While coronavirus lockdown habits like sourdough-baking and pasta-making may have fallen by the wayside as restrictions ease, the surge in people who took up cycling shows no signs of slowing down.
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So much so that Darren Symons is struggling to keep up with the sustained demand.
The ACT Bike Superstore managing director said the heightened increase in interest in cycling, along with delays getting in stock from overseas, had led to many seeking a new set of wheels walking away empty-handed.
"There's been a surge since March, to the point where there is almost no stock left in the country," Mr Symons said.
"I've never seen the warehouse so empty."
While winter would normally be a quiet time of year for new bike sales, Mr Symons said sales have tripled in recent months with stock being relied on by the store to get through the colder months also gone.
"I've never seen anything like it. There's practically no sub-$1000 bikes left."
It's a similar situation to that faced by Trek Bicycle's Australian retail manager George Bunt, who said sales at Canberra stores had increased by 100 per cent compared to the same time period last year.
"With supply on the whole, when there is such a significant increase in demand, staying on top is always a challenge," he said.
"There's been a couple of factors behind the surge. During the height of the crisis, cycling was one of the few things you could still do and you could stay fit."
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While sales surged in the wake of lockdown measures being enacted earlier this year, Canberra cyclists say they have continued to notice more bikes on roads and cycle paths as restrictions begin to be relaxed.
Cycling ACT executive director Neil Skipper said it was reassuring to see high levels of demand for cycling being sustained during recent months.
"I've been riding on Canberra tracks for 45 years, and with the numbers of people on the tracks now, I have never seen it be that busy," Mr Skipper said.
"At the Stromlo Forest Park on the weekend, it's amazing to see the car park overflowing with cyclists."
Mr Skipper said many in their 20s and 30s had taken up cycling again during the lockdown period as a form of exercise and stuck with it.
Pedal Power ACT chief executive Ian Ross said while many had taken up cycling for health reasons during lockdown, it wasn't just about fitness.
He said it was a way for people to more easily carry out social distancing measures while commuting to work, rather than share a space with people on buses or light rail.
"It's easy to maintain social distance from other people while riding. There's the potential for cycling to provide a COVID-safe travel method that's attractive to people," Mr Ross said.
"I'm not surprised that people who picked up cycling in lockdown are continuing to cycle."
While those keen for a new bike may have difficulties buying one for the near future, Mr Symons said he hoped supply would be restored soon.
Andrew Brown
I've been part of the Canberra Times since 2016, after reporting at local papers in Sydney's north-west. Since starting at the paper I've had stints on the Sunday Times, on the early morning breaking news round, and now as a general reporter, covering the ins and outs of anything and everything happening in Canberra, with a focus on health.
I've been part of the Canberra Times since 2016, after reporting at local papers in Sydney's north-west. Since starting at the paper I've had stints on the Sunday Times, on the early morning breaking news round, and now as a general reporter, covering the ins and outs of anything and everything happening in Canberra, with a focus on health.
