I've visited several shops now, and they seem to be a lot slower than I remember. I take into consideration that March is not the busiest month of the year, but I go on weekends on sunny days in what I would consider to be relatively well known shops, so you think that there would be more people. Instead, I'm greeted right away, no waiting for anyone or anything.

This is a nice luxury, but there's a more somber feel now in the shops I go to. Is this because of the economy?

Yes.

Also depend in the region you live.

we're in a recession.

my local shop seems to be doing well - they really get involved in local events and hold free seminars, indoor training in the winter etc. seems to be working well for them. I go into some other shops in town and you can hardly get the staff to get off their stools

18% real unemployment, feet of snow and now rain seem to have that impact on bike stores.

The worst economy and coldest winter in a long long time will do that.

My LBS is having a good year, turnover of floor items seems to be fairly brisk.

No. For the last several months, we've been in a depression.

But our government officials are afraid to say it publicly, for fear the very word will make it worse.

From what I saw here last weekend, they seemed to be doing well. After a month of clouds and snow, a sunny mild (40's) weekend must have made the difference.

We are in a recession and a very cold winter. Her in Houston there are lots of sale items. The MS150 has not brought in the sales like years past.

Not here in Denver. I just bought a new mountain bike (carbon Yeti AS-R 5) and before I decided, I rode several bikes from multiple shops. All had other customers also buying expensive bikes. I commented to my wife on the day I paid for mine that I saw $20K rung up on the register (ok, I contributed to that) in the time I was there. It was a weekend and the shop was so busy that there was a lot of waiting for the fitting stations with the number of test rides going on, so I got to see a few people actually check out. Granted, this is a big shop with a good reputation.

Sunny days? The real cyclists may be out riding.

The only days I go to the LBS is when it's raining. If I have free time and the weather is good, you can bet I will be either riding my bike or spending time with my family.

they keep getting my money :-\

But I do know what you mean, in the past month I've been in one of the two LBSs in my town a half a dozen times (I avoid the other one because they're all pretentious asses) and whenever I go in, I'm usually the only one in there. I always feel kind of bad. But I know, once we get into the summer months it will get better, as they rent bikes to the masses of tourists who come here.

A couple of shops here have closed in the last year. It's a tough time for luxury items. Still my LBS is still going strong and I'm helping that process.

We're doing pretty well here in Macon, GA.

WHAT? This ain't Fox news, you know. I was watching CNN and they said they economy is growing by leaps and bounds.

I went to my LBS today and it was pretty quiet. I for one could only afford to buy two blinkies for a total of $20.

strange how prices have gone up noticeably in the last year. if business is a bit slow, it's odd they can get away with increasing prices so much.

Prices increase because the costs increase. Bike shops operate on a razer thin margin anyway

Manufacturers have raised prices in the last couple of years and retailers cannot afford to absorb these higher costs, so they get passed along to customers.

Business is off in LBS due to the economy and competition from the internet and Wal-Mart types.

"If TV said it, then it must be true!" -Homer Simpson

The Trek I'm going to buy is indeed fairly expensive, but it's an investment which will pay off in terms of keeping me very fit, and it may even save me some gas money!

I have a Gary Fisher I bought in '04 and it literally looks brand new still.

Quality bikes are awesome!

"US bike sales higher than car sales in 2009":

But where? Likely at big box retailers, whose names i don't even want to mention again.

Incorrect.

You should actually study the Great Depression, including unemployment rates of 30% or so and zero point zero government safety nets like unemployment insurance, social security and medicare, and get back to us on this.

The rise of internet retailing is likely having an effect, too.