Local bike shop

A local bike shop or local bicycle shop, sometimes abbreviated LBS,[1] is a small business, as distinct from a chain, mail-order or online vendor, specializing in bicycle sale, maintenance and parts. In the UK and Ireland, the expression independent bicycle dealers (IBDs) is also used.[2]

A local bike shop
A bicycle mechanic at a local bike shop
View of recumbent bicycles inside a local bike shop
Bicycles and exercise equipment for sale inside a local bike shop

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 only sell their bicycles through dealerships.

Offerings

Beyond bicycles, a local bicycle 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]

Studios

A small but growing trend in bicycle retailing is called the bicycle studio, 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]

Competitors

In the US, the primary competitors to local bike shops are the mass merchants such as Wal-Mart or Target, representing 73% of the units and 36% of the dollars in 2007,[15] full-line sporting goods stores such as Dick's Sporting Goods, multi-sport stores such as R.E.I., representing 7% of the units and 9% of the dollars in 2007,[15] and mail order and online vendors representing 3% of the units and 6% of the dollars in 2007.[15] There are also chains of bike shops, though most LBS are independently owned, and 91% of them have one location.[15]

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.[16] Other manufacturers, such as Specialized, are strengthening their channels with concept stores.[17]

Statistics

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.[15][18]

See: Graphic comparison of US auto and bike sales, 1972-2008
gollark: SGNS *does* do some of the GPS requesting over SPUDNET websocket, that's how it's fairly secure.
gollark: Since occasionally I do need actual fairly secure things.
gollark: I design a lot of random secure-ish systems on top of it, like SPUDNET and SGNS.
gollark: Well, sure.
gollark: So unless I bother to write a PR for anonymized GPS, people who don't go to the extra effort of writing their own implementation (as far as I'm aware nobody does so far) will be trackable by ID.

See also

References
  1. "Sheldon Brown's Glossary: LBS". Retrieved 2001-01-21.
  2. "Welcome to the ACT website". Archived from the original on 2006-12-05. Retrieved 2007-01-15.
  3. "Mother Earth News: How to start your own small-town bicycle shop". Retrieved 2009-01-20.
  4. "Serotta Custom Frames". Archived from the original on 2006-06-13. Retrieved 2007-01-13.
  5. "NBDA: The Bike Shop Advantage". Retrieved 2009-01-20.
  6. Sherry, Jennifer. "Bicycling Magazine: Props For Your Shop". Archived from the original on February 13, 2009. Retrieved 2001-01-20.
  7. "ERA Ski & Bike: Era's focus is on custom pro level racing bikes". Retrieved 2009-01-18.
  8. "Bike Alley: BMX Headquarters". Retrieved 2009-01-18.
  9. "Tandem Cycle Works of Colorado". Archived from the original on 2009-01-23. Retrieved 2009-01-18.
  10. "Bicycle Man: We Have The Largest Selection of Recumbents in New York State". Retrieved 2009-01-18.
  11. "Foldabikes: Ninety nine percent of all Foldabikes' sales are Bromptons". Retrieved 2009-01-18.
  12. "RD Bike Shop: Unicycles, Tandems, Trikes and Folding Bikes". Retrieved 2009-01-18.
  13. "Crank Daddy's Training Center". Archived from the original on October 24, 2006. Retrieved 2007-01-15.
  14. Daab, Zac (November 2008). "The Bicycle Studio: Why you might have to make an appointment to buy your next bike-and be glad you did". Bicycling. Rodale: 81–85.
  15. "National Bicycle Dealers Association Industry Overview 2007". Retrieved 2009-01-18.
  16. "Trek Bicycle Store". Retrieved 2007-01-13.
  17. "Erik's Bike Shop Opens a Specialized Concept Store". September 5, 2006. Retrieved 2007-01-15.
  18. "A Surge in Bicyclists Appears to Be Waiting". The New York Times, Jan Ellen Spiegel, December 31, 2008. 2009-01-01. Retrieved 2010-05-11.
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