Supply chain backups are causing bike price hikes

Experts say prices for newer bikes can be 15 to 20 percent higher.

LINCOLN, Neb. (KLKN) — When the weather gets warmer, a lot of people want to spend time outside.

If riding a bike is one of them, prices are skyrocketing right now.

Experts say prices for newer bikes can be 15 to 20 percent higher.

Supply chain backups are causing a shortage of these bikes and their parts.

Denny LaDue owns The Used Bike Shop in Lincoln. He said at the start of the pandemic, sales soared and his inventory was cleared out.

“I haven’t been able to get more than one or two at a time new ones for over a year and a half,” said LaDue. “The supply chain has just been overwhelmed.”

As the supply chain tries to rebound, LaDue says he has to turn customers away because new and quality used bikes are harder to come by.

Now, he says more people are digging out their older bikes for repairs.

“There aren’t new bikes available,” said LaDue. ” “They want to go out and ride and do something, and they’ve got an old bike they haven’t ridden for 20 or 30 years. So they decide we’re going to fix this up and ride it.”

LaDue says most of his work focuses on tune-ups and repairing bikes that clients bring in.