Buying a bike during Bikeocolypse
Okay, a bike apocalypse might be a touch too harsh, but seriously it’s was hard to get your hands on a bike during 2020. And I think 2021 might be just as rough.
2021 Kona Rove DL
At first I thought it was fantastic that so many people started heading outside to ride a bike. Honestly I still think it’s great, unless you want to buy a bike. That is truly maddening.
In the fall of 2019 I sold my mountain bike. In hindsight that was a mistake, but there was no way of knowing a pandemic that would cause a bicycle shortage was looming. I sold the bike because it wasn’t the right bike for me. I wasn’t a big mountain biker anymore, and it was pretty heavy just to cart it around for the casual fun ride. After test riding other bikes I knew I wanted something in the gravel bike variety.
I sold the mountain bike having high hopes to buy a gravel bike in the spring of 2020. That’s when the updated models come out and I could try them. Well, I think everyone knows what happened to the world in the spring of 2020. The pandemic raised the percentage of bike sales quite dramatically.
During lockdown the bikes I was interested in were hard to get because they were not DTC (direct to consumer) brands. Then slowly things started to reopen and I started to inquire about the bikes that interested me.
Sold out. Not in your size. Maybe try this model instead that doesn’t have what you want, but it’s a bike with wheels...
It was frustrating! So very, very frustrating.
My next step was to start looking up options to build one myself and try to keep my budget in tact. Then, just like the bikes themselves, parts started disappearing. Sorry, that’s not available, try this more expensive option instead. Also, it was almost impossible to get my size in a frame because I’m in that good ol’ middle of the road size. Honestly, I thought multiple times about buying something outside my budget. But in reality that was never going to happen.
“So I gave up hope.”
Unless I wanted something high end, there was no hope for a bike in 2020 for me.
Now it’s 2021. The bikeocolypse hasn’t ended, but some places are starting to get their hands on a few of the 2021 models. I went back to doing heavy research and calling around. I had it narrowed down to three options for a bike. One bike was a stock build, and two options were buying a frame in my size and battling it out for parts.
Now the big question is, who has anything in my size? I start calling calling and asking around at my various LBS’s (Local Bike Shops). Nope sorry... Nope sorry. I heard it all before. Then came the news. Yes! We have that bike in stock in your size. It’s just not here. Confused for a second they explain they are transitioning between two locations. I wait a few days and then set out to visit the new location and test ride the bike.
They threw on some pedals and off I went. 38 degrees outside testing a bike. Yeah, I got cold.
After the longest bike ride I’ve done since the fall of 2019 I return. They can’t see how big I’m smiling. I guess there are some bonuses to wearing a mask. My face can’t give away my excitement. We talked some more about the other options I’m considering. And after a few minutes I just kinda blurt out
“I’m going to take the bike.”
After a final inspection and a swipe of my card I’m off and driving home. I’m so excited! I can’t wait to go out and ride some more.
If you’ve been looking at getting a bike since the pandemic started, now might be the best time. It’s cold outside, so most people aren’t thinking about biking. Come spring time however, I foresee bike and parts shortages to continue and potentially get worse.
I wish you the best of luck finding the right bike for you.