Improvise. Adapt. Overcome: B&M
It’s probably not escaped your attention that the bike industry is booming. It’s been both a good and a bad thing. On one hand, many people are discovering the simple joy of riding a bike off road. At the same time though, supply of anything bike related is struggling. Getting your hands on something as trivial as a chain involves calling every single bike shop in the country to track one down.
It’s refreshing and interesting then to see Santa Cruz talking openly about the issues they’re having and what the outlook for the future is. Unfortunately though, the take home message is that it’s going to be a while before things to return to normal (a saying we’re all too familiar with).
I feel that mountain bikers are probably some of the best equipped people to deal with this however. Our sport was started by some bold beings taking some unsuitable bikes on unsuitable tracks, seeing how they did and modifying/bodging them to make them better. Bodging is a rite of passage for mountain bikers, whether that’s running the wrong speed chain or gaffer taping pivot bolts in place (both of which I have done).
It’s this love of a bodge that makes me think that we will romp through this parts shortage. Furthermore, I think the bike industry will come out of it better, with more ‘refined’ bikes and even more people riding them.
HG
