As a commuter
08-13-08 | 09:02 AM
#26
Drops small screws
Joined: May 2008
Posts: 2,608
Likes: 9
From: NYC Metro Area
Bikes: Soma Grand Randonneur, modified Xootr Swift, Trek 1000SL with broken brifter from running it into a hotel porte-cochère
KoolStop salmon brake pads
Arkel Bug panniers and suspended laptop sleeves
Brooks saddles
Xootr Crossracks (assuming the person owns a Xootr Swift)
Eagle Creek clothing folders
Bontrager Hardcase tires
Arkel Bug panniers and suspended laptop sleeves
Brooks saddles
Xootr Crossracks (assuming the person owns a Xootr Swift)
Eagle Creek clothing folders
Bontrager Hardcase tires
08-26-08 | 12:09 PM
#28
Drops small screws
Joined: May 2008
Posts: 2,608
Likes: 9
From: NYC Metro Area
Bikes: Soma Grand Randonneur, modified Xootr Swift, Trek 1000SL with broken brifter from running it into a hotel porte-cochère
You know what I forgot?
Incredibells
Burley trailers
Serfas TL-1000 blinky
Light & Motion headlights
Incredibells
Burley trailers
Serfas TL-1000 blinky
Light & Motion headlights
08-26-08 | 12:13 PM
#29
Señior Member
Joined: Sep 2005
Posts: 13,748
Likes: 10
From: Michigan
Bikes: Windsor Fens, Giant Seek 0 (2014, Alfine 8 + discs)
Brooks saddles.
Planet Bike Superflash for blinkies. OTOH PB isn't 100%; I have a SuperSpot that I think is useless.
A good reflective vest for commuters; Harbor Freight as an excellent one for < $5, you could just resell those for $10 and people would probably not bother looking to HF to get them.
L&M has good lights.
I think B&M lights deserve a look if you really want to address the serious commuter. Not cheap but may be the best out there, and lights like the Ixon IQ are actually a good deal for the money.
If you really want to be the utilitarian's friend, have at least a demo of an Xtracycle, maybe even a Surly Big Dummy. And trailers. Not sure if there's a good retail source for utility trailers (maybe Burley?) I don't have one myself but if I lived a little closer to town I'd want one to do larger grocery/materials runs.
__________________
Work: the 8 hours that separates bike rides.
Work: the 8 hours that separates bike rides.
08-26-08 | 12:44 PM
#30
It's true, man.
Joined: Aug 2005
Posts: 2,726
Likes: 0
From: North Texas
Bikes: Cannondale T1000, Inbred SS 29er, Supercaliber 29er, Crescent Mark XX, Burley Rumba Tandem
My standards for a good LBS:
1. If you tell me you'll get something on order for me, don't forget to order it.
2. Don't nickel and dime me. If you have a no-BS return policy, take the return without griping about it.
3. Remember me - if not my name, than at least my unusual bike or something about me.
4. If I come in and ask for 'brake levers', try to sell me what you think is best for my applications. If I come in and ask for "Tektro R200A's, in black", don't try to sell me something else just because it's in stock, order the dang Tektro's.
1. If you tell me you'll get something on order for me, don't forget to order it.
2. Don't nickel and dime me. If you have a no-BS return policy, take the return without griping about it.
3. Remember me - if not my name, than at least my unusual bike or something about me.
4. If I come in and ask for 'brake levers', try to sell me what you think is best for my applications. If I come in and ask for "Tektro R200A's, in black", don't try to sell me something else just because it's in stock, order the dang Tektro's.
08-26-08 | 12:51 PM
#31
Senior Member
Joined: Jun 2006
Posts: 639
Likes: 0
From: Augusta, GA
Bikes: Bottecchia CF frame and fork, Ultegra 6603 crank and FD, DuraAce RD, Easton Vista wheels, Brooks B-17 saddle, Shimano 105 brakes, Michelin Pro2 Race tires
Bikes that have braze-ons for racks, fenders, frame pumps.
Also rack, panniers, lights, rain capes, spats, Brooks saddles, wide/slick (Schwalbe) tires in both 700c and 26" sizes, handlebar bags, etc.
Few shops accomodate commuters with stock items, but many will order if you know exactly what you want. But that's what the internet is for. I want to touch and feel items in my LBS, and then I'll buy from them.
Also rack, panniers, lights, rain capes, spats, Brooks saddles, wide/slick (Schwalbe) tires in both 700c and 26" sizes, handlebar bags, etc.
Few shops accomodate commuters with stock items, but many will order if you know exactly what you want. But that's what the internet is for. I want to touch and feel items in my LBS, and then I'll buy from them.
08-26-08 | 01:22 PM
#32
Bicycle Utopian
Joined: Aug 2008
Posts: 787
Likes: 0
From: Austin, TX
Bikes: Bianchi Campione d'Italia, Softride Qualifier, Ritchey Breakaway Cyclocross
I posted something like this elsewhere, but I think the signs of a good bike shop are: Did they treat you with respect? Did they listen to you? Did they try to find the right product to meet your needs? Did they do more than a cursory fitting when purchasing a new bike? When doing repairs, did they finish the repair within the time they told you and at the amount they quoted? Was the work quality work?
If the answer is Yes to these question, you've found a great shop and you should shop with them whenever possible and do not try to nickel and dime them.
Products I like or have promoted:
Polar Water Bottles
Campagnolo Components
SKS Race Blade Fenders
Surly, Bianchi, and Redline Bikes
Most steel lugged Italian racing bikes
Bakfiets cargo bikes
Xtracycle upgrade kits
Dutch style/English Roadster style bikes
Wheelbuilder Areo Disk covers (tri and TT use only)
Neuvations racing wheels
If the answer is Yes to these question, you've found a great shop and you should shop with them whenever possible and do not try to nickel and dime them.
Products I like or have promoted:
Polar Water Bottles
Campagnolo Components
SKS Race Blade Fenders
Surly, Bianchi, and Redline Bikes
Most steel lugged Italian racing bikes
Bakfiets cargo bikes
Xtracycle upgrade kits
Dutch style/English Roadster style bikes
Wheelbuilder Areo Disk covers (tri and TT use only)
Neuvations racing wheels
Last edited by bikinpolitico; 08-26-08 at 01:27 PM.
08-26-08 | 05:37 PM
#33
Senior Member
Joined: Oct 2005
Posts: 2,768
Likes: 15
From: Bellingham, WA
Products I've used for commuting and have come to prefer:
1. Honjo/Berthoud fenders. They are expensive, but they really work. I haven't yet found a more affordable fender that keeps the water off my feet like a long Honjo.
2. Brooks saddles.
3. Panaracer tires, preferably the Pasela. There are plenty of good tires out there, but these are by far the best I've tried.
4. Surly Nice Racks. They may be heavier than some people prefer, but darn it, they can do just about anything. Want to haul 60 pounds of groceries after work? No problem. The front rack is probably the best product I've bought for my commuter.
5. Kool Stop salmon-colored brake pads. I have two bikes with V-brakes, and thanks to these pads they feel stronger than the Avid Juicy 7s on my DMR. Also, they're almost always QUIET.
1. Honjo/Berthoud fenders. They are expensive, but they really work. I haven't yet found a more affordable fender that keeps the water off my feet like a long Honjo.
2. Brooks saddles.
3. Panaracer tires, preferably the Pasela. There are plenty of good tires out there, but these are by far the best I've tried.
4. Surly Nice Racks. They may be heavier than some people prefer, but darn it, they can do just about anything. Want to haul 60 pounds of groceries after work? No problem. The front rack is probably the best product I've bought for my commuter.
5. Kool Stop salmon-colored brake pads. I have two bikes with V-brakes, and thanks to these pads they feel stronger than the Avid Juicy 7s on my DMR. Also, they're almost always QUIET.
08-26-08 | 07:31 PM
#34
Buh'wah?!
Joined: Jul 2008
Posts: 2,086
Likes: 2
From: Charlottesville VA
Bikes: 2014 Giant Trance
I know the topic of Bike shops has ended, but, my nearest shop is about 6 miles away, and it seems like a BMX shop (haven't been in there - haven't had the time). But, past that, my nearest shop is 15-20 miles away, and the only one I've been to so far I think about going back to often is my nearest performance, which is almost 30 miles away.
I think all of you are lucky for having bike shops so close.
It's what makes me want to open my own, because there's a strong lacking of shops in my area.
GR
I think all of you are lucky for having bike shops so close.
It's what makes me want to open my own, because there's a strong lacking of shops in my area.
GR
08-26-08 | 09:51 PM
#36
In Real Life
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 52,159
Likes: 772
From: Down under down under
Bikes: Lots
Ok so it seems like we have ended that topic... Thanks for the awesome feed back...
If you are all up for it lets expand on this.?.?.?.?.?.
Question 2: What are the products do you support the most? (The Products/Company that you recommend all the time. The companys you stand by. List forum would be best please)
If you are all up for it lets expand on this.?.?.?.?.?.
Question 2: What are the products do you support the most? (The Products/Company that you recommend all the time. The companys you stand by. List forum would be best please)
But in answer to the question ... I've answered it in post #24 above. Those are the companies I stand by.
As for products ... whatever works ... inexpensively.
__________________
Rowan
My fave photo threads on BF
Century A Month Facebook Group
Machka's Website
Photo Gallery
Rowan
My fave photo threads on BF
Century A Month Facebook Group
Machka's Website
Photo Gallery
08-27-08 | 09:25 AM
#37
Thread Starter
Junior Member
Joined: Jul 2008
Posts: 6
Likes: 0
From: Calgary Alberta, Canada
Question #1 is always open for chit chat and about opening a new thread for question #2 would make me look two place for the the awesome info I have been giving. So Thanks again everyone this is going awesome and I notice everyone agrees on Brooks Saddles.
08-27-08 | 09:51 AM
#38
Question 2: What are the products do you support the most? (The Products/Company that you recommend all the time. The companys you stand by. List forum would be best please)
1. Carradice Bags - esp Bike Bureau
2. Brooks Saddles
3. B&M lights
4. Park Tools
5. Novara Grocery Panniers
1. Carradice Bags - esp Bike Bureau
2. Brooks Saddles
3. B&M lights
4. Park Tools
5. Novara Grocery Panniers
__________________
08-27-08 | 10:08 AM
#39
Senior Member
Joined: Nov 2006
Posts: 1,106
Likes: 36
From: Hammonton, NJ
Bikes: Dawes Lightning sport, Trek 1220, Trek 7100
Best bike shop is home. Second best is a professional shop that has people who actually know what they're doing (unlike me, who has to figure it out as I go), and who are friendly. I don't need to feel like I won an award, or anything -- just friendly. We have one really good shop in town -- it's run by people who make you want to feel welcome and who share a real zeal for just about anything having to do with bikes, one co-op type thing that's pretty good where the parts are cheap and the chief mechanic is really nice, and one not-so-nice shop.
At the not-so-nice shop, some guy was working there actually made fun of my first commuter, calling it a "toy." Okay, so it was a department store bike. Not much, but that's what I had. I was interested in budgeting for a better bike, but I hadn't felt comfortable then buying something used off craigslist. I wasn't mechanically inclined. I told him that. It was my first stop into his shop, because it's close, so I figured my first bike-shop bike would be from there. I guess he decided against that idea, so he treat me like I'm some kind of bum. He speaks for the company, I can only assume. I've gone in their twice since that first encounter in the last two years. I still can't shake that feeling, so I leave and buy my stuff elsewhere.
That experience taught me a valuable lesson about how I should treat my own clients. Nobody comes to me with their little problems. Everybody needs to be treated like they're important. Incidentally, I got rid of the department store bike, as I learned on my own what to look for in a bike that suits me. I do my own wrenching, and I buy my tools as the need arises. I'd suggest this route, even though I fell into it.
At the not-so-nice shop, some guy was working there actually made fun of my first commuter, calling it a "toy." Okay, so it was a department store bike. Not much, but that's what I had. I was interested in budgeting for a better bike, but I hadn't felt comfortable then buying something used off craigslist. I wasn't mechanically inclined. I told him that. It was my first stop into his shop, because it's close, so I figured my first bike-shop bike would be from there. I guess he decided against that idea, so he treat me like I'm some kind of bum. He speaks for the company, I can only assume. I've gone in their twice since that first encounter in the last two years. I still can't shake that feeling, so I leave and buy my stuff elsewhere.
That experience taught me a valuable lesson about how I should treat my own clients. Nobody comes to me with their little problems. Everybody needs to be treated like they're important. Incidentally, I got rid of the department store bike, as I learned on my own what to look for in a bike that suits me. I do my own wrenching, and I buy my tools as the need arises. I'd suggest this route, even though I fell into it.
08-27-08 | 10:20 AM
#40
crash survivor
Joined: Aug 2007
Posts: 654
Likes: 0
From: Irving, TX
Bikes: C-dale rush, Mountain cycle fury, Monocog 29er, Haro hard tail VX, Scattante R330
The employees are the main feature. As most shops, at least in my area, use the same distributors it not a mater of products, it a mater of knowledge, skill, and personality. I am not a big name brand kind of person, nor am I the latest greatest. I want good reliable parts installed by a good mech. I want recommendations of several products with pros and cons.....part of why I hang out here before I go to the bike shop.
08-27-08 | 01:47 PM
#41
Senior Member
Joined: Sep 2006
Posts: 1,267
Likes: 2
From: Down South
Products I've had to buy online, because not available at my local shops:
Planet Bike SuperFlash
Brooks saddle
Cateye Strada Wireless (no kidding)
Mid-priced bibs
Fenix lights
Tires with reflective sidewalls
All of the local bike shops (with one exception) are about road bikes and MTBs. Exception is a speciality shop that does recumbents and other niche bikes, but he's way out of town and hard to get to.
One has a well-stocked repair shop -- that's nice to have.
Another has a well-respected, experienced bike mechanic -- very nice to have.
Planet Bike SuperFlash
Brooks saddle
Cateye Strada Wireless (no kidding)
Mid-priced bibs
Fenix lights
Tires with reflective sidewalls
All of the local bike shops (with one exception) are about road bikes and MTBs. Exception is a speciality shop that does recumbents and other niche bikes, but he's way out of town and hard to get to.
One has a well-stocked repair shop -- that's nice to have.
Another has a well-respected, experienced bike mechanic -- very nice to have.
08-27-08 | 02:24 PM
#42
Drops small screws
Joined: May 2008
Posts: 2,608
Likes: 9
From: NYC Metro Area
Bikes: Soma Grand Randonneur, modified Xootr Swift, Trek 1000SL with broken brifter from running it into a hotel porte-cochère
+1 on Park Tools
08-27-08 | 02:46 PM
#43
Senior Member
Joined: Jan 2008
Posts: 110
Likes: 0
I recently had the pleasure of going to my local bike repair co-op where you can either rent tools and do the work you want, or hire one of the staff to help and teach you how to fix it. Very useful when needing some special tool or expertise.
08-27-08 | 02:55 PM
#44
Out
Joined: Jul 2008
Posts: 473
Likes: 0
From: Lalaland
Bikes: two-wheelers
I look for a local bike shop (actually found a local bike shop) that doesn't have bike snobs.
In my town there are two LBSs, and one is snobbish (in my opinion). I go in and they act like my needs are petty compared to their riding abilities.
The other shop has very friendly people who listen and treat you like family. They have an incredible selection, and they are doing incredibly well.
They sell mostly Trek products, and I'm more than happy with the Treks I've purchased, along with other products they've sold to me.
I can ride in anytime and they immediately throw my bike on the rack, adjust everything, clean it, lube it, pump it up, and hand it back, no complaints/no charge.
It's no wonder they're expanding into a new building. They are selling like hotcakes.
The place on the other side of town doesn't really have much inventory. Mostly a Giant dealer.
In my town there are two LBSs, and one is snobbish (in my opinion). I go in and they act like my needs are petty compared to their riding abilities.
The other shop has very friendly people who listen and treat you like family. They have an incredible selection, and they are doing incredibly well.
They sell mostly Trek products, and I'm more than happy with the Treks I've purchased, along with other products they've sold to me.
I can ride in anytime and they immediately throw my bike on the rack, adjust everything, clean it, lube it, pump it up, and hand it back, no complaints/no charge.
It's no wonder they're expanding into a new building. They are selling like hotcakes.
The place on the other side of town doesn't really have much inventory. Mostly a Giant dealer.
