I see younger members continuing to come into the hobby so I don't think it's going to die anytime soon. I actually think we may see it grow. The economy and where it's headed will play a role in how tight peoples money is. Look at the California scene, it seems to be growing there. People get their kids involved in it today and those kids will continue it as they grow into adulthood as they reminisce about childhood memories of biking with their families. With fossil fuel costs rising, we may at some point see a resurgence in bicycling period as well as smaller villages with city centers. There is a neat trend going on in certain areas of America such as the Florida panhandle with small city centers and surrounding villages that make cycling fun, easy, and attractive. Florida's Hwy 30A is an example of around 10 town centers along the coast such as Seaside & Rosemary Beach along a 19 mile connected bicycle route. People go to this area specifically to slow down to a much slower pace and to step back in time, where they can bike for entertainment/relaxation, bike to get to the pub, bike to a restaurant, or bike to shops, and generally just to go back to a simpler way of life if only for a week at a time. There are literally thousands of bikes there. While this is a tourist destination at this point, developers are starting to spread the idea across America where we will see a resurgence in both smaller old and new town centers where goods, restaurants, and services most needed are available locally by bike or walking. This is beginning to happen in Atlanta as old town centers are seeing a resurgence and a subsequent resurgence in biking. Here so far it's mostly new road & city bikes but that is mostly because there are so few antique bicycle collectors here which I think will change over time. This may take years but I think it is largely where we are headed long term if the country survives & prospers. When people in areas such as these see old bikes, they are amazed, so us just riding our old bikes in areas such as this will help the hobby grow. You know there will always be people out there who think these old bikes are just cool, I want one, and will seek us out as they see them…..
My rambling 2 cents on this …….
PS, I'm 53 and drawn more to TOC-1930 bikes long before my time as well.
