<table cellspacing='0' cellpadding='0' border='0' background='none' style='font-family:arial;font-size:10pt;color:rgb(51, 51, 51);background-color:rgb(255, 255, 255);width:100%;'><tr><td valign='top' style='font: inherit;'>As a starving UCLA grad student, I worked part-time at the original Bikecology shop chain from mid 1972 through mid 1974. I saw the center of the biggest wave of the "bike boom," which had actually started well before the 1973 "gas crisis." In fact, the bike boom may have started (very slowly, at first) with Keith Kingbay's derailleur-geared Varsity and Continental in mid-1960, over Frank Schwinn's original objections. These Varsinentals targeted the adult market for the first time in decades. About the same time, the Surgeon General advocated cycling as an ideal form of aerobic exercise. Some folks started cycling because of high gasoline prices, but there were other factors at play, as well.<br><br>This time MAY be different, in the
sense that although I fully expect gasoline prices to decline somewhat between Labor Day and the November general election, I think the BRIC country (Brazil, Russia, India, China, etc.) demand will keep crude oil above $80/barrel and U.S. gasoline prices permanently well above $3/gallon. I am also hoping to see a renewed interest in aerobic exercise among a population which is becoming progressively heavier and sicker from the classic deadly sins of gluttony, sloth, and greed.<br><br>Time will tell, but it should be interesting ...<br><br>John E.<br><br>--- On <b>Sun, 6/1/08, Gale Chan <i><sdmcgale@yahoo.com></i></b> wrote:<br><blockquote style="border-left: 2px solid rgb(16, 16, 255); margin-left: 5px; padding-left: 5px;">From: Gale Chan <sdmcgale@yahoo.com><br>Subject: Re: [SDCBC] Gas prices knock bicycle sales, repairs into higher gear<br>To: "Abulifia" <abulifia1@cox.net>, "SDCBC Mailing List"
<sdcbc@bikesandiego.org><br>Date: Sunday, June 1, 2008, 3:30 PM<br><br><div id="yiv1341305103"><style type="text/css"><!--#yiv1341305103 DIV {margin:0px;}--></style><div style="font-family: arial,helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;"><div style="font-family: arial,helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">I'm pleasantly surprised that people I personally know are getting on bikes and commuting to work. Actually, I'm flabbergasted. I've lent out both my Road 1 book and Street Smarts booklet. They are all saying similar things--how much fun it is to bike ride instead of drive, they're pleased to be getting some exercise, and it doesn't take much more time to ride vs drive. None of them are talking about gas prices.<br><br>Will they continue to ride their bikes? Or will the bikes end up hanging on hooks in the garage? Only time will tell.<br><br>-- Gale<br><br></div></div></div><br></blockquote></td></tr></table>