STATE OF THE IMAGINATION

DIGITAL DISRUPTIONS

Thanks to an economy that’s not quite as solid as a steel frame, consumers and bike shops are being squeezed.

In fact, your LBS is not being squeezed so much as downright throttled by the worldwide financial downturn, with the rand losing value against the dollar faster than air escaping from a burped tyre. It also has rent, insurance and staff costs, which are all passed on to consumers. Not too many riders I know can afford the latest gizmos and gadgets – let alone spanking new bikes.

In a depressed economy in which general retail is down 30%, it’s little wonder that consumers are going online in search of deals. A friend of mine bought two tyres online for the same price he’d pay for one at a bricks- and-mortar shop, and a drivetrain for a fraction of the price. He’s also started servicing his own bike by watching bike DIY videos on YouTube.

Technology is disrupting everything; but while local bike shops may be on the endangered list, they aren’t going the way of the dodo just yet. Bike shops will still have their place, because they are the life force of the cycling community – they just need a bit of imagination, in order to offer a service consumers can’t get online. You can’t walk into an online shop and smell the bike grease, get the specific advice, or watch a mechanic perform wizardry on your most precious possession.

Supporting local business keeps the economy ticking, and importantly, makes you part of a community of cyclists.