increased bike sales......?????

johnc461165 · Nov 5, 2012

Lots of people by bikes on a whim, use them a few times then they are left in a shed or outside. Scrap men who come around these days have almost unused bikes on their trucks. I got 2 for nothing of a local guy plus a b&d workmate, people must be crazy !!!

indalo · Nov 5, 2012

dmcgoldrick said:
so are ebikes still a minority niche market for boomers/old codgers/silver surfers/grey market or whatever the latest description is for the older generation who have come back to playing on bikes.......

regards

Sadly Dave, the short answer to your question is yes. Although, no doubt, someone will know of some exception(s), the reality in the areas where I cycle is that other ebikes are still as rare as rocking-horse wotsits. Whenever I do come across another ebiker, inevitably it seems, they are as old or even older than me.

I'd guess there are many reasons why that remains the case, not least of which is the fact that younger people, by and large, don't have any need of motor assistance. Those younger people can manage pedalling quite comfortably and if they have need of more power, speed or simply bigger thrills, then scooters and motor cycles are the obvious choices.

I really can't see that changing much any time soon.

Indalo

smudger1956 · Nov 5, 2012

indalo said:
Sadly Dave, the short answer to your question is yes. Although, no doubt, someone will know of some exception(s), the reality in the areas where I cycle is that other ebikes are still as rare as rocking-horse wotsits. Whenever I do come across another ebiker, inevitably it seems, they are as old or even older than me.

I'd guess there are many reasons why that remains the case, not least of which is the fact that younger people, by and large, don't have any need of motor assistance. Those younger people can manage pedalling quite comfortably and if they have need of more power, speed or simply bigger thrills, then scooters and motor cycles are the obvious choices.

I really can't see that changing much any time soon.

Indalo

Good points, not only but also, I think a lot of young people could not afford an E-Bike, judging by the conversations I have had with them while out and about.

eddieo · Nov 5, 2012

how did most of us afford a car when young.....a bank loan. Dont think they will ever be that popular with the young anyway as they don't need them.

GaRRy · Nov 5, 2012

eddieo said:
how did most of us afford a car when young.....a bank loan. Dont think they will ever be that popular with the young anyway as they don't need them.

Actually with the cost of insurance for a 17 year old these days I would think a ebike would be the cheaper option by far.

Jimod · Nov 5, 2012

eddieo said:
how did most of us afford a car when young.....a bank loan. Dont think they will ever be that popular with the young anyway as they don't need them.

Indeed, the problem isn't that people can't afford them, it's that they don't want them. The electric bike image is not helping sales in UK. Maybe BEBA and non BEBA chaps and chapesses need to get together and put their efforts into changing the ebike image in UK.

Most young people who are into bikes could cycle further on their non powered bikes than people with ebikes can before their battery goes flat. So adverts need to be aimed at those who aren't 'into' bikes as they can't or can't be bothered, to pedal much.

Jimod · Nov 5, 2012

GaRRy said:
Actually with the cost of insurance for a 17 year old these days I would think a ebike would be the cheaper option by far.

If you're 17 an ebike is not an alternative to a car or motorbike.

Geebee · Nov 5, 2012

I am actually noticing more E-bikes (still not a lot) and most are ridden by younger people in their twenties, but our city is hilly so I think beginners find it hard to start riding on normal bikes or find commuting tough, so they turn to E-bikes.

flecc · Nov 5, 2012

I'm afraid so Dave. There has been some small shift into the earlier middle age, but our membership still stubbornly stands at 80% in the second half of life.

I'm sure the sales boost has been to the flash-in-the pan wannabees, a couple of rides and the bikes will end up in the back of garages as most of the two millions sold each year in the UK always do.

JuicyBike · Nov 5, 2012

Our oldest rider to date: 96 years, purchased 2 years ago. Last week he called to arrange a service!

More recently I've noticed our riders are getting younger, often the rationale is to replace a car that they cannot afford to repair, many now in their twenties.

The trend is increasingly younger and pragmatic, rather than older with leisure time.

Old_Dave · Nov 5, 2012

but our membership still stubbornly stands at 80% in the second half of life.

I don't mind being in the 80% group, but most mornings I feel like I'm in the third half

JuicyBike · Nov 5, 2012

Old_Dave said:
I don't mind being in the 80% group, but most mornings I feel like I'm in the third half

It'll go to penalties...

funkylyn · Nov 5, 2012

From 2 e-bike riders in Ilminster there are now 6 that I see regularly.......however we are all over 50 !

I have had some interest shown by younger men, who I think if a secondhand bike was put under their nose they would buy, as they would any other 'toy', to try but then probably discard when the novelty wore off.

In my brothers area, which is urban, there do seem to be more in the younger (25-50) age range who are mostly using them for commuting, which kind of ties in with what we see generally on this forum.

As Blewit said in a previous post the answer is to sell the lifestyle idea first.

And to be honest, that is really down to the sellers of bikes to sell the idea as they are going to be the ones to benefit......the only 'benefit' I can see for us leisure riders is more congestion on traffic free paths for example, and there is enough of that there already in this area, with walkers, dogs and horses.

I would be quite happy to be the 'only biker in the village' and enjoy less congestion

Lynda

GaRRy · Nov 5, 2012

Jimod said:
If you're 17 an ebike is not an alternative to a car or motorbike.

Fully agree but it does go to show that the price is not the issue.

flecc · Nov 5, 2012

GaRRy said:
Fully agree but it does go to show that the price is not the issue.

Indeed. Three 14 year olds who took turns to try out one of my e-bikes absolutely loved it. A couple of years later I had three riders on screaming mopeds slow alongside me to wave their recognition. The very same three of course, showing only too well what appeals to them once they reach 16.

OldBob1 · Nov 5, 2012

I have a Cyclamatic folder and all the younger people that have had a go on it think it is great, but the cost puts most of them off as a few more pounds would get them a moped or small bike.
If there was an incentife or the price was right, the young ones would possible want one.
But looking back maybe I would have bought a beat up moped or clapped out scooter as it was the street cread at the time!!!
Have thinks changed?

OB1

Kudoscycles · Nov 5, 2012

We need to make these ebikes sexier to appeal to young people,being allowed to ride one at fourteen years should be cool.
We had a family who bought 4 of our Sport model,Dad needed a bit of help with dodgy legs,Mum wanted to ride without too much effort,the teenage daughters were forced,reluctantly,to have them. One of the daughters refused to even get out of the car,with that bored look that teenagers have made into an art form.
The family have a wonderful cycling area-along the seafront from Dymchurch to Dungeness and across Romney Marsh.
Two weeks later the family came back to talk about the bikes-the bored daughter was positively animated,her bike was her independence,her friends thought it great and she couldn't stop raving about it.
Moral,we need to get teenagers to try these bikes,its that first smile-ride thats so difficult to persuade them to try.
Maybe the new bikes from Woosh,Kudos and others will be sexier for 2013.
Dave
Kudoscycles

increased bike sales......?????

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