"I would like exactly this model, in this configuration, and only in this color". This precise concert of wishes remains difficult in the bicycle industry. This is because dozens of manufacturers from numerous countries are involved on the production side before a bike reaches the customer. Downstream is the logistics chain, which also has to contend with the numerous hurdles of a global economy in pandemic mode.

However, when window shopping in two large Swiss cities, I found myself pressing my nose against the store windows of bike stores in particular. The good news - although certainly not representative - was that the showrooms were well stocked with new bikes in almost all cases. In the summer of 2021, this looked much sparser in many places, with the platforms in many bike stores standing empty from June to October.

And then the change: in November and December 2021, many specialist retailers brought Christmas forward: Bikes that had been on order for several months, in most cases for more than a year, finally arrived. Retailers who have shopped wisely should probably make it through the 2022 season well in terms of bike sales.

Don't hesitate, strike now

Europe's largest two-wheeler purchasing association, ZEG in Cologne, has also announced that dealers are doing well. ZEG is also active on the Swiss market, for example with brands such as Bulls. And in 2017, the e-bike pioneer Flyer rolled into the purchasing association's portfolio. Franz Tepe, Head of Marketing at ZEG, even states that the supply situation is much less dramatic than portrayed by the media.

Tepe also gives tips: People should not delay buying a bike, he says. If you are about to buy a new bike, you should take advantage of the winter months and benefit from the restocked warehouses. Buying a bike is like buying a service: it's best not to wait until spring, but to go to a specialist dealer now. Many bike stores will thank you with a good selection of bikes and service offers with reduced prices and very short waiting times.