I went to the LBS (local bike shop) to buy chain lube the other day. When I tried to lock my bike, I couldn't find the bike rack. I thought, "This is totally absurd, a bike shop without a bike rack." I talked with the owner, but he seemed pretty bored with the whole idea. He said the rack had been stolen. (Is this likely?) He said he'd get a new one, but he sure didn't sound sincere.

I often get the feeling that LBS personnel look down on bike commuters and carfree cyclists. They don't stock a lot of the stuff we like, like fenders and panniers, and they don't get as involved in local bike activities as much as some other businesses do. It seems like they cater more to the comfort bike crowd, and especially to the roadies.

Have you found this to be true in your community? Are pretty much all LBS's like this, or just the ones I've been in?

Technically, I'm car lite since I steal my wife's car once a week or less.
My LBS could care less that I am a commuter. In fact they usually try to get my bike fixed faster than the recreational riders. It seems to help that I visit them regularly.

The LBS without a bike rack issue seems to occur quite frequently around here. Very annoying. I guess they expect most cyclists to drive their ride in :(
If they do not have a bike rack and do not allow me to take my bike inside I go elsewhere.

No rack at the closest LBS to me, but if they 'catch' a cyclist trying to lock their bike to the metal gate our front, the tell them to bring the bike in as its more secure that way.

Al

I've never experienced that sort of attitude. In fact, the owner of my LBS told me to let him know if I needed my bike and he would bump it to the front of the repair line since he knew that was my primary transport. I thanked him but declined since I had seven other bikes in the garage which would hold me until the main one was ready.
Come to think of it, none of the four or five bike shops I visit most have a bike rack. I never really thought of it before because I routinely take my bike in with me. That's what I like about bike shops...they expect that.

Why does any bike shop need a bike rack? They are the only places where it is always OK to take the bike inside with you.

Paul

i agree ..the only bike stores that I seen that have racks is ones on or by a trail..
my lbs owner has a attitue to, I asked about eletric bikes..no go..cargo trailers no go..didnt even care if I wanted to buy a bike..which is the reason I was there..to his credit,he has a salesman who does the selling..no doubt hes a mechanic that bought a shop over the years.
I need acces..guess where I am going..not!

My LBS is one of only two places in my town with a bike rack. :D The other is the university.

There are 2 LBSes in my area, but I don't know if they have racks or not. Neither one is what I would call commuter accessible, both are on heavily traveled multi lane highways. And neither one really caters to the commuter/tourist. My not so Local Shop of choice is Neighborhood Transportation (http://ntransportation.com/index.cfm) in Winston-Salem, NC. It is about a 2 hour drive from my house, but they are very commuter friendly and have a varied cross section of unsual bikes. We spent a couple of hours there a week ago looking for an alternate bike for my wife.

Aaron:)

Why does any bike shop need a bike rack? They are the only places where it is always OK to take the bike inside with you.

Paul

I've been in some really cramped LBS's that don't really have the room inside for customers to bring their bike inside, especially on weekends when there are so many people just window shopping.

I actually refuse to go to the closest LBS to my house b/c they dont have a bike rack. I figure the extra 5 miles of pedaling is a good workout =)

Haven't really had that problem with either of the LBS's here. Though the one that specializes in new road bikes has their rack hiding around to one side where anyone could screw with it unobserved. The other one is geared mostly toward BMX, but it has virtually no car parking and a huge rack right out front. Neither has much in the way of commuter gear, but when I'm looking, the guy (owner, salesman, wrench, etc) at the BMX shop is always quick to offer to order. The roadie store has only offered to order once, after it took them 10 minutes to comprehend what a fixed gear sprocket was, (i.e. "no, not a sprocket for a cassette, no, not a singlespeed freewheel, no, not a chainring..." ad nasuem) and another 10 to talk to their distributor and see if they could get such a thing. Then they wanted not some percentage more than I'd pay at someplace like Harris Cyclery, which I could understand, but multiples of what I'd pay. Oops, veered a bit from the original question, sorry.

Heck , a couple bike shops I frequent have signs- "Ride on in." I imagine there are limits to that available parking arrangement. In situations at some stores, I usually find some tree or something to chain my bike to at nearby....If too far away, that makes me nervous.
Maybe find a larger bike shop. Large mega stores usually have a broad selection of bike accessories. Same holds true to all unfriendly stores. Not appreciate my money, I can very well spend it elsewhere.
I do find. Often, Should I want to try out touring bikes, they are just not to be found on the shop floor. Actually had to order a touring bike sight unseen, because no local store stocked them?
Wonder what would have happened had I not liked the good after delivery.

Maybe they figure that since you may be getting your bike fixed or getting something for the bike itself (like fenders), you'd have to bring the bike inside to get the right ones, so unless you're just hanging out, no real reason for a rack...? One shop I go to always has all their bikes outside, so no real need for one (whoes gonna steal a used bike when theres a 100 brand new ones right next to it)

Both the ones near me have racks inside the entrance right by the register. One will let you ride through the store back to their shop area.

Why does any bike shop need a bike rack? They are the only places where it is always OK to take the bike inside with you.

Paul
That's what the young sales associate (who was much friendlier than the owner) told me. But I was just going in for lube, and didn't want to hassle with the heavy front door, then find a place to lean my bike inside the crowded shop. There were a couple other customer bikes leaned against available trees and lampposts, so evidently I wasn't the only one who felt this way.


I've been in some really cramped LBS's that don't really have the room inside for customers to bring their bike inside, especially on weekends when there are so many people just window shopping.

Right.

I've never experienced that sort of attitude. In fact, the owner of my LBS told me to let him know if I needed my bike and he would bump it to the front of the repair line since he knew that was my primary transport.

You're lucky. I took my bike to this bike shop once for a new bottom bracket in the dead of winter. I explained that I really needed my bike for transportation, he said, "No prob, two days tops." A week later it was still in the shop. "We had some other work come in on a priority basis, so we couldn't get to yours."

What do you do to get priority basis at this shop? You pay an extra $15 and they will finish it in 24 hours, "guaranteed." The guarantee only means that they will waive the $15 if they don't finish it in the 24 hours. This seems like a lose-lose situation for the customer, so I have never tried it.

My current LBS doesn't have the "attitude", but I've been to others that do. The fact is, most people are only really interested in the "sport" of cycling, so I suppose the shops figure they're less likely to make profits out of commuters. It may also arise because a lot of the racer types obsessed with "performance" tend to spend more money than commuters. As to what can be done about it? I'd say the only option is to simply find another shop and take your money there.

As said.. Few shops even carry touring bikes. Are there so few of us. When on tour, I have seen the parks' camp spots full of our ilk.

Maybe it's not that there are so few, but that tour and commute riders are more interested in durability than lightness for speed.

Seems to me that the smart tourist or commuter will buy the most durable parts they can and ride/service those parts until they're totally worn out. Whereas the racer seems more likely to toss parts frequently in search of the newest "magic bullet" to make them go faster. Therefor the shops will make more on the guy who's buying new parts every time a major manufacturer introduces the next product line.

Just a thought.

None near me have racks. Just bring your ride in. They like to see it, anyway. My LBS has a great attitude, and has said that they will build me whatever bike I want. They fix things quickly, contribute to local groups and events, and will take part in bike to work week. But they don't have a rack.
I rode by REI (no rack) and asked what to do with my dog in a trailer while I picked up a part. They said to roll the whole thing right in. That's a great attitude, but no rack. I'd rather roll the bike in, anyway, as it's faster.

The LBS that I frequent has a beat up light weight rack that is not fastened to the ground. I think that if more than one bike were attached to it that it would fall over. I mentioned to two different employees that I thought it was sad that an LBS of their apparent caliber didn't have a better, more prominent bike rack. They should be setting the example for other businesses hoping to attract and accommodate local cyclists to their stores. IMO the two parking spaces closest to the doors should be for bikes only and have a nice rack to attach your bike to.

Andy

With 2 of my bikes that having no rack is a nonissue since they are folders and I just fold and bring it in as needed. My full size nonfolder is rarely in the shop for anything and when it needs something, I have to bring it in anyway.

As for attitude problems, I'd go elsewhere with my business.

There is an LBS down the street from my house that I wouldn't use for ANY reason. I would sooner buy a tube at Wal-Mart than give the punks that run that place any of my money.

One of my LBS's has a rack inside, no need to lock the bike up.

None of the LBS's have bike racks. But then again, the only place in this town that I've seen that does have a bike rack is the Wild Oats Market.

I live in a small rural town that has 3 (!) LBS and only one has a rack...one of them actually has a sign that reads "bikes stop here" and the staff will not let you bring your bike in the door, must go around back. It seems kinda counter-intuitive to me. I'm working on getting the town to be more bike friendly, with more bike racks...starting with the bike stores.

It hadn't really occurred to me whether my LBS has a bike rack or not. It's in a small residential neighborhood on the edge of a small town, so crime is not much of a problem as long as the store is open, and I never bother. The only people that are around are other customers.

BUT- it's a small store run only by the owner and his wife, and he has been a bike commuter for 20 years, dating back to when he was a car mechanic. So he always has good advice and useful stuff to sell, which I appreciate. AND is also willing to bump me up in the repair line, since I am a commuter. I like my LBS (http://www.erniescycleshop.com/)! :beer:

Has anyone on this whiny-ass thread ever just locked your bike to something besides a bike rack? I can honestly think of one place in this entire town that isn't an elementary school with a bike rack, and it's always filled with, uh, bikes, so, like the proud, resourceful homo sapien I am, I simply find something longer than it is wide, and lock my bike to it. It's easy.

What I don't do is pitch fits on the internet about how the world doesn't conform to me, my head's not that far up my ass. I'll bet a lot of these businesses have other things to worry about, like running a business, so when some arrogant cyclist demands to know why they don't have a bike rack, then huffs and puffs and says he'll take his business elsewhere, the owner thinks "Good riddance."

Besides, bike racks are worthless, or hasn't anybody ever seen just a front wheel locked to one? Find a fence, a signpost, a tree, etcetera, it is easy to do in a developed country. I always hear on this forum about how businesses BETTER have a rack or I'll bring my bike inside or go somewhere else. Why do establishments have to go to so much trouble to cater to you when if you have any sort of common sense you have a LOCK? I know a lot of you on this forum think you're Ghandi, but here's a newsflash-the world hasn't caught up with all you bodhisatvas yet, so deal with it. Grow the **** up. (Oh, and I've been car-free for over 5 years now, and I've NEVER been to an LBS with a bike rack.)

And I DO NOT work for Dunkin Donuts.

The LBS that I frequent has a beat up light weight rack that is not fastened to the ground. I think that if more than one bike were attached to it that it would fall over. I mentioned to two different employees that I thought it was sad that an LBS of their apparent caliber didn't have a better, more prominent bike rack. They should be setting the example for other businesses hoping to attract and accommodate local cyclists to their stores. IMO the two parking spaces closest to the doors should be for bikes only and have a nice rack to attach your bike to.

Andy

great idea

What I don't do is pitch fits on the internet about how the world doesn't conform to me, my head's not that far up my ass. I'll bet a lot of these businesses have other things to worry about, like running a business, so when some arrogant cyclist demands to know why they don't have a bike rack, then huffs and puffs and says he'll take his business elsewhere, the owner thinks "Good riddance."


A bike shop without a bike rack does seem ******ed to me. As ******ed as people who drive half a mile to their gym to work out.

Has anyone on this whiny-ass thread ever just locked your bike to something besides a bike rack? I can honestly think of one place in this entire town that isn't an elementary school with a bike rack, and it's always filled with, uh, bikes, so, like the proud, resourceful homo sapien I am, I simply find something longer than it is wide, and lock my bike to it. It's easy.

What I don't do is pitch fits on the internet about how the world doesn't conform to me, my head's not that far up my ass. I'll bet a lot of these businesses have other things to worry about, like running a business, so when some arrogant cyclist demands to know why they don't have a bike rack, then huffs and puffs and says he'll take his business elsewhere, the owner thinks "Good riddance."

Besides, bike racks are worthless, or hasn't anybody ever seen just a front wheel locked to one? Find a fence, a signpost, a tree, etcetera, it is easy to do in a developed country. I always hear on this forum about how businesses BETTER have a rack or I'll bring my bike inside or go somewhere else. Why do establishments have to go to so much trouble to cater to you when if you have any sort of common sense you have a LOCK? I know a lot of you on this forum think you're Ghandi, but here's a newsflash-the world hasn't caught up with all you bodhisatvas yet, so deal with it. Grow the **** up. (Oh, and I've been car-free for over 5 years now, and I've NEVER been to an LBS with a bike rack.)
Well you always were much nobler, and just all around better than the others, especially when it comes to arrogance. :p

You're right, it's a minor problem, but the arrogance of the owner toward commuters is majorly annoying to me, and the bike rack lack sums that up. You probably were too pist off to read my post where I mentioned that other bikes were occupying the available spaces around the tree and lamppost that would have provided alternative locking spots.

Well you always were much nobler, and just all around better than the others, especially when it comes to arrogance. :p

:D One must compensate for a lack of brain cells in some fashion.

:D One must compensate for a lack of brain cells in some fashion.
And at least you don't compensate by uying a big ol" SUV.

LBS are like shopowners a bunch of thieves wanting to take maximum money from you , with least service to you. I have been doing some research of my own for anew Bike and evey single LBS I have visited has tried to sell my the costliest bike around with a hoot for my needs. If I had not been doing my own research I would have been $1000 poorer with an expensive bike for a 4 mile commute.

LBS are like shopowners a bunch of thieves wanting to take maximum money from you , with least service to you. I have been doing some research of my own for anew Bike and evey single LBS I have visited has tried to sell my the costliest bike around with a hoot for my needs. If I had not been doing my own research I would have been $1000 poorer with an expensive bike for a 4 mile commute.
Well I don't know if this makes them "thieves" or just good business people. Like everybody, they try to maximize their profits. You do have to do some research if you want to get the best bike or gear for your bike. Besides researching new bikes, I think it's a good idea to learn a little about bike mechanics, even if you don't plan to do your own repairs.

This bike-rackless LBS once tried to sell me a new rear brake when all I needed was the cable reattached to the lever. But I don't think this was mainly because they're greedy. I think the main reason was that the so-called mechanic didn't know what he was doing, and it would be easier to have me leave the bike to get the new brake installed by somebody else, rather than admit he didn't know how to reattach the cable.