This weekend, I found a brochure hanging around the shop called “The Bike Shop Advantage”. As the title suggests, it outlines the fantastic reasons to buy a bicycle at a local bike shop rather than at a big box store. Obviously, I agree with this.

Turns out the flyer is issued by the NBDA, or the National Bicycle Dealers Association. I have never heard of this organization, but I can’t argue with many of their points & and I thought I’d share them here, as a resource for those considering a bike purchase. Not all of their points apply to every bike store or every department store, but the topics of safety and selection (I think that consultation is the crucial missing element at any Megastore) are dead on:

(click for larger image)

In my time at Curbside, I have encountered far too many new cyclists unhappily dragging in their box store bike for adjustments they should have received when they bought the bike. They are generally unhappy and disappointed with what should be an exciting new purchase, and is instead uncomfortable, awkward and not living up to their expectations. The real problem is not the bikes (although don’t get me started on box store bike quality), but the fact that these people were never asked questions about what they wanted from a bicycle. What are your expectations? Are you riding to and from work? In business clothes? Do you want a fast bike you can put miles on? Does your bike need to live outside year round or do you have a garage? How much maintenance are you willing/able to do?

These and many more aspects separate the Bike Shop from the Box Store. An experienced person who can access your needs and make recommendations; a place where you can test ride bikes and ask questions; quality products and a store that stands behind them; these traits and more make the Bike Shop experience superior, especially for the beginner cyclist. Happy biking hunting!

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