🎙️ Shop Talk with the "Guy" at I Know a Guy Bicycles

🚩 Why the "Big Four" are Panicking? AND MORE!🚨 Freak-Out Friday 🎙️ Full Podcast 21Welcome to Freak-Out Friday! I’m Justin, 'The Guy,' and today we aren't just looking at spreadsheets—we’re looking at a dumpster fire. If you’re a corporate executive at Trek or Shimano, you’re probably having a very bad Friday. If you’re a rider who’s tired of being treated like an ATM, grab...

In March 2026, the "Great Reset" has done more than just shuffle inventory—it has rewired the psychology of the bike shop and the local group ride. If your 2026 season prep is focused solely on watts and carbon, you’re missing the most critical component: your Mental Bandwidth. In a "Utility Era" defined by high-inflation stresses and 10% import surcharges, the bike has shifted...

🤔 Why the "Great Reset" Just Changed Your Local Bike Shop Forever! 🚨Vegas was a blur, but the message was crystal clear:🚨 Freak-Out Friday 🎙️ Full Podcast 20 The 2026 CABDA West expo in Las Vegas has served as a fever dream for an industry finally waking up to its new reality. While the bright lights of the World Market Center masked some of the "Brutal Truth," the data from...

CABDA 2026: My Head is Spinning. (The Brutal Truth) 🚨Recap: New Bikes, New Tech, & Shop SurvivalThe Cycling Industry's Most Engaging Live Podcast: Episode 34🎙️ "Shop Talk Tuesday." (Community Livestream) In March 2026, the floor of CABDA West in Las Vegas became the epicenter of a "brutal truth" for the bicycle industry: the old way of doing business is officially dead...

🚨 Freak-Out Friday 🎙️ Full Podcast 19In 2026, the term "Persnickety" has shifted from a personality trait to a necessary business survival strategy for independent bike dealers. The market is currently defined by a "K-shaped recovery": while mass-market retailers are still drowning in the remains of the "Great Overstock" of 2024–2025, the independent "Persnicket...

Day in the Life: Running an Independent Bike Shop in 2026The Cycling Industry's Most Engaging Live Podcast: Episode 33 🛠 Trusted Partners on I Know a Guy Bicycles Website:⬇⬇⬇ Start HERE ⬇⬇⬇ (Affiliate)✅ https://iknowaguybicycles.com/partners/

In the 2026 "Utility Era," Precision E-Bike (located just up the road from Loveland in Fort Collins) has become the gold standard for independent shops that prioritize community support over corporate sales quotas. Led by Josh Kerson—whose background in light electric vehicle design set the stage for the shop's technical prowess—Precision has stepped into the void left by the "G...

In March 2026, the data is undeniable: annual bike imports have plummeted to their lowest levels in over a decade, with value dropping below the $1 billion mark for the first time since 2006. The "Great Reset" has officially killed the traditional high-volume retail model, as a combination of 2025 inventory overhang and the new 10% temporary surcharge makes "new bike day" a rar...

🛠️ The 2026 "Service-First" Survival Strategy✅ Service as the Engine: With new bike imports hitting a decade-low in 2026, labor has become the primary revenue driver. Successful shops are shifting their square footage away from retail displays and toward expanded service bays capable of handling UL 2849 battery diagnostics and the complex maintenance of AI-integrated 13-speed drivetrain...

In 2026, the traditional "Spring Rush" has evolved into a high-stakes "Spring Trap." As the Worm Moon approaches and record-breaking February temperature swings hit the Front Range, service departments are facing a perfect storm. While new bike imports have hit a decade-long low due to the lingering effects of the "Great Reset," the demand for labor has reached an all...

USA Bike Tariffs Ruled Illegal: What It Means for 2026 PricesThe Cycling Industry's Most Engaging Live Podcast: Episode 31🎙️ "Shop Talk Tuesday." (Community Livestream)In a landmark decision on February 20, 2026, the U.S. Supreme Court ruled 6–3 that the sweeping global tariffs imposed under the International Emergency Economic Powers Act (IEEPA) were unlawful. The Court determined t...

How Weather Affects Bicycle Retail: The 2026 Spring Report.🎙️ Full Podcast 16In early 2026, the traditional "Spring Rush" has been rewritten by a combination of erratic climate patterns and the industry’s ongoing "Great Reset." While February is seeing record-breaking heat in many regions, Colorado shops are currently navigating a massive late-winter storm cycle that has dumped...

Weekly Bike Shop Update: Survival, Service, & Special Guests Bill West in the Garage! The Cycling Industry's Most Engaging Live Podcast: Episode 30🎙️ "Shop Talk Tuesday." (Community Livestream) 🛠 Trusted Partners Visit Here, ⬇⬇⬇ Start HERE ⬇⬇⬇ (Affiliate)✅ https://iknowaguybicycles.com/partners/

The Death of the Showroom: Why 2026 is for the Mechanics 🚨🎙️ Full Podcast 15In 2026, the local bike shop (LBS) is no longer a showroom—it is a high-tech "service sanctuary." Following the "Great Reset" of 2025, survival for independent shops has meant shifting away from a reliance on new bike sales, which have been suppressed by 100% tariffs on imports and a volatile retail ma...

The Strongest Link in Your Drivetrain: Why I Use ConnexThe Cycling Industry's Most Engaging Live Podcast: Episode 29🎙️ "Shop Talk Tuesday." (Community Livestream)✅ Cantitoe Road is your home for all Connex by Wippermann bicycle chains & Effetto Mariposa products. The Guys' Discount: 15% off https://cantitoeroad.com/discount/IKNOWAGUY🚨 Code: IKNOWAGUY 🛠 Trusted Partners Visi...

💥In this landmark 27th episode of Shop Talk Tuesday, we sit down with two titans of the industry: the "Godfather of Mountain Biking," Gary Fisher, and veteran analyst John Bradley. Recorded in late January 2026, this interview captures the industry at a pivotal moment during the "Great Reset." Gary provides an exclusive look at his work with Morelle, the e-bike brand revolutio...

LIVE: Why I’m Freaking Out Today: The Truth About the Industry 📉 🚨 🛠 Trusted Partners Visit Here, ⬇⬇⬇ Start HERE ⬇⬇⬇ (Affiliate)✅ https://iknowaguybicycles.com/partners/

My Wife Just Lost Her Job. Here is My Plan for the Shop. The Cycling Industry's Most Engaging Live Podcast: Episode 28🎙️ "Shop Talk Tuesday." (Community Livestream)We’ve been tracking the decline of science and tech jobs for a while, but we’re now seeing the secondary ripple effect: those salaries being pulled out of the economy are starting to gut retail sales. In this market, nobod...

As of January 2026, the independent bike shop (IBS) is undergoing a radical "Great Reset." The era of high-volume retail is being replaced by a service-first economy, where technical expertise and community trust are the primary currencies for survival. Shops that are thriving this winter have moved away from being "showrooms" and have transitioned into high-tech clinics capabl...

💥 In this explosive 27th episode of the Shop Talk Tuesday podcast, we are joined by two of the most influential voices in the industry: mountain bike pioneer Gary Fisher and industry analyst John Bradley. As we navigate the early weeks of 2026, the conversation has shifted from "market correction" to a total survival of the fittest. 🛠 Trusted Partners Visit Here, ⬇⬇⬇ Start HERE ⬇⬇⬇ (Aff...

LIVE: Why I’m Booked Out Until March (2026 Industry Update)🎙️ Full Podcast 12In 2026, the local bike shop isn't just a retail store; it's a high-tech service sanctuary. While the thermometer drops, the service bay is "on fire" with riders looking to optimize their gear during the off-season. This Live Q&A is your chance to pull back the curtain on the "Winter Service Boo...

The Cycling Industry's Most Engaging Live Podcast: Episode 26🎙️ "Shop Talk Tuesday." (Community Livestream) 🚴‍♀️ Looking to upgrade your ride? The quickest way to enhance performance has always been with new wheels and an upgraded chain for crisper shifting. Plus, don't forget an excellent protected polish!🛠 Trusted Partners Visit Here, ⬇⬇⬇ Start HERE ⬇⬇⬇ (Affiliate)✅ https://i...

What Bike Shops Look Like in 2026 (It’s Changing!) 🚨 #BikeShop Full Podcast 11 As we enter the heart of winter 2026, the bike industry is navigating a "Great Reset." The seasonal slowdown has been complicated by the 100% trade tariffs on e-bike imports, which have officially ended the era of the $1,000 "Amazon e-bike" and pushed riders toward local shop services. However, it&#...

The Cycling Industry's Most Engaging Live Podcast: Episode 25🎙️ "Shop Talk Tuesday." (Community Livestream)On this episode of Shop Talk Tuesday, we have to address the elephant in the room: things just got weird. It’s early 2026, and the bicycle industry is throwing us curveballs we never saw coming. We aren't just talking about the 100% tariffs on imports or the sudden "32-...

They say age is just a number, but waking up on a Friday and realizing that number is officially 55 definitely hits differently! Welcome to "Freak-Out Friday," where the coffee is stronger, the joints are a little creakier, and the perspective is sharper than ever. Turning 55 isn't just about hitting a milestone; it’s about embracing the "speed wobbles" of middle age with a...