Clydesdales/Athenas (200+ lb / 91+ kg) - Big-rider friendly bike shops

Hi all!

I am thinking that I should put an index on my blog to direct people to fat-friendly bike shops and bike mechanics in various locales across the US and abroad. With that in mind, do you have a particular shop or mechanic or salesperson who has been especially helpful, thoughtful or knowledgeable? If so, please list them here! (and if there's a thread already, please direct me there...)

:thumb:

*edited to add: someone suggested I post a link to the index at the top, so here it is: clicky (http://www.biggirlbiking.com/resources/bike-shops/)

Hi all!

I am thinking that I should put an index on my blog to direct people to fat-friendly bike shops and bike mechanics in various towns across the US. With that in mind, do you have a particular shop or mechanic or salesperson who has been especially helpful, thoughtful or knowledgeable? If so, please list them here! (and if there's a thread already, please direct me there...)

:thumb:

Bikesport, in Trappe, PA.

http://www.bikesportbikes.com/frontpage.cfm

http://www.bikesportbikes.com/site/images/site/bikesport_header_text.gif

Thanks! added it to the list. Also culling from this older sticky thread (http://www.bikeforums.net/showthread.php?t=377376)

Hi,
Rob and Charlie's in Santa Fe, NM. They are super helpful and very interested in the biking community. I know two of the mechanics--Owen and Liza. They are the greatest. They answer all my questions no matter how newbie or silly. They've always had a good solution so far!
Kate

Epic Bikes in McDonough, GA. Tim, Mike and the guys there are great.

Bicycles, INC in D/FW, TX. (three stores, Arlington, Fort Worth, Hurst)

Richardson Bike Mart (bikemart.com), especially the Richardson store, since they have gotten to know me.

This is a great idea! I didn't buy my bike at an LBS or had a lot of experience with the ones in my area (just had a couple spokes replaced once). Sorry I can't give you any good names from this neck of the woods, but just wanted say great idea!

I did most of my research on this forum and then just went and did test rides. At some stores I had to go up and approach someone, at others I was approached in a helpful manner. Portland, OR has a ton of bike stores and I have only visited about half. However, my best shopping experience so far was at Lakeside Bikes (http://lakeside-bikes.com/). This store gives off a strong roadie / elite vibe (due to brands in the store) but I've talked with a few different staff members and they have all been excellent and extremely helpful. Coventry Cycle (http://www.coventrycycle.com) is a recumbent / trike specialist store and they are extremely helpful and knowledgeable r.e. large rider issues. Large, beginning riders go to their store quite a bit thinking that trikes are their only option.

Spokes, Etc. in Vienna, VA is very Clyde friendly as well. Especially Jeff, a salesman who I believes hovers around the Clyde-line himself. The service staff there is great too.

MM

Woodinville Bicycle (Woodinville, WA) is another one. Big D, who owns the shop, is a Clyde and a racer and can tell you anything you need to know about big rider/lightweight bike compatability.

Thanks everyone! Keep em coming!

I have them organized by state (or country) and city here (http://www.biggirlbiking.com/resources/bike-shops/)

I got my Specialized at Naples Cyclery...Naples, Fl...:thumb:.....I was refused service at the Schwinn/Trek dealer in Ft Myers....they stated their bikes were only rated for 250# max riders..:notamused:

I have experiance with two shops a trek dealer in statesville ,nc called First Flight (http://www.firstflightbikes.com/)and they are by far the worst if you dont live in spandex they want nothing to do with you ......but in Winston -Salem there is a trek dealer called Ken's Bike Shop (http://www.kensbikeshop.com/)
these guys are all about the ride they dont care about your size they just want to make riding as fun as possible......I cant give this shop enough a+ ratings

ooh, that makes me so mad! I'm somewhat tempted to start a page about shops to AVOID. Maybe that'll make them change their tune!

Sarasota Schwinn, Sarasota: http://www.sarasotaschwinncyclery.com/
(http://www.sarasotaschwinncyclery.com/)
Chainwheel Drive, Tampa: http://chainwheeldrive.com/

I like the idea isara.

I bought my Surly from Trophy bikes in Philadelphia (http://www.trophybikes.com/). They were helpful and patient with me even though I knew exactly what I wanted. However they are not a LBS (a 3+ hour drive for me).

My LBS that has always been helpful and friendly is Chenango Point Cycles in Binghamton NY (http://www.chenangopoint.com/). They have gone out of thier way to fix some of the bikes I have brought to them from some of the kids I work with at a group home. Sometimes not even charging or charging them the barest of minimums. And they always treat me well even though I've never bought a bike from them.

The Spokesman Professional Bicycle Works in Mandeville, LA Steve or Phil there great folks

I, went to Benidorm bikes in Canton, CT Doug is rebuilding my rear wheel do to my trashing it twice. I think they may not be used to big peaple in our sport but they have been great and they have a big man for a customer now. 5'11" 255lbs

I'll speak up for La Dolce Velo in San Jose, CA. Their service is fantastic and they welcome literally everyone. I bought a $500 bike from this shop last year and quickly destroyed the stock rear wheel, no surprise at 295#. They insisted that the manufacturer replace it (yes, that can be done). I destroyed that one, too, and they again insisted that the manufacturer replace it. See a pattern? When that one failed, the owner spent a lot of energy convincing the manufacturer to supply a wheel that would hold his customer, and I ended up with a 36 hole deep V. None of this cost me anything at all and they never made me feel that I was a burden or anything negative at all. Their position was that they sold this bike and they were going to make good on it no matter what. I have no doubt whatsoever that if they had to, they would have built me an appropriate wheel at their cost.

I could go on with details about how clyde-friendly this shop is, but this post is too long already. Sorry.

Hey Boyd,
What brand bike did you get? Even though they had to be made to do it, they did stand behind their product--sort of. And congratulations on finding such a great LBS.
Kate

Hi all!

I am thinking that I should put an index on my blog to direct people to fat-friendly bike shops and bike mechanics in various towns across the US. With that in mind, do you have a particular shop or mechanic or salesperson who has been especially helpful, thoughtful or knowledgeable? If so, please list them here! (and if there's a thread already, please direct me there...)

:thumb:

Why limit it to just the US, this is the Internet, it's global, besides you never know when you might decide to come visit us folks in Canada or head down a little south into Mexico -- don't know if I would want to ride in Mexico though, I hear they drive worse then a Montreal Taxi driver. If you want to be scared in a car, take a taxi in Montreal during a blizzard:eek::twitchy:

Let me suggest a shop here in Toronto, Bayview Cycle (http://www.bayviewcycle.com) at the corner of Bayview and Cummer. I was actually in there today, my rear light fell off and broke, so I had to get another one, I think I have replaced a rear light every year since I got back into riding. First one, I had jury rigged onto the back of the rack, it fell off and broke, so I replaced it over the winter, the next one was defective and the shop replaced it under warranty in the spring. Last year we got one for my wifes bike, a cheap $4 one, somehow I ended up giver her my good one and putting the crappy one on my bike, I went over a bump the other day and the stupid thing fell off, it stayed in one piece, but the switch broke off, the connector between the mounting and the light broke. So in 4 years of riding, I have gone through 4 rear lights, with a total night ride time of about 3 hours.

Another good shop in Toronto is Urbane Cyclist (http://www.ucycle.com/) downtown at John and Queen not sure about Clyde friendly clothing though, , and then there is the greatest shop for accessories and junk Mountain Equipment Co-op (http://www.mec.ca), for smallish Clydes they have some good clothing and stuff, although for uber and super uber, pass.

Hey Boyd,
What brand bike did you get? Even though they had to be made to do it, they did stand behind their product--sort of. And congratulations on finding such a great LBS.
Kate

Check your PMs

From reading on here I don't think it's common to get a sweet wheel on a cheap bike just because you are fat and hard on stuff, so I am reluctant to say who caved in and did that for me. La Dolce Velo is an unusually good shop.

Why limit it to just the US, this is the Internet, it's global, besides you never know when you might decide to come visit us folks in Canada or head down a little south into Mexico -- don't know if I would want to ride in Mexico though, I hear they drive worse then a Montreal Taxi driver. If you want to be scared in a car, take a taxi in Montreal during a blizzard:eek::twitchy:

You're right, and I had expanded the index to include all countries as they came up - just didn't edit the original post!