The showroom at Bike N’ Hike in Albany on Thursday, May 28.
Bicycles have joined toilet paper as an item in short supply during the corona crisis, in Albany as well as across the United States.
I wasn’t aware of this until I stopped in at Bike N’ Hike in Albany this week for a part. The showroom of the store, a longtime fixture on West First Avenue, was nearly bare.
The manager, J.J. French, said the store sold almost all its inventory and was having trouble getting more.
The story is the same from coast to coast, as the New York Times reported on May 18. You can read the story here.
The production of consumer bikes and accessories sold in the United States is based mostly in China and Taiwan.
As with toilet paper, the supply situation may eventually straighten out, but it will probably take several months for the bike industry to overcome the corona-caused disruptions and catch up with the increase in demand. (hh)
My guess is that almost every garage and storage shed in Albany contains a bike that just needs a bit of work to make it run.
Bust ‘em out!
This is great news! Why, because it shows Americans are taking commonsense and sustainable measures to the transportation problem. A demand for bicycles implies that people want , at least during the crisis, affordable transportation that improves their fitness. It also removes cars from the roads at a time when transportation infrastructure budgets are shot. While the trade war and shortage are a concern, like the previous post said, there are millions of bicycles siting around that can be fixed. And it’s a chance to create bike industries in America, using American steel, and labor. How about Make America Bike Again.
My wife tried a bike there about 2 weeks ago, and the design wasn’t to her liking. We ended up getting one at Corvallis Cyclery. At least we kept the purchase in the local area. Will be picking it up in a few dayd after she’s done a final fitting for the seat, etc.
can’t wait to see that thing attached to the roof of your 3 cylinder car
I’ll take a picture for you when we get it. Will be interesting to mount it. :-)
Looks like the bikes in the garage have increased in value. Better add locks to them even though the garage is locked all the time!
The chainsaw store is out of saws. The appliance store is out of freezers. People are thinking in different, perhaps better or more healthy ways. Very very small changes in habit that make me think Americans desire a different path than the one we’ve been on recently.
Thank you Covid, I guess.
This too shall pass
I hate to rain on your parade but the shortages are due to factories being closed for 2 months in China.