SO YOU WANT TO BUY A NEW BIKE?
By Drew Ellison
January, 2022 published in February 2022 BIKES Newsletter
You may be thinking it’s time to get a new bike. After all, it’s probably been a few years on your current bike and there have been some new developments in the design of bikes.
Some high end road bikes are now going to 12 speeds in the rear. And the chainrings are getting smaller, so between the two, we have easier gears to get up those hills which our aging legs don’t do quite as easily anymore. Or maybe you’re intrigued by 1x (called One-By) drivetrains which have a single chainring up front. There’s only one shifter to work and no front derailleur to rub on the chain. Sounds kinda nice, eh? Maybe you’re aware that the trend to wider tires and built in suspension will do wonders for comfort on those rides over Skagit Valley chipseal (not to mention all the ruts in the Burke-Gilman trail). Oh, the thought of a little more comfort is enticing.
You are aware, of course, the bike industry has been dealing with supply chain interruption for the last couple of years and there just haven't been many bikes available for sale. You’ve heard rumors that there are getting to be lots of bikes in the stores again so maybe it IS time to get a new bike.
So let’s go shopping! Wondering what you’ll find in the bike stores? Here are some things you will want to be prepared for.
1) Higher prices! Since bikes have started appearing in shops again the last few months, prices across the board have gone up 15-25%. That sweet $2,000 road bike you had your eye on a couple of years ago will now cost you around $2,500.
2) Even though the sales floor may be full of bikes for sale, they may not have what you’re looking for. Some brands, models, and component groups are nowhere to be seen. You had your eye on that nice carbon Trek Domane before the pandemic hit? Better be prepared to wait another 12-18 months. But there sure are a lot of hybrid bikes on the sales floor if that’s what you’re looking for.
3) A longer time waiting at the store for assistance. Like a lot of other business segments, bike shops are short staffed and are having trouble hiring knowledgeable employees. So the employee that assists you may not have all the answers to all your questions off the top of his/her head. Please be patient with your sales person.
SO WHAT’S A GOOD STRATEGY TO FINDING MY NEW BIKE!??!?
1) Do lots of your own online research. The manufacturer’s websites are an amazing (if not biased) source of information. They can help you decide which of their models are a best fit for the type of riding you want to do. (Of course, this assumes you know what kind of riding you want to do. If you don’t, then that’s another topic for another day.) And then there are lots of review sites and online forums where you can spend thousands of hours reading thousands of opinions about thousands of bikes. So here’s a time saving tip: you don’t have to read everything on the internet.
2) Be prepared to look at brands you may not have considered. You may not be able to get that Specialized Diverge anytime soon - maybe Giant or Norco has an equivalent model available now.
3) Even if you don’t think you want a bike until later this Spring or Summer, start shopping now. Bike shops may or may not know what bikes are coming in the next few months. If they do have access to that kind of information, they may or may not be willing to take your name (and money) against a future delivery.
4) Be prepared for a changing supply chain. Sometimes the shops are told what’s coming in when, and then it all changes. This is usually not the fault of the shops. So please don’t get upset with the minimum wage bike salesperson (like me!) when we have to deliver some bad news about your new bike order being delayed a few months.
5) When you have decided on what bike you want and which shop you’re going to buy it from, ask the salesperson “What can I do to get my new bike as soon as possible? Can I put down a deposit? Should I order it directly from the manufacturer and have it shipped here? Can I put my name on a waiting list? Can I give you a big box of chocolates?”
6) Take notes on all the models you looked at or the salesperson talked to you about, and then go back to step 1 and start the process again.
7) Repeat until you get your new bike!
SOMETIMES THIS HAPPENS!!!!
This is still an occurrence: a customer will walk into a shop, find a bike, test ride it, love it, and buy it. All on a Saturday afternoon, just like the old days! It happens and it could happen to you. But it doesn’t happen as much as it used to. So shop early and shop often, and it will increase your chances of getting that new dream bike sooner.
With perseverance and patience, you’ll get your new bike this year. Just remember to always smile when you ride and wave to your fellow cyclists.
