Industry News

Bike Hub: 2021 Year in Review

· By Bike Hub Features · 71 comments

Another 12 months have flown by and once again it’s time to look back at the past year on Bike Hub.

2021 gave us some glimpses of normality, with many more cycling events taking place, albeit on a compressed schedule. And while constrained supply fell short of the demand for new cycling gear, many consumers and retailers looked to the second hand market as a supplementary channel.  

The heightened relevance of pre-owned is reflected in our numbers with a record R720 million in stock value listed in 2021 and over R246 million in recorded sales*.

Here’s a look back at 2021 on Bike Hub by the numbers.

Website stats – Headline activity

While more pages were viewed and more time spent on Bike Hub in 2021, we did see a decline in the number of unique users visiting the site. Although South African user numbers remained steady year-on-year, we had considerably fewer International visitors finding Bike Hub via search engines.

Unique visitors
1 771 953 
-15.83%

Pageviews
52 413 996
+1.02%

Sessions
7 035 138
-4.15%

Average visit mins.
06:45
+1.47%

South African User Split

  1. 46.27% Gauteng
  2. 35.66% Western Cape
  3. 8.76% KwaZulu-Natal
  4. 3.28% Eastern Cape
  5. 1.41% Mpumalanga
  6. 1.30% Free State
  7. 1.12% North West
  8. 1.01% Limpopo
  9. 0.36% Northern Cape

International User Split

  1. 57.78% South Africa
  2. 10.33% United States
  3. 4.41% United Kingdom
  4. 2.25% Australia
  5. 1.69% Canada
  6. 1.45% Philippines
  7. 1.32% Germany
  8. 1.24% Netherlands
  9. 0.97% Italy
  10. 0.93% France

Member stats

New Members (2021)
18 774

Total Members (All time)
167 112
+12.66%

Gender Breakdown
69.96% Male
30.04% Female

 

AXS GX Eagle.jpeg
Top 20 articles of 2021 – at #8 was SRAM’s announcement of the trickle-down of AXS wireless shifting to the GX Eagle groupset.


Classifieds Activity

Adverts listed
69 051
+18.06%
 

Leads Generated
203 444
+2.25%

Advert Views
19 967 068
+17.64%

Avg. value – All Categories
R 10 482.15
-8.09%

Avg. value – Mountain Bikes
R 25 052.29
+12.28%

Avg. value – Road Bikes
R 21 438.60
+5.74%

 

Listings and Sales Figures

Total Listings Value
R 723 802 939
+15.74%

Recorded Sales Value*
R 246 179 144
+61.52%

*Recorded Sales Value: This figure is based on user reported sales data and likely under-represents the true sales figure. 38% of ads created in the period were actively reported by the seller as having been sold. A further 37% of ads were removed by the seller and 24% expired after 30 days without any feedback from the seller.

Bike Hub Pay
At the end of 2020 we launched Bike Hub Pay, a secure payment service which protects buyers and sellers. In 2021 we helped over 1800 buyers and sellers to trade safely with over R8.5 million in successful deal value.

With usage of the service growing month-on-month and a steady stream of glowing reviews we hope to enable many more safe deals in 2022.

Scott Spark.jpeg
Top 20 articles of 2021 -The most viewed article of 2021 was the announcement of the new Scott Spark sporting integrated suspension.

Search rankings – Most searched bike brands 

Specialized maintained its long run at the top of the podium with more than double the searches of their closest rival. The remaining four places on the search podium saw the same names with a slight mix up for 2021. 

Scott and Trek both moved up a place to second and third respectively, while Giant dropped from second to fourth place and Cannondale held its spot in fifth.

  1. Specialized – 23.62% (23.42%)
  2. Scott – 10.69% (10.11%) 
  3. Trek – 9.68% (8.15%)
  4. Giant – 9.64% (10.30%)
  5. Cannondale – 7.84% (8.09%)
  6. Santa Cruz – 4.04% (4.50%)
  7. Merida – 4.01% (3.95%)
  8. Bianchi – 3.91% (3.59%)
  9. Pyga – 3.23% (3.39%)
  10. Titan – 2.73% ( 2.39%) 
  11. Silverback – 2.48% (2.53%)
  12. Colnago – 1.63% (1.57%) 
  13. Pinarello – 1.52% (1.47%)
  14. Momsen – 1.52% (2.00%) 
  15. Canyon – 1.40% (1.56%)

(2020 figure listed in brackets)
 

GiantAnthem.jpeg
Top 20 articles of 2021Giant introduced an all-new Anthem with FlexPoint suspension. Pictured here at the 2021 Absa Cape Epic, a thread that came in 4th in our most viewed forum topics for 2021.

Advert breakdown

Ads by Location

  1. Western Cape – 43.73%
  2. Gauteng – 38.90%
  3. KwaZulu-Natal – 8.27%
  4. Eastern Cape – 3.38%
  5. Mpumalanga – 1.42%
  6. North West – 1.68%
  7. Freestate – 1.68%
  8. Limpopo – 0.41%
  9. Northern Cape – 0.40%
  10. International – 0.07%
     

Ads by Category

  1. Bikes – 33.17%
    • Mountain bikes – 18.3%
    • Road bikes – 9.63%
  2. Components – 28.07%
  3. Accessories – 13.86%
  4. Clothing & Apparel – 10.72%
  5. Wheels & Tyres – 8.56%
  6. Frames – 2.88%
  7. Entries & Services – 1.67%
  8. Electric Bikes – 1.07%

Forum Activity

Overall forum activity saw significant declines in replies and new topics, largely due to a decision made in the first half of 2021 which reduced the scope of non-cycling discussion on the platform.

As anticipated, cutting controversial non-cycling debate lead to a significant drop in comment numbers. From a qualitative perspective this is a drop in numbers we welcome. Amid a digital industry fuelled by outrage and vanity metrics, in this context, quality is certainly better than quantity.  

New topics
2 550
-20.83%

Replies
85 119
-45.87%

Topic views
3 152 063
-23.72%
 

Top 10 Most Viewed Topics(Created in the 2021 period)

  1. Tokyo Olympics 2020 – Cycling73,356 views
  2. 947 Ride Joburg56,798 views
  3. Giro d’ Italia 202154,055 views
  4. Absa Cape Epic 2021 thread48,561 views
  5. Munga 202137,114 views
  6. Motorists vs Cyclists…. again36,323 views
  7. Fraud Charges Against “Cycle Tour Operator”29,256 views
  8. Double Century 202128,489 views
  9. Cape Town Cycle Tour 202227,962 views
  10. Am I being unreasonable here?26,025 views

Top 10 Most Replied-to Topics

  1. Petition: Bring Back the Classifieds Comments4,991 comments
  2. Where has your bike taken you today?4,179 comments
  3. Tour de France 20212,724 comments
  4. Cape Town Cycle Tour 202111,811 comments
  5. Tokyo Olympics 2020 – Cycling1,139 comments
  6. The Classics1,057 comments
  7. Giro d’ Italia 2021918 comments
  8. Boast about your latest purchases here…912 comments
  9. Cyclists with a “Running” Problem747 comments
  10. 947 Ride Joburg 714 comments

Topic starters

  1. OVERDRIVE – 40 topics
  2. Styvie – 20 topics
  3. Bundu Ric, Steady Spin – 18 topics
  4. ouzo – 17 topics
  5. Zebra – 16 topics
  6. Mojoman – 15 topics
  7. Mike Mac, love2fly – 14 topics
  8. mecheng89 – 13 topics
  9. RomP – 11 topics
  10. Jaco Greef, MudLark, Sampaj, lechatnoir – 10 topics

Top Posters

  1. DieselnDust – 2,346 posts
  2. Hairy – 1,988 posts
  3. ChrisF – 1,829 posts
  4. ‘Dale – 1,594 posts
  5. Frosty – 1,320 posts
  6. Jewbacca – 1,294 posts
  7. TNT1 – 1,210 posts
  8. ouzo – 1,209 posts
  9. Mountain Bru – 1,044 posts
  10. TheoG – 1,029 posts


Whether you bought or sold in the Classifieds, read articles or discussions, added your two cents or started a conversation on Bike Hub in 2021 – thank you!

All stats for the period 17 December 2020 – 16 December 2021 (and compared to the same period for the prior year).
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Comments

Wannabe

Jan 12, 2022, 6:01 AM

Interesting stats.

How about adding a section for "Longest / oldest Hub member" Hopefully my name will then be on the wall of fame....... Lol. 

The Ouzo

Jan 12, 2022, 6:24 AM

yoh, time to step away from the PC

BaGearA

Jan 12, 2022, 6:29 AM

3 minutes ago, ouzo said:

yoh, time to step away from the PC

isnt it weird that remembering the 2018 stats, the number one on this year would barely have scratched the top 10 

 

 

*I might be grossly under or over esstimating 

TheoG

Jan 12, 2022, 6:50 AM

I made the top ten (only just) for number of posts for the first time ...  :).

Didn't expect that ....

jcza

Jan 12, 2022, 6:51 AM

Top 10 Most Replied-to Topics

  1. Petition: Bring Back the Classifieds Comments - 4,991 comments
TheoG

Jan 12, 2022, 6:54 AM

1 minute ago, jcza said:

Top 10 Most Replied-to Topics

  1. Petition: Bring Back the Classifieds Comments - 4,991 comments

Not really a surprise ....

babse

Jan 12, 2022, 7:12 AM

20 minutes ago, jcza said:

Top 10 Most Replied-to Topics

  1. Petition: Bring Back the Classifieds Comments - 4,991 comments

I

JA-Q001

Jan 12, 2022, 7:19 AM

There are a few things that I think skews the sales figures a lot.

A lot of guys put a lot of stuff into one advert (especially shops). These sales never gets reported as sales and no price is ever attached. I would remove the ability to list more than one item per advert (a groupset is seen as one item)

And also, seems like Bikehubpay is a good income generator. 😎 It does work however.

'Dale

Jan 12, 2022, 7:45 AM

1/3 women around these parts. That is so cool. Hope the gender distribution improves even more in 2022.

 

DIPSLICK

Jan 12, 2022, 7:57 AM

SO THE QUESTION IS,,,,,, ARE YOU GOING TO RESPOND TO THE " COMMUNITY "

 

BY YOUR FIGURES, THE HUB WANTS THE COMMENTS SECTION BACK

 

YES I HAVE TO SHOUT 

BaGearA

Jan 12, 2022, 8:14 AM

15 minutes ago, DIPSLICK said:

SO THE QUESTION IS,,,,,, ARE YOU GOING TO RESPOND TO THE " COMMUNITY "

 

BY YOUR FIGURES, THE HUB WANTS THE COMMENTS SECTION BACK

 

YES I HAVE TO SHOUT 

shhhhhhht

 

You might wake up Rouxtjie 

 

 

 

Frosty

Jan 12, 2022, 8:34 AM

2 hours ago, ouzo said:

yoh, time to step away from the PC

I did that after being in the top 10 in 2015 and 2016. Popped up again this year.

Frosty

Jan 12, 2022, 8:35 AM

That said, here's the top 10 since 2015.
Surprisingly, no-one has been in the top 10 every year.

image.png.c9dfbc4fb0bd1b8fbcae1a6891b17dc5.png

Shebeen

Jan 12, 2022, 8:37 AM

38 minutes ago, DIPSLICK said:

SO THE QUESTION IS,,,,,, ARE YOU GOING TO RESPOND TO THE " COMMUNITY "

 

BY YOUR FIGURES, THE HUB WANTS THE COMMENTS SECTION BACK

 

YES I HAVE TO SHOUT 

If I read that correctly adverts up ~20% year on year. Seems to be working fine as it is. 

If you're familiar with the thread it's mostly about picking apart adverts with issues, with a side show in postcount boosting

Frosty

Jan 12, 2022, 8:43 AM

Ave, Min and Max per year.

image.png.2b76e27bf64c259bc130ab0688fff4bd.png

Fred van Vlaanderen

Jan 12, 2022, 8:52 AM

8 minutes ago, Frosty said:

Ave, Min and Max per year.

image.png.2b76e27bf64c259bc130ab0688fff4bd.png

2016 was crazy

Pure Savage

Jan 12, 2022, 9:04 AM

28 minutes ago, Frosty said:

That said, here's the top 10 since 2015.
Surprisingly, no-one has been in the top 10 every year.

image.png.f00961640cf86bbe5fda729c268527ec.png

Very cool graph!

DIPSLICK

Jan 12, 2022, 9:10 AM

24 minutes ago, Shebeen said:

If I read that correctly adverts up ~20% year on year. Seems to be working fine as it is. 

If you're familiar with the thread it's mostly about picking apart adverts with issues, with a side show in postcount boosting

I AM, I do follow it, its just frustrating as I had to get friends of friends to get hold of 2 bikes I wanted because the sellers were not responding on the DM I know the one bike is still available and till today no response, saying that I have bought numerous other toys no issues I just think some of the sellers who come here only to sell do not know how to navigate the hub, and I think there are many sales falling through the CRACK

i HAVE SAID many times its not my business its not my call, but the picking apart of a ad. does not help the seller as the not "playing on the thread" 

Eldron

Jan 12, 2022, 9:10 AM

1 hour ago, 'Dale said:

1/3 women around these parts. That is so cool. Hope the gender distribution improves even more in 2022.

 

I seem to remember it being below 20% a few years ago so it bodes well for the future!

mecheng89

Jan 12, 2022, 12:36 PM

4 hours ago, DIPSLICK said:

SO THE QUESTION IS,,,,,, ARE YOU GOING TO RESPOND TO THE " COMMUNITY "

 

BY YOUR FIGURES, THE HUB WANTS THE COMMENTS SECTION BACK

 

YES I HAVE TO SHOUT 

SHOUT, SHOUT, LET IT ALL OUT

DIPSLICK

Jan 12, 2022, 12:49 PM

12 minutes ago, mecheng89 said:

SHOUT, SHOUT, LET IT ALL OUT

i wont lie i thought i would get more support I was thinking of those clowns on youtube going "come on make this viral" clearly im the minority

jcza

Jan 12, 2022, 12:55 PM

5 minutes ago, DIPSLICK said:

i wont lie i thought i would get more support I was thinking of those clowns on youtube going "come on make this viral" clearly im the minority

I support you big guy but I fear this is a dead end. 

117

Jan 12, 2022, 1:28 PM

I think the petion thread is working far more effectively than you think. 

 

 

Frosty

Jan 12, 2022, 1:30 PM

34 minutes ago, jcza said:

I support you big guy but I fear this is a dead end. 

pissing in the wind! - Chakra nuts musing

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