Finding a bike proving to be more difficult than ever during pandemic

Looking for a new set of wheels to take your biking to the next level?

If you don’t have one in the garage to dust off, you might have to do more looking than normal, as the need for bicycles has many left many people without a ride.

“Never would have thought in a million years you would have trouble finding a bike,” Jason Milhoan said.

Jason Milhoan felt like many have, hoping to take advantage of the great outdoors. The problem is, when he went to three big box retailers, their shelves were empty.

“I just wanted to find things online, I have not been in a store since the pandemic started and I didn’t want to go now,” Bonnie Welch said.

Bonnie Welch was in search of some new wheels as well, so she went online where she traded two of her old bikes for a new one, and avoided any major costs.

“I just looked on Facebook Marketplace, plus they were so expensive in the stores and there’s nothing wrong with the one’s I have,” Welch added.

Jason and Bonnie both found bikes for their families, but both had to travel almost an hour to meet with the seller.

While they both saved cash shopping this way, bike shops that are up and running is another option.

“The bikes that we carry, yeah they’re not the cheapest ones out there but in the long run it’s going to save you money,” KLM Rochester Hills manager Rivers Whitson said.

KLM Bikes & Fitness, like every other bike store, has been a busy place since they reopened. Manager Rivers Whitson understands that stores like his bikes aren’t for everyone’s budget, but suggests spending a little more up front to protect your investment.

“You get these bikes from the department stores that are two-three hundred dollars and they have such affordable parts on them, that they really don’t last even with proper maintenance, you might get a year or two out of them,” Whitson added.

Some tips if you do decide to make an online purchase, choose to meet at a public location, maybe even a bike shop. For a nominal fee, they’ll take a look at the bike and give it a tune up, that way you - and your new ride - are both safe to enjoy the outdoors.