Nick Coy is a busy man these days. It’s a happy problem to have for an owner of a small business during the tough pandemic economy.

The Larsen’s Bicycles owner thinks social distancing has everything to do with the rush of business. “People need something fun to do and cycling is something you can do and and keep your distance from everybody. And something you can do as a family,” Coy said.

He has a backlog of repairs. Some are just in for spring check-ups. But other bikes have been hanging in the garage, collecting dust for quite some time. He welcomes all, despite their level of disrepair. And he’s giddy about people looking to cycling as a healthy way to enjoy Mother Nature while staying safely distant.

Coy is also selling new bikes so fast that supply is having a hard time keeping up with demand.

“The supply is limited right now,” he said. “One or two will dribble in at a time, you know. I usually sell those right away.”

He said he’s lost thousands in sales in the past month due to the limited supplies.

“It’s a perfect storm. I don’t think anybody expected this. And the huge demand for bikes is just like meat or paper products were for a while,” he said while refurbishing an oldie but a goodie in the back shop at his Second Street store.

The bell on the front door rings and Coy puts down his tools and heads to meet the customer. She wants a bike today, and he has the model she wants but not in her size. So Coy talks her into putting her name on a list so he can give her a call when the bike comes. Coy has some new bikes for sale, but far fewer than normal. “I usually have 40 or so on the floor,” he said.

Right now there are six new bikes on the showroom floor. He has others for sale, refurbished used bikes and several bikes for little kids. Coy also sells parts, clothing and even skateboards. But most shoppers want a new bike. Sometimes they want several — one for each member of the family.

“It reminds me of back in the days when Beanie Babies were popular. You’d wait ’til a certain one came out, and bam, you went out and got it real quick before it went out of stock,” he said. “You know, that’s kind of the way it is right now.”

There hasn’t been a rush on bikes like this since the ’70s. In 1973 alone, more than 250 bicycle-related bills were introduced in the country, half of them special trail and lane bills.

“The Federal-Aid Highway Act of the same year provided $120 million for cycleways over the following three years,” Forbes reported.

The industry once again flourished on the popularity of mountain bikes in the ’80s. Now, in 2020, the industry is seeing many types of models making an impact. While most stopping in at Larsen’s are looking for bikes in the active class — like comfortable town cruiser with gears, road bikes built to handle gravel rides, electric motor-assisted bikes and even single speed commuter and trail bikes are trending up.

The rush to the road isn’t just a local trend. Nationwide, folks are rushing to try out the sport, said Alex Strickland, editor in chief of Adventure Cyclist, an Adventure Cycling Association publication.

“Entry level and kids bikes sales are through the roof right now,” Strickland said. “Bicycling is an easy thing for people to rediscover as they are confined.”

Children’s and adult leisure bicycles have seen double- and triple-digit sales increases, according to retail sales data from The NPD Group, an international marketing organization.

“The sports industry is experiencing unprecedented growth and high demand for a distinct mix of products during this adjustment to an extended stay at home,” said Matt Powell, senior industry adviser for NPD’s sports practice. “The consumer lifestyle shift as a result of the current circumstances has put the sports business in a unique position compared to most other industries. I anticipate we’ll see a renewed emphasis on health and fitness for the long term.”

Within the cycling market, March sales were driven by children’s bikes, including BMX (up 56%) and adult leisure bikes (up 121%). Sales of trainers/rollers grew by 268%. Independent bike shops saw a 20% increase in bike service/repair sales, the NPD Group reported.

Dealers are also betting on new products to draw interest and drive sales. Wearable technology is making some big waves. Eyewear is selling well. Smartglasses by Everysight are basically a computer that displays GPS data for your routes in your field of view — complete with voice navigation, fitness and performance tracking, music playlists, hands-free communication with other cyclists and the ability to make and accept phone calls on the go. They also sync with online training apps.

But while sales are hot right now, the pandemic has had some negative affects on the bicycling industry, Strickland said. Many organized rides have been canceled due to worries about the spread of COVID-19, including several of the largest in the nation.

RAGBRAI, an annual ride across Iowa drawing more than 25,000 participants a year, has been canceled, as has the Tour de Wyoming.

“We are moving everything to 2021. Those who won a slot in 2020, have a slot in 2021. Those who paid for 2020, paid for 2021 unless you want a refund,” Tour de Wyoming organizers announced, adding, “Same lovely route, same lovely people. Just a year later.”

There will soon be a day when Coy’s store is full with new bikes again. He thinks it will take about a month before his full order arrives. When he can finally deliver all the bikes on the list, he’ll be happy. And he hopes the trend doesn’t end like the Beanie Baby craze.

Coy has owned Larsen’s Bicycles for 25 years.