General Cycling Discussion - My LBSs are p****** me off :\

So i've decided to get a road bike. Read through some catalogues, spec sheets, come up with a price range and a set of bikes that i'm interested in. The problem is, everyone here (and I agree) thinks the most important thing is to find a bike that "fits" well ... well how are you suppose to find a bike that fits well if none of the LBSs will let you demo the bikes :mad: I've been to one shop that actually let me take their bikes for a spin around the block, and another that will let me rent then put the money toward a purchase if I like the bike. I must be saying something wrong :rolleyes:

Moistfly, What shops are you going to? I am in Lehi and familiar with all the local shops...

I've been to Bike Peddler, Timp cyclery, Bingham, Guthrie, Fishers, Taylors ... the only other I know of that I haven't been to is aardvark, locally at least.

So i've decided to get a road bike. Read through some catalogues, spec sheets, come up with a price range and a set of bikes that i'm interested in. The problem is, everyone here (and I agree) thinks the most important thing is to find a bike that "fits" well ... well how are you suppose to find a bike that fits well if none of the LBSs will let you demo the bikes :mad: I've been to one shop that actually let me take their bikes for a spin around the block, and another that will let me rent then put the money toward a purchase if I like the bike. I must be saying something wrong :rolleyes:

i've had this same problem with a few shops around me. one shop wouldn't let me ride a bike unless the manager was on duty. another shop wouldn't let me ride a fixed bike i was interested in, so i bought it 'blind' and was lucky that it fit me okay. i would suggest calling ahead and asking if they'll let you test ride to save yourself a trip. also, in general, i get MUCH better service if i go in during the week or some other slow time. the weekends are usually crazy for a bike shop.

Why do I have trouble picturing that in Utah??? I live in the Los Angeles area. Every shop I looked at, and there were plenty, would let you take a test ride. Most didn't know what they were doing asa far as fit goes, but you could at least try the product.

Rent a bike to test ride it????? WHAT A RIPOFF. Run away from that scam artist.

Any shop that won't let me test ride bikes is a shop I won't be buying a bike from.

Any shop that won't let me test ride bikes is a shop I won't be buying a bike from.

Or anything else for that mater

Or anything else for that mater

Well, yeah. That too.

Once you purchase the bike you get fit to it, you can't expect to jump on a demo bike and it fits you. start by riding the proper frame size, if you like the feal of the frame buy it and get fit to it if not try another bike. you must be saying somthing wrong lbs are there to sell bikes and are happy to let you ride a bike. maybe they think you want fitted to a bike then waste there time and not buy it thats why you just ride your frame size 1st.

We engourage our (potential) customers to rde any bike they are interested in. your tag below your avatar alludes to you being a kid. If you are younger, esp. under eighteen that might have something to do with the no demo.

timmhaan, we are hesitant to let people ride our track bikes, because they are geared 80+ inches, have no brakes, and we are at the top of a hill.

I've never had any problems either. A few shops I've been to will ask to hold your state ID if your testing out a bike that's over X dollars, but to me that's only fair.

The "rent" idea is just absurd. If that bike was "rented", that would make it a "rental bike", and therefore by that standard "not new", so I would expect a reasonable discount as well....but we all know that shop won't do that anytime soon. I'm like that though, never pay retail for used (or alluded to used) gear, ever.

No test ride = no buy. I'll put down my ID, maybe even a fully-returnable deposit if the bike is a really expensive one, like a litespeed or something....but to outright deny a testride is ridiculous. If you were a kid/teenager, they should have asked you to breing a parent to get a testride, and not outright shoot you down like that.

I had to leave a credit card. I had no problem with that at all. the lbs's I go to encourage people to test ride the bikes. Walk by these store on a nice Sat or Sun and all the bikes you in the area have the price tags and spec sheets on them.

timmhaan, we are hesitant to let people ride our track bikes, because they are geared 80+ inches, have no brakes, and we are at the top of a hill.

yeah, i guess you could have potential liability issues with that one.

Not really a kid, it's just a reference to "family guy" i'm 22 ... in any event, no, of course I don't expect them to take an hour + to fit me to any bike I want to try out, they flat out tell me that I can't even test ride the bikes around the block. It's ridiculous

The only shop I have had issues with is Timp in PG, even tho they are owned by the same guys that own Bike Peddler, I wont go back. I have no idea why the others have given you issues. Are you telling the shop guys you are looking to buy, not just test ride?

Two suggestions, (1) Go back to Bike Peddler and ask for Kenny, tell him that Joe Gardner sent you. I am sure he will let you test any of the road bikes, bike peddler is becoming my new favorite bike shop, great selection, good prices, nice weekly rides and nice guys.

However, I still make the drive to Mad Dog Cycles in Orem quite often, they have the best service in the valley in my opinion, they don't quite have the road bike selection on floor, but they will take care of you.

Most, if not all shops will require some type of collateral. I usually leave my keys and drivers license at the shop. Also take in your helmet, this will show the shop guys you are serious and expect to take a bike out for a ride. When you do take the bike out, ask if you can have it for 15 - 20 minutes. You cant get a feel for the bike by riding it around the parking lot.

BTW, once you get your bike, drop me an email, lets hook up for a ride.

Im sick of my LBS too. I went there looking at road bikes and suddenly the guy comes out and just assumes since im 15, I want a mountain bike or bmx. and I kept saying I want a road bike but he goes on and on.

The only shop I have had issues with is Timp in PG, even tho they are owned by the same guys that own Bike Peddler, I wont go back. I have no idea why the others have given you issues. Are you telling the shop guys you are looking to buy, not just test ride?

Two suggestions, (1) Go back to Bike Peddler and ask for Kenny, tell him that Joe Gardner sent you. I am sure he will let you test any of the road bikes, bike peddler is becoming my new favorite bike shop, great selection, good prices, nice weekly rides and nice guys.

However, I still make the drive to Mad Dog Cycles in Orem quite often, they have the best service in the valley in my opinion, they don't quite have the road bike selection on floor, but they will take care of you.

Most, if not all shops will require some type of collateral. I usually leave my keys and drivers license at the shop. Also take in your helmet, this will show the shop guys you are serious and expect to take a bike out for a ride. When you do take the bike out, ask if you can have it for 15 - 20 minutes. You cant get a feel for the bike by riding it around the parking lot.

BTW, once you get your bike, drop me an email, lets hook up for a ride.

You bet, coincidently Kenny's the guy I talked to at bike peddler, damn nice guy to say the least. I think he was just hesitent to let us test out the bikes because I had made it clear I wasn't looking to purchase right then. Maybe if I walk in with a wad of cash it will help things :D

Maybe if I walk in with a was of cash it will help things

It usually does.

Im sick of my LBS too. I went there looking at road bikes and suddenly the guy comes out and just assumes since im 15, I want a mountain bike or bmx. and I kept saying I want a road bike but he goes on and on.

Thats just a bad salesman sized you up and thought that was want you wanted. Then he doesn't listen to what you say happens way to much.

Did you do the quote motion with your fingers when you asked to test ride?

I would like to "test ride" a bike.

Did you do the quote motion with your fingers when you asked to test ride?

I would like to "test ride" a bike.




No, I just asked if it would be possible to take the bike for a quick ride to test it out ... that's pretty much ver batim what I said

No, I just asked if it would be possible to take the bike for a quick ride to test it out ... that's pretty much ver batim what I said

I like to say this......."I need a new bike. Do you have any?" YOu don't need to qualify what your intentions are. You are the customer. They have the job of selling you the bike. If you tell them you are their to buy one, they will probably get on all fours so you can step on their back while climbing onto one.

You gotta remember that these guys see a lot of morons who just come into ride their bikes. Tell them you are their to buy a bike. You just told all of us that you are getting ready to buy one. How do you or they know that the one you are going to test ride won't be the one????


Let the LBS rep know that you have two things at the front of your mind.

1. The intention to purchase a bike.

2. A keen awareness of the location of the front door. They do something you don't like? You walk out the door. They won't like this idea if they get the smell of cash in your pocket.

buy a 5000$ colnago, walk into each store with it, and buy some 2$ items like barends or water bottles to show them off :D

buy a 5000$ colnago, walk into each store with it, and buy some 2$ items like barends or water bottles to show them off :D


:lol:

Better yet, buy a $16000 dogma ego, walk in, and just browse around indecisively and asking them their opinion on whether the $5 bell shaped like a burger is better or the $4.50 bell with a compass, make em wait on their hands and knees for a $5 purchase.

Better yet, buy a $16000 dogma ego, walk in, and just browse around indecisively and asking them their opinion on whether the $5 bell shaped like a burger is better or the $4.50 bell with a compass, make em wait on their hands and knees for a $5 purchase.

And then tell them you'll buy it online after all...

Better yet, buy a $16000 dogma ego, walk in, and just browse around indecisively and asking them their opinion on whether the $5 bell shaped like a burger is better or the $4.50 bell with a compass, make em wait on their hands and knees for a $5 purchase.

Hmm hamburger bell....we need a squeaky horn that looks like a giant buffalo wing :)

Go for the horn that looks like a Sumo wrestler or an Air Zound

Honka Hootas, Chuck. Get 'em in if you don't have 'em yet. Can't keep 'em in stock and make for amusing little things to mount on your workstands.

How about this.... go here, http://www.wrenchscience.com and go to the fit section of the site. Put in all the measurements it asks for and it will spit out some frame measurements etc. that you can then bring to your lbs. Going in with a little more knowledge about what you want and are looking for only helps your cause. Good luck.

Better yet, buy a $16000 dogma ego, walk in, and just browse around indecisively and asking them their opinion on whether the $5 bell shaped like a burger is better or the $4.50 bell with a compass, make em wait on their hands and knees for a $5 purchase.

I'm sure they see Yuppies all the time.