im visiting portland for a week or so, and decided to grab a wheelset, and some other goodies, while im here, to build up a bike thats been collecting dust for too long.
so, i get referred to bike central, where i find most of what i'm looking for...
the problem is, the guy who works there was a complete jackass. i think his name is dean, and i was treated with the most condescending attitude i've EVER experienced in a lbs. enough to make me never go back. after i'd dropped close to a grand on parts!!
but, they had a lot of what i was after, and more stuff that i would probably buy in the future.
does anyone know if he is the owner?
it's the closest shop to where i'm moving, and i'd love to be able to support my local bike shop, but this guy just bummed me out. i told the girl working the counter (who was super nice and helpful) that it was doubtful i'd ever return...
is this an on and off thing, or is the dude a complete d1ck ALL of the time?
Jaron
05-18-08, 11:34 AM
i think he might be the owner. i also think he might be the most knowledgable shop mechanic in all of portland. i asked a stupid question about a wheelset i was getting built there and got a appropriate response from him. maybe he was in a bad mood that day?
CB HI
05-18-08, 01:05 PM
If it is a co-op, then there really is not a single owner if any at all. Why not ignore dean and just talk to the other co-op people?
sefb222
05-19-08, 04:50 AM
i think he might be the owner. i also think he might be the most knowledgable shop mechanic in all of portland. i asked a stupid question about a wheelset i was getting built there and got a appropriate response from him. maybe he was in a bad mood that day?
i dunno... it was my second time there, in the course of a week.. the first time, i chalked it up to him being in a bad mood.. i left the deposit on the wheelset, and left...
when i went back, he was a complete dick to me, i suppose because i wasnt as knowledgeable as he was, with regard to italian track bike parts. i made it clear upfront that i dont know a whole bunch about them, and that i was seeking help and advice.
i was treated like an idiot, and i regret giving him close to 1000$ of my loot.
sefb222
05-19-08, 04:50 AM
If it is a co-op, then there really is not a single owner if any at all. Why not ignore dean and just talk to the other co-op people?
not a co-op from what i understand..
donnamb
05-19-08, 07:38 AM
I believe he is the owner (there might be more than one - not sure). He does have a reputation for unpleasantness at times, yet some people have had good experiences. I don't know what to say except you do have other choices out there (http://bikeportland.org/resources/links), though maybe not so many if you ride track.
MIN
05-19-08, 11:17 AM
Virtually no one likes Dean except for the people who are directly involved in the Alpenrose Velodrome racing scene with him. People like Jen there though. While Bike Central is the destination for track specific parts in PDX, Molly at Veloshop can get you hooked up as well... if you decide to goto Veloshop, I would talked to Molly (there after 11 or 12 am) only since the wrenches are usually on downers or stoned (half-truths!!) Cyclepaths in NE Portland (Bill and Josh) are great guys and they have a great selection of parts in house. Sellwood Cycles in SE is also a great shop.
sefb222
05-19-08, 07:34 PM
I believe he is the owner (there might be more than one - not sure). He does have a reputation for unpleasantness at times, yet some people have had good experiences. I don't know what to say except you do have other choices out there (http://bikeportland.org/resources/links), though maybe not so many if you ride track.
thanks for the info.. i dont "ride track" per se, but i ride track bikes on the street.
Virtually no one likes Dean except for the people who are directly involved in the Alpenrose Velodrome racing scene with him. People like Jen there though. While Bike Central is the destination for track specific parts in PDX, Molly at Veloshop can get you hooked up as well... if you decide to goto Veloshop, I would talked to Molly (there after 11 or 12 am) only since the wrenches are usually on downers or stoned (half-truths!!) Cyclepaths in NE Portland (Bill and Josh) are great guys and they have a great selection of parts in house. Sellwood Cycles in SE is also a great shop.
thanks to you as well...
a friend of a friend just opened a shop in the "milwaukie" area (sp?), and i suppose it's time to get him stocked with good stuff, so folks dont have to deal with with ******bag dean if they dont want to.
nuovorecord
05-30-08, 11:57 AM
Try Veloce Bicycles, SE Hawthorne at 34th. Pro gear, great mechanic (builds solid wheels), no BS, pleasant owner and staff.
Blue Order
06-01-08, 09:55 AM
I don't know, I've never had a problem with Dean. I also tried Veloshop, and I just didn't get the sense that Molly and I were on the same page. She wasn't unpleasant at all, just that we weren't on the same page with what I wanted done. When I walked into Bike Central, it was obvious from the start that Dean and I are on the same page. He is very knowledgeable, and he does offer his opinions, good or bad. I wouldn't call his demeanor condescending, but he does call it like he sees it. I've had him tell me components on my bike (components that i want to keep on there, by the way) are b.s., and I've had him tell me that components I want to yank off are great. (OK, that sounds like we're not on the same page, but we are. I get advice from him that is useful in considering how to build a bike-- he's not just doing whatever mechanical job I'm asking him to do.).
I was just in there a few days ago (I had wanted to buy a tool and he didn't have it in stock, so he loaned me his tools so I could make the repair right there in his shop), and this guy walked in, totally NOT the shop's usual customer-- middle aged, bald, fat, (i.e., he wasn't a young tattooed & pierced messenger/racer-- nor am I, for that matter)-- and he wanted to schedule an appointment to have Dean assemble a bike for him. Dean was totally patient with the guy, asking what it was he wanted, then explaining the job to him. Not a bit of attitude from Dean.
And yeah, Jen is great, and super helpful.
MONGO!
06-01-08, 02:14 PM
Go to Veloce on Hawthorne, it's my fave bike store in town.