Buy fresh, buy local – I see and hear this slogan a lot in reference to produce but I feel it is important to buy other goods locally as well. This includes supporting your local bike shop (LBS). Bikes, like fruits and veggies are also available in big box stores or at a neighborhood shop. So why should you buy your bike from a LBS? Strangely enough, for many of the same reasons you should buy your produce from a local farm stand or farmers’ market.
Five Reasons To Buy From a Local Bike Shop
- Local – many LBS are family owned and operated. The money you spend on your bike will be put right back into your local economy, not sent to corporate of a big box store.
- Knowledge – a LBS will have employees who have a better knowledge of the proper bike for where you will be riding. Often in big box stores you are left to browse the bikes alone and you pick which one looks the ‘coolest’ not realizing the bike may not be suitable for where you are looking to ride. Also, employees at local shops ride the bikes and parts they sell and are the most knowledgeable people you’ll meet when looking for bikes, parts and accessories. As a LBS employee I want to help you find a bike for you that meets both your budget and needs.
- Quality – Bikes, like most consumer goods, the higher the price the higher the quality. The big box stores are able to buy their bikes in bulk and save money. But this is not the only factor in their lower prices. Big box bikes are usually heavier and are equipped with cheaper components. The LBS bikes will have higher quality components and they are assembled by professional mechanics and not someone who just learned to wrench last week. The cheaper components on a big box bike are also more likely to break. The repairs and replacement parts to fix your big box bike at a LBS may cost more than the bike itself, this is because they are replacing the parts with quality parts. The cost of buying a lower quality bike multiplies over time with ongoing maintenance and repair. For the big box bike, you will find yourself replacing components due to wear or wanting to upgrade to a higher quality for better performance.
- Service and Repair – Most LBS provide service and repair. Many shops like Bikesport in Trappe provide Lifetime Free Service on bikes purchased from their shop. This Lifetime service is a basic tuneup which for most people is enough to keep their bike performing from year to year. Just like your car an annual tune-up is a must for your safety!
- Test Rides – When was the last time you took your bike for a ride down the milk aisle? Right, never!! Most LBS are located in an area where you can test ride as many bikes as you want until you find the right one for you. Never buy a bike without riding it first. If you are purchasing a higher end bike the LBS may even allow you to demo the bike for a Saturday afternoon ride on your local route or trails through the woods. Invest in comfort, safety and performance since they will be with you for years. Cycling is about enjoying the ride and that is what your LBS wants for you.
So who are your local bike shops? Here’s a list of the ones I know of – if I missed any please let me know!
- Bikesport (where I work!) – Trappe, PA
- Tri-County Bicycles – Pottstown, PA
- Bike Line – Pottstown, PA
- Phoenix Bikes – Phoenixville, PA
- Tailwind – Schwenksville, PA
The nice riding weather is right around the corner (I thought it was already here but Mother Nature had other plans!). If you’re thinking about buying a bike now is the time to visit your LBS and get all your questions answered while finding the perfect bike for you.
