Bicycle Shortages Plague Nation During Pandemic

In May the NYTimes had a features story titled Thinking of Buying a Bike? Get Ready for a Very Long Wait.

May 18, 2020 - The United States is facing a shortage of bicycles as anxiety over public transportation and a desire to exercise has sent the demand surging.

In June, an Associated Press story said that people have been buying up bicycles like toilet paper, leaving stores cleaned out. Part of this is due to fitness freaks locked out of gyms, but also due to people wanting to commute and do social distancing. It's the biggest spike in bike sales since the 1970s oil crisis.

Painting by Adam Swanson

MPR had a July story that was headlined, "Sales boom, factory shutdowns leave bikes in short supply amid pandemic."

The story by Emily Bright included an anecdote about a woman in Plymouth, MN "who hadn’t owned a bike in years. But when the pandemic closed gyms and so many other parts of daily life, she started looking for a way to get outside and exercise with her two sons who still live at home."

If this describes you in any way, Carlton Bike Rental, located right on the Munger Bike Trail, still has bikes for rent and a repair shop if your dealing with an issue on one of the bikes you own.

ARE THE TRAILS ARE CALLING YOUR NAME?
Visit Carlton Bike Rental & Repair

I especially like their slogan: 

"Minnesota Starts Here."

https://carltonbikerental.com/