Allen_Wrench
Resident Mad Scientist
From what I've read, I may have encountered something that we don't usually run across: an MB-friendly bike shop. On my lunch break, to get what little exercise I can, I often just wander around downtown Indianapolis, walking and eating lunch as I go. Last week I decided to make my first stop across the street at the spankin'-new "Indy Bike Hub". Inside this hub, they have a branch of The Bicycle Garage of Indy. I'd heard of their shops and knew their reputation for good and knowledgeable service. I stopped in to chat. This group knew their bikes! And each had experience working on them. They could sell stuff and man the register, but they were largely the gear-head bike geeks. They were big on "finding the bike that is a good fit for the rider", getting it fine-tuned & adjusted & lubed. They could talk forever about getting the most out of your bike. So I stopped back in a couple more times.
Then, at one point, they asked what kind of bike I had. Well, I explained that it was a work-in-progress. It was a war-era JC Higgins that I was adding a two-stroke motor to. Rather than the usual snobbery and rejection I've come to expect, these guys just lit up! They asked all kinds of questions. Wanted to know if I'd ever had problems with the spokes - I told them I had Worksman Wheels on there now. Wanted to know how fast I thought the Higgins build would move - I guessed around 30+ realistically. And so on. Then the one fellow told me that a co-worker at the Garage up north (he gave the name Troy Howell, so I've been lookin' for him) has a motorized bike he rides fairly often. So they are used to these things. They're very open to dialogue about MBs. I plan to speak to them at length about what might be done to help cyclists, and the growing crowd of Motor-Bicyclists, better co-exist with all the automobilists; things that might help increase awareness. We may also chat about educating some of the newbie MBers about applicable laws and road etiquette.
It's so cool to have found such an MB-friendly bike shop. It could become a haunt of mine. I've already put something on order from them, they can get better shipping rates than I can online, so it's cheaper. And they seem to appreciate the business. I'm likin' it.
Then, at one point, they asked what kind of bike I had. Well, I explained that it was a work-in-progress. It was a war-era JC Higgins that I was adding a two-stroke motor to. Rather than the usual snobbery and rejection I've come to expect, these guys just lit up! They asked all kinds of questions. Wanted to know if I'd ever had problems with the spokes - I told them I had Worksman Wheels on there now. Wanted to know how fast I thought the Higgins build would move - I guessed around 30+ realistically. And so on. Then the one fellow told me that a co-worker at the Garage up north (he gave the name Troy Howell, so I've been lookin' for him) has a motorized bike he rides fairly often. So they are used to these things. They're very open to dialogue about MBs. I plan to speak to them at length about what might be done to help cyclists, and the growing crowd of Motor-Bicyclists, better co-exist with all the automobilists; things that might help increase awareness. We may also chat about educating some of the newbie MBers about applicable laws and road etiquette.
It's so cool to have found such an MB-friendly bike shop. It could become a haunt of mine. I've already put something on order from them, they can get better shipping rates than I can online, so it's cheaper. And they seem to appreciate the business. I'm likin' it.
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