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\"Bicycling is still one the most popular sports in America (about 43 million people own bikes).\" (Listen) Discover why bicycling is such a popular and versatile sport. Learn how to find the type of bike that suits your needs. Information about bicycling clubs and associations is provided.

\"On the trail of a good mountain bike? Here's what to look for and where to find it.\" (BOYS' LIFE) Up-to-date information on mountain bikes and price ranges are provided.

Electrical bicycle ownership rates are growing rapidly. Despite differences to conventional cycling, the two types of bicycles are generally not differentiated in travel demand modelling practice. This article analyses the choices to own electric and conventional bicycles in Germany at the personal level. We use data from the “Mobility in Germany” survey and other sources and estimate both a nested logit model and a multivariate probit model. While the average gradient of terrain near the residence has an expected, strong negative influence on the ownership of conventional bicycles, electric bicycle ownership is much less negatively affected. The effect of socio-demographic variables is largely in line with that of the existing literature. A negative correlation of the error terms in the probit model indicates a substitutive relationship between the two ownership decisions. The high nest parameter value in the nested logit model indicates that the decision to own a conventional bicycle is secondary to the decision to own an electric bicycle. The results contribute to a better understanding of the motivations for or against bicycle ownership and create a basis for better consideration of electrical bicycle traffic in transport models.

The transition from conventional vehicles (CVs) to electric vehicles (EVs) could be promising in tackling environmental challenges in China. Using a sample of 1216 respondents in Beijing, China, our study intends to understand the underlying factors that drive the decision to purchase an EV among potential Chinese vehicle purchasers. We built two choice models to estimate vehicle purchase behavior and fuel choice. We found that males and having higher household income are associated with greater intention to purchase EVs (both plug-in and battery electric vehicles). However, a previous inclination to choose CV negatively impacted willingness to buy EVs. Between specific EV types, we found that Plug-in Hybrid EV (PHEV) purchase was negatively associated with plans to obtain a driver’s license within three years and longer durations of having owned a motorized vehicle first. Yet, the number of electric bicycles in the household was positively associated with PHEV-purchase likelihood. For Battery EVs (BEV), we found that respondents who had previous experience with an EV (either as a driver or passenger) were more likely to purchase a BEV while existing ownership of a driver’s license and a higher purchase budget reduced such possibility. Based on our findings, we recommend authorities continue to, or increasingly, provide direct monetary incentives to purchase EVs, and to provide EV driving and riding experience to customers, especially who are in the middle- and low-income vehicle purchasing groups, to improve the Chinese EV market relative to CVs.

Purpose This study aims to extend the previous research on contagion and proposes an integrative paradigm in which consumer goals and contagion recipient factors are identified as the key variables leading to the emergence of the contagion phenomenon. When a consumer has an active goal, a product touched by goal-congruent sources leads to positive product evaluation and enhances consumer performance when the product is used. Design/methodology/approach This research conducted five experimental studies in online and offline retail settings to examine the effect of contagion on evaluations of contagion objects and performance in goal-related tasks. Findings Across five studies, the authors demonstrated that the activation of a goal leads to contagion-based product evaluation and performance enhancement effects. The authors theorized and showed that the contagion-based process triggered during goal pursuit led to a more favorable evaluation of contagion products (Studies 1, 2 and 3). The authors also showed that enhanced consumers’ commitment toward a goal, which in turn led to enhanced performance in a real task that contributed to achieving one’s goal (Study 4). These effects emerged only when the object was physically touched by a goal-congruent contagion source and were more pronounced for the consumers who experience a high (vs low) degree of goal discrepancy (Study 5). Research limitations/implications The current research examined the contagion phenomenon in a few predetermined goal domains (e.g. health improvement goals, career success goals, marriage success goals). Although the authors found consistent effects across different types of goals, future research can examine a more comprehensive set of consumer goals and improve the limitation of the current research to generalize the goal-based contagion phenomenon to various consumer goals. Practical implications This study suggests that it is important for retailers, in particular sellers and buyers in the secondhand markets, to understand consumer goals and prepare an appropriate contagion environment for favorable evaluation of their offerings. One possible implication is that sellers may be best served as priming certain goals. The findings also indicate that secondhand sellers may be well served to emphasize seller characteristics in certain instances and de-emphasize them in others to maximize sales. Originality/value This research proposes a new variable, namely, goal activation, and presents an integrative contagion paradigm that not only helps explain previous research findings but also offers a new perspective on the contagion phenomenon.

A considerable number of empirical studies have explored the effects of information & communication technologies (ICT) on travel in recent years. In particular, the most attention has been paid to whether the use of ICT increases or decreases trip frequency (i.e., substitution or complementarity effects). However, the subject of whether or how travel distance and mode choice are altered by ICT (i.e., modification effects) has almost been ignored. Against this background, using data collected in Beijing, China, this paper aims to explore how purchasing intangible services (e.g., eating out at restaurants, hairdressing, and visits to zoos and movie theatres) online alters the distance and mode choice of the travel to consume these services. The results suggest that due to online purchases of intangible services, people tend to travel farther to consume these services. Consequently, 25.4% of online buyers change their travel mode choices from walking or cycling (i.e., nonmotorized modes) to public transit, private cars, or taxis (i.e., motorized modes). These findings confirm the existence of modification effects of ICT on travel. Additionally, a stepwise multinomial logistic regression model and a stepwise binomial logistic regression model are used to detect the factors influencing changes in travel distance and mode choices, respectively. The regression outcomes suggest that people who have lower living costs or feel more satisfied with online purchases are more likely to increase their travel distances and to change from nonmotorized modes to motorized modes.

Research background: Customer satisfaction is one of the key factors influencing businesses’ success and long-term profitability. Understanding customer needs and preferences is particularly important in the e-bike segment, which is experiencing dynamic growth. Satisfied customers make repeat purchases, and their recommendations help build a positive brand image, which is essential in a competitive market. Identifying the factors that most influence satisfaction enables companies to adapt their products and services to meet customer expectations better and thus secure a stable position in the market. Purpose of the article: The article aims to analyse customer satisfaction with e-bikes and identify its key factors. Based on the findings, it offers recommendations for dealers while also proposing a prediction model to understand customer needs better. Methods: Customer satisfaction with e-bikes was measured through an online survey in the form of a questionnaire. Data collection was conducted from January 2024 to the end of February 2024 and involved 388 respondents. The data collected will be used to create predictive models of customer satisfaction, the accuracy and quality of which will be subsequently compared. The analysis results will also be presented graphically, allowing for a better interpretation of the relationships and trends identified. Findings & Value added: Five models were created to predict customer satisfaction. The logistic regression method was the most effective based on overall accuracy and sensitivity. This method identified engine brand, battery capacity, and product purchase location as significant variables. This model allows sellers to tailor their offerings better and provide goods significantly contributing to higher customer satisfaction.

We examined the concepts and importance of measurement equivalence tests and how failing to conduct these tests can hinder multigroup analyses, particularly for cross-cultural or cross-national studies. To do so, we developed a conceptual model of Korean cosmetics comprising product characteristics, consumer satisfaction, and repurchase intention, and administered a survey assessing these variables to 356 Korean and 358 Chinese consumers. We then conducted confirmatory factor analyses and multigroup analyses. The measurement equivalence test results revealed significant differences in the measurement methods for Korean and Chinese consumers, necessitating the development of separate modified models. Specifically, the model using cosmetic product characteristics as a single factor was more suitable for Chinese than for Korean consumers. Therefore, we were able to develop separate research models appropriate for each group. Our results also highlight the importance of assessing measurement invariance for social science researchers desiring to perform multigroup analyses in cross-national studies.