Conference noted::bicycle

i can only speak from my experience, but i know a lot
more folks going from the woods to the road.

i love the woods. it's my escape from a long road season
and an occasional diversion during the season. i'd never
be without, but i'm afraid i'm a tried-and-true roadie
all the way to the bone.

    According to a survey published in yesterday's Boston Globe's
    Business section:
    	mountain bikes   65%   (% of $5b sales; didn't say if US only)
        children's bikes 20%
        hybrid's         10%
        other             5%
    source: Nat'l Bicycle Dealers Assn.
    If road bikes are buried in other, it's a sad state of affairs.
    Kratz

In this month's Velo2000, the statement is that the media and the US public 
are the biggest barrier to the growth of a Continental scene in the US.

The media don't like events which are variable because they cannot plan their 
programmes around the important stuff ie: advertising.  This is why for 
example, they don't like tennis which may be 3 or 5 sets, and it's also why 
the tie-break system was instituted.  Then if the media don't show it then 
there is no money given to the sport.  How many sports will not be featured 
at Atlanta because they are too long or too boring?  The 10,000 metres is 
under threat and I think the pentathlon has been compressed from 5 days to 1 
so that the winner is known quicker.  How many sports have been incorporated 
at Atlanta just so that Joe US-public can see his country get another medal??

The US public really cannot handle any sport that contains finesse and 
tactics which are not immediately evident.  One quote was that they don't 
understand how every rider in a bunch finish of 100 riders can be given the 
same time.  Just like Digital, they only understand numbers.  The other thing 
is that they have to feel they are participating and hence the rise of 
criteriums on 1km and less circuits so they can see what's happening all the 
time.

I'm afraid the culture is against any increase in popularity and to cite the 
ease of gear changing as a major contributor is a load of garbage.  That 
being said the rest is from a serious journal which has made investigations 
in the US and drawn the conclusions - if I get the time I'll post a few more 
bits. 

I was speaking with Don at the Bicycle Barn in Westboro, MA the other day 
and he happened to remark that he has seen an increase in the popularity of 
road bikes.  He did not give percentages but I got the impression that it 
was way more than 5%.  

He did say that he gets folks who just want a mountain bike regardless of 
the type of riding they think they will be doing.  So, some people are 
buying (fully suspended!) mountain bikes simply to ride around the 
neighborhood streets and out on an occasional fire road.  Go figure.

As far as the popularity of racing, I think US folks are attracted by 
individual incredible performances of american (read US) star figures.  
Greg Lemond certainly had an impact and I suspect if the US had several 
more of that ilk then TV would find a way to cover racing.  It is an 
unfortunate commentary on the insularity of the US mentality.

Rick

    Do any of these polls specify what age group is doing the buying?

re last, Velo2000 said the disquieting thing was that all the increases were 
in the upper age limit, but then IMHO most young Americans are too fat to 
ride bikes ...
                               ;>)

When I was looking for a road bike about 5? years ago, I couldn't find anyone
selling them. At least not what I was looking for. This year, when I went
shopping for my mountain bike, I saw lots of very nice road bikes to choose
from. I've also noticed a lot more road bikes on the road and in car racks.

I think my road bike (US built Trek 420) was a good investment, since the
comparable bikes I saw this year were $600-$900. Also, even though I'm more
interested in going offroad on my mtb, I wouldn't trade in my road bike. At the
very least, I can use it on my trainer at night or in bad weather.

The thing I don't like about the road is cars, but I do enjoy bike trails and
back roads immensely. Neither would be as much fun on a MTB, IMO.

-Jeff
 

    
    
    		I think it is just a general upswing in the popularity of
    bicycling itself.  With so many positive attributes and nary a one
    negative...couple that with today's health minded society...not to 
    mention bikes and technology that make riding (road or trail) so
    enjoyable.  Clean fresh air...family fun.....etc...etc....
    
    						sigh...
    

    What a person buys depends on what is available in the bicycle stores.
    Stepping up a level, what influences a retail store to stock specific
    bikes ?  Sales reps and past selling experiences are factors.  What
    does it take to increase the percentage of road bikes in stores ?
    
    In Colorado Springs, walk into most shops and you see rows of mountain 
    bikes and if you are lucky a couple of road bikes, which are most
    likely not your size.  At least 2 shops carry *only* mountain bikes.
    That picture tells many consumers that mountain bikes are what they
    need.  

Most Americans want MTBs.  They are sturdy, can handle our collective fat
behinds, they can carry things from the video store, etc.  Road bikes are not as 
comfortable to Joe or Jane Public.  MTB were a fad, caught on, drove the price
down and as a result, the cost stays down.  You don't see that much MTB racing
on T.V. either.  I think Robin hit it right on the head -- It doesn't fit into
the commercial scheme of "sports entertainment" as I call it.  I've had shops
tell me "I sell MTBs so I can affort to sell road bikes".  Yes, I think that
there is a drive to get in better shape, but it's not enough.  Yes, I think I
see more bikes on the road then ever before, but a lot of them are MTBs... 

Here's an example -- I have season tix to the Worcester Ice Cats, an AHL hockey
team.  When the TV is there, the game goes way slower, because of commercials. 
Can you picture the promoter of a bike race saying "no attacks at 1:01, 1:11,
1:21, 1:31, 1:41, 1:51 so that we may show commercials.  

The tennis example is another good example, which is why it is often shown taped.

As a fan of bike racing, I would rather watch a good, hilly circuit race, rather
than a RR, because the peloton is gone so fast in a RR.  Being at the top of
l'Alpe d'Huez is a different story.

    
    
    
        I posed the question to see if others see what I beleive I see.
     I've noticed an increase in small time road racing (cat 1-4 races)
     the last 3 or 4 years and a decrease in big time racing (pro stuff).
     Of coarse an increase in mountain biking races and many US pro road
     racers moving to mountain bike racing.

Anyone catch the Coorstates race yesterday? Only about 6 hours of
live/televised bicycle racing. I thought I died and went to
heaven.

The Sports Channel should be commended. This is the type of thing
that will promote bicycles all the way around. It was especially
good since I had to do my riding in the basement yesterday.

Chip

And my cable company should be shot.  Or, at least given some competition.

Chris Horner is on fire!  Too bad he would get eaten alive in Europe.

Tim

Chris looked pretty good, but I agree that just about any
Euro-race would have him for lunch.

Still, pretty amazing... 156 mi. in 6:02:--- That's a ripper
for us common folk.

Andy Hampsten was in that race, but never made the camera. 
I wonder how he is really doing these days.

Chip

One more thing to add to Robin's remarkably astute observations.

The American sports journalism machine is clueless about cycling. They have no
idea what it is. The average American sports caster/reporter know baseball,
hoceky, football, basketball and golf. I once read with astonishment a column
about the Tour du Trump by Dan Shaughnessy of the Boston Globe that lead off
with something like, "Well the bikers in the Tour du Trump bike race kicked up
their kick stands for the last time today as the race finished in Boston...".

Karol

-1 yeah. you'd think they would realize the team mechanics
   kick those things up for them... sheesh.

   Chip

>> with something like, "Well the bikers in the Tour du Trump bike race 
>> kicked up their kick stands for the last time today as the race finished 
>> in Boston...".

Don't feel bad, there is a piece of old cycling lore in the UK that the Queen 
Mother started the Tour of Britain one (that's NOT started IN the Tour of 
Britain!) and told all the riders they should ring their bells when they 
passed her house ....

-1 Apparently her bell has already been rung :-)

   Chip

    re.18
    Actually, I do believe many racing bikes from the 60's had bells that
    were used in the peleton.  I remember seeing one on an old Peugeot.
    
    steve

RE: .18

Most of the old English 3-speeds prior to 1970 had bells, at least the
expensive ones did.  That was probably the last bike the queen rode on.

Jim

Actually, under RTTC regs in the UK, you could be refused a start if you had 
no bell on the bike.  This gave rise to racers sporting the little 
"single-pinger" bells sold for kiddie-bikes.  In many cases, they were 
drilled for lightness as well.  I know this has changed since, but I don't 
know when.

I kid you not (well, not this time, anyway!).

    For what is's worth, one of the leading mountain bike stores in Phoenix
    is stocking up on fairly nice road bikes, including steel.  I can't
    figure out talking to them if it is based on demand, or if the roadies
    that work in the shop just couldn't take it any more and are stocking
    up based on a passion for the skinny tire.

    for what it's worth: I bought a mountain bike, but now wish I had spent
    the same amount of money on a road bike. The woods are nice but I have
    too much respect for hikers (being an avid one myself) and decided
    after three months of semi-enjoyable mountain biking to put some
    skinnies on my bike and stick to the roads.

                                  
    I too am a "hiker", and an avid photographer.  I enjoy nature and
    the beauty which can be found off the beaten path, I like to sit and
    ponder in front of any spectacular view which I find.  It can be a
    forest trail sunlit during spring, or a bunch of icecles dangling
    at the side of a snow banked stream in winter.  I enjoy the
    tranquility, the rustle of the wind in the trees, the faint gurgle
    of an approaching stream.  And sometimes, a bunch of mountain-bikers
    will blast by, with grins from ear to ear, enjoying the challenge
    posed by the unplanned combination of root, rock, branch, and stream.
    I am one of these guys too, I understand the thrill of pushing skills
    to the edge and sometimes beyond, I understand the pride at clearing
    a particularly difficult section.  I understand the attraction of
    finding a new trail, a different singletrack, and eagerly following
    it to see whats around the next bend.  But right now I'm hiking,
    because you move slower, and notice those faint smells, sounds, and
    gentle breezes that are gone by too fast when you cycle.  Tomorrow,
    perhaps, I'll follow this same track on my mountainbike.  And I'll
    say hi! and give a smile to the hikers I pass.  
    
    I have too much respect for fellow travellers of this trail to 
    judge their way of enjoying it.  And I expect other trail users
    to have as much respect for mine.
    
    Peter
    Outdoorsman
    

                                              
    In any case, this is a note about road-bikings resurgence... 8^)
    
    I don't so much anymore, but I raced road bikes from 12 to 18,
    competing nationally from 16-18.  I loved the speed, the move
    from tubeless to HP tyres, from friction to index-shifting,
    upgrading from 105 to 600 to Ultegra, to Dura-Ace. from Reynolds 501
    to 531 frames.  From straps to Time pedals.  I loved the training,
    in the spilling rain, the morning fog, the winter frost, and the
    summer sun.  I loved the racing, the buzz while you're in the pack
    at the start a sound like a million bees.  The terror of cornering on
    a wet road in a tight bunch, the burning calves on a long drag uphill,
    the insane speed on the way down the other side making sure that the
    guys you passed on the climb don't catch you.  The smell of wintergreen
    in the lot before a race, and the beers and barbeques afterwards.
    
    Road bikes have a lot to offer, so do sports cars.  But it's trendy
    to buy a 4x4, even though in spirit you're a speed demon.  Eventually
    the trends will move on, and road bikes, like sports cars, will be
    in favour once again.
    

My wife and I bought good road bikes in '88. In '89, she wanted an MTB, since
she was intimidated by the road bike and wanted the granny gears. I played with
it a bit and had so much fun (hadn't done a sideways rear-wheel slide in 15
years!) that I got one. Both our road bikes languished in the garage while we
rode the MTB's occasionally on the road (never did go off-road, but I also never
missed the opportunity to hit a pothole). Then last year, after averaging maybe
50 miles a year for a while, I started taking the MTB out on longer (for me :)
road rides. One day on a whim I pumped up the old road bike and took it out, and
now I haven't touched the MTB since! For cruising the road, you just can't beat
it. The MTB is for those times when you want to crash and bash, while the road
bike is for when you want to put the miles on. I imagine a number of people are
finding that out for themselves after getting over the initial novelty of MTB's.
For me MTB riding takes me back to when I was a kid and we would jump ramps of
wooden boards on cinder blocks. The road bike is more adult riding. Both have
their place.