General Cycling Discussion - Shop Owners/Employees! Who are you?

Just curious,

I know a lot of us here work at a shop or own one.

I'm curious as to who you are. I would like to set up some type of dialogue between us.

I'm currently working part-time as a weekend mechanic, and have been contemplating opening my own shop for the last couple of years. Right now, I'd own/operate as more of an absentee owner, and keep my day job. Eventually, I want to be full time owner/operator. I would like to discuss some do's and don'ts, get some advice and numerous other things. Average lease rate, amount of inventory(by type), choice of location,....etc.

PM me, or let me know otherwise!

L8R

I work at a shop!:D

I work at the shop. I'm a mechanic and on sales. I also tell my boss what type of product he should sell as he is 60 years old and believes that 10year olds should only be riding road bikes. He doesn't at all believe in mountain bikes.

I kinda work in a shop. I don't have set hours, and I'm not on the payroll. I guess you could say I'm a good friend of the shop.

I know tandems,recumbents and special use bikes. When a customer comes into the shop I help them to find the right bike for them. Sometimes it's a bike from the shop, sometimes I'll send them to another shop, if we can't get them the right bike. A happy customer is a return customer.

I also turn a wrench at the shop from time to time.

In 1971, as a UCLA undergrad, I worked in repairs and sales at Kirk's Bikes, a small used bicycle shop in Santa Monica CA. When Randy Kirk folded the business, I moved to the original Bikecology (now Supergo.com), where I worked summers and weekends for about 3 years. It was great to be able to buy parts and tools at dealer cost (and the Brooks Pro from the boss's new PX-10 for $5). During my tenure at Bikecology, we developed a small 3-way 8-9-10mm socket wrench, by brazing three cut-up Allen wrench segments into a star pattern and attaching the sockets to the ends. I still use mine regularly. Of course, now one can buy something very similar.

I work at a shop, have on and off for about 4-5 years now.....

hey A2, I'm 15 years old and work at Kopps Bicycle Shop in Princeton, NJ. Its the oldest bicycle shop in the US, since 1891. I've been working there for about 6 months and it has been great. The boss is possibly the nicest and knoledgable guy on the east coast, as his father got the buisness in 1908. The shop has had its share of history and has it all in the back room.Im pretty sure we also were the first to sell Cinelli frames in the US. Pretty cool shop. HOw about yours?

I can do most repairs, but the boss can do almost anything. We deal Litspeed, Bianchi, Schwinn and Haro. (not cinelli anymore).

I will assist you in any way I can so ask away.

My uncle owns a shop. Many of my brothers have worked for him, but I never did.

Jeff

UTKlein, What shop does he own?

Wow, that was quick. I didn't think any body would be on here from Utah. He owns Golson Cycles on highland drive.

Jeff

Nice, I about purchased my road bike shoes from his shop, but ended up at Fishers; i think there the only "local" sidi dealers. It's great to see another Ootahn on the forums.

Hmmmm.. maybe the start of a "disgruntled shop employee forum":D

I've always been curious what other people think about working in a shop.
I'm a full time bike salesman at a reputable shop in the chicago suburbs that specializes in road bikes. We also sponsor a track/road team and I race as a 3 on road + track.

to start u guys off on do/dont's - there was a guy on the road cycling forum who told everyone how much he pro-dealed his new R1000 for...hmmm...DONT maybe?!? :p

I believe that pro deal pricing is a sacred secret that should only be kept amongst the elite such as yourselves;) Before u know it people will be copying forms and faking shop employee status to sell stuff on ebay...not that this doesnt happen already...(cough)

let me know what u guys think:)

mmm I love prodeal time!

I've worked in shops in Texas and the midwest for ~4 years now.
As for pro deals...I've always kind of thought of them as one of the (few) perks of being in the bike industry...where pay is low and health-insurance rare.

Joe Gardener, I have a nice set of Sidi Dom 4 mesh shoes they're sweet.

Jeff

Originally posted by HøllenHund
I believe that pro deal pricing is a sacred secret that should only be kept amongst the elite such as yourselves;) Before u know it people will be copying forms and faking shop employee status to sell stuff on ebay...not that this doesnt happen already...(cough)


A secret? Lol, what the heck are you talking about?

It's not much of a secret. Just call up Cannondale and they'll tell you the prodeal price. And honestly, it's outrageous to connect the fact that someone revealing the price on a bike will lead to an increase in scams and faking shop employee status because people who do that will be able to find out the special price in the first place.

And yea, someone asked me the question, I answered truthfully. I'm not one of those that like to withold information from other people.

me thinks that HollenHund works at higher gear in highland park...if so- great store. i'm coming in for stuff/rebuild soon.

I work as an assistant manager at a pair of shops in the Chicago burbs-the Arlington and Barrington Bicycle Co.

I work at a shop. I fill in whenever the boss needs me. I'm kinda like you a2, I want to start a shop of my own. I'm looking into machining and welding classes also so I can make my own frames...SS frames..That I will sell with super kick arse custom paint jobs.

I spent a couple of years working in a shop (That's when I pro-dealed a Trek 5200 for only ..................) I do a lot of home wrenching, welding, etc. and have built some Greenspeed trikes, solo and tandem.