duke_of_hazard

My city , Peoria ILlinois, has 150,000 people and four good LBS's. I have ridden 3500 miles commuting the past year but can only count on two hands the number of similar commuters I have crossed path with! Most cyclists I encounter are wrong-way cyclists or sidewalk and trail types. How come there are so few commuters? I guess my real question is why there are four LBS's if there are so few serious cyclists?

rugerben

People like toys. Bikes are one of those toys to many people. But buying a bike in a bike shop doesn't make you a good rider just like buying a bow and arrow doesn't make you William Tell.

CliftonGK1

+1

There's a lot of cyclists around here, but certainly not enough that I see on my daily commute to support the dozens of bike shops around Seattle and the Eastside. But go into a shop and look at the work tickets on the mechanics' board, and you'll see that they're busy all the time. Sure, the fall and winter months are a little lighter on the workload, but you still see people bringing in their "weekender" and "fair weather" bikes to get tuned up and ready for when the nice weather rolls around again.
Not everyone rides outside all year, especially around here. Heck, one of the shop guys I know was just talking about selling his "summer bike" and pulling the beater out of storage to ride the trainer now that the rainy season is upon us.

genec

Well since Americans supposedly have more bikes per consumer than any other country, someone has to supply the bikes... otherwise what would gather dust and spider webs in the garage?

LBSs supply bikes, they don't train cyclists.

And remember, in America, bikes are toys.

Lamplight

In my town of just over 100,000, there are two bike shops. One is well established and very, very awesome, and the other is new and I haven't been in there yet. At the LBS I frequent, it is always packed with customers. It doesn't matter what time or day you go, they will be so busy it will likely take 30+ minutes for the employees to assist you. Their customer base seems to consist almost completely of roadies, MUP recreational riders, and mountain bikers (which is weird because there aren't many places to ride an MTB here). However, I very rarely see anyone actually riding a bike in this town. In the two years I've been commuting, I've seen maybe four other commuters.


And yes, in America one of the most ingenious inventions of all time is considered a mere toy.

SouthFLpix

I'm one of those guys that walked into the LBS and bought a bike but did not use it to commute right away. I rode it strictly for recreation and fitness for 9 months before I finally decided to commute with it. I think the vast majority of people buy bikes for the same reason, and of course typically use them on the weekend or for the occasional getaway. Remember, in the US, bikes are not considered a viable form of transportation.

sharkey00

This is how they stay in business. This year I rode the STP (200 miles over 2 days) with a few friends. Two of them bought 2k bikes with about 1-2k in accessories between the 2 of them. Both bikes have less than 1,000 miles (one less than 500mi). The bikes have not moved in the past 3 months and are likely to see about 200 miles of riding over the next decade.
When they go out for their token 20 mile ride next summer they will get a full 150 dollar tune up and new tires to replace the dry rot. Before going back to storage for another year.

Caleab

Well, you have to take in all sorts of cyclists too.
The roadies, mtb'ers, kids with all their assortments, fitness, etc, etc.
Just because they all don't commute, doesn't mean they aren't there.

I have the same thing here. I actually said to my wife, "hey, how do you suppose they stay in business around here?" Then in our discussion we both brought out many ideas of how others are using the LBSs now. While doing my routine stop at my LBS of choice, I noticed all the different folks coming in. I also noticed all the parents that were in at that specific time to shop bikes for their college-aged kid.

I'm kinda happy there's not many I see each day. More open for me. =) 'Cause it's all about me when I'm riding 8)

mondaycurse

I think you'd be surprised about how many "serious cyclists" there are in Peoria and surrounding zones. My brother lives there and it's fueled by fairly fun country roads (east peoria bluffs especially) and a lot of the best mountain biking in the state/region.

lil brown bat

So, only commuters are "serious cyclists"?

smurf hunter

I imagine a "serious" commuter doesn't buy a new bike that often, and likely is capable and willing to perform his/her own maintenance.

chewybrian 

I think you have the answer, there.

daintonj

We're the only ones who make sure people don't have fun.

All those people clocking fast miles on bikes without mudguards, racks, panniers, mirrors, leather saddles and beards are just mucking around. Don't get me started on mountain bikers, bunch of tree hugging hippies who never take cycling seriously what with their slang and baggy shorts.

threeflys

unless you ONLY have a bike and no other means of conveyence, a bike is a toy to some extent...all be it a really fun and useful toy! But if you also have a motor vehicle, it's an extravgance.

I think I'll ride my toy to work tomorrow!

Doohickie

It's kind of funny, that. I ran into a guy at the LBS who I came to find out was one of the leading bicycle advocates in the area. He's worked with local corporations and governments to get bike routes established on existing roads, increase the number of bike trails and get local companies to put in bike racks and showers. He recently rode a 76-mile ride in Fort Davis, TX, a very hilly area. He was telling me about how wonderful it was when someone found out he had done all these things and thanked him profusely because she uses those bike routes every day on her commute. Then she asked him, "So, how far do you commute?" And he had to answer, "Actually, I drive my car to work...." So I guess by some standards, he's not a serious cyclist.

Me on the other hand: I've cycled to work every day but two in the last two-and-a-half weeks. I have three bikes, but I paid a total of $385 for all of them. I have yet to buy a piece of clothing specifically made for bicycling; my clothing of choice is gym shorts and a t-shirt. But since I commute, apparently I *am* a serious cyclist (not!).

genec

No, but if all the non commuters are "serious cyclists," one has to wonder why they've never seen fit to use their hobby as a method of transportation. Apparently they aren't that "serious."

Saving Hawaii

Ei ei ei... 'tis true... not only do I muck around with mudtracks up my back and a backpack, but I don't take cycling all that seriously (the ride is very rarely more important than the destination)... and it's all about vernacular and jeans (never figured out the shorts thing - and lycra still seems absolutely ridiculous... I'm not Lance Armstrong. I move pretty fast... but I like riding and socializing... I could care less about statistics or looking professional. Which is cool because it means that I'm still having good fun with this without raising eyebrows in public or spending a lot of money I don't have.

FredOak

We have more LBS then you can shake a stick at, there are probably 6 within 10 miles of home. They range from the over priced, over advertised, high rent district shop (I always stop there first to get the high price before I go see what everyone else has for a deal).
To my favorite LBS that always treats me right, always gives me a break on price, will throw things in and has great advice (and was vote one of the top 100 shops in the USA)

With a large college population, plenty of kids, plenty of roadies and us few commuters, there is probably enough to go around and based on Craig's List...plenty that got sold and probably ridden twice.

Bat22

Now and then the local lbs will do a rebuild on a box store bike. $120

lil brown bat

Ah, come on now. People don't bike to work for all kinds of reasons; you don't know what they are, so don't be so everlovin' judgmental.

Fredmertz51

LBS's are retail stores, so they will always kiss-up to the "Big Spenders". The rest of the customers are politely (or not so politely) ignored and/or talked down to. So, the typical LBS customer is either one of the above or an enthusiast who knows what they want and gets in and out as quickly and cheaply as possible, with as little retail b_____t as possible.

Roody

At my LBS most customers are either "serious" roadies or weekend hybrid riders. Commuters are barely a blip on the radar.

I think you can get the LBS to take you more seriously just by being friendly and informative about what it's like to use a bike as transportation. Over the last few years, I've gotten my LBS to give me more consideration as a transportation cyclist. Last spring my bottom bracket blew out on my way to work, right as I happened to be riding by the LBS. I couldn't believe it when the owner offered me a loaner bike so I wouldn't be late for work. He would not have done that before.

Dealing with a small business is very much about interpersonal relationships. Like any relationship, you have to work at it to make it work.

I-Like-To-Bike

I suspect some of the serious commuters of Peoria and elsewhere are low income workers, students and youth who ride regularly to their destinations on old/used bikes (and wear clothes) of department store/thrift store sources, but are invisible to self styled "serious cyclists" who think that pricey equipment purchased new from an LBS and riding like an oh-so-serious road cyclist are a prerequisite for "serious" cycling.

tsl

Gosh. I guess I didn't know how lucky I have it. My LBS doesn't stock a lot of commuter accessories, but they had a Trek Portland in my size when I ready to buy one.

And on Saturday when I dropped by, the manager pulled me aside saying, "Bruce, I was thinking of you when I bought these for the store", as he showed me a pair of bib tights, windfront, water resistant, articulated knee, huge reflectives, and quick-release buckles on the straps (perfect for making yellow snow.)

They also have a separate service setup right in the front window for no-appointment, ride-in, ride-out repairs. The president of my 400-member bike club has his bike and his wife's bike serviced there.

I hang out at their coffee bar a lot. I see guys come in who have to collect and return bottles and cans to afford a new tube. They'll be right next to lawyers and businessmen dropping off Madones or Kuotas for tune-up. And they all talk bikes to one another.

I know several other car-free people who use them as their primary LBS, and lots of commuters too.

They put have built the local crit into a three-day omnium this year, and a six-day event next year. (Oops. That part was supposed to be secret.) Meanwhile, most of the staff are also avid mountain bikers. They also run a weekly shop ride all winter in all conditions. And did I mention they service the cop bikes?

But I guess that since they don't stock a lot of commuter accessories, they're not for serious cyclists.

Bat22

I allways looked at catalogs before I went to an lbs. I do the same for camp stores etc.
I have the tude that they will sell you what's on the shelf, even if they do know what you can
really use.