ang1sgt

I know it has been awhile since I've posted.

Been deep in thought and reflection due to a Downsizing at Work which left me unemployed for the first time in my adult career. 28 years of service and I'm out the door without an annuity that would allow me to retire. Numbers are just not there.

Last day was the 29th of December. Applied for Unemployment and immediately started feeling like a leper. My last 5 years with the Company I did work for took the life and soul out of me. Saw the CEO **** and pillage the Company and take his Bonuses and Stock options laughing all the way to the bank. Of course I am sure that he will be gone this year too. Stock is down almost 80% in a year. Someone should be calling for his head.

I decided a few weeks ago to talk with the Bike Shop owner where I work part-time to see if there were some way that I could come on Full-Time. There are a number of investors and silent partners that had to be talked too to get the okay in this.

So... On Feb 16th, I begin my stint as the Service Manager of that Shop. Of course I won't make what I did in my previous career, but I won't have the stress involved where I was working. I'll be able to see daily where my efforts go, I'll get to help people with something that I love to do. I don't know if my wife agrees 100% with this decision, but I need to do what I feel is right for my long term goals and health.

A really neat thing is that I'll have a Shop Demo bike as part of my compensation package. We had a "SEVEN" Axiom SG frame at the shop that is tuned to someone my size. We looked over the specs and the "FIT" and it should be very very close to what I need. We ordered in a Full Ultegra SL Kit, a 12-27 cassette, and a set of Mavic Ksyrium Elite Wheels. Not sure what I'll use for a saddle. My butt loves a Brooks B-17, but I just don't know if that'll work for me.

So...Wish me luck in my new Job and with the new bike too!

Chris

DnvrFox

Best of luck.

Tell your wife that your change of jobs may add years to your life. Sounds like you were under max stress in your previous position. Stress kills (literally).

Great leveraging your part-time position into a full-time job. Smart move.

One thing I don't find from many bike shops is creative marketing. There are so many things that a shop could do to increase business. My impression is that most of them saw the movie where they said, "If you build it, they will come" and believe that will really happen.

NOS88

Wow! What a change of events. I think you are correct in your attempts to do what you feel is right for your long term goals and health. I know that adjusting to a lower income can be challenging. But, when you're happy with what you're doing, it seems more manageable.

bruce282

Good luck to you Chris !

Having a job doing something you must be great. I'm still looking for mine.


Bruce

Rick@OCRR

Good luck Chris,

I've been in the bike industry since '68, and while it's true that you don't make as much as in some other industries, I'm sure you will like it! I worked my way up from bike shop to distributor to manufacturer, but plan to return to the bike shop when I retire.

Rick / OCRR

ang1sgt

I started by sweeping floors in a local Schwinn Shop when I was 16. Started to wrench shortly after that. It has always been my back up plan.

Chris

Tom Bombadil

Will you be drawing an annuity on top of your bike shop wages?

jppe

I bet this winds up with a very happy ending!! Best of luck!

stapfam

Ever since I was in the Marines- I have been in the motor trade. So 40 years of spanners- parts and selling. That will come to an end in about 3 years time when I retire- but this week- We have been told of 20% cutback in the workforce. Don't know whether to offer myself up for redundancy or stay working in a reduced work force that is going to be overworked.

tsl

Congratulations Chris! It'll be nice to have you not only as my preferred mechanic, but as the Service Manager as well.

You dog you! I noticed an Axiom SG missing the other day. The one I've had my eye on now since forever.

But, if that's what it takes to get you on a road bike, so be it.

Now we just have to get you on some of the rides…

Mr. Modesty here hasn't mentioned the shop, but as a happy and enthusiastic customer, I can: Full Moon Vista Bike & Sport

RonH

That sucks. This happened to me when I was 55 and I've seen it happen to too many of my friends when they were in their mid-50s.
Sorry I can't offer any consolation, just best wishes in the new stress-free job at the bike shop. That's what I'm doing now, only part-time.
That's awesome about the Seven. If it doesn't fit I'll be glad to take it off your hands. I'll even pay the shipping.

bjjoondo 

28 years and your out on your buns, gee and people wonder WHY I'm a lowly househusband You'll dig working at a shop, it was the ONLY job I ever had in my 53 years that I "WANTED" to get to work! Even though I was only the shop "Huffy Buster", it was a great job, MONEY ain't everything. I did some NORBA AM. MTB Racing, advertised for the shop and I ran the BMX Team, to this day I could "stangle" my old bosses X-Wife for taking him to the cleaners and ending be BEST job I ever had. Wish you Major Success, as they say down-under, Good on ya Mate!

Artkansas 

Sorry to hear about the downsizing. I too got a raw deal after management was goofing around the company. In my case, they moved the company to Indonesia and may have killed it completely as well. I'm left holding the bag for my last two months of wages.

I'm still hunting for work after several months, and I'm currently working with a former CEO of that company(not the one who wrecked the company), and he's trying to get another company going. But no bucks yet.

I'm glad you've found a situation that you like.

Wanderer

Good Luck, Top!

Mojo Slim

The next time I'm in your neighborhood, I'll stop in and chat. I was there last when I was 5.

JanMM

You get to work in a Bike Shop! That's like working in a Candy Store!

ang1sgt

Tom,

Thanks for the concern. I will be getting a Lump Sum and one years pay. This will help off-set my lost wages.
My Wife's concern is that I'll have too many opportunities to spend what I make at the shop which has always been an issue! LOL!

I really am looking forward to this. There are wonderful Customers here and great people to work with also which will make my days that much better. My spending habits will need to change, I won't need a new car every 5 years to be sure, and Bicycles are cheaper anyway!

Chris

ang1sgt

Bruce,

Thanks for the well wishes and support. Bruce is so typical of the enthusiasm that we get from our customers at this shop. It is a pleasure to talk and work on bikes for folks like this. So many of our customers USE their bikes and count on them on a daily basis. We try to serve these folks as well as we can. It's fun when they come in just to share a cup of coffee and a Ride story with us too, and our shop is certainly set up for that too.

Again, Thanks Bruce!

Chris

Beverly

Sorry to hear about the old job. It has happened to several of my friends recently and most are looking for a less stressful job to keep them working until retirement.

Your new job sounds like a wonderful opportunity. The new bike is the icing on the cake