tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12831567.post119080415088931676..comments2024-03-28T08:40:23.164-05:00Comments on Guitar Ted Productions: Gravel Grinder News; Pow-Wows And The Future Of Gravel EventsGuitar Tedhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10960580677548417562noreply@blogger.comBlogger9125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12831567.post-50198264191360741842020-01-22T15:02:49.976-05:002020-01-22T15:02:49.976-05:00ONe more bit of information. The Missouri Bicycle...ONe more bit of information. The Missouri Bicycle and pedestrian federation held a meeting in the Kansass City area this past weekend regarding mountain bike leagues at the secondary school level. If this spreads state wide, it should have a positive impact on MTB sales, too. Ufortunately, I DID NOT GET TO ATTEND THE MEETING. graveldochttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07735646900935591880noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12831567.post-46183229787998658772020-01-22T13:51:25.407-05:002020-01-22T13:51:25.407-05:00@ jdc - Please understand that I am not talking ab...@ jdc - Please understand that I am not talking about specific areas in the world. the trends are being documented for all to see, but it doesn't mean that pockets of the world are not experiencing growth, say in road bikes, or, as you point out- MTB. <br /><br />Good luck this season with the MTB sales! I hope it goes well as you think or better!Guitar Tedhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10960580677548417562noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12831567.post-46051575825750992362020-01-22T13:40:55.799-05:002020-01-22T13:40:55.799-05:00I can only comment on our own experience, but at o...I can only comment on our own experience, but at our shop here in Ontario things have changed. Mountain bike sales are up and have brought along with it a whole new crop of fresh faces, eager to hit the singletrack. We haven't seen a new group of mountain bikers in a very long time. After playing it safe for the past number of seasons we've gone ahead and ordered a bunch of "spendier" bike models and all of the accessories that go with dirt. Gravel is doing very well, so much so that we started a gravel club. Pure road sales are way down, but participation is very strong. Our small city has just put in a new pump track and skills park. Hopefully this will give the absolutely dead BMX market a shot in the arm.jdchttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15280018145886483138noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12831567.post-38192240633206612592020-01-22T05:40:30.402-05:002020-01-22T05:40:30.402-05:00@Guitar Ted and @Doug M Along the lines of MIdwest...@Guitar Ted and @Doug M Along the lines of MIdwest MTB events, the Buffalo Headwaters Chanllenge taking place in northern Arkansas this week and weekend bears looking into. The folks from the LBS I most often frequent are participating. graveldochttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07735646900935591880noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12831567.post-56401133771372798732020-01-21T19:35:50.374-05:002020-01-21T19:35:50.374-05:00@Doug M - It's a mixed bag for MTB. Here in th...@Doug M - It's a mixed bag for MTB. Here in the Mid-West participation is flat to declining. Sales for MTB's is in slight decline over 2018-2019 as seen by numbers posted in the cycling trade magazines. Yes- there are hot spots of activity and events that are being created. But without NICA, I would argue that MTB is not on the uptick, and some folks I know are afraid it is on the verge of another downturn, as seen in the late 90's/early 00's. <br /><br />We can argue that going forward, but I would say that gravel events, as a form of cycling, have grown at a rate that makes whatever is/is not happening in MTB look like nothing. That's the point. That's where growth is happening that is tangible to most anyone. That's what is attracting the interest from USAC, from the cycling industry, and from media. <br /><br />Guitar Tedhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10960580677548417562noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12831567.post-23104871709625637762020-01-21T11:24:59.369-05:002020-01-21T11:24:59.369-05:00About participation in mountain biking being flat/...About participation in mountain biking being flat/down, I only have anecdotal evidence, but I see mountain biking exploding in North America. Just not at races, outside of enduro and NICA XC maybe. Big developments in trail building, growing trail advocacy orgs, <br />inclusion/diversity initiatives, more MTB festivals, municipal pump tracks and skills parks being built, etc. Not without growing pains, namely high cost of entry and access issues (exacerbated by E-bikes), but I see good things ahead for the MTB scene. Let's hope the industry doesn't fumble the opportunity.Doug M.https://www.blogger.com/profile/05970058264292260252noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12831567.post-2915941716730993602020-01-21T10:28:41.447-05:002020-01-21T10:28:41.447-05:00@bnelson - Thank you!
@tntmoriv - Yes, I agree. ...@bnelson - Thank you! <br /><br />@tntmoriv - Yes, I agree. The bottom line is that competition cannot be the sole reason for USAC to exist anymore. The vast majority of cyclists could give a rip about "funneling talent to the Pros/Olympics" when the rubber hits the road. Sure- we all like being entertained, so when an American does make it (Lance) we cheer and get behind it, but otherwise, not so much. <br /><br />USAC has to be involved in getting all types of people to cycle and be able to do it safely everywhere. Period. Otherwise we don't need that organization at all. Guitar Tedhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10960580677548417562noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12831567.post-37439909811324203572020-01-21T08:17:44.230-05:002020-01-21T08:17:44.230-05:00It seems that if USAC wants to save road cycling, ...It seems that if USAC wants to save road cycling, they should save our roads. I mean, one huge reason people are flocking to gravel is they are being driven (pun intended) off of our paved roads by unsafe drivers and insufficient infrastructure. You have mentioned this and probably preach it daily. Perhaps USAC advocating for real bike lanes, connected greenways, and a network of connected and separated paved routes would save road cycling and reverse their losses. Sharrows don’t work, and “share the road” signs don’t work when road conditions or driver distractions are as unsafe as they have become. I like riding on safe paved roads. I like going to actual places that cars can go, but at a human-powered speed. Many people do. But not if we are going to get run off then road or hit. <br />Bike infrastructure: build it, and you will build the cycling community as a whole; they will come. Thanks for the post GT!tntmorivhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09419649998953602654noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12831567.post-69982828370571052622020-01-21T07:18:26.000-05:002020-01-21T07:18:26.000-05:00the last paragraph sums it up. Thanks for your inp...the last paragraph sums it up. Thanks for your input gt bnelsonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06034412885974305525noreply@blogger.com