PHILADELPHIA, PA (BRAIN) — Bicycle Product Suppliers Association members’ shipments to bike shops grew a modest 2 percent last year to 2.6 million bikes. Sales dollars were up 6 percent, helped by strong sales of more expensive hybrids, full-suspension 29ers and 24-inch bikes, according to BPSA’s December report.
Shipments of 26-inch suspension bikes are falling like a rock, down more than 20 percent from 2011. In 2010 BPSA members shipped 565,655 front-suspension 26-inch bikes, last year shipments fell to 402,927, a 29 percent drop over two years.
The pavement market continues to move away from sport riding as hybrid shipments hit 683,293 last year while only 426,259 road bikes shipped. Hybrids are 50 percent of BPSA’s pavement sales, also including cruisers and comfort bikes, and road bikes are 31 percent.
The average wholesale price of rigid 26-inch mountain bikes fell more than 63 percent, from $562 in 2011 to $206 last year, making it the lowest-priced adult bike. Entry-level buyers could save more than $300 just opting for the smaller-wheel 26-inch mountain bike over a rigid 29er, which averaged $567 a bike.
