Second bicycle shortage in 2 years hits sellers as COVID-19 pandemic comes to an end.
Retail bike sales grew 60% in the first quarter of 2021 compared to the same period in 2020.
The following written content by Audrey Conklin
Bicycle and sports equipment sellers are facing a second bicycle shortage after an initial shortage occurred in 2020 as manufacturers continue to struggle with high demand and COVID-19-related supply chain challenges.
Sales for traditional and indoor bikes, as well as bike parts, were up 75% to $1 billion in 2020 compared to 2019 as more people looked to outdoor activity amid the pandemic, according to June 2020 research from NPD, an industry analysis and advisory services group that helps retailers and manufacturers.
hat trend has continued into 2021 U.S. retail bike sales grew 60% compared to the same period in 2020, according to NPD Sports Senior Industry Adviser Matt Powell. He told Fox News, however, that while he expects sales growth to slow in 2021 compared to last year, they “will remain well above 2019 results.”
“There are serious inventory shortages due to the surge in sales,” Powell said, adding that average bicycle selling prices grew 40% in the first quarter of 2021 compared to 2019 due to “a mix of more expens[ive] bikes as well as higher retail prices due to increased costs.”
Many local and national bike retailers are facing backlogged orders delayed into the fall and winter seasons.
Bill Thayer, co-CEO and co-founder of Fillogic, a logistics services platform for retailers, said the supply-and-demand issue hitting the bicycle market right now is not just unique to bikes.
“Every retail store, no matter what they sell, are struggling to meet demand based on supply chain disruptions,” Thayer said. “Manufactured items that include formed components (aluminum, rubber, etc.) like bicycles are far behind because these components are often manufactured in one place and then fabricated/kitted in another.” Read more from Fox Business.
