GearJunkie: Will 2020 Be The Year People Get Back Outdoors?

Consumer attitudes and buying behaviors have certainly shifted during the COVID-19 pandemic. While social distancing measures are being employed, people are still finding ways to recreate and get outside safely, leading to a bicycle boom.

Will 2020 be the year people get back outdoors?

With movie theaters, concerts, festivals, and other community activities closed down, could 2020 be the year people get back outside? We talked with a few experts to get a fresh take on COVID-19.

By all accounts, the bike industry is booming. Several headlines this week screamed, “Bikes are the new toilet paper!” They note that people around the world are rushing to buy bicycles as they avoid public transportation and turn to isolated exercise.

And indeed, a remarkable number of bicycles are selling like hotcakes online. Brands are taking note, offering home delivery and setup services. Trek, for example, will professionally assemble and deliver your bike right to your home.

Trek hopes that this busy season, which coincides with a seasonal boom in bike sales, is more than a blip on the radar. One brand representative noted that this could be a foot in the door for many people who have considered the sport but never made the final push to commit.

“What we’re most hopeful for is that people change their views of cycling, that they view it as more of a tool and less of a toy or something to do on the weekend,” said Eric Bjorling, Director of Brand for Trek.

Bike sales have been relatively flat for the last few years, he added. But this spring, the brand is seeing a large uptick in service and participation. And the biggest bump? Entry-level hybrids and entry-level mountain bikes.

It’s anecdotal at best. But the brand did reach out to consumers for more quantifiable data.

Check out the full article from GearJunkie here.