place for them is on the sidewalk

[Kid A]

Originally Posted by surlygal

Dude this is North Dakota they're commuting on Farm Roads to work (in town) or at least what we'd consider farm roads. One of our small communities is bigger than their entire Rural Area

"Population (year 2000): 55,532. Estimated population in July 2006: 58,333 (+5.0% change)"

http://www.city-data.com/city/Bismar...th-Dakota.html

Not a ton of traffic and maybe the safest place for them is on the sidewalk

for more fun how about this pop "mix" or lack thereof

Races in Bismarck:

• White Non-Hispanic (94.3%)
• American Indian (3.9%)
• Two or more races (0.9%)
• Hispanic (0.7%)

Something tells me they make their fish tacos on wonderbread

[surlygal]

Originally Posted by Kid A

Something tells me they make their fish tacos on wonderbread

They love their fish - Just not in their Taco's, Just ask Neil he's from ND

(Sorry for the Thread Jack )

[.8down]

[quote=DeeZee;285727]

Originally Posted by rushak

They can! I've lessened my carbon footprint with this! 100mpg!!!

A look into our future.......

Ironic you say future because that is past present, and future of Vietnam..

[Kid A]

Originally Posted by surlygal

They love their fish - Just not in their Taco's,

if u spell fish "s-h-e-e-p", i bet they do "love" them there j/k

[maxwell]

I actually started commuting to work again last week.
I got in three days (well, swing shift, noon-8:30pm) in a row, then had to drive in the last two.
Gonna start back up tonight.
If I can make it a habit, it'll give me an extra 95 miles a week of pedaling!

My commute's easy, so I don't really have any excuse's not to.

To work; http://trail.motionbased.com/trail/activity/5611524

From work; http://trail.motionbased.com/trail/activity/5611523

As the Queen song goes........

"GET ON YOUR BIKES AND RIDE!"

[DeeZee]

[quote=.8down;285786]

Originally Posted by DeeZee

Ironic you say future because that is past present, and future of Vietnam..

Future for Merica