No bike sales in the local bike store until May 11...

Specialist bike shops may and should continue to repair bicycles to maintain the mobility of the population since the start of the coronavirus restrictions. However, the showrooms in the specialist stores must be closed and on-site bicycle sales in the store are not permitted. In this sales waiting loop, specialist retailers must also be patient until May 11.

By May 27, DIY and hobby stores can benefit from the easing of the lockdown and resume their business activities, just like hairdressers or tattoo studios, for example. In order to prevent distortion of competition, the 2RadSchweiz association has worked to ensure that a product range restriction is implemented in DIY and hobby stores. On May 24, 2RadSchweiz was also able to announce that this had been successful. However, a spokesperson for the Federal Office of Public Health takes the opposite view, stating that there are no product range restrictions in DIY stores, writes the NZZ today.

... vs. bike sales in DIY stores from April 27

The situation on the ground also looks different: Martin Platter, Managing Director of the Velosuisse association, took a look around the Cham, Affoltern and Obfelden region. Platter particularly noticed that the Coop and Hobby in Cham, as well as Jumbo Affoltern, sell the entire product range including bikes, e-bikes, helmets and accessories as normal.

The situation is the opposite at Landi in Obfelden, where Platter reports that the product range is restricted and bike and scooter sales are closed. Platter also sees product range restrictions at Aldi in Cham. At Bike World in Affoltern and M-Way in Zugerland, the workshop is open but sales are closed. At Do It Zugerland, Platter reports the sale of tools and accessories such as locks and child seats, but there are no bike sales. Platter was faced with closed doors at SportXX Zugerland and Ochsner Sport in Affoltern and Zug. However, Platter didn't experience a huge rush in the bike departments during his local visits, and he says: "The queues in front of the DIY stores with garden departments were sometimes very time-consuming. I didn't notice a run on the bikes and parts."Generally speaking, DIY store bike departments are not involved in the high-end bike segment. In the area of children's and entry-level bikes, DIY stores and specialist retailers sometimes compete with each other.