CHICAGO (WBBM NEWSRADIO) — While most people have been staying at home for the past couple of months — for the most part — bicycle sales have been on their way up.
"Demand has definitely increased," says Lesley Tweedie.
Her Roscoe Village Bikes shop is open fewer days and fewer hours (by appointment only), yet is selling as many or more bicycles than usual.
There's a big demand for boys' bikes, possibly because so many organized sports activities have been canceled for the spring and summer, she said.
She adds: "We are seeing demand for people who haven't biked in a while and are thinking about when they do return to work that they'd like to be able to avoid public transportation and have another way to get around."
The bike shop owner says some models of bicycles are difficult to get because the supply chain has been turned upside down.
"Normally, there's kind of a sweet spot, I would say, in the $400 to $600 range," Tweedie said. "Right now, we're finding it harder and harder to find things in that range, especially women's bikes."
She's seeing more families biking on streets together because there seems to be fewer cars out. She hopes that will continue once the stay-at-home order is lifted.
For now, she's selling accessories, such as helmets, outside her store. Purchases are occurring after a series of back-and-forth emails between customers and the shop about what the rider is looking for in a helmet.
When the store reopens under fewer restrictions, Tweedie envisions a cap on the number of customers allowed inside. And they'll have to make social-distancing accommodations for employees who work on bikes.
