Bike Shop

For a biking enthusiast, your local bike shop is something of a cultural center. In the American West, these shops cater to mountain bikers with their love of the trail. In large metropolitan areas such as New York, Paris, or Shanghai they are angled more towards the commuter biker. Shanghai especially has a reputation as a biking city, where the number of cyclists is many times the number of people who own cars.

A bike shop sells more than just bicycles, it is something like a car dealership. Most shops have a service department where you can have your bike tuned up or repaired professionally. Of course, if you are a do it yourselfer, or want to save some cash, they will also sell you the parts to make the repairs yourself.

And then there are the cultural aspects of a bike shop. Cycling is a blend of cultures, from the ultra-athletic realm of bike racing, to the nature loving mountain biker. Of course, there are many stops in between, but you can find a representative sample in the employees of your local bike shop. They can give you tips on good places for a quick ride, or how to get the most out of the bike you’re using.