Department Store vs Bike Shop: Where to Buy a Kids Bike
Walking through the bike department at a big box store, it is hard for kids to not get excited. The aisles are filled with piles of brightly coloured bicycles featuring all their favourite TV characters. Better still, these bikes are often being sold at rock bottom prices. But do they present good value to you as a parent? This gives you three reasons why we think that a bike shop can help your kid get the most out of two wheels.
For a discussion of how to size and select a kids bike click here.
How the Bike is Built
There are two aspects of bike building that we will cover here. One half of building a bike comes at the factory level. The other happens once a bike arrives at a shop in Canada. Like many modern consumer goods, bikes are made from components sourced from a number of vendors.
A bike brand that is focused on quality will usually build their own sturdy, lightweight aluminum frames in factories that exclusively build bikes for their brand. Then, they source quality parts from brands like Shimano to round out the bike build. At Fresh Air we only sell Giant and Specialized bikes, both brands known for their rigorous quality control, and exceptional manufacturing standards.
Department store brands are often looking to hit a price point, so contracts will go to the lowest bidder. There is less attention paid to quality at all levels of the build. The frames tend to be heavy steel. Even small items such as fasteners are often purchased because they are cheap, and this can have a big impact on the quality of the ride, and how the bike will last.
Bikes sold at large big box sports stores will sometimes use name brand parts on some components such as the shifters or derailleurs, but then use weaker components in less obvious spots like the hubs or brakes. This feels like a cynical attempt to fool consumers into thinking they are getting quality that is just not present throughout the bike.
Most bikes are partially assembled at the factory. When they arrive at a Canadian retailer, it is the responsibility of the store to ensure that the bike is built safely. At Fresh Air all our bikes are built by professional mechanics. We inspect the frame to ensure that it is straight, and inspect every bolt on the bike.
We disassemble parts of the bike to add extra grease, make adjustments to the hubs, and ensure that you are getting a great bicycle that will stand the test of time. To top it off the bike is inspected by a different mechanic before it is delivered to the customer to ensure that nothing has been missed. We feel that this final step adds a layer of security for our customers.
Though we cannot speak to the practices of every retailer in town, it is often the case that department store bikes are assembled as quickly as possible. In some cases bike assembly is done as piece work, with the assembler being paid for each bike they compete. There is no safety inspection of the bike before it leaves the store. Even if you find a decent bike at a larger retailer, you should price in a $75 tune up to get everything straight and running smoothly.
Design
Usually, a bike shop brand designs their own bikes. Specialized and Giant spend millions of dollars every year developing their entire range of bicycles to meet the needs of riders across a range of situations, considering factors such as comfort, weight, efficiency, and stability of the bikes.
The bike is built with the ergonomic needs of riders in mind, such as using smaller brake levers on kids bikes to make sure they can generate enough stopping power. Every component, from the tires to the hand grips is considered as part of a system. Moreover, they adhere to industry standards, meaning if you need to replace a saddle, for example, you will have a range of options available to you. And hey, they make their bikes look great too!
Department store bikes are often designed to closely mimic the appearance of their bike shop cousins but do not share the same functionality. The worst way you can spend money on a bicycle is to buy a dual suspension bike from a department store. We see so many of these bikes come in for service with seized suspension parts that didn’t even work that well to begin with.
You will not get the same attention to bike fit and ride well from a department store brand. An advantage that they can have in terms of design is that your kid might love Paw Patrol or whatever other character might be on their bike, and this will help to get them enthusiastic about riding.
Durability
This is where the rubber really meets the road. When you use cheap parts, bikes do not last as long. When brake cables are not properly sealed, they corrode. When fasteners seize, you can’t adjust the saddle height, or you can’t get the wheel off to change a tire. Worse still, because the cheapest bikes do not always use standard parts, when something breaks, the bike can become useless. Essentially, many department store bikes are meant to be disposable and used for a short period of time.
Because their bikes are designed for their intended user, Giant and Specialized kids bikes are extra sturdy and durable. One of our favourite features is the protective cage Giant fits over the derailleur of many of their kids bikes. This little touch shows us that Giant knows kids will be extra tough on their bikes and wants them to last. They are meant to be passed down from brother to sister to cousin to friend. Moreover, if something goes wrong with the bike, you have shop support on the small parts, and a lifetime warranty on the frame.
At Fresh Air we know that parenting a growing child can be expensive. We feel that though the initial cost of our bikes is higher than what you might pay at a department store, you get a bike that will be lighter, more comfortable, and more efficient for your child. Better still, you get the confidence that comes with a durable, well-built bike that will last your family for years. Come into our shop at 1291 Wellington St W and let us get your family set up for summer!
Thanks so much!