Bike sales and demand for repairs soar, but supply and parts fall short

With summer gearing up, it might be nice to take a bike ride under the sun – but good luck finding one.

News 12 Staff

Jun 25, 2020, 10:04 PM

Updated 1,560 days ago

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With summer gearing up, it might be nice to take a bike ride under the sun – but good luck finding one.
According to market research, bike sales soared 120% nationwide in April to more than $1 billion.
Doug Rodriguez, the co-owner of Bike Junkie in Bethpage for 30 years, says he sold out his inventory last month.
He says the increase in sales is due to gyms being closed and people looking for other ways to stay fit.
If he had bikes to sell, Rodriguez says business would be up about 40%.
“I get sad if I think about what amount of money that would be,” he told News 12. “No one could predict how much we would sell.”
He says the bikes that are currently in his shop are there for repairs, and he’s had to turn people away due to the high demand.
“It is frustrating for me…I feel terrible for the people I'm telling I can't work on their bikes,” says Rodriguez.
There is also a nationwide shortage of bike parts, which only makes the job tougher.
With factories overseas reopening, he hopes to have bikes to sell by August.