Regardless of whether it is used as a means of transport or as a piece of sports equipment, the bicycle is becoming increasingly popular.
At the moment it is not that easy to buy a bike.
Bicycle enthusiasts in the district have to be prepared for long waiting times.
District
- A combination of high demand and delivery difficulties makes buying a bike much more difficult at the moment, explains Georg Mayer, owner of the Tandem bike shop in Schongau. He had "sold as much within four months as otherwise in a year". However, this means that the inventory is greatly reduced during the remaining months, according to Mayer - it is simply not delivered as quickly as it is sold.
Tillman Wahlefeld, owner of the “Zeitlosmobil” bicycle shop in Weilheim, nevertheless recommends not to give up the search too early. He encourages bicycle buyers to ask in many different shops: “We all have to work together to get bikes on the streets.” Even specialist dealers find it difficult to get spare parts at the moment. That is why Wahlefeld offers to professionally install parts that customers have ordered online in their workshop. This allows cyclists to search for parts independently and perhaps increase their chances of success.
Because of the corona pandemic, leisure activities are significantly limited.
But “cycling is always possible in lockdown,” explains Wahlefeld.
Of course, this increases the demand a lot.
If the beer gardens and cinemas open again now, this could perhaps reduce the previously immense demand again.
But there are also campaigns such as the Weilheim “Stadtradeln” (city cycling), in which citizens are made aware of the potential of bicycles in the fight against climate change.
With increased environmental awareness, the popularity of the bicycle continues to rise.
Georg Mayer from the “Tandem” store in Schongau also describes how a shortage of raw materials and delivery difficulties are a concern for manufacturers and thus also for local dealers.
That too has in part to do with the corona pandemic.
According to Mayer, many bicycle parts are supplied from the Asian continent.
According to Mayer, many bicycle parts are transported to Germany, especially from India.
The new delta variant of the corona virus is particularly raging there, which makes delivery much more difficult at the moment, because it also affects trade connections.
All in all, this means long waiting times for those interested in cycling in the district.
The demand for e-bikes and mountain bikes is particularly high.
Georg Mayer, bike dealer from Schongau, reports that almost every second bike that is sold in his shop now has an electric drive.
The majority of the non-electric bikes he sells are mountain bikes.
The Penzberg dealer recommends ordering new bikes in good time
Alexander Gstrein, owner of the Penzberg bicycle shop “Radlflüsterer”, recommends that buying a bicycle should be just as thoughtful as buying a new car.
It is important to plan ahead.
The best way to get a bike in March is to order it in September.
According to Gstrein, a solution to the shortage of new bicycles does not seem to be in sight for the time being.
He estimates that it could take up to four years for production to adjust to the huge surge in demand.
Until then, all the hard-working cyclists in the district will have to be patient.
Hannah Beck
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