• Space/Science
  • GeekSpeak
  • Mysteries of
    the Multiverse
  • Science Fiction
  • The Comestible Zone
  • Off-Topic
  • Community
  • Flame
  • CurrentEvents

Recent posts

Message in a bottle BuckGalaxy October 29, 2025 10:55 am (Off-Topic)

According to some, we're a nation of illiterate dependents looking for a handout RobVG October 27, 2025 8:56 pm (CurrentEvents)

The 1% RobVG October 27, 2025 10:54 am (Off-Topic)

Parting Shot ER October 27, 2025 4:36 am (Off-Topic)

Space X put on notice RobVG October 20, 2025 4:55 pm (Space/Science)

There is no bottom to this barrel... RL October 19, 2025 5:40 pm (CurrentEvents)

John Wheeler's philosophy: "Beyond the Black Hole" RL October 16, 2025 10:00 pm (Space/Science)

Brosz baffled, Bondi busts Bolton ER October 16, 2025 2:08 pm (CurrentEvents)

Science backs up what I have been saying for years... RL October 15, 2025 7:59 pm (CurrentEvents)

No sugar tonight in my coffee, no sugar tonight in my tea ER October 15, 2025 5:07 pm (Space/Science)

Only thing surprising is that people are surprised... RL October 15, 2025 7:12 am (CurrentEvents)

Superwood BuckGalaxy October 14, 2025 5:46 pm (Space/Science)

Home » Off-Topic

Unanticipated consequences. June 28, 2020 10:17 am hank

I use my bicycle for exercise, and with this unprecedented heat wave we’re having in Florida, I have to ride either early in the morning or after dark. The red flasher on my Trek died, and I had to get a replacement. I went over to Frenchy’s bike shop to buy one.

The place was emptied out. All the bikes were gone, there are usually several hundred there for sale and today there were only a few dozen left (mostly unpopular or super-specialized models) And there was a line of people, credit cards in hand, ready to buy them up. At first I feared Frenchy was going out of business and he was conducting a discount clearance sale. But he told me he couldn’t keep enough stock in the shop. As soon as he got a delivery from the factory, people snapped them up. I asked him if the virus was responsible for his good fortune, and he replied, “Hell if I know, it’s not anything I’m doing different.”

Why should this be? I would think with everybody out of work, people wouldn’t be buying new bikes. If anything, they would be reconditioning their old ones. Maybe with the gyms too dangerous to go to, people are doing what I’m doing–getting their workouts on the road. But I don’t know. Very strange.

  • Similar reports by podrock 2020-06-28 11:05:36

    Search

    The Control Panel

    • Log in
    • Register