Bathurst seeing boom in bikes sales since start of COVID-19 pandemic

Owner of the Durham Street store, Mark Renshaw, said sales have sky-rocketed in the past 12 months, but admits it's particularly hard to find stock due to the demand.

"In the previous 12 months compared to the 12 months before that, we've probably done about three times the sales," he said.

"Obviously, kids' bikes and that low end, entry level mountain bikes are the most popular bikes. There's been a huge boom.

READ MORE:

"But it's a double-edged sword as a store owner because it's very difficult to get product. Having enough stock is the key and that's a global problem, not just a problem out here.

"You had the ordeal with the boats in Suez Canal and there was bike products on there. There's been a heap of issues globally with getting stock in."

Mr Renshaw said a combination of the first COVID-19 lockdown and people eager to get outside and doing fitness has been two major contributions to the spike in bike sales.

"I think we saw a major shift during that first lockdown, where people couldn't go to the gym," he said. "They were at home with the kids but wanted to get out and they took the opportunity to shift towards cycling activity.

"There's no better activity then getting out on a bike. You go the furthest distance and see the most things, so all these factors combine to make bike sales shoot through the roof."

Mr Renshaw believes sales have slowed down slightly in recent months, but they aren't back to anything like pre-pandemic figures.

"It's only calmed down in the last month or two but we're still trading better than what we ever did before COVID-19," he said.

"All in all, it was slowed down but nothing back to what normal was when before we owned the store."

Mr Renshaw, alongside his wife Kristina, assumed ownership of the business in April last year, which was previously named Wheeler Cycles Bathurst.

To contact the Renshaw's Pedal Project team, call 6331 9661.

Our journalists work hard to provide local, up-to-date news to the community. This is how you can access our trusted content: