Finding the right bike shop

Finding the right bike shop

For a list of bike shops, click here.  Before you get on your bike and head to your local bike shop, here is a checklist of features you might find useful to judge whether the bike shop is right for you.

Range of stock

Seek a shop with the range that suits your needs. Do the staff ask what you are after or tell you what you should have? If they don’t stock secondhand bikes and hire bikes, they should at least know where to find them.

Female sales staff

If they say “Come back with your boyfriend”, shop around. It can be a testosterone world out there, and it may be worthwhile putting out the antenna for female freindly shop staff.

Experienced mechanics

With the development of bike mechanic training certificates, you should soon expect to find accredited mechanics. We’ll keep you posted.

Guidance

Look for product seminars, local knowledge, rides from the shop, and bike maintenance and repair courses.

Modern conveniences

You may like those modern extras such as EFTPOS, interest free finance, weekend hours, email and website communication.

Test rides

Some people tell us that a bike is like a pair of shoes: it's just something you need to try before you buy. A good shop will let you test ride a bike, it only needs a quick spin around the block.