Road Cycling - Shimano Shortages?

Dissapointed I found out that I will have to wait a few weeks for my new Trek 5200. :( According to my LBS there is a shortage on Shimano parts especially the new Dura-Ace. (I was considering the 5500 but was told end of April on that model because they cant get Dura Ace )He seems to think that Europe is getting first dibs on parts because of weakness in the US dollar. Any one have any similar experience with delayed deliveries?

According to my LBS there is a shortage on Shimano parts especially the new Dura-Ace.

I wonder if a shortage is due to a ramped-down production or ramped-up demand. I hope it's the latter as that would indicate that interest in cycling is somewhat on the rise.

I read in a cycling mag that Shimano announced that the demand is up to five times what is was last year.

I think the attempt at the 6th TdF for LA is a big factor in the additional interest. That and Tyler Hamilton's heroic(?) run in last years TdF.

I think the attempt at the 6th TdF for LA is a big factor in the additional interest. That and Tyler Hamilton's heroic(?) run in last years TdF.

Are you applying the demand to just Shimano or cycling in general? I have to wonder how many people really know/care that Lance and Tyler used Shimano components on their bikes besides those who are already cyclists.

Dissapointed I found out that I will have to wait a few weeks for my new Trek 5200. :( According to my LBS there is a shortage on Shimano parts especially the new Dura-Ace. (I was considering the 5500 but was told end of April on that model because they cant get Dura Ace )He seems to think that Europe is getting first dibs on parts because of weakness in the US dollar. Any one have any similar experience with delayed deliveries?

Here is the text of a short article in Bicycle Retailer: http://www.bicycleretailer.com/bicycleretailer/headlines/article_display.jsp?vnu_content_id=1000459769 which basically says the European brands ordered first and ordered a bunch. Even U.S. companies like TREK were caught by surprise. All that plus the demand for all bikes seems to be up by quite a bit world-wide.

plus the demand for all bikes seems to be up by quite a bit world-wide.

Cool. Maybe we are headed for another bike boom. Hopefully, this one won't be stopped cold by an oil embargo like last time.

why would an oil embargo stop a bicycle boom? lube? there are ways around that methinks...and anyway, cars use a ton more oil than bicycles, if anything an oil embargo should increase interest in cycling...but that would be logical, and eveyone knows how logical the human race is...at least the american contingent anyway...

why would an oil embargo stop a bicycle boom? lube? there are ways around that methinks...and anyway, cars use a ton more oil than bicycles, if anything an oil embargo should increase interest in cycling...but that would be logical, and eveyone knows how logical the human race is...at least the american contingent anyway...

The bike boom from 1971 to 1973 was fueled by young, health concious americans with disposable income. The oil embargo hit in mid '73, the economy tanked, and people stopped buying "unnesessary" luxury items like bicycles. But you are right, it does seem silly because a bicycle would be the perfect way to get around during an oil shortage.

the European brands ordered first and ordered a bunch.

I wonder what that means for Campy?

the gossip at the lbs is that giant , not the europeans were ordering a ton.

i like campy better anyway :)