Bikes selling better than cars

Americans purchased more bicycles than new cars and trucks combined in the past year, according to this Reuter's story by Rasha Elass. "Bike sales and bike equipment is a five to six billion dollar business per year," said Tim Blumenthal, industry specialist and executive director of Bikes Belong, a national industry association. "Bicycle sales are near an all-time high (with) 19 million sold last year -- close to the 20 million sold during the oil embargo in the early 1970s."

Elass cites the Lance Factor, high oil prices, and obesity for the growth in the bike retail business. About 16 million new cars were sold in the United States in 2004. That's some pretty cyclelicious news to me.

Tags: cycling