Stoked for spokes: Stores can’t keep bikes in stock | News

Don Dibartolomeo, supervisor of Spoke Life Cycles in Perrysburg, is amazed on the covid-crush of shoppers this summer season.

“There have been an unbelievable quantity of individuals popping out of the woodwork to purchase bikes,” stated Dibartolomeo, who additionally has shops in Sylvania, Elmore and Fremont.

“Gyms have been shut down, faculties have been shut down, so you’ve gotten a variety of mother and father with youngsters that wanted some exercise and bikes grew to become that outlet. You had individuals who needed to work out they usually couldn’t and, as soon as once more, bikes grew to become an excellent health outlet,” he stated.

Dibartolomeo stated this reminds him of the early Nineteen Nineties when mountain biking was fashionable.

“However this blows that away,” he stated. “That is the early ’90s mountain bike growth instances 10, as a result of it’s each bike — from a cheap, entry-level bike all the best way as much as a $2,500-$3,000 bike — simply gone. They’re simply gone.”

Due to coronavirus, bicycle manufacturing got here to a halt in March, DiBartolomeo stated.

“Not solely are we seeing a surge within the demand, however now we have no provide as a result of the producers weren’t in a position to produce for 3 months,” he stated. “As a result of you possibly can’t get bikes, everyone seems to be pulling out their storage and barn bikes and getting them fastened to allow them to get out and trip.”

This summer season, at Cycle Werks in Bowling Inexperienced, there’s a complete wall of the store that’s completely empty the place bikes could be on show to promote.

“With lots of people being at dwelling … they’ve determined to get outdoors and do extra using,” stated retailer supervisor Tim E book. “We noticed an enormous rush of individuals wanting new bikes, wanting their previous bikes repaired.”

“We’re positively dusting some bikes off, for certain, and getting them put again collectively.”

Biking is nice household time and train, E book stated.

“It’s neat to see folks get out and do issues as a household collectively, fairly than simply being content material with staying dwelling and watching Netflix all day,” he stated. “The Slippery Elm Path has been busier than it’s ever been, with a variety of newer riders getting out.”

Cycle Werks often has a bunch trip that begins on the store on Mondays and goes out to Grand Rapids, however it was suspended this yr attributable to coronavirus.

Biking is in E book’s blood. His grandparents opened E book’s Bike Store in 1939 in Bowling Inexperienced. He now manages the Cycle Werks store within the metropolis. In addition they have places in Whitehouse and Sylvania.

“You will get out of it what you set into it,” E book stated of biking.

“Should you simply desire a good leisurely trip to get out and benefit from the contemporary air, you are able to do that. If you wish to race, there’s actually that accessible, too,” E book stated. “We promote bikes for all of these forms of riders.”

Don’t neglect the gear earlier than placing out on a trip.

Helmets are a should for security, E book stated. New expertise has made them lighter and cooler.

Bob Rex has been biking since 1976 and guesses he has logged 50,000 miles on rides across the nation — even the world.

The retired trainer, who taught 35 years for Bowling Inexperienced Metropolis Colleges, stated there’s nothing like being outdoor and taking within the surroundings on a motorbike to clear your thoughts of COVID-19 and the rest.

Rex urged households who wish to begin biking collectively start with a cheap buy.

“Begin off sluggish,” he stated.

(Multi-media journalist J.D. Pooley did the interviews for this story.)