Touring - LBS dishing out el B.S.

I've seen a few posts here and there disparaging the local bike shop because of high prices, etc. Before when I read those, I used to think to myself, "What in the world? I like going to my local bike shop. Yes, I know their prices are way worse than eBay or whatever, but it's fun to go browse stuff, talk to people, and, yes, hemorrhage some cash."

Well, recently I received really poor service coupled with rotten attitude. I'll spare you the details, but the whole thing was really quite sickening, and now I'm bummed that I have no desire ever to go back there. Sad thing is, no other shop is as conveniently located as they are.

Okay, I guess I'll stop crying now.

What happened? :p

Suck it up and find a new shop. Cycling (much less touring) isn't really about convenience.

What happened? :p

I really don't want to go into it, as I'm trying to detox from the whole thing.

Here's as much as I'll say:

-Poor information and help as I transition to clipless pedals and shoes
-Wrong cleat installed, with too long of bolts jabbing feet
-Hassle of returning to get proper length bolts
-Knee and foot fatigue on long rides, I believe because there is no "float" in these pedals (didn't even no about float at the time of purchase--yes, I should better educate myself, but it would be nice if the shop would educate on these matters)
-Returned to see if they could adjust for more float. That's when it was discovered that the wrong cleat had been installed initially in the shoes. With the correct cleat installed, I found it easier to snap into the pedals but still no float
-Broached the topic of a trade-in (not an exchange) for some more expensive pedals with better float and was met with defensive posturing and an overall rotten attitude.
-A reasonably fair offer was finally huffed in my direction from the owner, who was now moving on to other things, but by then I just decided to leave, thinking I'd rather continue to tinker with the originals and perhaps pay full price elsewhere than to continue hemorrhaging cash at that particular establishment.

Oops, I'm crying again.

What pedals? Maybe you can get some real help here. But you gotta give us some more info.

They are Wellgo clipless. I've tinkered and tinkered, and it seems you just can't get more than a millimeter of float.

Regarding the knee and foot fatigue, I've been adjusting the angle and position of the cleat, with some good results. As far as float goes, I find that if I wear the shoes a little looser, I can float the position of my foot in the shoe a bit. That helps. The real test will be my six-day, self-supported tour of the U.P. coming up in a week or so. (I'll be packing my old clipped pedals just in case).

Oh man, I just did a search for Wellgo pedals, and the popular opinion is they just stink. How could I be so stupid not to research it first? Haste for one thing, and, well, trusting that the person at the shop would have steered me in a good direction. Live and learn, I guess.

In fairness to the shop, I did consciously opt for the Wellgo pedals because they were cheaper. However, due to a miscommunication of some sort, I was unaware that the Shimano pedals are only about $6 more (I swear I heard him quote me a price originally that put them at $40 more, but he disputes that now).

What LBS sells Wellgo?

Ok, so you bought the cheapest pedals, and are now disappointed by their limitations due to their cheap price?
If the LBS had showed you some $100+ pedals with 'float', then you would have felt that the LBS was trying to rip you off, correct?

There's also the incorrect installation and lack of customer education (part of customer service, which is the whole point of an LBS)

I wouldn't let a bad experience keep you from finding a good LBS. They do exist. I have to bike a ways to go to one of my favorite shops. It's worth it though.

I started touring back in the early 80s. I like some of the really old stuff (braze-on/frame mounted flickstand and brake bolt mounted tire savers!). I found one bike shop owned by someone my age and who also likes vintage accessories. This is one of 3 shops I visit. It took a long time for me to find these shops. It is absolutely worth the trouble. Good luck in your search!

You don't owe an LBS anything. They have to earn your business. But there are good bike shops out there. Even when you find them, they tend to be opinionated, which even if it is in a nice way, can mean you won't have a fit.

A good bike shop can save you money, but you have to be realistic. If they are in a low volume area, then it is tough for them to sell quality and save money, unless they have some side businesses that enlarges their draw.

Oh man, I just did a search for Wellgo pedals, and the popular opinion is they just stink. How could I be so stupid not to research it first? Haste for one thing, and, well, trusting that the person at the shop would have steered me in a good direction. Live and learn, I guess.

I dunno... I've got a pair of Wellgo WPD-95B hybrid[1] pedals which I'm very happy with. Easy to clip in and out of (but has never spontaneously released), and has a small amount of float (don't recall the specifics, but it seems to be plenty for me). No discomfort so far, and I really haven't found any reason to complain.

[1] SPD on one side, platform on the other

I dunno... I've got a pair of Wellgo WPD-95B hybrid[1] pedals which I'm very happy with. Easy to clip in and out of (but has never spontaneously released), and has a small amount of float (don't recall the specifics, but it seems to be plenty for me). No discomfort so far, and I really haven't found any reason to complain.

[1] SPD on one side, platform on the other

- have to echo this here... nothing wrong with Wellgo that some extreme cash outlay can't parlay into disparaging remarks...

- what is disgusting is the lack of 'standards' on cleats, even in the 'SPD' family...

- but i digress:

/ontopic

i know your pain... my approach has been to conduct one or two 'test purchases' at every shop in my area... some of the shops have been great... some of them have tried to stiff me, push the most expensive product type on me (i can play the idiot AARP member quite easily), or treat me without the courtesy and respect i deserve as a paying customer... (and no, that doesn't mean one can act like a jerk as a customer, either)... shops that treat me right get my business... others may be visited again, but only if there's no alternative...

guess which shops experience my $3k impulse buys?

Customer Service: It's not a trite, outdated cliche.

/rant_off

Thanks to those reporting positive experiences with Wellgo pedals. I continue to experiment with cleat position and I can definitely feel the difference (whether positive or negative) with each adjustment. It is amazing how just a couple millimeters can make a difference! I hope that I will be able to add a positive review of these pedals soon. Thanks again for the encouraging reports.

Tourers, we are a different breed, sometimes you might have travel a bit to find your favorite local shop. Although the localist (closest) shop is only a few blocks away, my favorite "Local Bike Shop" is about 17 miles away! Some of it does have to do with how the employees interact with thier customers as well as willingness to work with the customer. In My Humble Opinion.

seeing as the nearest cycle shop is 170 miles away, i don't have a lot of use for
them. pretty much have to buy online or through ebay. but on the odd occasions
when i'm in the big city, and decide to see what new stuff they have, i've invariably
been disappointed.

the owners rarely know anything about touring, mostly interested in racing and
selling $3k titanium racers. the 17yo high school dropout goth wannabe skateboard
junkie clerk has never heard of a freewheel. panniers? hahahahahahahaha.

no, they just push whatever's in stock, whether it's suitable for touring or not.
special orders are too much trouble, not worth the effort.

First of all on some MTB shoes the lugs on the tread extend out far enough to make engaging a combo pedal difficult and even more difficult to disengage, You may need to shim the cleat to get it to work smoothly. If that isn't the problem Try a shimano SH55 cleat on the Wellgo pedal, they give lots of float and you can yank your foot off them in a couple of different directions.

BTW you are a Tourist ,you need to learn to do your own bike work not only to save money and sanity but to save your azz when you break down in BFE. Start here http://www.parktool.com/repair_help/FAQindex.shtml. The park tools are very good but if you need to save some money the Bikenashbar tools will sufice for the home mechanic

i've had my own stories of rotten LBS.

this isn't an excuse, but everyone has bad days. i can think of one rotten customer of ours that could come on a forum and tell his side of the story making my shop look crappy.

I'm not saying this is a reason for shops to be rotten.. but i feel like every LBS deserves 2 chances.. sounds like you've given one....