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I'd like to buy a new bike but most websites are showing practically nothing in stock. I'm not desperate so I haven't trawled the net looking for something i like.
Will all be back to normal in a few months or are we stuck like this due to covid and brexit? Do i need to ask nicely at the local bike shop?
According to the owner of the LBS, its going to be like this until next summer at least. He already has waiting lists full for 2022 models which as far as i know don't even exist yet. Saracen seem to have a small supply recently if thats your cup of tea though
I managed to grab the last 29er HT in a decent size form Merlin’s in-house brand, Sensa, last week. Was 15% discounted too 😁
Bricking it in case I lose a bike (scrotes, frame failure etc.) as I know that replacement is not an option right now. Main bike is out of action long term because parts are stuck in customs... thanks stupids.
if thats your cup of tea though
This is the issue - you can buy bikes that fit the job but you pay full whack / have little choice at best and have to trawl around to find one.
Hopefully for the bike industry demand will stay a bit higher post-pandemic. If all the new cyclists stop riding there’ll be a surplus of used gear but also, what if people forced into not buying a new bike and keeping riding their old one, realise that they don’t need to frequently buy new bikes after all?
From that PinkBike article.
what if people forced into not buying a new bike and keeping riding their old one, realise that they don’t need to frequently buy new bikes after all?
Not gonna affect the average forum user here.
I'm in the position you fear, fasgadh - have a crack in my 8-year old carbon frame, with no route to getting a replacement part. Repair feels like something I don't really want, so it's new bike time.
Start looking for new bike, then...
Aahhhh.....
Depends on what you are after. I was recently looking for a short travel, top-end carbon bike... found quite a few Santa Cruz bikes in stock... a few different sizes too.
Full price of course!
How friendly are you with your LBS? If you're buying mid-range £1k to £2k you stand a better chance than the sub £1k stuff. There will be a waiting list, my Merida was asked for in late December and arrived in late February. I also put money down to ensure that it was held while the full price was drawn down from savings.
Hopefully for the bike industry demand will stay a bit higher post-pandemic. If all the new cyclists stop riding there’ll be a surplus of used gear but also, what if people forced into not buying a new bike and keeping riding their old one, realise that they don’t need to frequently buy new bikes after all?
Utter madness! You do realise a bike over 24 months old is statistically more dangerous than an item of medieval siege weaponry. The responsible thing to do is demand slightly more than top dollar for it on the bay of eee and then spend a considerable chunk of your remaining wealth/credit/C2W voucher on a new version of the same thing...
Society, the economy and baby robins faces will all be irreparably damaged if people don't keep up the cycle of buying and replacing bicycles within 2 years...
But yep OP just Carry on riding whatever you have now if it's working, maybe stock up on gear cables, tubes, sealant, mech hangers, brake pads, brake fluid, chains, cassettes maybe a spare tyre? if you're worried about being left bike less by some sort of failure (these are the items most likely to prevent you riding TBH)...
There are bikes available but you need to be in the right place, at the right time and ready to buy. I picked up a new one this month on C2W and was expecting just to have to pick whatever came up. Luckily for me the bike I wanted became available and stayed in stock long enough for me to sort the paperwork so it is possible.
Either set up stock alerts with the online big boys or leave details with the local shops. Wheelbase in Ilkley told me they are getting bits of stock in all the time but it'll be a few of this, few of that so you need to drop lucky. Seems better to stick to the main outlets for each brand too as unfortunately they bag the stock before it gets to the smaller independents. Wheelbase are a main Cannondale dealer so that's what they were getting. They also stock other brands but not as a flagship store so they couldn't say when they'd get any in.
There may be a few stuck in the Suez canal no help to you saying that the Treks I ordered were not that late supercaliber came in early by couple of weeks.
I agree that the likes of wheelbase etc may get priority on some brands. Bikes however are still some way off as we’re effectively waiting for 2022 models.
Google will send browsers to the same dozen or so big online sellers.
If you’re after a bike now there’s plenty hiding in small LBS’s who may not have a massive online presence or even a website showing stock levels.
Slash 2021 frame in the stand at my local being built today...
Zebs, DT carbon wheels, tyres, drivetrain all bought last few months
Depends what you are after. Plenty of Specialized status about as they aren't advertised online. Need to ring round.
Try brink and spesh concept stores. They had S3 and S4 in both colours at various outlets a few weeks back.
I've been asking around a bit lately as both my boys (10 and 11) have outgrown their 24"ers. Very little stock of decent 27.5 hardtails in the £500-£1000 range but they do seem to be coming in in dribs and drabs. Plan ahead and make friends with as many bike shop owners/workers as you can!
Google will send browsers to the same dozen or so big online sellers.
This is only an issue when looking for a specific bike, instead just search for LBS within an area you're willing to travel and then see if they have a site or call them and see what they had in stock. Few shops around me that dont have a great web presence but have a FB page have new bikes rolling in quite frequently that are available and on the shop floor, not a pre order theyve waited ages for.
Depends what you want/need/can afford.
Cotic have plenty of stock on various frames as do Geometron.
The trick is to buy frame and fork and move your existing parts over or build up yourself with parts sourced from different places.
I have already done this once this year when I built my eldest a bike and I'm about to do it again for a bike for myself...
“what if people forced into not buying a new bike and keeping riding their old one, realise that they don’t need to frequently buy new bikes after all?”
“Not gonna affect the average forum user here.”
This is so true. 😂
Different brands will come into stock at different times, Saracen had all their new Ariels in recently good value too. You'll just need to keep looking.
i just waited till a new bike that met my desires was announced (in my case, saracen ariel 30) and bought it on that day. They don't tend to announce bikes without stock, and no-ones bought them all yet
https://vitusbikes.com/pages/2021-vitus-bikes-stock-availability
Regular drops, you'll have to be watching chainreaction like a hawk.
If you want a new red 2021 Vitus Nucleus VRS 29 I know of one unridden thats going up for sale.
Watch the MTB buy and sell pages on facebook, I've seen lots of lockdown whim buys go on there hardly used.
Regular drops, you’ll have to be watching chainreaction like a hawk.
Why, just setup an email stock alert on the product(s) you want.
Yeh Stanton and On One have got stock too.
I’ve had a stock alert set up for a while on medium Vitus Escarpe CRS and CRXs. Had a ping yesterday afternoon on email. Saw it 30 mins after being sent and whatever was there had gone already. Some L and XLs but they went within another 30 mins or so.
Got another stock alert ping this morning which I saw 20 mins after it was sent. Managed to bag a CRX! It said there were 3 in stock when I got it. Another 20 mins later, all gone again.
So defo worth setting up stock alerts but even then, you’ll need to jump on it straight away!
