Soaring global demand leads to shortage of bicycles in Maine

PORTLAND PRESS HERALD • March 25, 2021

A year after bicycles became one of the hottest items for the pandemic consumer, a fractured supply chain and persistent demand are creating massive shortages of new bikes and bike parts that could last years. U.S. bicycle sales jumped 50 percent in 2020 from the year before. Almost nine out of 10 U.S. bike shops have less than half their normal inventory, and in some cases they have less than 20 percent. Manufacturers expect shortages in the market until 2023.