Bikeforums.net is a forum about nothing but bikes. Our community can help you find information about hard-to-find and localized information like bicycle tours, specialties like where in your area to have your recumbent bike serviced, or what are the best bicycle tires and seats for the activities you use your bike for.Doohickie
10-17-08, 01:52 PM
I just thought I would post a little about my favorite LBS. There are a few good ones in Fort Worth, but I happen to know the owner of one of them and it's a pretty good place to hang out.
The place I'm talking about is The City Cyclist (http://www.citycyclisttx.com) on McCart, just south of Westcreek. They are a newer bike shop, only open about a year. I will admit they don't have the best of everything; after all they're just starting out. But they are an excellent example of the third place (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Third_Place)- the place you like to hang out when you're not at home or at work. Where many bike shops hide the mechanics' area so you can't see them working on the bicycles, they actually have a small seating area right next to the work bench. They're quick to offer a bottle of water on a hot day, or a cup of java in the morning. They don't charge for it, although they have a coffee kitty (a can for donations).
They are the kind of business that I like- instead of trying to maximize how much you buy at any given time, they try to educate you and tell you the pros and cons of different bicycles, equipment and accessories. I guess they feel that rather than trying to get the most business out of you right away, they'd rather earn your trust so that you'll continue to come back.
Also, as far as running the business, they recognize they are new at this, and they like to hear ideas from customers. What do we want? If you tell them, they'll try to get it (whether it's merchandise, or just how the shop is set up, or what other services they should offer).
They are going to be moving into a larger space in the same shopping center; I just saw it this morning. I mentioned that the existing shop is my "third place" to hang out in. I think the new shop will be even more so. When I said I almost would want to live there, I was told I'm not the first to make that comment. To address liability concerns of allowing people in their shop area, they will be walling off the mechanics' area, but only with a half wall. Along one of those walls there will be a bar with stools so you can still hang out and chat while they work on bikes. And there will still be a coffee pot. :D
I think they came up with the right concept at the right time; many people are looking into getting back into cycling for the first time in years. Their desire to educate, their patience in explaining things to n00bs (like me), and their desire to encourage cycle commuting are all relevant at this point in time. On their webpage it says the goal of the shop is to be "a bike shop that desires to help people learn to use bicycles for commuting."
The one thing that will distinguish them as they grow, I think, is that they are going to stress recumbent bikes. Not all of us getting up in years are comfortable bent over the handlebars on our old English racers. I think the demographic of people who will prefer recumbents is growing, and they're positioning themselves to take advantage of that.
I know, this sounds like a commercial for them, so maybe I should turn it over to the rest of y'all: What is your favorite LBS, and why?
The place I'm talking about is The City Cyclist (http://www.citycyclisttx.com) on McCart, just south of Westcreek. They are a newer bike shop, only open about a year. I will admit they don't have the best of everything; after all they're just starting out. But they are an excellent example of the third place (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Third_Place)- the place you like to hang out when you're not at home or at work. Where many bike shops hide the mechanics' area so you can't see them working on the bicycles, they actually have a small seating area right next to the work bench. They're quick to offer a bottle of water on a hot day, or a cup of java in the morning. They don't charge for it, although they have a coffee kitty (a can for donations).
They are the kind of business that I like- instead of trying to maximize how much you buy at any given time, they try to educate you and tell you the pros and cons of different bicycles, equipment and accessories. I guess they feel that rather than trying to get the most business out of you right away, they'd rather earn your trust so that you'll continue to come back.
Also, as far as running the business, they recognize they are new at this, and they like to hear ideas from customers. What do we want? If you tell them, they'll try to get it (whether it's merchandise, or just how the shop is set up, or what other services they should offer).
They are going to be moving into a larger space in the same shopping center; I just saw it this morning. I mentioned that the existing shop is my "third place" to hang out in. I think the new shop will be even more so. When I said I almost would want to live there, I was told I'm not the first to make that comment. To address liability concerns of allowing people in their shop area, they will be walling off the mechanics' area, but only with a half wall. Along one of those walls there will be a bar with stools so you can still hang out and chat while they work on bikes. And there will still be a coffee pot. :D
I think they came up with the right concept at the right time; many people are looking into getting back into cycling for the first time in years. Their desire to educate, their patience in explaining things to n00bs (like me), and their desire to encourage cycle commuting are all relevant at this point in time. On their webpage it says the goal of the shop is to be "a bike shop that desires to help people learn to use bicycles for commuting."
The one thing that will distinguish them as they grow, I think, is that they are going to stress recumbent bikes. Not all of us getting up in years are comfortable bent over the handlebars on our old English racers. I think the demographic of people who will prefer recumbents is growing, and they're positioning themselves to take advantage of that.
I know, this sounds like a commercial for them, so maybe I should turn it over to the rest of y'all: What is your favorite LBS, and why?