It is no secret that Fall is here. In WNC, that means crisp evenings, a peak in colorful foliage, and an exodus of Floridians.

It also means that the peak of the annual cycling season has passed. Of course, this is a double edged sword for Renaissance Bicycles; we will have more time for afternoon rides, updating the website, and reading Bicycle Quarterly. You can guess the downside.

But the real question is:
[polldaddy poll=4006567]

Obviously, there is a not-so-hidden agenda in this Quiz; we want to know how you plan to spend your time before the cold sets in, and how we can motivate cyclists to keep riding through the upcoming months?

As always, you can write your thoughts in the Comments section below.

When thinking in terms of long-term business aspirations, we took it to the logical conclusion: Who will be our customer 50+ years from now?

Initially, we assumed that the retired racer-come-recreational cyclist would be our target market; after all, this makes up a decent amount of our current customers.  They have graduated (or maybe retired) from the racing scene, but still enjoy long memorable rides. They remain passionate and knowledgeable, but speed, performance, and wattage have been supplanted with comfort, exercise, and scenery.

But more to the point, what about the young urban hipster on his/her fixie? Is their involvement in cycling more of a flimsy social statement or fad? Or will they continue to appreciate the individuality and freedom afforded by the bicycle — regardless of the fashionable trends? Importantly, rather than ridicule from veteran cyclists, should they be groomed as the next wave of cycling enthusiasts?

Of course, only time will reveal the results; but we can’t help wondering aloud, “Will the fixie hipster be the future retrogrouch?”

We encourage and appreciate our customers and friends emailing us their technical questions about “renaissancing” their vintage bikes. Whether it is for an early 1960′s race bike, or a mid 1980′s off-roader, we are happy to provide our expertise.

But … there is a downside. We do our best to give thorough thoughtful answers, often providing links and relevant options. But, as our workday becomes more and more consumed by the Daily Business of Renaissance Bicycles, our efforts to answer these sometimes fall short. We simply don’t have the time to give a worthwhile answer, and too often these questions are relegated to the back-burner.

However, we suspect there are enough interested “renaissancers” out there to provide a proper community. Hence, we have created the “Renaissanced” Bicycle Google Group. This group is not intended for just our customers, but rather for anyone interested in reviving a classic bike with modern components. In other words, it is a place for comradery, assistance, and a shared interest in reviving classic bicycles. Likewise, it is not intended or restricted to one type / category / model of bicycle — everyone and everything is welcome.

So … without further fanfare, please join us online at the “Renaissance” Bicycle Group; bring your questions, your expertise, and your commentary.  We’d love to have you.