Where did all the bikes go???

[elle_71125]

My niece's birthday is coming up and she asked for a new bike. I just ran by our local Target and saw this...



Never in my life have I seen an empty bike section. Is this the new toilet paper?

 

[OdetteOdile]

Yes! I have been out on my bike with my family every day for weeks now! We were lucky and all set with bikes already, but some of my neighbors have kids who have outgrown their bikes and they are having some trouble finding one! I think because people are less busy they are riding bikes more right now.

 

[Queenie60]

Not only bikes - I am not able to find a nice golf push cart for my husband. Maybe they're made abroad and difficult to import right now?

 

[AGBF]

It must be a coincidence! Here is an article from today's edition of "The New York Times" on that very topic! It is entitled, "Thinking of Buying a Bike? Get Ready for a Very Long Wait". My neighborhood is filled with walkers, runners, bicyclists, dog walkers, people with strollers, and all combinations of the above. I am struck by how many little children are out in groups of two and three with their parents and maybe a stroller and a dog!

Thinking of Buying a Bike? Get Ready for a Very Long Wait (Published 2020)

The United States is facing a shortage of bicycles as anxiety over public transportation and a desire to exercise has sent the demand surging.

www.nytimes.com

 

[AGBF]

By the way, I have found whole wheat flour back in one of my regular grocery stores. In five pound bags! I have to go update the appropriate thread about that.

 

[Rockdiamond]

It's unbelievable!
I just bought an ebike....and put 100 miles on it in less than a week. New bikes need to be tuned and tightened ( preferably by a bike mechanic) after putting some miles on it.
The line to get into the bike store is always at least 30 minutes!!

I just ran by our local Target and saw this...

PS- please don't buy a bike at Target!! If you give me a general area where you want to buy, maybe I know of a bike shop....

 

[elle_71125]

Yes! I have been out on my bike with my family every day for weeks now! We were lucky and all set with bikes already, but some of my neighbors have kids who have outgrown their bikes and they are having some trouble finding one! I think because people are less busy they are riding bikes more right now.

You’re right. It’s crazy how many people I’ve seen out on our local bike path...even during the week days. I guess when there’s nothing else to do...

Not only bikes - I am not able to find a nice golf push cart for my husband. Maybe they're made abroad and difficult to import right now?

So it’s all the outdoors goods then. It’s funny because I talked to my niece’s mom and she mentioned they were looking at bikes a couple weeks ago and there were plenty in the store. Oh, well. Best of luck finding the golf push cart.

It must be a coincidence! Here is an article from today's edition of "The New York Times" on that very topic! It is entitled, "Thinking of Buying a Bike? Get Ready for a Very Long Wait". My neighborhood is filled with walkers, runners, bicyclists, dog walkers, people with strollers, and all combinations of the above. I am struck by how many little children are out in groups of two and three with their parents and maybe a stroller and a dog!

Thinking of Buying a Bike? Get Ready for a Very Long Wait (Published 2020)

The United States is facing a shortage of bicycles as anxiety over public transportation and a desire to exercise has sent the demand surging.

www.nytimes.com

The truth is out. Guess I should have started looking a few weeks back.

It's unbelievable!
I just bought an ebike....and put 100 miles on it in less than a week. New bikes need to be tuned and tightened ( preferably by a bike mechanic) after putting some miles on it.
The line to get into the bike store is always at least 30 minutes!!


PS- please don't buy a bike at Target!! If you give me a general area where you want to buy, maybe I know of a bike shop....

My niece is only 13 so I don’t want to buy a crazy expensive bike...especially since she‘s as destructive as a hurricane (runs in the family). I tried looking at a few places online with no luck either. I was going to phone a local bike shop later to see if they have anything.

 

[Rockdiamond]

My niece is only 13 so I don’t want to buy a crazy expensive bike..

Of course you have me involved now
How much do you want to spend? Nice bikes have actually come down in prices over the years....I mean there's still bikes that cost (way) more than $10k.....but in the sub $1000 category, there's some really nice options...

 

[the_mother_thing]

@elle_71125 Dicks Sporting Goods has several options online and offers curbside pick-up if yours isn’t open yet.

Also, if you think she’d be okay with a pre-owned/loved bike, try checking Nextdoor or other neighborhood type apps/sites. We’re getting my SKs new bikes, and will be putting their current bikes (barely used, just outgrown) on Nextdoor when the new ones get in. Just a suggestion; good luck!

 

[Bron357]

Yes, it’s the new toilet paper! I think that in the absence of so many other outdoor activities, bike riding has become very popular. The roads are much quieter so safer for riding about. Not a bad thing.
Have you looked online?

 

[canuk-gal]

HI:

Yes, here also. I was surprised though---why did I think every person in the world always rode bikes, just standard like drinking water. I was wrong!

cheers--Sharon

 

[missy]

Yes, it’s the new toilet paper! I think that in the absence of so many other outdoor activities, bike riding has become very popular. The roads are much quieter so safer for riding about. Not a bad thing.
Have you looked online?

I guess it depends where one is located. Cycling accidents have increased here in the past few months. Since the Coronavirus pandemic we have had more cycling fatalities in NYC.

 

[elle_71125]

@elle_71125 Dicks Sporting Goods has several options online and offers curbside pick-up if yours isn’t open yet.

Also, if you think she’d be okay with a pre-owned/loved bike, try checking Nextdoor or other neighborhood type apps/sites. We’re getting my SKs new bikes, and will be putting their current bikes (barely used, just outgrown) on Nextdoor when the new ones get in. Just a suggestion; good luck!

Thank you. I have tried Dicks but so far nothing is available in my area. I've never heard of the "Nextdoor" app. I'll have to see if it's in my area.

Yes, it’s the new toilet paper! I think that in the absence of so many other outdoor activities, bike riding has become very popular. The roads are much quieter so safer for riding about. Not a bad thing.
Have you looked online?

I have looked online without much luck. I've already let my niece know she may have to wait a bit on that bike (or choose another gift). I guess I should have realized that there would be a bike shortage when I've been seeing so many more people out biking around my neighborhood.

HI:

Yes, here also. I was surprised though---why did I think every person in the world always rode bikes, just standard like drinking water. I was wrong!

cheers--Sharon

I hear that. I love riding my bike. I'm a very casual bike rider though (no marathon sessions for me).

I guess it depends where one is located. Cycling accidents have increased here in the past few months. Since the Coronavirus pandemic we have had more cycling fatalities in NYC.

Well, that's just sad. We have a great bike path where I live so thankfully, I haven't heard of any bike related fatalities recently.

 

[AGBF]

I have been thinking about all the little children who are suddenly riding bikes with helmets in my neighborhood. This is new. It is reminiscent of when I grew up except that there are, now, many more people. (Also, we didn't wear helmets.) Before covid19 the streets were not full of people the way they are now.

I recently saw a meme that said if you grew up having to shout "car!" in the middle of your game, you had a good childhood. That's the kind of childhood I had. We always played outdoors. In the street. In the woods. Down by the brook catching tadpoles. We all had bikes.

I started to wonder where the children, now on bikes, usually are. In this town they may be at chess lessons or foreign language lessons or swim meets or lacrosse practice (correct season of course). But these things are, now, unavailable. So they are having a taste of riding bikes with their families and siblings, if not their friends. Everyone seems very happy, although I realize this is a stressful time and I am seeing only a moment's snapshot when I see them in the sunshine!

 

[Rockdiamond]

Car!!!!
That was an amazing time. When I was 11 I was already roaming miles from home on my bike.
It’s sad.
I have this discussion where I say that it’s different now. The other point of view is that parents have always felt that way in every generation.
But Fortnite, Roblox, and the newer crop of video games is designed to be totally addictive by experts.
Anyway, that’s probably where all your neighbors kids are in general

 

[oodlesofpoodles]

We are moving from one house to another and I have been buying and selling tons of things on facebook marketplace, it has been awesome. We sold three bikes, three scooters, and two pairs of roller skates last week. I think lots of people have time to look and go pick things up and are looking for things to keep kids busy and burn off energy outside. I have been doing a no contact system that works great. When they let me know they are coming I move the item to my porch and they either pay electronically with Venmo or they leave cash under a large rock on my porch table and I bring the cash in and spray down with lysol. I just started using marketplace and its easy. I think that would be your best bet to find a bike. Good luck!

 

[Austina]

I can’t ride a bike because my balance is terrible

 

[missy]

I can’t ride a bike because my balance is terrible

I have one word for you dear @Austina:
TRIKE!!!!

 

[missy]

I have been thinking about all the little children who are suddenly riding bikes with helmets in my neighborhood. This is new. It is reminiscent of when I grew up except that there are, now, many more people. (Also, we didn't wear helmets.) Before covid19 the streets were not full of people the way they are now.

I recently saw a meme that said if you grew up having to shout "car!" in the middle of your game, you had a good childhood. That's the kind of childhood I had. We always played outdoors. In the street. In the woods. Down by the brook catching tadpoles. We all had bikes.

I started to wonder where the children, now on bikes, usually are. In this town they may be at chess lessons or foreign language lessons or swim meets or lacrosse practice (correct season of course). But these things are, now, unavailable. So they are having a taste of riding bikes with their families and siblings, if not their friends. Everyone seems very happy, although I realize this is a stressful time and I am seeing only a moment's snapshot when I see them in the sunshine!

Haha that was me. And yes wasn't that an amazing time we enjoyed? A simpler more innocent time. We all had bikes and we rode them all day without a care in the world.