How to start your own small-town bicycle shop
(Page 4 of 5)
March/April 1974
By the Mother Earth News editors
Space doesn't permit a list of the specific parts you'll need but here's a good working principle: Especially at the beginning, don't try to stock every component for every machine made it can't be done. Concentrate instead on replacement items and accessories for the bikes you handle and maybe other popular brand sold in town. They'll probably fit other lines also, since many parts are interchangeable among good 10-speeders. Remember, if you don't stock a certain article you can always order it when you need it. That's better than having odds and ends gathering dust on your shelves.
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If possible, assemble a couple of bicycles before you order parts so you'll be familiar with the various bits and pieces. Then-if you still have trouble selecting from the wholesale catalogs-talk to at least two of your suppliers. They should be able to give you plenty of help (and may even go so far as to make up lists of suggested merchandise for you). After a while you'll learn what to order and what not to, and your inventory will grow until you can give your customers just about anything they need. And don't neglect the parts-and-accessories end of the business: Such sales will make up a large part of your income.
TOOLS
Obviously, you'll need tools to put bicycles together and keep them that way but there's no need, in the beginning, to spend more than $100 on this equipment. First, get a set of metric wrenches, some adjustable wrenches and a few screwdrivers. You'll be amazed at the repairs you can do with these few items alone. You'll also need some tire repair tools, plus a few gadgets made especially for bike work. The rear gear cluster (or freewheel) on a 10-speed model, for instance, can be removed only with a special piece of equipment and different variations of the tool are necessary for various brands of the cluster. Again, your supplier can tell you what to order. The more expensive articles such as movable repair stands and air compressors can come later, as your business grows.
ASSEMBLY AND REPAIR
When you're just getting into the trade, putting bicycles together can teach you almost everything you need to know except the best way to go about it. At the outset, just to assemble a modern 10speed machine may seem an impossible task. The first one I tackled took me the best part of two days before it was fully adjusted and ready to go. Now I can do the same job in about 15 minutes.
The best solution to assembly and repair problems is to get a good book on bikes and read it as you go along. My own favorite and the manual I learned from-is Derailleur 5, 10 and 15 Speed Bicycle Repair ($3.95 from XYZYX Information Corporation, 21116 Van Owen, Canoga Park, California 91303). Some distributors hold regular "repair schools" and if you can get in on one of these, so much the better.
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