Bicycle Shops versus Big Box Stores
In the United States, bicycles are sold through two channels:

 

Big Box Stores - Target, Wal-Mart, Toys-r-Us, Sports Authority,etc. 

Bicycle Shops - independently-owned specialty stores, focusing on higher-quality bikes, professional assembly, and offering a full-service repair department.

 
The bicycles sold in any bike shop, regardless of brand, are far and away better quality bicycles than anything sold at a big box store.  The bikes in a bike shop and the bikes in big box stores are two entirely different products (e.g. shoes from Payless vs. shoes from Nordstrom).
 
And the difference doesn't end with the quality of the bike itself.  The proper assembly of a bicycle is crucial to the rider's safety and enjoyment.  Independent shops exist not only to assist you in the selection of the proper bike and helmet for your child, but also to correctly assemble and fit the bicycle to your child and service the bike after the sale.
 
From our first day nearly five years ago, we've made a commitment to having high-quality kids' bikes in-stock throughout the year.  If you've purchased a bike for your child from either our shop or another bike shop, you already know the enormous difference in quality and fit.
 
Four Common Questions about Purchasing Bikes from a Bike Store
1.  Wow!  Why are these bikes so expensive?  
If you've never shopped at a local bike shop, the first thing you'll notice is that the price of bikes in these stores is considerably more than bikes sold at Wal-Mart and Target.  There are three main reasons for this:

• Quality of the bike.  In addition to the frames being sturdier, our bikes have more spokes in the wheels and use steel and alloy derailleurs and brakes that are sturdier and more durable than the plastic parts used on big box bikes.  While the manufacturing costs for our bikes are pricier up front, these parts hold their adjustment and are harder to break, therefore lowering your total cost of ownership.
• Assembly.  Bikes arrive at a retailer unassembled.  A bicycle will take up to two hours to properly assemble and a top-notch shop will have tens of thousands of dollars in tools to tighten and check every last nut and bolt on your child's bike.  Many of the tools used in a shop are specific to bicycles and require training to use.  A big box store, on the other hand, may have the same employee assembling bikes, manning the dressing room and restocking paper towels.  The professional mechanics at The Bicycle Wheel are dedicated to ensuring every bike is assembled to the highest safety standards in the injdustry.  Bikes are all that we do!
• Service.  At The Bicycle Wheel, our price includes free lifetime adjustments.  You can always bring your child's bike into our shop for while-you-wait adjustments such as refitting your child on the bike, taking off the training wheels, tightening the cables or to have us do an all-around safety check.  If you purchase a bike at a big box store and then bring it to us, we charge for these adjustments.  Usually, big box store bikes require more work to properly adjust due to sloppy tolerances and cheap parts.

This will give your child more growing room and give you a longer window of use.  Keep in mind too, that what you are buying at a bike shop is a durable good versus a disposable product and the bike can be passed down to younger siblings for years to come.
 
3.  Why not just go to Wal-Mart for a bike since my kids are going to be rough and hard on the bike?  
If your child is going to push the bike to the extremes, it makes the most sense to get a good quality, professionally-assembled, safer bike at the outset from a bike shop.  Due to the poor quality of bikes from Toys-r-Us and similar stores, it isn't unusual for them to fall apart quickly even under moderate or light use.

 

We see it all the time in our shop - the $90 bike that needs $100 in repairs.  Big box bikes are disposable toys - not bikes!  Just know that as soon as you need even a moderate repair done to a big box bike, you quickly eliminate any cost savings you had at the time of purchase.  Bikes from The Bicycle Wheel are more expensive up front, but have a lower cost of ownership.

 

The cost of ownership of a cheap bike is much more than the supposed "bargain" price you paid at the check-out lane.
 
4.  My kids aren't pro cyclists.  They're just beginners.  Why do they need "nice" bikes?
Your child will have little to no interest in riding a bike if they do not fit on it properly or the bike hardly pedals because it was never assembled properly.  An analogy here is your children's clothes - they will not want to wear shoes that are too big or small, or pants where the button is almost falling off, or a shirt that is too tight.  The same holds true for their bike.

 

We often hear from parents who purchased their child's bike at The Bicycle Wheel that they can't get their kids off of the bikes!  Give your child a durable, safe, top-quality bike when they are young and they are sure to love their bike as much as you loved yours growing up.
 
For juice boxes, picture frames and greeting cards, head to a big box store.  For a bike, head to The Bicycle Wheel - you'll have the peace of mind of knowing your child is on a high-quality safe bike that was assembled by a professional mechanic.  No cart required.