National bike shortage hits Port Townsend

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Among the many sudden, unexpected demands created by the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic — masks, hand sanitizer, takeout food, toilet paper — perhaps the most surprising surge focused on something a little bigger. And faster. And more fun.

Yes, there is indeed a national bicycle shortage in America. And the struggle for many to lay hands on some fresh wheels — and a lot of other parts, too — is real.

“Bicycles are the new toilet paper, basically,” said Bob Chung, owner of PT Cyclery (www.ptcyclery.com), a Tyler Street shop offering new, used, vintage, and consignment bicycles, as well as repair services and accessories. 

Having been in business for nearly 30 years, Chung said he’d never seen a buying surge like the one happening now.

“I’ve never seen it this crazy as far as so many people on bikes, so many people refurbishing their bikes, fixing their bikes up,” he said. 

And he’s not alone in his shock. 

“It’s been a crazy time in bike shops across the nation and we are no different here in Port Townsend,” said Liz Revord, executive director of PT ReCyclery (www.ptrecyclery.org) a nonprofit shop specializing in new and used bikes and accessories as well as repairs. 

“We at the ReCyclery have been busier than ever,” she said. 

“Since March, we have seen an uptick in bike sales which we believe has been directly influenced by the COVID pandemic. Even our veteran mechanics have been stunned by the sudden increase in demand,” Revord said.

A June Associated Press article called the boom something “unseen in decades,” crediting several simultaneous factors. 

“Around the world, many workers were looking for an alternative to buses and subways,” they wrote. “People unable to go to their gyms looked for another way to exercise. And shut-in families scrambled to find a way to keep kids active during stay-at-home orders.” 

Revord said the surge has been nothing short of unprecedented in her experience. 

“This is definitely a historical boom in bike history,” she said. “Everyone wants to get outside and ride.” 

Although there are still some risks associated with bike riding in the time of COVID, Revord said it is a safer activity than most done indoors or that put you in close contact with others. 

FEW AND FAR BETWEEN

The boom’s effects are even more pronounced beyond Jefferson County. 

As reported in The New York Times by Christina Goldbaum: “In March, nationwide sales of bicycles, equipment and repair services nearly doubled compared with the same period last year ... Sales of commuter and fitness bikes in the same month increased by
66 percent, leisure bikes jumped 121 percent, children’s bikes went up 59 percent and electric bikes rose 85 percent.” 

By late April many stores and distributors had sold out of affordable models. 

Now, according to the same article, America is reportedly enduring a “severe” bicycle shortage “as global supply chains, disrupted by the coronavirus outbreak, scramble to meet the surge in demand.”

Here as well, there is scrambling.

“Right now we have seen an unprecedented ... demand, something that has proven difficult to keep up with,” Revord said. “For as many bikes as we build up and refurbish, we turn around and sell equal amounts that same week. 

Currently, the wait for repairs and refurbishment work at PT ReCyclery is nearly three weeks, Revord said, for a number of complex, interrelated reasons. 

“First off, because of COVID, we have had to suspend our programs, including working with our volunteers, who are vital to our success,” she said. “Volunteers help refurbish bikes at a quicker speed than what our mechanics can. Secondly, our vendors are very low on supplies; you can’t find a bike to purchase below a couple thousand dollars, which is outside the market that we cater to. It’s hard right now to get even the basic parts — tubes, chains, tires, etc. Lastly, bikes are coming out of the ‘woodwork,’ literally, to be fixed up. Bikes that haven’t been ridden in years are being dusted off and pulled out of sheds and garages, in hopes of being rejuvenated to their former self.”

Chung said he has managed to stay mostly on top of repairs and service, though acquiring parts has been a problem.

“No longer can you pick up the phone or go on the internet and place an order and know if they’ll have it in stock,” he said, adding many suppliers and distributors are now limiting purchases of things like chains, tires and tubes. 

“I’ve never seen that before,” Chung said. 

He is “110 percent” certain the boost in bike sales is due to the epidemic.

“I think it’s partly a situation that people want to get out, they need to distance, they can’t go to the gym, they shouldn’t be or they can’t be on public transportation ... so it’s a combination of a lot of things, basically,” he explained. “Hopefully they’ll see the value and the fun in it and continue to ride.” 

Dave Toman, a Sequim resident and regular customer at PT Cyclery said he has seen a lot more people out riding of late. 

“I’ve seen a lot more families out riding, especially families with kids in trailers,” he said. “People want to get out and do something. Those who are concerned about the pandemic don’t want to be close to everybody else but still get some exercise. You can only be in a house for so long and watch so many shows.” 

ESCAPE FROM HOME

He isn’t one to complain about sharing his favorite routes or difficulty in acquiring parts, either. 

“At least people are getting out,” he said. “I think those who have not been riding for a while will probably stick with it because it has become a habit for them. You’re still going to have those who will go back to just driving a car or whatever, but I think you’re still going to have a large chunk of people — my feeling personally is — [that] you’re going to have a large chunk of people who are going to continue cycling.”

For those who are considering buying a bike, both Chung and Revord recommend patience. 

“Do your research, be patient, get fitted correctly, and stick with it,” Chung said. 

Also, keep an eye toward tomorrow. 

“In many cases, new 2021 models are coming out slowly but surely,” Revord said. “If you are looking for a refurbished bike from the ReCyclery, we are finding bikes that fit our customer’s criteria and then ‘building them up’ for each customer. This can take up to two weeks before the customer can test ride the bike and take it home. 

“We also would recommend that any bikes purchased off Craigslist or [from] a department store go to a local bike shop for a safety check or possible tune-up,” she added. “Nothing ruins a ‘new bike day’ like your new bike not working correctly.”

Both Chung and Revord also said they hope newbie bikers keep pedaling long after life returns to normal because Americans, even Washingtonians, by and large do not commute by bicycle. 

According to The New York Times: “In Portland, which has the highest percentage of cycling commuters of any American city, only 6.3 percent of commuters ride bikes. By comparison, in Copenhagen nearly half of all trips to work and school take place on bicycles.” 

COVID may have accidentally helped us on our way to a necessary transportation evolution, Revord said. 

“We’re just really excited to see everyone out on their bikes and enjoying themselves,” she said. “This bike boom has been difficult to navigate at times, but the end result is that there are more bikes out on the trails and roads, which means less cars.”