Wheels of fortune as bike sales soar in lockdown
THE demand for bicycles has never been higher, with bike shops scrambling to get enough stock to sell during the pandemic.
A combination of families on lockdown, gym fanatics being denied their exercise fix and public transport users switching to two wheels to avoid the virus has sent sales soaring.
However, global delays in manufacturing and distribution mean that bicycles are becoming harder and harder to source.
Ciaran Kelly, director of Bike Worx in Celbridge, Co. Kildare, said: ‘Every day is like Christmas Eve. We’re selling 150 bikes a week. I’ve never seen anything like it.
‘We are having to turn people away, asking them to come back when we get a new supply in. Obviously it’s unbelievable business, but it’s getting pretty stressful. We’re in at 5am every day and working till 1am.’
His shop opened fully for business on Monday, as the restrictions eased. But he said they had been delivering bikes and working behind closed doors throughout the lockdown.
He said every type of bike was in demand, from children’s bikes to adult hybrids, mountain bikes and racing bikes. ‘And repairs are out the door. We have 100 bikes a day in for repair,’ he added.
He said a nurse from Lucan bought a bicycle so she could cycle to St James’s Hospital rather than risk catching the virus on the bus to work. Other commuters were also coming to the shop in increasing numbers as people go back to work.
Cycling Ireland has reported that an additional 220,000 people are cycling on a weekly basis, and predicted the activity will play a key role in Ireland’s recovery.