What is the Bike Industry Doing so Wrong?

www.cyclingweekly.com/news/price-slashing-pushes-c… More bad financials announced today, this time from Canyon.

Part of the problem is with cycling culture. I have cycled on and off all my life. Last year I started joining some club rides from a local bike store. I was with my 15 yr old bike with 105 components surrounded by people with new >$5000 bikes and people were literally looking at me and making snide comments about my bike. The truth is I cannot justify the money to replace my bike and I was able to hang on at the front of the group ride just fine because I am really good shape. But this definitely discouraged me from joining the group.

We have a bike group in our city that does 40-80km rides but they insist that you have to sustain around 34km/hr to ride with them. We have another group, run by a group of young men who restore vintage bikes, that is a no-drop ride. They average about 20km/hr. They're a friendly, inclusive group and more reminiscent of what cycling groups should be. We are not pros, we don't need to ride like pros.

Cycling is suppose to be simple and aacessible. The industry has alienated people who still believe that.

Charging over $10,000 for a human powered vehicle is ludicrous.

Totally agree. The industry is eating itself. As for the snobbery aspect. I leave it behind. Ive been cycling for over 60 years.....on my own. Nothing can beat just being out on the open road. And if you want competition just use the clock. Nobody ever beats the clock!!!

If you're good enough for a $14K bike, a pro team will provide one for you. If you're not a pro, you don't need a $14K bike (but of course you're free to do whatever you want with your money).

When I started road cycling I joined a club of elderly bike enthusiasts, doing 150 - 250 km all day trips. One of the organizers, age 68! isn't even using a road bike, but a 25+ year old aluminum trekking bike, flat bar. He can do a 30 average and outrides most on alpine accents. Long story: ignore the snobs, enjoy the ride!

Remember when you were a kid on a bike. The freedom. The adventure. Not knowing where the next road or trail went. Just keep riding like that and all is good.

I was walking by a new Trek store and I thought "hey bikes! better have a look". I saw a 105 equipped bike and I was like "oh ya that's probably the only bike here I can afford", I Iooked at the tag expecting maybe $4K canadian and I was shocked; $9000!!! That's about $6600 US. For a bike with a 105 groupset!!! To be fair it's the 12-speed Di2 105 but still, that's absolutely insane.

I have been in the bike industry since 1982...currently an independent sales rep for many well known brands..in my opinion, the product managers are designing bikes for other industry professionals..they lost the common peoples need with proprietary parts..new look at me engineering and coming up with solutions to problems that do not exist..

No one ever asked me if I needed disc brakes…and yet I can’t get a good bike frame with rim brakes any more. A bike should be simple and mostly low tech so that when stuff breaks, it’s easy to fix.

After a lifetime of cycling I've learned that my older gear isn't what keeps me from being competitive. Its me. For years I tore up competitive group rides on older gear. Now I'm older and slower, the same gear still serves me as well and I have the self-confidence and awareness to either accept where I am or find groups that fit my abilities. Yes, support your LBS...not the corporate stores.

Totally agree with what you say, I've been riding 51 years. Racing, MBs, road, travelling etc. The sport has become snobery and im glad these companies are suffering with their stupid prices! There's enough really decent second hand stuff about now.

I live in Colorado Springs. The bike shops here have actually done a really stellar job of stocking things the average person can afford! Very thankful for them and their focus on being people oriented over just selling.

Fantastic video. Absolutely nailed it! I try so hard to explain this to people in the shops I used to work at and to those in the community. So many people view it as necessary to have a 7-10k bike for 2-3 rides a week. It's wild.

I grew up very poor and my first bike was a rust bucket. I had it at the age of 14, my father made me throw it away, it was heartbreaking for me since it gave me a sense of freedom and happiness to ride it around. My second bike was not much better, it had no breaks but I rode this thing until the wheels fell off.

You nailed it; I completely agree. I was feeling bad about riding my aluminum rim brake bike but no longer. instead of shelling out I will continue to rock old school. Thanks for posting!

As someone who started racing motorcycles in the 70's and mountain bikes in the mid 80's it's insane that a road bike can cost more than an electric start fuel injected 450 four stroke MX bike with state of the art long travel suspension, adjustable engine mapping, quick shift, traction control and launch control.

The bicycle has been 2 wheels, a frame, pedals and a chain for almost a 150 years, and there ain't nothing a big bike company can do to make me, a 60 year old man, go much faster. Buy an inexpensive bike with 2 wheels, a frame, some pedals and a chain and enjoy yourself.