The Studio Difference
The Bicycle Garage ®
MSH1 Bicycle Works ®
While no single attribute defines a Bicycle Studio, it's safe to say that this style of experience often differs
from traditional bike shops in physical size and focus. Generally, studios carry fewer brands and
accessories, and serve customers with tailored, by appointment hours, in smaller, more intimate spaces.
Here's what you can expect to find.
An industry-trained expert: The owners are not only experienced in retail, but also have generally
worked for years in the cycling industry, building frames, or becoming experts in bicycle fit, or developing
or designing products.
An emphasis on fit: Most studios rely on a specific, proven fit methods to help you choose the right bike,
size and components, and the owners have been trained or certified as experts in that system.
Consistency in interaction: At most studios, the owner is the person you work with, and the person who
helps you select your components, assembles your bicycle and cares for your machine after the sale. In
this way, it's more like choosing a doctor than, say, a grocery store.
Tailored hours: You don't really "drop in" to a bicycle studio. You make an appointment, similar to other
personal services such as massage or physical therapy, in which you are assured that the expert you've
engaged has blocked a period of time exclusively for you.
Select brands: Typically studios feature products from just a few select brands and concentrate on no
more than three or four bicycle lines. Products are purchased for each customer on an individual basis, so
you get exactly what you want, rather than what's on sale or overstocked.
A clean, modern aesthetic: Rather than the sometimes endearing clutter of a classic shop or the
bustling, commercial feel of a high-volume shop, a studio uses layout and lighting to create a simple,
almost soothing, feel.
The bicycle studio may not be right for every cyclist. But it's also true that the traditional bike shop isn't
best for every cyclist. Some folks want something a little different, a little more personal, a little more
catered to their lives.