Bike industry failing?
- Thread starter rick81721
- Start date
serviceguy
Well-Known Member
Maybe still too expensive and most people are peasants?!?!
Red Mosquito
Formerly RLB the Scrapple Boy
I think most people are just sitting tight until we get some stability. Either 2029, or when the mushroom clouds settle.
Yeah. The news peeps say overall spending is down because people are just too uncertain as to what is going to happen.
Ian F
Well-Known Member
Seth Alvo has an interesting take on the current state of the bike industry. In a nutshell, bikes are really good right now and even if you have the money to spend there aren't compelling reasons to buy a new bike if your current bike is relatively modern (ignore the click-bait thumbnail...):
While I did buy a new e-bike last year, this is my situation with my other three mtn bikes being from 2019 and 2020. There's nothing wrong with them and replacing them isn't going to make my riding any more enjoyable.
While I did buy a new e-bike last year, this is my situation with my other three mtn bikes being from 2019 and 2020. There's nothing wrong with them and replacing them isn't going to make my riding any more enjoyable.
a.s.
Mr. Chainring
Lucky for me I got my son's bike a few months ago, before this disaster. Canyon is surely next. I would have thought the DTC model was safer in this environment. The margins must be so low that small shifts in the industry have a greater impact on these guys.
😬
Steve Vai
Endurance Guy: Tolerates most of us.
I can see this, in reality, bikes are exactly the same. Or even peaked about 4-5 years ago and they’re doing such minor tweaks it’s not worth spending 10k or whatever. Sales are way down across the board on models that got basically no changes. Like who in actuality can feel the difference between and Epic EVO 7 and 8? I can’t and I do this for a living. Same with Stumpys or literally any bike on the market right now. We sat through a sales meeting to hype up the new Sram models and when I built them up they’re the most boring looking bikes ever. Not everyone, or anyone for that matter, wants a flat black 10k bike. At least try to make something look cool if you’re giving them a 1% increase in performance for 3k more than the previous model 🤷
Red Mosquito
Formerly RLB the Scrapple Boy
I think the industry needs another reinvention like the move from 26 to 29 inch wheels. E- bikes were a start, but there is a huge chunk of the customer base that just had no interest in them. I think that smaller shifts like gravel bikes and other marketing based hype are causing people to shift what’s in their quiver rather than simply adding more bikes.
I will not be surprised at all to start seeing a bunch of 36 inch E bikes. I think 29 is the sweet spot for foot power, and sooner or later, someone’s gonna put the motors to work to make 36 inch wheels work for the masses.
Edit: I have no interest in an E bike or a 36 inch bike or a reinvention of the industry, that’s just where my mind lands as I look at what’s going on now
I will not be surprised at all to start seeing a bunch of 36 inch E bikes. I think 29 is the sweet spot for foot power, and sooner or later, someone’s gonna put the motors to work to make 36 inch wheels work for the masses.
Edit: I have no interest in an E bike or a 36 inch bike or a reinvention of the industry, that’s just where my mind lands as I look at what’s going on now
The problem is the industry just keeps trying to find the next best thing to sell to the existing customer base over and over. There needs to be a way to draw in new people in so the market grows. Obviously this has been tough to do.
zmartene
Well-Known Member
I can't imagine what would make me want to upgrade from my 2016 Tallboy Frankenbike. Maybe something with UDH?
Can't lose with 32's b**** that's what's up!
serviceguy
Well-Known Member
Why skipping the 32" size? 36" if for the next-to-next reinvention...remember good old Sergey Bubka?
....after multiple years of.... and millions of rider hours, the era of 36" wheels is coming to a close.
Riders WANT 32" rims, and we will be putting all of our resources into meeting rider needs.
The larger surface area of these rims make them perfect for our new hydraulic rim brakes integrated into the fork.
Our new hub standard reduces air resistance - which everyone knows increases geometrically with speed.
Our better riders will see the most gains, but the club and casual rider will see benefits too,
such as the all-new radial lacing standard.
it truly is a great time to be alive and velo....
serviceguy
Well-Known Member
Ah, forgot that...first step up to 36", then step down to 32" because it's a better fit and then again to 36" because that's really where it's at...
Am I the only one thinking we should just cut the BS and jump to the real thing?
Ian F
Well-Known Member
That is sort of what Seth talks about. How do bike companies stay in business when the model of selling incrementally better bikes to existing customers is no longer viable because the incentive to upgrade is no longer there? Not that he has an answer, but that does seem to be the crux of the issue.
The UDH is the one feature my current bikes don't have that I kinda wish they did... but that feature isn't important enough to replace the bikes.
Stop worrying about selling them things and start selling them convenience and time. Go harder maybe on renting bikes or a subscription based rental program. If bikes are good enough now then get a bunch of good enough bikes to rent forever. Don't have a real shop anymore to pay. Gyms don't sell you equipment they sell you convenience.
This is it. The improvements on new bikes are way marginal to make it worth upgrading. Unless you’re going to an e-bike, what’s the point?
I think enticing people to try new disciplines (like DH riders doing XC or Gravel, or vice versa) could sell bikes. I don’t see any effort in that front though.