Are Bike Shops Seeing A Coronavirus Boost?

Perhaps contrary to expectations, bike shops up and down the country have reported exceptional demand today. Requests for servicing of bikes, as well as sales, were on a par with the busiest days of summer.

One shop reported their 7th busiest day of trading ever, another reported that they were unable to keep up with the spares needed to make repairs. This must come as a relief to those who, earlier in the week, were seeing cancellations of bookings for services, and very quiet sales. It’s not universal though – we found others who were still struggling with March trading conditions, so if the first shop you try can’t fit you in, it may be worth a ring round.

Another challenge faced by some shops was meeting demand while having high levels of staff absence due to virus symptoms. Along with that, shops were trying to figure out how to safely allow people in and out of shops while keeping transmission possibilities to a minimum. While sales are welcome, prospective buyers squeezing every brake or grip in the shop poses a decontamination nightmare. As your mum used to say: look with your eyes, not your hands! Some staff felt conflicted: should they make much needed money while they could, were they helping to discourage social distancing practices, or even putting their own health at risk?

Whether this trend will continue remains to be seen, and if a ban on outdoor activities comes into place then no doubt this will be exceptionally tough on shops.

Out and about, there was plenty of evidence of people out enjoying the countryside, though with some worrying examples of social not-distancing. We’d appeal to everyone, but especially those out on their bikes, to avoid group rides. As well as putting the lives of each other, and those we come into contact with, at risk, being seen out together makes ‘cyclists’ (and we already know how much bad press we get) look bad. If we look bad, we’re more likely to get singled out for a ban.

The group admin for the very popular MTB Chix & Trails Facebook group has taken the step of banning all posts promoting group rides, as have some other clubs. We’d encourage anyone that’s part of a formal club or informal ride group to help discourage group gatherings. Be vocal about why you won’t be attending, if others insist on gathering.

We really, really, don’t want to see bans like we’ve seen in some parts of Europe. Please, please, keep your distance, ride alone, or in pairs if you must, and don’t all pile into the pie shop at once.

Check out our guide to riding during COVID-19, and help us all to keep enjoying the outdoors, safely.

Hannah Dobson

Managing Editor

I came to Singletrack having decided there must be more to life than meetings. I like all bikes, but especially unusual ones. More than bikes, I like what bikes do. I think that they link people and places; that cycling creates a connection between us and our environment; bikes create communities; deliver freedom; bring joy; and improve fitness. They're environmentally friendly and create friendly environments. I try to write about all these things in the hope that others might discover the joy of bikes too.

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