Just Riding Along

Tim Jackson on early model-year introductions.

[This post comes to you from my trusty blogging compatriot, Tim Jackson.]

A lot has been said in recent years about early model year introductions being bad for the cycling industry, but especially for retailers. Retailers get caught up in preseason order requirements from their vendors and pressure to order more inventory, only to be "stuck" with product that suddenly becomes "last year's bike" when new model year bikes are introduced during the peak of the summer selling season. They are then in the position of needing to discount bikes they haven't even paid for yet, in some circumstances, so they can make room for the new bikes that the consumer is expecting but the retailer might not have even seen yet. How can this be a good thing?

Innovation and development are a central part of the industry, but there are many cases where the model change may only be a color change and not much else. How does this merit the need to discount the previous model? It doesn't in my opinion.

How did all of this get started?

Some people will blame the auto industry for setting the example that has been picked up by the cycling industry searching to gain more sales. Some people will blame Shimano for new product introductions that have seemingly come earlier and earlier. Does anybody else remember the "good old days" when new products were unveiled at Interbike? Remember when you strolled the aisles of the show looking over the shoulders of the crowd gathered around a booth to see what was new? That was a fun and exciting time for product geeks like me. Now, everybody wants to get the most amount of press before the show even starts, months ahead, and releases their products and creates as much noise as they can to build momentum heading up to the show. Now, that is smart marketing, no doubt. But is the marketing leading the industry down a primrose path?

Old school vs. "neo" marketing

From the Creating Passionate Users blog, comes this great comparison of "old-school marketing" and what they call "neo-marketing".  Every marketing, PR, and sales person should print this out and stick it in their cubicle.  These are not just buzzwords and trends, they are the new reality.   

The larger, dominant brands in the bike industry that are still clinging to the old-school paradigm are at risk of slowly but surely losing market share.  And do I even have to mention that a well-executed company blog can achieve everything in the neo-marketing column? 

When you read through this, which brands come to mind?  Is your company still "old-school"?

SRAM serious about road group

Apparently, the recent leaked photos of SRAM's road components were not just a publicity stunt.  These products are the real deal and are already making waves at Eurobike in Germany.  Check this bit just reported on BicycleRetailer.com:

Meanwhile, SRAM was drawing crowds with the first public display of its road group, along with displays of a new 9-speed internal hub and a freeride concept bike that includes a new long-travel RockShox fork. All three are expected to be on ’07 lines.

And this quote from SRAM's PR guy:

“We’re actively selling this to OE’s right now,” ...he said about the road gruppo, which will include shifters, brakes, bottom bracket, cranks and cassette. Zimberoff said the group will likely be released at two high-end price points."

JRA global visitor map

Just for fun, here's a nifty map that shows where my last 100 visitors have come from. 

Soma Fab buys ad on blog directory

Just noticed that Soma Fabrications is the first bike company to purchase ad space on this popular bike blog directory.  Currently, the "Bicycle Blogs" directory lists 168 blogs, making it the most comprehensive directory on the web (although a new one has recently sprouted up).

Is this the first ad buy from a bike industry manufacturer on a blog-related site?  If it is, kudos go to Soma for leading the charge.  This trend will continue as more of the industry realizes that blogs are reaching an ever-increasing number of their potential customers.

Interbike blogger meet-up

I wanted to have a blogging/tech panel discussion at this year's Interbike trade show...but they were booked up a long time ago.  So instead, I'd like to invite all bike industry bloggers to an informal meet-up in Vegas.  I'm not sure how structured it will be, but at the very least it will be a chance to put a face to a name, share a drink (or two), exchange ideas, and perhaps hatch our plans to take over the industry ;-).

I'd also like to extend the invitation to anyone who'd like to learn more about blogs.  If you're on the fence about this whole blogging thing, we'll help you get down on the right side.  Bring your questions, curiousities, and concerns and feel free to pick our brains clean. 

If you're interested, just stay tuned to this space for updates and more details.  Any questions or feedback, just leave a comment or drop me an email.

Kerkove suspended for forum comments

Wow.  This one is hard to believe.  Authors of PR textbooks, get ready to add to your "Bad PR Case Studies" chapter.

Stuart Dorland, founder of 24 Hours of Adrenaline, a race promotion company, has decided to suspend professional endurance racer Jeff Kerkove for one year.  The reason?  Jeff expressed his opinions about the high-price of Stuart's events in an MTBR forum.  Dorland, afraid Jeff's comments would hurt his company's image, engaged Jeff in series of personal emails that ended up in Jeff being suspended immediately...just days before the 24 hour world championships.  (Read more on Kerkove's blog).

Given what I've heard and read, this is a bad decision by Dorland. Kerkove is influential and respected in the endurance racing community.  Along with being one of the top racers in the country and a true evangelist for 24 hour racing, he has a popular blog, he's a shop mechanic, he's active in Internet forums and he's a race promoter.  Kerkove is the archetypal opinion leader, an influencer, a network hub, he's all the marketing buzzwords rolled up into one.  He is the LAST guy any company should alienate.

The painful irony for Dorland is that he suspended Kerkove out of fear that his comments would influence a lot of people...but now it's that same influence that will damage the brand and bottom line of Dorland's company.   Just read the posts to the MTBR thread...the dog-pile has already begun. 

Note to Dorland and others:

There is a new reality in the marketplace.  It's called a conversation and you don't own it any longer.  Your customers are not just passive recipients of your goods and services.  They have a voice that is more powerful than ever because of blogs, forums and the rise of consumer generated media.  You have the choice to either engage, respect and listen to your customers, or ignore them and treat them like dirt.  If you want to make money and be successful, I strongly recommend the former.

My advice to Dorland.  If you think your decision is justified, explain it to the community, but if you think you made a bad decision, it's not too late to change it.  If I were you I'd apologize to Jeff then send him a first class plane ticket to Worlds and buy him a few pints when he gets there.

SRAM stressing Shimano?

Tim over at Masiguy offers his take of the new SRAM road shifters.  In his opinion, they pose a more significant threat to Shimano than Campy does.

"as a Product Manager for a bike brand, it gives me another option for road parts, which is always good. Also, it creates more "pressure" for Shimano...Maybe it is just me, but this could prove to be some of the biggest news in road componentry of the past few years."

SRAM - who also owns Truvativ, Rock Shox and Avid - is already much better positioned to offer the elusive "complete drivetrain" than Shimano is.  More info on SRAM's road stuff from Cyclingnews.com.

Fisher 29ers at SSWC05

Apparently Fisher's commitment to the 29" wheel platform is paying off.  According to Michael Browne over at Dirt Rag Magazine, Fisher's  "Rig" 29er model was by far the most popular bike at the recent Single Speed World Championships last weekend in Pennsylvania.

In fact, the bikes were so ubiquitous that riders had a tough time finding their own bikes after the Le Mans-style running start.  One poor soul even ended up doing the entire race on someone elses "Rig".

According to Browne:

"The Rig is the only production 29” bike available around the country. Sure, smaller builders make them and have fueled the passion for the movement, but this bike has brought it to the people, for a very reasonable price."

I expect to see all the major brands at Interbike showing new 29" models and I'm sure there will be a slew of new 29" compatible parts.  Will it be the shot in the arm that the XC-MTB market has been waiting for?  I sure hope so. 

SSWC05

Danica Agnes Maus

Thanks to everyone for the kind emails and comments on the birth of my daughter.  Several folks have asked for photos and more details...so here goes:

Danica Agnes Maus (we call her Dani)
9lbs. 5oz. and 21" long

It was by far the most intense experience of my life.  The only thing I can even compare it to is the final laps of a long, hard crit...with a lap counter that seemed to never budge.

... and like racing, the reward far outweighs the effort...don't you think?