Road Cycling - Road testing bikes - I feel uncomfortable...

Is it just me?

I have already bought two bikes within the last 2 years, and I am now looking for a good ride bike (middle range Trek, or something).

I do know something about bikes from riding them for a few years, but I have never had a "good" road bike. So I do not really know what sort of frame I want, groupset, etc. Probably like a lot of people.

My problem is that I really HATE getting a bike shop to do up a bike for me to road test. It takes them so much work - adjust seat height, pump up tires, etc. Then I toodle off for half and hour or so. Then I come back in and try out another one...

I have only done this a couple of times, and I really feel guilty about it. I have actually spent a lot of money with my LBS, and the owner knows me real well, so that is not too bad. But I now want to test out other bikes and my local LBS does not have the full range I want to test. Unfortunately, I am hesitant to approach the other bike shops...

Do other people have this problem? In my mind I think that the bike shops expect people to go for road tests, but it still feels difficult fo me to do.

The other problem is that once I work out exactly the model and size I want, I will probably get my LBS to order it in for me. So I am kind of using the other bike shops under false pretences...

Am I just being too much of a wuz?

I feel the same way, but that's really what you are paying them for.

If all they had to do and sit around on their a$$ while they watch people come in and buy things... i guess everyone would own a bike shop then

not just you...
I did most of my test riding at a shop that I didn't buy my bike from, they simply didn't carry the bike I ultimately wanted. I called and thanked the LBS owner, and he thanked me for telling him and said he just wished he had the bike I wanted.

I have since gone back to him for a helmet and gloves, and I felt good about giving him some business even though I could have bought the same equipment on line for less.

Dont feel bad it's our JOB! It is what we do.

I was in exactly the same boat. I went to my LBS where they bent over backwards for me. I tried out 6 bikes totalling about $20,000. They took the time to set up everything just the way I wanted and I got some great test ride time in. After all was said and done I ended up getting a different bike at a different shop where the service was not nearly as good but they had the bike that I wanted and was right for me. I felt very guilty but went back to the original shop and thanked them for everything they had done. There were no hard feelings and in the long run they will likely make out just fine. I do all my other shopping there for anything that I need and my wife is now going to be getting her bike there as well. I also promote their shop to everyone that I talk with. A first rate shop with great people.


By the way the shop is Re-My Sport in Streetsville (Mississauga) Ontario, Canada. Check them out if you are in the area.
www.remysport.com

I want you to come in and test ride my bikes and ask me questions and, of course buy one of my bikes. But if I don't have what you want then I also want you to go and get the right bike. If my initial sales/service was good you will be back to buy accessories and get your older bikes worked on and maybe tell your friends.
This does not include people that want to use my skills so they can mail order a bike for cheap. If that is the route you want to go tell me up front, pay me to fit you and then order the bike, that is only fair.

Originally posted by Rev.Chuck
[B]I want you to come in and test ride my bikes and ask me questions and, of course buy one of my bikes. But if I don't have what you want then I also want you to go and get the right bike. If my initial sales/service was good you will be back to buy accessories and get your older bikes worked on and maybe tell your friends.

Thanks for the comments. It makes me feel a LOT better.



This does not include people that want to use my skills so they can mail order a bike for cheap. If that is the route you want to go tell me up front, pay me to fit you and then order the bike, that is only fair.
No - there is no way I would buy a bike over the net. Accessories perhaps - where fitting is not required.

But like another post here said - I think my LBS is great - I have spent thousands there, and will continue to do so. And I always recommend them to my local bike club, etc.

Ah well, I feel a bit better about it all then....

I would not feel guilty- you are trying to buy a bike, and you want to know if the bike will "fit" what you want. It's no different than test-driving a car- so don't stress out!

As long as you're not trying to gyp the LBS by trying out a bike that you're going to buy elsewhere because it's cheaper or some other lame reason, I don't see the problem.

Originally posted by Koffee Brown


As long as you're not trying to gyp the LBS by trying out a bike that you're going to buy elsewhere because it's cheaper or some other lame reason, I don't see the problem.

Yea the only reason to feel bad is if you are one of those losers that go to the LBS test ride, ask a bunch of questions and take up a lot of their time, then buy from mail order.:mad:

What's a "test-ride"? Do they have answers at the end?

I would reply to KevinG but it would'nt be nice so i wont.Test ride because you should.They always ask me when i'm looking so they want you to.I will test ride at a bike shop and then see who will give me the best price.If its not where i test rode i will give them a chance to match the lowest price.Its called shopping.

Originally posted by KevinG
Dont feel bad it's our JOB! It is what we do.

Is this common in almost all bike shops?
As I mentioned in another thread, the one bike shop around here doesn't allow test rides

I can't imagine a shop not wanting you to test ride their bikes. That's what we're there for, as Kevin and Chuck mentioned.
Expanding upon what Chuck said, we make so little on bikes that I don't worry too much if you find a bike you like elsewhere as we just want to get people on bikes. Sure it'd be nice if it was one of mine but if I provide quality service that entices you to come back from time to time for accessories I may very well make more money in that regard. The people that really aggravate me are those that want to be fitted on a bike and ride it but have no intention of buying it from me-at least let me make some money for my time.

On a practical note, if you feel sorry for the LBS that didn't get the sale, and want do do something nice for them, go in at 11:30AM on Saturday and drop them off a large pizza, or maybe a couple mediums. I guarantee that any hidden resentments will be long gone after that gesture :)

Or refer some friends/co-workers to their shop, if you have the chance. Make a point of buying some accessories from them, that's where the profit is anyway. Kudos to you for thinking of them :)

Originally posted by brent_dube
Is this common in almost all bike shops?
As I mentioned in another thread, the one bike shop around here doesn't allow test rides

I have never worked in or been to a shop that did not allow test rides. If your lbs expects you to buy a bike with out a testride find a new shop.

Test ride because you should.They always ask me when i'm looking so they want you to.I will test ride at a bike shop and then see who will give me the best price.If its not where i test rode i will give them a chance to match the lowest price.Its called shopping.

Comparative shopping is fine- what I refer to is the nut that goes into one shop, monopolizes their time, test rides the bike, asks a thousand questions, then goes to another store and buys the bike at a discount without going back to the original store- the intent being just to fleece one store for information and giving the sale to another store.

I'd do comparative shopping too- if I'm going to spend a ton of money on a bike, I'd want to check around to see what the going price was for the bike- I'd test ride it and ask the questions at my favorite LBS, but I'd check around and see if it was someplace else, and then I'd go back to my LBS and tell them if I found it cheaper elsewhere. They would understand if I went to the other LBS to buy it- most likely, they'd match the price of the other shop, and I'd end up buying it from them.

Worse are the folks who test ride bikes and glean the information off the LBS, then jump online and get it cheaper... I just don't think an LBS can compete with an online shop, and it's just completely deceptive to imply you're going to buy the bike when you have no intention of doing so. I go to the LBS knowing I'll probably be paying more to get my parts/bike/etc. from them, but feeling good that I'm supporting them being there and I'm helping out their business. You can't get everything from online, and sooner or later, you'll have to go to them. Problem is, by the time you get to the point where you need them, they may have been run out of business by then from competition with online stores... :(

I'm not treating the lbs any different then target.I expect them to wait on me and answer all my questions and i should reward them for doing there job that they are already getting paid for.Tips are getting out of hand[my hands].Bring them a pizza,wrong.They get my money for bike stuff but not a pizza,six pack or whatever.Its a bit different out here,the lbs.Its busy year round and they have the same amount of people working year around.If the lbs wants to stick around,they better have competitive prices or like any other business,they wont be around.Am i going to spend my money at one that isnt just to keep them,NO.Have good prices and you get my money.For everything you guys say about the bike shops,in the end, its a business.Now i'm going to performance to see how much lower they will go on a fuji thats already on sale.

Originally posted by shokhead
I'm not treating the lbs any different then target.I expect them to wait on me and answer all my questions and i should reward them for doing there job that they are already getting paid for.Tips are getting out of hand[my hands].Bring them a pizza,wrong.They get my money for bike stuff but not a pizza,six pack or whatever.Its a bit different out here,the lbs.Its busy year round and they have the same amount of people working year around.If the lbs wants to stick around,they better have competitive prices or like any other business,they wont be around.Am i going to spend my money at one that isnt just to keep them,NO.Have good prices and you get my money.For everything you guys say about the bike shops,in the end, its a business.Now i'm going to performance to see how much lower they will go on a fuji thats already on sale. Ahhh, one of those types. "The bike shop is merely a hardware dispenser... put money in and a component comes out." ;)

Alright... when those LBS stores disappear, and the online prices go high enough so that you can't afford them anymore, don't start rolling your eyes and complaining. And it will happen- the cost for shipping and handling about makes me scream half the time. I won't even order from supergo.com anymore! They are not worth it, and half the time, they don't even have what you want in stock, and they don't tell you until a few days later. :rolleyes:

I'm glad to hear the LBS employees' side of this. I've been looking at mtb's that my shop doesn't sell and they've been so good to me (they even go on rides with me and don't complain when I say HEEEEEEEELP) that I was feeling really sheepish! If I get a bike they don't sell, I WILL defnitely bring it to them for everything though.

They aren't just a store like Target to me, they're more like friends. Maybe I was just lucky with this particular shop, but their prices seem to be lower than what I can get online when you factor in shipping or damn near it. Even the cost of my bike was EXACTLY the same as what I found online, not a penny more. Even if the cost is a little more, I can't tell you how many times I've walked in for a little maintenance thinking there would be a charge and instead walked out with a "Glad you like the bike! Come ride with us! Bye!" When I first started buying all my gear I was looking online, but I don't bother anymore except to get info so I don't have to bother them so much with my stupid questions. I know they'll take care of me :D

Oh yeah..forgot the topic hehe They let people test ride bikes around the big back parking lot, but you can't actually take them out on a trail. Around here that's very understandable.

It sounds like you guys hang out there and i dont.I go when i need something or to look at bikes{without asking them questions or as you guy put,brothing them**Our bike shops have been here a long time and will be for a long time with or without internet.We all shop different.I shop for the best price i can get but if its only a matter of a few bucks,i will get it at the shop.It may suprise you that i have bought 3 new bikes so far and all from the lbs,all different ones.

Originally posted by shokhead
or as you guy put,brothing them

Mmmmm...bike shop people broth.....is that good with chicken??

Hehe..sorry...that typo was just too good :D

There are many benefits to being on the LBS's "good-guy" list :) At the shop closest to my home, I practically have to twist their arm to get them to NOT discount stuff.

Does that sound foolish? Then I'm a fool :) but I know how hard it is to make the 30%+ margins it takes to cover overhead, let alone make a profit.

It might open some eyes to see how the matter is viewed by a shop owner. ljbike put it quite well, if a bit abruptly:


When people, whom I've never seen before, come into my shop and demand that I sell to them at Internet prices (which are often below my wholesale cost) I usually tell them to go shop there, and when it breaks down, tell them to fix it.

It's a mistake to think that the LBS has to grovel and be obsequious to a beligerant, demanding, price only customers who will usually expect more than the few pennies of my profit entitle them to.

On the other hand, a customer comes in, treats me like a human being and shows they are a serious cyclist and treats me as a partner in their cycling pleasure through repeated business and exchange of ideas, this customer automatically will begin to receive discounts without asking.

And for those of you, who think that all LBS's are money-grubbing greedy skum ...stay the hell out of my shop. I don't need you, I don't wnat you, I have no use for you. SCRAM!

If i could spell,maybe i could make more so money would'nt matter.LOL

hehe :p

ljbike pretty much said it for me. Your LBS can't offer competetive pricing on items being sold online below their cost. That doesn't make for an effective business model.
Those who make no effort to befriend or hang out with the guys at their LBS and just come around demanding internet pricing simply don't understand how the game is played. Be nice to them and they'll be nice to you.

The game is played this way.I work and i want the best price i can find.Its not,i like you guys and i want to be your friends so i will shop here even if you overprice your stuff.A lbs owner is a business person in it to make a living as he should be.Better prices get better business.

Originally posted by shokhead
The game is played this way.I work and i want the best price i can find.Its not,i like you guys and i want to be your friends so i will shop here even if you overprice your stuff.A lbs owner is a business person in it to make a living as he should be.Better prices get better business.

i work at a bike shop like a few of the people that have already participated in this thread. i've know our wholesale costs, and i've seen online "shops" selling for less than that. if you've got a way for us to sell below wholesale (to be price-competitive, to get your business) and turn a profit, i'm all ears.

Originally posted by fore
i work at a bike shop like a few of the people that have already participated in this thread. i've know our wholesale costs, and i've seen online "shops" selling for less than that. if you've got a way for us to sell below wholesale (to be price-competitive, to get your business) and turn a profit, i'm all ears. I don't think he fully realizes that the LBS doesn't have the buying power or the grey-market access needed to score those amazing discount/closeout deals that you see at SuperGo. Or maybe he isn't aware of the 33%-35% overhead cost of running a LBS. It's a tough row to hoe when breaking even on your merchandise is considered "overpricing." :(

shokheads attitude is typical of Americans attitude in general,and one of the reasons our manufacturing base is going to China. The point is PRICE ISN"NT EVERYTHING get it thru your thick skulls all you walmart loveing internet buyers, because your job may be the next one that is lost.

BS.

I won't take anymore of your time trying to convince you shokhead, you believe what you want to believe.

Bike shops are different here then there.

Originally posted by shokhead
Bike shops are different here then there.

The only way they can be that different is if you are talking about large chains (like supergo, performance, rei) or large stores with a good size mail order business. Other than those stores all other bike shops order parts and bikes in the same way no matter where in the country they are. So the profit margins and wholesale prices are the same.
Your argument will not work with anyone who has every done anykind of ordering or buying for a bike shop because we know what things actually cost vs what you think they cost.

Thats what we have,supergo's,performance,jaxs which has 5 big supergo type stores and two wheels one planet which is like jax's.Very very few ma and pop typw bike shops.Plus here they are always busy because its always bike riding weather.You dont have to explain owning a business because i do.We keep our business by good service and good prices.

In Toronto, most bike shops will let you have a test ride as long as it aint TOO dirty outside and as long as you leave a CC and drivers liscence. That is my experience from the 10 shops that I primarily go to in the city.

Originally posted by shokhead
I work and i want the best price i can find.Its not,i like you guys and i want to be your friends so i will shop here even if you overprice your stuff.A lbs owner is a business person in it to make a living as he should be.Better prices get better business.
So us pricing our stuff such that we can remain in business (it's not like anyone in the industry is making a huge profit) is overpricing? Better prices don't get better business if it means losing money. I don't know what your job is, but if you can remain in business by selling your product at a loss, more power to you. It's funny seeing you posting on this subject while you obviously have no idea how hard it is to remain in business as a LBS. Since you have experience running a business, why not take your expertise and love of low prices into the LBS arena and show us how to remain in business and compete with mail order places selling items at or below dealer cost?

Cant do it out here as i said,most all of the shops are big chains.My wife runs the business and as to keep it has not raised prices in over 5 years.When she does,its only 5% and thats not across the board.I'm sure its hard to own a smaller,seasonal bike shop but i wont spend my money if your prices are not at least close to where ever i can find a better price.Now i would say,out of all the bike stuff i have bought,only about 5-15% have been online.I do have a problem going to the lbs and paying 7 bucks for a tube.Those prices makes me want to go online and stock up on 3-4 dollar tubes,but i probally wont.

If your LBS is charging $7 for a regular tube then they are overcharging. Our regular tubes go for $5, while ultra lite and Conti/Michelin tubes go for $7.

Why don't local bike shops form a co-operative, this will enable them to increase their buying power and therefore their competiveness against online stores. Another benefit to a co-operative is a greater marketing budget, this would allow advertising on the TV highlighting the benefits of the LBS, such as increased knowledge of bikes and parts, friendly service, local knowledge of trails/routes and clubs, and a place to fix and maintain the bike.

Happy riding, Portent.

^
Maybe in other areas this would work but in our area the attitude amongst shops is not too conducive to such an arrangement-there is much ditrust and not much love for other shops.