Bike World
Bike World is a privately-held Iowa bicycle retailer founded in 1979, operating four stores across the Des Moines metro area plus an e-commerce site. It sells bikes, e-bikes, apparel, parts, and accessories, and offers fitting, repair, rental, and trade-in services to individual consumers.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded1979
- HeadquartersWest Des Moines, United States
- Headcount11–50
- GTM typeB2C
- OfferingServices
What Bike World does
Bike World is a privately-held, traditional brick-and-mortar bicycle retailer founded in 1979 and headquartered in West Des Moines, Iowa. The company operates four physical stores across the Des Moines metro area (Ames, Clive, Urbandale, West Des Moines), complemented by an e-commerce site that supports online ordering with free in-store pickup. Its customer base is entirely B2C, spanning casual and recreational cyclists, road cyclists, mountain bikers, commuters, families with children, and event participants — most notably as an official charter for RAGBRAI (Register's Annual Great Bicycle Ride Across Iowa).
The product portfolio covers the full retail bicycle stack: complete bikes across electric, road, mountain, commuter, comfort, cruiser, fitness, hybrid, children's, recumbent, cyclocross, BMX, and used categories; a comprehensive parts catalog; helmets, shoes, car racks, tires, wheels, and accessories; and cycling apparel. Service revenue comes from bicycle repair, professional Retül bike fitting, bike rentals, trade-in programs (including a specialized Upway e-bike trade-in), and Trek's Project One custom configuration. The underlying technology stack is conventional retail: standard e-commerce infrastructure, SEO-optimized product pages, email marketing, social media, and a partner-provided Retül fitting system. There are no proprietary software platforms, APIs, or AI/ML components.
The business model is straightforward omnichannel specialty retail: one-time transactional sales of bikes and gear at prices ranging from roughly $899 for entry-level e-bikes to over $4,000 for premium builds, supplemented by fee-based services and short-term rentals. Authorized dealer relationships with Trek, Cannondale, Giant, Liv Cycling, and Electra anchor inventory and brand demand; the Trek Ride Club loyalty program provides post-sale retention mechanics. With 11-50 employees, no disclosed revenue or funding, and 45+ years of continuous local operation, Bike World functions as a durable, multi-location independent bike shop rather than a venture-backed growth vehicle.
Bike World firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Bike World
- Legal name
- Bike World
- Website
- https://bikeworldiowa.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 1979
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 11–50 employees
- Short description
- Bike World is a privately-held Iowa bicycle retailer founded in 1979, operating four stores across the Des Moines metro area plus an e-commerce site. It sells bikes, e-bikes, apparel, parts, and accessories, and offers fitting, repair, rental, and trade-in services to individual consumers.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Bike World industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Bicycle Retail
- NAICS
- Motorcycle, Bicycle, and Parts Manufacturing (336991), Recreational Goods Rental (532284)
- SIC
- Motorcycles, Bicycles & Parts (3751)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Cycling & Bike Retail (Sales, Service & Accessories) (CRAMABAH)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Bicycle Retail (New Bikes) (CRAMAHAA), Bike Parts & Components Retail (CRAMAHAB), Bike Apparel, Helmets & Protective Gear Retail (CRAMAHAC), Bike Accessories Retail (Lights, Locks, Racks, Bags) (CRAMAHAD), Bike Service, Repair & Maintenance Shops (CRAMAHAH), Bike Fit, Performance & Training Retail/Studios (CRAMAHAI), Bike Rental, Demo & Tour Operators (Retail-Adjacent) (CRAMAHAJ)
Keywords
Where Bike World is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- West Des Moines
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices4 records
Markets served
Bike World business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2C
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Operations, Personnel, Supply Chain, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure
Revenue model
- Bicycle Retail Sales: Sales of complete bicycles across multiple categories including road, mountain, electric, commuter, comfort, cruiser, fitness, hybrid, children's, recumbent, cyclocross, BMX, and used bikes. Bikes range from entry-level to high-end models with prices from approximately $899 to over $4,000.
- Parts and Accessories Sales: Sales of bicycle components including pedals, headsets, handlebars, grips/tape, wheels, tires/tubes, brakes, chains, cranksets, and other replacement parts. Also includes accessories such as helmets, shoes, car racks, hydration systems, lighting, locks, and more.
- Apparel and Clothing Sales: Sales of cycling apparel including jerseys, shorts, outerwear, gloves, socks, and accessories. Also includes casual cycling-inspired clothing items.
- Service and Repair: Bicycle service and repair offerings including general maintenance, tune-ups, and specialized services. Also includes RetÜl bike fitting technology for custom bike fitting sessions.
- Bike Rentals: Rental services for bicycles, allowing customers to rent bikes for short-term use.
- Trade-In Programs: Trade-in program allowing customers to exchange used bikes and e-bikes (through Upway partnership) toward the purchase of new bicycles.
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels2 records
Marketing channels8 records
Bike World product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Bike World is a traditional bicycle retail shop that sells complete bicycles across all categories (electric, road, mountain, commuter, comfort, cruiser, fitness, hybrid, children's, recumbent, cyclocross, BMX, and used), along with cycling apparel, helmets, shoes, parts, and accessories. The company complements product sales with professional services including bicycle repair and maintenance, Retül-based custom bike fitting, bike rentals, and trade-in programs for new and used bikes. Bike World serves as an authorized dealer for Trek, Liv Cycling, Cannondale, Electra, Giant, Catrike, TerraTrike, Thule, and Yakima, and operates as an official RAGBRAI charter operator.
Product overview
Bike World is a traditional brick-and-mortar bicycle retail shop with locations across Iowa (Ames, Clive, Urbandale, West Des Moines) serving customers since 1979. The business operates a comprehensive e-commerce platform alongside its physical stores, offering a complete portfolio of bicycles across all categories (electric, road, mountain, commuter, comfort, cruiser, fitness, hybrid, children's, recumbent, cyclocross, BMX), cycling apparel and accessories, safety equipment, and a full range of replacement parts. The company distinguishes itself through professional services including bicycle repair, professional bike fitting using RetÜl technology, equipment rentals, and custom bicycle programs. Additionally, Bike World serves as an official RAGBRAI (Register's Annual Great Bicycle Ride Across Iowa) charter operator, providing event-specific support and registration services. The product offering is organized as a traditional retail catalog supplemented by service offerings, with no SaaS, API, or AI-powered components.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Bicycles Complete range of new and used bicycles for individual consumers including Electric, Road, Mountain, Commuter/Urban, Comfort, Cruiser, Fitness, Hybrid, Children's, Recumbent, Cyclocross, and BMX models, sourced from authorized brand partnerships with Trek, Liv Cycling, Cannondale, Electra, and Giant. Pricing ranges from approximately $899 for entry-level bikes to over $4,000 for high-end road models.
- Cycling Apparel and Clothing
Companies that use Bike World
Customer profileSegments6 records
Ideal customer profiles6 records
Bike World technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Bike World partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Eleven partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.
- TrekcoreBike World is an authorized Trek dealer, offering Trek brand bicycles, components, and accessories. The partnership includes participation in the Trek Ride Club loyalty program, offering rewards for recorded rides.
- Liv CyclingcoreAuthorized Liv Cycling dealer offering Liv brand bicycles designed specifically for women cyclists.
- CannondalecoreAuthorized Cannondale dealer featuring a wide selection of Cannondale road, mountain, and hybrid bicycles.
- ElectracoreAuthorized Electra dealer offering Electra's cruiser and townie style bicycles known for comfort-focused design.
- GiantcoreAuthorized Giant dealer featuring Giant brand bicycles across multiple categories.
- CatrikeminorAuthorized Catrike dealer offering Catrike recumbent tricycles.
- TerraTrikeminorAuthorized TerraTrike dealer for recumbent tricycles.
- ThuleminorAuthorized Thule dealer offering car racks including hitch-mount, trunk-mount, and roof-mount options.
- YakimaminorAuthorized Yakima dealer for car rack systems.
- RAGBRAIcoreBike World is an official RAGBRAI (Register Annual Great Bicycle Ride Across Iowa) charter, offering RAGBRAI charter registration, event support, and participating in RAGBRAI-related activities including a documentary.
- UpwayminorPartnership for e-bike trade-in program, allowing customers to trade in used e-bikes toward new purchases.
Scale indicators1 record
Recent moves1 record
Expansion highlights5 records
Bike World competitors and assessment
Company assessmentMarket position
Competitive moat3 records
Key risks5 records
Key highlights6 records
Customer concentration
Bike World social profiles
Digital presenceBike World compliance and trust
Trust signalCompliance1 record
Bike World financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Bike World leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Bike World funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Bike World M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Bike World
What does Bike World do?
Bike World is a traditional bicycle retail shop that sells complete bicycles across all categories (electric, road, mountain, commuter, comfort, cruiser, fitness, hybrid, children's, recumbent, cyclocross, BMX, and used), along with cycling apparel, helmets, shoes, parts, and accessories. The company complements product sales with professional services including bicycle repair and maintenance, Retül-based custom bike fitting, bike rentals, and trade-in programs for new and used bikes. Bike World serves as an authorized dealer for Trek, Liv Cycling, Cannondale, Electra, Giant, Catrike, TerraTrike, Thule, and Yakima, and operates as an official RAGBRAI charter operator.
Is Bike World a public or private company?
Bike World is a private company. It is classified as unknown and is currently operating.
When was Bike World founded?
Bike World was founded in 1979. It employs 11 to 50 people.
Where is Bike World based?
Bike World is headquartered in West Des Moines, United States, in the North America region.
How does Bike World make money?
Six revenue lines are on record. Bicycle Retail Sales are the primary driver. The others are parts and Accessories Sales, apparel and Clothing Sales, service and Repair, bike Rentals and trade-In Programs.
Does Bike World have an API?
No public API is recorded for Bike World.
What industry is Bike World in?
Bike World's product category is Bicycle Retail. Its primary akta.pro industry code is CRAMABAH, Cycling & Bike Retail (Sales, Service & Accessories), with a secondary code of CRAMAHAA, Bicycle Retail (New Bikes). Its NAICS code is 336991 and its SIC code is 3751.