Bike Shops Say Demand Has Left Them Peddling for Inventory
Lance Reese is the owner of Yakima's Bearded Monkey Cycling shop but there's not a lot of bikes for sale in his bike shop Today. Reese says the COVID-19 pandemic placed an "unprecedented demand" on bike shops not only in Yakima but around the country. Owners of bicycle stores throughout the state say they're concerned about a shortage that's left racks without bikes at many stores.
Reese says he sold a years worth of bikes in the first month of the pandemic and right now he doesn't expect to see inventory to return to normal levels in his store until 2023. Reese says the reason for the demand is all about the pandemic. When the pandemic started last year he says he couldn't keep bikes in the rack and they're still tough to come by with many on back order. Reese says it's not just the bikes but also bike parts that are in demand and tough to find. Simple things like bike seats and parts for older bikes are a rarity because of the demand. He says for those people who can't afford to buy a new bike but want to fix and older bike it's become tough due to the lack of available parts.
Reese and other industry experts say it will take another year or two before supply meets up with demand in the bike industry once again.
But bikes aren't the only product that saw big demand over the last year. Boats and paddleboards were also popular as well as outdoor games and BBQ's.