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With Higher Gas Prices, Bike Sales Surge in Cedar Falls, Iowa, Area

Posted on: Tuesday, 11 October 2005, 18:00 CDT

By Brandon Coutre, Waterloo-Cedar Falls Courier, Iowa

Oct. 10--CEDAR FALLS -- Increasing gas prices apparently are not bad for everyone -- not if you're in the bike business.

Area bike stores are reporting an unusual late-season sales boom.

Though it's difficult to trace an exact link between high gas prices and the sales surge, Cindy Dodd, manager of Europa Cycle and Ski, said there is no doubt the two are connected.

"Absolutely there is a correlation. September is usually somewhat a quiet month. We had a record-breaking September," Dodd said. "In Iowa, in the Midwest, once you hit fall, you don't have a record-breaking month."

When gas prices hit the $3 mark, Dodd said there was not only a spike in bike sales, but also in bike accessories and repairs.

"There have been a lot of customers coming in that have bikes that obviously have been sitting in their garages for a very long time," said Mark Stevenson, head mechanic at Europa.

"It's phenomenal, we've been two days behind in repairs," Dodd said.

Brent Johnson, mechanic and salesman at Bike Tech in downtown Cedar Falls, said while his shop has seen good overall sales recently, it's the sale of accessories that are up most.

"We're selling lots of racks to people wanting to get groceries or carry books on their bikes," Johnson said.

He also attributed the late-season interest in biking to the weather.

"We've had excellent sales, but there has also been great fall weather, so it's hard to pinpoint exactly what it is," Johnson said.

Robert Fry, who commutes six miles each way to work every day on his bike to John Deere's Product Engineering Center, said too many people take car trips of five miles or less that could easily be completed on a bicycle.

The 40-year-old engineer from England started commuting on his bike 20 years ago because of economical reasons.

"Running a car in Britain is a lot costlier than it is here," Fry said.

"The cost of running a car goes way beyond gas."

When he moved to the United States 11 years ago, he carried his morning biking tradition with him.

Besides economics, there are a number of other reasons why Fry chooses to bike to work.

"Since I would have to exercise anyway, it saves me time because I combine my exercise with my commute. It also benefits the environment," Fry said.

Having an elaborate trail system is a huge benefit for those who choose to bike around town.

"It's intimidating for a lot of people to ride in traffic to work. Here, they don't have to do it," Stevenson said. "It's so much more peaceful when you are riding your bike. It gives you some rest time before and after work."

Dodd hopes high gas prices will persuade people to ride their bikes more and that they will experience a lifestyle change.

"Maybe they can get addicted to another way of running errands," Dodd said. "We have the best bike trails around, so that's another bonus."

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To see more of the Waterloo-Cedar Falls Courier, or to subscribe to the newspaper, go to http://www.wcfcourier.com.

Copyright (c) 2005, Waterloo-Cedar Falls Courier, Iowa

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Source: Waterloo Courier

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