Niches Part 2

As I was saying in a previous blog, I love niches, and there are so many of them in the bike world. And I love talking about them.

In these times of high gas prices, we find more people using bikes to run errands and commute to work. For these people we have a wide range of bike bags, baskets, lights, reflective gear, versatile pedals, mirrors and more. There are bike racks that are compatible with disc brakes out now, some that attach only at the seatpost, racks for the front and rear, etc.

Yet another niche product is the Stan's Notubes system. I have been using Notubes since it was only available as a valve and tape system. Notubes makes a system that seals up existing bike rims and tires to make them airtight so you don't have to use a tube. The sealant also makes the best flat protection/sealant available on the market, so the system has many advantages. With no tubes you cannot pinch flat either. Mountain bikers have been benefiting from this system for years, and now roadies are getting in on the action. Many Mavic rims are sealed already and tubeless road tires are starting to hit the market, but Notubes valves and sealant are still useful for road bikes.

One of the newest bike niches is the electric bike. People are riding electric bikes to run errands and commute instead of driving cars. This is not pie in the sky future electric vehicle stuff. If you want an EV, they are here and now, and we have many of the parts you need to convert an existing bike. This niche ushers in a whole new groups of users: people who might not otherwise ride a bike. Electric bikes let you get as much or little exercise as you want, giving you the option to arrive without being in a sweat.

More niche-ey stuff to come.