You guys may be correct that the price of a nice, brand new bike is skyrocketing, however there are other reasons as well that kids are not riding you should consider. When I was younger, my family didn't have a lot of money and I first started riding a Roadmaster from Walmart. I rode a metric century on a Walmart bike. I did it because I loved riding a bike, I didn't have any friends or family that got me into it. I just tried it once and loved it. Eventually with the help of friends, I upgraded to a steel Trek from the '80's, and then to a aluminum Giant. I didn't have much money but that wasn't going to stop me as I loved it. I think the main problem is that kids would rather sit inside in a climate controlled space and play on the tv and computer than be outside, for reasons unknown to me. Hence the growing problem of obesity as well. Another reason could be the safety of riding road. As I found out, it can be very unsafe to ride on the road. Just a few things to consider...

Earl Gage
 


On Friday, April 1, 2016 9:08 AM, biobiker--- via Bike-racers <bike-racers@mailman.swcp.com> wrote:


I also think that one of the problem is how expensive is to ride a bike nowadays.

I can imagine a kid going to his/her parents, which might have zero interest in cycling, and asking them for $2-3k a year to ride a bike.



----Messaggio originale----
Da: John Savickas via Bike-racers <bike-racers@mailman.swcp.com>
Data: 01/04/2016 16.48
A: "'Nathan P. Masek'"<NPMasek@mrcog-nm.gov>, <bike-racers@swcp.com>
Ogg: Re: [NMCycling] Changing times / Racing Age

-->
It could be the price of a bike.
 
Hum, buy them a car for $5,000 OR a Bike for $5000…Oh they need a MT Bike too for $3,500 and Cyclocross for $1,800 for a total of $10,300. Only guys that can do that are like in there 40’s or 50’s….Hum
 
What I did was buy my kid an Xbox for $400 and bought myself the $7,000 road bike. Save myself $2900 and now I can go for the 5 hour ride and my son never knows I’m gone. Win, Win!!!! (April Fools Ha. Ho)
 
J
 
From: Nathan P. Masek [mailto:NPMasek@mrcog-nm.gov]
Sent: Friday, April 01, 2016 8:29 AM
To: New Mexico Sports Online <info@newmexicosportsonline.com>; bike-racers@swcp.com
Subject: RE: [NMCycling] Changing times / Racing Age
 
Yeah, kindof troubling when not as many kids are into it. 
 
More distractions?   Less free time?  Less ability of parents to give the kids that time (often both parents are working).
 
I know it’s a constant challenge I face in supporting my son – not many of his friends ride.
 
This just makes ever so important the Devo efforts that we do have in cycling, and this includes Duke City BMX, plus all the other advocacy and event-related activities as promoted by our community.
 
 
 
*****************************************************************
Nathan Paul Masek, AICP
Senior Transportation Planner
Mid Region Council of Governments
President, ITS New Mexico
809 Copper Ave NW Albuquerque, NM 87102
v 505) 724-3620
f 505) 247-1750
P Please consider the environment before printing this email
 
From: Bike-racers [mailto:bike-racers-bounces@mailman.swcp.com] On Behalf Of New Mexico Sports Online via Bike-racers
Sent: Friday, April 1, 2016 8:20 AM
To: bike-racers@swcp.com
Subject: [NMCycling] Changing times / Racing Age
 
Just an interesting trend in cycling and who is racing.
 
Back in the late 80’s and 90’s if you were 26 yrs old you’d be one of the oldest guys in the cat 4 field and the racers would ask, “who is that old guy”. (there wasn’t a cat 5 yet).  As we were assigning bib numbers last night for the Adoption Exchange we noticed a huge change in who’s races these days.  In the cat 5 more than half range from 60 to 30. The Cat 123 the majority is 50 to 30.  
 
Something to ponder during your morning coffee….
 
Have a great race this weekend!
 
John
 



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