Clydesdales/Athenas (200+ lb / 91+ kg) - Got a Job at a LBS~

So yeah, I got a job at a local bike shop today! Went in for the interview, and they hired me on the spot. They sell Specialized bikes, anyone know anything about them? I mean, I know you do, that's why I'm asking, I want to do some research so I know about what I'm selling. Ya know? :)

So get on the specialized website (http://www.specialized.com)!

Also get on the competitors' sites and know what they are selling.

I've got a 17 year old Specialized Hard Rock that is wonderfuly reliable as a commuter bike with fenders, street tires and a rack. That's all I know.

I used to work for a specialized dealer way back when. They are very easy to work with and they make great products that basically sell themselves. In my experience even the not-so-bright Specialized reps are very knowledgeable and can get you up to speed on their line in short order.

The only problem is the employee purchase program which will suck your bank account dry in no time. :D

Wow! That's cool :) . Are you dealing with customers up front, or being a wrench in back? That is such a significant step forward for Clydes/Athenas, that your LBS recognises that Clydes and Athenas are out there buying bikes.

Congratulations!

East Hill

Wow! That's cool :) . Are you dealing with customers up front, or being a wrench in back? That is such a significant step forward for Clydes/Athenas, that your LBS recognises that Clydes and Athenas are out there buying bikes.

Congratulations!

East Hill

Great point, I would rather talk to someone that doesn't look like they where born on a cycle. I would feel like they understood what I was going threw a lot more.

if you are up front, you should ride each different model they have...like a test ride, but longer so you pick up the nuances of each frame and ride characteristics. sounds like a sweet job

I used to work for a specialized dealer way back when. They are very easy to work with and they make great products that basically sell themselves. In my experience even the not-so-bright Specialized reps are very knowledgeable and can get you up to speed on their line in short order.

The only problem is the employee purchase program which will suck your bank account dry in no time. :D

Oh god I hope not, I can't afford to buy stuff all the time. X_X

Wow! That's cool :) . Are you dealing with customers up front, or being a wrench in back? That is such a significant step forward for Clydes/Athenas, that your LBS recognises that Clydes and Athenas are out there buying bikes.

Congratulations!

East Hill

I'll deal w/ customers upfront for now, I do REALLY want to learn to be a wrench in the back though. It's one of the main reasons why I applied to work there, I want to know how to fix bikes. :)

That's cool. Congrats. I liked to get a gig at the LBS that sells Cannondale, so when I ready for the SystemSix I can take full advantage of the employee discount. :lol:

That's cool. Congrats. I liked to get a gig at the LBS that sells Cannondale, so when I ready for the SystemSix I can take full advantage of the employee discount. :lol:

Any Trek dealer want to hire me? I'll work for a 520! ;)

I might even have my first customer! My friend that I met at weight watchers and were talking and I showed her Tom Stormcrowe's pictures and she got inspired, she said she was always too scared to get a bike cause she's big but I told her I'd ride with her, and I think she may come and get a bike from me. I might be getting a new biking buddy! :D

Good luck with the new Job,

Get a copy of the 08 Specialized Bikes and equipment manual , Your shop will have one
Its a big book with all the latest products in it

So yeah, I got a job at a local bike shop today! Went in for the interview, and they hired me on the spot. They sell Specialized bikes, anyone know anything about them? I mean, I know you do, that's why I'm asking, I want to do some research so I know about what I'm selling. Ya know? :)

Good luck with the job! I don't know about Specialized bikes, but the Specialized Toupe Team Saddle is amazing and comfortable - get one.

Any Trek dealer want to hire me? I'll work for a 520! ;)

Move to Orange County, CA. We need people bad in my shop. I'm the purchaser/InventoryControl/Receiving Guy and Ive been helping cover the floor all WEEK! Not to mention our service department needs people too. We lost one mechanic to a new career and my service manager is out for cancer treatment, please say a prayer for Joe Schraff if that is your belief. He needs all the prayers he can get.

Anyways, sry I took my frustrations out on the thread. Sry :p

As for working at a specialized shop, congrats and good luck to you. I dunno about specialized but they may have online curriculum much like Trek does. Get that stuff into your mind quick and start drinking the kool-aid as they all say. Then in the long run, build a few of the bikes. Take all day if you have to, its the best way to learn. Also try to get out to your competitors in the area, make good relationships, and ask them if you can try one of there demos to compare your brand to theirs. Be honest with your clients. Tell them what is good about your brand and never bash another brand. Point out the good things about yours and what sets you apart. These are just a few things that I have found that help me sell road bikes especially. Good luck to you. PM me if you have any specific questions. I would be more than happy to help one of my fellow clyde bike shop employees

Good luck with the job! I don't know about Specialized bikes, but the Specialized Toupe Team Saddle is amazing and comfortable - get one.

i keep hearing this over and over...i'm gonna have to start looking for one. i think i am gonna need the taint cutout.

Good Luck with the New Job.

I've worked Bike Shops as the needs arise. 15 years ago it was to help make ends meet due to the kids and such. Last Spring it was due to me parking my Butt in the LazyBoy too much after becoming an empty nester.

It is so nice because I can work MY schedule, but I am flexible enough to help when times are hectic also.

Right now it's a lot of fun due to the influx of new bikes and then the excitement of the Customers knowing that spring is almost here. We've had some busy Saturdays already this year and it's building earlier than I can remember. That's GOOD news for our part of NY State.

Specialized make a fine line of bicycles. They easily compete against any other brand to be mentioned out there. It is a WIDE line to have product knowledge of because the have a bike at every price point and for every need. My advice is to break it down to sub groups that have the same or similar frames, and then understand the part differences between those bikes. It'll be tough to figure some of this out at first. If you need to, have the catalog in front of you and if you don't know something, look it up and give the textbook answer. Don't BS the customer!

Again, Good Luck!

Move to Orange County, CA. We need people bad in my shop. I'm the purchaser/InventoryControl/Receiving Guy and Ive been helping cover the floor all WEEK! Not to mention our service department needs people too. We lost one mechanic to a new career and my service manager is out for cancer treatment, please say a prayer for Joe Schraff if that is your belief. He needs all the prayers he can get.

Anyways, sry I took my frustrations out on the thread. Sry :p

As for working at a specialized shop, congrats and good luck to you. I dunno about specialized but they may have online curriculum much like Trek does. Get that stuff into your mind quick and start drinking the kool-aid as they all say. Then in the long run, build a few of the bikes. Take all day if you have to, its the best way to learn. Also try to get out to your competitors in the area, make good relationships, and ask them if you can try one of there demos to compare your brand to theirs. Be honest with your clients. Tell them what is good about your brand and never bash another brand. Point out the good things about yours and what sets you apart. These are just a few things that I have found that help me sell road bikes especially. Good luck to you. PM me if you have any specific questions. I would be more than happy to help one of my fellow clyde bike shop employees

Hehe but I'm an athena ;)

Theres a young lady about my age(uh hem) in my local bike club who has one and she's really fast. She can keep up with the greyhounds on a 25 mile training ride, so Specialized can't be too bad. I've never really looked closely at the bike, but they have a decent rep, even up here in Trek land. Take time with the customers, be patient, No bs and be patient. Did I mention being patient??? When I bought my Klein I went to at least three bike shops before I found someone I could work with. He spent about three hours with me on the sales floor and had me test drive several bikes. I was never presurred or hurried. The result, I bought the bike from him as well as helmet, pedals, gloves, water bottles, extra tubes, etc. Furthermore I have sent several customers to him and most of them also bought bikes. He knows his bikes and just as important knows how to fit one. Proper fitting is very important for the customer to get the most out their bike. Good luck with the job!

Jim

Good Luck with the New Job.

I've worked Bike Shops as the needs arise. 15 years ago it was to help make ends meet due to the kids and such. Last Spring it was due to me parking my Butt in the LazyBoy too much after becoming an empty nester.

It is so nice because I can work MY schedule, but I am flexible enough to help when times are hectic also.

Right now it's a lot of fun due to the influx of new bikes and then the excitement of the Customers knowing that spring is almost here. We've had some busy Saturdays already this year and it's building earlier than I can remember. That's GOOD news for our part of NY State.

Specialized make a fine line of bicycles. They easily compete against any other brand to be mentioned out there. It is a WIDE line to have product knowledge of because the have a bike at every price point and for every need. My advice is to break it down to sub groups that have the same or similar frames, and then understand the part differences between those bikes. It'll be tough to figure some of this out at first. If you need to, have the catalog in front of you and if you don't know something, look it up and give the textbook answer. Don't BS the customer!

Again, Good Luck!

I would never bs the customer! That's not my style. My husband was the best salesman when he worked at sears number wise because he was honest and built a trust with his customers who came back to him and asked for him specifically because they KNEW he would not bs them and I will do the same for my customers. :)

I'm a Specialized fan. Over the years I've bought 6 Specialized bikes for myself and my family, plus tires and gloves. I think they make good bikes and I always look at them when considering a new purchase. They're not the cheapest, but I feel like they're well-engineered. Every one I've ever bought is still in use and still works fine - no failures of any kind.

Congratulations!

If you can, take the Park Tool School to learn about fixing bikes. I took it from a custom frame builder (Winterborne) and learned a LOT.

Read as much as possible online, especially Sheldon Brown rest his soul, and spend time here.

Must be Specialized week or something...

Was in Liberty Bicycles a few towns away on Friday for its Pre-Bike Show - Anti-Bike Show sale. Bought Specialized Mondo Pro tires.

If something happens to my current job (1Km away and I get Fri, Sat, Sun off) I'll be applying to that bike shop (Specialized, Cannondale, Kona, and more). The 45Km each way commute will be a whole new adventure.

i keep hearing this over and over...i'm gonna have to start looking for one. i think i am gonna need the taint cutout.

The Avatar is great too.

I'm with you there. I work at a Raleigh dealer/sporting goods store as the unoffical service manager. The best advice I can tell you is to not talk down to your customer. Most don't know anything technical about a bicycle.

I'm with you there. I work at a Raleigh dealer/sporting goods store as the unoffical service manager. The best advice I can tell you is to not talk down to your customer. Most don't know anything technical about a bicycle.

I don't either, so how could I talk down ;) :P

I might even have my first customer! My friend that I met at weight watchers and were talking and I showed her Tom Stormcrowe's pictures and she got inspired, she said she was always too scared to get a bike cause she's big but I told her I'd ride with her, and I think she may come and get a bike from me. I might be getting a new biking buddy! :D

And that's what it's all about! You are indeed lucky, as I was to get together with a couple of new BF cycling friends last year. We had some great rides and still do. You'll find out soon enough if she can keep motivated; don't take it personally if she decides to take a break from it - if I may make a suggestion: just try to encourage.

I have another friend that I started riding with early last summer and found he wasn't as into it as I was. I started to ride with my brother-in-law in Tucson and found he could take it or leave it, but then again he's in amazing shape for 60.

I was always wondering about the use of a trainer, hearing Vega talking about it over in Foo, so I finally hooked one up. I would definitely recommend using one - they let you get in more miles when you wouldn't be riding. Anyway, good luck again...

I sometimes wonder how many bikes my before and after pics have sold ;)


I might even have my first customer! My friend that I met at weight watchers and were talking and I showed her Tom Stormcrowe's pictures and she got inspired, she said she was always too scared to get a bike cause she's big but I told her I'd ride with her, and I think she may come and get a bike from me. I might be getting a new biking buddy! :D

I sometimes wonder how many bikes my before and after pics have sold ;)

I would not doubt that seeing your story has inspired many a Clyde or Athena. We've seen a lot of those successes retold here...there's probably dozens more who are still lurking until the time is right.

East Hill

I couldn't agree more. :D I'm just happy to see them and would love to see more delurk!!


I would not doubt that seeing your story has inspired many a Clyde or Athena. We've seen a lot of those successes retold here...there's probably dozens more who are still lurking until the time is right.

East Hill

I couldn't agree more. :D I'm just happy to see them and would love to see more delurk!!


Seeing people stop being lurkers and turn into posters is the best part of reading my favourite forums (C/A, C & V).

East Hill

I sometimes wonder how many bikes my before and after pics have sold ;)

More than you'd know. You should make a deal with your local LBS to have a poster with your before and after picture and your story for a discount in the store. You're the Jarrod of the biking world, so to speak.

I know when I'm feeling crappy, and I remember to click the bookmark to Bike Forums, I find myself looking at your before and afters and wonder why I can't find the motivation to do the same... but at the same time, it usually gets a workout out of me in some fashion, even if it's not on a bike.

You are an inspiration.

I sometimes wonder how many bikes my before and after pics have sold ;)

I show just about all of my clyde/athena would be friends your picture! It's inspired more than you know. :)

More than you'd know. You should make a deal with your local LBS to have a poster with your before and after picture and your story for a discount in the store. You're the Jarrod of the biking world, so to speak.



That's a good analogy!


I show just about all of my clyde/athena would be friends your picture! It's inspired more than you know. :)

There's lessons to be learned here!

East Hill

Had a great first day at the bike shop, everyone was really nice, but everyone was really thin...hehe, they were all talking about how this one girl had gotten out of shape, I'd seen her, she's like 180 pounds TOPS I wonder how they talk about me behind my back... Oh well, I'm doing my best to change my size and went out for a nice 7.7 mile ride today.

Had a great first day at the bike shop, everyone was really nice, but everyone was really thin...hehe, they were all talking about how this one girl had gotten out of shape, I'd seen her, she's like 180 pounds TOPS I wonder how they talk about me behind my back... Oh well, I'm doing my best to change my size and went out for a nice 7.7 mile ride today.

Not to put too much pressure on you, but that's why it's great to have an Athena in a LBS. EVERYONE can ride a bicycle, and EVERYONE can enjoy* riding a bike, regardless of his or her size.

East Hill

Not to put too much pressure on you, but that's why it's great to have an Athena in a LBS. EVERYONE can ride a bicycle, and EVERYONE can enjoy* riding a bike, regardless of his or her size.

East Hill

Excellent Statement EH. :)

Yeah, I just am self conscious around all thin peoples

fuish,

I wouldn't sweat it at all. You're getting out there and being active and thats what counts :D You have absolutely no reason to feel self conscious around the skinnies. :D (I know, easier said than done ;) )

EDIT: I submit that if they have a problem with you, then it's THEIR problem and not yours :D None of us are junk. As you change your lifestyle, you will have that reflect in more than just your appearance, by the way. Your whole outlook changes. :D Suddenly, you come to the realization that you're doing it for you and no one else :D

Had a great first day at the bike shop, everyone was really nice, but everyone was really thin...hehe, they were all talking about how this one girl had gotten out of shape, I'd seen her, she's like 180 pounds TOPS I wonder how they talk about me behind my back... Oh well, I'm doing my best to change my size and went out for a nice 7.7 mile ride today.

Suddenly, you come to the realization that you're doing it for you and no one else :D

That's where change begins...don't do it for someone else, or some mystical foggy notion that suddenly you will become rich and famous. Do it because it's a benefit to YOU.

As our therapists say: You can control the way you think, but you can't control the way other people think. So don't try, and don't worry.

East Hill

Had a great first day at the bike shop, everyone was really nice, but everyone was really thin...

The LBS I go to has a bunch of tall skinny 20 to 30-something staffers, and Rick. Distance cyclist, former racer, randonneur, bike fitting master, and Clydesdale. The great thing is that nobody there looks any differently at a customer based on their shape.
What was funny last week is how much laughter I generated with one statement. A very petite tri racer was there and she was complaining how size XS (that's Extra Small) is too big depending on the manufacturer. I looked at the guy behind the counter and said "You know. I have exactly the same problem."
I think everyone in the store was laughing at that.