Recumbents, where are they?
 

Just came from a trip to Orlando and NY and after visiting lots
of BIG bikes stores I could not find one bent to sell, how bents are
going to be future bikes if nobody cares about them?

Recumbents, where are they?
 

Duram ? wrote:
Just came from a trip to Orlando and NY and after visiting lots
of BIG bikes stores I could not find one bent to sell, how bents are
going to be future bikes if nobody cares about them?

Most big bicycle stores have done poorly at selling recumbents due to
disinterest or dislike on the part of most of the staff [1]. The
successful shops are the ones who specialize in recumbents.

It is hard to get a handle on recumbent sales, since there is no
reporting mechanism and most manufacturers do not release verified
sales figures, but 20,000 to 30,000 per year or approximately 1 to 1½%
of the quality bicycle market is a common estimate.

[1] Often younger racers who are working for lower wages and wholesale
prices on bikes, parts and accessories.

--
Tom Sherman - Fox River Valley (For a bit)

Recumbents, where are they?
 

Johnny Sunset wrote:


Most big bicycle stores have done poorly at selling recumbents due to
disinterest or dislike on the part of most of the staff [1]. The
successful shops are the ones who specialize in recumbents.

I like to say that as The Capital of the World, if it ain't here in New
York, it don't exist!

But it's absolutely puzzling how come, with all the tree-huggin' vegan
yuppie gay commies we have -- heh-heh -- there's not one 'bent store in
the City. Moreover, the closest one is 300 miles away!

In Jersey there is still NorthEast Recumbents, which is an hour away by
public transportation, but unfortunately the owner is planning to close
for good soon. =(

(There's another one in central Jersey somewhere, though.)

It is hard to get a handle on recumbent sales, since there is no
reporting mechanism and most manufacturers do not release verified
sales figures, but 20,000 to 30,000 per year or approximately 1 to 1½%
of the quality bicycle market is a common estimate.

I must admit to about as much surprise (as I do that NYC has got no
'bent shops) that the enthusiast newsletters and 'zines are chock-full
of different designs and makes! Hence my eariler post on how could
there be so many 'bent makers.

[1] Often younger racers who are working for lower wages and wholesale
prices on bikes, parts and accessories.

--
Tom Sherman - Fox River Valley (For a bit)

Recumbents, where are they?
 

Duram wrote:
Just came from a trip to Orlando and NY and after visiting lots
of BIG bikes stores I could not find one bent to sell, how bents are
going to be future bikes if nobody cares about them?


Maybe gw bush really is the average American cyclist!

Like I said, they need to get some big Hollywood celebrity on
one...make it a gay issue somehow...do product-placement in some
movie...and hold more races in big media markets! Try to get into the
schools the way sports companies (not to mention junk food companies)
do -- free equipment, etc.

The point I'm at is the usual one: who's gonna pay for all that??

Recumbents, where are they?
 

Duram wrote:
Just came from a trip to Orlando and NY and after visiting lots
of BIG bikes stores I could not find one bent to sell, how bents are
going to be future bikes if nobody cares about them?


I think recumbents are much more of a regional thing, when I lived up
north mostly what I saw was MTB's. Here in Florida I see a pretty good
mix. Lots of x-mart quality bikes of various types. Quite a few quality
road bikes. And just in my little town probably about a dozen or so
'bents of various makes, I have seen an recognized at least 3 or 4
brands, BikeE, Sun, Easy Racer, Bacchetta, Rans and one or two that I
didn't recognize.

Ken
--
You never have the wind with you - either it is against you or you're
having a good day. ~Daniel Behrman, The Man Who Loved Bicycles

Homepage: http://kcm-home.tripod.com/

Recumbents, where are they?
 

There is another bent shop in Hamilton Square, NJ. It's "Jersey Bents"
and is in the same shop as Economy Bike Shop on Rte. 31. Also on March
18/19, there will be a bike show at the NJ convention center in Edison.
There are lots of bents there and other bikes

Recumbents, where are they?
 

SuperDave wrote:
There is another bent shop in Hamilton Square, NJ. It's "Jersey Bents"
and is in the same shop as Economy Bike Shop on Rte. 31. Also on March
18/19, there will be a bike show at the NJ convention center in Edison.
There are lots of bents there and other bikes


So that's the closest to the City now, huh? Hamilton Square...google
lists it as Trenton, NJ??

That's cool...I'll keep it in mind -- thanks!

Recumbents, where are they?
 

NYC XYZ wrote:
Johnny Sunset wrote:

Most big bicycle stores have done poorly at selling recumbents due to
disinterest or dislike on the part of most of the staff [1]. The
successful shops are the ones who specialize in recumbents.

I like to say that as The Capital of the World, if it ain't here in New
York, it don't exist!

But it's absolutely puzzling how come, with all the tree-huggin' vegan
yuppie gay commies we have -- heh-heh -- there's not one 'bent store in
the City. Moreover, the closest one is 300 miles away!

In Jersey there is still NorthEast Recumbents, which is an hour away by
public transportation, but unfortunately the owner is planning to close
for good soon. =(

(There's another one in central Jersey somewhere, though.)

It is hard to get a handle on recumbent sales, since there is no
reporting mechanism and most manufacturers do not release verified
sales figures, but 20,000 to 30,000 per year or approximately 1 to 1½%
of the quality bicycle market is a common estimate.

I must admit to about as much surprise (as I do that NYC has got no
'bent shops) that the enthusiast newsletters and 'zines are chock-full
of different designs and makes! Hence my eariler post on how could
there be so many 'bent makers.

[1] Often younger racers who are working for lower wages and wholesale
prices on bikes, parts and accessories.

--
Tom Sherman - Fox River Valley (For a bit)

There is New Jersey Bents (Economy Bikes) in Hamilton, NJ

Recumbents, where are they?
 

NYC XYZ wrote:
SuperDave wrote:
There is another bent shop in Hamilton Square, NJ. It's "Jersey Bents"
and is in the same shop as Economy Bike Shop on Rte. 31. Also on March
18/19, there will be a bike show at the NJ convention center in Edison.
There are lots of bents there and other bikes


So that's the closest to the City now, huh? Hamilton Square...google
lists it as Trenton, NJ??

That's cool...I'll keep it in mind -- thanks!

No it is not Trenton, but close. It is on route 33 not 31. He is really
a nice guy and a very good mechanic. He does all the work on my trike
and recumbent bike.

Recumbents, where are they?
 

Jersey Bents run a nice shop, are members of MARS, and are staying in
business. Northeast is closing shop, I believe as of April '06
Chas
"Joel" joelw135atcomcast.net wrote in message
...
NYC XYZ wrote:
SuperDave wrote:
There is another bent shop in Hamilton Square, NJ. It's "Jersey Bents"
and is in the same shop as Economy Bike Shop on Rte. 31. Also on March
18/19, there will be a bike show at the NJ convention center in Edison.
There are lots of bents there and other bikes


So that's the closest to the City now, huh? Hamilton Square...google
lists it as Trenton, NJ??

That's cool...I'll keep it in mind -- thanks!

No it is not Trenton, but close. It is on route 33 not 31. He is really a
nice guy and a very good mechanic. He does all the work on my trike and
recumbent bike.