Please "Like" and also " Share" to keep the conversation going. More insights from my perspective with 30 years of experience in the cycling Industry in the playlist: kzread.info/head/PLdfUXv0-z1u42bZpCLWmT2VtNW-7AIf2A

@IKnowAGuyBicycles

4 ай бұрын

@@BIANCHI1984 Interesting.

@e2U

4 ай бұрын

Would you like to help get a million bikes to kids across the USA and world? good show. Jeff

@gravelDave

4 ай бұрын

They dont want bike shops. They want a low cost direct sales model like Canyon. So plain to see what the long term goal is.

I worked at a big big local shop that was a Trek dealer for decades. Sold tens of thousands of their bikes probably. And what did they do? Open a “concept” shop a mile away and then limit this shops access to inventory. Specialized did something similar. Let them both rot.

All true but also the big companies have in effect fired a lot of its customers. Why? Because many of us who have ridden many decades never wanted disc brakes, or electronic shifting, or Aero everything. Some of us ride as always to ride not to set KOM's all the time or have the fanciest $$$ bike at the coffee shop. We like what works & what has always worked...... 😉 We enjoy the Beauty of Cycling

@eckdavid2472

4 ай бұрын

Hear hear.

@IKnowAGuyBicycles

4 ай бұрын

I do have to say I like some new tech, especially when it makes my job easier. Now, it seems to be a race over-engineering with proprietary parts, which is going to kill that bike in the long run. But yes, sometimes you need to enjoy the ride...

@richf.7845

4 ай бұрын

I got a fancy hi tech bike on order and I’m excited about it. That said, my favorite bike is my $750 Brooklyn fixie that I throw on cotton shorts and ride with the kids or to the beach bar by me.

Closed my bike shop in 2012. Broke my heart. Was in the P2 group and that helped me realize IBD’s were just useful idiots in the bike economy. Lot’s more to the story but part of the problem was the “A” brands were willing to keep dealers heavily indebted to them as customers. Those of us that paid our bills 100% early/on time, weren’t given any meaningful consideration/benefits. “A” brands helped get some customers in the door but my “B” brands outsold the “A” brands consistently. Even so, no breaks on pre-season commitments and I refused to go into debt to meet the minimums. Not sure if that’s how it still works these days. In any case, best of luck and prosperity to you. Appreciate your commentary.

@IKnowAGuyBicycles

4 ай бұрын

Yeah, back in the day, we carried Fuji, Jamis, GT, and Mongoose as our "B" lines, and that carried us through the big commitment with Trek. And yes, Trek pushed pre-season commitments that crushed us every year. Thinking back on it gets me really fired up. In a way, they killed our business, and we had to close in 2001. Still, it is very painful for me today because all of those years, my Dad kept trying to keep the dream alive, and after closing the shop in 2001, he passed away in 2005. He never recovered from the loss of our shop. Which P2 group were you in?

@tarajones-legros3661

4 ай бұрын

@@IKnowAGuyBicycles At the time, there were only two P2 groups I think. I was in group 2 for two years. (2011 & 2012). Very helpful group of shop owners. Very eye-opening experience. We also sold Jamis. They were very good to us. It appears they left the performance road category at some point. I still ride my Xenith Endura today.

@JohnDough-yr2zt

4 ай бұрын

Well, with the advent of online sales from manufacturers like Specialized, dealers are looking more and more like the “useful idiot”.

@p47rr

3 ай бұрын

I sold my bike store in 1997. In 1996 Cannondale made me order more bikes than I was comfortable with. Combined with a Bike store four times my size opening next door. And bike shop brands being sold at Walmart and other big box stores starting in 1997. I knew that the industry was going to be like the home audio stores. Plus in 1996 I had a sale on close out mountain bikes that I had pick up at a great deal. For years I would buy left over inventory. And blow them out at half off. I sold only a third of the inventory. Mountain bikes had finally flooded the market. To many stores in my area. It was time for a change.

@IKnowAGuyBicycles

3 ай бұрын

@@p47rr Thank you for sharing.

Giant and Norco are the big sellers in our area ,,, price any quality sellers bikes. Our bike shop friend is rocking the industry because he sells service... 2023 was a awesome year for him in analog and e bike... quality service retains customer's and promotes sales

I like this guys attitude. "Makin' things right one bike at a time." He's rejuvenating older bikes. It saves them from being scrapped before their time. Maybe he's making the world a better place one bike at a time.

@IKnowAGuyBicycles

4 ай бұрын

"Taking the scary out of used, one bike at a time." It is my soul-searching passion.

@wgservice

4 ай бұрын

I feel that the bike industry needs to follow the second hand car market - trade in your bike. Heck bikes are often the same price as a second hand car. It's helps everyone - people who want the newest and greatest but cannot afford as they cannot shift on their old bike first. New to biking folks cannot afford or don't want to spend 3k, 5k or 10k on a new bike, and don't especially want to buy second hand as they don't know what they might be getting, however buy from a dealer pretty much resolves that.

@IKnowAGuyBicycles

4 ай бұрын

@@wgservice This is absolutely what my business model is structured on. Thank you for insight.

When I purchased my very own mountain bike back in April of last year, I was looking at getting a Trek for several months. There’s a Trek shop next to one of the trails I ride at, and I asked about test riding one of their newer bikes because I wanted to see what they feel like. Ultimately, I went to a local bike shop that had a great deal on a Santa Cruz and bought it. One of my friends used to work in that same bike shop and I always love going to that shop for new gear, parts, and maybe a new bike

A few years of high sales of new bikes, and now there are plenty of used bikes on the market. Where I live, $750 will buy you a VERY nice used road bike. If you don't mind rim brakes (which you shouldn't) and if you hate all this proprietary stuff on new bikes (which you should) then you can take your pick for just $750 (or less, if you are ok with something a little older). I think the bike industry got greedy with new bike prices, and they are now suffering for it.

Great video! As a small independent bike retailer I can relate to everything you are talking about. I believe that the small, community and customer focused shops can still survive and thrive. But they also have to think different. Love what you are doing.

@IKnowAGuyBicycles

4 ай бұрын

Thank you! It's been a crazy ride. Hope your shop is doing well.

If you can carry giant, they make awesome bikes and give the dealer full margin when bought online. Giant is supporting the local bike store.

A saving grace is that bicycles are getting more complex with electronic shifting, disc brakes, internal routing, etc... while the public in general is less mechanically inclined and/or not interested in performing maintenance. Focusing on service versus sales is probably the best way to survive. When it comes to the industry behemoths, I still have a bad taste in my mouth when Specialized sued Volagi back in 2012.

@SuperFiberoptic

4 ай бұрын

Ironically I find tuning and rebuilds easier with AXS electronics and disc brakes than the mechanical derailleurs and rim brakes.

I'm still riding skinny steel tubes, downtube levers and leather saddles. Not hip or retro, just old and never moved on. Triple chain sets and front clangers will go the way of the Dodo, but no more obsolete than the groupset before last. In the UK domestic mechanics get a lot of word of mouth custom, without the overheads or corporate tie-ins. Has to be the future.

The majority of high end bike shops are just a passion business. The owner of the local Colnago dealership is just his side business. This owner isn’t relying on this bike shop to make money. It’s like rich owners owning a restaurant or bars where their friends can hang out. Like the Walton grandkids owning Rapha. They don’t really need to Rapha to make money. Since this isn’t the main company where they make most of their money. It’s just a side passion business because they love bikes.

@IKnowAGuyBicycles

4 ай бұрын

Lee's Cyclery here in Colorado was the same. The owner made his money by owning a lot of real estate, including the buildings of his bike shops. He was renting them to Trek Corp and now Specialized Corp.

@s1alker564

4 ай бұрын

Indeed. 3 of my local shops have owners that have a real job with the shop just being a hobby

There are a lot of signs that the bike industry is going to struggle in 2024. Things like signs of cash flow problems, tales of supply chain delays, signs that overstocking is taking its toll, and news of buyouts and mergers are all expected to be regular occurrences this year. A correction in the bike industry is long overdue. When bicycles are more expensive than motorbikes and some cars then you know the industry has gone too far.

Going to work might help the shops. Closed on Sunday ( I agree with ) Monday, Saturday except for two hours in the morning. Showing up at 10am and closing at 5pm. Just because they sell doctors bikes doesn't mean they can make a living working doctors hours.

@radoff7

4 ай бұрын

doctors hours? you must have 89

@radoff7

4 ай бұрын

IQ

@sadiejones7991

4 ай бұрын

@@radoff7 yea I must be stupid to work at least 75 hours a week and only bring home six digits.

@sadiejones7991

4 ай бұрын

@@radoff7 I got to give you that one, it's only over 60 doctors that average below 40hrs. Google says the average is 60 to 80hrs. I should have said bankers hours. But the point was not about doctors work it was about the bike shops not being open when the working class is off work and can spend some money. They either need to open early or close late, if they are going to take two days off then Saturday afternoon would be a good time to get business. I do all of my bike maintenance and repairs so it doesn't matter to me but if anyone wants to make more money they must work more or get a better paying job.

I've been working at a Trek dealer for a few years now. You pointed out so many of the issues we have faced in those years. Forced inventory followed by cut margins. And then customers are infatuated with the Trek brand and we fear losing a significant number if we drop Trek. Let them rot!

@IKnowAGuyBicycles

3 ай бұрын

Thanks for your insights.

You hit the nail on the head! I'm a local one man bike shop. Be supportive buy local and don't ask for discounts or freebies. And pay cash!

@pdvision2194

4 ай бұрын

Same here. Sucks when they bring in a box of parts from Amazon. I feel like implementing a "corking fee" of sorts.

@randyrangel3214

4 ай бұрын

You should charge more I do. Trek bought out a shop across town and I was abel to hold out and put them under in 8 months. The sad thing is I'm a Trek dealer also. LOL @@pdvision2194

In addition to cycling, I play guitar. I saw the same kind of thing happen to local music stores when Guitar Center came to town in the 90s - almost every mom and pop music store was out of business within a year. I really dislike big corporations taking over entire business sectors and wiping out "the little guy". Here in Las Vegas, Giant seems to be doing pretty well... three locations here now.

This is incredibly insightful and helpful. I plan on running a micro shop as a retirement hobby/keep me busy. Good info. I used to manage a computer store and had a similar experience. We couldn’t compete with Dell/HP and most of our sales were repairs and used which had a higher profit margin.

@madtownangler

4 ай бұрын

I buy my laptops from a small time guy. When you pick out your computer he takes all the Dell crap out of it so you have more memory and it works faster.. He doesn't have that big of an inventory but he's better than Best Buy.

It is a shame that it takes a pandemic for the bicycle industry to flourish. Cycling is so much fun and is so good for your health. It is good for the environment and will help your car last longer and make car ownership less expensive. We should forget about wars, hate, crime, and all the other negative things that people have gotten into. Just get on your bike and ride. If you don’t have a bike go to your local bike shop and find one. Local bike shops are important for better service and the personal experience that makes us all feel good. They also help the local economy and provide jobs for local people. If your community is important to you then supporting your local businesses will keep your community strong.

@dustind9242

4 ай бұрын

I actually put more miles on my car taking MTB vacation trips across the country. So car maintenance and fuel consumption are up significantly.

I bought a Pipedream frame recently. I dealt with the owners directly and they were very very helpful. I'd already made up my mind which bike I wanted but the additional insights and help I received was awesome. Just acquiring the components that I want to build it up. This is an area where local bike shops could excel - building up smaller brands into really quality bikes.

Trek lost its soul awhile ago. I've owned Treks since 1983 and still own a tandem, lugged 2300, and X1 last bought in 2001. They offer nothing that I'm interested in. Trek is having a hard time being in the bike shop business. The one in State College Pa has had its sign up since Jun/July 23, but STILL not open. The other shop in town has become a corporate stores other than the strongly independent one in the heart of town. Want to guess which one I go to and spend money with? The one downtown is an institution and has amazing customer service. They are a centerpiece of the community.

@IKnowAGuyBicycles

4 ай бұрын

There are a few good shops still out there. Thanks for supporting them.

I don't do bike shops any more, every time I go into one, I get the feeling I'm not wanted there, All the cool parts that I'd like to spend my hard earned money on, they have no interest in getting for me, or installing, they just want me to leave. 2013 was the last time I was in a good bicycle shop. Just buy all the parts you need off the internet, buy the tools and watch a couple KZread videos on how to install yourself, get rid of the bike shops all together.

I learnt when i was 15 that bike shops a bandit....been doing all my own work since then 39 now. Nothing i cant fix

Last year, I was marketed on Facebook by a Bike Coop who was selling a Trek Emonda 2015 ALU frame, my size for $200. Frame was pristine. My local bike shop built it up with my leftover mechanical campy parts from days past. The bike fit cost me 150. The shop charge was $300 which I thought was higher than normal but I get it. They’re trying to survive. Overall a decent road bike and very capable rig, after being spoiled by Carbon all these years it is a bit different. Although, 28 tires have helped.

You’ve got a BooKoo sticker! Holy crap, they were our LBS in Chanhassen, Mn. As far as I remember they only had the one store. We bought my wife’s Trek there in 2005. But when I went back in around 2014 to buy a bike for our kids they were a Giant dealer. In January of 2020 they closed the door, just before Covid. The way they explained it they were having trouble obtaining inventory already. Anyway space is still there if anyone wants to buy it. Could really use a LBS here.

Bought my first real bike back in the early eighties. Relatively new company on the scene. Except for the component group, every other part of the bike was built and assembled in the USA. Reynolds 531 tubing. WOW what a sweet ride on that steel steed. It was from a local, independently owned shop that I had patronized for years. Fast forward to today. That shop is long gone. Pretty much every bike that company sells has a sticker on it that says made in Vietnam, or Cambodia, or China. The result of globalism and greed. . The prices they charge for their product has skyrocketed to never seen before levels. Covid increased the demand to the point there were 100 people in a shop wanting the same one bike that was setting on the floor. No inventory anywhere. Waiting times up to a year to get a bike. It was insanity on steroids. Now when I need peace and quiet I go into a bike shop. The insanity of just a couple of years ago is gone. Now its like a funeral home at most shops. The atmosphere is somber. The pendulum has swung the other direction. Now there are 100 bikes sitting there waiting for that one customer. Nothing is moving. I liked that company a whole lot better back when I purchased my first bike.

@IKnowAGuyBicycles

4 ай бұрын

Great insights. Thank you for sharing.

The city i live in has Like 6 bike shops. 4 of them I will not visit again because their customer service is terrible. Won't even help open their doors to let the bike in without clipping the pedals on the door.

After the way Trek dealers treated customers during covid I’ll never enter one of their shops again.

Sneaky good content!! Thanks for your pov.

As a lifelong cyclist turning 50 both guys I go to for my mechanical work (from time to time) are older than me and don't have bike shops anymore but work independently out of their own private spaces etc. I know neither regret that move. For those of us who have been riding over the last 30 years or more this seems like a common enough trend; finding those mechanics who have had careers in the industry but have decided to leave and strike a balance between their skills and their cost of doing business. I have heard stories about younger mechanics just pushing what the big companies say to do and weird things come up like thinking rim brakes are actually dangerous or not seeing a time and place still for clincher tires and tubes. I am afraid the industry has kind of shot itself in the foot with all the constantly changing parts and specs which much of the time aren't really an improvement but yet another engineering and design challenge to meet the consumer's appetite for newer and newer trends. Maybe a backlash will occur and a tried and true approach will emerge, kind of like "slow cinema" or "slow furniture making" where more people will know there are still options which don't entail the big brands. I know there are those who have been doing this approach forever but they are still very niche. Bicycle Quarterly and Peter Weigle for example.

Here in Phoenix metro - shops have consolidated - one acquiring the others and this limits the offerings to just a few brands. Funny, they want you buy from them, and to service your bike, but then they don't have what you want in stock, and you can get what you want online quicker than they can.

@IKnowAGuyBicycles

4 ай бұрын

New bikes sales are just a HOT mess right now.

The big “s” bought out the 3 stores here in northern Michigan. Completely changed the dynamics of our shop that had been in our community since the 70’s. We knew it was doomed when we met the pin heads and “leadership”, all loosely associated with actual bike shops. It was all about money and we were all about customer relationships. For now we have Salsa, Yeti, Marin and Surly. The future isn't as bright for new bikes, we will still be fixing all that stuff though.

Both of my local shops also carry and service fitness equipment. Used Nashbar a lot when I didn't yet have a car as the local shops are in the next town over.

Like the Ken park skate sticker dude 😊.. great vid as always 👍👍🚴🏻 Pete

@IKnowAGuyBicycles

4 ай бұрын

Thank you! Yeah, there are a few classics on my bench.

I looked at Trek (and Electra) online when I decided I wanted an ebike, to see what they offered, but their prices shocked me. I resigned myself to buy anyway, having heard other elite bike brands had even higher price points. So I went to a few local dealers to see the actual product, and compared Trek/Electra with Giant bikes, because first off I would never buy anything online sight-unseen, second I want local service available to me, and bike shops in the past told me they wouldn't work on any bike they don't sell, and third because I want to see the actual product and compare prices as delivered, fully assembled. What I ran into was that the local dealers did not have the product on their floor. They would say that was because of supply chain, but then would tell me they had a date for new shipments coming soon. I'd return on that date, and they still had nothing but new dates in the future. So I went to other Trek dealers farther away, and guess what, they had product to see, calling into question what my local dealers were telling me. The shops with inventory told me supply was on US shores, but dealers had to request delivery of equipment they didn't order in their annual order. What I'm saying is .... many "local shops" are not being customer friendly, and actually drive a certain sale away, by not being more aggressive at getting inventory. I would have paid the added freight, knowing my order wasn't part of the annual shipment the dealer orders from the factory. I've run into similar freight things at lawn equipment dealers, where I will pay the extra freight to get the equipment I want from them, too. But in the end, as I researched more, I found that although Trek had a good reputation, they were far over-priced for what you get. And they still are. No, I didn't go to an online brand purchase. I found other brands that sell equipment just as good as Trek, or even better, but at half the price. And some of those other brands sell through local shops, not just online, at the same price (except for a dealer's fee to assemble the ebike for you). I got an ebike for $2150 that would have cost $3750 plus tax from Trek/Electra. And the bike shop isn't that much farther away than my local bike shops. In a way, I'm glad the local Trek/Electra dealer (and also the Giant dealer across town) was shorting his inventory carrying cost, because I ended up getting a better deal and better product I didn't even know existed if I hadn't run into resistance. The Electra ebike I initially wanted is speed limited and not upgradable, while the ebike brand I bought was upgradeable to Class 3, and has better battery range.

@Lukearthwalker

4 ай бұрын

You said -- Many "local shops" are not being customer friendly, by not being more aggressive at getting inventory... Whaaaaat?! That's being unfair, many local shops can't even get much inventory because they don't sell enough volume or maybe they're not one of the corporately owned Trek, Specialized, etc, dealers and so they aren't prioritized. Also, the margins on bikes are very slender so keeping a lot of expensive bikes in stock is challenging unless you have the financial resources to do so. The bike industry is following lock-step like every other industry on earth and going corporate, it's really tough to be squeezed out if you're a mid-sized or smaller shop! AND most of the are selling consumer direct now and somehow, cutting out the bikeshops, all the prices went way UP???!!! Kudos to you though for buying from a shop, far too many people buy a $2,000+/- ebike online and then wonder why their local bike shop won't or can't service it. To even make a bike at that price point, the manufacture has to put bottom of the barrel componentry on it, so it's virtually guaranteed to need work before too long. Personally, I don't understand why people don't spend that same $2,000+/- on a regular bike. They'd get top quality components, a bike that weighs 1/4 of what an bike weighs, is superfine to ride, it's fast, you can lift it with one hand easy and will last for a decade at least, because it's quality. Compare that to a bargain basement $2,000 ebike that'll be on a landfill after a year because it can't be repaired and there're no parts available. EVERYTHING is more expensive on an ebike AND they're terrible for the environment! I could go on, seriously, if you're younger than retirement age and you ride an ebike, it's almost always because you're either lazy or worse, you're someone that just follows the latest trend. In any case, thanks for listening to my rant. 😅

@rayrussell6258

4 ай бұрын

@@Lukearthwalkerthe componentry on my ebike is top brand, and functionally better than the Trek. It won't be in a landfill in our lifetime. Battery obviously that's tbd at this point. But I've range tested it twice, and it is far better than Trek advertises, and even Trek dealers acknowledge their real ranges are 50% of the advertised figure. I did my homework before I bought. That Trek shop did not even look to see if any other dealers had what I was looking for, in spite of me assuring him I would buy from him, not the other dealer. I just wanted to see the real bike, and test ride it before buying. That's what I meant by not being aggressive. Plus, he was telling me the shipment dates were his bikes on order, but when I'd go back he gave me excuses that things were delayed. Again, not aggressive, because I later found out, the bikes on that list are all on US shores already, not on a boat from China. He had a sale, and wouldn't even call Trek to expedite ONE bike to his shop? and even though I said I'd pay the freight? !!! C'mon Luke. Sorry, but you are kinda wrong to take a negative position against what I posted, because what I posted was real, not theoretical bs nonsense. As for age and laziness, I'm retired from 30 years in an automotive engineering job and I also coached two high school and middle school sports over 23 seasons as a side job, I have a 50+ year old Schwinn Collegiate that I rode for years and just restored including new OEM tires that were extremely hard to find since the original Schwinn company went bankrupt and the successor company has no old stock parts. I'm 70 years old and was looking for something to use instead of my car for local errands. I've been walking 8 miles round trip at my age to eat and shop nearby, but that was taking too much of my time. I decided an ebike that could travel near 30 mph was what I needed. You probably can't keep up with me. lol Thanks for at least acknowledging I avoided the internet buy and bought from a local shop, though.

Love your channel, have a nice 2024. Greetings from México

@IKnowAGuyBicycles

4 ай бұрын

Thank you! You too!

16% is high. Jamis is great to work with. With all these mfg's going online. It would be wise for new riders to get a proper fit, or consultation to see which bike fits them best. More people buy the wrong size bike than not. Mfg's use shop orders to determine how many bikes they mfg for the next year. I wonder how they are going to figure out that number.

My local TREK Dealer, in the Philippines- is not even advertising being a TREK dealer, they are already picking up other brands, high-end American names, and Lowe price Chinese brands to cover the range of price points. Plus they are becoming THE SOURCE for Fox products. Having said that, he’s lost first one mechanic then a second mechanic. So he (store owner), and one mechanic service their local market. He is down to one girl who is not a sales person, just a check-out person. Hopefully he will survive, but he’s now chained to his shop, most days of the week.

10:20 I agree completely. I had a bike serviced at a local bike shop and there is absolutely an elitest attitude with these places. It makes me never want to go back and do business with them

❤ EXCELLENT content here I completely agree with your comments , especially at around 22 minutes into video There appears to be very strong demand for getting , buying either NOS or lightly used , properly maintained older bikes and components/ wheelsets They provide better spec 'd components ETC at a fraction of their Orginal cost They also are a fraction of the cost compared to current GEN bikes with inferior components, quality ETC... The " ULTIMATE ALTERNATIVE " Over the last few years, I have been accumulating " HYPER Bike s " , components, wheelsets that were the pinnacle of their time Not only do they provide superb value for the , money , they also provide better performance parameters to the whole riding experiences

You make me glad that I bought an electric trike.

Fair to say the market is simply flooded with too many offerings to support itself. Failures, bankruptcies, and closings really gotta happen; we don’t need this many offerings. Though no one wants to go back to the Schwin days of three bikes, there’s simply too much stuff out there; supply has exceeded demand. Just sayin’

As somebody who rides BMX, I was done with shops back when they stopped carrying legit BMX bikes and knew nothing about them and acted like they didn't exist. At one point a shop owner told me BMX is dead. Also a lot of them didn't have good vibes. There are only a hand full a actual good shops still around in my area. "Treat em like family" ~ Great video bro!

I got news for you I just took advantage of a Kona special and the dealer's service was meh! Shop 45 minutes away. Ended up at my LBS which is a chain(Bike Doctor) had they redo the front wheel tubless setup. My Trek dealer is very customer oriented and so is my Bike Doctor. The Kona dealer has 3 independent shops and I didn't feel the love it was more get me out the door endedup tuning the shock myself.

@IKnowAGuyBicycles

4 ай бұрын

I'm glad you had some good experiences at any bike shop at this time. There are still some good people who do work at the corporate stores, and they should be. a little happier since they are getting a better paycheck and benefits. That's where I feel a little conflicted. Ony the employee experience.

@hippiebits2071

4 ай бұрын

I think to some degree it just depends on the individuals running things at the store level. I had the exact opposite experience buying a Trek last year and have every intention of taking it to the guy who sold me my Kona during the pandemic for service and accessories.

I got a Specialized RockHopper 27.5 at a local dealer and feel that I got it for a fair price. I also have bought other items to support the shop as well. It’s crazy for my area how high priced the bikes are on FB Market. Those bikes have been posted for months. At those current prices a customer might as well buy a new bike if they shop around enough. Great video & explanation 👍🚵🏻‍♀️🚴🏼

@eckdavid2472

4 ай бұрын

That's what I did. I'm buying a new bike for the same price as many of the used ones I saw on FB. The lucky bike is a Vitus Mytheque 29 VRS.

@IKnowAGuyBicycles

4 ай бұрын

Here in Colorado, the used prices have dropped 50%-70%. But this is only if you are open to different brands and years.

@GnarlieCharlie

4 ай бұрын

@@IKnowAGuyBicycles Hey man sorry to bother you with this bs but I'm trying to get a decent enough bike to get into the sport without going all out on a new bike. Was wondering if you had any insight on what prices are fair and what to be on the lookout for in the used market? I'm in Cheyenne and would really appreciate your take on the Colorado used market. Thank you for your time and knowledge!

@IKnowAGuyBicycles

4 ай бұрын

@@GnarlieCharlie Not a problem. You can check my website to see what I sell mine for. What kind of riding are you looking to get into? Also, you can contact me at justin@iknowaguybicycles.com

The LBS lost my business when they showed arrogance. They were an independent Trek dealer. Another shop nearby was doing what you do with used bikes. Yet another I patronized decades ago is a Jamis dealer. He hung onto his shop by spending his pension savings and his former wife announced herself as his newest employee. She was there decades ago. The guy would have hired this old guy immediately because anyone who could knowledgably turn a wrench is precious these days. I feel for them. Not the Trek dealer. Too bad they're too far away!

The biking industry does not want to give the consumer what they want. They want to give the consumer something they can barely afford. As far as mountain biking is concerned, that’s dying out because lift tickets have gotten so expensive. as far as local bike shops are concerned, it is what it is. The economy is in a mess. People do not have the same buying dollars. And the E bike market is just silly. If you give the customer what you want what they want at a reasonable price you will have a customer.

And so, do you sell and service other recreational products, whether they new or used? Such as Kick bikes, skate boards, snow skis, snow shoes, women's sports bras maybe? Just thinking out loud 🤷🏼‍♂️

@IKnowAGuyBicycles

4 ай бұрын

Back in the day, we did Snowshoe, Ski, and Snowboard rentals to stay alive in the winter.

according to GC performance on here, the high end is alive and kicking. Don't know what to believe really.

@IKnowAGuyBicycles

4 ай бұрын

There shop is in a very high income location. But for the markets, the cycling market is struggling.

Service on my bike is more important than the manufacturer of the bike. How could you ever good service direct?

From working and running shops back 20-30 years ago! From my point I see the shops or most shops don't support the local cycling scene ( putting group rides together on Sunday) no reason for them to be open on Sundays, over head is in the red. Bread and butter B and C rides. Many riders I speak to sold there bikes from having no organized rides. Plus putting on short races like old school 10 mile TT ( how I learned ) if they don't support local cycling ' why should we support them '.

great video!

I agree. I have been riding a used touring bike since the mid 80's, brought it for $300.00. buy used.

Pretty sad you can buy a bike cheaper online than in the store and trek expects the dealer to assemble and do warranty work for free dealers are getting screwed. Customers don't get the buy here your family you get with the small shops. I hate the trek stores the people suck and don't discount anything. Mom and pops take care of me. It's sad things are this way with corporate greed.

I totally agree with you on nearly everything, although I will say that when the "bigs" start to falter... it will be a might crash. I also think that they will have a hard time finding enough qualified folks to repair bikes or whatever it is the "bigs" want. I think for the consumers that value good service and the efforts of small bike shops, that will help grow all small business. Small shops have to be smart and not gamble with their money, and more than likely in many cases are more creative in programs that they offer their customers... because they care! Like you, I'm also a small shop, and have worked in the industry for 32 years. We'll all keep working hard, and we'll help each other survive... that is the direction that we will head. AND we will actually get out and ride our bikes!! Have a great 2024 and here's to staying busy and having happy customers!!

@IKnowAGuyBicycles

4 ай бұрын

Well said. There is a community for big to bigger shops (P2 Groups, etc.), but it seems for small guys like me and one-location shops, I feel there needs to be a better free community to support our passion and values. I'm not sure if there is one already started or if I just need to spearhead one.

Just bought a Supercaliber 9.9 XO from my local independent Trek bike shop. 38 day wait period, but it was ok, fat bike only for 5 months. The owner told me they had the best year ever in 23! And are not selling to Trek.

To your point, $13k for a Specialized Aethos S-Works with Di2 v Winspace SLC 2.0 with Di2 $6.5k. Still a lot of $$$, but 1/2 the price.

@IKnowAGuyBicycles

4 ай бұрын

Right? And those are not custom fitted to you. I'm sure you can get a custom Ti or Carbon with awesome group for less. Locally here I can get a custom Ti Unicorn for around 5k all in... It's just nuts to think about it...

My QBP catalog in 1999 was about 120 pages. I could fix any bike. Now it's 1900 pages and half of the stuff in it is sold out. Sorry Dude, love to get you a new XYZ BB or Crank or Shifter but they are sold out.

There are 11 Wheel & Sprocket locations in the greater Chicagoland/Milwaukee area. It seems almost every other dealer around here is a Trek dealer though

@darkriverracing22

4 ай бұрын

Turns out they are Trek dealers as well. I'm going mail order. Trek screwed the shop I worked at in the mid 90's because they opened a store too near to our location. We got lucky because Cannondale was looking for dealers so we didn't lose anything. We also picked up Pro-Flex and Redline. The shop did end up closing on 2018, but only because the owners wanted to retire and their kids didn't want to continue with it.

Becoming a Specialized or Trek dealer is not only a pain in the ass but the volume required is stupid. Trek's low end stuff has been nothing but a problem from day one with the resort's bikes. Anything under the $600 price point has been problematic at best. One Trek brand was by special request and the other Treks were an acquisition of desperation. I will give shout outs to a number of companies who have been awesome over the years. Brands that have been eager for business from day one come to mind. Even the big umbrella companies with holdings of former large brands and those still independent have been great to work with. In recent years the consolidation of some of the cottage industry folks feels bad. Unfortunately necessary to compete with These two manufacturers specifically. Even the larger of them were stoked to hear from me as a prospect. "10-15 low end bikes a year? Have some Cannondales!" "Fuji will totally work with you!" "Raleigh can help! Sell em, demo em, rent them, let's do it." "Didn't need all of those Specialized they wanted you to move? Jamis will be a much easier to deal with partner." There are so many more who make good bikes that bike people know for years. Every single on of those reps took time to talk to me and find a solution to my companies needs.

Here's a thought..... There are lots of older Treks and Specialized, Marin Kona and Surly bikes out there. Rather than selling the latest and greatest, lbs could, if they have the skills, pick up these older bikes, strip them down and rebuild with modern components and sell them on as "better than new". Find a classic older bike then use vintage parts to make them period correct and sell on. I'd even go the whole 9 yards and blast them back to the metal, inspect for cracks etc and if good repaint and rebuild. Have welding skills? Then add the plates to convert rim to disc brakes. There is a whole lot of raw material floating around out there and those mid '90s steel hardtails are a brilliant and indestructible platform to start from. Just an idea.

@IKnowAGuyBicycles

4 ай бұрын

My whole business is based on upcycling good bikes.

Very good video

Very insightful, although I don't think that's just coffee in that mug.

In 2024, WWIII could become huge. If so, bicycle sales would become huge!

With Trek trying to force their dealers into buyouts I have to wonder how shops that aren't in a location where Trek wants a Trek store are going to fare. Just in our region a glaring example I can think of is Rock on Wheels up in Cheyenne. Like all independent Trek dealers he gets shafted on stock, and the only other brand he carries is Pivot, another brand that is notoriously hard for dealers to get stock for (he had Rocky but dropped them when he couldn't get any bikes from them). I highly doubt Trek wants to open up a Trek store up there and the only other bike shop in town (Cheyenne only has 2 bike shops, with a population of 65,000 and a very active MTB scene) is a Giant and Specialized dealer with no other brands.

@IKnowAGuyBicycles

4 ай бұрын

Trek and Specialized has stores here in Fort Collins, and that's only an hour away from Cheyenne. I'm guessing their numbers will have to be a lot higher for them to want those locations. One is a Road Bike based and other Mountain Bike Base shops right? My neighbor races for one of them.

I think this is just the pendulum swinging back to benefit the consumer. Bike brands have been gouging the customer for ages, and the pandemic just allowed them to raise prices even further. Now they're paying for it. Furthermore, they've been focusing on the 1% of cyclists that can justify spending $10,000 - 15,000 on a bike while neglecting the segment of the market that's more important for the future of the industry: new cyclists that may not be willing or able to spend $1,500 - 5,000 on a decently spec'd bike when they're not sure they'll stick with it. With people shifting away from the overpriced legacy brands in favor of direct-to-consumer brands that offer more bike for the money (and legacy brands opening storefronts which will take business from local shops) those shops are going to have to focus on maintenance and repair and be competive with the services they offer outside of new bike sales. In my experience the LBS didn't want to work on my Cube because they weren't a Cube dealer, and it soured me on them. I have no problem buying tools and working on my own stuff, so if you're going to turn down my business because you didn't sell me the bike then I think your business deserves to fail.

The concept of the 'cycling supermarket' is the main reason why local bicycle shops are dying. This idea is an example of pure corporate greed, driven by invisible shareholders, who have absolutely no interest in cycling, nor supporting local businesses. A huge and very quick dividend for their investment is their only motive, in fact. A secondary reason is that serious cyclists, such as myself, already have a bike for all occasions/seasons/types of terrain, so we are not in the market for another. The only aspect that interests me now is maintenance of what I own, and perhaps a few upgrades here and there. On that note, my local bicycle shops have not demonstrated 'the friendly approach,' and so they lose return custom. As a result, I did a level 2 cycle mechanics qualification, so don't need them anymore, but, like you, if I go down the repair/service road, my focus will be on delivering the highest levels of customer service with a smile, of course. Seen in the light, never criticise the bike choices others make, just highlight where upgrades/improvements can be made without the elitism and arrogance, which all too often is on display, unfortunately.

Its a crazy world these days.....I bought a De Rosa from Dong at Denver Spoke in the mid-nineties, (this da bike for you, bud!) That was my dream bike, and it even had the Denver Spoke decals on the front forks ala Alexi Grewal in the 84 Olympics.....I even did the Denver-Aspen one day ride on that bike.....nothing like being in a pace line in the dark at 0400 hours through South Metro trying to get to Deer Creek Canyon in one piece!!! That kind of buying experience just does not seem to exist anymore...he spent a ton of time with me, and I bought a lot of "stuff" from him after that just because of the friendly service.....he has since passed, and I believe the shop actually burned down at some point.....what a drag.....

@madtownangler

4 ай бұрын

That was where I bought my second ever new bike when I lived in Denver like over twenty years ago I paid like $320 for a one bedroom apartment on the south part of town almost into Englewood I used to ride over to Bear Creek and do most of my off-road there

@IKnowAGuyBicycles

4 ай бұрын

Oh, man that takes me back.

Great insight to the industry. I look at the cost of new MTBs and shake my head. A couple of grand in Australia used to buy you a top of the range MTB, now it's almost entry level for a non dual suspension bike. Dual suspension MTB ebikes in my personal opinion is madness. I am building a mid drive CYC Photon ebike for a fraction of what I would pay for an equivalent big brand bike. Also, if my riding style changes I can buy a used bike and move the good quality parts to the new ride. Thanks for your great videos.

@IKnowAGuyBicycles

4 ай бұрын

Thank you for your insights as well. Having skin in the game and watching has been crazy.

In 2022 i bought a marlin 8 , ...big reason is for liftime framebwarenty

Glad you got your copy of EBRAIN

The old shop by my house is now a trek dealer. Its crap now!

I agree with some of the sentiment here, but the main factors impacting price weren't addressed. Supply and demand, inflation, and a pandemic made prices increase across the board. Its easy to say bike cost more bike overpriced. What about everything costing more, is everything overpriced? Personally I would like to hear more about companies selling bike that say subject "parts subject to change" customers getting into the industry are getting new bikes that should come with tekro brakes and they get power or rush brakes. Say 10 speed shimano derailleur and they get microshift. Unless the price reflects the change in part spec (which it doesn't) this is where the overpriced conversation really has foundation.

That bogo that kona did took me by surprise. Made me really worry about them. That 16% margin is impossible… and that stage you are basically providing a warehouse to stock the bikes for no cost to the consumer.

@IKnowAGuyBicycles

4 ай бұрын

Marin did the same thing about 6 months ago. I do think Kona's new owner is going to kill the brand/vibe.

I'm looking to buy a bike to replace my 19 year old Tarmac. No way am I paying the crazy prices for a new bike plus, I don't want disc brakes and a gear change system I have to charge up. I'm heading over to Ebay or FB marketplace for a gently used.

That's a lot of fixed cost for Trek. It may be better to go consumer direct and use those dollars for advertising and promotions.

Treks are bad luck to me. One time I saved up $100 a month for seven months which was hard since I made $6 an hour I bought my Trek bike also with my Christmas bonus. I rode my bike after I got it to downtown Denver and locked my bike up with my brand new U-Lock. I went into a coffee shop and walked out and it was gone and the cut lock was waiting for me I guess as soon as I had gone into the coffee shop a truck with a grinder showed up, cut the lock, and drove off They had a fake sign on the side of the truck that said City Of Denver. So that is why I have less than ten miles ever on a Trek bicycle in probably 1995. Arent most Treks except the real high end ones made overseas now anyways? I haven't bought a brand new bike except for my Surly fatbike in at least ten years probably more like fifteen years. I don't have any bikes with shocks anymore and most have been changed to single speeds now too

As a consumer who recently bought a bike…I intentionally bought a bike from a company that did direct to consumer sales. I was looking at a Trek Verve but since I had to buy from a dealer went with a different brand that would ship to me. Blame other dealers if you want but I don’t want to have to fight through up sells, extended warranties, fees, etc just to get the item I want.

No sympathy here. Everyone involved took advantage of the consumer for years.

@buysomerice

4 ай бұрын

Looking forward to some deals though!

@williammiller735

4 ай бұрын

Agree!

@gawa62

4 ай бұрын

I started cycling in 2011 and purchased a Specialized Allez 9 speed Sora at £600.Now you get pretty much the same frame with a 8 speed claris at £800.My Trek Emonda which I purchased in 2021 at £2700 is still the same price today.Come on!!!

@ellerybice3787

4 ай бұрын

Not true! You agreed to pay what ever you paid for what ever you bought. Taking advantage of someone is when the victim has no ability or means to escape a particular situation. You could have walked away, not ridden. This is a free enterprise zone, these United States of America. Capitalism promotes a healthy and robust economy that we all benefit from. If you want price controls, go seek that else where. 🤬

@buysomerice

4 ай бұрын

@@ellerybice3787 You are exactly right. I’ve bought nothing since pre 19’. Exempt for maintenance items. I don’t support predatory prices. Prices wouldn’t rise if educated people stopped paying crazy prices. But they aren’t educated so they have to be influenced by outside forces like a bad economy.

Idk about trek stores but I've been to 3 different Giant "stores" to get a rear hub fixed under warranty. None of them fixed the hub but all in all the bike spent 3 weeks total getting "fixed". Not only liars and incompetent but they just want to sell bikes, service is the absolute last priority for them...

The bottom line is, customers really want to buy bike from the LBS. The deal is, if they can get the exact same bike consumer direct for $800 to $1K cheaper, they’re going to buy consumer direct. Most people aren’t wealthy enough to donate that kind of money to the local bike shop. No matter the customer service and experience.

@IKnowAGuyBicycles

4 ай бұрын

That is very true, and they are dumping bike prices online.

@mohess1

3 ай бұрын

I’m seeing it in my bike fit business. It’s online dumping, but it’s just not the usual suspects. It’s LBS all over the country too. Also, seeing cyclists that I fit purchasing bikes through FB market place. Probably more cyclists I fit are getting new bikes on market place. @@IKnowAGuyBicycles

Theyd have three more years of operating revenue had they never sponsored Lance.

Where i like Trek has there own stores, out of all the bike shops that are the only ones that are thriving. People come from miles away to purchase Ebikes from them.

@hippiebits2071

4 ай бұрын

"Thriving" might be an overstatement even if they are moving ebikes. I would assume as a huge brand the majority of their profitability would normally revolve around moving mass quantities of their less expensive models.

@bassw1758

4 ай бұрын

@@hippiebits2071 surrounded by a lot of wealthy towns in New Jersey, I don't live there anymore but when I go back and ride the trails it's kind of stupid how many $10,000 bikes see, I always have the cheapest bike there.

Jamis seems very selective with their dealers, I've always liked their bikes since rocking a komodo in the mid 2000's but can never find a dealer for them, how I landed on a Kona (who tried the trek/canyon model as a brand that was too small to do it) 24:19

TURIN IS!!

Bike shops also screw themselves. They don't fix problems on the bike that the bike was brought in for. Then say nothing is wrong with it. They also tell you to go buy the products online. I have taken it to a professional outfit to have a one stop experience. Not to have to order stuff myself to give to them. Bike shops need trained staff able to fix these latest bikes and offer a complete service.

bikes have never been the money maker, In my day folks would make much much more on rubber.

@IKnowAGuyBicycles

4 ай бұрын

True, and back then, it was Nashbar and Performance were the only devils; for parts, it's now the Wild West.

@madtownangler

4 ай бұрын

I can remember when there were two Performance shops in Denver back in the day I also remember ordering stuff from Nashbar using a magazine and sending them a check. Had no bike shops within twenty miles of where I lived and no car. I once bought a front wheel from them.

@IKnowAGuyBicycles

4 ай бұрын

@@madtownangler I worked at the one in DTC for about 4 months. Crazy, checks with order forms. lol those were the days.

Hey what’s wrong with country music 😊 just kiddn

This wasn't "doom n gloom", it's speaking hard truths!

I own a Trek Speed Concept TT bike. It has been the worst bike i have ever owned, with things like the headset rattling loose and just generally poor design, awful !

Friends don't let friends ride junk.

I truly believe in the used market for most finished products. Bikes are no exception; especially at new bike prices. The industry over engineered and over complicated bicycles in the name of progress and cutting edge technology. Electronic shifting? Boy. please. Normal people don't need that and it gets away from the independent utility of a bike.

@IKnowAGuyBicycles

4 ай бұрын

Reliable and get back to basics right?

I saw where Trek wanted to buy out Wheatridge Cyclery and Kiefel told them to pack sand......

Consumer direct is King. Trek is overpriced and not that great. We need bike shops and they are very important to support as well.

Trek Schmek

Bike industry is a major scam now. Have a used Cannondale CAAD 7, built in the US. Had it 15 years now. An “upgrade” from here would be $5k 😂

My bike shop turned into a trek dealership don't go there no more

Bikes have become way too expensive. Anywhere from 4 to 10 thousand dollars for a good bike. That is ridiculous. That's the price of a new motorcycle. Eventually the prices have to become normal when nobody can afford to buy anything.

@Handletaken4

4 ай бұрын

You are drinking too much Kool-Aid Go buy a Breezer

@andrewbrown8927

4 ай бұрын

@Handletaken4 I can buy a brand new motorcycle for the same amount as a lot of these bikes. Tell me how that works with bigger and better everything. Wheels, tires, suspension, Chains. Bicycle prices are crazy and if you don't think they are your living under a rock.

@BikeManLikesBikes

4 ай бұрын

​@@andrewbrown8927just because they both have two wheels and sound similar does not mean you can compare them 1:1. Apples to Oranges is all I need to say to you. I'm so sick of these silly comparisons.

@andrewbrown8927

4 ай бұрын

@BikeManLikesBikes yes you can. Ita just a bigger scale bicycle. You do know the original motorcycle were bicycles with motors on them right.

@BikeManLikesBikes

4 ай бұрын

@@andrewbrown8927 I thought we were talking about current technology.

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