By Jed Lanyon
Australia will hit a new all-time record of 1.75 million bicycles imported into the country in a single 12 month period.
Based on historical trends and ABS import data, a new record of 1.75 million bicycles will enter our ports by 30 June to be sold in bicycle shops and retailers.
The bicycle industry association’s Peter Bourke predicted the ‘Covid dividend’ for bike sales as Australians chose to ride in unprecedented numbers has resulted in a 50 per cent increase in sales across the board.
“Bicycle sales throughout Covid were fantastic, emptying shops and warehouses alike and we expect that demand to drive this new 2020/21 financial year import record of 1.75 million units.
“It seems Australians voted for bike riding during Covid and visited bike shops with the entire family, leaving with new bikes for everyone or getting their old bikes from the shed repaired and ready for riding.
“Those supply chain issues in 2020 that caused significant shortages of stock across the board are still being felt with very low floor stock available nationally and long wait lists, something that will take many months to resolve but makes this new record all the more remarkable,” Mr Bourke said.
And it’s not just bikes flying out the doors.
“Sales of spare parts such as tyres and tubes, lights, frames and forks have all increased by 50 per cent while repair shops had wait lists of several weeks as people pulled their old bikes out of the shed and realise they need some repairs to get them going again,” Mr Bourke said.
He said many of the bikes were used near home during the lockdown restrictions but are now being used to provide genuine transport solutions as people have headed back the office and looked for healthy, convenient and Covid-safe commuting options.
And the sport’s popularity is clear in the Yarra Ranges as owner of Ride Time Yarra Valley, Matt Swann, said he saw the spike in sales in the local market.
“Our Lilydale store has seen an enormous jump in sales over the last 12 months and it’s all sorts of bikes too. Not just family bikes, it’s high end bikes, electric bikes, gravel bikes, everything is booming. It’s certainly not just the cycling enthusiasts buying bikes, it’s everybody.
“I don’t think anybody saw this coming. Last March, when the pandemic first started, obviously for a few weeks everybody was extremely nervous and all of a sudden when those first lockdowns happened it (sales) just exploded.”
And with the increase in cycling, Mr Swann now wants to see government investment in the infrastructure for the sport.
“We probably won’t see the same trajectory or growth in the next 12 months but the most important thing now for the industry and government is to make sure we’re growing infrastructure for cycling recreationally,” he said.
“Mountain bike projects designated for the Yarra Valley and Victoria really need to be brought to the forefront so they can be completed as soon as possible because all these people want to get out and ride their bikes and there’s just not the facilities to use them.
“It’s a great, happy, healthy pastime for people and it needs to be supported so people don’t hang up their bike in six months time.”
