gerv 

The roadies are finished for the year... they spend all their time on RC cause there's nothing else to do. The hordes of LCF posters are struggling through the snow to get groceries.

That's why the numbers are down.

aaronechang

Have you checked out Blue Line Bike Lab in the Heights? They're a very commuter-friendly store - a good % of their customers are bike commuters, and their philosophy is that commuters always go to the front of the line when it comes to service. Plus they're easy to bike to - they're located right off of Heights Blvd. (on White Oak / 6th). They also have a bike rack right in front, although a lot of people just bring their bike inside (plenty of room).

Roody

Except for me. I'm still sitting it out with a sore paw,

scattered73

I have been to blue line a couple of times need to get by there more. I really like that commuter motto I will have to remember that when my norm lbs is to busy.

cyclokitty 

My lbs has a bike rack outside the door, as well the city has a bunch of ring and post bike racks up and down the street. So luckily there are plenty of spots available when I show up with my bike.

Torrilin

And me. I'm starting to rehab the knee tho.

As always... local bike shops have bike racks. With bikes attached. Not for sale. The one shop that uses racks to display bikes uses movable ones that are large and take a good dozen or so bikes... all of which get chained to the rack.

I've got my pick of wheelbenders, wave racks, city issue racks, ring and post racks... you name it, odds are a local shop has one for the customers. Most shops around here have an employee or two who rides to work, and customers often come via bike. It really seems to help the shops, since they can *see* the customer's existing bike or test the fit right in the shop.

Engyo

Hi, Scattered -

Boone Cycles has racks outside; mostly new bikes on them tho.

I leaned my old Trek up against a new bike - just made sure it was the side of the saddle and the bar padding in contact.

Sad to say, I drove it there. It doesn't go too fast with the rear hub blown.

scattered73

My bike has seen that rack more than a few times, I am tempted to swing by there to see if they have any of the 09 Bianchi steel road bikes coming in I notice they have rack eyelets on them which is what I really want on a new road bike, but they aren't that common. Apparently I am obsessed with racks.

Roody

Then you probably voted for BaRACK Obama.

I-Like-To-Bike

You should rethink your priorities.

Roody

Our brains really do work differently!

scattered73

rotharpunc

my LBS tried to offer a rack when they opened several years ago, alot of commuters go there so the owner thought it would be a great idea. The city cited him for blocking the sidewalk!!!

guy1138

When I first clicked this thread, I thought it would be about shops not selling bike racks for cars.

Ironically, the LBS that I can ride to is the only one without a bike rack. Go figure.

BarracksSi

38 replies, and only ONE ^^^ offered the notion that it's not up to the shop whether or not they can even HAVE a rack out front.

I'll bet that if most of you asked the shops whether it was their choice or the property owner's policy to not have bike racks out front, you'll find that not very many shops will say that it was their idea.

Besides, I kinda like bringing my bikes into the shop. Employees and customers like talking about them. Might even be helping business, too.

gwd

In DC, last time I checked, the city will install racks for free on only two conditions, the property owner says its OK and the rack is free for anyone to use. They put the racks on the sidewalk.

BarracksSi

To complicate things, the property owner likely isn't the bike shop at all, but their landlord, who owns the retail strip that they're leasing out of.

AdamD

Exactly. My favorite bike shop is in a strip mall type building, so they really have no say. The owner is a heads-up guy so he puts out a triathlon style rack out front that will hold 4-5 bikes when the shop is open. You can't lock to it, but you don't really need to since it's a small shop and the rack is right in front of the window.

rogerstg

The two shops I ride to have racks out front - I still bring my bike in the store with me.

Roody

That's probably because most of the time it IS up to the shop. (Several mentioned that the LBS has bike racks, but they're used for display of new or used bikes.) Usually, if a shop has off-street parking for cars, they could choose to convert one space to parking for up to 11 bikes. They may choose not to give up even one parking spot--possibly because they don't have many customers arriving by bike.

Crast

My LBS has a rack, but I've never really seen the reason to use it. It is crowded inside and my bike does have to lean against one of their equipment walls, but most of the time I'm bringing the bike inside so they can take a look at it anyway. Even if it's just to buy tubes, I'll bring it in as I don't carry my lock with me on training rides.

sykerocker 

Now that you mention it, the only shop in Richmond that has a rack out front is Richmond Re-Cycle, down in the college area and very commuter oriented.

And thinking back, none of the three shops (five locations) I worked in 35 years ago had racks out front, either.

Of course, back then you could park your bike outside the shop and go in to do business for awhile - and when you went back outside your bike was still there. Untouched. And kickstands were still the usual, so who needed a rack?

derath

Really? Most commercial space for small retail businesses is leased. So even if a shop isn't in some sort of strip mall, it is likely they still have little say on whether they can install a rack. Same for a parking lot.

I can't say that I have ever seen a bike shop using a regular rack (one you would expect to lock your bike to) for display. Many have temp racks that they bring out front to display bikes, but not ones I would want to lock my bike to anyhow.

Lastly, and probably most important, is the cost factor. I don't know too many bike shops who are raking in the cash. Most do a good business but it isn't something you tend to get into to get uber rich. So a bike shop has to weigh the cost of installing a rack (and usually dealing with the petitions etc to be allowed to install) vs how many people would use it. I would bet most say for the few people that bike to the shop it is more cost effective to let them bring their bike in.

-D

Elkhound

Well, I suppose if your bike is rideable you don't need to go to the shop, do you?

gwd

A coffee shop here converted a car parking space on the street into bike parking. If a coffee shop can do it so can a bike shop. A bar seems to have converted a car space to motorcycle parking- with cctv over the bar so the bikers can see when someone is checking out their bikes. The bar also has bike racks on the adjacent sidewalk since bicyclists also hang out there. So, it can happen.