When will my order be ready for pickup?
For parts and accessories,your order will be ready 1 hour after your order is placed. If your order includes a bicycle, please allow us 3 hours if ordered before 2:30 PM. If your order was placed after 2:30 PM, your bike will be ready by 12 PM the next day unless notified otherwise.
How long will you hold my order?
Unless special arrangements are made, we ask that you pick up your order within 10 days of purchase.
What happens if I don't pick up my order on time?
If you order is not picked up in 10 days, we'll return your item to our inventory with a 10% restocking fee.
Can someone else pick up my order?
Yes. Make note of the person in the order comment field, and make sure they have both a photo ID and your confirmation email (paper or digital).
Where do I go to pick up my order?
Let us know that you are here to pick up your online order and we'll be happy to get it for you and answer any questions. If it's a bicycle, we'll help you with basic adjustments and a run-through to ensure a safe and comfortable fit.
When will my credit card be charged?
Your credit card will be charged at the time of purchase.
Can I return pick up items at the store?
Yes. The process is like returning items purchased in-store. Just ask a staff member and they will walk you through the process.
I think my bike has a flat, do I need to replace the tire and tube?
How long has it been since you pumped air into it? Unlike automobile tires, bicycles tires do not retain their air pressure nearly as long, so it may appear that you have a bad tube when in fact it just needs air.
If the tube is bad, the options are to use a patch kit (only a temporary fix) or replace the tube itself. You do not need to replace the tire unless there is significant damage (dry rotted, torn, or severely punctured).
What caused my flat tire?
Flat tires can be caused by numerous objects or circumstances in our area. One of our primary causes is the Sand Spur (Cenchrus Tribuloides Linnaeus). These little seed pods can and will puncture your inner tube by embedding themselves in your tire. If you ride any of our paths or trails in the area beware of these weeds along your route and if you see any in your tires, carefully flick them off your tire with some sort of tool. We say carefully as they will quickly stick in your fingers.
Another cause of a hole in a tube is riding with low pressure. This primarily causes two types of flats, torn valve stems and pinch flats.
Other types of punctures are more obvious and occur from objects penetrating the tire and making a hole in the tube. Make sure you know what caused your flat prior to installing your new tube.
Do your services include patching up tubes?
Unfortunately, we do not perform that service. Though we do carry a wide variety of tube sizes and will gladly do a tube replacement for you.
I replaced my worn bike chain and now the new chain still skips gears. Why is this happening?
It's possible that your chain was far too worn to warrant just a chain replacement. This can be avoided by periodically checking for chain wear using a chain checker tool like the Park Tool CC-2 and altering your riding habits by shifting into different gears. Consistently riding in one or two gears, in conjunction with a worn out chain, will not only accelerate wear on your chain but also on your cassette and chain rings.
Another possible explanation is that the bike was never properly assembled, even out of the factory. Most often the derailleur hanger is misaligned, so no amount of "tuning" can fix this issue without first realigning the hanger. Shawn Spencer does an excellent job explaining this in the video below.
My bike was assembled incompletely or incorrectly. How much will it cost to have you make it right?
Normally we'll have customers come in with partially assembled bikes that they either ordered online or from a big box retailer. Most often in those cases we charge a $100 assembly fee to give it our due diligence, where we approach the job as if the bike came directly out of the box. Through our experience we found that this approach avoids costly or dangerous outcomes stemming from lack of oversight.
Can I schedule a bike service?
We perform services on a first come, first serve basis and encourage customers to be proactive by bringing in their bikes before the outset of riding season.
How often should I bring my bike in for a tune-up?
That depends on several factors such as how often you ride, where the bike is stored. and riding habits. If you ride regularly, the rule of thumb is to have your bike serviced once a season.
Do you buy used bikes?
We do not, however, we do take in acceptable trade-ins for new bike purchases.
I am not sure what sized bike I need. Where do I begin?
Sizing charts from bicycle manufacturers are often the primary source for determining the right size for your bike. You can find such sizing charts in our online bicycle listings, which are specific to the individual bike model. However, sometimes sizing charts are not as accurate as one would hope, due to an individual rider's body geometry (e.g. long torso, short legs v.s. short torso, long legs). For that reason we encourage customers come into Bike Cycles to undergo a brief, complimentary sizing session using our state-of-the-art Retül Match Tower technology.
I think the bike I bought from you is the wrong size, can I return it for an exchange or refund?
Yes, we accept bike returns within 30 days of the purchase date. No questions asked. We can arrange for an exchange should the appropriate model/size become available.
Can you explain how bike sizes are measured, and what the differences are between mountain bike and road bike sizes?
We can, but we'll let this brief wikiHow video do all the explaining.
How do get around Wilmington by bike?
We get it. Getting around this town by bike can be problematic. However, navigating around Wilmington doesn't have to require living here your whole life. We're here to help! While the alternative transportation infrastructure is lacking some parts of Wilmington and its environs, local governments are aware of the increasing demand for bicycle and pedestrian friendly-paths. We highly recommend checking our maps page. Or just drop by the shop to receive free map printouts.
Are lights or reflectors mandatory by law?
During low light conditions, the state of North Carolina requires that bicyclists equip their bikes with headlights visible from 300 feet and taillight or rear reflector that is visible from 200 feet.