The cost of doing business

Like any business, every bicycle store is in the business to make money. This doesn’t mean the owners and employees are driving around town in their Lamborghinis, wearing Rolex watches, or drinking Dom Perignon. Selling bicycles is a hard business to be successful at — it involves a high overhead, low profit margins, and a con­stant need for trained and educated staff. Plus, staying in tune with the bicycling industry and the evolving technology behind it is a constant challenge.

In most cases, you’ll find that employees and owners choose to work in the biking industry because they have a true love and passion for the sport. They enjoy working with and helping people discover and develop the same love and passion for biking.

For a bike-shop owner, it’s satisfying and rewarding to see a family out on the trail having some real quality time, knowing that they’ve outfitted them with bicycles and/or acces­sories. It’s equally rewarding to talk with the person who started as a recreational cyclist and is now addicted to biking and rides or com­mutes to work every day.

These are a few of the reasons that drive many of the people who work in your local bicycle stores. Keep this in mind the next time you’re shopping for that cool new bicycle part or accessory upgrade. They need to make a little profit so they can continue to pay the bills and be there the next time you need something.

Shopping at Your Bike Shop

The most significant benefit you’ll get from working with a bike shop is the obvious: They can help you buy the bike that’s right for you. Sure, you can use the Internet to find a bike, and save some money. But if you shop online, you’re missing what only a bike shop can provide: the personal touch and customer service. The hands-on, face-to-face service of a bike shop is invalu­able when you’re searching for the right bike. Plus, the folks at your local bike shop can help with sizing and the assembly of your bike.

When you shop at your local bike shop, you’re building a relationship that will benefit you when you need additional support.

Buying a bike

Whether you buy a bike online or at a bike shop, it’ll need some initial adjust­ments and an inspection. The benefit of buying from a bike shop is that they can make these adjustments when you buy it.

Plus, when you buy a bike from a local bike store, they won’t just put the pedals, seat, and handlebars on your bicycle and send you off. They’ll disas­semble your bicycle first. They’ll take many of the parts off and double-check and fine-tune them before assembling and checking everything and making the final adjustments.

When you arrive to pick up your bike, they’ll go over the bicycle with you, making sure it’s fitted and adjusted to your personal riding style and comfort. They’ll go over its function, show you how everything works, and give you riding tips.

After you’ve put some miles on your bike, the gear and brake cable will stretch and need adjustment, the spokes will settle into place and need truing, the bearings will loosen up and need adjustments — and all of this can be done for free by many shops. They know that this initial break-in period is the must critical time for the best performance and extended life of your bicycle, so they want to take care of it for you.

Use the Internet to research the bikes you’re interested in. Almost all manu­facturers have very user-friendly Web sites that can help you when you walk into your local shop and start trying out different bikes.

Here are some of the major bicycle manufacturers and their Web addresses:

✓ Cannondale: www. cannondale. com

✓ Fuji: www. fujibikes. com

✓ Gary Fisher: www. fisherbikes. com

✓ Giant: www. giant-bicycles. com

✓ Kona: www. konaworld. com

✓ Raleigh: www. raleighusa. com

✓ Schwinn:www. schwinnbike. com

✓ Specialized: www. specialized. com

✓ Trek: www. trekbikes. com

When you’re looking for a bike with the help of a bike shop, they’ll help you figure out which type of bike is most suited for your needs. There are many different types of bikes available, each with their own benefits:

✓ Road bikes are built for smooth pavement riding and fast speeds. They’re lightweight for easier acceleration and top speeds. They have thin, higher pressure tires (for less rolling resistance) and dropped handlebars (to support a bent-over riding position for better aerodynamics).

✓ Mountain bikes are built for riding on trails and rough terrain. They have higher-performance brakes for long and steep descents; thick, knobby tires for better traction in steep and/or loose terrain; and sus­pension for more control and comfort.

✓ Hybrid bikes are all-purpose bikes that combine features of a road and mountain bike. They weigh more than road bikes but less than mountain bikes. Their tire circumference size compares to a road bike, and the tire width is wider than on a road bike and narrower than on a moun­tain bike. A hybrid bike gives you a little of the performance of a road bike and the comfort and durability of a mountain bike. They have flat handlebars for a comfortable upright riding position.

✓ Touring bikes are built to carry heavier loads across long distances. They have mountings for bike racks to carry your gear, a wider frame (for stability), wheels with more spokes (to support the additional weight of gear and for greater durability on long, hard rides), and a greater range of gears for wide variety of elevation changes.

✓ Cruiser bikes are designed for leisurely riding. They have very few (if any) gears. They’re built for an upright riding position, with a wide saddle. They have fat, soft tires for a super-comfortable ride. Some cruiser bikes have coaster brakes (in which you pedal backward to stop).

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✓ Recumbent bikes are designed for riders who want a reclined riding posi­tion. On a recumbent bike, you can’t stand to pedal up hills and stretch your legs on long rides; you’re limited to that one, reclined position for your entire ride. Recumbent bikes are good for riders with back prob­lems. Some have coaster brakes (in which you pedal backward to stop).

Recumbent bikes are more difficult for drivers of cars to see than the other types of bikes are.

✓ BMX bikes are built to ride off-road on a dirt track or to do tricks. They have small frames for quick handling, tricks, and jumping. They’re made of very durable components and have foot pegs or extensions off the frame for performing stunts.

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Before you buy a bike, be sure to test-ride it — and test-ride a variety of other bikes, too. It’s hard to get a feel for a bike unless you compare it against other bikes. You can do all the research online, read all the bicycle magazines, talk with the staff at the bicycle store, talk with your neighborhood or office bicy­cle guru, but until you ride the bike, you won’t know for sure if it’s the right one for you.

You should always wear a helmet when riding a bike — and, easy as it is to overlook, this is especially true when you’re test-riding. You’re more likely to have an accident on a bike and in territory that you’re not familiar with.

When test-riding, find a location with enough space so that you can observe how the bike handles at lower and higher speeds. Riding the bike at different speeds will allow you try out a range of the gears. If you can, ride it uphill so that you can use the higher gears. Here’s some of what you should feel on your ride:

✓ Shifting between gears should be smooth and almost effortless.

✓ The bike should ride in a straight line and the wheels shouldn’t wobble.

✓ The bike should be easy to handle and smooth in the turns.

✓ The brakes should grip the wheel firmly and slow you down or stop you smoothly.

✓ Your arms should comfortably reach the handlebars without being too bent or locked out.

✓ You should be able to easily grip the shifters and brakes without having your wrists in an awkward position.

A test ride will also give you an idea of the quality of work and service the bicycle store will offer you after the initial purchase. Before they send you out on a test ride, the folks at the bike shop should:

✓ Check all the nuts and bolts on the bicycle.

✓ Make sure the brakes and gears work properly.

✓ Check the tires for proper air pressure.

✓ Set the seat and handlebar position for you.

✓ Inform you of the proper gear and brake operations.

✓ Give you ridings tips, such as what to look and feel for on your test ride.