Covid & Brexit - What Next For The Bike Industry In 2021?

With demand still outstripping supply and new Brexit rules coming into force, we’re looking at components shortages and price rises – but is there cause for longer-term optimism?

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Ten months after the first lockdown, the cycling industry is struggling to catch up with the bike boom. And with new duties on bikes unveiled with the Brexit deal, we could now be looking at price hikes as well as shortages.

Last March, furloughed workers, traffi-free roads and glorious sunshine got the whole country riding bikes, whether they were bought new or dug out of the garage and serviced by the local bike shop.

But the bike boom caught the industry by surprise. Bike shops ran out of stock very quickly, and with the Far East factories in lockdown, there was no prospect of a restocking any time soon – and the situation looks unlikely to change through 2021.

Tom Hough, owner of Maison du Velo in Reigate, Surrey, and In-Gear in Forest Row, East Sussex, recalls: “We ran out of bikes, but we had frames we could build up using the components we had in stock. Then we just took every single bike we could from our suppliers and then you crossed your fingers to see what you’d get. Some bikes arrived and we said, well, we clearly didn’t order that, but we’ll keep it – and we sold it.

“But if someone decides on a particular brand and model from one of the biggest brands, it will be 2022 now. If we don’t have one in stock we can’t get it for you.”

Delays