Bicycle sales soar during coronavirus pandemic as more people hit the road

WEYMOUTH — Cycling on your own or with your family, it seems bicycle riders from beginners to hard-core athletes are hitting the roads.

Jim Quinn owns the Bicycle Link in Weymouth. He said sales are off the charts.

“Some families are coming in and getting 2 or 3 bikes. The dad who hasn’t ridden in three decades is on a bike now,” Quinn said.

Quinn, who opened the Bicycle Link 33 years ago, told Boston 25 News that the last 30 days are the busiest he’s ever seen.

New bikes are selling out. His son, Ryan, is assembling more than a dozen a day.

Quinn said it’s nonstop.

“I try to do one an hour to keep me sane. If I do two an hour, I start going a little crazy,” he said.

Since it’s so busy, the shop is now closing early, but the work continues inside with repairs. People are bringing in bikes they haven’t used in years to be tuned up or repaired.

“Our service has also tripled right now. We’re closing at 4 p.m. these days, but the guys are staying in just turning the wrenches right now,” Quinn said.

Steve Carey does those repairs and tune ups. And he has a theory why 2-wheel bicycles are so popular.

“Boredom is setting in and you can’t go to the beach because you got no place to park but you can ride a bike,” he said.

Also, with fewer cars out cyclists have more open road to themselves, Quinn said. As an avid cyclist himself, he said that’s a good thing.

He hopes this spike in bike sales keeps rolling along, adding that it’s good for business but also good for all these new riders.

“I think they’ll be some people in really good shape because I am sure they’re riding more than they ever have,” he said.

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