BRADENTON (WSNN) – Even though the Nation was on lockdown with fewer cars on the road, some wheels didn’t stop spinning: Bikes. Bicycle shops thrived during the early phase of the pandemic, but, now they’re in some trouble.
Village Bikes Owner, Ed Levins, says at his two stores on the Suncoast, bikes sales have gone through the roof.
“Everybody wants to get outside and get fresh air, it’s a good way to social distance,” Levins said. “And get away from the monotony of sitting inside and watching reruns.”
Lakewood Ranch resident, David Berger, says this pandemic has made him more conscious of his health. Berger went in for tire service but turns out he needed a new bike.
“But he’s sold out of bikes because this pandemic, I guess the whole world is biking in Lakewood Ranch,” Berger said.
It’s not just Lakewood Ranch though.
“It’s been a national and even international phenomenon,” Levins said.
In March, bicycles, equipment, and repair services nearly doubled nationwide compared with the same period last year, according to research from N.P.D Group.
And now, Levins says there’s an unbelievable shortage of bikes for manufacturers.
“There’s no bikes to order,” Levins said. “And they’re coming in dribs and drabs and they’re coming in over the course of the next two or three months.”
“I probably have 250 bikes on backorder with three different companies,” Levins said.
He says road bikes are more available, but the fitness bike people want to ride around the neighborhood, are practically impossible to get.
Levins says his store usually has about 60 to 70 bikes to sell, but now he only has 10 to sell in store. Most of the bikes in store now are for repairs.
“We’re backed up two months on repairs,” Levins said.
Which is why they need more manpower. A newly hired service technician, Sam Mordenga, started his first day on Thursday.
“People are pulling their bikes out of storage, so service is a critical element right now,” Mordenga.
“I saw the help wanted sign and I jumped right in.”
Levins says for quick tires and tube fixes, people can just show up, but for deep dives, there’s a long wait.
