Patti Dunn figured she was getting the ultimate in gas mileage when she bought her titanium Serotta road bike earlier this year.

Instead of driving her 1985 Toyota Camry station wagon, the 56-year-old Kahala resident said she now uses her bicycle to commute to her job at the University of Hawai'i-Manoa.

"I used to fill up twice a week at $20 each time," said Dunn, who works as an undergraduate adviser for the UH School of Pacific & Asian Studies.

"But it's more than just the savings. I feel much better if I bike to work. I feel like I accomplished something in the morning."

Commuters like Dunn are a key reason local bicycle dealers are enjoying a huge upswing in sales these days. With the price of gasoline soaring above $4.20 a gallon, sales of new and used bikes have soared while the demand for bike repair has increased, local retailers said.

One key indicator — the number of registered bikes in Honolulu — jumped 11.7 percent in 2007 to 234,483. That was on top of a 13.9 percent increase in 2006.

PEAK SINCE BUS STRIKE?

Some retailers believe that new bicycle sales are at their highest since 2003, when 1,400 city bus workers went on strike, forcing thousands of local commuters scrambling for an alternative means of transportation.

But unlike the 2003 sales spurt where near-panicky buyers lined up outside retail shops looking for cheap wheels, the current boom appears to be broader and more prolonged as sales of top-line and mid-range bicycles also have soared.

Purchases of helmets, clothing and other bicycle related equipment have also been strong in recent months, bike dealers said.

"This is absolutely the most exciting time in our industry," said Wally Parcels, owner of BikeFactory in Kaka'ako. "It's the biggest boom time we've ever had."

For many consumers, high gasoline prices are here to stay and cyclists are making long-term investments by buying better equipment and are not relying on "a Band-Aid" solution to their commuting needs, said Parcels.

Parcels said new bike sales at his shop are up 15 to 25 percent from last year as consumers look for a cheaper way to commute to work.

This summer, Parcels said he plans to open a second BikeFactory in Waipi'o, which he described as a "gigantic under-retailed market" for his company.

"This is the perfect storm for the bike industry," he said.

"And it's not just in Hawai'i, it's all over."

Jayne Kim, general manager of Eki Cyclery in Kalihi, said her company has seen a 5 percent increase in new bike sales.

Kim, whose company has been in business since 1911, said she's seen a bigger increase in bike repairs and equipment sales during the past year.

Some items such as bike pumps and racks keep going out of stock, Kim said.

"People are riding more and more and we're having to fix more flat tires," Kim said.

LIFESTYLE CHANGES

Ali Kessner, one of the owners of McCully Bicycle, said bicycle sales at the Mo'ili'ili sporting goods store have increased by 20 percent from last year due largely to higher gasoline costs.

As customers' monthly gasoline bills have doubled during the past year, many are beginning to make major lifestyle changes, said Kessner, whose company has been in business since 1923.

In addition to biking to work, more people are car-pooling, she said. Walking has also become a viable alternative for those who live close to work.

"Fuel is a big issue, especially for people on fixed incomes," Kessner said.

Kessner noted that the boom would be more pronounced for her if O'ahu's roads were more bike-friendly.

Many city streets are narrow and the bike paths are too few, she said.

"I know a lot of people would love to ride their bikes to work but they are scared to death to get on the road," she said.