Nina Chausow
AS the Spanish economy shifts gears towards recovery, Spaniards are jumping on their bikes.
AMBE, Spain’s national cycling production association, reported that 1,088,548 bicycles were sold in 2014, up 5.24% from the previous year.
Bicycles sold for an average of 499.50 euros, with over 50% of the sales coming from large store brands.
Sales are predicted to rise even more with the approaching Vuelta a España cycling race just a month away.
The cycling industry itself grew in 2014, adding 2,004 jobs, more than any other sporting industry in Spain.
Spaniards also bought more cycling accessories, rising 6.61%, but even they can’t be more fashionably equipped than British cyclists.
According to research by Mintel, Brits spent 1.8 billion euros on bicycle parts, accessories and clothing, a figure that raced ahead of the 1.4 billion spent on actual bicycles.
Brits perhaps could learn from one Spanish change, while Mintel reported that only 38% of British cyclists wear helmets, Spanish helmet sales increased by 25% last year.
