Sales got off to a slow start at independent bicycle dealers this year. While total dollar sales held steady at $145 million, unit sales slipped 2 percent in January, according to sell-through data from Leisure Trends Group.
Complete bike sales were down in units (4 percent) and dollars (5 percent), with sales totaling $63 million. That’s down from $66 million in January 2012, but still ahead of January 2011’s $56 million.
Decreases were across the board: road bikes were down 5 percent in units 8 percent in dollars for the month and mountain bikes were down 7 percent in units and 3 percent in dollars. The category with the smallest dip was transit/fitness: units were down 1 percent but dollars were up 3 percent, bringing in a total of $9.8 million in sales for the month.
In the off-road category, 29ers continued to outpace their smaller 26-inch brethren in dollars. The larger wheel size accounted for $10 million in sales and a 10 percent gain, compared to 26-inch’s $7 million and 15 percent decline during the month.
IBDs saw sales growth in components (up 2 percent in units and 10 percent in dollars), and forks and suspension (up 46 percent in units and 30 percent in dollars). Components brought in $11.1 million and forks/suspension brought in $378,436 for the month.
Wheels were the third bright spot, accounting for $4.3 million in sales for the month — a 30 percent increase over January 2012. Unit sales were up 17 percent.
In accessories, action cameras and related accessories continued their upward sales trend, with a 48 percent gain in dollars.
