Having so many choices with bicycles makes it hard to get rolling

Bikes aren't just for weekend rides and recreation anymore. Dedicated bicycle lanes, two-wheel-friendly public transit, and a push toward greener lifestyles mean people are increasingly likely to pedal to work or to run errands.

But with so many choices — road, hybrid, mountain — it's hard to know how to get rolling. If you want to buy a bike but don't know where to start, or need repairs for a bike you already own, nonprofit Twin Cities Consumers' Checkbook's ratings of area bike shops will help you track down shops that will make things easy. Until Oct. 5, Checkbook is offering free access to its ratings of area bike shops to Star Tribune readers via Checkbook.org/StarTribune/bikes.

Bike models come in a range of styles: mountain, road, commuter, touring, cruisers, folding, electric assist — although many models mix and match features of several types. To narrow your choices, think about how you will use your wheels. Will you run errands, commute, work out, compete? How often will you ride? What kind of surface will you roll on? Smooth roads, potholed city streets, off-road trails? How hilly will the terrain be? Do you have a need for speed? In general, the more you plan to ride and compete, the more you'll pay.

Good shops will take the time to fit you carefully.

Don't purchase a bike until you have taken test rides on several. For each bike you test, have the store's salesperson fit you properly. Then observe the smoothness of the ride, the bike's responsiveness, how comfortable your body feels, the bike's stability, and how easy it is to control, shift, and brake. Tell the salespeople what you like and dislike and let them make adjustments.

Test several bikes in a wide price range. You may find that you can get a thoroughly satisfactory bike for much less than you expected.

When you are ready to buy, make sure the store will do a high-quality job of assembling your bike. Retailers are responsible for final assembly and adjustment. When bikes arrive from the factory, some components are not yet attached. If shop mechanics do no more than slap on the remaining parts, the bike won't work.

Any shop will assemble and adjust the bike so you can ride out using all the gears; that typically takes about 45 minutes. But a great shop will do much more — possibly spending two to four hours on assembly.

Almost all bike shops offer a period of free adjustments after sales. Many offer free adjustments for the life of the bicycle, while others limit them to one year, six months, or less.

Prices for new bicycles change little from store to store, and you won't find big savings by buying online. Because bike manufacturers maintain strict pricing controls over retailers, even a $25 difference for major name brands is rare.

Especially since there's no price advantage to buying bikes online, it's best to purchase from a local shop for the expertise of their salespeople and mechanics for fitting and adjustments. Because major manufacturers don't allow online-only stores to sell bikes, even if you do buy online, you will just end up getting redirected to a local store for purchase and assembly. (For example, if you select and buy a bike on Trek's website, your sale will be finalized by one of its local dealers.)

On the other hand, the market for bike components and accessories — ranging from handlebars to clothing to car-top carriers — is less stringent, with some stores charging half as much as their competition for a particular item. You will find even lower prices for accessories online.

Checkbook's undercover shoppers also found very large price differences for bike repairs. For example, for a basic tune-up for a Giant TCR Advanced Pro 1 road bike, shops quoted prices ranging from $65 to $150. And shops quoted prices ranging from $20 to $80 to install customer-supplied tubeless tires on a Cannondale Habit Carbon 3 trail bike.

Twin Cities Consumers' Checkbook magazine and Checkbook.org is a nonprofit organization with a mission to help consumers get the best service and lowest prices.