Some of the world’s largest bicycle manufacturers are considering restructuring their supply chains due to delays in parts delivery, which some manufacturers believe is the longest in decades.

Since last year, the global bicycle shortage has been exacerbated by supply problems, which have highlighted reliance on a set of parts, namely Shimano of Japan, which controls 65% of the high-end gear and brake market.

Eric Bjorling, brand director of Trek in the United States, one of the world’s largest bicycle manufacturers, said: “This has prompted us to move around and get out of our comfort zone to explore different suppliers.”

European and American manufacturers said that the delivery time from order to delivery for a series of high-end parts produced by Shimano has reached 400 days, which highlights the industry’s attempts to cope with the pressure of the surge in bicycle demand caused by the pandemic.

Some suppliers report longer lead times for certain parts (such as hydraulic brakes or wheels).

The tightening of the supply chain has also hit other leading bicycle manufacturers, such as Taiwan’s Giant and Merida.

Osaka Shimano, which produces fishing parts, rowing equipment, and bicycle parts, has been struggling to keep up with the development of demand, and the pandemic has pushed millions of people around the world to start riding bicycles.

Even if the Shimano plant runs at full capacity, the shortage will continue.

For smaller bicycle manufacturers, the problem is more serious, and the extremely long delivery time presents a challenge for anyone new to the market.

The launch of LeMond, a startup founded by three-time Tour de France champion Greg LeMond, was delayed by four months due to supply delays, including Shimano in Reduced deliveries by 80% in the first half of this year.

“Someone told us that summer will be December and then January. In March, we have everything else except these two parts. Unfortunately, if I don’t have all the bicycles, then I can’t make bicycles. “CEO Dean Hendrickson said. “This leads to cash flow problems for startups.”

Antonio Dus, CEO of Italian high-end bicycle manufacturer Cicli Pinarello, said that the main question facing companies like him is whether demand will continue in the long run.

Some component manufacturers worry that once the depleted inventory in the warehouse becomes full again, the drop in orders may cause problems.

Davide Campagnolo’s eponymous company has increased its production capacity in Europe to meet the demand for the gear set that Shimano is trying to deliver.

He predicts that as indoor sports make a full comeback, the market will absorb a large number of bicycles, and this kind of sports will decline in the summer of 2023.

According to Morten Paulsen, a Japanese industrial analyst at CLSA in Tokyo, for Shimano, despite the increase in revenue from bicycle parts, the pressure is still evident.

The company postponed the release of several products to commemorate this year’s 100th birthday. Paulson said this may be because engineers had to turn to the challenge of improving capabilities.

Cicli Pinarello’s Dus warned Shimano needs to be more competitive, although he believes that the company’s leadership in the supply chain is solid due to the quality of parts and high barriers to entry.

He said: “The key to the future is for Shimano to connect with the brand in a faster and leaner way, and to understand trends in advance to plan the adjustments needed.