General Cycling Discussion - Bringing bike into bike shop

Is it generally acceptable to bring a bike into a bike shop (assuming you used it to get there) even if the bike is not being repared? Instead of locking it outside the shop?

I wouldn't see why not. I bring my bike in sometimes, and leave it outside sometimes. Either is fine.

I always bring my bike inside, , if they say I cannot bring my bike inside, then you don't get my bussiness

The lbs I work at encourages people to bring their bikes into the shop. If they wont let you bring the bike into the shop, go some place that wants your business.

Yes, take it inside! If a bike shop isn't bike friendly then what is the world coming to? :D

I started to lock up my bike on the rack outside a local bike shop on a rainy day. The manager came out and insisted that I bring it inside, wet or not. That's what can make a customer loyal.

I've read that a loyal customer is better than a satisfied customer. Maybe the manager has read that too.

I also test other businesses as well. If they do not have a place to lock up my bike then I bring it inside. If they complain then I do not go back.

Atlanta has a city code regarding the placement of bike racks outside businesses which meet a certain criteria. (type of business, number of parking spaces, etc.) If a business is in violation of that code then I'll let the manager know. Usually they are receptive to the info.

Originally posted by Spire
Is it generally acceptable to bring a bike into a bike shop (assuming you used it to get there) even if the bike is not being repared? Instead of locking it outside the shop?

I think it's very acceptable, and I bring in my scoot every time.

The thing I find strange, is that there are a few bikeshops here that don't even have a rack outside if you want to lock it up.

I always bring my bike inside, that's every store or stop I make. If they won't have my bike, they won't have me, which means they won't have my business. At work it's by my desk. At home, it's in the house, we work, play and just hang out together all the time. Just me and all 5 of them.

I'm the same. If the store won't let me bring my bike in, then I won't let myself in. There are a few stores in Toronto like that.

I won't let my bike get more than 10 feet away from me if it is not in a secure house or garage. Why should I risk having my bike stolen because of a few bike shops that aren't biker friendly (does that even work?)

I don't mind bikes coming into the shop, I do ask for some decorum. I'm nervous when people lean their bikes up against the 10' high plate glass windows, and I wish the BMXers wouldn't lay their bikes down in the middle of the main aisleways. It also drives me nuts when someone pulls a new bike repair stand out of the box so he can work on his bike on the showroom floor.....maybe I'm getting old.

All said and done, bring your bike in. We like bikes.

What everyone else said, I don't carry a lock with me cuz only places I go I can take in my bike. I paid way too much for the thing to leave it locked to a pole somewhere. Even if it doens't get stolen, would you leave your child locked to a pole?? And a bike shop should understand that
(Don't answer that)

I do it all the time. Although I do use some common sense about where I put it (i.e. find somewhere out of the way). I must say they've never had a problem with it.

Originally posted by mrfix
...At work it's by my desk. At home, it's in the house, we work, play and just hang out together all the time. Just me and all 5 of them.

Man! Do any of them ever get jealous?! :D

Well one store in Toronto, i'm not allowed to mention names, will not let you bring a bike in unless its for repair. They have good prices and mechanic but when they said u have to leave it outside I said are you absolutely sure you wanna make me leave it outside and the guys like yes and I was like goodbye.

Originally posted by WorldIRC
Well one store in Toronto, i'm not allowed to mention names .... Not that it would make much difference to me here in Australia, but just out of interest, why aren't you allowed to mention names?

My local stores only allow bikes in for repair or measuring parts etc. purely because of lack of space. Neither has a rack outside - there isn't room, but both have nearby railings.

Richard

When you think what you paid for your bike and what it represents to you, do you honestly want to take a chance leaving outside? A thief might not get to it perhaps, but there are sick bastards out there who'd delight in trashing it. I had that happen inside a station. Lots of people going past, security cameras, in view of the ticket sales staff. Noone saw a thing, and I had both wheels stamped on and irrepairably trashed, lights broken (not stolen). If they don't want your bike in the shop, then it's fairly obvious to me they don't want your bike, period?

Originally posted by MediaCreations
Not that it would make much difference to me here in Australia, but just out of interest, why aren't you allowed to mention names?

There are people on the forum that know me personally, where I work and what shops I like to go to. If i start bad mouthing a store it would get back to me very quickly.

Originally posted by Richard D
My local stores only allow bikes in for repair or measuring parts etc. purely because of lack of space. Neither has a rack outside - there isn't room, but both have nearby railings.

I'd say a reasonable percentage of my purchases are ideas that I have while riding "gee, I wish I had an X" and I'd go to a store and buy it, I won't leave a bike outside unattended and rarely do I carry a U-Lock while riding, so I'd have to ride to the nearest store that does allow me to. Incidentally, I have never been stopped from bringing a bike inside.

Funny that this topic just came up. I recently was shopping for a gym here in Norfolk. Norfolk’s downtown is nice and getting nicer everyday but my bike would be gone sooner or later if I had it locked out side.
The first place I walked into I asked
“Do you have a place I can keep my bike while I work out?”
Girl says “of course” and shows me a nice little room.

Second place same question
Girl says, “Not really, we would suggest not bringing your bike”

Swear to the big guy upstairs the incident just happened last Tuesday!!!

Guess which gym I belong to?

My LBS has a polite notice asking you not to bring your bike in unless its for repair or service. The shop part is reasonable narrow and doesn't have anywhere to lean a bike up, so I think its quite understandable.

Originally posted by WorldIRC
There are people on the forum that know me personally, where I work and what shops I like to go to. If i start bad mouthing a store it would get back to me very quickly.
Fair enough. Thanks for the explanation.:)

Originally posted by Funnyman
Girl says, “Not really, we would suggest not bringing your bike”
Why would you be silly enough to take your bike to the gym? Surely you would rather show off your shiny sports car or SUV in the car park.:D

I think there is an old/new world split on this issue.

Most European shops are microscopic by American standards, and still manage to squueze a 100 bikes or so into a very small space by racking them to the roof, turning handle bars in line with the frame, and only building them up as required.

My 'vast' (by European standards) LBS simply does not have room for more bikes. With maybe 1,000 Sq ft (about 300 m2) of space, 100 bikes, racks for all the accessories, a repair shop and storage, they have no choice but to leave bikes outside

Having said which, due to the size of the shops it also means that you are never far away and usually keep any eye on it, so anyone giving you bike a second glance will be spotted.

All of my LBS's, big or small, seem to have had official council bike racks installed outside them. And no self respecting Londoner would ever go out with the biggest most effective D-Lock money can buy.