Where to buy...

There are so many different complete bikes, frames, and components to choose from. For the novice rider it can be so overwhelming. So much so, it could lead someone to not buy a bike at all. A bike manufacture needs to get their name out to the public. One source is the local bike shop (lbs), another is through large sporting good stores, and another is the internet. For the consumer, the lbs is the best place to find a bike and someone that can do routine maintenance. The lbs can be an intimidating domain. The lbs is typically a place for many seasoned riders to hang out and speak in a lingo that few understand. This can possibly turn the novice rider away. If the consumer can overcome this fear and enter the lbs, he or she will find people more than willing to help. Once a rapport is built between the consumer and the lbs, the consumer will be willing to trust and move to the higher end bikes and parts. This is where the bike manufacturer needs to have developed a good rapport with the lbs owners.

share the road!

One of the blogs that generally like to read is Drunkcyclist, I did not include any links to it because of some of the adult material located on the site. Drunkcyclist does an excellent job getting the word out about fallen bike riders at the hand of absent minded automobile drivers. During the summer it is nearly impossible to get through a week without someone reporting of a cyclist’s death.
No matter if you are a road or a trail rider, there is always a respect among bike riders. The trail riders always feel something for a road biker that has accident with a car.
I originally started out as a road rider, but after a serious collision with a van that left me in the middle of Broadway with a concussion I opted for the trails. I felt that would keep me safe from the cars. I just then run ins with trees that left me with a broken bone in my hand and several stitches in my leg, so much for remaining safe. There are times the trails are too muddy to ride, so I bring out the old road bike and go for a ride. I am right back out with the cars. No matter how many “Share the Road” signs the state, county, and city install, there will be drivers who completely ignore them.
An employee at AEP was killed one morning by a driver that said she never saw him as she drove right over the top of him. He left a wife and children behind. He received his grades in the mail from IPFW that confirmed his graduation in May. Every year the city uses a photo of Bob on billboards to make driver aware of bike cyclists on the streets.
Sorry for deviating from the topic business and bikes, but I thought this was worth a blog entry.

finally a hall of fame for the mountain bikers

Mountain biking now has its’ own hall of fame located in Crested Butte, Colorado. This is the first I have heard of it, but it has been around since 1988. I have not heard of many of the inductees. The manufacturer section of the hall of fame has many inductees I am familiar with. This is a testament to the fact that the serious mountain bikers are from west of the Mississippi. Many of the more challenging courses are in the Rocky Mountains.
The hall of fame has many manufacturer sponsorships. It is good to see that ones we give our money to are willing to put some of that money back into the sport we love.

Bike hall of fame

Lawsuits

In my searching the net, I came across an article about the increase of lawsuits and liabilities involving mountain biking. Many facilities offering riding areas for bikers are coming under increase risk of lawsuits stemming from accidents that happen on their premises. I never considered my accidents that caused broken bones, stitches, missing chunks of missing flesh, and numerous bruises; could ever be a cash windfall. I thought that my many accidents were exactly that, accidents. It is sad that lawsuits are threatening yet another industry. With some forward thinking, many facilities can prevent a lawsuit from financially ruining them.

I have wanted to pursue an indoor bike track for winter riding. Outside of the initial startup costs, liability has been an area that I saw as a stumbling block. Starting an indoor track would involve a great deal of money and time. It could all be taken away with the first paying riding having a terrible accident. Even if you were to win the case, you still have the costs of defending yourself. The International Mountain Bicycling Association (IMBA) has put forth some sage advice on their website for protecting the bike track owner. They cite the properly worded waiver as a means of protection.

Lawsuit Article
IMBA Bike Libility Primer

Finally the first post is here...

I am finally getting down to doing this blog assignment. I need to get moving on this assignment. After reviewing several blogs, I will be blogging on the mountain biking industry. I attended the International Bike Show in Las Vegas last year and became intrigued with business aspect of biking.

I have been a biker in one form or another for the past 17 years. In the last 6 years I have become more of a mountain biker and I have seen how the sport has grown exponentially. The mountain bike had almost but pushed the road bike out the local bike stores, until Lance Armstrong start winning the Tour De France.

As a purchaser of several bike frames and too many bike components, I would like to see the other side of the business.

I am off to search for information and articles pertaining to the business of mountain biking.

Here is a link to a brief history of the mountain bike http://www.bicyclesource.com/you/culture/mtb-history.shtml