There are some brands of bicycles that can cost more than the down payment on a car. Why? Surely making a bike lightweight and reliable isn’t so difficult that it warrants that price? Is it just the brand name or maybe it has to do with customization options?
Everyone saw a convenient economic scapegoat and just “forgot” to lower the prices again after the crisis was over. Now, everyone has been paying these new and improved prices for 3 years, so they’re never going to go down again.