Dream Bikes

[roadie gal]

In addition to all of the others, Jamis bikes.

And a good selection of different brands of shoes.

[turner307]

Here is the list of suppliers I would start with:
• Trek
• Marin
• Orbea
• Raleigh
• Cannondale

I think Surly should be added. Terry bikes, does anyone have one? What's your feedback? I would definitely carry their gear, but I don't know a lot about their bikes. Has anyone ridden Marin? My partner has one of their commuters and loves it. They also have 2 new WSD road bikes, well priced. I am also hiring a designer to come up with cool designs for jerseys. I want to get away from women's gear with butterflys. Has anyone purchased from Harlot? I liked what I saw on their website.

Thanks everybody!

[KnottedYet]

Georgena Terry started the whole WSD revolution.

It would be a good idea to carry Terry bikes.

[Batbike]

IMH ...

Specialized -- I feel they make a very good product, including the Ruby, and have a quality product line in both bikes and equipment
Terry -- if you want the QUEEN of the women market
Trek -- for the WSD design and brand recognition/market share
Orbea -- for the higher end market with the fantastic DIVA RIVAL women bike
Independent Fabrication -- steel customized market ... LOVE their bikes!
Fuji -- make an excellent bike/women road bike, but have limited following
Litespeed -- Ti market

Then, if I could add LOTS of other high-end brands:

Bianchi
Felt
Serrotta -- customized fit system for customized bikes
Lynskey
Calfee
Kuota
Time frames
Merckx
Scott
Look
Pinarello

[RoadRaven]

IMH ...

Kuota

Pinarello

Yup... I'd add those two as well... good bikes, quality high end market

[ridebikeme]

Ummm... this is tough one HA!!

My dream bike... mass produced CAnnondale without a doubt. Otherwise, it would definitely be a Lynskey with a Campy Record group! Nothing is more confortable than a bike built for you and you only!

[Kano]

clothing: plus sizes

[Triskeliongirl]

Given that it might be hard to stock everything, I think a wise shop would carry a good variety in terms of solving different kinds of it problems. For gals with long thighs and short upper bodies like me, terrys are great (they have the slackest seat tube angles of any stock bike in the smaller sizes). For gals that can tolerate steeper seat tube angles, carry a couple of different top tube lengths and styles, i.e. trek madonnes and pilots, orbea orcas, specialize rubys, etc. If you can't become a dealer for all of these, I have heard great things aobut specialized, so maybe terry and specialized.

As for clothing, carry shebeest and terry in assorted sizes, not just tiny!

[pyxichick]

If you decide to be a Trek shop, chances are they won't want you to also sell all those other cool bikes and accessories. Besides, there are plenty of Trek shops in town. Go for brands that not a lot of other stores carry.

Surly is good because it's local.

Cheers,
Kate

[stella]

If you decide to be a Trek shop, chances are they won't want you to also sell all those other cool bikes and accessories. Besides, there are plenty of Trek shops in town. Go for brands that not a lot of other stores carry.

I agree...in my experience, trek can come down pretty hard on shop owners re: what other brands you can/cannot stock. the same goes for specialized re: accessories (such as cyclo computers, helmets, gloves).

do you have a specific market you are going after?

one shop I worked at did an excellent business carrying brands that the other shops didn't carry:
kona, bianchi (they make some nice wsd bikes PLUS touring and commuters);
independent fabrication; riv bikes; surly; circle A (great steel framed bikes); jamis (hit many different price points PLUS made hybrids at a good price); raleigh;

clothes:
terry, nalini, sugoi, castelli, exte ondo, showers pass jackets, PLUS the idea of designing your own jerseys--excellent idea!

accessories:
brooks saddles
carradice bags
bailey works messenger bags (jonathan bailey is very reasonable to work with!)
topeak

I could keep going...but I better stop...

[Trek420]

And a good assortment of kids' bikes so folks don't feel like they "have" to get their munchkin's first bike from Target or WalMart.

Good idea.

They are not my fave LBS, it's where I go to when I need a tube or last minute Power Bar. But Cyclepath in Hayward is relatively huuuuuuge for a LBS and they seem to have everything from commuters-flat bar road bikes-beach bombers-electra townies-recumbents ..... let's see .... they carry
Trek
Cannondale
Raleigh
Electra
Scott
Lightspeed
and an Orbea or two

But one thing I like about them is they have a good selection of kids bikes and I think they have a deal where if the bike is in good condition and said kid outgrows it....you can trade it in.

also in my dream bike shop it has a good selection of books and maps, maybe a spot to just hang out and read 'em and dream about that next epic ride.