A bike shop or bicycle shop is a business specializing in bicycle sale, maintenance and parts.
Bike shops may be small businesses, chain, mail-order or online vendors. Local bike shops (sometimes abbreviated LBS [1] ) are a key component of the bicycle industry and, in recognition of the value that local bike shops provide, some manufacturers only sell their bicycles through dealerships. In the UK and Ireland, the expression independent bicycle dealers (IBDs) is also used. [2]
Beyond bicycles, a bike shop may offer clothing and other accessories, spare and replacement parts, tools, and a variety of services. [3]
Services may include expert fitting and custom bike building or ordering, [4] maintenance and repairs from experienced bicycle mechanics, and organized group rides and classes. [5] A self-service work area may be available. [6]
Shops may also specialize on one or more aspects of cycling: bicycle racing, [7] triathlon, bicycle touring, BMX, [8] mountain biking, etc. Similarly, shops may carry a diverse range of bicycles, from single-seat upright bikes, to more specialized types such as tandem bicycles, [9] recumbent bicycles, [10] folding bicycles. [11] Many shops also carry related items such as unicycles [12] and skateboards.
Shops located out of temperate climates may have a secondary line in order to keep busy in the off season (winter). These include goods and services for skiing, [7] camping, and physical fitness. Some shops keep their regular customers coming in through the winter by offering group training sessions. [13]
A small but growing trend in bicycle retailing is called the bicycle studio, or garage shop in the United States, which offers service in an intimate environment by appointment only. A list by Bicycling Magazine shows five studios founded before 2000 and 13 since. These are seen as more complementary to, than competitive with, traditional bike shops. [14]
 | This section needs to be updated. The reason given is: the industry is likely to have changed significantly since 2007, especially the market share of online sales.(February 2022) |
In the US, the primary competitors to local bike shops are the mass merchants such as Walmart or Target, representing 74% of the units sales in 2015 and 32% of dollars spent, chain sporting goods stores representing 6% of the unit sales and 8% of dollars spent, and outdoor speciality retailers representing 3.5% of the unit sales and 8% of dollars spent. [15] Approximately 4,000 speciality bicycle retailers, which include local bike shops, command approximately 13% of the bicycle market in terms of unit sales in 2015, but 49% of the dollars spent on bikes. [15]
There are also chains of bike shops, though most LBS are independently owned, and 91% of them have one location. [16]
The distinction between local bike shops and online vendors has begun to blur as local bike shops have begun themselves to sell products online.
A recent development is the introduction of brand specific stores from bicycle manufacturers such as Trek Bicycle Corporation. [17] Other manufacturers, such as Specialized, are strengthening their channels with concept stores. [18]
According to the National Bicycle Dealers Association, in 2007 there were approximately 4,400 "specialty bicycle retailers" in the USA; down from 4,800 in 2005. Although they sold only 17% of the bikes, up from 16% in 2005, they collected 49% of the dollars, up from 47% in 2005. In 2004, the average specialty bicycle retailer had gross sales of $550,000 per year, 91% of them had one location, and average store size was 4,822 square feet. [16] [19]
A unicycle is a vehicle that touches the ground with only one wheel. The most common variation has a frame with a saddle, and has a pedal-driven direct-drive. A two speed hub is commercially available for faster unicycling. Unicycling is practiced professionally in circuses, by street performers, in festivals, and as a hobby. Unicycles have also been used to create new sports such as unicycle hockey. In recent years, unicycles have also been used in mountain unicycling, an activity similar to mountain biking or trials.
Fuji Bikes is a brand of bicycles and cycling equipment currently owned by Advanced Sports International. The company is a descendant of Nichibei Fuji Cycle Company, Ltd. (日米富士自転車株式会社), a bicycle manufacturer originally established in Japan in 1899. The company took its name and logo from Mount Fuji, a Japanese symbol of strength and endurance.
The Schwinn Bicycle Company is an American company that develops, manufactures and markets bicycles under the eponymous brand name. The company was originally founded by Ignaz Schwinn (1860–1948) in Chicago in 1895. It became the dominant manufacturer of American bicycles through most of the 20th century. Schwinn first declared bankruptcy in 1992, in 2001 Schwinn went bankrupt again and was purchased by Pacific Cycle, now owned by the Dutch conglomerate, Pon Holdings.
Giant Manufacturing Co. Ltd. is a Taiwanese bicycle manufacturer, recognized as the world's largest bicycle designer and manufacturer. Giant has manufacturing facilities in Taiwan, the Netherlands, China,and Hungary. They have future plans for Vietnam to be the fifth location.
Specialized Bicycle Components, Inc., colloquially known as and stylized as SPECIALIZED, is an American company that designs, manufactures and markets bicycles, bicycle components and related products under the brand name "Specialized", as well as the premium and professional oriented "S-works".
The bicycle industry or cycling industry can broadly be defined as the industry concerned with bicycles and cycling. It includes at least bicycle manufacturers, part or component manufacturers, and accessory manufacturers. It can also include distributors, retailers, bicycle organizations, bicycle event promoters, and bicycle related service providers.
A trailer bike is a one-wheeled, or sometimes two-wheeled, bicycle trailer designed to carry one or more children in positions that closely resemble that of a bicycle rider. It can be described as the, "back half of a bicycle." The rider of a trailer bike usually has a saddle, handlebars, and pedals. Some fold for more compact storage.
Nishiki is a brand name of bicycle, not a bicycle company.
Torker was a brand of bicycles and unicycles owned by Seattle Bike Supply, headquartered in Kent, Washington.
Quality Bicycle Products (QBP) is a large distributor of bicycle parts and accessories in the bicycle industry, with revenues of $150 million in 2008. In addition to wholesaling bicycles and components from other manufacturers, QBP owns and manufactures several brands of its own. QBP also participates in activities which support its community through cycling advocacy and green building.
The following outline is provided as an overview of and topical guide to bicycles:
A wheelie bike, also called a dragster, muscle bike, high-riser, spyder bike or banana bike, is a type of stylized children's bicycle designed in the 1960s to resemble a chopper motorcycle and characterized by ape hanger handlebars, a banana seat with sissy bar, and small wheels. Notable examples include the Schwinn Sting-Ray and Krate lines and the Raleigh Chopper line. Other notable manufacturers and retailers that offered models include AMF, CCM, Columbia, Huffy, Iverson, J. C. Penney, Malvern Star, Monark, Murray, Ross, Sears, and Vindec.
Bilenky Cycle Works is an American handmade bicycle manufacturer located in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.
TerraCycle, Inc. is a designer and manufacturer of recumbent bicycle parts based in Portland, Oregon in the United States. TerraCycle is known for its idlers and Cargo Monster load-carrying extensions.
R + E Cycles, also known as Rodriguez Bicycles, is an American manufacturer of tandem bicycles, cyclocross, mountain (MTB), and road bicycles and components that is currently owned and operated by R + E Bicycle Company in Seattle, Washington. The majority of the bikes sold are custom orders using pre-drawn plans tailored to fit individuals. Their shop tools are all made on-site by their staff and they are the designers of a bicycle fitting system, including software, called Next-fit™. The shop is located on the Ave in Seattle's University District, a few blocks from the University of Washington campus.
Advanced Sports International (ASI) is an American bicycle company whose flagship brand is Fuji Bikes. It also owns smaller brands including triathlon-focused Kestrel USA, component maker Oval Concepts, Breezer bikes, Tuesday Cycles and BMX maker SE Bikes. ASI is headquartered in Philadelphia and was led by Patrick Cunnane until filing for bankruptcy.
Bike Friday is a manufacturer of folding, small-wheeled bicycles that is headquartered in Eugene, Oregon, United States. The company was founded in 1992 by brothers Alan Scholz and Hanz Scholz. By 2018, it employed 22 people and manufactured frames in Eugene. Alan Scholz also founded Burley Design Cooperative in 1978.
The Zweirad-Einkaufs-Genossenschaft (ZEG) is a purchasing association of over 1000 bicycle shops in Europe. The seat of the cooperative is in Cologne.