Inside the Outdoors

For the final bonus episode Kelly and Tobie interview Jose Maldonado, the Chief Marketing Officer at PeopleForBikes. They discuss the most recent participation data on the outdoors and cycling. What do these numbers mean for suppliers and retailers, and what opportunities are there for the future?

Join Kelly and Tobie for the penultimate bonus episode of Inside the Outdoors, where they chat with Matthew Tucker, Director of Client Development in Sports Equipment at Circana, the premier source for retail and participation data in the outdoor industry. We’ll chat through the early indicators of positive changes unfolding in 2024 and explore the rise of casual participants, their purchasing patterns, and how they differ from pre-pandemic consumers. And on top of the data takeaways, we have a few laughs along the way as well. 

Kelly and Tobie continue their conversation with Ryan Birkicht, Director of Communications at PeopleForBikes. They delve deeper into how the Outdoor Industry Association and PeopleForBikes are evolving as trade associations, making it easier for their members, non-members and bike-curious parties to access and utilize data to grow their business. Sign up for PeopleForBikes’ “The Break”: https://www.peopleforbikes.org/take-action/the-break-signup?eid=132908 Sign up for OIA’s “The Outdoors”: https://outdoorindustry.org/outdoorist Browse the PeopleForBikes Resource Marketplace: https://resources.peopleforbikes.org/

For the next two episodes we are joined by Ryan Birkicht, Director of Communications at PeopleForBikes. In this episode we'll be talking about the Bicycle Leadership Conference, recently held by PeopleForBikes in Tucson, Arizona. We'll chat through some of the behind the scenes action that goes into planning a conference, the value these gatherings hold for our industry, and some of our own meaningful experiences at past conferences. We'll touch on some of the highlights at this year's BLC, including memorable speakers, recurring themes, and key takeaways. Save the date nexy year's BLC - https://www.peopleforbikes.org/take-action/2025-blc-tucson-save-the-date

In this special bonus episode, Kelly and special guest host Tobie DePauw will be joined by Dr. Ash Lovell, Electric Bicycle Policy & Campaign Director for PeopleForBikes, to delve into the leading perspective on e-bike policy. Tune in to discover how PeopleForBikes is spearheading efforts in policy, education, and safety nationwide. Learn about the organization's pivotal role in crafting the three-class system adopted in over 40 states, explore the latest threats to healthy e-bike policy at various governmental levels, and understand the impact of commercial and cargo e-bikes on local policy and infrastructure improvement.

In this special bonus episode, Kelly and special guest host Tobie DePauw will be joined by Dr. Ash Lovell, Electric Bicycle Policy & Campaign Director for PeopleForBikes, to delve into the leading perspective on e-bike policy. Tune in to discover how PeopleForBikes is spearheading efforts in policy, education, and safety nationwide. Learn about the organization's pivotal role in crafting the three-class system adopted in over 40 states, explore the latest threats to healthy e-bike policy at various governmental levels, and understand the impact of commercial and cargo e-bikes on local policy and infrastructure improvement.

Kelly and Patrick wrap up Season 1 of Inside the Outdoors with a recap of the discussions and guests featured on the series this season.

Kelly and Patrick review recent macroeconomic indicators and relate overall market conditions to expectations for outdoor market recovery. What might a ‘new normal’ look like for the outdoor markets? How could a large participant base support the market in the near future and in the long run? How can consumer research inform our expectations for future markets?

Kelly and Patrick review recent research which measured bicycle industry experts’ market sentiment. How did bicycle industry experts think the overall market and their specific organization fared over the past year? What do they think will happen over the next year? What are the biggest threats and opportunities for the bicycle industry over the next 12 months? 

Kelly and Patrick review recent research related to cross country skiers’ predictions for the upcoming season. How might environmental and macroeconomic conditions affect their expectations for season quality? How might expectations actually influence participation? How can these findings be used to better understand other outdoor recreation activities? Use the following link to access the full report: https://thenordicapproach.com/