Bikes are back in style

Tag : hogan shoes

HUTCHINSON, Kan. High gas prices and economic stimulus checks have shifted localbicycle business into high gear.
"There has definitely been a noticeable increase in sales becauseof gas price awareness," said Bob Updegraff, owner of Harley'sBicycles. "It's not just new sales, but repairs are also up. Andaccessories are up - fenders and baskets and bag racks - anythingthat lets you take laptops and lunch boxes to work."
Just outside the window of his Main Street shop, Updegraff haswatched bicycle traffic more than triple in recent weeks, commutersnow pedaling past on a regular basis during rush hour.
"It's a direct relation to the gas prices," he said.
While he couldn't put a percentage on the increase in sales,Updegraff was confident of the increase.
"We're enjoying a good second quarter," he said
While higher prices at the pump are a definite motivation behindthe increase in bike sales, government stimulus checks are alsoproviding incentive for people to purchase new bikes, repair oldones or buy accessories to begin commuting, Updegraff said.
"Stimulus checks are being used at our store," he said. "Somepeople are very forward about the fact they are using theirchecks."
The bike rack in front of Sunset Pawn, 400 N. Main, had only onebike parked in it Tuesday afternoon.
"We have a hard time staying full," Hogan Smith said. "Sales haveincreased. Today we had two bikes out front, normally we have 15."
Sales of bikes have at least doubled in the past several months asthe price at the pumps has increased, Smith said.
"They are flying out of here as fast as I put them out," Smith saidof the secondhand bikes that sell for $20 to $50.
Another hot item at his shop is mo-peds.
"I sold 14 mo-peds within the past month," Smith said. "Before theyget here, people put deposits on them."
He orders more, but there's a waiting period from the time they areordered until they can be shipped to Hutchinson. A 49cc motormo-ped, which gets 105 miles to the gallon, costs $1,100.
Bike sales also are brisk at Heartland Bicycle in Wichita's OldTown, said owner Byron Fick, a former Hutchinson resident.
"I haven't set any records, but sales have been up," Fick said."There are seven bike shops in Wichita, so it gets spread around alittle more than in Hutchinson. On average, we have the same amountof business."
Just like Harley's Bicycles, Fick's store has plenty of customersbuying accessories or complete bikes and helmets to ride back andforth to work.
He likes to tell customers if they drive a large SUV, four or fivetanks of gas would pay for the bicycle and some of the gear. Thenwhen they've saved the money they would have spent on another tankof gas, they can buy shoes, a pair of glasses or something new forbiking.
While some are probably spending their economic stimulus checks atthe gas pump, Fick has also had customers using the check in hisshop.
"I know six or seven customers who said that was what they chose tospend their stimulus check on," Fick said.
One customer in particular, coming from Salt Lake City, earmarkedhis stimulus check to buy a bike for his father.
The surge in business, and more people commuting to work, hasn'tpeaked yet, shop owners said.
That might come when gas sits at the $4 mark, said one salesman atthe Heartland shop.
Meanwhile, Fick sets an example by commuting to work.
"Any rider starting out can ride 10 to 12 mph," Fick said. "Then,after getting used to the bike and interfacing with the bike seat,they can average 12 to 18 mph."
Back in Hutchinson, Updegraff is pleased to see the changingbusiness climate.
"Because of high gas prices, people are staying at home, buyingbikes and spending their money in Hutchinson," he said.