Bike World

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.

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

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

• Bicycle retail
• Bike repair services
• Cycling apparel
• Bike fitting
• E-bike sales

Headquarters

HQ city

West Des Moines

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices4 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Operations, Personnel, Supply Chain, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. 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.
2. 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.
3. Apparel and Clothing Sales: Sales of cycling apparel including jerseys, shorts, outerwear, gloves, socks, and accessories. Also includes casual cycling-inspired clothing items.
4. 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.
5. Bike Rentals: Rental services for bicycles, allowing customers to rent bikes for short-term use.
6. 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

Core 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

Segments6 records

Ideal customer profiles6 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Eleven partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• TrekcoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorBike 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 CyclingcoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorAuthorized Liv Cycling dealer offering Liv brand bicycles designed specifically for women cyclists.
• CannondalecoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorAuthorized Cannondale dealer featuring a wide selection of Cannondale road, mountain, and hybrid bicycles.
• ElectracoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorAuthorized Electra dealer offering Electra's cruiser and townie style bicycles known for comfort-focused design.
• GiantcoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorAuthorized Giant dealer featuring Giant brand bicycles across multiple categories.
• CatrikeminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorAuthorized Catrike dealer offering Catrike recumbent tricycles.
• TerraTrikeminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorAuthorized TerraTrike dealer for recumbent tricycles.
• ThuleminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorAuthorized Thule dealer offering car racks including hitch-mount, trunk-mount, and roof-mount options.
• YakimaminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorAuthorized Yakima dealer for car rack systems.
• RAGBRAIcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerBike 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.
• UpwayminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorPartnership 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

Market position

Competitive moat3 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/bikeworldiowa
• Instagraminstagram.com/bikeworldiowa
• YouTubeyoutube.com/watch?v=QqJIt6VVyw0
• Xx.com/bikeworldiowa

Compliance1 record

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Bike World