goldfinch

I find this odd. There are many small bikes that come stock with shorter stems. My Madone came with a 60mm stem. My Terry came with a 70mm. I did have to resort to online shopping to pick up a 50mm stem for the Terry. And no, it is not twitchy with a 50mm stem.

buffalowings

Pricepoint has totally free shipping on all orders until Monday...
Also, the majority of LBSs have far less parts then jenson or ribble because they aren't a walk in warehouse. If you need a specialized part that the LBS doesn't have, just order it online because it's cheaper and probably faster too. (LBS parts come in with their next shipment from their suppliers which could take a week or so).

fietsbob

you will be happy when all local bike shops close, right?

they already have Min Wage labor.. trying to be 'Expert'
on a really diverse market of suppliers, each with accounts to be paid.

week too long?

maybe you need to get your Boss to kick in more to your paypacket,
and then you wont be so huffy about what it costs to run a real store.

[ the Arms Trade is Where the Money is you Know.. ]

( not ever one to say short = twitchy.. I use: low trail + small wheel + 4.5 stem,
but carry stuff on the front.)

thing is where is the distribution Ware house? if thats Florida, and the shop is in Seattle
its still got a number of freight handling Depots to pass in and out of .

Ever do a Tracking number based search on UPS shipments,
as they move across the country , from seller to your door ?

Sixty Fiver

80-110 is a normal range of stems... outside of that one might have an issue finding one off the peg.

Most shops no longer carry massive inventory because the overhead on that is too high (and there are just damn many parts) and those overhead costs get passed on to the consumer... most of the shops here can get you the part you need in 7 days as they order weekly.

I run 80-100 mm stems on my bicycles with a frame range of 54-56 (top tube)... it depends on the set up and purpose of the particular bicycle as to what length stem is used.

chasm54

Maybe it's just that I'm too much the roadie, but I'd have thought 100-120 was most common. 90 is on the short side, imo, and 140 is at the extreme at the other end. Of course, I do ride large bikes...

the fly

IMO, if the bike shop can't stock actual bike parts, they won't be bike shop owners for long. An LBS should have a good selection of stems and other fit related items. It's not like a grocery store throwing away meat. OTOH, my LBS is rather useless with parts they stock. I only check with them now in emergency situations, and even then, it's usually the internet that gets my business.

I get why the LBS isn't a bike parts warehouse. But when I walk in, and they never have the part, why bother going back when the part I need is never more than a few clicks/day(s) away. I believe the only way they will be competitive in the future, will be to go back to stocking more items. Being able to walk in to a local store and walk out with a part the same day is a definite advantage that they lose by not stocking a decent selection of parts.

Retro Grouch 

That's what I was thinking too. Looking through my (admittedly old) Quality Book, 90 is the shortest length for a lot of stems.

When I buy bike parts, I'm real picky about exactly what I want. I'm even picky about inner tubes. I want the exact size that I need and I'm even picky about valve stem length. I've come to the realization that no local shop is going to have it in stock. I don't fuss, I just order it over the internet. The last bike parts that I've bought locally are a few chains and a basic bike computer. Honestly, I think the shops are happier with me because they don't have to mess with the special order and I'm happier because it's more convenient and I usually get it quicker. I maintain good relations with the local shop owners. Once in awhile I'll do a favor for them like sag a local ride and once in awhile they'll toss a freebie of some kind my way.

I don't see a need to get upset just because they don't have some part that I want in stock. An 80 mm stem, is always going to be a slow moving item. Then you have to consider all the different brands and colors of 80 mm stems and, trust me, if you only have black in stock the next buyer is going to want polished. Keeping a lot of slow moving stock just eats up the capital that could be used to stock faster moving items.

MisterK

This is the stem I use. I thought I had an 80 but must be a 70. Its cheap too

koolerb

If they don't have it I ask them to order it. I appreciate having these guys around.

bikem

80mm is a common stem used in fittings. Many people have short torsos, tight hamstrings or little core strength and can't be streached out. They also must not fit women if they dont stock short stems a XS frame usually comes stock with a 70mm and the most common stock size on a SM is a 80mm. Women don't have the core strength of men and sometimes hold more weight in the chest so a SM ladies bike will come with a shorter stem than a SM mens bike.

the fly

I live in a small city and only have 3 LBS (1 has two locations).

As far as service at my LBS, there's a couple guys at my LBS that are OK. If you go there when they aren't working you will be ripped a new one and/or be serviced by a complete moron. As far as stock, chances are they aren't going to have it. Virtually no tools.

The single remaining LBS doesn't carry any road bikes or any related items even though they advertise that they carry road bikes. There's not even a spot on the floor/wall for them.

The first LBS has been in business as long as I can remember. 2 rents and 2 sets of overhead, to provide poor service, low stock, and a general why the hell are you here attitude.

When I was a total newb college kid with a bike I bought second hand I didn't know what a presta valve was.

I went in to get some air because I had no clue how to get air in it. They basically accused me of stealing it, then laughed at me for being a newb.

I really love my LBS.

Leebo

80 mm is a common mt bike length stem.

ksisler

[QUOTE=OneLessFixie;15524397] ...Seriously, I've yet to have a positive experience at a Seattle LBS. They either... /QUOTE]

As you stated; you didn't have a negative experience at a bunch of Seattle LBS's. You bought a bike at one (for whatever reason) and then you phone drilled a bunch more. If you had visited some of them, you would likely to have found several which are very good and supportive of your needs. They would either have the part you needed or gotten it in a week or so.

If you already know what you want and that you can find it on amazon at a price that delights you, then why are you not already riding it instead of blogging complaints about folks you haven't actually done business with enough to tell one way or the other?

/K

jim911

Did you check with Recycled cycles near the university. They are very helpful, and have a bunch of used odd parts. Good people, try them.

OneLessFixie

That's just it - the shops I called all claimed to have "expert bike fitters" on staff! So to be laughed at by one and given the runaround by the others is ridiculous and frankly borders on false advertising.

Amazon.com to the rescue ... and it should be noted that the place I order from on Amazon is an LBS, just in Niagara Falls.

fietsbob

If Mr Gates invested a Billion in a bike shop It could have one of everything..

OneLessFixie

This is what happens when you assume.

I bought the bike online and used a physical therapist, i.e., a properly credentialed health professional who knows something about body mechanics, to get fitted. My PT recommended an 80mm stem and was out of stock on it (the real fitter said she habitually runs out of these stems that the "expert bike fitters" at LBS claim are "rare." Funny how that works, eh?) Anxious to get out riding, I figured at least one LBS would have one, especially ones that (1) claim to have "expert bike fitters" on staff and (2) occupy entire city blocks.

I was wrong on both counts.


I can "get it in a week or so" myself. Without paying extra for shipping. Plus, I get to avoid the tax. And I don't have to deal with rude people who laugh at me. What's not to like? Why should I pay some middleman for the privilege of being insulted?

alorast

The expert bike fitters that you called don't have 80mm stems because the need for a stem that short is a good indication that the bike is to big, maybe if you should have purchased a bike from a store thus avoiding any bike fitting complications.

alaskanb3arcub

I help out at my LBS. Whether to stock a part can be reliant on a number of things: Have you ever had someone need a a particular part? If not, we probably wouldn't have it at the precise moment you are looking for it. Along with that: is the part related to a type of bicycle uncommon to your area? We can get parts that are CF specific, but there aren't a lot of CF bikes in our area, therefore unlikely to have the part. I also want to second the "walk in warehouse" comment. If you have a large space, that's one thing. If you are cramming in a display counter, work area, and 6-8 bikes in the space you would find in 3/4 of a 1 car garage, you CAN'T have every part imaginable, and are unlikely to have the funds to purchase that many parts.

OneLessFixie

The fitter I do use would beg to differ with you. My fitter is a physiotherapist, i.e., a legitimate health professional. My fitter is not some teenager working behind the counter at a bike shop. You know, the kid who reeks to high heaven because he couldn't be bothered to shower before coming to work at his minimum wage, part-time job as an "Expert Bike Fitter" and for whose services the shop charges twice what my fitter charges? Yeah, that's him.

And for the record, my fitter has stems as short as 50cm in stock. They were out of stock on the 80mm size. Imagine that - a properly credentialed health professional uses many stems of a size that the amateurs say is unnecessary! Will wonders never cease?

CB HI

I do have a question for you; How did your bike fitting with Amazon.com go?

contango 

Unless you're anatomically very different from me your dick won't function very well as a stem.

OneLessFixie

Bike fitting with Amazon.com? Are you out of your Tea Party mind?!?

I didn't have a bike fitting with Amazon.com, I had a bike fitting with a physiotherapist. Amazon.com came into play to get the parts that (1) I needed, (2) that the physiotherapist was out of stock on and (3) that the LBSs I called didn't regard as somehow "cool" enough to carry.

bikem

Now that every bike shop has to do fittings to compete on road bike sales the term is thrown around loosly and whats done greatly varies from shop to shop. Many shops set up just about everyone the same without taking into account the biomechanics of the person they are fitting. How many fitters are measuring hip flexion, hamstring flexability and taking into account overall fitness, prior injuries, age and riding style of the person. If they did they would be stocking short and high rise stems and using them on a regular basis.

joshuatrio

Wah.

All I hear is the sound of whining.

Act like an adult and buy what you need online.

First world problems are tough eh?