IMO, it is going to be more difficult for the middle to high end shops, their customers are going to be the ones to demand the latest and greatest. Their customers are going to be the ones to walk in off the street and ask for the bike that has not even been released yet, and expect them to have it. It is definitely going to be another model or another line that the retailer will have to carry, that just means they will have to thin out the levels of current bikes they carry, to accommodate the amounts of another line.
I think the cycling world is in a bit of a state of uncertainty right now. if you remember 3-4 years ago up to now, many would say, “its hard to buy a bad bike”. well the cycling manufacturer is now feeling this. so they are forced to introduce something different, or new, as opposed to better. *1x11, fatbike, 29er, 650. The advancement they have made in bicycles lately has found many at a level playing field (for the majority customer). This will all settle down over the next 2 years or so, manufacturers will decide what works best for them, customers will do the same. At that time things will start to chill, and retail level stores will have a better idea of what is going to work for them, in their particular region. Up until this time, the old days of getting a great price and purchasing 20 of a particular component, to last you a season of retail selling are over, now there is a multitude of variation so retailers may only carry 1-2 of several components, and paying top wholesale price for small numbers. You can bet this will be a pain in the ass for sure, even for the consumer.
One thing I’ve learned as I grow older, is that being different and having different things (most all things not offered or supported locally), while might be cool, does not come with very many benefits. Replacement parts are hard to find, upgrade parts are hard to find, people educated enough to do proper maintenance, are hard to find, resale market not the same as with mainstream. Sometimes its just not worth being different.
I am not saying that any of the current offerings are in that position right now, but who knows where we might be in another 5-10 years, 26" frames and specific components may be all but obsolete, but I am sure when that time comes there will be something else new on offer, who knows… perhaps all new chainless bikes, we will have to see.
