How Are You Dealing with the Bike Supply Shortage?

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markharf 2014
Sep 27, 2021

Cannibalizing bits and pieces from the bins full of worn out parts I've been saving just because it's easier than throwing them away. Plus: buying dubious parts from off-brand sources, since that's sometimes all I can find. Most of this stuff is still better than anything that was available 25 years ago.

0 reply

Black-Man West Virginia // 2011
Oct 1, 2021

I got lucky and got a new bike this year. I wrecked the bike and bent the shifter. Due to the part being unobtanium, it was carefully bent back - otherwise it would be no more riding on the new bike.
Things may be loosening up slightly, last visit to the shop he had more new mtn bikes I have seen in almost 2 years but he also told me he ordered them last year (2021s) and the bikes were all 2022 models.

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Kid Charlemagne Connecticut // 2017
Sep 27, 2021

I offer all my business to my LBS first. When he says he can't get something, I then start searching far and wide. I've bought a lot more stuff from Europe than ever before, when that's the only option, even with shipping delays (less common than last year) and high shipping costs.

I was lucky to find our second-choice Cannondale Topstone 4 for my girlfriend in my LBS, and he tracked down a Surly Disc Trucker in my size (my first choice) about 300 miles away, which I drove down to pick up. So availability of new bikes was better than for most people who are looking today, because we looked in February and we lucked out. I think it's worse now.

Fortunately, I have enough bikes that I am not waiting on a part to get my busted ride back together. There's always another bike.

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Phonebem Utah // 2017
Sep 29, 2021

I've put-off buying/building a new hardtail. In addition, I've tried to keep a spare of all of the consumable parts (tires, brake pads, chains, etc.) for each of my bikes in my home shop. As a rule, I always try to keep two spare derailleur hangers (my FS is a YT which can have delays in part availability and my fat bike (Fuji Wendigo) is a total pain to find. This reminds me, my spare chain is on my FS bike. Time to go shopping!

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enduroexpert78 Virginia // 2019
Oct 1, 2021

It's not too bad in the DC area; the LBS have a few bikes on hand, and common parts are usually a week or two out. It really depends on what you want. I'm not in the market for a bike, but upgrade parts certainly aren't in stock and are several weeks or months out. So, I'm not upgrading my Karate Monkey with a suspension fork anytime soon.

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Sunspot Colorado // 2019
Sep 28, 2021

Raiding the LBS's regularly for the staples of bike ownership... Raiding my bins is no longer an option since I have done two bin builds just before the scamdemic set in.

Covid is not remotely the killer that cancer is, just so ya know...

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Mick-e 2017
Sep 26, 2021

My wife wanted a new bike and I wanted to do a frame up build. After demoing some stuff earlier this year she picked the Evil Following. Ha. Good luck getting one.
We ended up buying a 21 demo model from a shop in Canada. We live in Northern California. A used bike from another country. That's how bad it is.

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Tagged: bike industry, supply, survey, gear

First published September 26, 2021 @ 2:17:00

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