New to mountain biking or looking to purchase a new bike?
Many riders have questions about mountain biking and road riding, and the best places to ask are your local bike shops. Supporting local bike shops not only helps drive their business, you discover trails and places to ride just by talking with the awesome shop employees. Trust me, they love talking about bikes with you!
Cincinnati and Northern Kentucky have many trail options for you to explore, and bike shops fit your bike specifically to your needs and specifications.
There are more than 15 bike shops in Greater Cincinnati & Northern Kentucky, so while you're here, this is a comprehensive list of all of the bike shops in the area for you to choose from!
Top Local Bike Shops in Greater Cincinnati & Northern Kentucky:
Bicycle House
Bike 513
BioWheels
Bishop’s Bicycles
Campus Cyclery
Flyin' Saucer Bicycle Repair
Jim’s Bicycle Shop
MoBo Bicycle Co-Op
Montgomery Cyclery
Morrow Bike Shop
Public Service Bicycle Works
Reser Bicycle Outfitters
Ron's Bike Garage
Smitty’s Cyclery
Spun Bicycles
The Garage OTR Bicycle Service Shop
Trek Bicycle
West Chester Cyclery
West Trails Bicycles
Visit coratrails.org/shops for websites and directions.
Here are a few questions you might ask:
1. Where can I get my bike repaired?
Most shops in Cincinnati can repair your bike, including basic maintenance to advanced upkeep. Mountain bikes with shocks and suspension require routine maintenance to perform safely on the trails. Rule of thumb, take your bike in for a check up 1 time a year minimum, depending on how often you ride. They spot potential problems before they start, and the last thing you want is a mechanical issue on the trail.
2. I have a flat tire, what do I do?
Bike shops will always help you out with your flat tire.
A question with a question. Do you have tubeless or inner tubes? If you aren’t sure, when you remove your tire, you’ll either see a tube inside or sealant (tubeless).
Regardless if you have tubeless or not, it’s always a smart idea to keep spare inner tubes. You can use those in a pinch with tubeless. Ask your bike shop what size inner tube you need for your specific bike and carry them with you in a saddle bag during your next ride. A patch kit, CO2, and portable bike pump are great assets to purchase as well.
3. What bike is the best for mountain biking?
There are many great brands and types of bikes. It depends on the type of riding you’d like to do. There are hardtails, full suspension, downhill mountain bikes, electric mountain bikes (eMTB), all of which are fun and serve a purpose. Brands like Santa Cruz, Niner, Specialized, Ibis, Salsa, Trek are great places to start looking, but be sure to talk with your bike shop to discover the bike that is right for you!
4. How do I maintain my bike?
Ask your bike shop for a comprehensive bike maintenance check list. Here are a few to get you started.
- Check your brakes & brake levers
- Clean your chain & oil your chain
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Check your shifting alignment
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Keep your dropper post free of debris
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Make sure bolts are still tight
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Inspect your tires and check your intertubes/ refill sealant
Your bike shop can also guide you through your specific bike and things to consider, even when cleaning your bike. They are the best teachers in town! Park Tools also has great videos for those DIY folks, but I still recommend taking it into a bike shop and learning a few things before doing surgery on your bike.
5. Where can I ride my bike in Cincinnati & Northern Kentucky?
There are plenty of places to ride your bike. If you are road riding, I recommend reviewing the Low-Stress Bike Map created by Tri-State Trails. If you are ready to mountain bike, review the many trail options for you to explore at coratrails.org/trails. Trail conditions matter in the dirt, so be sure to review that site before heading out to make sure your trail is open and ready to ride!
Not sure where to start? Review this beginner mountain bike guide to get you started!
Find your local bike shop and get geared up for your next bike trip! I hope to see you on the trails!