We're building up bikes for some customers. On our recommendation they are using a partivular brand of aerobar.

Normally we buy this brand of aerobar from one of several large wholesale distributors. Four large distributors to be exact. Now, I would characterize three of these four distributors as among the largest in the industry.

I get part numbers for what we need and also reasonable substitutions and phone the distributors with our orders.

They don't have anything. Not one of these four distributors had any stock in this product. Very odd.

So, I call the manufacturer directly to get the skinny and maybe beg to buy direct if they have anything. They don't sell to retailers direct- only through distributors.

The manufacturer has a phone message that says they "Can't take my call". Hmmmm.

So, as a last resort, I call my 'ol buddy Mr. "D" at another distributor. They have tons of the stuff. It is like hitting a vein of gold. They have everything I need and more. So I stock up.

Very odd. These "component shortages" are one of the weirdest things I've ever seen in this industry.

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Tom Demerly
The Tri Shop.com