General Cycling Discussion - Local Bike Shop-Closing the Doors!

The LBS here in town is closing the doors for good! :( I can't say I blame him at all, his time is worth more than the shop is bringing in now. There are only 4 or 5 roadies in the whole county, and almost every one who buys a bike now goes to Wal-Mart and buys a bike to go 2 or 3 mile rides.
I guess I'm just winning. Now my LBS will be 1 to 1.5 hour drive away! Thank's for letting me cry on your shoulder! :o Just a sad day.

That would be whining, not winning.... :D

Maybe y'all should open your own shop? That would be closer than an hour's drive, wouldn't it??? :p

Where are you located? We are moving to Cookeville in a couple of months, and they have one bike store listed in the phone booth. Two Wal-Marts within 3 miles of each other, and people are proud of it.

It already looks like I'm going to have to drive 90 minutes to play ice hockey, I hope we don't lose the only bike store in town.

Sad to say it happens all the time. It has happened to me as well. Your neighborhood xmarts, and mail order kills us plain and simple. I cannot survive off repairs and small parts. Hell I cannot even seem to get rid of my closeout stuff around locally for people still think the prices are high, and they are only to recoop my costs. There are aproximately 300 to 400 LBS that shut down every year because of this. Soon besides the big chain stores there will be no small Mom and Pop LBS left.

Heck, I'm amazed that many LBS's are still open.

Perhaps surprisingly, my LBS is doing pretty well. They recently had to move to bigger premises, and the best mechanic on the Gold Coast is always telling me how many hours he has to put in just to keep up with the demand.

Mine is doing great, also.

Wonder what the difference is between those that are still successful, and those that are not?

My guess would be location, wealth and "sporting/health environment" of the surrounding community.

Biking is booming here. Our "Body for Life" classes are sold out. We have biking and walking trails and clubs. Folks have lots of money, and can afford to and do buy the best, whether it is an SUV or a bike.

Being nimble can help. Rowlett's here seems to be doing okay. They're aware of their market and sell a lot of things you just can't get at Xmart, like fixie stuff-- fixies are locally extremely popular. The sales people have at least a modicum of knowledge, unlike the two big local chain shops, which might as well be Xmarts in terms of employee knowledge-- the last time I went into Contes, the employees were sitting around discussing cars...

Mine is doing great, also.

Wonder what the difference is between those that are still successful, and those that are not?

My guess would be location, wealth and "sporting/health environment" of the surrounding community.

Biking is booming here. Our "Body for Life" classes are sold out. We have biking and walking trails and clubs. Folks have lots of money, and can afford to and do buy the best, whether it is an SUV or a bike.
I'd say location too. I live in a college town and there are two healthy lbs's. Ones a pro shop type place the other is a family/used parts type place. Both have there advantages.

That would be whining, not winning.... :D

Maybe y'all should open your own shop? That would be closer than an hour's drive, wouldn't it??? :p
I like tha avatar ;)
the pacific rim is still heating up

Being nimble can help. Rowlett's here seems to be doing okay. They're aware of their market and sell a lot of things you just can't get at Xmart, like fixie stuff-- fixies are locally extremely popular. The sales people have at least a modicum of knowledge, unlike the two big local chain shops, which might as well be Xmarts in terms of employee knowledge-- the last time I went into Contes, the employees were sitting around discussing cars...

Well they havebeen at that location (if it still the same one on Broad St.) for at least 20 years that I know of. Short of Agee's they are more or less the staple in that area.

I think university towns are good locations. Ames is home of Iowa State University. Parking on campus is impossible so a lot of student buy bikes to ride to classes. We have two healthy bike shops in a town of 50,000.

texas must be a good place for bike shops... the one i go to only has one person that works there (the owner) and he just sits around harrasin' people and fixin bikes while fartin' on his customers (seriously)... but it makes for a comfortable environment and he has good deal. :)

My guess would be location, wealth and "sporting/health environment" of the surrounding community.

Fox, I think you hit the nail on the head. People here could care less if they are fit, if you can't drive there they just don't go!

Where are you located? We are moving to Cookeville in a couple of months, and they have one bike store listed in the phone booth. Two Wal-Marts within 3 miles of each other, and people are proud of it.

Blueline, I am about 4-5 hours West, next to the Missippi river. I know there are some nice bike shops in Nashville, but I sure hate to drive that far! :mad:

randya, sorry bout the whining. ;)

My guess would be location, wealth and "sporting/health environment" of the surrounding community.

Fox, I think you hit the nail on the head. People here could care less if they are fit, if you can't drive there they just don't go!

Where are you located?

I am in Colorado i a suburb of Denver - Parker.

Bedroom community, but Open Space and recreation is a high priority here. All of the lottery proceeds go to open space, trails and the like, which amounts ot billiopns of dollars. Of course, our school systems pretty much suck, but, hey, you have to go with what is important! :D

We have 4 bike shops here. Well, only one is Bike specific and that's our Specialized & Giant dealer. The remaining three are diversified with other sporting goods. All offer shop services.

Here in Tidewater Virginia there are many to choose from most have been in business 20yrs or more...However, sales can be drawn from at least 7 major cities located near Virginia Beach...Prices are competative...but not great! Still can't they are supported here....

Business is pretty good locally but we have a severe shortage of unique dealers. If you want a Trek or Specialized they'll easily find it and have it assembled within 24 hours. But if you are interested in something like a Bianchi you are pretty screwed.

I am in Colorado i a suburb of Denver - Parker.


I was in Parker once - that's when I knew I was lost. :D

What do people think is the biggest threat to LBS? Wally World? Bike chains like Performance? Multi-rec chains like REI? The internet? Are repairs really not a big profit maker for small shops? The "tune-up" prices sure seem high enough. ;)

Colleges are a natural asset for indy LBS. Wherever there's a college, there are usually one or two very health shops nearby. People who start local businesses have my admiration, but it's really hard to get it right and survive.

yall gotta move up north!

In Toronto and its surrounding area, we got well over 25 bike shops. But then our city is big on cycling. We got km's upon km's of bike lanes downtown and our Mayor is big on cycling :D

I was in Parker once - that's when I knew I was lost. :D



You live in Park WHAT?

I can remember when PH was a really nice neighborhood. That was in the 60's. So sad!

My wife and I got married in PH Methodist Church, about 40 years ago!

I have two LBS's in my town just outside of New York City. There must be over 10 bike shops just in Manhattan alone not counting the other boroughs. I'm very fortunate in that I can get any bike I want and just order two bikes. Unfortunately, both are arriving on a very slow boat from China!

yall gotta move up north!

In Toronto and its surrounding area, we got well over 25 bike shops. But then our city is big on cycling. We got km's upon km's of bike lanes downtown and our Mayor is big on cycling :D


and isnt it sweeeeeeeet. I still support my closest lbs which sold me the bike. but i love knowing there are so many good choices for stuff on the cheap...and MEC for decently priced park tools:D

yall gotta move up north!

In Toronto and its surrounding area, we got well over 25 bike shops. But then our city is big on cycling. We got km's upon km's of bike lanes downtown and our Mayor is big on cycling :D

No kidding eh? I live at Yonge and Davisville, there are 5 bike shops within a 35 min walk, 4 of those are 15 min away at most.

You live in Park WHAT?

I can remember when PH was a really nice neighborhood. That was in the 60's. So sad!


Hey now, Park Hill is nice, like an oasis hidden in the traffic buzz of Denver. I love the old trees and widdle bitty brick bungalows etc. Only problem is there aren't enough coffee shops. Hopefully the Colfax revamp will help with that. Gonna be sad to move away from here next week. :(

Our biggest LBS has five separate buildings on a three-block stretch, separated by "category" (new, used/vintage, parts/service, exotics, accessories). Plus a second catch-all location. Our other big LBS has two locations separated geographically. There are a half-dozen or so other LBSes all doing quite well, including one run by the guy who invented the "straight-spoke" (Cronometro) wheel, and one run by a collective of anarcho-hippies (there's always an anti-war sign or the like in the shop window). As an aside, the world HQ of two major bike accessory companies (Saris/Graber and Planet Bike) are here.

The greatest threat to a local bike shop, is the local bike shop. Specifically the LBS that had it's beginning as the Big Dream in the mind of a cycling enthusiast. Many people who become rabid about some hobby or another, take the plunge and turn their hobby into a small business. Generally, this is a very poor foundation upon which to launch a business. I've almost done the same thing once or twice. The handicap of these types of LBSs is the mindset of the proprietor. They want to share the excitement of the hobby with other likeminded people, and sell enough stuff to keep the doors open. But, fundamentally the shop is a way to perpetuate their hobby interests in a different venue.

What I would want from my bike shop:

Priority attention given to special orders (along with updates no less than every 3 days) as this would encourage me to stay away from ordering on-line;

a used parts section (like a bike thrift store) where I could get cheaper replacement parts for my everyday commuter, and where people could get cheap parts for their wally world bikes;

Proactive community involvement (you gottsa promote bicycling and advocate for bike lanes, trails etc which will get more people out and coming to your shop);

Sunday hours ( at least for sales only would just require one staff person to hang out, be sociable). How many Sundays I start to work on my bike realizing I need something and my LBS is not an option. I know I can plan better and go on Monday, but most people don't do that and won't, will simply go to Wal-Mart.

My advice is to check out the LBS that is an hour away from you. When we moved more than an hour away from DC, the relationship I had with my LBS was not gone forever. We simply take the trip from the mountains towards the city less often and make a day out of going to all the places that we miss, including always stopping in the LBS even if I do not need anything. The owner is glad to have loyal customers drive from distances to frequent his business and entering the LBS is always actually therapeutic (you have to live in the moutains to understand this). If you really think about it, it is not that often that you need service or to purchase items, but at least when you do need such things you will have a reliable location to seek those needs.

The greatest threat to a local bike shop, is the local bike shop. Specifically the LBS that had it's beginning as the Big Dream in the mind of a cycling enthusiast. Many people who become rabid about some hobby or another, take the plunge and turn their hobby into a small business. Generally, this is a very poor foundation upon which to launch a business. I've almost done the same thing once or twice. The handicap of these types of LBSs is the mindset of the proprietor. They want to share the excitement of the hobby with other likeminded people, and sell enough stuff to keep the doors open. But, fundamentally the shop is a way to perpetuate their hobby interests in a different venue.
So the best LBS owner is a business man that could care less about bicycling?? :(

I'm not sure that's a bike shop that I would want to patronize...

I understand what you're saying about turning a hobby into a business; but I only think this fails when good business principles and practice aren't followed. An enthusiast/hobbiest with a good business sense would seem to offer the best of both worlds... :)

I live in texarkana, texas and there is only two bicycle shops here. Well, let's just say that when Wal-mart came in, the bike shops lost a lot of money. But I do have a question; if the bike shops here goes down, where am i going to get my bicycle stuff? Wal-mart doesn't have every thing that I need for my bike. If my derailleur gets mested up, where do I go to get one? Do I waste a tank of gas to get a 20 dollar part? So, wal-mart, low prices, big sellection, air conditioned, BAD for bicycles.

I live in texarkana, texas and there is only two bicycle shops here. Well, let's just say that when Wal-mart came in, the bike shops lost a lot of money. But I do have a question; if the bike shops here goes down, where am i going to get my bicycle stuff? Wal-mart doesn't have every thing that I need for my bike. If my derailleur gets mested up, where do I go to get one? Do I waste a tank of gas to get a 20 dollar part? So, wal-mart, low prices, big sellection, air conditioned, BAD for bicycles.

Shop where alot of people here do, they will tell you mail order and ebay. I will say your LBS but I am a shop owner.

Write the mayor, the Chamber of Commerce, and every one else who thought Wally-world would be the greatest thing to hit Texarkana since Smoky and the Bandit, and explain to them that by effectively divesting the community of local resources like a full-service bike shop, they are, in the process, divesting the community of its soul, of its economic viability, and of its desirability as a "move-to" destination. Then move to a place that has not only a decent LBS (or several), but a community that supports it (them). Better yet, make it a letter to the editor of the Texarkana Tattler (or whatever it's called), admonishing people, for the sake of their own community's cohesion, to stay away from Mall-Wart.

(Didja hear that? It was the sound of someone kicking the soap-box out from under me...)

I live in texarkana, texas and there is only two bicycle shops here. Well, let's just say that when Wal-mart came in, the bike shops lost a lot of money. But I do have a question; if the bike shops here goes down, where am i going to get my bicycle stuff? Wal-mart doesn't have every thing that I need for my bike. If my derailleur gets mested up, where do I go to get one? Do I waste a tank of gas to get a 20 dollar part? So, wal-mart, low prices, big sellection, air conditioned, BAD for bicycles.

Shop online. I tend to be able to get things extremely cheap compared to what my local bike shops charge even after you throw in shipping. I am in college and my budget is relatively small, so I look for the best deal possible.

We have quite a few bike shops around me, but I do not really make use of them. There is a small chain place with 3 locations in the city and a few other small places. There is one other shop that is close to me that I like the people at, but their prices are quite high. $30 for a SRAM PC69 chain when I can get them for $15 online. Similar for most other parts. There are a lot of other shops towards the suburbs more, but I don't have a car and would be riding out there, but I am always short on time. I will probably check them out in the summer here while I am a bit less busy.