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By all accounts, local bike shops are quickly running out of bicycles and manufacturers are behind in shipping new inventory.
But for those lucky people who bought a bike in time, two longtime cycling enthusiasts shared some advice and tips to help beginners get started and stay safe.
David Hutchison, who's been riding for some 62 years, and Keith Donaldson, who's logged about 35,000 miles over the last 10 years, are both licensed cycling instructors in Springfield.
Donaldson and Hutchison agreed one of the most important things for cyclists to practice when on a road is to treat the bike as though it were a vehicle. It's equally important that other drivers treat the bike as a vehicle, as well.
"Bicyclists need to understand they have the right to be there," Hutchison said, adding they must also follow the same rules as drivers. That includes signaling before turning, stopping at all stop signs and following all traffic laws.
Motorists, too, should treat a bicycle as though it were another car. When passing another vehicle, you wouldn't pass halfway into that vehicle's lane. So if you are passing a bicycle, wait until it is safe for you to get in the opposing lane to pass.
In other words, cyclists must own their lane and not hug the curb, Donaldson said.
"I ride in such a way so that when they pass me, they actually have to do a full pass into the oncoming lane," Donaldson said. "It makes them wait until it's safe for them and for me.
"You really take ownership of the lane. You do everything possible to not impede traffic," Donaldson said. "But in certain situations, you need to impede traffic for your own safety and for the safety of others. If you hug the curb, it encourages drivers to try and squeeze by you, which will either get you in trouble or (the vehicle) might clip somebody else's mirrors."
Hutchison said on roadways where there is a single lane in each direction and he sees vehicles are coming in the opposite direction, he gets in the center of his lane so those behind him don't try to pass.
"If it is clear in the other direction, I will move over and ride about three feet from the edge of the lane and kind of look back and let them know there is opportunity for them to pass," Hutchison said.
Hutchison recalled a recent example of a time when a driver failed to treat him like another driver:
"I pulled up to a four-way stop. There was a  car already there. I came to a stop and looked at the driver," he said. "The driver waved me through. Would she have waved a car through? I doubt it. We both lost time because she treated me differently than she would have another vehicle."
Also, it's important to note that when drivers motion for a cyclist to "go first," it's sometimes hard to see because their windows are tinted.
"Often I cannot see inside the vehicle," Hutchison said. "And they are frantically trying to tell me something and I cannot see anything."
Be visible, both men urged repeatedly.
Donaldson said the bike he uses to commute to and from work has at least six flashing and solid LED lights on at all times. He also wears a safety vest that is bright yellow and reflective.
And at nighttime especially, it's so important to have a headlight, Hutchison said. Drivers coming toward you might be able to see the bike, but drivers on a cross street will not see a bicycle if the bike doesn't have a headlight, Hutchison said.
Be predictable to drivers, both men said. This means using hand signals before turning and stopping, and scanning (looking around and back) before changing what you are doing.
"It is important to be able to scan and keep your (bicycle) in a straight line. That takes practice, but scanning is important in addition to or instead of using mirrors," Hutchison said. "(Drivers) see the bicyclist is doing something that tells them the bicyclist is getting ready to change what they are doing."
Also, no riding on sidewalks, Donaldson said. In many places it's illegal to ride a bike on the sidewalk. But more importantly, it's dangerous.
"Drivers are never expecting to see a cyclist pop off a sidewalk and cross the street," Donaldson said.
Wear a helmet, Donaldson said, and ditch the earbuds.
"You always want to be able to hear what is going on around you," Donaldson said.
Choose roads less traveled. For the most part, Hutchison said he rides on streets with speed limits of 30 miles per hour or less.
Donaldson suggested taking the time to plan your route before hitting the streets.
"There are some streets that you absolutely don't want to ride on in Springfield," he said. "There are thousands of ways to plan alternative routes."
Specifically, Donaldson said he avoids at all costs Kearney and Sunshine streets, Kansas Expressway and Glenstone Avenue.
"If I was needing to get from one end of town to another on Sunshine, Portland is a great road, a great neighborhood street that is just two blocks north of Sunshine. It's just residential traffic," Donaldson said. "Fremont is a fantastic way to go almost all the way north to south or south to north without having to deal with streets like National or Glenstone.
Be polite on the trails. Everybody — cyclists, runners and walkers — should be on the right-hand side of the trail and passing on the left, Hutchison said.
"And pay attention. Bicyclists should be riding at the reasonable speed of the trail and announcing when they are going to be passing somebody," Hutchison said. "Some bicyclists are on the trail riding at 12, 14, 16 miles per hour in a crowd of people, and that is just not appropriate. If you are with people, you should be riding at 9, maybe 10 miles per hour."
Get connected. The cycling community in the Ozarks is strong and welcoming. If you are not sure where to get started, stop by your local bike shop.
Donaldson said he's often asked which bike shop he recommends. Donaldson said all the local bike shops are great and he recommends whichever shop is closest to your house.
"Get familiar and acquainted with a local shop," Donaldson said. "Most shops will do everything they can to try to match or at least come close to internet prices."
He said he's often heard folks complain about spending a few dollars more on gear in locally-owned shops than they would online. That might be true sometimes, but an internet store will never touch your bike or help you fix an issue. And an internet store will never help connect you with other cyclists, he said.
Cycling resources to get you started:
If you are interested in mountain biking, Donaldson suggested joining the local club, Missouri Off-Road Cyclists. They plan great social events, group rides, trail building/maintenance and advocacy (keeping trails open for mountain cyclists and working to open more). Membership also offers free mountain bike fundamentals skills clinics to all members (taught by Donaldson). Visit missourioffroadcyclists.org. Find the group on Facebook.
Find cycling events in the Ozarks at springbike.org/rides/calendar or search for "Ozarks Cycling Calendar" on Facebook.
Here's another local cycling Facebook page to follow: facebook.com/2Frys.bike.
Bicycle Outlet's Monday Night Rides are "excellent easy paces beginner" rides, Donaldson said. (These have been suspended temporarily due to COVID-19.) Find out more by following Bicycle Outlet's Facebook page.
Purchase the Cycling Safety Pamphlet from the League of American Cyclists at bikeleague.org/ridesmart.
Donaldson wrote a guide to bicycle commuting and general cycling safety. Download it here.
Find local trails. Visit ozarkgreenways.org. Learn about the trails in northwest Arkansas at oztrailsnwa.com.
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