[ilamont]

I buy bikes from local specialty shops because they know how to put the bikes together and service them properly. Other customers like to use them to try accessories before purchase.

The family-owned shop I use in the Boston area (https://farinas.com) has a pretty solid, all-season business model: Bikes on the second floor, lawn mowers and snow blowers on the first floor, and the repair shop on the first floor. I see they also sell generators and chainsaws - items that may not be easy to ship or service online.