Icycling

Suddenly maybe the shoes are not that expensive anymore in SA - blame the gov. not the local importer or shop! No comment on size.

and when you take into consideration the 30% duty that cycling shoes carry?

And Woolworths seems to be cheaper these days - just their french loaf is not as good! They also don't sponsor cycling like P 'n P do!

Thank you Korbach - I suspect you have a PHD or a higher qualification - you right on the money! Unfortunately SA currently does not produce any bicycles and thus cannot explot this sytem directly - I beleive this will change very quickly! After all we already producing high end carbon bicycle wheels for export. But once again if I still have anything to do with it it will be through your LBS - they are so important in the chain in keeping the sport alive a whole in RSA!

but he writes in English!!!

After a week who will stand in that Q with more than 10items - consideration!

How do you guy feel about this Q? Would you ever stand in it with more than10 item - ie their a Q and you not alone in the store? would ever say anything to somebody in front or behind you with more than 10 item? Should Pick 'n Pay have a cut off on the till at 10 items? Just some question for you guys and I am quite keen to here your view - I know what my views are.

I don't notice a date on what appears to be a fax. It may have been faxed weeks ago or it may have been faxed today and their may not have been an overdue account or an account may have been settle yesterday evening or this morning - you and I will never know and as pointed out is none of our business. But I am sure Chris would like to keep this topic going as long as possible and post were dropping off and I am sure by creating as mentioned above a soap opera which may require pop corn new life has been created. My post to date on this topic I feel have not been directed directly at Chris personally / business but rather on strategies, markets, economics and how this may effect the sport of cycling in SA if the number of cycle store outlet decline by what I feel may be as high as 75%.

I may have the Mavic items you looking for in stock! PM me please.

Because I and a Carbon engineer - that where my skills lie. From building Lotus bike back in the 90's to now builder carbon wheels for export. That what my education is!

The problem is most of i.e. 75% of the LBS do not have the capital to do this and actually the impotors would servive by going direct to the public and not the LBS as mentioned above the Levi, Reebok store etc now we may have a Shimano, Champy shop etc! But my qustion is still will this be good for cycling and put more bums on bikes or will it implode the sport as I suspect?

I actually believe this line would close about 75% or more or more of LBS. As we seen from just above the importors are also the BANKS for most of the LBS! A lot of the shops need this back up /help to keep their doors open - with all due respect as also just above a lot of stock is "consignment" it invoice but then returned as invoice is due!

Bank - Pro bike INC. Ther 5th largest bank in SA after the big 4! Nice 1 Brandon

Steve - I on your side here - but as madmarc has indicated importor should become retailer etc. If this were to close finish Line cycles and the other shop in the area how do you think this would affect the cycling comunity in your area or even you own motivation to cycle?

I suspect that my wealth will increase 10 fold in manufacturing for the world market where you can control the price and not as "LBS" - beleive it or not that is where my energy now lies! Been as "Willehond" put it been the "fruit farmer" - and only making 5% off the world market.

Klapperkop - and for Cycling in SA this made lead to an implosion and not an explosion of cyclists on the road / cycle industry - that my fear! I am fortunate enough that I am able to chose Chris's parth or stay the traditional part and my feeling is the traditional parth will sustain cycling in the country and Chris's parth could bring it back to the size of the sport it was when Chris SNR raced! Very small! I personnel do not want to see that happen.

Too add weight! How long can fresh produce sit on the floor - about a week? so they turn over their profit 52 times in a year - not on all their goods but about 1/3. Cycle retailer as mentioned before turn their stock over on avg about 3 to 4 times per year - ecconomics and we all eat we dont all cycle!

Now you guys have raised the next point on what the local importors end up being - and that is the BANK for about 90% of the shops in the country! I.e. most shops buy on accounts and either pay on time or late.

Westdene always pays me cash so I am sure you correct!

Been in Cape Town - I was last at Westdene and Cajees - Westrand in August - I only been once to Westdenes 2nd floor (That was the cheaper bike section) but I am sure WE has more stock in terms of value. When last were you at WE?

ewep - Both of them (Cajees and Westdene) have large amounts of stock of the cheaper bike - WE in cape Town prides himself on keep not only a lot of this kind of stock but also stock of top end bikes!

As mentioned the last time I did shoes was in 1994 - and 2 of us fought very hard on the traiff on shoes as nobody make them in SA and you guys are now benefitting as is was brough down in I think 1997 to 30% - by then cycling shoes as a business did not interest!

madmarc - the last time I imported shoes was back in 94! I stopped for 1 reason - 45% duty 14% vat + 2% - and then their was a 15% ser charge on all imported good. SARS 76% no risk - me 30% and then still taxed on that!

Zeroplay _ I do! This is why the 7/11 can sell a 2 litre Coke for R14.00 and Pick 'n Pay is R9.95! The coffee shop sell a 200ml Coke for R8.00! Now we talking some major mark up - we should all drink tap water!

ewep - as mentioned before I can get more than 20% on the stock market just by buying the share index and not even watching any stocks - and no overhead costs - their are risk yes! That is yearly agreed. Why for only an extra 5% would I work pay rent and have employment acts etc to contend with? So if my shop has 15million rands worth of stock to just better the all share index I need to make 3 million profit - I can assure you the cycle market is not endless and no shop in this country turns over their avg stock holding more than 3 times. If the mark up was just 25% a bike shop owner would be much better off just having their investments in the shop on the stock market!