xroadcharlie

The subject of bike availability was on the local news today here in Windsor Ontario. One of the popular bike shops they visited had only 2 bikes left. A Fatbike and an expensive single speed road bike. The local Canadian Tire however is getting regular shipments and are busy building bikes about 2 days per week. The last time I went they had a couple dozen different style decent bikes out and building more in the shop. When I asked the salesperson she said if you want one, You better buy it now because they won't last long.

Canadian tire is a Canadian big box/hardware store. I've bought 2 bikes from them in the past. They seemed to be OK for the most part. The chrome plated heavy steel rims on my mountain bike however would not allow the bike to stop if they got wet. There probably better then the some cheap ones on Amazon. They more kids bikes too.

feejer

I recently put an order in at a local Trek dealer for a Verve 2 for the wife and a 920 frameset for me. Neither will be available until Jan or Feb. We knew nothing about the bike shortage. So I decided to rebuild her old 90's hybrid just to have something different for her to ride this year, and that's where I got to learn about the massive parts shortage as well. This is one tough year for bikes! We ordered her a S and M size Verve, and they will refund one or both depending on if she likes either one, since they know they could turn around and sell them that same day if they wanted to. My 920 frameset is non refundable, but that's not a big deal since I know that's the bike I want to build. So next year we'll have some new bikes, at least that's something to look forward to and possibly build over the winter months.

Charliekeet

Yup, I’ve been feeling good about having extra parts and rideable bikes on hand lately! My kid’s MTB head tube cracked and I was like no prob, we’ve got this other one you can ride for now. Would’ve been out of luck for remainder of the summer.

My younger guy moved up to a 24-inch and I cannot tell you long it took me to locate and purchase even a quality secondhand one of those. Hours of driving too.

Congrats on the Canyon! I’m envious

davei1980

That is a really good point. This was back in May and, at that time, Shimano was only supplyng certain parts to manufacturers. You couldn't get the brakes I wanted, not online, not anywhere.

Things have loosened up now, you're right, and I could go back and order them, if I wanted. Also, my LBS made me a great deal on a different set, and I feel like they should be able to capitalize on this temporary situation and I feel bad they have limited capacity to stretch to meet peak demand, so when they offer creative solutions instead of stonewalling me, then I'll go there.

prime winner

So I went to the bike shop on my lunch break a little while ago and they had several FX 2's in stock (none in my size of Large), but they did not have any FX 3's. The guy checked how long it would take to get one if ordered and the info showed him a date in mid-late April. Luckily he said they had a FX 3 Large scheduled to come in around mid October and I was able to put a deposit on it. Thats not bad considering some dates I've read about.

timgriffin2

I recently picked up a new Sirrus 3.0 from a local Specialized dealer. They can't keep bikes in stock and sell them as soon as they hit the floor if not before they're built yet. I was shocked to see so many $5k+ e-Bikes being sold. It seemed to be mostly middle aged couples buying the e-Bikes in pairs.

Milton Keynes

Yeah, there will likely be a bike glut for a while, and then good, slightly used bikes at decent prices for some time as people finally get fed up with those unused bikes taking up space in their garages.

Erzulis Boat 

One of the LBS in Santa Barbara, California, claims to be back ordered by 2000 bicycles. I had the employee repeat the figure. Yep, 2000. I don't believe it, even though she had no reason to lie.

bgraham111

I'd like to add a touring bike the to stable. A LHT or maybe a Salsa Marrakesh. I'll be waiting a while it seems...

MyRedTrek

I hadn't heard about this since I hadn't been in the market for another bike but called a couple of places and they confirmed they had issues getting bikes. But why is this shortage not impacting Boxmart-level bikes? At least around here they seem to have plenty. Why wouldn't they be affected by the same issues as more upscale bikes?

Reflector Guy

It is, for the most part. Your area might be some sort of exception; many people here have reported seeing empty racks at Walmart with the exception of stuff like tiny pink kid's bikes.

MyRedTrek

Interesting. I asked a Facebook friend who's into triathlons and riding events - she says while most of their races have been cancelled due to covid her circle of biking buddies haven't had problems getting bikes. She's in south Florida.

GreatDane84

Looked for a Trek Domane SL6 at my LBS. Was told it it was a 6 month wait. Found multiple bikes at the Trek corporate bike shops in Manhattan. Had my new bike in less than a week and love it.

jay4usc

I live in SoCal with multiple bike shops in each city and all the shops were empty. The only bikes I saw on the racks were in for repairs. Most have restocked since September. Back in August I couldnt find any 700x28 60mm presta tubes locally and had a difficult time looking for them online. Backcountry and Biketiresdirect were the only online stores that had them in stocked.

Milton Keynes

Local Walmart had plenty of bikes for a while, I never really paid much attention to them. Then one day the racks were completely empty. I thought maybe it had something to do with the shortage, but they're just rearranging the entire store.

Troul 

They were just reshaping the objects

August West

LBS mgr says they have 400 bikes on backorder and what comes in is just a trickle. Said he talked to Salsa recently and they said "you know the bikes that were originally scheduled to arrive in Apr 2021? Well, think Aug 2021 now."

I have a deposit on a mtn bike that I'm hoping for early 2021 but wasn't positive on the size. The mgr called last week and said they had higher end CF model arrive in the same size and I could come in a give a ride to check size. Said he'd give a little better deal on it if I wanted it instead of the one I have on order. In the the 1.5 hours it took me to get ready and drive down there, somebody walked in off the street, saw it and paid MSRP for it. I did get to give it a ride to check size but sucks because I would have bought it. The demographic of the small town I live in doesn't normally lean toward $4300 mtn bikes and I can't believe it moved in under 2 hours but shows where the market currently is.

ramzilla

Used bike prices are also very high and, most of the stuff being advertised is low quality stuff.

rsbob 

All the LBS which carried Bianchis did not have the model I wanted and that’s not even taking size into account. So I had to resort to the interweb and after extensive searching found the last one in my size in the U.S. and had it shipped cross country. The shortage is very real just like its cause.

diphthong

lbs a block away just got a bleep ton of fuji bikes dropped off last week. not sure if anything else dropped (they carry bianchi and cannondale as well) since but shop went from no prospects to
how you doin'? in the span of a week.

billyymc

Been in two LBS in the past week, both were nearly bare of bikes. One of them sells new and used, and pretty much only had a few BMX bikes left.

Last week I ordered an Ibis mountain bike from JensonUSA - projected delivery is March / April of 2021.

billridesbikes

Was in my LBS for a tube and light wheel true last Friday. She said she had gotten 10 new bikes in on Monday and already sold five, so sales still seem pretty brisk. But it wasn’t as bare as May/June when there where only a few high end $6K Electric Cargo bikes left.

I’ve seen some folks here say, ‘Next year there will be many lightly used bikes for sale’. But that isn’t clear to me. The virus will still be surging this winter and into the spring, the US death toll nearing 500,000 by end of 2021. If there is a vaccine later this year most won’t be able to get it until summer or fall ‘21. I don’t see people rushing back to crowded subways or buses or buying extensive gym memberships. Businesses are beginning to go bankrupt at a fast rate as federal assistance ends, job furloughs are becoming permanent and number of people 30 days or more behind on their mortgage is at a record high, unemployment will probably remain very high for the next couple years. That humble bicycle purchased in ‘20 might be looking like a good investment in ‘21.

Reflector Guy

I have a Bianchi on order and am hoping for November.... Will be interesting to see if that sticks or gets pushed back. Just in time for winter I suppose! Interestingly, though, they have already charged my credit card.

It is interesting how some bike stores keep their websites up to date with quantity on hand (all brands, not specifically Bianchi). A certain model will be listed as "in stock", but its only available on one size, like 48cm or 61 cm. Really big or small. The more-common "normal height" sizes are still out of stock.

Ogsarg

How does bike availability in other areas impact your decision to commit? If you're looking to buy from a local store, it only makes sense to find out from them what the situation is.

Milton Keynes

Yeah, I've been seeing Walmart Roadmaster bikes being offered on the local bicycle buy/sell/trade group for around $125. I think that's about what they cost new.