Finding A Salsa Bike

Please note: This post was updated on March 9, 2021

If you’ve shopped around for a new bike recently, you might have noticed that inventory can be a little hit-or-miss. We could get into the finer points of navigating global supply chains, but we’ll just hit a few of the highlights for you so that you can go for a ride instead.

What’s going on?

People are looking for responsible ways to get outside during the pandemic and we are thankful that the bicycle has been an outlet for so many during this time. While brands across the industry are bringing in more bikes than ever, there are simply not enough to satisfy the total need at the moment due to a few major factors:

Increased lead times for components - As all bike companies rush to meet the increased demand, component manufacturers are struggling to keep up. The smallest part can hold up the assembly of complete bikes and cause a ripple effect of delays. Lack of availability usually leads brands to make parts substitutions; however, all small parts suppliers are in the same boat right now, making sourcing a challenge for everyone.

Factory capacity - Sudden surges in demand increase the need for supply but the factories that produce parts and frames can’t scale up overnight. To make matters more difficult, COVID-19 shut down many factories for months, creating a lengthy backlog. Because bicycles are often made up of parts that come from various countries, this presents a challenge that leads to exponential growth in lead times.

Containers - The global supply chain is facing a shipping container shortage. These containers are how components and frames make it to factories and assemblers, and how finished bicycles make it to their destinations. A lack of containers leads to delays in product freight, creating additional challenges. When shipping complete product to destination countries, bike companies now have to plan strategically around having more bicycles than shipping containers.

Timeline shifts - Small parts availability, tracking down substitute parts, container delays, factory capacity—these things are dynamic and can lead to timeline shifts. We will likely continue to see shifting delivery dates as we work hard to bring inventory to market.

I want XXX bike! What can I do?

Given the surge in demand and challenges in the supply chain, please know that we are doing what we can to support our committed Salsa retailers and get you the bicycle you’re looking for! We do our best to ensure that we’ll have bikes on retail floors at the time of launch, but given the supply chain challenges mentioned above, we expect that inventory will arrive in multiple shipments this year. This means that some of our retail partners may not receive inventory in the first shipments.

While the situation may sound dire, there are bicycles out there! If you need help tracking one down, read on for some resources for finding a Salsa to take you on your next Adventure by Bike.

Bike Inventory Online – Every model page on our website has a feature that lets you see which retailers near you have that particular model in stock and in your size. If your preferred retailer doesn’t have what you’re looking for, it may arrive in a later shipment. Be patient and continue to check back in with the retailer, as we do our best to keep them updated on when bikes will arrive. If you are trying to get a bike as soon as possible, use the Bike Inventory Online tool to search other cities, states, or ZIP codes for shops with inventory—our Adventure At Your Doorstep program means that select Salsa retailers can ship a Salsa bike or frame right to your door.

You can find a full list of authorized Salsa retailers here.

Check Retailer Websites – While most of our retailers are enrolled in our Bike Inventory Online tool, not all of them are, so the inventory you see there may not represent all available inventory. If you find a retailer that doesn’t show inventory of a certain product, please visit that retailer's website to verify their inventory. We’ve also seen retailers showcase their current stock on social media and post when they get a new shipment of bikes in, so tune in to their social channels for the latest.

Call Retailers – Not finding the information you’re looking for online? Contact retailers directly by phone to verify inventory quickly and efficiently. Keep in mind that most retailers are extremely busy and the staff may be dealing with customers outside or in the middle of a repair and unable to answer your call right away. Rest assured that they’d like to sell you a bike just as much as you want to buy one, and try calling again later. A little patience goes a long way with overwhelmed staff.

A word to the wise: Some of our retail partners are designated Adventure Centers and carry more inventory than others. These are the retailers most likely to have your dream bike in stock if your local retailers don’t.

If the bike you’re looking for is truly out of stock everywhere you look, don’t give up hope. We have new models on the way that will hit retail floors throughout 2021. With demand at a record high, your best opportunity is to stay connected with our Bike Inventory Online tool and our Salsa retailer base in the coming months.

As always, thanks for your support.

The Salsa Crew