{{Short description|Business specializing in bicycles}} right|thumb|A local bike shop [[Image:Bike mechanic at a local bike shop.jpg|thumb|A bicycle mechanic at a local bike shop]] [[File:Nijmegen, Magasin de vélos couchés.JPG|thumb|View of recumbent bicycles inside a local bike shop]] thumb|Bicycles and exercise equipment for sale inside a local bike shop
A '''bike shop''' or '''bicycle shop''' is a business specializing in bicycle sales, maintenance bike parts and accessories. Bike shops may be small businesses, Chain stores, mail-order or online vendors. Local bike shops (sometimes abbreviated LBS<ref>{{cite web | url = http://www.sheldonbrown.com/gloss_l.html | title = Sheldon Brown's Glossary: LBS | accessdate = 2001-01-21}}</ref>) are a key component of the bicycle industry as they provide repair and service in additionto retail sales. 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.<ref name="ACT">{{cite web |url=http://www.act-bicycles.com/cgi-bin/ACT/ACTcgi.pl?pg=50 | title=Welcome to the ACT website | accessdate=2007-01-15 | archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20061205205443/http://www.act-bicycles.com/cgi-bin/ACT/ACTcgi.pl?pg=50 | archivedate=2006-12-05 | url-status=dead}}</ref> Shops may also specialize on one or more aspects of cycling: bicycle racing,<ref name="ERA">{{cite web|url = http://www.erapro.com/ |title = ERA Ski & Bike: Era's focus is on custom pro level racing bikes |accessdate = 2009-01-18}}</ref> triathlon, bicycle touring, BMX,<ref>{{cite web |url = http://www.bikealleybmx.com/ |title = Bike Alley: BMX Headquarters |accessdate = 2009-01-18}}</ref> mountain biking, etc.
== Offerings == Beyond bicycles, a bike shop may offer clothing and other accessories, spare and replacement parts, tools, and a variety of services.<ref>{{cite web| url = http://www.motherearthnews.com/Do-It-Yourself/1974-03-01/How-To-Start-Your-Own-Small-Town-Bicycle-Shop.aspx| title = Mother Earth News: How to start your own small-town bicycle shop| accessdate = 2009-01-20}}</ref> Services may include expert fitting and custom bike building or ordering,<ref name="Bethel">{{cite web |url=http://bethelcycle.com/page.cfm?PageID=183 |archive-url=https://archive.today/20060613015619/http://bethelcycle.com/page.cfm?PageID=183 |url-status=dead |archive-date=2006-06-13 |title=Serotta Custom Frames |accessdate=2007-01-13}}</ref> maintenance and repairs from experienced bicycle mechanics, and organized group rides and classes.<ref>{{cite web| url = http://nbda.com/page.cfm?pageID=193| title = NBDA: The Bike Shop Advantage| accessdate = 2009-01-20}}</ref> A self-service work area may be available.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.bicycling.com/article/0,6610,s-5-33-12126-1,00.html |title=Bicycling Magazine: Props For Your Shop |last=Sherry |first=Jennifer |accessdate=2001-01-20 |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20090213051839/http://www.bicycling.com/article/0%2C6610%2Cs-5-33-12126-1%2C00.html |archivedate=February 13, 2009 }}</ref>
Shops may also specialize on one or more aspects of cycling: bicycle racing,<ref name="ERA">{{cite web|url = http://www.erapro.com/ |title = ERA Ski & Bike: Era's focus is on custom pro level racing bikes |accessdate = 2009-01-18}}</ref> triathlon, bicycle touring, BMX,<ref>{{cite web |url = http://www.bikealleybmx.com/ |title = Bike Alley: BMX Headquarters |accessdate = 2009-01-18}}</ref> 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,<ref>{{cite web | url=http://www.tandemcycleworks.com/our_shop.html |title=Tandem Cycle Works of Colorado |accessdate=2009-01-18 |url-status=dead | archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20090123144619/http://tandemcycleworks.com/our_shop.html | archivedate=2009-01-23 }}</ref> recumbent bicycles,<ref>{{cite web | url = http://www.bicycleman.com/|title = Bicycle Man: We Have The Largest Selection of Recumbents in New York State | accessdate = 2009-01-18}}</ref> folding bicycles.<ref>{{cite web |url = http://www.foldabikes.com/ | title = Foldabikes: Ninety nine percent of all Foldabikes' sales are Bromptons | accessdate = 2009-01-18}}</ref> Many shops also carry related items such as unicycles<ref>{{cite web | url = http://www.rdbike.com/unis_duos_trikes.html | title = RD Bike Shop: Unicycles, Tandems, Trikes and Folding Bikes | accessdate = 2009-01-18 | archive-date = 2009-05-06 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20090506002229/http://www.rdbike.com/unis_duos_trikes.html | url-status = dead }}</ref> 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,<ref name="ERA"/> camping, and physical fitness. Some shops keep their regular customers coming in through the winter by offering group training sessions.<ref name="CrankDaddys">{{cite web|url=http://www.crankdaddys.com/training.html |title=Crank Daddy's Training Center |accessdate=2007-01-15 |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20061024115929/http://www.crankdaddys.com/training.html |archivedate=October 24, 2006 }}</ref>
== Studios == 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.<ref>{{cite journal | last = Daab | first = Zac |date=November 2008 | title = The Bicycle Studio: Why you might have to make an appointment to buy your next bike-and be glad you did | journal = Bicycling | pages = 81–85 | publisher = Rodale}}</ref>
== Competition == {{Update|section|reason=the industry is likely to have changed significantly since 2007, especially the market share of online sales|date=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.<ref name=":0">{{Cite web|last=NBDA|date=2020-09-28|title=Bicycle Industry Overview 2015|url=https://nbda.com/bicycle-industry-data-overview/|access-date=2022-02-14|website=National Bicycle Dealers Association|language=en-US}}</ref> 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.<ref name=":0" />
There are also chains of bike shops, though most LBS are independently owned, and 91% of them have one location.<ref name="NBDA">{{cite web|title=National Bicycle Dealers Association Industry Overview 2007|url=http://nbda.com/page.cfm?PageID=34|accessdate=2009-01-18}}</ref>
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.<ref name="Trek">{{cite web | url = http://trekstoremadison.com/index.cfm | title = Trek Bicycle Store | accessdate = 2007-01-13}}</ref> Other manufacturers, such as Specialized, are strengthening their channels with concept stores.<ref name="Bicycle Retailer">{{cite web | url = http://www.bicycleretailer.com/retail?page=7 | title = Erik's Bike Shop Opens a Specialized Concept Store | date = September 5, 2006 | accessdate = 2007-01-15}} </ref>
== 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.<ref name="NBDA"/><ref name="Surge">{{cite news | title = A Surge in Bicyclists Appears to Be Waiting | publisher = The New York Times, Jan Ellen Spiegel, December 31, 2008 | url = https://www.nytimes.com/2009/01/01/business/smallbusiness/01sbiz.html?_r=1&scp=4&sq=bicycle+industry&st=nyt | date=2009-01-01 | accessdate=2010-05-11}}</ref>
== See also == {{Commons category|Bicycle shops}} {{div col|colwidth=23em}} *Bicycle *Bicycle cooperative *Bicycle industry *Bicycle mechanic *Bicycle tools *Cycling *List of bicycle manufacturers *List of bicycle part manufacturers {{div col end}}
==References== {{Reflist|2}}
== External links == * [https://www.nytimes.com/imagepages/2009/01/01/business/01sbiz.gfx.ready.html '''See:''' Graphic comparison of US auto and bike sales, 1972-2008]
{{Retail}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Local Bike Shop}} Category:Bicycles Category:Cycle retailers Category:Cycling infrastructure Category:Bicycle industry