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There was a huge run on bikes in the US. I think a number of factors were involved. Because cycling in the US is mostly recreational, the bike business is seaso

There was a huge run on bikes in the US. I think a number of factors were involved. Because cycling in the US is mostly recreational, the bike business is seasonal, and retailers lay in their entire years stock for delivery in the springtime. If there's a big change in demand, it can take them a year to react. Then those bikes didn't show up because of shipping delays. Then there was a big spike in demand, as people realized a couple of things: 1) Cycling is an outdoor activity that seems like it carries a minimal COVID risk. 2) It's a way of getting to work if you're still working but public transit is shut down. These things, together, ramped up demand for both cheap and expensive bikes simultaneously. Shops ran out of bikes, and then it became very hard to stay in business, even if there was still demand for repairs and parts. Bike parts have always been a problem in the US. There's too much variety for any shop to be able to maintain a decent stock, so a lot of things have to be ordered. In my own case, since I ride older bikes, it's highly tempting to order stuff from Amazon or even (preferably) eBay because of the selection. Some stuff, such as Sturmey Archer hub parts, have to be sourced from overseas.

mikepurvis 5y ago
I'm surprised about the inventory thing. I ride an 03 Cannondale road bike that uses all standard stuff— screw-in bottom bracket, band-on front derailleur, 9-speed shifters. I've always been able to get parts for it off the shelf at multiple shops, to the point that basically nothing on it is original other than the frame. But this has even been the case with my much-weirder winter bike, my kids' bikes that have off-brand shifters, etc. I know Sheldon Brown (RIP) catalogues a true nightmare history of incompatibilities that have built up over the years, but I think in reality, most of that stuff is pre-1990. If you have a non-imported bike purchased in the last three decades, it's going to either be Shimano or be knockoff parts that are Shimano-compatible.
judge2020 5y ago
> 2) It's a way of getting to work if you're still working but public transit is shut down. Did much of public transit actually shut down? In my local city it was deemed an essential service and everyone kept working with transit still running, with a mask requirement of course.
- analog31 5y ago
  Either it shut down or people were afraid to ride. They cut service drastically in my locale, still have not restored it fully. My spouse switched to her bike.
- aix1 5y ago
  I am not sure about the frequency of service, but buses here in London ran at a significantly reduced capacity for a while (IIRC 20 or 30 passengers per double-decker). For social distancing reasons.

mikepurvis 5y ago

I'm surprised about the inventory thing. I ride an 03 Cannondale road bike that uses all standard stuff— screw-in bottom bracket, band-on front derailleur, 9-speed shifters. I've always been able to get parts for it off the shelf at multiple shops, to the point that basically nothing on it is original other than the frame. But this has even been the case with my much-weirder winter bike, my kids' bikes that have off-brand shifters, etc. I know Sheldon Brown (RIP) catalogues a true nightmare history of incompatibilities that have built up over the years, but I think in reality, most of that stuff is pre-1990. If you have a non-imported bike purchased in the last three decades, it's going to either be Shimano or be knockoff parts that are Shimano-compatible.

judge2020 5y ago

> 2) It's a way of getting to work if you're still working but public transit is shut down. Did much of public transit actually shut down? In my local city it was deemed an essential service and everyone kept working with transit still running, with a mask requirement of course.

analog31 5y ago
Either it shut down or people were afraid to ride. They cut service drastically in my locale, still have not restored it fully. My spouse switched to her bike.
aix1 5y ago
I am not sure about the frequency of service, but buses here in London ran at a significantly reduced capacity for a while (IIRC 20 or 30 passengers per double-decker). For social distancing reasons.