vincenzosi

Being new to cycling (at least new to the way cycling is done now as opposed to 15 years ago when I owned my last bike), I never notice the subtle little things that probably glare to most of you. Thank God I have a bike shop I can trust!

I took my Trek there for its 2 month maintenance check (new bikes get a checkup after two months to make sure everything is still adjusted properly). When I brought the bike back, the guy at the counter asked me how I liked it. I told him how I never once felt bad about buying it, rode it a lot, and did the MS Ride in October with it. He was very happy and asked if there was anything I would like done while he had it in. I told him the only thing I may want was a shorter stem because reaching the brake levers in the drops was really uncomfortable for me. Just too far forward.

He seemed surprised by this and made me pull the bike further from the counter so he could see it.

"I see your problem," he said, "your bars are turned a bit upward. See the bar end? It's pointing toward the floor behind you. Just loosen the bars and turn them so the bottom of the bars are parallel to the floor and you should be fine. If not, we'll get you a new stem. Shouldn't run you too much."

I said okay, and today I went back to get my bike. Took it, threw it on the trunk rack and drove home, and realized we didn't do the stem adjustment we were going to do. I took out my allen wrenches and did what he told me to do, got on the saddle, leaned forward, and voila! I was in the drops, grabbing brake levers and shifting with no problems.

Now, what's the point of this story? Well, think about it. The guy could easily have tried to get me to lay out some cash for a new shorter stem because I asked for it. Instead of that, he actually helped me. It didn't make him any money, and I walk away a happy customer with a new found respect for the store.

It's trips like this that clarify why I prefer to go to a local bike shop rather than order online. He made me an even happier customer than I already was, and his honesty (and not trying to sell something for the hell of it) demonstrated what I already knew: These guys really are great.

Just thought I'd share that story; it's always nice to share some good news for a change.

gruppo

In my experience, stories like yours are the norm rather than the exception. Your story was well written and I enjoyed reading it. Thanks for sharing and for supporting your lbs!

Dirtbike

my buddies that work at the local bike shop are really cool. 2 days ago i walked in with a thorn in my front and while i was in there talking to them about buying a new fork, my tire went flat. i showed it to them and we walked to the back of the shop, took out the valve core and put slime in for free! and one of the guys is selling me his brand new zokey Z1 for 300 bucks! several times they have given me a new tube for free just because theyre nice! this shop is one of 4 in town and its the only one i go to.

dafydd

Any smart LBS employee knows that you make more money in the long run by not trying to soak a customer every time they come in, and will make simple suggestions to save you a buck. Plus there is the pleasure in making a customer happy by using your head and not the till.

vincenzosi

Dafydd:

It's not what you know, it's what you practice that makes the difference...

GeezerGeek

It sounds like your LBS is better than mine. Five years ago I brought in a 27 inch alloy wheel with several broken spokes to be relaced. They said the rim was shot and tried to sell be a cheap heavy steel rim. I took it to the second closest LBS and they said sure no problem. Since that seemed to be a better shop I brought in my recumbent last winter to be rebuilt. It was 10 years old and had about 10,000 miles. It needed work. They snickered when they saw it. I asked if they would contact me to tell me what parts it would need. They fixed a bunch of stuff but they never made the call. They did a great job of cleaning it up but replaced worn parts with cheap stuff. They chuckled again when I came to pick it up. I looked at my new rear cluster last week and noticed it's already starting to wear after only 1000 miles. It probably won't last two seasons.

Can you talk your LBS into moving to my neighborhood?

Anthony King

Isn't it nice when you're treated . . . what do they call it, used to happen all the time back in the day--like a friend/neighbor/human instead of a "consumer"?

I stopped going to the closest LBS when I brought in an old three speed, the mech couldn't do the adjustment on the 'ol Sturmey Archer, and the owner still tried to charge me the labor for the "work". I told him I wouldn't pay and he wouldn't be seeing me again. So now my "LBS" is actually the second closest to me. I don't drive, so I either take 2 buses and bike for about 15 minutes or just bike for about 70 mins to get to my trusted LBS. It is worth it every mile and minute, the guys there are always helpful, make sure my bill is as low as possible, and have no problem with me jumping into the work bay with them to check out how they are doing something.

I was reminded of how fortunate I am the other day when I was on the other side of town and busted a spoke. I was right by a shop and stepped in. The first warning was when I noticed the "Minimum Repair Charge $12.50" sign. (My LBS charges $7 for spoke replacement, which included a wheel truing.) So I start talking to the guy and tell him I'm thinking about just buying a cassette remover and chain whip so I can do the job myself at home. The parts are pretty expensive at this place, so I say I might get them to do the job there "It'll be $12.50, right?" I ask, pointing over to the sign. "It'll be about 21, 22 dollars" is the reply. He starts explaining how they have to true the wheel and how since I've had two spokes break in the last month, it was probably time for me to rebuild the wheel. At this time I'm thinking, "You know, one of the reasons I don't have a car is because everybody tries to snow you on the repairs. I tell the guy no thanks, he replies "So you want the tools." They want about $37 for the two tools (they should cost $25, tops). I tell the guy I'll make do and leave the shop as soon as possible, holding my wallet until I reach the door. Either that guy must try to job everybody, or I don't look quite as street smart as I think. I was offended that he even tried to get one over on me.

2 days later at my LBS-- $7. Bicycles Plus, Coppell TX, if you're ever in the area and need a hand.

vincenzosi

The story from Geezer Geek and Anthony King are exactly what I had come to expect from a LBS... Basically either nothing or getting screwed. Guess I'm lucky that way.

Oh, I should mention my LBS is about 30 miles away and I have to drive there to get there, but it is indeed worth it in every sense of the word.

Dirtbike

there are 3 LBS within 2 1/2 miles from my house and 3 routes to get there

shaq-d

A King... 2 spokes really IS quite a few spokes to have broken in a short period of time.. a complete rebuild is not unreasonable.

sd

Anthony King

Yeah, I know, the guy just came off smarmy. Plus, if it's over $20 for a spoke replacement, I don't want to know what a rebuild would cost.

Plus, I was giving my wheel the benefit of the doubt since during that time I had a pretty nasty crash during that sent me to the ER and the bike is only about 5 moths old, so I figured the rebuild might not be necessary. I'm certainly no expert-- I just had a bad feeling with the guy, 'ya know?

geoduck

Hey Dirtbike, I work in Lafayette, and am curious about which shop you've gotten so much love from...I bought my bike here in town, and have had my ups and downs. Where do you shop?

clancy98

let me just put in .02 for two really nice LBS's around C-bus...

the cyclist connection (Refugee Rd. and 33, SE side)
https://www.cyclistconnection.net/

and DeVore Bicycles (Cleveland Ave. and Morse)
https://www.devorebicycles.com/

Both of these places have went out of their way to help me out and save me some dough on multiple occasions.... and I think they deserve a recommendation.

MUCH better than the big chain LBS that taints most of columbus.

CLancy

Rev.Chuck

Not bad, went from "my shop is nice" to "my shop sucks in six posts".
Cheapest chain whip and lockring tool listed in Quality wholesale$ 10.50 + 3.70 retail for a place that stays in business, 21.95 and 7.95 This presumes the cheapest tools, there is also a set that wholesales for 18.25 and 17.40 for a retail of 37.95 and 35.95

We charge $10 and up to replace a spoke. Bring in a front wheel off the bike and it will be $10 Bring in a rear wheel still on a filthy bike and it may end up being twenty. If you broke two spokes in a short time I would also reccomend building the wheel. Wheel building labor is usually pretty cheap, we do it for $35 altho it will go up this year to $45

KrisPistofferson

i got an LBS 5 minutes from my front door that are a bunch of buttholes, and a few mediocre to great LBS's a long ride by bike and bus away from me. It's worth the extra effort to go to someone who cares enough about their profession to care about the customer. I wouldn't ever name names, since I would be just as bad to take food off of their table, but they probably drive enough people away by just being...themselves.

Portis

He figures he can make more by selling you your next bike than by selling you a new stem. Good thinking on his part. I suppose there are plenty that would have hooked you up with the stem even if they thought you didn't need it but let's hope this is the exception, not the rule.

One question, I like to ask reps in bike shops right off the bat is, "Do you ride a lot?" If their eyes light up and they start telling you how much they love it and how much they love bikes, i feel like i can trust them."

If they say, "not much really anymore. I ride my motorcyle a lot more," than i start to doubt that we share the same desire. (my happiness) When people are passionate about something they are more likely to put honesty above money. I suspect it is the same reason that a lot of these mechanics hang out on these forums and dish out free advice. (very good advice)

KrisPistofferson

I was about to post that exact same point, you can tell by the look in their eyes when they talk about cycling.

Karldar

LOL! I think one of the guys at the LBS here would marry his bike if he could. Purely platonic, tho(I hope).

Dirtbike

California Pedaler www.calped.com
btw, where do you ride most of the time?

webist

My LBS says I'm like family. Sometimes they don't have time for me and they will tell me. Sometimes they will love a chat. At other times they will completely ignore me. However, if I need something, they are there for me.

shokhead

Its a good thing some of you guys cant have sex with a lbs. I'll go throw up now.

2manybikes

The old sturmer arcer hubs sometimes just need adjustment and sometimes need parts that may be not available. You need to spend time working on the bike to find out. Should the bike shop give you their time for free? The expertise of the bike shop is worth nothing?

If you broke two spokes in a short period of time, It would have been cheaper to replace all the spokes at once, or even buy a new wheel. You most likely will continue to break spokes, (that's what normally happens) and pay more labor for replacing a spoke one at a time, a lot more, maybe double. He probably was trying to save you money, unless the respoking job was very high. I don't blame you for being suspicious these days, a lot of places do inflate prices. But, in this case you have underestimated the value of what is being done for you. It's easy to do if you are not in that business. I'm sure I do it in some cases. If you pay $7 to have a spoke replaced it will add up, and you will spend more time at the bike shop and traveling to it and back. If the new shop has a good mechanic he already knows that you will have to come back over and over and pay the $7 per spoke many times. If you told your story to the second shop about the wheel rebuild they know you want to go one at a time.
You probably have 32 or 36 spokes. Three so far you say? That's $21 ? It's a little safer to not break spokes while you are riding.

If you have an old bike with a sturmey archer hub and are breaking spokes, unless the bike is a very special bike, it could be less to buy another old bike. Where I live old bikes with three speed hubs in fair condition are given away for free by the bike shop, and are a few dollars at yard sales. I have found a few excellent condition bikes at yard sales. I found an almost mint Schwinn Continental for $5 once.

plain.jim

OK, another pat on the back for a LBS:

There's one a few minutes from my job (central Jersey; there are about six LBS's within a half-hour drive of my job or home). I dropped in there and asked a gazillion questions before I bought my first bike (they got to the point where they were rollin' their eyes every time I came in). Before I bought, I shopped around two other shops. One didn't take me seriously (after all, I hadn't been on a bike in three decades), and the other tried to sell me a bike that was WAY more expensive and technical than I needed as a newbie/return-to-the-ride. I went back to the first shop, and bought my Giant OCR2 from them. It's plenty of bike for me; the limitations on my riding aren't coming from the bike, they're coming from the loose nut above the seat.

OK, I've never been in clip pedals before, and in the first month I had it, I I fell off. On BOTH sides. Had a very attractive set of matching knee scrapes, which has not been the case since I was about 9. The second time I went over, the left brake lever was bent inwards. It was a Saturday, so I brought the bike to the LBS, with the expectation that I would drop it off, and pick it up on the Monday. Nope; they fixed the lever (it was just knocked out of position), showed me how to tighten it, and sent me on my way. On a Saturday! With a shop full of people!