March 2, 2016, 8:24 a.m. -  Aireeek

#!markdown I think a lot of the changes we are seeing are coming from a conscious decision on the component manufacturers part to encourage cyclists to buy whole bikes new instead of holding on to old bikes, and upgrade them over time. The rapid proliferation and changes to standards (wheel sizes, axles, BBs, freehubs, etc) pushes riders to hold off on upgrades, and just buy a whole new bike instead (if you are thinking of buying a fancy new wheelset - what do you think the odds you can use it on your next bike are?). This puts pressure on shops in a number of ways. One, stocking components is a risky endeavour - if you don't sell it this year, it might not be compatible with next years bikes. Secondly, if consumers are looking for new bikes more frequently they are going to be extra price sensitive - helping the online brands even more.