If you could own your own bike shop...

[shootingstar]

Not only locate the bike shop right by a major bike path/bike lane or signed bike route, but make sure it is within 1-2 blocks of several of these places that naturally draw people who could be/are cycling folks:

grocery store (doesn't have to be big box, just one that lots of people go to)
daycare
school
community centre which has fitness facilities and other activities
ice cream/gelato stop or coffee shop I don't expect coffee nor edible place in a bike shop. It's too hard to mix those 2 very different businesses together within 1 roof.

Are such bike stores located in such areas? Absolutely YES some bike shops, in Vancouver and Toronto, particularily those in the downtown core.


****Now would a bunch of guys, owning a bike shop, who don't have children think this? Maybe. The probably want to be a cool spot for team kitted roadies, bike wheelie mtb bikers. Fine. But that's not the whole world and it won't expand your market share.

My point is people are fitting into their schedule, all kinds of tasks and if they can go to the bike store, bank/another store, etc. nearby, even better in 1 geographic sweep/stop.

Love the idea of borrowing a saddle for 14 days or something like that. A saddle library. (Well there are toy libraries..)

A bike pump with a pressure gauge, permanently installed OUTSIDE the bike store (as well, as inside the store for the winter).

Sell floor bike pumps that aren't sheot and don't require superman strength. (I did find one. Zefal. Sorry Lezyme pump just bummed me out ...and my partner too. Who is more mechanically inclined than I am.)