🚴‍♀️ 2024 Bike Industry Crisis to Chaos 🛠️ TPC/ Wholesale / IBD Numbers! Review w/ John Bradley

[@IKnowAGuyBicycles]

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: kzbin.info/aero/PLdfUXv0-z1u42bZpCLWmT2VtNW-7AIf2A Tools and Products Featured (Affiliate): 🛠 Shop Tools to Parts That I Use in the "Garage Shop": www.amazon.com/shop/iknowaguybicycles 🚿 15% Off Lithium Products that I used in this video: lithiumautocare.com/?ref=IKnowAGuyBicycles 👕 "The Guy's" T-Shirts: i-know-a-guy-bicycles.myspreadshop.com/

[@fortesfortunajuvat6782]

The bike industry is in trouble because manufacturers aren't listening to customers. Instead of producing what customers can afford they continue to push what they want customers to buy. What they want customers to buy isn't what most can afford. Until those manufacturers get back to customer wants then this problem will continue and will get worse before it gets better.

[@IKnowAGuyBicycles]

Valid point, thanks for sharing.

[@Dancing_Alone_wRentals]

Cell phone mentality. This is why the multi millionaire drives a white four door.

[@bullseye0112]

The pro closet was a rip off. Their offers were super low ball and not even that friendly to be honest. The mountain bike industry is way different than road bikes. A bike from 2017 and lower may still be a good bike but it's super outdated and hard to sell.

[@DanTuber]

I'm surprised they stayed in business for as long as they did.

[@bryan92252]

I feel that bike shops have a major image problem. I'm very new to biking and just bought my first new bike this month. I've always used my mountain bike that my dad bought me in 1998, about twice a year. So I admit when I decided to start riding again, I went into the local bike shop, saw the $8,000 - 12,000 bikes and assumed I was in the wrong place. There are millions of us jeans and tee shirt riders that have $600 - 1000 and want some advice, but have been trained that bike shops are elite specialty shops. I wish I could go back in time and buy local.

[@Andy_ATB]

I think too many bike shops are set up to cater for the performance/ racing cyclist. The tourer, commuter, shopper, etc aren't at all.

[@IKnowAGuyBicycles]

We need more "Shop Around The Corner" friendly, warm-hug shops. These should support the local community, not an elite small percentage market.

[@qwerty6789x]

i dont go to bikeshops gat spits on me for being too poor

[@billybob7088]

I still hate for Trek, destroying Klein, Bontrage and Gary Fischer bikes

[@TarmacSkin]

LeMond as well

[@christianwparker]

Trek offered money / paid out founders. Pretty nice outcome if you start a small business that grows. They bought branding, the founders left with money and freedom to pursue their next adventure.

[@maxring837]

Electra

[@javiersmith2216]

That is how you destroy competition. It gives trek pricing power. Trek is now trying to dominate local markets. Their goal is to push out the LBS so they have less competition and they control the distribution. All this gives them pricing power they wouldnt have otherwise.

[@javiersmith2216]

Text book b school

[@joshuarebennack68]

If I was forced to open a bike shop today, here is are the two pathways that make $$$ sense: 1. Mobile bike shop in a van that can drive to customer's houses and be at local trails, events, etc. I would build up a fleet of (nice) used bikes that I could sell and a transport trailer "showroom". 2. Coffeeshop/beer garden/something & bike shop. Located as close as possible to some route or trail in the cheapest space one could find. In the winter/offseason have Zwift setups for people to come and ride, including group nights.

[@JoeVan]

The first one could be something if you live in a area that has a lot of cycling like bend Oregon. The one that makes the most sense to me is opening a bike shop on your own property. Get a nice shop built. Pick up a couple of brands, get your wholesale accounts set up. Now you have no rent payments. Don't stock that many bikes, just have a few in various sizes for people to get the rough idea on. Wheel and deal on price. Since you're overhead is really low with this method you can give people the best deals. You also make your money on repairs and you only keep the shop open during the times that it's profitable. That might only be a few hours a day. The rest of your time you can be doing something else. With this model you're net profitable from the start. Big show rooms, retail locations, really pretty objects, lots of stock means lots of money going out every month. Most importantly learn from all of the bike shop failures we have seen in the past few years, look for similarities

[@timothyharris1125]

1 is Genius to be honest and people don't have to travel so much to the shop as the shop literally comes to you, like some type of AAA service. 2 is being done in several cities already. There's a shop in my city (Cleveland, OH) that repairs bikes, sells coffee and houseplants and they making bank.

[@IKnowAGuyBicycles]

Keep it small, they will come. Thanks for sharing.

[@mitchhorton9178]

@@timothyharris1125Which shop in Cleveland? I live south of city.

[@timothyharris1125]

@@mitchhorton9178 Its in the Pearl-Broadview area. There's a shop in that small plaza on the main street by the Metrohealth south branch which Sells-Repairs Bikes, Serves Coffee and sells houseplants. Its Called Sixth City if I'm correct.

[@neugentcycling938]

Good to see John. I've known him since his early days at Trek and he was partially responsible for me getting my wheel business started (Neuvation) when he was at Schwinn when he spec'd Velomax wheels and put me in touch with Velomax. I was working with a factory in Taiwan that ended building the hubs and wheels. I still am in the wheel business although mostly retired and selling my wheels online out of my garage. I remember 1974 - when business stopped in July of that year "the end of that bike boom." I think this is worse. If my memory is right, it was slow until '82. I think the only thing a shop can do right now is to keep your head down and look for any opportunity.

[@IKnowAGuyBicycles]

Thanks for sharing! I showed John your comment, and a dam brake of stores just started to roll out. It sounds like you, as well, have had an amazing journey in the cycling industry and still are. Your wheels look amazing. I may have to grab a set or two for some special builds. Thanks for watching.

[@jeffkowal-pw3cd]

It seems to me that in the US and in the UK there is a total and utter over saturation - just too many bikes chasing the same or a dwindling number of potential customers . They all piled in during the pandemic thinking that they were so smart and could make easy money . Well they are not making money now are they . They just entered a market that they knew nothing about and now the bills have come through the letterbox. In the UK those bills can be seen through the doors of the empty shops all piled up there behind the letterboxes.

[@timothyharris1125]

Cleveland, Ohio here. A shop Closed here recently that had an over 100 yr history (Oldest in Ohio). They didn't have the staff that could keep up (it was almost all senior citizens at the end in this case) and the owner REFUSED to embrace the E-Bike movement and was just too set in his ways. My thought are that the Bike industry is "TOO" Exclusive for its own good these days.

[@IKnowAGuyBicycles]

Thanks for sharing.

[@Dancing_Alone_wRentals]

Staying away from eBikes is understandable. An ebike comes with complications and few shops really know anything about them other than swapping parts.....guessing ...and setting off the parts cannon till the mechanic gets a hit. It is easier to understand from an outsiders point of view. eBikes are not bikes....just like horses aren't elephants. The mechanics need substantially different levels of training. If that shop didn't have the training....they made the right move. ....Ohio....bicycles......The smartest thing the Wright brothers ever did was get out of the bike business.

[@garyjensen1602]

Cyclist here, i do have numerous high end road bikes and each bike has it's own purpose or quality. But my next purchase to spend the money i did will be for a bike with a motor. No e bikes.

[@parrisgeorge9708]

Thanks for the video I'm a former shop rat that raced in the late 80's early 90's. I've been in and out of the sport for years depending on the stage of life and such. Here are a few observations that I've experienced. There were always shops that had a "vibe" to them that didn't do a great job of welcoming the newer or prospective cyclist. When that happened there were other shops within 15 minutes that those same people would check out and more often than not find a landing place. There was one shop that excelled at capturing a wide variety of cyclists. I mean everyone from the parent bringing their 5 year old in to the Cat2 road racer and all points in between. Other shops were envious. This was in the region that I grew up in BUT I have seen a similar thing play out in other places that I've lived. Those attitudes for whatever reason still exist today to some extent. The difference is that now if someone wants a bike it's easier than ever to let your fingers do the walking and at least get an idea on what's out there. Price has gone up a substantial amount. Those prices likely scare potential cyclists away from the activity. If I really want a top end road bike I can afford one. The thing is that at least for me it's just not worth what they're going for. I currently have 6 road bikes none of which are close to new. My best road bike is a custom built Kirk that I worked with the builder so it would be the road bike I wanted. Even when it was built the cost of top end Trek, Specialized, Cannondale, etc road bikes were outpacing it. There's nothing wrong at all with any of the big company bikes but there's something about the value proposition that just isn't adding up. If we look at other activities like golf, skiing, any number of recreational team sports those aren't inexpensive BUT the barrier to entry is seen as lower. There is also the social aspect which can't be ignored. Distracted driving is something that unfortunately can't be ignored. In the last few years I have changed the times of day as well as general routes due to a concern over getting zapped by someone that's either got their head buried in their phone, are under the influence, OR more likely both. Maybe 3 or 4 years ago a buddy of mine was coming over to my house so that we could ride. He was running very late and when he finally arrived he was banged up. A VERY elderly driver ran him off the road because her eyesight was poor and she was using the fog line as a guide. She clipped him and then yelled that bicycles aren't supposed to be on the road. He took up running shortly after due to how much it shook him. This is something that likely keeps people from taking up the activity. Circling back to a shop experience that drives a point. About 4 or 5 years ago I needed to go into an LBS that I'd purchased items from several times. I make a point of when I walk into a shop I'm there to buy and am not going to waste the shops time to be respectful knowing how tough the business is. On this day there were a few employees there with me being the only customer. I wasn't greeted, I was ignored, and when they finally waited on me the exchange was essentially all one way communication. I bought the things that I went in there for BUT it was the last time I've been in there. I don't recommend the shop to people. This highlights a lowered bar of social skill that may be okay at a big box store selling many types of items. It is not something that will have a specialist shop be successful though.

[@IKnowAGuyBicycles]

Great points, thanks you for sharing!

[@tobysmusings]

I feel like the behaviour of the industry during the boom hurt the culture of cycling. OK, we always loved our new tech and shiny fancy parts- but it felt like it became more about telling us we need to buy new stuff, and less about the love of riding and building local riding community.

[@verne5770]

I'm a 67 male who rode in the 70's and 80's. Left the sport only to come full circle. I went to the local bike shop to check out their road/gravel bikes. I really thought an e-bike would help an old man get back into it. I'm not poor and after looking at the trek lineup followed up by looking at the other comps out there. I also need the stuff that goes with it all. I was ready to jump in with both feet. Decided on the Domane+.....aluminum model. Guess what, not available. next one up is 9-10k. I put a plug into this decision as that is way to much dough to put into a bike. Now looking into good used bikes. Crazy money!

[@IKnowAGuyBicycles]

Yeah, availability and cost are way off and will take a couple of years to adjust. The used market is really good now, but keep in mind that they will most likely need a tune-up, and for eBikes, have the battery and motor tested.

[@Mtb9r]

They’re still pushing emtb costing thousands of dollars. It’s nuts.

[@nationsnumber1chump]

Those are actually one of the cheaper bikes respectively now

[@bigwave_dave8468]

emtp is an adjacency and a nice alternative to small motorcycles -- The market goes beyond pedal-only folks so I see that as a good thing. Also, emtb's and e-assist bikes are great for folks who would otherwise not be able to ride effectively with friends -- as you get older you realized this.

[@Mtb9r]

@@bigwave_dave8468 I agree 100% with your analogy that it gets people out that normally wouldn’t be out. Been in the industry for a lot of years and it’s just hard to justify $10-$15,000 for a bicycle. They have their place. I can do it for much less and still enjoy the holy hell out of it. Happy trails.

[@The_Blessed_Cowboy]

Id never buy a new bike as id never buy a new truck. The ski resorts have well maintained bikes go on sale at the end of the season for less than half the cost of new. Best way to try out a different bike every few years.

[@ken-woodysmith-gu1uo]

Great job Justin and John! Blessing and tailwind, Woody Smith

[@IKnowAGuyBicycles]

Thanks, Woody. I hope all is well in your neck of the woods. I'd love to feature your shop if you are interested.

[@farmernat65]

One of the other things that has changed in the retail market sinceTrek has become such a major player is that they are not hiring highschoolers to sweep the floor and clean up bikes anymore. If you are a “mechanic” at Trek, you are expected to be able to write service, fix bikes, build bikes, do floor sales, make sales calls, which are referred to as lead list calls, do deliveries and massage customer egos. So because they demand so much from an entry level employee, they simply cannot pay $15 an hour to a highschooler anymore because they will just totally f&@$ up the shop. What they’ve taken to is trying to pay as little as possible, while finding the best employees they can so that they can run extremely thinly staffed stores. I think that the employee discounts are the only thing keeping these stores viable at this point, otherwise everyone would quit.

[@IKnowAGuyBicycles]

Good points, thanks for sharing.

[@nationsnumber1chump]

They are finally building a bike friendly eatery on my favorite trails thru my town. I need an ebike when I dont feel like riding my gravel bike to go get food there 🤔

[@CogMarks]

Ordering a middle of the road 7k mtb bike from Trek shouldn’t take 3/4+ months with the delivery date constantly moving out.

[@KN-ko8ez]

Mid-level bikes costing $7k 💀 The delivery date isn’t the problem…it’s the fact that bikes are so outrageously priced that is the problem.

[@al-du6lb]

Great discussion

[@5280MTM]

Trek is the whole reason I decided to switch over to dirt bikes. I lived car free most my life, solo toured the US 3 times, competitive trials rider for a decade, taught clinics and even moved to a resort town to just ride all summer. The costs of pedal bikes isn’t worth it anymore for me. I’ll keep my current bikes tip top, because I won’t buy a new one until prices drop. It’s literally cheaper to get into motos.

[@deanpesci8484]

I bought my last bike in 1996 from Dong (RIP) at Denver Spoke. De Rosa '57 Replica thin tubed fully lugged "Columbus Especiale" steel rocketship. "This da bike for you bud!" Yea, it actually was....I was born in 1957, which was cool, and I rode that bike one year in the Denver-Aspen Classic one day monster ride.....I miss those days...a lot simpler time.

[@IKnowAGuyBicycles]

Thanks for sharing.

[@Trailripper07]

Dong was a legend! A mainstay at Denver Spoke for many years. RIP.

[@HyliAir]

In South Africa, the bike shops have colluded to inflate the prices. Compare a top end carbon bike to an equivalent price car. Look at the number of parts in each and the safety standards a car has to conform to. That’s why the bike industry can’t sustain itself. Go figure!

[@cupidstunt1975]

a huge uk distributor - I-ride - has gone bust today in the uk. The staff didn’t get paid this week and they won’t be.

[@Xerp4Life]

Wow, that's massive news and blow to bike industry.

[@IKnowAGuyBicycles]

Thanks for sharing!

[@cayminlast]

Corporate exclusive Brand bikes with proprietary parts and pieces, requiring special tools and equipment for repair and service, and all of this available for premiuim prices. A niche market monster that devoured Mom and Pop businesses, with their primary focus on dividends and profit.

[@IKnowAGuyBicycles]

I have seen that first hand. Thanks for sharing.

[@JOEBOWERY]

Haircut looks good, I have had both long and cut, in between right now

[@onemorething100]

Bike mark up is out of hand. 3000$ for a bike last spring is now down to 1700$ this spring. Obviously it's to move old inventory but that's a huge drop.

[@Blueskycycles]

Well call me crazy then. If you want your own shop, there is no time like the present.

[@nationsnumber1chump]

I know a kid who started one this year in my town. He rents out a tiny shipping container in a retail area.

[@IKnowAGuyBicycles]

I meet them at a charity event. Nice people and will check out their store the next time I'm in town. That's the warm hug I'm talking about!

[@IKnowAGuyBicycles]

@Blueskycycles Hope your are doing well and building your community. During the offseason we should hang out and shop talk.

[@billjames3030]

​@@IKnowAGuyBicyclesTrillions and Trillions of stimulus cash was handed out like Halloween candy. Now Americans are broke and bkie sales down. Maybe with 2025 recession they will inject 20 Trillions back into consumer bank accounts.

[@barrettwalker5294]

Interesting conversation, thanks. Do you think the direct-to-consumer companies had an impact on the demise of "The Pro's Closet"? I think they did, because they offered new bikes that were good quality had better componentry than competitors and a lower price.

[@IKnowAGuyBicycles]

That, along with a few other unfortunate events and shifts to the market,

[@timstooksbury6398]

Good morning!

[@PrecisionEBikes]

Thankfully, the electric assist section of the bicycle industry continuous to grow. More road bike conversions than ever before, and I started back in 99! In Europe, E Bike sales is more than 50% of bicycle industry sales.

[@IKnowAGuyBicycles]

Thanks for sharing!

[@jahairl227]

Pros Closet has a small addressable market for their price points. No surprise they would be having business issues.

[@andrewlipsiner9791]

GREAT content Especially at around 20 minutes in Placing a really nice , well spec'd used bike next to a current GEN NEW bike as a reference. The last few years , I have been buying either NOS or lightly used High End Road bikes and components,that were the best , pinnacle of their eras. For the majority of cyclists, these SUBERB bikes provide all the performance parameters boxes ticked for a fraction of what they cost new as well as a GREAT ALTERNATIVE, when compared to NEW. If you have the skillset , and experiences, like I do , to hunt these down , you will be pleasantly surprised on how good these bikes are You should do a series of just that Compare a really nice , well spec'd used bike to a current NEW bike

[@IKnowAGuyBicycles]

I do mention it in my "This Old Bike" videos, but I should show the Apples to Apples frame and spec. Comparisons. Thanks for sharing!

[@kevinrowlands6753]

Here in the uk my prospective is its cheaper to service your car than my bike allso i tend to think components on bikes are rubbish

[@curiosgeorge16]

The Pros Closet was a rip off. They were selling 3-4 year old bikes for about 5% off full blown new retail pricing. Crazy. Surprised they lasted as long as they did TBH.

[@godismeme272]

Is Best Buy going to do repairs 😂 that Geek Squad better start working overtime

[@zacknagel827]

I think a lot of treks issues are trek themselves. It’s not a reliable place to get good service. You have a very high chance of getting a sales guy not selling you what you need. And on top of that, gen x + all hate the company for killing off iconic brands and being corporate. And now specialized is walking VERY close to that side of the pond. Just have a cool atmosphere that does the community a good service with some good brands of the people recipes for success.

[@joshuarebennack68]

I'm not sure what bike shop you are going to. My local Trek shop is the best. Its actually where I get all my bikes worked on. My new Trek Checkpoint is amazing, BTW.

[@IKnowAGuyBicycles]

Not all Trek corporate stores are like this, but many are drinking the Kool-Aid, and you can see it in their eyes and behavior. They have turned into Performance Bike/Nashbar without the low prices.

[@joshuarebennack68]

@@IKnowAGuyBicycles It should be acknowledged that that there is difference between a corporate store and an independent. My local shop is an independent Trek & Specialized dealer. But the corporate ones are pretty souless. My previous favorite bike shop in Indy (Grey Goat) went corporate and is now a soulless zombie of its former self.

[@stevenwilliams7845]

I think the prices of bikes have just gone outrageous I mean no bikes cost you $10,000 even $20,000 unless it’s a professional machine. This guy is loving off but for the average rider nobody needs a $10,000 bicycle that industry because I remember back in the 80s and $800 bike with a lot of money for your parents for you to take out of your family fund. It was just outrageousfor a bike ride around your neighborhood I’ve been a part of bicycle since forever 40 years. I love Bike and terrible things to see what’s happening to our industry because of corporate greed companies they’re not because because they can make money destroy market.

[@Andy_ATB]

The only cyclists that need $10,000 bikes are those who race, and get given them......

[@Raymond-Farts]

I absolutely love cycling so I don't mind spending lots of money to do it. But I won't spend the money on over inflated junk. In my opinion that's what carbon is, JUNK. I think a ton of people have realized that also. The carbon frames and aero wheels do have a huge attraction and cool factor but they just will never compare to the durability of a steel or titanium bike. I will only have my frames made by custom builders which do cost money but some of the high end carbon bikes go for more, so custom is a far better value. At least you'll have some piece of mind that the thing is going to last a long time. I think shops should move more towards selling bikes for custom builders than just supporting the major brands but it would mean the process of buying a bike would be a lot slower, or maybe not, my first titanium bike was a Merlin I bought in a bike shop. That shop carried the brand and had several frames on display. If you're going to spend big money you should be patient and smart because it's been proven the industry will say just about anything to get your money. As for buying used, I don't buy used. And I will never buy from eBay or any other platform where there is the possibility that the merchandise could have been stolen.

[@normankalish3780]

Agreed. All my bikes are steel, some up to 35 years old. I was borrowing my son's bike and rebuilt it for him. I ride it for a few weeks and couldn't understand why it road so poorly. Oh yeah, it was aluminum.

[@IKnowAGuyBicycles]

Nice, thanks for sharing.

[@eric106071]

Hair looking good Dude

[@IKnowAGuyBicycles]

lol, I'm faster around the shop now. Aero Mech Speed!

[@JOEBOWERY]

My long hair is “hated” at my “right wing gym” but I’m “The man” when surfing…I need wigs ha ha ha

[@jensenhealey907efi]

I would NEVER consider buying an ebike from someplace like BestBuy. You know their aftersales service would be just total crap and since an ebike is a complicated piece of equipment there is always going to be something that will need some sort of adjustment or repair after the sale.

[@IKnowAGuyBicycles]

That is an interesting development.

[@hill160881]

It’s simple. When I can build an entire titanium bike for what many carbon frames cost prices are out of hand. I can go to Walmart and get a ozark gravel bike in one of three sizes and with proper maintained it will last many many years and thousands of miles. Other than weight what will a 10,000 bike do that $300 bike from Walmart won’t? Right nothing. Seriously. $300 Walmart bike with $600 elite wheels and $600 electronic wheeltop shift system and you are at $1700 max. Show me the $1700 gravel bike from any company that is under 9kg with electronic shifting and carbon wheels.

[@IKnowAGuyBicycles]

There are options here, but they still need a tech to ensure it's fully tuned. Walmart bikes are not quite there out of the box, but they are close.

[@onemorething100]

I just bought a full carbon Specialized for 1800$

[@hill160881]

@@onemorething100 not new you did not.

[@onemorething100]

@@hill160881 You're wrong. I just bought a Specialized Sirrus 6 Full carbon frame. When it came out in the spring it was 3000$. It's now maked down to 1800. One of the best bikes I ever owned.

[@hill160881]

@@onemorething100 and I can still get the equivalent for $250 at Walmart with the ozark gravel. With a set of carbon wheels, making the bike $800 it’s still a grand less than the 1800 you paid and weighs about the same. That’s assuming you don’t pay the $2300 msrp for the 5.0. Or the $1400 msrp for the 4.0. My genesis gravel bike with carbon wheels was only $650, $850 with sensah 11 speed carbon shift set. Again for $1800 I can build a 8kg metal framed bike with every upgrade you want.

[@finerbiner]

The manufacturers that over built during Covid were pretty stupid. Bikes are still selling well, just not at that level. Buke shops and the majority of their techs are just rude losers and avoiding them is a pleasure. Treat people well and maybe they will come back. Don't change and you deserve a bad outcome.

[@billtucker2414]

Can you talk about how blindingly bright lights are now? Why can we go back to gentle six watt lights on bike trails

[@hippiebits2071]

Don’t even get me started on the people using insanely bright lights meant for mountain bike trails in the parks! Not only annoying and perhaps dangerous but it just send a very negative message regarding cyclist behavior.

[@n22pdf]

Orro in the uk has also gone into administration.. 😢 Pete

[@IKnowAGuyBicycles]

Thanks for sharing. It's a rough road for many companies in our current market.

[@jstar1000]

Friends don't let friends ride junk!

[@IKnowAGuyBicycles]

Especially if it's not safe!

[@mybugmybug]

sorry, im still not seeing chaos. bikes are ridiculously expensive IMO. i get it - i get it. I know everyone has to make margin, but average mtb bikes are thousands of dollars. does that make sense? more variability in road bikes, but i'm just not seeing saturated market with prices dropping. Pro's closet was terrible. Tried to sell 3 name brand bikes, several years ago, pre pandemic. they werent nice and for some reason, every time i contacted them, all i had was "junk" and "go sell it on Facebook". im still online shopping only for the best prices, the local stores are terrible experiences. im finding it cheaper to start with older frame and rebuild with new components purchased online. not seeing prices come down. to put it in perspective we're all familiar with.... regarding new bikes, I've paid less for cars in my life. its a shame

[@IKnowAGuyBicycles]

My business model is mostly service and refurbishing used bikes; it seems to be the way to go.

[@maxring837]

Scooters have stolen your mojo.

[@ConsolidatedPBY]

I still can't get this guy and bike farmer apart.

[@IKnowAGuyBicycles]

If you like both channels, more content for you. Win-Win

[@JOEBOWERY]

skeptical about the paid all of his own college, seems like a tall tale to me (and yes I know things have changed, just heard this particular “story” when I know it is a lie, wayyyyyyy too often)

[@IKnowAGuyBicycles]

Hard to believe, but the 70's were a lot cheeper. Gas 25 cents per gallon. You can buy a house for 50k.

[@nicksfishroom915]

It's easy to buy parts online. Bike mechanics are about as simple as mechanics gets if you have a few of the right tools. The industry offers crazy high prices and underpowered ebikes. A guy can diy a sick ebike with a high end donor bike that can be bought for pennies on the dollar. I've been an avid cyclist for decades, road, MTB , hybrid and now high end DIY ebikes. Sadly for bike shops, I have zero reason to pay a mechanic or buy in a bricks and mortar facility. I'm not alone. Also, why pay $30 an hour and have to wait days for my ride when I can huck it in my stand and get parts as fast or faster than a LBS? My time is valuable. I dont want my bike repaired at the time and place of a bike shops choosing. As for Trek, f them for what they did to Lemond.

[@IKnowAGuyBicycles]

A lot of customers have gone to D2C and DIY videos. Smaller niche shops like mine will be popping up more than large shops.

[@IdahoFatTireBikeFun]

Nothing controversial so far! Also no video or audio because I am a minute early.

[@ljhoule3394]

Good riddance, over priced always!

[@richardkrammes2222]

The bike industry is failing because bike shop owners have poor attitudes towards prospective buyers, Especially if that buyer has a question about e bikes. I just recently wanted to buy an e bike, and visited two shops in Richmond, Virginia. The owners of both shops bristled at my idea and became unpleasant. I ordered a Lectric bike on line, had it in short order and got excellent customer service. Wake up bikes shop owners, the end is near if you don't adjust your attitude.

[@TheJohnbjunior]

2024 Honda 600rr (121 HP) for $12,000, I would say bicycles are overpriced.

[@IKnowAGuyBicycles]

Right!?!?!

[@JoyceHammond-d5r]

Factory problems

[@waltk7624]

Trek more involved in politics than bikes . Ex Tammy I do nothing for 6 yrs then show up with daddy’s money 😮

[@IKnowAGuyBicycles]

That seems the case.