As long as they're riding. The Fad around here is for the track bikes, huge curve bars, wrapped only on the bottom, clean or chrome frames w/27" chrome wheels, fixed cogs, no brakes, used as commuters. Several of the college kids ride those chrome Bianchi frames.

The deep-V wheels are not popular at all, nor are the vivid colors or flat bars. I asked why the subdued bike look, and was told they don't get stolen. Most of the kids, from what I gather, were brought up on BMX, real LBS bikes, and they understand chro-mo and quality as cheaper in the long run.

The trend keeps the price of lightweight quill-type pedals down, and the selection up; the shops always have toe clips in stock, and there seems to be a lot of used saddles in the box, lately. They take their bikes to LBS, and buy their tires/tubes, etc there. This helps us all. Raised on decent BMX bikes, they don't go to Wal-Mart for bike stuff.

I've been able to give away a couple sets of 27" chrome wheels that were pretty much just taking up space. I'm also pretty sure I saw some of them volunteering at the latest triathlon in the area.

I'd much rather have these kids out there doing that, than pulling up to me in their 2006 BMW and asking for directions to financial aid....

It's a good thing.