{"id":184480,"date":"2021-07-09T11:37:14","date_gmt":"2021-07-09T11:37:14","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.welovecycling.com\/wide\/?p=184480"},"modified":"2021-07-09T11:38:29","modified_gmt":"2021-07-09T11:38:29","slug":"hows-the-worlds-bike-supply-doing","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.welovecycling.com\/wide\/2021\/07\/09\/hows-the-worlds-bike-supply-doing\/","title":{"rendered":"How’s The World’s Bike Supply Doing?"},"content":{"rendered":"

In many ways, the cycling industry was positioned to reap tremendous benefits from the significant boost in interest during the pandemic. With more and more new cyclists looking to invest in their own set of wheels, though, it quickly became apparent that supply would be a problem. With demand far outpacing its usual levels, shops, suppliers, and bike companies were left scrambling to fill orders. It has now been over a year since a supply chain shortage was first identified, so how are things looking?\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

Well, the short answer is\u2014not good. There remains a great deal of uncertainty about how bike companies and component makers will adapt when things will get back to normal. There\u2019s no doubt that the coronavirus pandemic has accelerated the long-term growth of the bicycle market. Still, the result is that bicycles, components, and accessories<\/a> have become scarce as the drawn-out situation reveals increasing weaknesses in how the industry supply chain works.<\/p>\n

To get a better idea of the struggles industry insiders and consumers are facing, we talked to a few bike enthusiasts who have been impacted by the shortage in one way or another. We discussed the shortage\u2019s<\/a> consequences, how we got here, and what\u2019s in store if the trend continues.<\/p>\n

\"Bicycle<\/a>
Is the bike supply situation getting any better? \u00a9 Profimedia<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Cries for diversification of the parts supply chain are growing louder<\/strong><\/h2>\n

\u201cI don\u2019t even have chains to replace broken ones.\u201d\u00a0<\/em><\/p>\n

Mike Martin works at a large cycling store in Italy. When asked about the shortage, his answer was pretty straightforward: \u201cThere are no bikes available.\u201d He went on to explain that aside from a few entry-level or city bikes,<\/a> those looking for medium or high-range mountain, gravel, or road bikes<\/a> are simply out of luck. When it comes to parts? The same story. \u201cWe have no spare parts\u2014chains, disc brakes, derailleur, quick links, etc. Nothing is coming.\u201d<\/p>\n

They are also behind on orders: \u201cWe got a lot of anticipation for 2021 bikes, but everything is hugely delayed. That means all the bikes we have pre-bought for the 2021 spring are coming, maybe, in November.\u201d<\/p>\n

Understandably, this puts Mike and other retailers in a frustrating situation. \u201cIt is not easy,\u201d he explained, \u201cBy the end of the summer, I\u2019ll be going without chains<\/a> to replace broken ones.\u201d<\/p>\n

Those obviously aren\u2019t sustainable circumstances for running a bike shop. So we asked Mike if he has any ideas for how things could be improved, and he responded that the industry needs an overhaul. \u201cThe rules have changed. We need to create spare parts around the world and not only in Asia. This will be good for the global and local economy, meaning faster supply, better quality, work for all the people… It is now or never.\u201d<\/p>\n

\"Bike<\/a>
The bike parts shortage is still making life hard for bike shop owners. \u00a9 Profimedia<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Pre-orders are seriously backed up\u00a0<\/strong><\/h2>\n

\u201cI am still hoping and waiting.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n

Lorenz Papis decided in May of 2020 that he wanted to buy a gravel bike. He visited his local store, where they told him, “you’re lucky, we\u2019ve got one left!” then proceeded to show him a high-end bike that vastly exceeded his budget. When he explained that the model in question was too much, but that he was willing to spend about 1,500-2,000 EUR on a new bike, he was assured that he could get something decent for that price\u2014but , unfortunately, everything was sold out. He got put on a waiting list but never heard back.<\/p>\n

Ultimately, in August 2020, he pre-ordered a 2021 model that caught his attention. As he put it, \u201cI was hoping that with some luck, I could get it as a \u2018Christmas present\u2019 for myself. That didn\u2019t happen, though. The delivery date has been continually postponed ever since. Newest update: possibly in mid-August of this year. I am still hoping and waiting.\u201d<\/p>\n

Consumers are having to make big decisions fast\u00a0<\/strong><\/h2>\n

\u201cAs you see, this is a \u2018take it or leave it\u2019 market.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n

Jonas Almeida de Andrade also found himself in a situation where he needed to take what was available or risk being left bikeless. \u201cI ordered a TREK Marlin 7 around Christmas time, and when I called Trek Iberia, they told me they had ONE to deliver\u2014but not until October of the next year. So, yes, it would be a big issue if I didn’t have a plan B.\u201d<\/p>\n

\"Bicycle<\/a>
When it comes to buying a bike these days, thinking twice might not be the best strategy. \u00a9 Profimedia<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Jonas got lucky, though. He checked what was available at a local bike shop and found a decent selection on offer. It was all timing. \u201cThe attendant explained that he had got 15 bikes in that morning and had already sold eight of them. So I needed to make a very quick decision. As you see, this is a \u2018take it or leave it\u2019 market.\u201d<\/p>\n

Bike shops need to rethink their strategy going forward\u00a0<\/strong><\/h2>\n

\u201cShops are living from stock they had, but there are no parts from distributors…nor by actual brands.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n

Tom\u00e1\u0161 Vosyka has been involved in the cycling industry in one way or another for over 15 years. From working for SRAM distribution to being the personal mechanic for Tom\u00e1\u0161 Slav\u00edk, he has seen a lot. And his experience allows him to make some assessments about how we got here. He says there had been warning signs of a problem with the supply chain even before the pandemic.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt\u2019s the mistake of big companies who insist on working only with preorders while maintaining low stocks numbers. This was the case before, but then Covid comes around, the whole of China shuts down, and Shimano stopped producing\u2014it was the perfect storm.\u201d<\/p>\n

He also explained that another significant issue is the quality of what is available: \u201cquality materials such as steel, high-grade aluminium are just not available; therefore there are almost no chains, no spokes, hubs…etc.<\/p>\n

\"Bike<\/a>
Components are scarce. \u00a9 Profimedia<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

For example, I\u2019m trying to build my own bike with premium goods, but just buying a box of high-quality shifting cables<\/a> is impossible\u2026 not to mention that things are being sold at two or three times the price.\u201d<\/p>\n

So, are you even going to be able to get a bike?<\/strong><\/h2>\n

It seems that something has to change if the bike industry<\/a> is going to get back on track anytime soon. Several bike brands have begun to address consumer questions on bike supply directly, but it will take time to work out the kind of new processes and supply chains that the industry will need to recover.<\/p>\n

Of course, that doesn\u2019t help any of us looking to get our hands on a bike during the current shortage. There are a few tips to help, though. Keep in mind, for example, that the most highly sought-after bikes are lower-end models, so you may decide that now is the time to invest in that pricier option you\u2019ve been eyeing. It is also a good idea to let your local bike shop employees know what you\u2019re looking for. That way, if someone else backs out of a purchase or the shop lucks into some unexpected inventory, you might be the first to know. And of course, the used market is always worth a gander. Just be sure that if you aren\u2019t mechanically inclined, you bring along a friend who is before you buy. The last thing anyone needs now is a bike that isn\u2019t in sound, working condition.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

In many ways, the cycling industry was positioned to reap tremendous benefits from the significant boost in interest during the […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":99,"featured_media":184482,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[334],"tags":[5454,4474,5456,5453,5455,1681,1749],"global-categories":[3366],"class_list":["post-184480","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-socialising-and-culture","tag-bicycle-shortage","tag-bike-parts","tag-bike-shops","tag-bike-shortage","tag-bike-supply","tag-sram","tag-trek","global-categories-cycling"],"yoast_head":"\nHow's The World's Bike Supply Doing? - \u0160koda We Love Cycling<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"In many ways, the cycling industry was positioned to reap tremendous benefits from the significant boost in interest during the pandemic. 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