You missed the obvious, our currency is weaker than recent years so UK imported bike prices are rising. That aside they shouldn't be looking to have something like the car market where you replace what you have every few years. Well made bike will last decades, with just the odd consumable to be replaced. If you don't ride that much then the chain will also last decades.
My 80's racing bike that I had till 2003 was still on its original chain, 5 speed block and chain rings. It just did daily commuting duty and short rides of no more that 30 miles or so at weekends. I had yet to discover long distance cycling back then.
You might as well buy a second hand car where I live as a bike, bike prices are simply
too high for what you get, and the electric bikes are outrageous for anything decent,
bike prices here in Ireland are rising at an alarming rate, just like car price fixing
has effected the market, there is no way to get motorists to leave the car at home
when they do the maths and find an electric bike will be just as expensive over time,
such as replacing batteries regularly, as they only can take so many charges before
they are useless, Some brands 1000, some brands as low as 500 cycles.
It looks like the usual suspects (importers) are getting set up to rip people off
as the pressure to get rid of the car will be put into full swing.
The economy is not in great shape either, and am quite sure most people
won’t be buying a bike when there are more pressing needs.
Did anyone see the add on tv where some car brand are giving the equivalent of
the vat rate off the price of a new car, looks like the first shots in the battle to
keep the car on the road begins.