Demand for bicycles has soared in Europe during the coronavirus pandemic, but conversely the global supply is at record low levels, with consumers having to wait months or over a year for their bike of choice.
Bikes are projected to outsell cars in Europe by two to one by 2030.
But 2021 will not be an easy year to buy a bike in many European countries, especially if you have a particular model in mind.
Firstly, there’s been a huge surge in demand for bikes during the pandemic, as Europeans looked for ways to stay fit and move around more freely without having to worry about being exposed to Covid-19 on public transport.
On the flipside, bike production in China, which supplies almost the entire the global market, has practically ground to a halt.
The same can be said for bicycle accesories and components, which are either not being produced in Chinese factories currently or held up for months in ports in Asia due to the reduction of capacity in shipping.
In this short report, video producer Alex Dunham explores the issue of Europe’s bike shortage in 2021.
