A good century ago you would have found a cycle shop in almost every village or town. Nowadays however a great many have shut their doors and ceased trading, leaving only the bigger companies and shops that sell a range of products such as snowboards and surfboards as well as bikes. So where did it all go wrong for local bike shops and is there any hope for them yet? Lets take a look at a few factors.
More Cars. Everyone can see that cars are much more prominent on our roads than they used to be. More people are not only buying cars but also using their cars a lot more. But does this effect the amount of people using bikes. Halfords, a large chain of shops in the UK that serves both car and bike owners have stated that over the past 10 years there has been a decrease of 10% in the number of commuter and also mountain bikes bought. However, this last year has seen the first increase in bike sales, potentially as a result of the recent economic and ecological concerns.
Internet Shopping. More and more people as using the Internet to buy things. Although people are more inclined to want to get on a bike and ride it before they bought one, there has still be a shift towards Internet buying. According to a leading online retailer, internet bicucle sales have claimed 5% more of the total market share each year for the last 5.
Trading websites. The growth and prominence of classifieds sites such as Craig’s List is another factor to consider. Local bikes shops used to be the only place you could buy and sell bicycles. Nowadays we can just list our bikes on number of sites and wait for buyers to contact you. There are now even sites set up specifically for buying and selling surfboards, snowboards and mountain bikes etc, such as Extreme Sports Trader and Bike Magic
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Mountain bike helmets are an extremely important and necessary part of your biking gear. Don’t go out riding without wearing one! Children must wear a helmet while riding a bike because it is legally required.
Picking out a mountain bike helmet is just as important as picking out a motorcycle helmet. In fact the criteria is quite similar. Most people don’t know that the same companies that make motorcycle helmets also make mountain bike helmets.
The first step in choosing a proper helmet is size. You must first measure your head and then pick the helmet according to this measurement. If you have a mishap with an oversized helmet, the helmet may fall off. If the helmet is too small to properly cover the head then it will leave some vulnerable areas. It won’t be comfortable.
You’ll want to select a mountain bike helmet based on your personal biking style and your level of riding. For dangerous riding, such as downhill or high speed, you will most definitely want a mountain bike “full face” helmet. Believe me, if you have a crash, you will be glad that your face is protected.
For longer rides or leisure riding a light weight helmet is perfect. Especially when the temperature is very high outside. Sometimes you need to wear a full face helmet, but they can get uncomfortably hot.
This brings us to the topic of ventilation. You surely need to be certain you have good ventilation when you choose your mountain bike helmet.
Mountain bike helmets are available in many different styles and designs. Ensure it is marked with the letters “CPSC”. These letters, which stand for “Consumer Product Safety Commission”, mean that the helmet is safe for use. Because to legally be considered a bicycle helmet, it must have this stamp. Prices are greatly varied, with most being affordable for the casual rider. If you are pondering how much is too much to spend, do what motorcycle aficionados do and ask yourself ‘how much is my brain worth’? Mountain biking is a great recreational activity for relaxing, exercising and spending times together with family and friends. How tragic would it be to end such a wonderful day with an injury or worse.
Many lives have been saved as the result of using proper protective gear. Please remember this when choosing your mountain bike helmets.
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