krems81 

In cities you can cater to the fixie/ss and put food on your table. I routinely rebuild vintage road bikes into single speeds or fixed gears, and I find lower end bikes, like the Schwinn World, have much greater value after you put a new wheelset on it, replace the bottom bracket, up grade the crankset, and roll it out as a ss/fg.

In chicago where its flat, the fad isn't going anywhere. If you can do really reliable custom builds and take them to the shop, you'll develop a fan base. My average build this year has been around $400, factoring in the occasional powdercoated builds with handbuilt wheels for ~$650, and the cut-corners builds for ~200-300. People buy these vintage ss conversions if you build them. I only make about $150 on a $450 bike, because I use so many nice parts. I fully rebuild and have at least 5 hours in each one, sometimes much more.

I never have a moral problem doing conversions, because most of the frames are middle of the road or less, and never had great kits to start with. If I find a bike with a nice complete road group, I'll usually try to keep it complete. I do whats practical, and if you simply follow that line of practicality, it'll lead you through to what you should be stocking/building. I put $300 or more into many of my builds because I want them to be very reliable. People do appreciate that, and pay a little more for it, covering the cost of better parts.

A major impetus for the single speed trend in cities is the fact that these bikes are being used as daily commuters and the primary mode of transportation for many people. They don't want to worry about shifting issues and extra maintenance, and they can't afford top notch gears, so they skip it and go single speed. Worry free cycling.

The other practical thing is rear shifting only. If you can eliminate the front derailleurs on some bikes and use a bar end or whatever to set up rear shifting, the buyer will probably become a walking advertisement for you. If you plan on building bikes for sale, my best advice is be creative, and try to keep in touch with the needs of your local cycling community. If you strike the right chord, you'll be a big hit.

Also, it sounds like location might be an issue. I'd take it seriously. You can probably hit a nerve no matter where you are if what you offer is unique, timely, and well executed enough. If not, it may be tough to draw the cycling community out of their way.

oldroads

Great suggestion to check the local public transportation bike racks. Kinda like seeing what's biting when you go fishing.

Yes, we've made it.
We've doubled, maybe tripled, our space since my original post.
There's a great demand for inexpensive used commuter cycles in Boston.

miamijim

Another small suggestion would be some type of light up sign for the front window or door. It could be something as simple as 'bikes'.

Back in my shop days we had alot of customers who said they couldnt tell if we were open when they drove by. We had a local neon sign company bring by samples of all their different colors. We put the sample display in the front window, I crossed the street at high noon and picked the 2 most vivid, visible colors. We had an 'open' sign made up.

I think nowadays you can get signs that look like neons but are more economical and durable.

oldroads

So, we opened up the retail shop 8 years ago and it's been a great success. We've grown a lot since the original post and now stock 80 cycles.

And I'm turning 60 this year so I'm going to sell or liquidate the shop and actually have weekends off!

Here's some info on the sale. Cambridge Used Bicycles


https://cambridgeusedbicycles.com/

arex

That link doesn't seem to work.

oldroads

Cambridge Used Bicycles
How 'bout this?

arex

Keep getting "This page cannot be displayed," as if the website is down.

rootboy 

I see it.

Pompiere

The link worked for me.

Congratulations on your successful business venture and your impending retirement. My wife and I enjoy visiting antique malls on our travels, but I have never seen a bike shop in any of them, although I have seen bikes and the occasional bike part.

arex

Must be our firewall at work. Just checked on my phone, and it comes right up. Sorry to bother anyone.

oldroads

Thank you, and I believe we will complete the sale on March 31st.. !

rhm

Congratulations!

jimmuller 

Thank you for being in business all this time. Though getting there is inconvenient for those of us who live in the western suburbs I have been in your shop any number of time and made more than a few key purchases. Best wishes on your retirement!

oldroads

Thanks very much!