bicycle shops hate us !!!

[happycheapskate]

re: Whiterock Lake

Richardson Bike Mart is lame. They are seriously overpriced for everything they sell, even down to pull-off parts and presta-shrader adapters.

Try Don Johle's in Garland at Beltline Broadway and Duck Creek.

PS Anybody who likes to ride road bikes, mtn bikes, or mb's near White Rock Lake or Dorba trails, message me.

 

[happycheapskate]

Why don't you celebrate that Americans are participating actively in a sport, and not just by throwing peanuts and booing at the opposing team from the nosebleed seats?

re: 3 wide in packs. Its called a peloton. Road bicycles are more efficient in groups where people can draft to save energy. Also, a proper group improves traffic vs. an uncoordinated train of free agents, hitting all the lights and intersections over 3x a longer time.

Don't Be a Cager Rager!

hate most shops, and the spandex warriors. "bicycle mechanic".as for the spandexters, beep at them, glare at them....their a real problem here in jersey, riding 3 wide in huge packs.cant wait to get a diesel truck to smoke em' out.anyway i found that you dont want to be in the shop as much as you want to be in their dumpster.these animals throw out tons of good stuff that went "bad".lots of scrap metal to, these people must fall off their bikes alot because i always find race frames that are screwed up. ive pulled alot of whole bikes to.

 

[sisdavid]

In my experience with the bike shops. Guys who work at bike shops are generally, not very cool. I do not know why but that is just what it seems like.

 

[matthurd]

In my experience with the bike shops. Guys who work at bike shops are generally, not very cool. I do not know why but that is just what it seems like.

do you do your own bike work? while its fun the first few times you pull apart your stuff, it gets annoying fast. now imagine doing the same tedious task over n over every day for the next 5 years, when suddenly someone comes in to(take a guess) ask you to do the same tedious task again!

the bike shop i go too (paramount cycles in somerville MA) the owner and only official employee is a total dick, and i wouldn't have it any other way, hes the fun kind, not the wow what the hel.l is his problem kind, but you walk in n hes on the phone n he tells the person on the other end "hey i have to go this schmuck just walked in n is breaking my stuff", but that's of course only after he's met you a couple times.

love my bike shop guy xD

he is a real nice guy in reality though, don't want anyone to get me wrong on that, he just has a warped sense of humor, which mite come off the wrong way if you don't have one .

 

[Nashville Kat]

Bikes shops ARE hard work. You stand on your feet all the time, get greasy constantly, cut your hands up and ruin clothes- and generally for people who don"t take care of their bicycles.
If you're a cyclist yourself, you get tired of seeing stuff abused, left out to rust etc.
Real Estate is high these days- I don;t know how ANY shops make it much- and the bread and butter of most places is the repair end, so the management often wants you to charge high labor costs, while you take home little-
and then you spend all your wage on the parts you get cheaper there!

I don't know why the attitude towards the Motor bike is so bad- I have noticed it.

I think of it from the other end- we're not encroaching on bicycles- we're cutting more into the noisy Chopper Hog end, and maybe showing people they can get by with less-
I'm really happy with my cruiser as transportation alternative, and at todays prices, it may save it's worth in gasoline quickly.

 

[happycheapskate]

My guess is that the bicycle shops feel the motor bicycles are a liability, both in repairing a gas vehicle or storing one, and because of the negative press surrounding mbs. Also, they probably think the jeans wearing sneaker footed style of riders aren't going to dish out for high dollar new age bicycle parts. Unless the shop wants to make a business of selling Motor bicycles, they just might not see it as a promising business lead.

I have a friend who works in a bike shop. I agree with N Kat. He likes his work, but the only way his shop seems to profit so well is a long time establishment in an urban area, lots of box bikes for Christmas, and a strong repeat customer base that comes in for the mom-and-pop atmosphere and budget parts. The shop has been servicing increasingly high-$ machines though, and has plenty of gram-counting sessions on the digital scale with the racing cyclists. There is something for everybody, including MB cyclists if they are polite and the bike is not leaking. They might ask the bike be drained or the tank removed if you are leaving it for service. But if you are just buying parts, you can lock it to the rack outside and they are happy to help.

 

[Goat Herder]

Spandex was not always required to get around on a bike. A great many folks including my self spent a lifetime peddling with out it. If a bicycle shop gets this narrow minded? With me well they simply do not need my business.

Now I am not saying that this stuff did not help make folks lives better. It obviously has. That is truly wonderful! I don't care what folks where really. I don't force any beleifs on them I simply expect the same back is all and that makes a better world I guess.....

I have peddled 75 miles on a mountain bike in a simple pair of work slacks. Everything was peachy. I do have a very special seat recipe for my peddle bikes tho that immulates the cush of spandex. I suppose it it does? I never have tried the spandex tho. Guess I found a way around it!

Jeans have worked well for me too for about 30 years now..........

I like to show up to work ready to go..It took me a few years to develop my seat and I have never found the likes of it in a shop ether.

 

[scottmanesis]

Shaved legs, spandex??? Sounds like a 1980's "rock slut" lol.

 

[happycheapskate]

Anyway, try different bike shops. BMX shops might be the most receptive to you, and probably have some "spandex haters" with the same purple passion about it you have

Same old hecklers.....

Spandex still isn't "required" to get help on a bike at a shop, or fit in with the weekend crowd. I usually like cargo shorts or cotton athletic shorts esp on the mountain bike.

I rode a bike in jeans plenty as a kid. I don't think its very comfortable. Jeans are good and available cheap though.
(note for illustration, not my picture)
http://www.aerotechdesigns.com/bigman/touringshorts.JPG

 

[Goat Herder]

Anyway, try different bike shops. BMX shops might be the most receptive to you, and probably have some "spandex haters" with the same purple passion about it you have

Same old hecklers.....

It is not about heckling for me tho. I don't care what folks wear period. The very Idea however that I have to find a telephone booth and slip into a superman costume before entering the store is appalling to me. I don't think I would be asking for much now would I? I find it offensive that I am supposed to be wearing something special to get their respect. Whats up with that?

They don't have to be tight fitting Cow Boy jeans gee wizz.........
I don't get my feet stuck in clips and they don't slip off ether! I save a small fortune in shoes this way as some kind of clip on shoe is non existent for my size 14 feet 4 E club feet. All the shoes made in China are pigeon toed on me.. I was never impressed with them anyway..IMHO These peddles are very comfortable on my feet and my shins! There is this awesome tingling that I get on my shins from these peddles but mostly it just itches a little Very simple attire. http://motorbicycling.com/attachments/f47/14589d1255507831-morini-time-full-sus-project-p1010009.jpg

I still think that any shop worried about my attire well.....and I don't care what people use I just kept it a simple as I could and it worked perfect for me..
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MPMmC0UAnj0:D
ALSO IN FOREIGN THIRD WORLD COUNTRIES THEY DON'T WEAR ANYTHING FANCY.

 

[Nashville Kat]

When I started bike racing in the early '70's, nothing was spandex- shorts and jerseys were wool-

USCF (ABL of A) rules forbade the wearing of anything but black shorts and lettering other than an approved sponsor. I went to the line in an early race after getting my first real wool jersey with pockets, and it had "Gitane" embroidered across the front and back The state rep made me put masking tape over the letters.

cotton came along in the mid 70's, and then spandex in the late '70's.

It's OK, but not that warm or much good in a crash. I really never like one piece skinsuits and never even had one. Long tights are nice in moderate weather.

 

[happycheapskate]

re: "superman" That's why I said try different shops. Some are "bike snob" shops, just like if you are shopping for jeans: there are blue jeans, then there are faded stonewashed jeans, then their are the $200 designer brand name jeans made by some foreign fashion show guy. I don't care for the fashion jeans, so if I went in their store I would probably stand out.

What did you try to do or buy in the bike shop before you were snubbed? What shop made you so appalled? What did they say to you? Did you bring the MB into the shop?

Anyway I've walked into the snobbiest of roadie shops in Dallas, in cutoffs and a t-shirt, but they weren't phased because I brought in a road bike and was looking for something for it. Another time I came in the same shop wearing bike gear and brand name jersey, and when I didn't want to pay what they asked for something, I got the "eww" face and silent treatment, like I had cut the cheese or something. Oh well.

 

[Goat Herder]

re: "superman" That's why I said try different shops. Some are "bike snob" shops, just like if you are shopping for jeans: there are blue jeans, then there are faded stonewashed jeans, then their are the $200 designer brand name jeans made by some foreign fashion show guy. I don't care for the fashion jeans, so if I went in their store I would probably stand out.

What did you try to do or buy in the bike shop before you were snubbed? What shop made you so appalled? What did they say to you? Did you bring the MB into the shop?

Anyway I've walked into the snobbiest of roadie shops in Dallas, in cutoffs and a t-shirt, but they weren't phased because I brought in a road bike and was looking for something for it. Another time I came in the same shop wearing bike gear and brand name jersey, and when I didn't want to pay what they asked for something, I got the "eww" face and silent treatment, like I had cut the cheese or something. Oh well.

Mostly I just wore what ever work uniform I was provided by my employer. As for Jeans never ever cared just bought what ever was on sale that was normal to me. Never wanted to impress anyone.

As for a bike shop with a sour attitude because they can't make money. I try to and always see around that and be a nice guy. If I get any attitude I do what any customer will do I simply take my business elsewhere. I give everyone a chance or two after that my business goes elsewhere . Its not always attire I guess we have a bad economy here every element gets judgment in a shop. I do believe appearance means everything to these guy's.

I got to say often times I order specialty bicycle items from the net. Then I don't have to impress any one. Saves me a lot of time too I don't have to go across town or wait in line etc. Don't even have to set my drink down.

It is not that complicated I just makes things as simple as I can. As a mechanic and general trades man in my life time all my cloths are ratty any way. That I suspect is why I primarily get judged. If I was in there with a Armani suit then they would think they had a big ticket.

When you mix my elements of appearance don't know I suspect they think I will be fixing my own stuff. If I went in dressed the part I bet it would be different by my observations seeing my surroundings and which customers seam to come first IMO. I also come off as confident in what I want and often looked at these elements as well. As they might not have it or not know anything. This is the part where I know better and feel I got the run around.

 

[mmmmudd]

I guess I'm pretty lucky, there's two shops in my little collage town that focus on custom cruiser kinds of bikes. They also do a lot of skateboards, the owners are kind of hep cats and start their sentences with duuuuuude. Beyond the aesthetics, their service is pretty good. I've gone in looking for a certain kind of goose neck or some other esoteric part and they've gone out of their way to try and rake one up.

It's funny they sell a few bike motors and kits, but they keep them out of site just in case they're offensive to people of the bike snob persuasion.

 

[fasteddy]

When I was involved in sports car racing and attended a Porsche car club driving a Triumph I was met at the door and told that it was a Porsche owners only meeting.

I was the third owner the first Porsche brought into Canada at the time. It was 1953 convertible. I paid $125 for it. Yes, I wish I still had it.

I left but when I sold it guess who the first "don't sell it to anybody but me" person was. When the jerk knocked on the door saw me standing there, the look on his chops was a thing of beauty.
I just closed the door gently and after a lot of looking found someone who had the coupe that was brought in with mine and sold it to him.

When I hit snobbery my money spends somewhere else and I tell the seller why I bought from them. It always filters back to the snob and reinforces the other guys good
attitude.

Steve.

 

[bairdco]

steve, i used to race a 75 honda civic hatchback in the SCCA back in the 80's. took it to willow springs driving school one weekend and had a lot of fun with Porsche guys, as well as everyone else who didn't have a primered, gutted, junkyard-built racecar (that would hang with, or smoke, their cars.)

you shoulda seen those guys in their fancy cars get outta my way when i came barrelling into the corners. coupla bucks for a can a primer to touch up my car, thousands at the body shop for them...

back on topic, the bike shops here don't care how you dress, it's how you smell.

meaning, if they don't smell money, they ignore you.

 

[Goat Herder]

I know two bike shops that went out of business here. I think it was the service when I get the rumors at other shops. There was a chain of shops here that were owned by the same people. Two of their shops closed down because of their service. You gotta see how there service is in their last two shops now ''night and day difference''.

I know a third shop that I went into when I was a teenager years ago locked horns with the staff immediately. 5 years later same thing. 5 more years later same thing. They are closed now. My prob in most of these shops is they will sell you anything before a answer. My being so tall I was looking for stuff specific the conversation verses my experience and the lines I was fed did not match. One of my biggest peeves too.

I know a ma and pop place they have every creed come to their shop this is where I learned never to have a flat tire again as a kid. They are doing great for a small shop they are always busy and the service is awesome.

Bottom line service matters.

 

[fasteddy]

Bairdco, that would have been my idea of Heaven! I ran at Mosport in Ontario, Canada in the early/mid 60's in a mini cooper. Mostly sprites, midgets and mini's in our heats but the odd mad porsche owner would show up but they didn't care about banging them up which was good because we made them pay dearly for the priviledge of challenging us.

A lot of the high end bike crowd here in California North but if they need to pay $5 to 6 grand to feel good about themselves and dress like a gimp when they do it, God bless them. Gives me something to laugh at.
If I had a bike shop I'd be taking their money also.

Steve.

 

[fasteddy]

Goat Herder, that is so true about service. Learned that as a kid delivering papers.
When the customer got a dry news paper when it rained and in the winter the christmas tips were good and they told you why if they weren't.

Steve.

 

[happycheapskate]

Bairdco has solved your mystery:

"Back on topic, the bike shops here don't care how you dress, it's how you smell.

meaning, if they don't smell money, they ignore you. "

That is VERY true. I like to buy my parts online from "click and mortar" bike shops (somebody's LBS that mail orders).

I used to get angry at the price of shipping, but I have found it is the price for better selection and guaranteed respect. If they don't respect me by sending what I ordered and quickly, I can bust their rating, or sic my credit card company or Flea-bay on them.