It’s disappointing that Century Cycles had to cancel its Towpath Trail Night Ride, original scheduled for this weekend. But you can take that and other rides on your own (They’ve even got a menu on their website with places to ride). They — and all bike shops in Ohio — were allowed to keep their three stores open to provide “essential transportation.” They took strict safety measures to ensure customers’ health and safety, including suspending bike rentals Those have now been resumed, although they’re still maintaining such measures as deep cleaning, wearing masks and limiting traffic inside the shops.
But they warn, “The bike industry is facing a massive shortage of bicycles, parts, and accessories. This is due to a “perfect storm” of events. During the past couple of years, many manufacturers cut back production by 25-30% due to uncertainty related to the current U.S. administration’s trade war. At the beginning of this year, many of their factories were shut down due to coronavirus counter-measures in Asia. This spring, with the stay-at-home order shutting down theaters, restaurants, bowling alleys, and many other places that people typically enjoy recreation, an unprecedented number of people are returning to bicycling or taking it up for the first time. In addition, many essential workers in other industries are turning to bicycling as a safer alternative to carpooling or public transportation to get to their jobs.”
They say that now they’re beginning to get shipments of both parts and bicycles and their mechanics are busy assembling bikes and restoring old bikes people are digging out of their garages for the first time in a decade and they’re currently able to fill most requests. Most of their inventory is available for purchase online with pick-up at one of their locations.
Peninsula, OH 44264
Rocky River, OH 44116
Medina, OH 44256