Friday News And Views

Is The Bicycling Retail/Wholesale Segment Looking At A Whiplash Effect?

Over the past two years supply of bicycles, parts, and accessories has been very spotty, if not dried up altogether. There still are segments of the marketplace still showing holes in inventory. I just tried ordering inner tubes for the Cedar Valley Bicycle Collective and came up with nothing, so there is one area that maybe is still in short supply. 

But several signs point to a complete reversal of this supply shortage and many are predicting that within the next six months that the bicycling industry will be sitting on piles of inventory with demand ebbing every day already. 

In fact, many companies are already positioning themselves in a posture of inventory reduction and belt-tightening. Last week, it was widely reported on social media, that Quality Bicycle Products, the largest distributor of bicycle products in North America, was laying off employees. A sign of cost-cutting due to an over-stock situation they may be facing? Possibly. 

Other companies are already running sales on certain items. Trek, for one, is clearing out hybrid bikes and ebikes with a sale that is already in progress. Look for a lot more of this in the coming months and into next season. It sure looks like we're going in whiplash mode- from under stocked to over-stocked- in a big hurry.

Velo Orange Utility Bras & Rack: Image courtesy of Velo Orange.

Velo Orange Shows Off New Bar/Rack Idea:

Last week Velo Orange teased a new handle bar and rack idea that is going into production. It's called the Utility Bar and Utility Rack. The handle bar sports a unique through-bolt set up that can accept water bottle cages, or this cool front mini-rack. There will be a flat bar version along with the riser bar version with bars in black or silver. 

Both the handle bar and the rack are made in ChroMoly and you can match up the rack with either the flat or the riser, or use other accessories like Anything Cages, or other racks. There is no set ETA on when these will be available. 

The flat bar version Image courtesy of Velo Orange.

Comments: I'm not a big fan of weight "up high" out ahead of the steering axis because it causes "flop" and handling is more of a chore. However; some weight can be tolerated and I think this idea would be okay with me. Obviously, a ChroMoly bar and arck are going to add their own amount of weight up front, but on something like a cargo bike, or on my townie, this makes a lot of sense for errands and the like.

I guess the price will be the determining factor for many, but this is a cool idea, and adds versatility to any bike you use for general purpose riding. Bikepacking? Well, yeah, maybe. I guess I'd be more apt to look at cutting weight where I could on a long-distance tour, and adding a steel based alloy bar and rack might not make as much sense as a standard "rackless" type harness for the handle bar. But again- I still think this is a great idea.  

Lezyne Matrix Air Cage Image courtesy of Lezyne

Anti-Theft Air Tag Accessories From Lezyne:

Every week I see posts on social media from distraught bicycle owners saying that their beloved bike has been nicked. Locks and devices made for bicycle security have been available to help prevent theft in the past, but what if a criminal defeats your security device?

That's where the Apple Air Tag laden Lezyne Matrix accessories might help. A small tracking "Air Tag" is embedded into three accessory items from Lezyne- The Matrix Air Cage, the Matrix Bike Tagger, and the Matrix Saddle Tagger. 

Of course, you have to supply ypur own Air Tag, and you have to buy into Apple's ecosystem to make use of it, but this is something that could help in the event of a theft with recovering a stolen bicycle.

Comments: Cool idea with some limitations, but I see this as a step in the right direction. I can see HPC/motorized micro-mobility devices having this sort of thing built in from the get-go for owners of vehicles like that. But "normally" powered bicycles are probably going to have to be equipped with such devices in the very near future, with bicycle prices being as high as they are. Commuters by bicycle also should be able to add aftermarket devices, like the Lezyne accessories here, which will work with any smartphone. 

If we expect more people to use bicycles in utilitarian ways, this sort of thing needs to be more widely available.