| 7/25/2008 8:51:00 AM | Email this article • Print this article | Soaring fuel prices send residents to the bike shops
by Jennifer Denevan
Mail Staff Writer
Rising fuel prices and stronger interest in recreational bicycling are driving forces for residents repairing old bikes and buying new ones to suit their needs.
Absolute Bikes, Sub-Culture Cyclery and Otero Cyclery each reported similar trends in the type of customers they are seeing. New bicycles are still being sold, but many people are interested in repairing bikes they already have.
"People who weren't riding, are now," Bryan Olson, Otero Cyclery owner, said.
Customers are wanting to repair old bicycles and are getting accessories for more than recreational use. Shawn Gillis, owner of Absolute Bikes, said he's seeing customers who are interested in making their bikes commuter ready.
Customers are buying accessories, such as racks making it easier to carry items. Residents seem to be more interested in making their old bikes ready to ride to work or run errands, Gillis said.
"People are making bikes into a tool or alternative form of transportation," Jason Shelman, co-owner of Sub-Culture Cyclery said.
Biking as a means of commuting can translate to less money in the fuel tank. Bones, of BBI International and a musician, estimated he saves about $30 a week by commuting to work daily by bicycle.
He uses it for commuting and running errands. He rarely drives except when he needs to travel for a performance he said.
The battery in his car needs to be replaced because it's almost never driven he added.
Dr. Matt Burkley of First Street Family Medicine said he used to average about 15,000 miles a year driving, but he's down to about 4,000 miles a year. He bikes to work four out of five days, weather permitting.
He encourages patients to pick up bicycling as a form of exercise. Burkley organized a pancake breakfast as an incentive in June for Ride Your Bike to Work Day at Heart of the Rockies Regional Medical Center.
Burkley said normal exercise recommendations are 30-40 minutes of vigorous activity most days of the week. Commuting by bicycle can fulfill that recommendation.
New bicycle sales seem to reflect similar interests in addition heightened interest in recreational bicycling. Shelman said the industry reports a significant increase in commuter and cruiser bike sales.
"Bicycling isn't just for the niche cyclist now," he said.
The shift in focus has been ongoing for a few years Shelman said. Fuel cost may be part of the reason, but it might be residents are seeing others riding which influences them to give it try he said.
Residents are seeking things to do as families or couples, Olson said. He is seeing "lots" of families and retirees buying bikes together.
They are buy to suit individual needs in addition to seeking something they can to together, he added.
Clark Roberts, co-owner of Bongo Billy's Salida Café, said for him it's not about gas prices, but more about the "friendly" atmosphere. He explained riding his bike offers more opportunities to talk with friends and neighbors.
Roberts said he rides most of the time. The climate in Salida allows residents to ride more often than just during the summer.
Being nearly flat, Salida lends itself to encouraging residents to commute or ride recreationally. Bike shop owners and Roberts all agreed relatively flat roads make riding in Salida manageable.
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