It's sudden, but you don't see many local bike shops anymore, do you?

Actually, like Mr. Honya, there's a clear reason for this.

Diversity Makes Bike Shops Boring

It's "human diversity."

In the past, everyone wanted the same thing.

They wanted a Tsunoda TU-go.

How old are the people who get this reference?

However, in today's Reiwa era, the bike you want and the bike I want are probably different.

And your friends want different bikes too.

When that happens, what bike shops can stock are "bikes that are likely to sell," not "interesting bikes."

The cheapest possible utility bike.

A utility bike with gears, suitable for someone starting to commute to school by bike.

Even for road bikes that are sold "off the rack," meaning complete bikes hung in the shop, not a single aggressive component is attached.

Only items that look the part and are as cheap as possible line the shelves.

Shops aren't that big either.

By prioritizing "bikes that are likely to sell," shops become uninteresting, turning into dull places that elementary and junior high school students won't visit with sparkling eyes.

Shop owners are in business, so it's a strategy to make a living.

No one can blame them for that.

But it undeniably leads to a boring lineup.

In the case of bookstores, it might be easier to imagine if I said they became shops that only stock magazines and hardly any specialized books.

Reasons why bike shops don't go out of business

Have you ever seen an old bike shop, with a dilapidated building, where you've never seen a single customer?

※Image for illustration purposes.

Inside, parts and tools are crammed everywhere, making it hard to even call it a bike shop...

There are days when it's closed, a shop that makes you worry if the old man who runs it is still alive.

Have you ever wondered how such shops manage to make a living?

Apparently, they undertake maintenance for bicycles and motorbikes used for newspaper and postal delivery, performing regular maintenance and repairs.

On days when the shop is closed, they might be doing on-site maintenance.

Since it's regular maintenance, there were even times when their sales reached about 20 million yen annually in good years.

Where should we buy bicycles?

Considering this, with fewer interesting bike shops and many places being more like maintenance shops than bike shops, where should we buy fun bicycles?

Of course, there are bright, well-stocked bike shops with good bicycles, putting in a lot of effort.

Buying from such a shop is definitely a good option.

For example, what is currently driving bookstores out of business is the existence of Amazon.

So, if physical bike shops are uninteresting, then just buy online.

With online sales, fixed space isn't an issue, so you can offer an unlimited range of bicycles.

By contracting with various wholesalers, you can sell many bicycles on Amazon or Rakuten without holding inventory.

However, it's difficult to feel the shop owner's passion or commitment to bicycles from an online sales page.

You might just end up buying reassuringly after seeing something labeled "No. 1 in sales"...

That won't get you excited.

Especially when choosing a bicycle, which often has a strong hobby element, I want you to be particular about it.

For example, how about this page?

ICAN Folding Bikes

Mini velos, which the author loves, are in the lineup.

You too, please find your favorite shop and get an exciting bicycle.

With ICAN, if you have a question, you can ask it via chat, so the answers are quick and reassuring.

It's nice to get a prompt response, isn't it?

It's the only brand among global companies.

Even though it's a global company that might seem high and mighty, it's great that each bike is hand-assembled.

Videos are also available.

It's natural for prices to be low, but you want to buy from a place where you can feel the passion and commitment of the manufacturer and its employees, don't you?

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