DAVIS, CA (BRAIN) Feb 28— Bicycle Retailer & Industry News editors and sponsors are rolling out this morning on a three-day tour of bike shops in Davis and Sacramento.
Over the next three days, BRAIN staff and sponsors will ride to a dozen retailers in these markets where they will talk with storeowners and learn about the local cycling culture and the state of specialty retail. On Tuesday riders will visit five shops in Davis, all within walking distance of one another: B&L Bike Shop, Davis Wheelworks, Freewheeler Bicycle Center, Bike Barn UC Davis and Ken’s Bike and Ski.
Davis was the first city nationwide to earn a platinum-level bike friendly community designation from the League of American Bicyclists. With a population of only 65,000, a cluster of bike shops thrives here where bikes outnumber cars. It’s also the home of the U.S. Bicycling Hall of Fame.
On Wednesday, the group will visit four shops in central Sacramento including Mike’s Bikes, Bicycle Business, Practical Cycle and City Bicycle Works. And the final day, Thursday, will take the Dealer Tour riders east of Sacramento to Bicycles Plus, Carmichael Cycles and Performance Bicycle.
Representatives from sponsoring companies Advanced Sports International, parent of Fuji, Kestrel, Breezer, Oval, SE Bikes and Terry; Wippermann, supplier of bicycle chains; and Interbike will join the editorial staff and hear about what makes these retail environments tick.
“Davis is really unique,” said Pat Cunnane, president of ASI. “There are so many stores within walking distance of each other in a very concise neighborhood. How do they compete? They focus on different niches. It’s got a variety of excellent retailers. I’m really looking forward to it.”
The Davis/Sacramento Dealer Tour begins today and wraps up Thursday. Be sure to check back here all week for daily online coverage and photo galleries. You can also follow us on Twitter at www.twitter.com/bicycleretailerand on Facebook at www.facebook.com/bicycleretailer.
