ARE MOUNTAIN BIKE RETAILERS GEARED FOR ANOTHER SALES BOOM?

          "These have not been easy times for the once-robust
     bicycle business," according to James Sterngold of the N.Y.
     TIMES, who wrote that while sales "have declined and a
     shakeout may loom," many experts predict the bike market "is
     on the cusp of a potentially wrenching consolidation." 
     Hambrecht & Quist analyst Sean Milne: "It has gotten a
     little ugly for some of these companies because conditions
     have gotten so tough and volatile. ... I don't think we will
     ever see the mountain bike sector grow the way it had." 
     Sterngold added that Cannondale is "taking particular aim at
     overseas markets," and that foreign sales of its American-
     made bicycles have risen from 44% of revenues through June
     '95 to 49% through June '96 (N.Y. TIMES, 11/30).