After record low inventory levels during the pandemic, bike shops now have record high levels of inventory! Just take a look at the graph in Rick Vosper's recent article in Bicycle Retailer. What does that mean for used bike sales? It means if you are selling, your bike will probably take longer to sell, and for less. If you are buying, there are gonna be some great deals on new or used! Of course this won't necessarily apply to rare or hard to find models, or vintage stuff. But it's gonna be a wild year for sure!

Let us know your thoughts in the comments!

I spoke to a custom frame builder recently who told me that he was building more rim brake road bikes now than he was a few years ago. Why? Because most of the big brands aren't offering them anymore on their higher end road bikes.

I'm a huge fan of disc brakes on mountain bikes--and in the dirt and the wet in general--but they definitely add complexity and may not be totally warranted on a sunny weather road machine.

Some racing teams still stick to rim brakes--they make wheel changes and maintenance much easier. And for now Shimano and Campy and other still offer road calipers.

Since BikeList is mostly a used marketplace, you'll find that a healthy percentage of the road bikes for sale still sport rim brakes! So rim brake lovers have hope: rim brake road bikes aren't dead yet!

Let us know your thoughts on the future of rim brakes on road bikes!

I don't know who took this (Zapata Espinoza?) or what year but I always loved this pic of John Tomac on his drop bar Yeti with a Coors Light. Full 7-Eleven kit, Oakley shades and a Bell hairnet! This is some OG gravel stuff right here.

What are your favorite iconic bike photos from days past?

I saw a post about this on Facebook yesterday, and this morning saw the article on Bikepacking.com Say it ain't so! Richard Schwinn is ready to retire and so are several of his employees. Perhaps someone can step forward and continue the legacy? They have built some great bikes, both under the Waterford and Gunnar names, but also for Rivendell, Salsa, Milwaukee and others. They will be missed!

Rob and I launched BikeList to help make buying and selling bikes fast, safe, and fun. Since day 1 we've been thinking about ways to combat and mitigate theft. Last year we partnered with Garage 529 to help detect stolen bikes and now we're happy to partner with the InsurTech company Oyster in offering insurance coverage tailored for cyclists.

Oyster plans cover theft, crash damage, racing, replacement bike rentals, coverage while traveling, liability, optional medical coverage and has a flexible cancelation policy.

Starting today, you'll be able to get an instant quote on bike insurance. Just look for the insurance link near the Add To Cart button to get started.

When I started riding in the 80s 170 cranks were pretty much standard on road bikes. And when I started riding mtbs a few years later, 175 were the norm. I didn't like switching back between 170s and 175s, so I put 172.5s on my road and cross bikes. I haven't messed with or thought about crank length in decades.

But now there is a new movement toward shorter cranks. Advantages include higher cadence, relieving lower-back, joint, and muscular pain, and a more open hip angle. My Large Ibis Ripley came with 170s (in part, I believe, to lesson pedal strike). I had no problem getting used to it. And recently a buddy of mine switched to 160s on the road and is loving it. I'm starting to think seriously about 165s on my road bike.

Bike fit guru Andrew Weber is pushing shorter cranks--as short as 145s! Listen to the interview with Andrew on the Cycle Jerks podcast to learn more about the benefits of riding with shorter cranks. You can also read more on Shimano.com

Shop for new cranks on BikeList!

Last week this image popped into my mind--a pro rider bunny hopping a high hurdle. I'd cut it out of a magazine as a kid and put it on my wall. I just couldn't remember who the rider was or which magazine, though I knew it had to be BMX Action or BMX Plus.

A google search turned up the pic right away--I knew the second I saw it. Legendary BMX racer Brent Patterson from Hayward, California.

Back then there was no internet, no Instagram. This stuff wasn't on TV, either. We only had magazines. The magazines were literally everything to us, and they delivered month after month.

A little internet sleuthing and I found it: the September 1980 issues of BMX Action. If you didn't know, you can check out full PDFs of tons of great old magazines at oldschoolmags.com

Be sure to check out our BMX listings!

This week's Seller Spotlight is on Justin from I Know A Guy Bicycles. He currently has several bikes for sale on BikeList, including--a 2006 Specialized Roubaix Comp and a 2006 Felt F75. Both are great values and fully tuned up by a guy who knows his way around a bike!

Justin also recently posted this awesome review of BikeList on YouTube. Be sure to check it out and subscribe to his channel.



And now for our five easy questions!

How did you get into bikes?
My passion for bikes started when my parents opened a shop in the 1980s, called Parker Bikes (we were located in Parker, Colorado). My love for cycling has continued since then, in my work and with my hobbies of road cycling and mountain biking. After my parents’ shop closed, I’ve worked for other bike shops (including Lee’s Cyclery in Fort Collins), where I’ve built and sold bikes, fixed and tuned-up bikes, and managed inventory. I'm still a bike shop kid and love doing what I do.

What bike do you ride the most?
In the 90s, I raced mountain bikes, and in 2000 my cyclocross and now road bikes since there are over a hundred of miles of bike trails and safe roads to ride right out of my doorstep.

What is your favorite bike ride?
Currently, my Lemond Poprad and my Klein Quantum Race. I have too many favorites and collections.

Campy or Shimano?
Shimano, just mainly because that is what I mostly worked on over the last 30 years.

Any big plans for the next year?
From doing mechanical support for the MS 150 (Colorado Chapter) to providing more better quality bikes for those just getting into cycling. I would like to document and provide YouTube videos to share those insights and experiences.

Here's a great video from Seth from Berm Peak Express on what he calls "under-biking." I bet a lot of us have been under-biking most of our lives without really thinking about it. I used to ride my road bike in the dirt in the 80s ala Jobst Brandt. And I still love riding my 90s mountain bikes and my cross bikes with rim brakes. Sure, newer high tech bikes are "better," but that doesn't always mean they are more fun.

Check out the video and let me know your thoughts! And be sure to check out our latest vintage listings for some great old school rides!

Remco Evenepoel won Liège-Bastogne-Liège for a second time last weekend, but all anyone can talk about were his shorts! Hey, I'm old school. There are a lot of reasons for sticking with black shorts. Cycle Jerks weighs in on this important topic on this weeks' podcast. What are your thoughts?

Be sure to follow the Cycle Jerks Podcast on Spotify!