I will only buy online when i am able to save a huge amount over buying locally and that is not very often. I prefer to shop local as it gives me the opportunity to see it first hand, return the next day if necessary. I have also made great friends at my LBS. As for the beer thing, I am not above buying my friends beers, usually after a long ride though.
woof
i hate wind, there is no victory over wind, only slowness and despair
It will only hurt till the pain goes away.
I like to try and support the local guys whenever possible. I just bought my first road bike, a Felt Z85. I got it at Snohomish Bicycles. They were very friendly, the bike comes with lifetime tune ups and fittings, and he gave me a bit of a discount that I didn't even ask for. I feel I got a good deal, all things considered. Super nice guys. I highly recommend them. Online you have to pay for shipping, you can't try out what you're getting, or at least touch it and then you have to wait. In the case of Nashbar, for example, I found that with my last order I was charged tax on top of the usual shipping. Tax AND shipping? WHAT??? I better be getting a DARN good deal to justify that. So, after a long rambling post, yes, I prefer to by from a lbs. There are lots to choose from relatively close to me.
I've found not much difference in cost for LBS vs online when shipping is considered for most stuff I've looked into when shipping is considered and often more for online when p.i.t.a. is added.
Pat5319
I use several Shops, I love being in the shop so much I am opening one
Originally Posted by Dirt Farmer
I bring cookies and doughnuts
Tipping for exceptional service is a good Idea and speaking with the manager for the best type of tip is also a good idea, One Shop I go to gets a dozen bagels with cream cheese and tomatoes this really turns their crank... and they have to wash their hands lol that being said
I shop online for some parts parts and when I am in need of help I get great service because I show up and give healthy snacks.
The guys and gals in the shop are always hungry...
reBuilding bikes for the Clyde and Athena especially tall ones.
1992 Raleigh Capri 199? Litespeed Ultimate Shimergo
Try Steve's on cannon is great, has a bunch of very cool stuff from neighborhood bikes to custom built high zoot, we call him (Steve) "Lord Yoda" he is very, very knowledgable and HONEST http://stevesoncannonstreet.com/
Pat5319
I go to an LBS when I need something done -- and done right. Otherwise, if it's something I can do myself, I either get it on the net or go to a shop like REI.
Last edited by toddles; 03-10-12 at 07:43 PM. Reason: dude
I went to Eastern and I was always shocked that there wasn't a bike shop in the Cheney area. With all the University kids there you would think it would be a necessity. I became pretty good and maintaining my bike though =) .
Loved biking in that area (when the wind wasn't blowing). My daily ride took me out the Lakes near Sprague.
Try Steve's on Cannon (509) 747-5220 in Spokane, Browne's Addition 'tween 2nd an Pacific near "The Elk", honest, VERY kowledgeable, good stuff! If you don't see what you want He can get it!
I've bought 6 bikes from him and lotsa psrts
Last edited by pat5319; 03-24-12 at 01:11 AM. Reason: adding
Pat5319
Pullman and B&L must be just a hair over 100 miles away, eh?
Spokane is definitely closer and faster to get to but B&L in Pullman is a decent shop and it is within 100 miles of Sprague. Really between the three in Moscow and Pullman you can pretty much find what you're looking for.
B&L has great service and knowledgeable staff; out of all the shops they'd be the ones I trust to wrench on my bike. Their achilles heel (in my less than expert opinion) is that they don't branch out from the average consumer. They primarily carry one brand and if that doesn't suit you or your preferences, then they don't really offer much in terms of merchandise. But they do a really good job of targeting the average consumer and pleasing them. I have been 'nickel-and-dimed' once or twice but it's the price you pay sometimes.
Paradise Creek Bicycles has better selection when it comes to different brands and accessories and they are the only shop I've known to hold any type of group ride. It's hit and miss on the service and that really comes down to who you talk to. If you know the right people they have good advice.
Follett's Mountain Sports is better when it comes to MTBs but suffer when it comes to roadie stuff. I'm not a huge fan of their staff or service but they carry Specialized and more often than not, that stuff fits me better.
Snacks work good too, especially homemade
Pat5319
I just paid $154 dollars for a tune up, new chain, and repairs to my bottom bracket. That's highway robbery until you break it down. $70 for a true tune-up w/ wheel true-ing, $45 for a new chain (it was time), and odds and ends for bottom bracket + tax. They cleaned the whole thing and everything is tight and shifts magnificently. It's better than when I bought it new. So pricey but there is no way I could have gotten it back into the shape it is now. I can do the maintenance on the bike but when I want it done right, I take it to a LBS. And sorry, I don't do bottom brackets and I seriously doubt there are too many people who do their own BB work. This is when a LBS is so worth it.
I started this thread after I received fantastic service from my LBS (Wheelworks in Eugene). Well, they just did it again.This time they really outdid themselves. First, a bit of background.
Twenty-five years ago, my wife and I bought a custom tandem. It has been fantastic for us. It allows us to tour together without having one of us working too hard while the other is loafing. It allowed us to travel long distances with our child when he was too young to ride a bike hundreds of miles in a day. It has also been a conversation-starter since my wife usually rides captain. It has really added to our cycling joy. A couple of years ago, we sent it back to the builder for new forks since we had reached the recommended mileage limit on the original forks. Unfortunately, it took him over a year to remake the front end so it could accept a modern fork/steerer tube. Then, after less than 1000 miles, the stoker's seat tube separated from the stoker's bottom bracket.
This was last Fall. At the recommendation of someone in the Tandem sub-forum, we checked out R+E Cycles in Seattle. They came up with a clever fix and had us back on the bike in one week. I was so impressed with their operation and the quality of the work they do that we had them design our next tandem. (I don't know anything about the other LBS in Seattle, but R+E was a first-rate experience for us. Strongly recommended.) We intended to purchase the new tandem this last winter, but my wife had a few health problems that kept her off the bike for most of the winter, so we procrastinated.
Well, now we are both healthy and have been spending as much time riding along on our faithful old tandem as we can these past couple of months. We noticed an annoying clicking sound recently. After a bit of detective work, we isolated it to the stoker's stem. After tightening the bolt that holds the stem in place, the clicking went away. About 1000 miles later, it came back. We stopped, tightened the bolt again and then tightened the quick-release (both seat posts have both a bolt on the front and a quick release on the rear). Well, the quick release apparatus came off in my hand. The braze had failed.
Of course I contacted R+E. Unfortunately, since it is peak bike-building season they were absolutely booked up on frame orders and wouldn't be able to get to the repair for over a month. I did finally order the new tandem from them, but that is still six to eight weeks out. I contacted a local tandem builder (Co-Motion), but they refuse to repair any bike that they didn't build. Now what? Well, I brought it in to my LBS (Wheelworks) and asked for a miracle. It turns out that one of the mechanics used to build frames. He agreed to come in on the weekend and braze it back together. He even cleaned up the entire area so it is paint-ready.
So, once again I am back on the road in no-time flat thanks to fantastic service from my LBS. I hope everyone finds, and supports, a shop that looks out for them as well as Wheelworks does for me.
[QUOTE=Seattle Forrest;13755718]^ How's the riding over there?[/QUOTE
If you mean Eastern Washington and Northern Idaho, In a word GREAT!!!!!!!!!!! lotsa routes/loops with little or no traffic and on and off road triails - give me a "shout" for details
Pat5319
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