Local bike shop

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

A local bike shop in Caernarfon, Wales.

1 Offerings
2 Competitors
3 Statistics
4 Trade Organizations and Publications
5 References
6 See also
7 External links

A local bike shop or local bicycle shop is a small business which specializes in the sale and maintenance of bicycles and bicycle parts.

The initialism LBS is commonly used on online cycling forums to distinguish small bicycle shops from large chains and mail-order or online vendors.

In the UK & Ireland, the expression independent bicycle dealers (IBDs) is also used.^[1]

The local bike shop is a key component of the bicycle industry and, in recognition of the value that local bike shops provide, some manufacturers, such as Serotta, only sell their bicycles through professional dealerships.^[2]

[edit] Offerings

Beyond just bicycles, a local bicycle shop may offer clothing and other accessories, spare and replacement parts, and a variety of services.

Services may include expert fitting and custom bike building or ordering^[3], maintenance and repairs from experienced bicycle mechanics, and organized group rides and classes.

Shops may also specialize on one or more aspects of cycling: bicycle racing, triathloning, bicycle touring, BMX, mountain biking, etc. While the vast majority of shops only carry single-seat upright bikes, a few will also carry tandem bicycles, recumbent bicycles, folding bicycles and/or other specialty types. Many shops also carry related items such as unicycles and skateboards.

Shops located out of tropical climates may have a secondary line in order to keep busy in the off season (winter). These include goods and services for skiing, camping, and physical fitness.^[4] Some shops keep their regular customers coming in through the winter by offering group training sessions.^[5]

[edit] Competitors

The primary competitors to local bike shops are the mass merchant such as Wal-Mart or Target, full-line sporting goods stores such as Dick's Sporting Goods, multi-sport stores such as R.E.I., and mail order and on-line vendors such as Bike Nashbar or Performance Bicycle. There are also chains of bike shops, though most LBS are singly owned.

The lines between local bike shops and on-line vendors is blurring as local bike shops begin to sell products on line^[6] and traditional mail order vendors open their own retail bike stores.^[7]

A recent development is the introduction of brand specific stores from bicycle manufacturers such as Trek Bicycle Corporation.^[8] Other manufacturers, such as Specialized are strengthening their channels with concept stores.^[9]

[edit] Statistics

According to the National Bicycle Dealers Association, in 2005 there were approximately 4,800 "specialty bicycle retailers" in the USA. Although they sold only 16% of the bikes, they collected 47% of the dollars. 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.^[10]