T h e A merican D rea m- - - Verona Area School District

S P O R T S
Bike sales on the rise
By ALLI DOPF
After scoping out multiple bike shops
this spring in my search for the perfect
college bicycle, I realized that the
shops seemed busier than I had expected. I
wondered if bicycle sales have gone up at all
with the gas prices and the economy. The
owner of Machinery Row Bicycles told me
that they had their best December they have
ever had. Dan, the owner of Atkins Verona
Bicycle Shoppe said, “We have seen some
more bike sales, I don’t know that they’re
directly related to gas prices. We have had
a BIG boost in our service business that I
believe is directly related to the gas prices
and economy. I do believe that we will see directly
related bikes sales increases as people
realize how much nicer the new bikes are.” In
a national survey,
75% of all
bike shops said
they were selling
more bikes,
with buyers alluding
to high
gas prices. 88%
of the shops said
they were seeing
a jump in service
as people
brought in old
bikes for repair.
More people are dropping their keys and
grabbing their bikes to get to work and
around town. “I’d like to ride my bike around
18
campus at college.” said senior,
Jessica Alexander. “My bike is my
friend.” Steve Linneman, owner
of Tern of the Wheel bike shop
in Bradley Illinios said, “People
are saying they want to ride their
bike to work because they can’t
afford to put gas in their car.” Dan
Grunig of Bicycle Colorado said,
“Once people get into the habit
of bicycle commuting, regardless
of gas prices, they’re going to fi nd
that that is the best way to get
around.” Biking kills more than
two birds with one stone. You can
get from one place to another faster
than walking, you can get your exercise,
you can save money
on a car and gas and
you can save the earth
by polluting less.
It seems that hybrid
bikes are the most
popular kind of bike
on the market right
now. Dan from Atkins
Verona Bicycle
Shoppe told me that,
“The most popular
bike right now (by
numbers) are the hy-
brid type bikes (commuter, recreational)
because most people want something fun,
functional, and reasonably priced.” Ron Ke-
Bike use has boomed during the economic
downturn and bike shops like Atkins Bike Shop
are loving it.
March Madness returns to V-town
By TANNER FREVERT
It’s that time of year again. Everything is
warming up, spring break approaches,
and more importantly, the NCAA basketball
tournament starts. Fellow Cat’s Eye
writer Travis Schwartz and I decided to try
our luck at the risk of public embarrassment.
Here are our picks and predictions...
The Cat’s Eye: How far do you see the
Badgers going in the tournament?
Travis Schwartz: The Badgers will make
it to the second round. I think they can pull
it out against Florida State, but no farther
than that. If Trevon Hughes goes off, they
can make a run.
Tanner Frevert: I can’t see the Badgers
making it out of the fi rst round. Wisconsin
hasn’t had very good luck against the
Seminoles of Florida State in post season
play (42-13 Seminoles over Badgers in the
Champs Sports Bowl.)
Photo by Alli Dopf
CE: Who is in your Final Four and
National Champion?
TS: I have Michigan State (2 seed from the
Midwest), Purdue (5 seed from the West),
Pittsburgh (1 seed from the East), and Syracuse
(3 seed from the South). The Syracuse
Orange will take down the Spartans from
Michigan State in the Final. Jonny Flynn and
Paul Harris will be too much for Sparty.
TF: My Final Four has Louisville (1 seed
from the Midwest), Memphis (2 seed from
the West), Pittsburgh (1 seed from the East),
and Oklahoma (2 seed in the South). The
Memphis Tigers will beat the Oklahoma
Sooners in the Championship. They have
won 26 in a row heading into the tourney,
and are on fi re.
CE: Who is this year’s Cinderella
team?
TS: My Cinderella team is Butler, the 9 seed
ifel of Wheat Ridge Cyclery in Wheat Ridge,
Colorado said that they are selling, “A lot of
the bikes that are designed for riding on the
road and on bike paths. We’re still selling
some mountain bikes and some road bikes,”
he continued, “but that whole category of the
hybrid market has really increased a lot.”
Not only have bicycle sales gone up, but
all-year-round biking gear has been selling
a lot more. Dan says that, “We have defi -
nitely been selling more gear for people to
commute with. Lights, rear racks, studded
tires, cool weather clothing etc.” People are
defi nitely getting serious about saving money
in the long run by choosing an alternative
way of transportation. When asked if she
was bringing a bike to college, senior, Jenna
Stoikes replied, “Don’t you like have to bring
a bike to college?”
will beat the University of North Carolina in
the second round of the south region.
TF: I couldn’t really fi nd a Cinderella. The
closest team to a Cinderella is the Kansas
Jayhawks making it to the Elite Eight.
CE: How did you make your decisions?
TS: I just based it off what team I liked
more. I really just guessed.
TF: I looked at each match-up individually,
and just went off of my gut feeling. I never
second-guessed myself.
Felly’s
Garden Center
6353 Nesbitt Rd.
845-9591
T H E C A T ' S E Y E M A R C H 2 0 0 9
Photo by Alli Dopf