bikinfool,
No, I did not ask for a hybrid. My only input was to say I wanted a bike suitable for climbing my neighborhood's hills. The salespeople at each shop pointed me to hybrids. Maybe it's because I am 45 years old ? I don't know. Two of the shops did ask me about price range, and I said "about $500 to $600".
The other shops salesperson's didn't ask price, just showed me the hybrid display and said I could test ride any bike I wanted to ride.
I appreciate your naming Mike's, Citizen, and Roaring. Some time in the future I will visit these shops too.
All in all the shopping experience for a bike was fine, and fun. The surprise was that no shop salesperson I met put a strong emphasis on fit. Before shopping I had spent some hours reading bike forums and "getting proper fit" was a dominant theme.
Originally Posted by
bikinfool
No price point indicated? Didn't ask for a hybrid? Your only interest is riding streets/paved paths/commuting kind of riding? Just curious why everyone would point you at a hybrid first.
Never liked Ocean, found them not helpful nor knowledgeable when I gave them a shot (used to live near there). I know the owners of American fairly well, my late roommate was a mechanic there, and still know several employees; I'm surprised they weren't more helpful (which of the American shops did you go into?). Avenue I've found fairly helpful except when they're too busy, pretty sure a friend of mine's girlfriend's family owns that one still, but haven't been in touch lately. Noe Valley I haven't checked out in a while but remember them as catering to the high end of things. Valencia isn't what it was, my old roommate and the former head mechanic at American both worked there in the good old days; last time I was in there I got a weird vibe and little knowledge (I would have pointed you across the street to Freewheel while there, though, Jeff and some of the other guys there are great). Box Dog I've only seen from the outside and heard a very little about but think they're more the hipster/fixie kind of place, but not sure; think MoJo is along the same lines.
At Mike's Bikes on Howard I know some of the guys and think they would have done right by you if given a chance. Henry (formerly of Valencia and American) at Citizen Chain in N.Beach is someone else I would have pointed you to. Roaring Mouse out on Irving is a good shop, too, but not sure they'd have the bike you're looking for.