On yer bike: Cycling industry out-pedaled by demand

A cyclist rides in a dedicated lane in Paris, on May 11, 2020, on the first day of France’s easing of lockdown measures in place for 55 days to curb the spread of the COVID-19 pandemic, caused by the novel coronavirus. (Photo by Martin BUREAU / AFP)

PARIS — Bikes are booming across the globe as people seek to avoid crowded buses and trains for their daily commutes in the wake of the coronavirus pandemic — or get back into shape after long months of lockdown.

But with sales exploding in many countries, the current cycling craze has left manufacturers and retailers out-pedaled by demand.

In Paris, where mayor Anne Hidalgo has been working hard to put cycling on the map, vastly increasing the number of bike lanes in recent years, would-be buyers often have to wait weeks to get their hands on a brand new velocipede.

“For three or four weeks now, I’ve had a dozen or so clients waiting. And I’ve had to return money to a few because I simply have no idea when I’ll have bikes for them,” independent Paris retailer Federico Mosca told AFP.

One customer, 31-year-old Nicolas, said he had visited as many as eight different shops before getting lucky.

And even then, he was forced to bust his budget and buy a more expensive model than planned because the cheaper bike he wanted was sold out.

“I was looking for a specific bike and had given myself a month to buy one, but it’s not available anywhere,” he said.

Leading retail chain Decathlon said it too has waiting lists, but it can also refurbish second-hand bikes for more impatient customers.

French bike sales doubled in May and June compared to the same months last year, according to the sporting and cycling federation.

Sales are booming in most countries around the world.

Decathlon calculated that in Europe overall, sales “have increased two- and even threefold”.

In China, demand has increased fivefold since the lockdowns were eased.

And in the US, sales of bikes have exploded, with online purchases alone skyrocketing in May by 5,000 percent over the figure for the same month last year.

Overall US sales, both online and in-store, jumped by 81 percent year-on-year to $1.1 billion (957 million euros) in May, according to People for Bikes, a coalition of manufacturers and retailers.

Broken chain

But in addition to runaway demand from the end consumer, lockdowns have also made it difficult for European and US manufacturers to obtain parts.

The Confederation of the European Bicycle Industry (CONEBI) estimates that 45 to 50 percent of parts for all bikes sold in Europe are imported from Asia.

Moreno Fioravanti, secretary-general of the European Bicycle Manufacturers’ Association (EBMA), said the industry has “lost three months of production of components, and our stockpiles were used up in only two months”.

Pancho Pimentel, marketing chief for Summit Bicycles, which has five stores in California, said “there are shortages everywhere, from bike brands to parts”.

Cycling “works off of a global supply chain that has been interrupted due to COVID-19 and its consequences are being seen in every category”, he said.

According to CONEBI, 7.3 million bikes and e-bikes were imported into Europe last year, principally from Taiwan and Cambodia.

The world’s leading manufacturer, the Taiwan-based Giant, saw its European sales increase by 140 percent year-on-year in June, driven in particular by sales of e-bikes.

Its order book is full until the first half of next year and it is similarly optimistic for the second half.

However, CONEBI’s director-general, Manuel Marsilio, said the bike shortage was not as bad as some people might suggest.

“There was some shortage because of two months of lockdown, due to the fact that EU production stopped,” he said.

“But our bike industry is working very hard to fill the gap. It is a very positive thing that we have so many small and medium-sized makers all over Europe, who are very flexible.

“Most EU producers will continue to work also in July and August, so there won’t be a halt in the summer,” he said.