SEATTLE - Soaring gas prices are fueling a surge in bike sales worldwide, and women are a big part of this trend. In fact, some local businesses are now catering to this new girl pedal-power.
KING-TV's Charlotte Starck reports
10/02/2008
From Seattle to Beijing, commuter and urban style bike sales are way up. Some attribute that to gas prices, health/exercise and concerns for the environment. U.S. bike sales up nine percent, and is expected to be higher. Europe is up over 14 percent and India over 16 percent.
In Seattle, bikes sales to women has shot up so much, one shop is now catering especially to female riders.
Easier than a car, but new to most women, changing a tire in a bike maintenance class in Lake Stevens aims to educate the growing number of women shifting gears to two wheels.
"I'm not going to have my husband out there with me to change my tire," said Laurie Olliges, bicyclist. "I need to be able to do it myself."
While the economy is tough, this shop say's they've seen a huge surge this year in sales to women.
"I would say this past year I'm up probably 60 percent on the women's bike sales," said Scott Stuart, owner of Bike Works.
Maintenance classes for women teach them what tools to carry on a ride, how to fix a flat, repair a broken chain and do adjustments to brakes and shifting.
"It was a lot more fun I think having the women only. We're not expected to be experts at it, so you can ask any question you want and there's no bad question," said Olliges.
Bike Works is also offering women's rides and ladies nights to cater to the new girl power.
"Like our chain fell off last week and we just flipped our bike over and we knew just what to do. I don't have to call my husband when I break down," said Heather Hoglund, bicyclist.
R.E.I., which has 27 stores nationwide, also offers bike maintenance workshops.
Commuter and urban style bikes sales up, while mountain bikes sales are down due to less discretionary income in slumping economy. When you look at the average American spending $4,000 a year on gas, it's no wonder why many men and women are using pedal power.
