German engineer Baron Karl Dreiss von Sauerbronn is credited with
inventing the first wooden-wheeled bicycle in 1817. His bicycle was
first exhibited in Paris on April 6, 1818. While this first bicycle
was steerable and looked a lot like today's modern bicycles, it was
missing one important component: pedals! Powered instead by
the operator's running feet, this model soon gave way to pedal-operated
versions. During the 1890s, Americans embraced the newly-invented
safety bicycle, whose equal-size front and rear wheels made it easier to
mount than earlier high-wheel models. Local bicycle shops, like the
Wright Cycle Exchange in Dayton, Ohio, sprang up all over America.
Many of these shops sold and repaired bicycles, and some even manufactured
their own bicycles. Over the years, the bicycle was continually
improved with the addition of rubber wheels, shock absorbers and brakes
as well as gear shifters and lighter weight components.
Bicycles at a Long Beach Island (NJ) Bicycle Shop
A good local bicycle shop can help you buy the best bike for your needs
and budget, match your physique with the right size bicycle frame, and
most importantly, get a good fitting done. Well-adjusted seat and
handlebar heights will enable you to ride comfortably and efficiently,
and can help prevent injury to your muscles and joints.
Initial setup of a bicycle depends upon the skill of the mechanic.
Gears, brakes, and other moving parts must be carefully assembled and
adjusted for optimal performance. There is no substitute for an
experienced bicycle mechanic; proper assembly and adjustment at the point
of purchase is a key benefit that sets local bicycle shops apart from
online shops and department stores. A brick-and-mortar bike shop
will also tend to stock cycling products that are suited to local terrain
and cycling conditions. Shops located in mountainous areas are
likely to stock a good selection of mountain bikes and accessories whereas
shops located in the Midwestern prairie states are likely to carry more
road bikes and hybrid bicycles.
Reputable bicycle shops generally offer maintenance and replacement parts
such as tires, chains, brake pads and other wearing items. Often
these shops have information about where to ride, group rides, and even
connections with racing organizations. Developing a relationship
with a good shop will go a long way toward your enjoyment of this sport.
BicycleShops.us is a cycling resource that features convenient
access to state, regional, and local bicycle shop listings as well as
online shopping for bicycle parts & accessories. Bicycle shop
owners may also be interested in the National Bicycle Dealers Association,
NBDA, a non-profit trade organization of
bicycle retailers, with ancillary membership from bicycle product vendors
and others allied to the bicycle industry. Their stated mission is
to aid the growth of cycling by supporting specialty bicycle retailers
through research, education, and advocacy.
In this bicycle shop directory, you can find a broad selection of local
bike shops in each state. Most bicycle stores offer both sales
and service; stores that rent bicycles or only sell bicycles are noted
as such. Be sure to call ahead before visiting these shops to check
their hours of operation, and to verify their location and status.
Although we try to keep these listings current, some of the bicycle shops
listed herein may have relocated or even ceased operations.
Browse this bicycle touring guide and directory and learn about group and self-guided tours
in North America, Europe, and elsewhere. www.BicycleTours.us