As the year draws to a close, it’s a perfect time to reflect and revisit the most influential news stories of the year. It’s no longer a matter of opinion as to what stories attracted the most attention from readers; thanks to web analytics we can accurately gauge the most popular articles based on page views.
Not surprisingly, stories related to Interbike venue and dates ranked high. Hot news items such as the auction of Titus to a U.K.-based Internet retailer and the integration of the Gary Fisher line into the Trek line garnered eyeballs. However, top honors went to Phil Wood, whose lasting legacy on the industry was reflected in the number of page views upon his death.
Here’s the top 20 countdown of most-read web stories on www.bicycleretailer.com of 2010, starting with No. 1.
1. Hub-Maker Phil Wood Passes Away
3. Specialized Shows 2011 Lineup to Dealers
4. Planet X Bikes Acquires Titus in Auction
5. Trek Streamlines Fisher Collection
7. Zipp’s Douglas Killed in Car Accident
8. Cervélo Unveils Project California Frame
9. Gita to Distribute Team RadioShack Kits
10. Rodale Ends Mountain Bike Magazine
12. Cupertino Bike Shop Thief Sentenced
13. Thule Unloads Yakima Products
14. Adam Craig’s Team Bike Missing
15. Ski Market Bankruptcy Stings Bike Vendors
16. Haro, Masi Launch 2011 Bikes
17. Giant USA Lays Off Five in Restructuring
18. Interbike Stays in Las Vegas
19. Trek Sues Retailer Over Unpaid Bills
20. Interbike Firms Up 2011 Dates
What was your top story of 2010?